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In a phone call, Sharif tells Anwar Ibrahim that Pakistan faces ‘persistent terrorism’ from Afghan soil and calls for ‘immediate and effective’ action from Kabul  Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held a high-level telephone conversation with Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday, providing a detailed briefing on the sharply deteriorating security situation along Pakistan’s border with Afghanistan. The discussion highlighted Islamabad’s efforts to mobilize international attention and galvanise support to pressure Kabul’s de facto authorities amid rising cross-border militancy. During the call, Prime Minister Sharif outlined what he described as “persistent terrorism from across the Afghan…

By ISPR ISLAMABAD: In a significant escalation of cross-border military action, security forces launched a series of targeted strikes on militant camps in Afghanistan’s Paktika province, resulting in the deaths of more than 70 terrorists affiliated with the Gul Bahadur faction. The operations, which unfolded under the cover of night on 17 October, were described by officials as “effective strikes” that successfully dismantled key hideouts used by the group. The timing of the offensive carried a heavy resonance, coming on the very same day that the same militant faction was blamed for a devastating vehicle-borne explosion in Khadi, located in…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar has cautiously welcomed the recent ceasefire agreement with Afghanistan, describing it as a “first positive step in the right direction” while stressing that tangible action from Kabul would be the ultimate test of its sincerity. The truce, brokered in Doha through the mediation of Qatar and Turkey, was acknowledged by Dar, who praised the “constructive role” played by the two nations in facilitating dialogue. He confirmed that the diplomatic process would continue, with a subsequent round of talks scheduled in Turkey. These discussions, he indicated, would…

IMF cannot impose conditions against national interest, Muhammad Aurangzeb tells press conference in Washington By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: In a major diplomatic breakthrough, Pakistan and Afghanistan have agreed to a formal ceasefire following intensive talks mediated by Qatar and Turkey in Doha — a move that could mark the beginning of a new phase in their fraught relationship, long marred by mistrust, border tensions, and intermittent violence. The announcement came late on Thursday from Qatar’s foreign ministry, which confirmed that both nations had committed to an immediate halt in cross-border violence and pledged to “respect each other’s territorial sovereignty.”…

By Shahid Shah Pakistan’s energy crisis has grown into a cautionary tale that goes beyond numbers on a ledger. It is a story of economic mismanagement, environmental neglect, and policy decisions that have repeatedly placed short-term gains above long-term stability. What was once hailed as a route to energy security—imported liquefied natural gas (LNG)—has, paradoxically, become a trap, one that threatens not just fiscal stability but the everyday lives of millions of ordinary Pakistanis. Rising bills, inflation, and declining living standards are no longer abstract threats; they are the lived reality for families across the country. The scale of the…

By Dr. Zawwar Hussain On October 19, 2025, Pakistan is poised to make history with the launch of its first-ever Hyperspectral Satellite, a technological milestone that signals not just progress in science but the beginning of a new era in the country’s space vision. In a world where nations compete for strategic, economic, and technological supremacy through space, Pakistan’s achievement is a statement of intent: that it will no longer remain a mere observer but a contributor to the future of science and innovation. The story of Pakistan’s journey into space is a testament to ambition against the odds. In…

The United Nations has once again raised the alarm over threats to peace emanating from Afghanistan, highlighting the persistent danger posed by terrorist networks such as Al-Qaeda and the factional offshoots of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The latest UN report, submitted to the Security Council on 24 July 2025 by the analytical and sanctions monitoring team, paints a troubling picture of these groups operating with relative freedom across Afghan territory. Far from being a domestic concern, their activities now pose a destabilizing risk to Central Asia and the wider region. Notably, this is the 36th report of its kind, underscoring…

By Mehrab Shah Afridi A profound and unsettling silence is falling across the mountains of north-western Pakistan. It is a silence that speaks not of peace, but of loss. In the high passes of Lundi Kotal, where the air was once a vibrant tapestry of sound and movement, the familiar rhythms of nature are unravelling. The raucous calls of chukar partridges that echoed from every rocky slope have faded. The sky, once etched with the elegant, determined V-formations of migratory cranes, is now often an empty, bleached blue. This growing quiet is more than a seasonal shift; it is an…

Pakistani leader uses address in Jahaniyan to praise armed forces and tout economic progress, while offering rare praise for his niece, Maryam Nawaz By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: In a sweeping address that blended assertions of military triumph with pledges of economic renewal, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif declared that a rival nation could “never until Judgment Day recover from the defeat in the battle of truth.” The speech, delivered to a gathering of party loyalists, positioned national security and domestic prosperity as the twin pillars of his government’s agenda. The Prime Minister credited the nation’s armed forces with securing a resounding…