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Pakistan and India are close to reducing the troop build-up along their border to levels before conflict erupted between the nuclear-armed neighbours this month, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza told Reuters on Friday, although he warned the crisis had increased the risk of escalation in the future. Both sides used fighter jets, missiles, drones, and artillery in four days of clashes, their worst fighting in decades, before a ceasefire was announced. The spark for the latest fighting between the old enemies was an April 22 attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir that killed 26 people, most of…

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Islamabad on Thursday sentenced PTI MNA Abdul Latif and 10 other accused to 10 years in prison in connection with the May 9 protest case registered at Ramna police station. The court handed down the punishment under various anti-terrorism charges after finding the accused guilty of attacking a police station, inciting violence, and damaging public property during the protests that followed the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan last year. According to the verdict, the convicts received 5 years for attempted murder of police personnel, 4 years for arson involving a motorcycle, 3 years…

Pakistan has joined more than 30 countries in becoming a founding member of a new China-led initiative aimed at resolving international disputes through mediation. The Convention on the Establishment of the International Organization for Mediation (IOMed) was signed in Hong Kong on Friday, marking the formal launch of what Beijing calls the world’s first intergovernmental legal body dedicated to mediation-based conflict resolution. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar represented Pakistan at the high-level signing ceremony, which was also attended by delegates from countries such as Indonesia, Belarus, and Cuba. Representatives from nearly 50 countries and 20 international organizations, including the United…

India’s defence shortcomings and internal corruption have once again been exposed on the global stage, as Indian Air Force Chief Air Marshal A.P. Singh publicly admitted to severe flaws in the country’s defence procurement processes. According to media reports, Air Chief Singh stated that “the concept of timelines is dead”, pointing out that no major defence project in India is completed on schedule. He further revealed that many systems under contract may never be delivered, yet deals are still signed. “The agreements are made, but weapons don’t arrive,” he said, citing Operation Sandur as a wake-up call for India’s military…

China praised Pakistan’s responsible conduct during its recent standoff with India, emphasizing the return of peace as a positive regional development. At a luncheon hosted by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong reaffirmed Beijing’s steadfast support, particularly during crises. The meeting highlighted progress under CPEC, including Gwadar Port’s connection to the national grid, and preparations for the upcoming 14th Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting. Both sides discussed accelerating key projects like ML-1 and the Karakoram Highway upgrade, enhancing regional connectivity, agricultural cooperation, and academic linkages to bolster Pakistan’s development and regional integration.

DUSHANBE : Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for a global action to protect glaciers in Pakistan, which are melting rapidly due to climate change. Addressing the Glaciers Conference in Dushanbe, the premier congratulated the President of Tajikistan for a comprehensive discussion on glacier protection and related challenges. He highlighted that glaciers in Pakistan are melting rapidly due to climate change. “Pakistan has 13,000 glaciers, and it receives half of its water from glaciers. Therefore, glacier protection is very important for Pakistan,” he stressed. PM Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan is among the ten most climate-affected countries, despite contributing less than…

WASHINGTON : Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States Rizwan Saeed Sheikh said the nation took pride in effectively responding to Indian aggression. Speaking to US policymakers, diplomats, and the business community, the ambassador stated that Pakistan’s top priority is peace as it paves the way for economic development. He acknowledged that the US leadership played a key role in the Pakistan-India ceasefire. Inviting American investors to take full advantage of economic opportunities in Pakistan, Sheikh highlighted that sectors such as agriculture, IT, and mineral resources offered lucrative investment prospects for US investors. The Pakistani ambassador further stated that providing a…

ISLAMABAD: The National Emergencies Operations Centre (NEOC) has warned that five separate weather systems are expected to trigger thunderstorms, strong winds, hailstorms, and heavy downpours across various parts of the country, with Islamabad and Rawalpindi likely to face particularly severe conditions. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has urged all provincial and district authorities to ensure emergency preparedness, remain alert, and coordinate with local response units for timely action. The Authority will continue to monitor the evolving situation and issue regular updates. A public advisory has also been issued, urging citizens to exercise caution amid the ongoing severe weather. People…

ISLAMABAD: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday signed the Child Marriage Restraint Bill, 2025, which fixes minimum age for marriage at 18, making it an official law. According to the new legislation, no Nikah khuwan will be allowed to solemnise a marriage where one or both of the girl and boy are under the age of 18. Any Nikah khuwan found violating this law may face up to one year in prison and a fine of Rs100,000. Moreover, if a man over the age of 18 marries an underage girl, he may be sentenced to up to three years of rigorous imprisonment. The…

Google on Thursday began direct online sales of its popular hardware devices in India, including Pixel phones, watches and earbuds, ahead of an anticipated launch of its first physical stores in the South Asian nation. The Alphabet (GOOGL.O), opens new tab-owned firm said it has for the first time enabled direct online purchases for Indian users on the official Google Store website. The company currently sells it products in India through authorised retailers and via Walmart-backed e-commerce platform Flipkart. Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab, its bigger rival in the premium smartphone category, already sells its phones directly to Indian users,…