ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has emerged as the country most severely battered by the Taliban’s seizure of power in Afghanistan in 2021, according to a new report by the International Crisis Group, which warns that a fragile ceasefire between the two neighbours could shatter if cross-border militant attacks continue, prompting Islamabad to unleash fresh military strikes.
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PTI rejects accusations of aiding terrorists, calls for unified strategy
ISLAMABAD: Leaders of the main opposition party, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, forcefully rejected accusations from the military that they were facilitating terrorism in the restive northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, insisting on Thursday that the party had always condemned attacks and urged a national consensus to combat the threat without political rancor.
Pakistan, Muslim nations calls Israel’s Somaliland trip a breach of Somalia’s sovereignty
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and a coalition of more than 20 predominantly Muslim nations, joined by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, issued a forceful condemnation on Thursday of a visit by Israel’s foreign minister to the breakaway region of Somaliland, calling it a blatant infringement on Somalia’s sovereignty and a threat to regional stability.
PTI says talks impossible without imprisoned Imran Khan
ISLAMABAD: A top official in Imran Khan’s opposition party said on Thursday that any negotiations with the federal government would be impossible without the presence of the imprisoned former prime minister, casting fresh doubt on efforts to ease Pakistan’s deepening political crisis.
Pakistan holds off on Gaza deployment, seeking clarity from US on mission and funding
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is holding off on a decision to contribute troops to an international stabilization force in Gaza until the United States provides clear answers on its mandate and funding, a Foreign Office spokesman said on Thursday, as the country grapples with persistent cross-border terrorism from Afghanistan that has strained relations with its neighbour.
Rights lawyer asks Islamabad court to summon military spokesman in social media case
ISLAMABAD: A prominent human rights lawyer and her husband, facing charges of inciting linguistic divisions and maligning the armed forces through social media posts, asked a court in Islamabad on Wednesday to summon the military’s top public relations official as a witness, citing a recent press conference that they said directly touched on their case.
CM Afridi says secretive security policies deepened suffering in militant-hit KP, seeks voice in counterterrorism strategy
PESHAWAR: The chief minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province pressed the federal government on Wednesday to overhaul its strategy against militants, insisting that his administration and local leaders be included in policy decisions against militancy to to avoid repeating the hardships endured by residents over the past 17 years.
Former allies of Imran Khan call for government-opposition talks to ease political crisis
ISLAMABAD: A band of onetime leaders from former prime minister Imran Khan’s party joined with other figures on Wednesday to press for face-to-face discussions between the government and opposition to ease the sharp divisions roiling Pakistan’s politics, starting with the freeing of jailed activists as a gesture of good faith.
Pakistan plans special police force to guard Chinese projects and workers
ISLAMABAD: In a push to tighten security for Chinese workers and investments in Pakistan, the two countries have settled on a series of new steps, including a dedicated police unit in Islamabad to guard Chinese citizens, officials said on Wednesday after high-level talks in Beijing.
Opposition PTI fires back at military over claims of fostering terrorism in key province
ISLAMABAD: The main opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party fired back on Tuesday at accusations from the military’s chief spokesman that its policies in the restive Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province had fostered a surge in terrorism, dismissing the claims as politically motivated and a threat to democratic norms.