Dawn
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Dawn - 02:58 Mar 02, 2026
• PICSS says first two months of 2026 see almost half of all 2025 suicide attacks • Balochistan records ‘visible decline’ in attacks ISLAMABAD: Combat-related fatalities in Pakistan surged by 30 per cent in February 2026, driven by a sharp increase in suicide attacks across the country, according to monthly statistics released by an Islamabad-based think tank. The report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) documented 470 deaths and 333 injuries during the month. The dead included 96 civilians, 80 security forces personnel and 294 militants. The number of injured comprised 259 civilians, 50 security forces personnel and 24 militants. The figures represent a 74pc surge in the deaths of security forces personnel, a 32pc rise in civilian deaths and a 21pc increase in militant deaths compared to the previous month. Violence escalated significantly in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its merged districts (erstwhile Fata). The region saw 53 security forces personnel and six civilians killed... -
Dawn - 02:52 Mar 02, 2026
• Enhanced capacity on Jhelum, Chenab will increase flood, drought risks for Pakistan • At federal-provincial dialogue, Wapda chief stresses need for large dams ISLAMABAD: Around $60 billion in investment by New Delhi on storage projects along the two major western rivers — the Jhelum and Chenab — flowing from India-held Kashmir could soon become a lethal weapon against Pakistan, potentially causing both floods and droughts. At a recent federal-provincial dialogue on water storage projects, Water and Power Development Authority (Wapda) Chairman retired Lt Gen Muhammad Saeed reported that India’s $60bn investment plan was estimated to increase New Delhi’s storage capacity on these rivers to 55-60 days, up from around 15 days at present. “Such capacity could cause drought in Pakistan, given a nearly two-month window to stop normal flows, particularly when crops need crucial water downstream,” a participant at the briefing told Dawn. “Conversely, India can trigger floods at will during monsoon or heavy rainfa... -
Dawn - 02:46 Mar 02, 2026
• Israeli military says ‘unaware of the attack’ • US claims strike reports being looked into • Malala urges all states, parties to ‘safeguard schools’ PARIS: The death toll from the Israeli strikes that hit a girls’ school in southern Iran surged to 148, with nearly 100 others wounded, Al Jazeera reported. While Iranian officials claimed the attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh girls’ elementary school in the Minab city killed more than 100 people, neither the United States nor Israel confirmed that any such attack has taken place. Israel’s military on Sunday said it was “not aware” of any US or Israeli strike on any school in Iran. When asked about the strikes on school, Israel’s military spokesman Lt-Col Nadav Shoshani said, “At this point not aware of an Israeli or an American strike there… We’re operating in an extremely accurate manner.” However, The New York Times later quoted a CENTCOM spokesperson as saying: “We are aware of reports concerning civilian harm resulting from ongoing military operations. We ta... -
Dawn - 02:34 Mar 02, 2026
• PM speaks to Jordan, Bahrain rulers, offers support to restore calm; Dar contacts Omani, Iraqi counterparts • Loud blasts heard in Dubai and Doha; Oman hit for first time; multiple Gulf ports targeted • Emirati, Kuwaiti stock markets closed amid crisis • UAE confirms Pakistani national killed by missile debris ISLAMABAD: Amid Iranian counterattacks against US assets in the Gulf, Pakistan reached out to the rulers of Jordan and Bahrain via telephone and urged the need for restraint, de-escalation, and dialogue to preserve regional peace and stability. The Gulf states, which house American assets, came under attack after Iran retaliated to joint US-Israeli strikes, which killed its top leadership, including the supreme leader, and scores of citizens. According to the PM Office, the PM held a telephone conversation with Jordan’s King Abdullah II to discuss the evolving regional situation. The two leaders exchanged views on the serious regional developments following the recent escalation from the Israeli atta... -
Dawn - 02:28 Mar 02, 2026
• Iran confirms supreme leader’s death, declares 40-day mourning • Hospital targeted as Israeli missiles pound Tehran, other areas for second day; retaliatory strikes kill 9 in Israel • US claims sinking 9 Iranian warships, B-2 bombers target missile sites; 3 American troops killed • Shipping paralysed as IRGC closes Strait of Hormuz • Trump says war on Iran ‘could last four weeks’; Tehran still open to talks, insists on ‘no limit’ to self-defence JERUSALEM: The war between Iran and the US-Israel alliance escalated sharply on Sunday after Iran confirmed the assassination of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli airstrike, a move that has plunged the Middle East into its most perilous crisis in decades. As Iranian government declared 40 days of national mourning and seven public holidays following the death of the man who wielded absolute power since 1989, Iranian missiles killed at least nine people in a central Israeli town, while the US and Israel continued bombardment of Tehran, with... -
Dawn - 19:50 Mar 01, 2026
KARACHI/LAHORE/GILGIT/ISLAMABAD/DI KHAN: Ten people were killed in Karachi and two in Islamabad as protests erupted countrywide against the assassination of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in US-Israeli attacks. The situation warranted Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to issue an appeal, urging people to remain peaceful. “Today is a sorrowful day for the entire Muslim ummah, Pakistan’s public and Iran’s public,” he said in a video statement. Stating that every Pakistani citizen was as aggrieved as Iranians, Naqvi said, “My only request is that we all stand with you, but please do not take the law into your hands. You may protest but peacefully.” Karachi clashes In Karachi, protesters clashed with law enforcement personnel near the US Consulate on Mai Kolachi Road. Law enforcement personnel resorted to teargas shelling and baton-charge to control the situation. Subsequently, Section 144 was also extended across Sindh. According to the Home Department, all kinds of wall chalking, protests, demonstra... -
Dawn - 19:31 Mar 01, 2026
If the war between Iran and the United States escalates, the single biggest economic threat to Pakistan will come from oil. Brent crude settled around $72.5 a barrel on Friday, already up nearly 19 per cent year-to-date, according to CNBC. Rumours are swirling of oil touching $100. For Pakistan, even modest increases carry heavy consequences. For every $10 rise in oil prices, the current account deficit increases by roughly $1.5–$2 billion, explains former chief executive officer of the Pakistan Business Council, Ehsan Malik. “If prices were to climb to $100, the deficit could expand by $5–$7bn on an annualised basis, potentially undoing recent gains that allowed FY25 to post a $2bn current account surplus.” Markets are extremely erratic right now, says energy analyst Syed Rashid Husain. Iran produces roughly 3–3.5 million barrels of oil per day, exporting about 1–1.5m barrels. While this is far lower than the output of the United States (about 13.5m barrels per day) or Saudi Arabia (around 9–10m), even a los... -
Dawn - 19:24 Mar 01, 2026
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has ordered its stock markets closed on Monday and Tuesday as the country reels from Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone strikes, in a sign of the growing economic disruption sweeping the Gulf. Iran carried out the strikes in Gulf countries that have US bases and assets after joint attacks on the Islamic republic by Israel and America. The UAE Capital Markets Authority said the Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange and Dubai Financial Market would remain shut on March 2 and March 3, citing its supervisory and regulatory role over the country’s capital markets. “The Authority will continue to monitor developments in the region and assess the situation on an ongoing basis, taking any further measures as necessary,” it said in a statement. The UAE’s two exchanges are home to some of the region’s most valuable listed companies. The closure keeps billions of dollars in listed assets in suspension as investors await clarity on the scale of damage from Saturday and Sunday’s strikes, which hit... -
Dawn - 18:19 Mar 01, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday expressed concern over the violation of international norms and the targeting of heads of state/government following the assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. In a post on X, the premier said, “The government and the people of Pakistan join the people of Iran in their hour of grief and sorrow and extend the most sincere condolences on the martyrdom of His Eminence Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.” He further said, “Pakistan also expresses concern over the violation of the norms of international law. It is an age-old convention that the heads of state/government should not be targeted.” The premier prayed for the Iranian supreme leader and for strength for the people of the country to bear “this irreparable loss”. Separately, President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed profound sorrow over the martyrdom of the Iranian supreme leader and other members of Iran’s senior leadership, according to a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat. “The pre... -
Dawn - 17:49 Mar 01, 2026
Sanju Samson’s sparkling unbeaten 97 kept alive India’s dream of retaining the T20 World Cup at home as they knocked out the West Indies with a five-wicket win in Kolkata on Sunday to set up a semi-final against England. Samson hit 12 fours and four sixes in his superb 50-ball knock in the winner-takes-all final Super Eights match to thrill a capacity 67,000 fans at a pulsating Eden Gardens. After the West Indies smacked 70 off the last five overs to score 195-4 after being asked to bat, India lost two early wickets but were always up with the required rate. Samson, opening for the second match in succession, led the way. When India slipped to 41-2, he was joined by captain Suryakumar Yadav (18) and the pair added 58 for the third wicket. Tilak Varma was next to join Samson and scored 27 off 15 before departing in the 15th over with the score 141-4 and India still needing 55. Samson stood firm and though Hardik Pandya fell for 17, India reached the target with four balls to spare to spark celebrations and fir... -
Dawn - 17:31 Mar 01, 2026
The live television feed of Geo News was hacked on Sunday night, with a subversive message being displayed. In a statement, the Geo News management said that for the past 24 hours, attempts were being made to hack the channel — which was on the communication satellite PAKSAT — and disrupt its broadcast. The management said that for some time now, the channel had been facing continuous disruptions. “Geo News’ screen was hacked to display an inappropriate message,” the statement said, adding that the situation had nothing to do with the channel. It called on authorities to take notice of the incident, take immediate action and bring those responsible to justice. -
Dawn - 17:06 Mar 01, 2026
Brent crude jumped 10 per cent to about $80 a barrel over the counter on Sunday, oil traders said, while analysts predicted that prices could climb as high as $100 after US and Israeli strikes on Iran plunged the Middle East into a new war. The global oil benchmark has rallied this year and reached $73 a barrel on Friday for its highest since July, buoyed by growing concern over the potential attacks that arrived a day later. Futures trading is closed over the weekend. “While the military attacks are themselves supportive for oil prices, the key factor here is the closing of the Strait of Hormuz,” said Ajay Parmar, director of energy and refining at ICIS. Most tanker owners, oil majors and trading houses have suspended crude oil, fuel and liquefied natural gas shipments via the Strait of Hormuz, trade sources said, after Tehran warned ships against moving through the waterway. More than 20pc of global oil is moved through the Strait of Hormuz. Middle East leaders have warned Washington that a war on Iran coul... -
Dawn - 16:52 Mar 01, 2026
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday chaired a high-level meeting to review the regional situation and the country’s security situation, state-run PTV reported. The development comes as Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban earlier this week after the neighbouring country targeted Pakistani positions along the border. Separately, the United States and Israel launched strikes against Iran on Saturday, assassinating Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Tehran called the strikes unprovoked and illegal and responded with missiles fired at Israel and at least seven other countries, including Gulf states that host US bases. In a post on X, the state broadcaster said that during the meeting, the regional situation was reviewed in detail, while Pakistan’s role in maintaining peace in the region and multiple actions in this regard were also considered. The situation of Afghanistan was also deeply reviewed during the meeting, while the members were also given a briefing on t... -
Dawn - 16:50 Mar 01, 2026
Multiple users and accounts on social media platforms X and Facebook on March 1 were sharing an alleged image of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s body under rubble after he was assassinated in airstrikes by the United States and Israel. However, the image is AI-generated. Khamenei, who ruled the Islamic Republic for over 30 years, was assassinated in a strike in the early hours of Sunday, by the US and Israel — the two countries that had been calling for regime change in Tehran. Iran called the strikes “unprovoked and illegal”, responding with missiles fired at Israel and at least seven other countries, including Gulf states that host US bases, while vowing revenge for Khamenei’s assassination. On March 1, a pro-Iranian user, based on his profile picture and past posts, shared a picture of Khamenei under rubble on X with the following caption: “My leader gave up his life, but the Muslim nation did not compromise or sell out the followers of Imam Hussain.” The post gained 4.8 million views and wa... -
Dawn - 16:19 Mar 01, 2026
KARACHI: Spent casings of tear gas shells littered the road outside the US consulate in Karachi on Sunday, which was sprinkled with charred remains of several motorcycles — including one that belonged to a Dawn photographer. The smell of gunpowder was in the air, regularly punctuated by the deep thumps of tear gas shells being fired. Hundreds of law enforcement personnel, including paramilitary forces, riot police and special units, were in the area — forming security cordons, keeping protesters at bay, and even those taking refuge from the afternoon sun. A burnt motorbike lies on the road after it was burned by protesters as they gathered outside the US Consulate General, following news of US and Israeli strikes on Iran that assassinated supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in Karachi on March 1, 2026. — Reuters The protesters, young Shia men, were scattered, their numbers waxing and waning, but not more than a thousand. A couple of hundred angry protesters were crowded at the end of the Mai Kolachi Road, ... -
Dawn - 14:11 Mar 01, 2026
The assassination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli strike has plunged the Islamic Republic into one of the most consequential political transitions since the 1979 revolution, triggering a swift constitutional process to select a new leader while the country grapples with regional escalation and internal uncertainty. Khamenei, who dominated Iran’s political and religious landscape for nearly three decades, was assassinated early Saturday when his high-security residential compound in central Tehran was targeted. Several family members — including his daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law and a grandchild — were also killed in the strike. The attack came as Israel and the US launched coordinated strikes across multiple Iranian cities, including Tehran, reportedly killing more than 200 people, according to health officials. The escalation followed three rounds of indirect nuclear talks between Tehran and Washington — most recently in Geneva on Thursday — that failed to produc... -
Dawn - 13:24 Mar 01, 2026
South Africa survived a brilliant all-round show by Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza to record a five-wicket win on Sunday, which means they remained unbeaten ahead of a semi-final against New Zealand on Wednesday. After Zimbabwe scored 153-7 in New Delhi, South Africa survived an early wobble. Dewald Brevis hit 42 off 18 balls as the 2024 runners-up reached 154-5 in 17.5 overs. Raza earlier hit 73 and then took 3-29 with his off-spin for Zimbabwe, who had stunned Australia and co-hosts Sri Lanka in the group stage to reach the Super Eights. Raza struck on the third ball of the South African chase to send back Quinton de Kock, caught behind for a duck. Raza bowled skipper Aiden Markram for four in the next over. Ryan Rickelton was hit on the helmet by a bouncer from Brad Evans and took five minutes to recover. He then lifted Evans for two straight sixes in the next over before the bowler had him caught for 31. Brevis and David Miller, who hit 22, put on 50 before two more quick strikes from Zimbabwe. Blessing M... -
Dawn - 11:27 Mar 01, 2026
The Foreign Office (FO) on Sunday issued an advisory on the situation in the Middle East and the Persian Gulf, saying it had activated its crisis management unit (CMU) to “closely monitor the developments and extend all necessary assistance” to Pakistani nationals abroad. In a post on X, the Foreign Office (FO) said that the unit would be operational 24/7. It said that the unit could be contacted at +92-51-9207887 for information and emergency assistance. It “strongly advised” Pakistani nationals residing in the Gulf region to “exercise utmost caution, remain indoors where possible, avoid unnecessary travel, and strictly adhere to the instructions and advisories issued by the respective host governments”. The ministry also provided the emergency contact details of embassies and consulates in the Gulf region for the facilitation of Pakistani nationals abroad. Iran Embassy of Pakistan in Tehran: +98-21-669413-88/89/90/91 (landline); +98-9107648298 (mobile) Pakistani Consulate in Zahidan: +98-54-33223389; +98-90... -
Dawn - 11:00 Mar 01, 2026
Pakistan’s shortcomings were laid bare during their lacklustre T20 World Cup campaign which ended on Saturday when the team failed to reach the semi-finals. From the captain Salman Agha, who was criticised for not being a T20 player, to slow batting rates and the use of all-rounders not up to the job, the Green Shirts were shown to be behind the times in the rapid-fire format. Former wicketkeeper-batsman Kamran Akmal believes there is a huge gulf in standard between Pakistan and the top sides such as India, West Indies, South Africa and England. “Other teams have evolved to the demands of Twenty20 cricket, but neither our team nor our players meet those standards,” Akmal told AFP. “It is like other teams are playing on the moon and we are on earth. We only beat smaller teams but lose to top teams.” Pakistan had high hopes for the T20 World Cup after sweeping Australia 3-0 in a pre-tournament series. The team boasted a quintet of spinners that should have been suited to the turning pitches in Sri Lanka where t... -
Dawn - 10:41 Mar 01, 2026
UNITED NATIONS: Pakistan struck a delicate balance at a tense UN Security Council meeting on Saturday, condemning unwarranted attacks on Iran, expressing solidarity with Gulf states, and urging an immediate return to negotiations and diplomacy. The Council’s emergency session examined the repercussions of the US and Israeli air strikes on Iran and laid bare the deep divisions within the 15-member body over the escalating crisis. Speaking at the meeting, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, outlined Islamabad’s growing concern as the situation in the Middle East becomes more complex with each new development. “Pakistan condemns the initiation of unwarranted attacks against the Islamic Republic of Iran, in violation of international law,” the ambassador said. At the same time, he stressed that Pakistan also “condemns the attacks against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, and stands in solidarity with all these brotherly count...
7911 items