WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States has reaffirmed its support for Pakistan’s fight against terrorism, saying Islamabad has the right to defend itself against terrorist attacks as tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border continue. A spokesperson for the US State Department said the Pakistani people have suffered greatly because of terrorism and reiterated that Washington supports Pakistan’s efforts to protect its security. The statement comes after a sharp rise in hostilities between Pakistan and Afghanistan. The two neighbors fought their most serious clashes in years in February, and tensions have remained high since then. Pakistan’s security forces said they killed 29…
Author: Web Desk
At least six people were killed and three others remain missing after a boat carrying tourists overturned at Saifullah Lake in the tourist resort of Kalam in Upper Swat. According to police, nine members of the same family were on board when the boat capsized during the trip. Rescue 1122 Swat received the emergency call and immediately dispatched rescue teams and ambulances to the scene. During the initial rescue operation, authorities recovered the bodies of six victims near the Mahodand area. Search operations are still underway to locate the three missing people. Officials said all of the deceased belonged to…
The HEC scholarships for USA have opened for Pakistani students applying for PhD programmes at leading American universities under the Pakistan Knowledge Corridor Program for the 2027 academic intake. The Higher Education Commission (HEC) announced that online applications are now being accepted for PhD scholarships at US universities ranked among the top 100 in the QS World University Rankings. The scholarship is available only for PhD programmes. Applications for master’s degrees and MS-to-PhD programmes are not eligible. HEC said preference will be given to candidates admitted to universities in its priority academic fields. According to the announcement, the application deadline…
Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Ishaq Dar, said Pakistan-China economic cooperation is entering a new phase under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) 2.0, with greater emphasis on industrial growth, agriculture, information technology, mining and human resource development. Speaking at a reception hosted by the Chinese Embassy to mark the 105th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China, Dar said Pakistan’s all-weather strategic partnership with China remains a key pillar of the country’s foreign policy and development agenda. He congratulated the Communist Party of China on the occasion and praised the country’s remarkable economic transformation. Dar…
Indirect negotiations between the United States and Iran ended in Doha without any major breakthrough, although both sides described the discussions as constructive. The Doha talks between US and Iran mainly focused on implementing parts of an interim agreement announced two weeks ago rather than resolving the wider issues dividing the two countries. Sources familiar with the talks said negotiators spent two days discussing maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz and the release of frozen Iranian funds. Both issues are considered key parts of the temporary agreement reached earlier. Qatar’s Foreign Ministry said the next round of talks will…
Pakistan has stepped up preparations for the OIC Ministerial Conference on Women, scheduled to take place on July 12 and 13, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar reviewing final arrangements. Dar chaired the sixth meeting of the high-level committee overseeing the conference, where officials assessed progress on the programme, agenda, protocol, security, logistics, media strategy and coordination among government departments. The conference will bring together representatives from all 57 member states of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to strengthen collaboration on women’s empowerment, inclusion and sustainable development. During the meeting, Ishaq Dar appreciated the…
Punjab deports illegal foreign nationals as authorities continue a province-wide operation against people residing in Pakistan without legal status. Punjab Police said on Wednesday that 35,719 foreign nationals have been deported from different parts of the province, including Lahore. Another 72 people are currently being held at designated holding centres while officials complete the deportation process. According to official figures, those deported include more than 14,000 men, 7,138 women and 14,529 children. Police said the deportees included 11,047 holders of Proof of Residence (PoR) cards, 11,135 Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders and 13,537 foreign nationals who were living in the…
14 children killed in Lahore after the roof of a private tuition centre collapsed in the city’s Kahna area on Wednesday, leaving several others injured. Punjab Health Minister confirmed that 14 children died in the incident. Rescue officials said around 20 to 25 people, including a female teacher and mostly young children, were inside the academy when the roof gave way. Rescue teams reached the scene shortly after receiving the emergency call at around 4:45pm. They launched a search operation and pulled children from beneath the rubble. Authorities had initially feared the death toll could rise. Residents said the building…
Pakistan rejected India’s statement on its military strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan on Wednesday, calling New Delhi’s allegations “baseless and preposterous.” Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Pakistan’s actions were legitimate, targeted and proportionate. In a statement posted on X, he said India’s criticism had no basis and accused New Delhi of interfering in the affairs of neighbouring countries. Andrabi also accused India of violating international law by suppressing the right to self-determination of Kashmiris in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He further alleged that India had supported terrorist groups operating from Afghan territory against Pakistan, calling it…
Pakistan downs Afghan drones after security forces intercepted and neutralised four unmanned aerial platforms launched from across the border into Balochistan, according to the military’s media wing. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said Pakistan’s air defence network detected the drones immediately after they entered the country’s airspace. Security forces then used advanced countermeasures to destroy all four drones before they could cause any damage. The military said the swift response successfully prevented what it described as a hostile cross-border attempt. According to the ISPR, the Afghan Taliban administration is supporting terrorist groups operating from…
