Afghanistan’s Taliban government has once again reached into one of the most personal moments in a family’s life, a wedding, and decided it needs regulating. Under a newly issued decree, brides can no longer wear makeup, use hair extensions, or apply perfume. Women are barred from even leaving their homes to visit a beauty parlor. Engagement rings are banned. So is mehndi. So, still, is music. Officials frame the ring ban as a rejection of “Western and Christian” influence. But strip away the religious packaging and what’s left is a government micromanaging what a bride wears on her own wedding…
Author: Web Desk
Pakistan’s military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has put governance failures at the center of the country’s security debate, arguing that unresolved administrative problems are directly tied to the state’s ability to protect its citizens. Speaking at a press conference on counterterrorism and national security, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan’s good governance and security challenges cannot be separated from one another, and that unresolved issues point to a need for administrative reform. Chaudhry told reporters that when problems persist without resolution, it signals a gap that needs to be filled through…
Defending champion Arshad Nadeem was unable to hold onto his men’s javelin crown, placing ninth in the final held at Scotstoun Stadium in Glasgow on Friday night. The result brought an unexpected end to his title defence after winning gold at the 2022 edition with a stunning throw of 90.18 metres. Nadeem’s campaign got off to a rocky start when his opening attempt was ruled a foul. He then registered a throw of 77.41 metres in his second round, briefly placing on the leaderboard, though he had already dropped to ninth position by the time the round concluded. Nadeem’s Three…
A high-level Belarusian delegation, headed by Chief of the General Staff and First Deputy Defence Minister Major General Pavel Muraveiko, visited Naval Headquarters in Islamabad on Friday for talks with Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf. Admiral Ashraf welcomed the visiting delegation, and the discussion centered on professional matters of shared interest, with defence collaboration emerging as a key focus of the meeting. Pakistan Reaffirms Commitment to Long-Term Ties During the engagement, Admiral Naveed Ashraf noted that Pakistan places high value on its relationship with Belarus and is keen to build a lasting, multi-dimensional partnership between the two nations.…
A deadly avalanche on Broad Peak has claimed the lives of eight climbers, with rescue teams recovering their bodies even as two mountaineers remain missing. The disaster struck the world’s twelfth-highest mountain, triggering a large-scale search effort hampered by harsh weather conditions. Rescue crews have managed to identify four of the deceased so far, and three of those bodies have already been flown to Skardu aboard Pakistan Army helicopters. Poor visibility and shifting weather patterns continue to slow down operations on the 8,051-metre peak. How the Broad Peak Avalanche Unfolded The avalanche struck around midday on Thursday, catching a ten-member…
Election campaigning has officially wrapped up ahead of the AJK second phase elections, with the Election Commission of Azad Jammu and Kashmir confirming that all preparations are in place for Sunday’s polling. The commission has finalized every arrangement required for this stage of the Legislative Assembly’s general elections, clearing the way for voters to head to the polls tomorrow. Where Voting Will Take Place The second round of polling covers nine constituencies within the Muzaffarabad Division, along with 12 seats reserved for Kashmiri refugees settled across various parts of the country. Together, these constituencies represent a significant share of the…
Pakistan’s military has firmly closed the door on negotiations with armed militant groups operating in Balochistan, dismissing claims that the province’s security situation is spiraling out of control. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry made the remarks during a press briefing on Friday focused on counterterrorism efforts and the broader national security picture. He argued that certain elite figures and tribal Sardars in Balochistan were actively blocking children from poor households from getting ahead, and suggested this resistance to progress was fueling unrest in the region. “We will not talk to you; we will talk…
President Asif Ali Zardari has given his approval for General Syed Aamer Raza, Commander of the National Strategic Command, to receive the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military), one of Pakistan’s highest military honours. The announcement came through a post on X from the President’s Secretariat, confirming that the president had signed off on bestowing the Nishan-i-Imtiaz (Military) upon Gen Syed Aamer Raza in recognition of his role leading the National Strategic Command. A Distinguished Military Career This latest honour adds to a list of accolades General Aamer Raza has already received, including the Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military) and the Sitara-i-Basalat. His career has also included…
The number of confirmed fatalities from the Balochistan coal mine collapse has reached 34, officials confirmed Friday, after rescue crews pulled six additional bodies from the wreckage in the Sorange area. Search teams are continuing to dig through the site in hopes of locating the miners still believed to be buried underground. The Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said the rescue mission remains active, with crews working to reach workers who remain unaccounted for beneath the collapsed structure. Chief Minister Orders Investigation Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti has called for a comprehensive report into the disaster and cautioned that anyone…
Pakistan has secured a three-year rollover of $5 billion in deposits from Saudi Arabia, according to top government officials who confirmed the arrangement on Wednesday. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb verified the news, and State Bank of Pakistan Governor Jameel Ahmed echoed the confirmation while speaking to reporters outside Parliament House. The rollover is expected to ease strain on the country’s external account as it works through foreign debt obligations for the current fiscal year. How the Rollover Eases Pakistan’s Debt Burden Governor Ahmed, briefing reporters after a session of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance, said Pakistan’s foreign debt servicing…
