Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has issued a pointed warning against using water as a political tool, declaring that it should never become a means of coercion between nations. His comments on water weaponisation came during an address to the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation’s Council of Heads of State Summit, held in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. The speech coincided with Pakistan officially taking over the SCO chairmanship for the 2026–27 term. Islamabad will hold the role for a full year and is scheduled to host the next Council of Heads of State summit in 2027. Over the coming months, Pakistan is expected to guide…
Author: Web Desk
A violent clash over the construction of a government hospital has left three people dead and one injured in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu district. The Hangu hospital dispute firing occurred within the jurisdiction of Thana Tal police station, where tensions between two rival groups escalated into an exchange of gunfire. According to local reports, the dispute centered on the construction of a Basic Health Unit (BHU) in the area, a disagreement that had reportedly been simmering for some time before turning deadly. Details of the Hangu Firing Incident District Police Officer (DPO) Tariq Habib confirmed the casualties, stating that the tragic…
India is accelerating efforts to secure long-term uranium supplies as it expands its nuclear energy programme. After strengthening cooperation with Australia, New Delhi has now reached an agreement with Uzbekistan covering long-term uranium supplies and cooperation on rare minerals. The agreement was reached during Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Uzbekistan. Uzbekistan is among the world’s major uranium producers, and Indian media reports say the deal is aimed at ensuring a steady supply of nuclear fuel for India’s growing nuclear power sector. The development is significant for Pakistan because India’s nuclear expansion is taking place alongside a broader effort…
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar wrapped up a one-day trip to Istanbul on Monday, where he took part in the first-ever meeting of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee. The body was set up under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement. Following the meeting, Dar left Istanbul for Bishkek, travelling alongside Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan and National Defence Minister Yasar Güler. The trip to Kyrgyzstan is aimed at joining the SCO Council of Heads of State Meeting and the accompanying SCO Plus Summit. Bilateral Talks and Committee Meeting in Istanbul While in Istanbul, Dar also…
Turkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has confirmed that the three-way security pact linking Ankara, Islamabad and Riyadh now carries a new title, the Makkah Defence Alliance. He added that a Pakistani official will take on the role of the alliance’s first secretary general. The announcement came during a press briefing following the opening session of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, a body created under the original tripartite arrangement, held in Istanbul. Fidan noted that the alliance’s secretariat will be headquartered in Riyadh. The grouping was initially known as the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement before this rebranding. Expansion Plans for…
Pakistan has secured a significant legal victory after the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague issued a ruling directing India to pause construction on key hydroelectric projects and continue honoring the Indus Waters Treaty. The decision marks a turning point in the long-running dispute over India’s unilateral move to suspend the decades-old water-sharing agreement. According to the court, the treaty between India and Pakistan has never actually lapsed, since India failed to present any valid grounds for halting or terminating it. This Indus Waters Treaty ruling effectively rejects New Delhi’s position and reaffirms Islamabad’s water rights under the pact.…
The Sindh Assembly resolution against the division of Sindh has triggered a fresh political debate, with critics questioning the motives behind the move. The resolution called for any decision concerning the division of Sindh to be taken through the provincial assembly. The issue was accompanied by passionate speeches and slogans in the Sindh Assembly, turning the matter into a major political discussion. Critics argue that such political rhetoric risks diverting public attention from the governance and economic challenges facing the country. Sindh Assembly Resolution and Political Debate The Sindh Assembly resolution has brought the question of Sindh’s political and administrative…
The Foreign Office confirmed on Sunday that the first session of the Strategic Political and Defence Committee, formed under the Makkah Joint Defence Agreement, is set to take place in Istanbul on Monday. This announcement followed a Reuters report, sourced from a Turkish foreign ministry official, indicating that senior representatives from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye would convene in Istanbul for the committee’s inaugural session, tied to the joint defence pact the three countries signed earlier this month. Pakistan’s Delegation and Meeting Details Per the Foreign Office statement, Pakistan’s delegation will include Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar,…
Pakistan are considering significant squad changes and shifts within the coaching setup ahead of the third and final Test against England, following a heavy 194-run defeat at Lord’s, sources said on Monday. England sealed the result on the fourth day of the second Test at Lord’s on Sunday, taking an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three-match series. The series concludes at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham, with the final Test scheduled from September 9 to 13. An emergency meeting was reportedly convened at the team hotel shortly after the loss, where officials discussed potential Pakistan squad changes ahead of the…
Security forces eliminated two terrorists linked to Fitna al-Hindustan during an intelligence-based operation in the Washuk district of Balochistan, security sources confirmed on Monday. The operation took place in the Palantak area of Washuk and formed part of the broader Operation Rad-ul-Fitna, an ongoing campaign targeting India-sponsored militants active across the province, sources added. Militants Linked to Earlier Attacks Officials said the two terrorists killed in Washuk had been involved in previous attacks on the Mashkel police station as well as a local Customs House. During the raid, security personnel destroyed the militants’ vehicle and recovered weapons and ammunition from…
