Pakistan

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) police claimed on Thursday that they had arrested a suspected agent of India’s Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) in Rawalakot, who had been blackmailed into working for the foreign intelligence agency. According to AJK Inspector General of Police (IGP) Liaqat Ali Malik, one suspect had been arrested who had allegedly been blackmailed into working for RAW. His handler, whom Malik said used a Facebook account with an address in Lahore, blackmailed him by initially assigning “small tasks” — beginning with commonplace activities and later involving geotagging, sharing coordinates, and recording videos of “sensitive” sites, including military installations, schools, bridges and other government buildings in AJK and elsewhere in Pakistan. “This time, the AJK police worked with sensitive institutions to take pre-emptive action and exposed this whole network,” Malik said, adding that the enemy forces had “trapped” innocent young people while causing damage to life and property. According t...

The Pakistan Navy has successfully fired a locally developed anti-ship ballistic missile to engage targets at an extended range, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Thursday. “In a resolute display of preparedness and precision-strike capability, Pakistan Navy successfully conducted a live weapon firing of an indigenously developed ship-launched anti-ship missile, accurately engaging its target with high speed at extended range,” the ISPR said. @dawn.today The Pakistan Navy has successfully fired a locally developed anti-ship ballistic missile to engage targets at an extended range, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Thursday. “In a resolute display of preparedness and precision-strike capability, Pakistan Navy successfully conducted a live weapon firing of an indigenously developed ship-launched anti-ship missile, accurately engaging its target with high speed at extended range,” the ISPR said. It added that Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed ...

Turkiye cracked down on Thursday on social media posts praising two school shootings in two days, which have left the country reeling, ordering dozens of arrests ahead of funerals for the victims, who were mostly children. Authorities said 83 people had been detained, hundreds of accounts blocked and groups shut down after praise for the attacks — one on Tuesday, which wounded 16 people, and one on Wednesday, which killed nine and wounded 13. Eight of the dead were children aged 10 and 11, and their teacher, 55. The suspects in both cases were also killed, authorities have said. Tuesday’s attack, in the southeastern province of Sanliurfa, saw an ex-student open fire at his former high school. Authorities said he took his own life when cornered by police. Wednesday’s was believed to have been carried out by a 14-year-old student who arrived at the school in the southern province of Kahramanmaras with five guns and opened fire. Authorities have said the student, the son of a former police officer, planned the a...

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday directed the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) to hold intra-party elections by October 15. According to a statement issued by the ECP, a three-member bench headed by Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja gave MQM-P until October to hold intra-party elections. Barrister Farogh Naseem appeared on behalf of the party and sought a 90-day extension. He informed the commission that the party was compiling electoral lists and that the process was in its final stages. The ECP’s Director General Political Finance, Masood Sherwani, briefed the bench, stating that the party was “supposed to hold elections on January 16”. “The date was then extended to March 16, and now they have asked for time till December,” Sherwani said. In the previous hearing held on April 7, ECP had dismissed the MQM-P’s request seeking two months for party chairman Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui to appear in the case, after the commission summoned him. During the hearing, Sherw...

International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has commended Pakistan’s “continued progress on economic reforms” under the Fund’s programme and the resulting macroeconomic stability. She met with Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on the sidelines of the IMF–World Bank Spring Meetings 2026 in Washington, where the finance czar had arrived on Monday. During his visit, Aurangzeb was expected to participate in over 50 high-level engagements from April 13 to 18. “Great to see Aurangzeb at the IMF Meetings!” Georgieva said on X early on Thursday. “Strong programme implementation has helped Pakistan maintain macroeconomic stability and build confidence,” the IMF official said. She emphasised that “sound policies and deeper structural reforms remain key to sustaining growth and raising welfare for all Pakistanis”. In its statement on the interaction, the finance ministry recalled Georgieva’s remarks, noting that she “appreciated Pakistan’s continued progress on economic reforms”. “The rema...

Saudi Arabia has reinforced its financial backing for Pakistan by depositing $2 billion into the account of the State Bank of Pakistan, providing immediate support to the country’s foreign exchange reserves.

In a demonstration of operational readiness and precision-strike capability, the Pakistan Navy has successfully conducted a live weapon firing of an indigenously developed ship-launched anti-ship missile, accurately hitting its target at extended range with high speed.

A special meeting chaired by Maryam Nawaz Sharif reviewed progress on Punjab’s public transport initiatives, with a focus on expanding electric mobility across the province.

BANNU: Three polio workers abducted by militants on Wednesday have been safely recovered through coordinated efforts by the police and local jirga elders, police said. Under the leadership of the Bannu district police officer (DPO), the police initiated immediate action following the incident. A comprehensive strategy was adopted by taking local jirga elders into confidence. Due to the successful mediation by the jirga and the professional competence of the police, the abducted workers were safely recovered. Bannu DPO Yasir Afridi, while confirming the development, told Dawn that “with a lot of efforts, they have been recovered”. The three polio workers were abducted by unidentified militants in the Jhandu Khel area on Wednesday during the ongoing anti-polio campaign, sparking serious concern in the area. Earlier this week, a police constable was martyred and four others were injured in an attack on a law enforcement party en route to provide security for polio teams in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Hangu district. Th...

Ali Pervaiz Malik has inaugurated commercial production from the Baragzai X-01 well in the Nashpa Block, located in Kohat.

An anti-terrorism court on Thursday extended the interim bail of Fawad Chaudhry in five cases linked to the May 9 violent incidents.

Murtaza Wahab has announced the formation of a vigilance squad aimed at protecting the city’s infrastructure and taking legal action against those involved in damaging public property.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman after he reached Jeddah on Wednesday alongside a high-level delegation on an official visit to the kingdom, the PM Office’s (PMO) said in a statement. The statement added that Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar was also present at the meeting. Dar separately posted on X that the meeting was “marked by warmth, brotherhood, and a shared vision for a stronger Pakistan–Saudi Arabia partnership”. “The prime minister reaffirmed our deep-rooted ties, built on faith, trust, and mutual respect, and explored avenues to further enhance cooperation across all sectors,” he added. Dar further stated, “Saudi Arabia holds a special place in the hearts of Pakistanis, and we remain committed to strengthening this historic and fraternal relationship for generations to come.” Earlier, a post on the PMO’s X account said the premier was received by the Deputy Governor of the Makkah Region, Prince Saud bin Mushaal bin Abdulaziz, Saudi Ar...

Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir reached Tehran on Wednesday and held a meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and other officials, according to a post on the Iranian government’s X account. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) described the visit as part of “ongoing mediation efforts” for de-escalation between Iran and the US. ISPR said that CDF Munir had arrived in the Iranian capital alongside a formal delegation and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi. Later, Araghchi posted on X: “Delighted to welcome Field Marshal Munir to Iran. Expressed gratitude for Pakistan’s gracious hosting of the dialogue, emphasising that it reflects our deep and great bilateral relationship. Our commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region remains strong—and shared.” The development came hours after Iran said that exchanges with the United States via Pakistan had continued following negotiations in Islamabad over the weekend that yielded no result. “Since Sunday, w...

LAHORE - Punjab Chief MInister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has granted in-principle approval to expand the model village initiative, directing authorities to transform 7,500 villages in Phase II and to present clear timelines along with “before and after” comparative videos of each project.

Islamabad - Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan to Pakistan, Mr Alisher Tukhtaev called on President Asif Ali Zardari at Aiwan-e-Sadr on Wednesday.

ISLAMABAD - The top election regulatory body with the gap of five years has decided to hold local government elections in 42 cantonment boards across the country by August 8.

ISLAMABAD - Pressure on Israel over its military campaign in Lebanon intensified on Tuesday, as Italy suspended defense ties, Spain issued a blunt legal rebuke, and China called for respect for Lebanese sovereignty.

Islamabad - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia on the first leg of his four-day three-nation tour on Wednesday.

BAJAUR: Two children and a woman were killed while three others were injured when mortar shells fired from across the Afghan border hit a house in the Kitkot village of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bajaur district on Wednesday night, security sources said. The sources held the Afghan Taliban responsible for the firing, terming it an act of unprovoked aggression. They said the Afghan Taliban had been trying to get a formation of Fitna al Khawarij to infiltrate into Pakistan during the past few days. But the attempts were foiled due to timely action by the army, the sources said, adding that the Afghan Taliban then resorted to targeting the civilian population in Pakistan. Fitna al Khawarij is a term that the state has designated for the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban (TTP). According to security sources, the gun position from where the mortar shells were fired had been destroyed in retaliatory action by the army. They said that all posts of the Afghan Taliban near Bajaur were being targeted in the retaliatory action, during...