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ISLAMABAD - Senate parliamentary party leader and senior PML-N figure Senator Irfan Siddiqui has strongly rejected India’s latest claim of downing Pakistani aircraft, calling it “baseless and farcical”.

ISLAMABAD – Pakistani security officials have rejected Indian media reports framing Field Marshal Asim Munir’s recent interaction with the Pakistani diaspora in the United States as jingoistic, saying the portrayal is misleading and politically motivated.

China’s former defence attache in South Asia Cheng Xizhong on Sunday spurned India’s much-delayed claim that it had shot down six Pakistani aircraft during the May conflict, terming it “self-amusement”. Having faced international coverage of its own craft being downed by Pakistan and scathing criticism from the opposition, India’s Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh — three months after the conflict — claimed yesterday that his country had shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one other military aircraft during those clashes. While Pakistan had already denied that India downed any of its aircraft, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif swiftly rubbished Singh’s “belated assertions” yesterday. Commenting on the matter today, Cheng said India’s allegations lacked strong evidence and have been “widely questioned by the international community, being considered groundless”, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported. Singh’s remarks were “comical, implausible and unconvincing”. “We may call it self-amusement,” he said i...

Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, held meetings with senior American political and military officials, as well as members of the Pakistani diaspora, during his official visit to the United States, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday.

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday rubbished what he said were “implausible” and “comical” claims by the Indian Air Force chief that the country had shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one other military aircraft during clashes in May. The comments are the first such statement by the Indian side three months after its worst military conflict in decades with its neighbour. During the conflict, Pakistan said it downed five Indian planes in air-to-air combat on May 7, later stating that figure as six. India’s highest-ranking general has also acknowledged that its forces suffered losses in the air, but denied losing six aircraft. Speaking at an event in the southern city of Bengaluru, Indian Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh claimed: “We have at least five fighters confirmed killed, and one large aircraft,” adding that the large aircraft, which could be a surveillance plane, was shot down at a distance of 300 kilometres. He alleged that most of the Pakistani aircraft were downed by India’s Russian-m...

Pakistani security forces have downed an Indian drone in Lahore’s Manawan area, raising fresh concerns over cross-border surveillance activities.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani students have secured four medals at the 2nd International Nuclear Science Olympiad (INSO-2025) held in Malaysia, marking a proud moment for the country’s scientific community. The team’s impressive performance includes one Gold, one Silver, and two Bronze medals, underscoring the exceptional talent and potential of Pakistan’s youth in the field of nuclear science. […]

Applications are now open for the UK Government’s Chevening Scholarships 2025, offering fully funded one-year master’s degrees at leading UK universities for Pakistani students.

The Foreign Office (FO) on Tuesday strongly rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s allegations about the involvement of Pakistani nationals in the ongoing Ukraine conflict.

The Foreign Office (FO) on Tuesday rejected claims of Pakistani nationals being involved in the Ukraine conflict after a statement by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelensky claimed on Monday that his troops in northeastern Ukraine were fighting foreign “mercenaries” from various countries, including China, Pakistan and parts of Africa. A statement by the FO today said Pakistan “categorically rejects the baseless and unfounded allegations of the involvement of Pakistani nationals in the conflict in Ukraine”. “To date, Pakistan has not been formally approached by the Ukrainian authorities, nor has any verifiable evidence been presented to substantiate such claims.” The statement added that the government would take up this matter with the Ukrainian authorities, “and seek clarification in this regard”. “Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to the peaceful resolution of the Ukraine conflict through dialogue and diplomacy, in accordance with the principles of the UN Charter,” the statement said. In a post o...

ISLAMABAD: A four-member team of Pakistani students delivered an outstanding performance, winning four bronze medals at the International Olympiad in Informatics (IOI) held from July 27 to August 3 in Bolivia. According to a press release issued by the Federal Board of Intermediate and Secondary Education (FBISE), Mohammad Aneeq, Ghulam Junaid, Mohammad Saram and Ahmed Imran Malik secured bronze medals for the nation. “Among 86 participating countries, Pakistan proudly ranked 32nd, outperforming many technologically advanced and developed nations, including Germany, Austria, Turkey, France, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, Finland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Saudi Arabia,” said the press release. Last year, the Pakistani team had secured two bronze medals and the overall ranking was 46th. “This brilliant performance of the Pakistan team is a testament to the transparent and merit-based selection process carried out by FBISE, and it reflects the immense potential and talent of Pakistan’s youth. It marks a signific...

KARACHI: The German Consulate General in Karachi has formally resumed German visa services for non-European Union (EU) citizens, including Pakistani nationals. Earlier, the consulate had put operations on hold last week due to undefined reasons, triggering doubts among visa applicants. The visa section will start operations from Tuesday, August 5. Applicants can submit their applications […]

Foreign ministry hails new tariff under US trade deal Says tariff agreement with US opens new avenues for Pakistani exports Calls Trump move a balanced and forward-looking approach.

United States President Donald Trump has introduced tariffs on exports from dozens of trading partners, including a 19 per cent tariff on Pakistani goods — revised from the previous 29pc — a day after the two countries finalised a trade agreement. According to an executive order detailing the tariffs, it was announced that Pakistan is set to face a 19pc tariff rate as Trump’s tariff deadline comes to an end on August 1 (today). The order listed higher import duty rates of 10 to 41pc starting in seven days for 69 trading partners as the 12:01am EDT (9:01am PKT) deadline approached. What we know so far: Pakistani goods exported to US to now be taxed 19pc as part of Trump’s global tariffs The rate is lower than the proposed 29pc after trade talks with US Finance ministry sees major opportunity to expand Pakistan’s footprint in US market Official notes Pakistan ‘possibly only country’ offered investments alongside Levies for 68 other trading partners range from 10-41pc, with India facing 25pc tariff Canada’s duti...

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has officially implemented a visa exemption for holders of Pakistani diplomatic and official passports, effective July 25, 2025.

ISLAMABAD: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sunday officially implemented a visa exemption for holders of Pakistani diplomatic and official passports, effective July 25, 2025. The development was announced by Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar via the social media platform X. He stated that the agreement was finalized during his meeting with […]

Pakistani pilgrims will be barred from travelling by road to Iran and Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage due to public and national security, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Sunday. Pilgrims visit Iraq to attend the chehlum commemoration — also known as Arbaeen (40 in Arabic) — to mark the 40th day of mourning for the martyrdom of Imam Husain, the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). “After extensive consultations with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, [the] Balochistan Government, and security agencies, it has been decided that zaireen (pilgrims) will not be allowed to travel to Iraq and Iran by road for Arbaeen this year,” Naqvi said on X. He added that the “difficult decision was taken in the interest of public safety and national security”. However, the pilgrims will be able to travel by air, the minister noted. Naqvi stressed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has directed authorities to “arrange maximum flights to facilitate their pilgrimage in the coming days”. Naqvi’s statement came after ...

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday announced that Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates have agreed on multiple visa waivers for diplomatic and official Pakistani passports, and vice versa. Pakistan and the UAE share close diplomatic, economic, and cultural ties. The UAE is one of Pakistan’s largest trading partners in the Middle East and a major source of remittances, with a large Pakistani expatriate population living and working there. In a post on X, Dar announced the agreement with the UAE’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, hailing the decision between “our two brotherly countries”. “I have been informed by the UAE authorities that the visa waiver for diplomatic and official Pakistani passports entering the United Arab Emirates has been activated, effective July 25, 2025, at all UAE airports,” the foreign minister wrote. “We agreed [on] mutual visa waivers on diplomatic and official passports between our two brotherly countries an...

KARACHI: While the passports of other Asian countries have emerged as the most powerful in the world, Pakistan’s travel document continues to be ranked among the ‘weakest’ in the world, with visa-free access available to only 32 destinations. According to the Henley Passport Index for 2025, Pakistan currently ranks 96th on the list — ahead of the war-torn nations of Somalia, Yemen, Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. Although still quite low, the country’s ranking has improved slightly; in 2024, the Pakistani passport was tied with Yemen as the fourth-worst in the world for the fourth consecutive year. The Henley Passport Index compares the visa-free access of 199 different passports to 227 travel destinations, and ranks all the world’s passports based on the number of destinations their holders can enter without a prior visa. Singapore, Japan and South Korea top the list; Afghanistan placed at the bottom If no visa is required, then that passport is given a score value of 1. The same applies if you can obtain a vis...

ISLAMABAD - Afghanistan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Sardar Ahmad Shakeeb yesterday said that Afghanistan was a significant market for Pakistani products.