Author: News Desk

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 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…

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…

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…

News Desk BEIJING: China urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to continue addressing their differences through dialogue and consultation, to work towards de-escalation, and to jointly safeguard regional peace and stability, Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said. His remarks came after renewed clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan on the night of 5 December, marking the first major confrontation since the two sides agreed to a ceasefire in mid‑October. Multiple civilian casualties were reported. Speaking at a media briefing on Tuesday, Guo said Pakistan and Afghanistan were both traditionally friendly neighbors of China, and that their relationship could not be altered. He added…

News Desk KOREAN PENINSULA: South Korea scrambled its fighter jets on Tuesday morning after two Chinese and seven Russian military aircraft swept into its Air Defence Identification Zone, a sudden and coordinated intrusion that pushed regional tensions sharply higher. Officials in Seoul said the aircraft—among them strategic bombers and fighter jets—moved across sensitive stretches of the Sea of Japan in what appeared to be a deliberate show of force rather than routine patrol activity. The joint maneuver marked the first such incursion since November 2024, yet its scale and timing struck security officials as distinctly unsettling. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs…

News Desk SYDNEY: Pakistan’s cricket captain Babar Azam has expressed his enthusiasm at the opportunity to play alongside Australian batting star Steve Smith in the upcoming Big Bash League season. Both players are set to feature for the Sydney Sixers, a pairing that has already generated excitement among fans and cricket analysts alike. Speaking ahead of the tournament, Babar described Smith as one of the best players in the world, highlighting the advice and guidance he has received from the Australian veteran over time. “It’s always special to play with someone like Steve Smith. Sharing the field with him will…

News Desk MUSA KHEL, BALOCHISTAN: In a rare and contentious episode in Musa Khel district, a local jirga compelled eight individuals accused of theft to walk on burning coals inside a shop, an act that drew widespread attention and condemnation. Remarkably, reports indicated that none of the participants suffered injuries during the ordeal, though the incident raised serious questions about the continued use of traditional tribal justice mechanisms. The district administration moved quickly to investigate, identifying seven members of the jirga involved in organizing the ritual. In a statement to Geo News, the Deputy Commissioner confirmed that one jirga member…