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Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday pressed Pakistan to step up security for Chinese nationals and projects in the country, warning that the safety of personnel and institutions was essential to sustaining bilateral cooperation. Image Source: Pak PM Meeting Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing ahead of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit , Xi said Beijing backed Islamabad’s counterterrorism efforts but expected “solid and effective measures” to prevent further attacks.  The appeal comes after a series of assaults on Chinese workers linked to Belt and Road projects, including the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The two leaders announced plans to launch CPEC 2.0 and upgrade the China–Pakistan Free Trade Agreement, expanding collaboration into industry, agriculture, and mining.  Xi described the bilateral relationship as an “ironclad friendship” that had endured decades of regional turbulence, and urged...

Incarcerated former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday launched a blistering attack from behind bars, squarely blaming Army Chief General Asim Munir for what he described as deteriorating conditions and threats to his life while in custody. Image Source: Iman on X In a statement shared via X, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader held Munir “personally responsible” if any harm were to come to him during his imprisonment.  The 72-year-old also alleged that both he and his wife, Bushra Bibi, were facing harsh and degrading treatment, including solitary confinement, restrictions on communication, and the removal of basic amenities. Khan accused a jail superintendent and an army colonel of carrying out retaliatory actions on direct orders from Munir.  “Even terrorists are being treated better,” he said, adding that a convicted military officer was allegedly enjoying “VIP protocol” behind bars while he faced "relentless abuse." The former PM reignited old tensi...

The United Kingdom has lifted its four-year ban on Pakistani airlines, citing improved air safety standards following sustained oversight and reforms.  The decision, confirmed by the British High Commission in Islamabad on Wednesday, follows similar action by the European Union earlier this year. Image Source: Airways Magazine on X The ban was initially imposed in 2020 after Pakistan’s former aviation minister publicly revealed that a large number of pilots had obtained licenses fraudulently, shortly after a Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) crash killed 97 people in Karachi.  That disclosure led to widespread scrutiny and an international freeze on Pakistani carriers' access to key routes. UK authorities now acknowledge that Pakistan’s Civil Aviation Authority has taken steps to align with international protocols.  The Air Safety Committee, which oversees airline safety within the UK’s Civil Aviation Authority, confirmed that Pakistani airlines are no longer subject...

Indian Ministry of External Affairs has strongly rejected Pakistan Army’s accusation that India was behind the June 28 attack in Waziristan.  India dismissed the charge as baseless and provocative, firmly asserted that  the claim is contempt-worthy.  A suicide bomber drove an explosive-laden vehicle into a Pakistani military convoy in Mir Ali, North Waziristan, near the Afghan border, killing at least 13 soldiers, verified sources attributed the Pakistan Army as saying on Saturday. #BreakingNews #India #Pakistan #MEA #Waziristan #SouthAsia #Diplomacy #Security

US President Donald Trump has complained he won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize for his claimed role in defusing the recent India-Pakistan crisis.  In a post on Truth Social, Trump listed conflicts he says he helped resolve — including India-Pakistan, Russia-Ukraine, and Israel-Iran — but lamented: “No matter what I do, I won’t get a Nobel Peace Prize.” Trump asserted he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio secured an India-Pakistan ceasefire after the Pahalgam terror attack, calling his efforts “decisive diplomacy.”  Pakistan has now formally recommended Trump for the 2026 Nobel Peace Prize, crediting him for averting a nuclear conflict. Image Source: Incognito on X However, India has firmly rejected any claims of external mediation.  Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri reiterated that the ceasefire resulted from direct military-level talks, initiated by Pakistan. Prime Minister Modi reportedly told Trump that India will never accept foreign mediation on matters of its sovereignty. ...

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday stated his government’s readiness to engage in talks with India on all unresolved matters, including Jammu and Kashmir, the Indus Water Treaty, trade, and counter-terrorism. Sharif conveyed this during a phone call with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, according to a statement by Pakistan Television.  During what was described as a “warm and cordial” exchange, the Prime Minister also extended his best wishes to US President Donald Trump.  He praised his leadership and commending Secretary Rubio’s diplomatic efforts in facilitating the recent ceasefire understanding between Pakistan and India.

Pakistan has secured a five-year syndicated financing facility worth USD 1 billion, marking a significant financial transaction amid its ongoing economic crisis. The Dubai Islamic Bank served as the Sole Islamic Global Coordinator, while Standard Chartered Bank acted as the Mandated Lead Arranger and Book-runner.  Other key financiers included Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Sharjah Islamic Bank, Ajman Bank, and HBL. According to the Ministry of Finance, the facility includes both Islamic and conventional tranches, with 89% structured in compliance with AAOIFI (Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions) standards and the remaining 11% through conventional financing.  The deal is partially backed by an Asian Development Bank (ADB) policy-based guarantee under its "Improved Resource Mobilisation and Utilisation Reform" programme. This marks Pakistan's first re-entry into the Middle Eastern financial markets in nearly two and a half years, reflecting ...

Pakistan has closed all its border crossings with Iran indefinitely as tensions escalate between Israel and Iran, provincial officials confirmed on Monday.  Border facilities in Chaghi, Washuk, Panjgur, Kech, and Gwadar districts of Balochistan province have been suspended, said senior provincial official Qadir Bakhsh Pirkani.  Crossing into Iran has been halted “until further notice,” added Atta ul Munim, an official at the Chaghi crossing. Despite the closure, trade activities at the border continue, and Pakistani nationals returning from Iran are being allowed entry. Officials expect around 200 Pakistani students to arrive from Iran on Monday. Last week, as Israel and Iran exchanged heavy strikes, Pakistan declared its solidarity with Iran, reaffirming its longstanding non-recognition of Israel alongside Tehran.

✍️ Written by Saket Suman Pakistan has inserted itself into the escalating crisis of the Iran-Israel conflict. It has issued nuclear threats that underscore its growing role as a destabilizing force in South Asia.  In a televised interview on Iranian state media, senior Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps general and National Security Council member Mohsen Rezaei claimed that Islamabad has assured Tehran it would retaliate with nuclear weapons against Israel should Tel Aviv deploy its own nuclear arsenal on Iranian soil.  File Photo: 26/11 Pak Orchestrated Terror Attack  “Pakistan has told us that if Israel uses nuclear missiles, we will also attack it with nuclear weapons,” Rezaei said, according to Turkiye Today. While no Pakistani official has publicly confirmed such a commitment, the statement aligns with Islamabad’s long-standing practice of using nuclear blackmail to project influence far beyond its conventional military capacity.  Pakistan’s vow to ...

Pakistan has announced a 20% increase in its defense budget following last month’s deadly escalation with India. The new allocation was presented as part of the fiscal year 2025-26 budget by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s government. The total budget expenditure has been set at 17.57 trillion rupees (approximately $62 billion), marking a 7% reduction from the previous year. However, defense spending will rise to 2.55 trillion rupees ($9 billion), up from 2.12 trillion rupees allocated in the previous fiscal cycle, according to Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb. The budget announcement comes on the heels of heightened tensions earlier this year when relations between India and Pakistan sharply deteriorated after a terror attack targeting tourists in India's  Kashmir. The incident triggered weeks of cross-border hostilities, including missile and drone strikes that resulted in the most serious flare-up since 2019. Prime Minister Sharif, addressing his Cabinet, asserted that whi...

UK High Commissioner Jane Marriott met with Pakistan's Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Islamabad on Wednesday. The meeting, as reported by Radio Pakistan, provided an opportunity to review the state of Pakistan-UK bilateral relations and exchange views on regional and global developments of mutual interest. Both sides also discussed avenues for cooperation at multilateral platforms, with particular focus on matters related to the United Nations Security Council. The engagement showed ongoing diplomatic efforts by both countries to strengthen bilateral ties and collaborate on shared global challenges at a time when the Indian government has launched a global diplomatic outreach to point out how terrorists find a safe heaven in Pakistan and how they are funded, trained and sent to bring mayhem on Indian soil, reflected as recently as the brutal Pahalgam terrorist attack in India's Jammu and Kashmir.

Pakistani Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif is scheduled to embark on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Thursday, according to Radio Pakistan .  The Prime Minister will be joined by a high-level delegation, which includes Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, several federal ministers, and senior government officials. During the visit, Prime Minister Sharif is expected to hold high-level discussions with UAE leadership, including a bilateral meeting with the President of the UAE and Ruler of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. The agenda will cover a broad spectrum of bilateral, regional, and global matters of shared interest. As reported by Radio Pakistan , Foreign Office Spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan stated that the visit aims to deepen the historic ties between Pakistan and the UAE, strengthen economic cooperation, and expand collaboration across multiple sectors.  

Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has urged the United Kingdom to play its constructive role in promoting dialogue and easing tensions between Pakistan and India, amid growing regional unrest. According to Radio Pakistan , the call came during Bilawal's meeting in London with Hamish Falconer, the UK’s Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Middle East, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. The former foreign minister is currently heading a high-level parliamentary delegation from Pakistan. Discussions centered on the recent escalation in regional tensions. Bilawal praised the UK's consistent advocacy for restraint and diplomacy. He acknowledged what Radio Pakistan described as the UK leadership’s encouraging stance on de-escalation and dialogue. He criticized India’s reaction to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, rejecting what he called premature and unfounded accusations leveled against Pakistan without any credible evidence. He underscored that India’s military actions — including target...

Pakistan has been appointed to three key subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), including the influential Chair of the Sanctions Committee on the Taliban. According to official announcements, Pakistan will lead the 1988 Sanctions Committee, which oversees asset freezes, travel bans, and arms embargoes related to Taliban entities. In addition, Pakistan has been named Vice Chair of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, a body central to monitoring and supporting global efforts under UNSC Resolution 1373. The resolution requires all member states to take legal and institutional steps to combat terrorism. Pakistan will also serve as Co-Chair of the Security Council’s Informal Working Group on Documentation and Working Methods, which plays a crucial role in shaping how the Council conducts its internal deliberations and decision-making. These appointments come amid heightened regional security dynamics.

Head of Pakistan’s parliamentary delegation and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has called on the international community to support Pakistan’s efforts for peace through dialogue and diplomacy. He said that sustainable peace in South Asia requires comprehensive engagement. According to Pakistan Radio, Bilawal was speaking at a reception hosted by the Embassy of Pakistan in Washington, D.C., where he emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to responsible statecraft during the recent India-Pakistan tensions. “Pakistan acted with restraint and responsibility,” he said, adding that the armed forces defended the country with valor, while diplomatic missions successfully conveyed Pakistan’s position worldwide. Bilawal also highlighted the role of the Pakistani-American community as a critical bridge between both nations and urged them to actively contribute toward shared goals of peace and prosperity. Pakistani Minister for Climate Change Musadik Malik, also present, accused its neigh...

Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has begun a two-day official visit to Saudi Arabia today, accompanied by a high-level delegation. The visit is being seen as a key diplomatic outreach following the recent India-Pakistan tensions. Sharif is scheduled to meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with whom he will discuss regional stability, economic cooperation, and strategic alignment under Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. According to officials, the Prime Minister will formally thank the Saudi leadership for its constructive role in de-escalating tensions between India and Pakistan during last month’s cross-border flare-up. The visit, according to Pakistan Radio, shows Islamabad’s intent to deepen bilateral engagement—both economically and politically—at a time when the region faces renewed scrutiny over terrorism, security, and trade realignment.

Chairman of the Pakistan People’s Party and head of a high-level parliamentary delegation, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has called on the United Nations to play a proactive role in reducing tensions between India and Pakistan. The appeal was made during meetings with UN Secretary-General António Guterres and President of the General Assembly Philemon Yang at the UN Headquarters in New York. Image Source: President UNGA on X In his meeting with Guterres, Bhutto urged the UN to help facilitate a revival of dialogue between the two nuclear-armed neighbours and to restore the suspended Indus Waters Treaty. He stressed that lasting peace in South Asia hinges on comprehensive negotiations over the border issue, which he called the core of the regional conflict. The Pakistani delegation briefed the Secretary-General on what it described as the humanitarian impact of India’s decision to hold the Indus Waters Treaty in abeyance, following India’s airstrikes on May 7 in response to the Pahalgam terr...

Amid heightened regional tensions, Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday stated Islamabad’s commitment to deepening economic and strategic ties with Belarus. He highlighted opportunities in agriculture, information technology, and defence cooperation. During a meeting with Belarusian Defence Minister Lt. General Victor Khrenin in Islamabad, Sharif described the bilateral relationship as “excellent” and steadily improving. He expressed particular interest in harnessing Belarus’s expertise in agricultural machinery manufacturing and expanding collaboration in the fields of IT and defence, Radio Pakistan noted.  The meeting also included a briefing by the Pakistani side on recent developments in South Asia following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in India's Jammu and Kashmir. Sharif repeated Pakistan’s narrative on the post-attack escalation, claiming that Islamabad had offered impartial investigations, but that India responded with military aggression targeting c...

Chairman Pakistan People’s Party and head of the high-level parliamentary delegation, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, briefed the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member states at the United Nations on the deteriorating security situation in South Asia following India’s military actions after the Pahalgam attack. Addressing the OIC Permanent Representatives, Bhutto Zardari categorically rejected India’s attempt to link Pakistan to the incident without credible investigation or evidence. He warned that the hasty attribution of blame was used to justify unlawful cross-border strikes that targeted civilians and civilian infrastructure. He also condemned India’s unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, calling it a dangerous escalation and a violation of international law. “We cannot allow this to become a new normal,” he said, warning that India's aggressive actions are making the region and the world less secure. Bhutto Zardari called for the restoration of the Indus Wat...

Chairman PPP and head of Pakistan’s high-level parliamentary delegation, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, has called on the United States to facilitate a comprehensive dialogue between Pakistan and India to resolve all outstanding issues. In a meeting with Acting U.S. Permanent Representative to the UN, Ambassador Dorothy Shea, in New York, Bhutto Zardari thanked the U.S. administration—and President Trump in particular—for helping secure a ceasefire between the two countries. He raised concerns over India’s immediate attribution of the recent Pahalgam attack to Pakistan without credible investigation, calling such accusations unhelpful and escalatory. He emphasized Pakistan’s sacrifices in the global fight against terrorism and urged constructive international engagement. India, in its global diplomatic outreach, has been showing concrete proofs of how Pakistan shelters and enables terrorism that brings mayhem to the Indian soil.   The visit is part of Pakistan’s ongoing diplomatic...