Author: News Desk

By Amjad Qaimkhani NEW YORK: Pakistan issued one of its starkest warnings in months over the deteriorating security landscape along its western frontier, telling the UN Security Council that militant networks entrenched in Afghanistan had emerged as the gravest threat to its national security. Addressing a Council session on Afghanistan, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, said a constellation of armed groups—including ISIL-K, Al-Qaeda, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM), the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and the Majeed Brigade—had continued to exploit ungoverned spaces inside Afghanistan to stage attacks across the border. Ahmad told diplomats that…

MM Report BEIJING: China unveiled a new diplomatic initiative at the United Nations this week, forming a bloc it called the “Friends of Global Governance” in a bid to present itself as a steward of a fairer international order. The grouping, launched under President Xi Jinping’s broader foreign-policy vision, brought together a cluster of states long critical of Western influence in multilateral forums, including Iran, Cuba, Pakistan, Venezuela and North Korea. Beijing framed the initiative as an attempt to inject what it described as “China’s wisdom” into global decision-making at a time of deepening geopolitical polarization. Sources claimed that China…

By Amjad Qaimkhani WASHINGTON: The United States has formally approved a $686 million package of advanced technology and support services for Pakistan’s F-16 fighter jets, a move aimed at bolstering Islamabad’s aerial capabilities and sustaining its operational readiness for years to come. According to US defence sources, the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress on 8 December that the sale would include Link-16 data link systems, cryptographic equipment, avionics upgrades, as well as training and comprehensive logistical support for Pakistan’s existing fleet. Officials described the initiative as part of a broader strategic effort to ensure Pakistan can respond effectively…

News Desk ISLAMABAD: Supreme Court on Thursday temporarily halted trial proceedings against activists Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and Hadi Ali Chattha, who faced charges over social media posts made in 2023 alleged to breach the 2016 Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act. The case, which has drawn significant public attention, is now set to be reviewed by the Islamabad High Court, which had earlier rejected the activists’ petitions for relief. Supporters of Mazari-Hazir and Chattha contend that the charges represent a retaliatory response to their advocacy for women’s and minority rights, while critics argue that the posts contained misleading information or could…

News Desk DHAKA: Bangladesh signaled a cautious openness to Pakistan’s participation in regional multilateral initiatives, even in the absence of India, highlighting a potential shift in South Asian diplomatic dynamics. Mohammed Tauhid Hossain, Bangladesh’s adviser on foreign affairs, told journalists in Dhaka that Pakistan’s involvement in a regional grouping was strategically feasible and could be advanced through ongoing discussions. He noted that proposals put forward by former Pakistani finance minister Ishaq Dar offered concrete avenues for progress, suggesting that some elements of Dar’s plan could be implemented despite historical tensions in the region. Ishaq Dar had previously indicated that a…

News Desk DUBAI: A luxury tower in Dubai named after Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan sold out on its first day of launch, developers said, marking one of the city’s most high-profile property unveilings of the year. The “Shah Rukh Tower”, located on Dubai’s busiest artery, Sheikh Zayed Road, carries an estimated value of 2.1 billion dirhams — roughly Rs 159.6 billion in Pakistani currency. The project has drawn intense interest from investors, boosted by the actor’s global fame and Dubai’s booming real estate market. More than 6,000 guests attended the launch ceremony at Dubai Expo City, where Shah Rukh…

News Desk GENEVA: The United Nations placed India at the centre of a new report highlighting some of the world’s most serious human rights violations in Indian-illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K), as the international community marked Human Rights Day on Tuesday. The report painted a stark picture of a region where Kashmiris continue to face systemic abuses, including extrajudicial killings, enforced disappearances, torture, and severe restrictions on basic freedoms. According to the UN’s findings, more than 94,000 Kashmiris have died at the hands of Indian security forces over the years, with over 7,000 reported to have perished while in…

News Desk TEHRAN: Three members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) were killed on Thursday during a clash in the southeastern city of Zahedan, Iranian media reported. The confrontation occurred in a border area while the IRGC was conducting an operation, according to Tehran-based outlets. The reports said authorities were carrying out raids to apprehend the militants responsible for the attack. Details about the identities of the attackers or the exact circumstances of the clash remained limited, though Iranian officials indicated that security operations in the region would continue to prevent further incidents. Zahedan, near the border with Pakistan…

The strike hit a Taliban stronghold in Darah district’s Abdullah Khail valley on the night of 7 December, focusing on the village of Manjistu News Desk KABUL: The National Resistance Front (NRF) claimed on Wednesday that it had killed 17 members of the Taliban, including the group’s chief of staff in Panjshir province, during a highly coordinated overnight operation in one of the region’s most heavily fortified areas. According to the resistance group, the strike targeted a Taliban stronghold in the Abdullah Khail valley of Darah district on the night of 7 December, with fighters concentrating on the village of…

News Desk JEDDAH: Pakistan’s creative delegation — proudly represented by Atiqa Odho and Shahzad Nawaz — reaffirmed its commitment to advancing cinematic storytelling, cultural diplomacy and creative collaboration on the world stage during a powerful panel discussion at the Red Sea International Film Festival (RSIFF ’25) earlier today. Hosted at Souk Forum 1 in Jeddah, the session highlighted Pakistan’s dynamic evolution within the global content and media ecosystem. Moderated by celebrated Saudi-born Pakistani presenter Omair Shaikh, the panel brought together key voices shaping Pakistan’s cultural narrative internationally: Atiqa Odho, actor, producer and women’s empowerment advocate; Shahzad Nawaz, filmmaker, creative visionary…