ISLAMABAD: Turkish and Qatari mediators are pressing the Afghan Taliban delegation on Pakistan’s demands to end cross-border terrorism, with efforts underway to secure an agreement before the scheduled end of talks here on Saturday, officials and diplomatic sources said on Friday.
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PPP backs limited military reforms, rejects curbs on provincial powers in 27th Amendment
ISLAMABAD: As the government pushes forward with a contentious proposal to amend the Constitution, the Pakistan Peoples Party, a key ally in the ruling coalition, signaled conditional support on Friday for limited changes to the powers of the armed forces while rejecting other elements that could undermine provincial rights.
Government eyes swift passage of 27th Amendment despite opposition outcry
ISLAMABAD: The government signaled on Wednesday that it expected to achieve consensus on a contentious 27th Constitutional Amendment within days, paving the way for the legislation to be introduced in Parliament next week, even as opposition leaders rallied against the proposal, warning that it risked eroding provincial powers, judicial independence and public faith in the nation’s founding document.
Pakistan, Afghan Taliban hold new round of talks to shore up fragile border truce
ISLAMABAD: Diplomats from Pakistan and Afghanistan gathered in Turkey on Wednesday ahead of a third round of talks set to open Thursday, seeking to curb cross-border terrorism and reinforce a shaky ceasefire that has held since last month’s deadly clashes along their shared frontier.
Four Indian-sponsored militants killed in southwest Pakistan: army
ISLAMABAD: Security forces killed four “Indian-sponsored terrorists” in an intelligence-based operation in the restive southwestern province of Balochistan, the military announced on Tuesday, amid a surge in violence that has plagued the region and neighboring areas.
Pakistan to table 27th constitutional amendment amid fears over rollback of provincial powers
ISLAMABAD: Deputy prime minister and foreign minister, Ishaq Dar, said on Tuesday that the government would soon introduce a long-discussed constitutional amendment in Parliament, seeking to quell opposition concerns that the measure could erode provincial autonomy hard-won under a landmark 2010 reform.
Muslim nations condemn Israeli ceasefire breaches in Gaza, urge troop withdrawal
ISLAMABAD: Foreign ministers from Muslim nations, including Pakistan on Monday condemned what they described as Israeli violations of a fragile cease-fire in Gaza, calling for the immediate withdrawal of Israeli forces from occupied Palestinian territories and the urgent delivery of humanitarian aid to ease the deepening crisis there.
Three militants, including two Afghans, killed in KP operations – army
ISLAMABAD: Security forces have killed at least three militants in two separate engagements in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the military said Monday, highlighting what it described as continued involvement by Afghan nationals in attacks inside Pakistan.
Pakistan military says only total elimination of terrorism from Afghanistan acceptable
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s military on Monday dismissed conditions set by Afghanistan in recent border talks as irrelevant, emphasising that only the complete elimination of terrorism from Afghan soil would satisfy Islamabad, amid escalating tensions marked by cross-border skirmishes and accusations of harboring militants.
Sharif seeks PPP backing for 27th Amendment to reshape judiciary, key institutions
ISLAMABAD: A delegation led by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approached the leaders of the Pakistan Peoples Party this week to rally support for a proposed 27th Constitutional Amendment, a move that could reshape the judiciary and other key institutions amid lingering controversy over recent changes to the legal system.