ISLAMABAD: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio met Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Washington on Friday, praising Pakistan’s role in advancing “global and regional peace” and signaling a renewed commitment to strengthening U.S.-Pakistan ties.
International
Pakistan, China strengthen defence ties amid South Asia tensions
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir met with senior Chinese political and military leaders in Beijing to discuss defence modernisation and cooperation, focusing on counterterrorism, joint training, and combating transnational threats, the Pakistani military said on Friday, amid escalating tensions in South Asia following a recent clash with India.
Pakistan voices cautious optimism in talks with Afghan Taliban on TTP sanctuaries
ISLAMABAD: The Foreign Office expressed guarded optimism on Thursday about ongoing talks with Afghanistan, suggesting progress on the thorny issue of militant sanctuaries used by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Afghan soil.
Imran Khan warns party to end infighting ahead of August 5 protests
ISLAMABAD: Imran Khan, the incarcerated founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former prime minister, has issued a stern warning to his party members to set aside their differences and focus on a planned nationwide protest set to peak on August 5.
Security forces kill three terrorists in Balochistan operation, lose two soldiers
ISLAMABAD: The security forces killed three militants in a counterterrorism operation in the southwestern district of Mastung, but lost an army major and a sepoy in the exchange of fire, the military said on Thursday, underscoring the rising toll of Islamabad’s battle against surging militancy.
Pakistan and Afghanistan ink trade pact to slash tariffs
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Afghanistan signed a landmark trade deal on Wednesday, agreeing to an Early Harvest Programme (EHP) that slashes tariffs on eight agricultural items for one year and lays the groundwork for a broader preferential trade agreement (PTA).
Imran Khan’s sons meet Trump aide in bid to free father from Pakistani jail
ISLAMABAD: The sons of Pakistan’s imprisoned former prime minister Imran Khan met with Richard Grenell, a key aide to US President Donald Trump, in California on Tuesday, intensifying their campaign to secure their father’s release from jail. Khan, 71, has been detained since August 2023 on corruption charges his supporters decry as politically motivated, a case that has drawn growing international attention to Pakistan’s turbulent political landscape.
Pakistan, Bangladesh agree to visa-free diplomatic travel, bolster security cooperation
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Bangladesh took a step toward easing their historically strained ties on Wednesday, agreeing in principle to allow visa-free entry for holders of diplomatic and official passports.
PM Sharif signals openness to India talks amid Kashmir tensions
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday renewed calls for “meaningful dialogue” with India to tackle all unresolved issues, including the decades-old Kashmir dispute, a proposal overshadowed by lingering tensions from a deadly attack in the region earlier this year.
UNSC unanimously passes Pakistan-backed resolution on peaceful dispute settlement
ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Security Council on Tuesday unanimously adopted a resolution sponsored by Pakistan, urging all nations to resolve disputes through peaceful means such as negotiation, mediation, arbitration, judicial settlement, or other methods.