Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday conveyed Eid ul-Fitr greetings to the leaders of Kuwait and Oman during separate virtual calls, according to official statements posted on the prime minister X. In a conversation with Kuwait&rsquo;s Crown Prince, Sheikh Sabah Al Khaled Al Sabah, the prime minister &nbsp;extended his greetings and condemned recent attacks in Kuwait. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2034253468005793800&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=764038d6e089d07d32ef9078dc81bcecd3b4f7e7&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> &ldquo;I strongly condemned the recent attacks on Kuwait, extended heartfelt condolences on the loss of precious lives, and reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s unwavering solidarity with our Kuwaiti brothers and sisters,&rdquo; Sharif said. Speaking to Oman&rsquo;s Sultan, Haitham bin Tariq, the prime minister expressed condolences over the loss of lives and injuries in recent attacks and reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s support. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2034251140003750211&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=764038d6e089d07d32ef9078dc81bcecd3b4f7e7&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> During the calls, Sharif stressed the importance of dialogue, unity and collective efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region. He also reiterated his invitation to the leaders of Kuwait and Oman to visit Pakistan and accepted an invitation from the both countries to visit on mutually convenient dates.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif conveys Eid ul-Fitr greetings to the leaders of Kuwait and Oman during separate virtual calls; stress the importance of dialogue, unity and collective efforts to ensure peace and stability in the region;

Pakistan PM sends Eid greetings to Arab leaders, urges unity

Pakistan TV

ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said Pakistan will respond to any violation from the Afghan side during the temporary pause for Eidul Fitr. Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV, the information minister said Pakistan took this initiative of announcing a temporary pause in Operation Ghazab-Lil-Haq in view of the upcoming Eidul Fitr and also after receiving requests from brotherly countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Turkiye.&nbsp; He said the pause in the operation will remain in effect till the night of March 23/24, and the operation will resume after the Eid festival.&nbsp;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2034327474491027652&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=82058e6f0821aaa9f6daafb48e0bcc54f7e5aeed&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2034327474491027652"></iframe></div></div>He reaffirmed that the country remains fully alert in defending its sovereignty.&nbsp; He emphasized that the pause was temporary and did not signal any weakening of Pakistan&rsquo;s stance against terrorism. The minister criticised the Afghan Taliban for failing to meet their commitments, stating, &ldquo;all promises of Taliban have not been converted into reality&rdquo;. Rejecting allegations levelled by the Afghan Taliban of civilian harm during the operation, Tarar said: &ldquo;All our strikes in Afghanistan are on military installations&rdquo;, and that &ldquo;Taliban&rsquo;s claims of targeting civilians are false and baseless&rdquo;.&nbsp; He reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s position toward Afghan citizens, stating, &ldquo;we have nothing against Afghan citizens&rdquo;. On the issue of false propaganda peddled by the Afghan Taliban, the minister said: &ldquo;Afghan Taliban have resorted to false propaganda.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;We are countering their lies with truth and facts,&rdquo; he said, stressing that &ldquo;Pakistan will continue to expose Afghan Taliban lies through mainstream media and social media&rdquo;. Highlighting the India-Taliban nexus, Tarar said: &ldquo;Afghan Taliban have embraced the Indian policy of spreading fake news.&rdquo; Concluding, he reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s readiness, stating, &ldquo;we are fully alert and vigilant in defending our country.&rdquo;

SAT News Desk

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar has said Pakistan will respond to any violation from the Afghan side during the temporary pause for Eidul Fitr.

Any Afghan Taliban violation of pause to get befitting response: Tarar

Angelina Duaa Hashir

The idea that women can &ldquo;have it all&rdquo; has shaped a generation&mdash;encouraging women to pursue education, careers, and family life at the same time.&nbsp;Yet while women&#39;s participation in the workforce has grown, the structure of work has changed far more slowly.&nbsp; This episode of Unladylike explores how career paths still assume uninterrupted availability, why caregiving often comes at a professional cost, and what women are actually asking for when they talk about workplace equality.&nbsp; It looks at the gap between opportunity on paper and reality in practice&mdash;and why progress for women depends not just on access to work but on changing how work itself is structured.

Unladylike

The idea that women can “have it all” has shaped a generation—encouraging women to pursue education, careers, and family life at the same time. Yet while women's participation in the workforce has grown, the structure of work has changed far more slowly. 

The 'having it all' myth | Unladylike

BERLIN: Berlin will buy four German-designed frigates to tide it over as it looks to resolve lengthy delays to a major order from a Dutch shipbuilder, the defence ministry said Wednesday. Germany ordered six F126 frigates from Dutch group Damen Naval in 2020, set to be the largest vessels in the German fleet. The deal was reported to be worth over 10 billion euros ($12 billion). The first was due to be delivered in 2028 but Berlin said last year it was reviewing the order after it was beset by &quot;massive delays.&quot; The defence ministry is now seeking to procure four MEKO A-200 frigates as an &quot;interim solution&quot; as it continues negotiations with the Dutch company, the defence ministry said. MEKO A-200 frigates are developed by Blohm and Voss, part of German submarine and warship maker TKMS. They will be delivered from late 2029, the ministry said. &quot;This two-pronged approach (F126 and MEKO) serves primarily to ensure security and mitigate risks and does not prejudice the continuation of the F126 procurement,&quot; it added. A preliminary agreement for the order was signed in January. The ministry also said it was in negotiations with German shipyard Naval Vessels Luerssen (NVL) to take over as the main contractor from the Dutch group for the F126 order. &quot;Against this backdrop, commercially available MEKO A-200 DEU-class frigates have been identified as an interim solution and supplement,&quot; the ministry said. Berlin has massively upped its investment in defence since Russia&#39;s 2022 invasion of Ukraine and has vowed to build the most powerful conventional army in Europe.

Europe

Germany ordered six F126 frigates from Dutch group Damen Naval in 2020, set to be the largest vessels in the German fleet. The deal was reported to be worth over 10 billion euros ($12 billion).

Germany to buy extra frigates amid delay to Dutch order

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan military has categorically rejected claims by the Afghan Taliban regarding an air strike in Kabul, stating that the site was a military installation housing explosives and drones rather than a drug rehabilitation facility. Speaking in an exclusive interview with Hamid Mir of private Pakistani broadcaster Geo News, Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry explained that the strike on a military camp in Kabul was a key component of Operation Ghazab Lail-ul-Haq. He asserted that massive &ldquo;secondary detonations&rdquo; observed after the strike provided undeniable evidence that the location was an &ldquo;ammunition storage site and a drone storage site.&rdquo; &quot;Because our intelligence was correct and we hit an ammunition storage... the world saw that... secondary detonations occurred,&quot; the DG ISPR stated. He further explained that the facility contained heavy weaponry, including &ldquo;Russian-era Scud missiles&rdquo; and various technical equipment. Addressing reports from the Afghan Taliban and international media claiming the target was the &quot;Umeed&quot; drug rehabilitation center, Chaudhry questioned the logic of such a placement.&nbsp; &ldquo;Why you built a drug rehab center in an ammunition storage center where you have kept missiles and weapons?&rdquo; he asked, noting the facility was located within a military perimeter. The DG ISPR further alleged that the regime utilizes drug addicts for militant purposes, stating that while not every addict is a bomber, &ldquo;all suicide bombers are drug addicts&rdquo; acting under the influence of narcotics. He suggested the targeted &ldquo;military containerized structure&rdquo; was likely a &ldquo;suicide bombing bomber training facility&rdquo; or a hideout for terrorists. The military confirmed that 81 air strikes have been conducted across various locations to dismantle &ldquo;terrorist support infrastructure,&rdquo; which includes core headquarters and ammunition depots. These actions are a response to 53 attacks on Pakistani border posts carried out by the Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s &ldquo;regular militia.&rdquo;&nbsp; Chaudhry emphasized that the military is employing &ldquo;precision-guided munitions&rdquo; (PGMs) to ensure accuracy and minimize collateral damage while targeting those facilitating &ldquo;Indian-sponsored funded terrorism&rdquo; from Afghan soil. He concluded that the Afghan regime must decide whether to support &ldquo;Fitna al-Khawarij&rdquo; (TTP) or prioritize regional peace.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry. (File photo: Screengrab/ISPR Official YouTUbe)

Security

Says Operation Ghazab Lail ul Haq hit Indian-sponsored terror infrastructure in Afghanistan, dismissing “rehab” claims after secondary detonations proved ammunition and drone storage.

Secondary detonations prove Kabul target was ammunition depot, ‘not rehab facility’: Pakistan military

WASHINGTON: US intelligence concluded Wednesday that Iran was not rebuilding nuclear enrichment capacities destroyed last year by the United States and Israel, contradicting a key justification by President Donald Trump for his ongoing war.&nbsp;Tulsi Gabbard, a Trump ally who is the director of national intelligence, offered mixed signals on the backdrop and outcomes of three weeks of war as she and other officials appeared before Congress. She also assessed that Iran&#39;s leadership remained intact. &quot;As a result of Operation Midnight Hammer, <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/as-unsc-debates-iran-nuclear-programme-pakistan-stresses-diplomacy-only-way-forward" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Iran&#39;s nuclear enrichment program</a> was obliterated,&quot; Gabbard said in prepared testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee, referring to the June 2025 US attack. &quot;There has been no efforts since then to try to rebuild their enrichment capability,&quot; Gabbard wrote. She did not repeat the conclusion before the cameras. Pressed by a Democratic senator, Gabbard said that she did not have enough time to read the full testimony at the hearing, but did not refute the assessment. Trump has repeatedly said he ordered the attack on Iran alongside Israel on February 28 because of an &quot;imminent threat.&quot; Trump said after the June 2025 bombing that the United States had completely destroyed Iran&#39;s nuclear sites, but since his latest war he has maintained that Tehran was nonetheless weeks away from a nuclear bomb and that he had to act. The UN nuclear watchdog and most observers have not supported the finding of an imminent nuclear bomb by Iran, which was negotiating with Trump&#39;s envoys on a deal in the days before the attack. John Ratcliffe, director of the CIA, told senators when asked about the negotiations: &quot;It was very clear that Iran, while they were talking, had no intentions of following through.&quot;&nbsp;&#39;Policeman of the world&#39;Gabbard herself had been an outspoken opponent of war with Iran as a Democratic congresswoman. One of her senior aides, Joseph Kent, resigned in protest on Tuesday as director of the National Counterterrorism Center, saying that Iran posed no &quot;imminent threat&quot; and that <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-lawmakers-say-no-evidence-iran-had-planned-first-strike-on-us" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Trump was misled</a> by Israel and media outlets. Democrats attacked Gabbard over the war, saying she had not proven that Iran posed any threat beyond what it has since the 1979 Islamic revolution. &quot;President Trump said we are not the policemen of the world. He ran on that,&quot; Democratic Senator Michael Bennet said. &quot;Now he&#39;s turned us into the world&#39;s policeman, into its jury, into its judge, into its executioner,&quot; he said. In her remarks to senators, Gabbard said Iran had been suffering heavy blows in the weeks of attacks, which included the killing of the longtime supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei&mdash;but that the Islamic republic was still functioning. The US intelligence community &quot;assesses the regime in Iran to be intact but largely degraded due to attacks on its leadership and military capabilities,&quot; Gabbard said. &quot;If a hostile regime survives, it will likely seek to begin a years-long effort to rebuild its military, missiles, and UAV forces,&quot; Gabbard said, referring to unmanned aerial vehicles, or drones.&nbsp;Russia&#39;s &#39;upper hand&#39;In other findings, Gabbard predicted that Russia would keep pressing its four-year invasion of Ukraine, a war that Trump had vowed to end upon taking office, largely by pressing Kyiv to compromise. US intelligence &quot;assesses that Russia has maintained the upper hand in the war against Ukraine,&quot; Gabbard said. &quot;US-led negotiations between Moscow and Kyiv are ongoing. Until such an agreement is met, Moscow is likely to continue fighting a slow war,&quot; she said. Gabbard said the United States faced a threat if there were an &quot;escalatory spiral&quot; in Ukraine or elsewhere, which could potentially lead to the use of nuclear weapons. She said that China was &quot;rapidly&quot; modernizing its military to be able to seize Taiwan, the self-governing democracy claimed by Beijing. However, US intelligence &quot;assesses that China likely prefers to set the conditions for an eventual peaceful reunification with Taiwan short of conflict.&quot; Trump plans to travel in the coming weeks to China, a trip he delayed due to the war in the Middle East.

(L/R) Director of Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) James Adams III, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, acting commander of US Cyber Command William Hartman testify during a Senate Committee on Intelligence hearing to examine worldwide th

Americas

Tulsi Gabbard, a Trump ally who is the director of national intelligence, offers mixed signals on the backdrop and outcomes of three weeks of war as she and other officials appear before Congress.

Iran was not rebuilding nuclear enrichment, US intelligence finds

INDRET: President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced that France&rsquo;s next nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will be called &ldquo;France Libre&rdquo; (Free France), as the country looks to reinforce its status as a major maritime power. Once completed, the warship, which is set to replace the country&rsquo;s sole aircraft carrier &mdash; the Charles de Gaulle &mdash; and due to enter service in 2038, will be the largest warship ever built in Europe. Macron said the vessel was being named after the French Resistance movement that General de Gaulle led against the Nazi occupation of France during World War II. &ldquo;I wanted our future aircraft carrier to follow in the footsteps of General de Gaulle. His life, his destiny,&rdquo; Macron said at a shipyard in the western town of Indret, near Nantes, where the vessel&rsquo;s two nuclear reactors will be built.&ldquo;Our new aircraft carrier will be named France Libre,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;This name honors the memory of the men and women who stood up against barbarity.&rdquo; Macron in December announced the start of construction of the new aircraft carrier, a project estimated to cost 10 billion euros ($11 billion). He told French troops in the United Arab Emirates at the time that &ldquo;in an age of predators,&rdquo; France &ldquo;must be strong in order to be feared.&rdquo;He reiterated that sentiment on Wednesday. &ldquo;To remain free, we must be feared. To be feared, we must be powerful,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;&lsquo;France is wild&rsquo;Ahead of the ceremony, Macron posted a 30?second video highlighting some of France&rsquo;s proudest moments and technological achievements. Set to rousing music, the video featured footage of the Charles de Gaulle, submarines, troops, jets streaking in the air, high-speed trains, and France&rsquo;s astronaut Sophie Adenot, who has been in space since mid-February.&ldquo;France is wild,&rdquo; read the white letters splashed in English across the clip. In recent weeks, the president has repeatedly underscored France&rsquo;s maritime ambitions. He said last week that Paris and its allies were putting together a mission to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for the world&rsquo;s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. Iran has effectively closed the strait since the United States and Israel began the war on the Islamic republic late last month, sending global oil prices up by more than 40 percent. But the French leader has ruled out any action until hostilities there cool. France&rsquo;s most recent aircraft carriers have all been named after French statesmen including Georges Clemenceau and Ferdinand Foch.&nbsp;Much biggerConstruction of the future warship&rsquo;s hull is expected to begin in the western port city of Saint-Nazaire in 2031. France is one of the two countries in the world that operate nuclear-powered aircraft carriers. The United States has 11 such vessels. The Charles de Gaulle was commissioned in 2001 and is the largest warship ever built for the French Navy. The new warship will be much larger than the 42,000-ton 261-meter-(856-foot-) long Charles de Gaulle. It will weigh nearly 80,000 tons and be approximately 310 meters long. With a crew of 2,000, it will be able to carry 30 fighter aircraft as well as combat drones. &ldquo;In the future, the aircraft carrier will be more than just an aircraft carrier,&rdquo; said the Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Nicolas Vaujour. The project represents a formidable undertaking, officials say. &ldquo;We cannot simply reproduce a tool that was designed halfway through the last century,&rdquo; said armed forces chief of staff Fabien Mandon.

President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced that France’s next nuclear-powered aircraft carrier will be called “France Libre” (Free France), as the country looks to reinforce its status as a major maritime power

‘Free France’: Macron reveals name of Europe’s largest warship

ISLAMABAD: A controversial proposal by India&rsquo;s Badri-Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC) to require non-Hindus to formally declare their faith before entering key Hindu shrines has drawn criticism for deepening religious exclusion in the country.&nbsp;BKTC chairman Hemant Dwivedi announced at a press conference on Tuesday that individuals who are not born into the Hindu faith would be required to submit a written affidavit affirming belief in Sanatan Dharma and Hindutva in order to access the Badrinath and Kedarnath temple complexes.&nbsp;&ldquo;The BKTC unanimously approved a proposal on March 10 to ban the entry of non-Sanatanis into the temples,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The move explicitly targets visitors from other faiths, even those expressing reverence for Hindu traditions. Dwivedi cited the example of Indian Muslim-born actor Sara Ali Khan, stating that access would only be granted if she formally renounces ambiguity about her religious identity.&nbsp;&ldquo;If Sara Ali Khan affirms that she holds faith and devotion towards Sanatan, and subsequently submits an affidavit to that effect, she will be granted darshan,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;According to Indian media reports, the committee has already standardized a format for the affidavit and forwarded the proposal to the Uttarakhand government for consideration.&nbsp;The development comes just weeks ahead of the annual Char Dham Yatra, scheduled to begin on April 19, with more than 600,000 devotees already registered.&nbsp;Badrinath Dham is set to open on April 23, while Kedarnath Dham will open on April 22.&nbsp;Critics say the proposal formalizes religious discrimination by conditioning access to places of worship on ideological conformity rather than personal devotion.&nbsp;The requirement to sign a declaration of faith is being viewed as an unprecedented step that institutionalizes exclusion under the guise of religious protection.&nbsp;This is not an isolated case.&nbsp;In October 2024, a similar requirement was imposed at the Tirupati temple, where Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan&rsquo;s minor daughter, Polena Anjana Pawanova, who has mixed heritage, was required to sign a declaration of faith, co-signed by her father. His other daughter was exempt on the basis that both her parents are Hindus.&nbsp;Observers argue that such measures reflect a broader pattern of increasing restrictions on religious minorities across India.&nbsp;Recent reports have documented a rise in targeted violence and discrimination. A February 2026 report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom noted that authorities were urged to hold perpetrators accountable for attacks on minority communities.&nbsp;&ldquo;Over the past couple of months, violent attacks by Hindu nationalist mobs targeting Christians have escalated,&rdquo; the report stated.&nbsp;It also highlighted incidents in Chhattisgarh, where a Hindu mob allegedly set fire to multiple Muslim homes following accusations of temple desecration.

India

A controversial proposal by India’s Badri-Kedar Temple Committee (BKTC) to require non-Hindus to formally declare their faith before entering key Hindu shrines has drawn criticism for deepening religious exclusion in the country

Affidavits for faith: India’s temple entry rules spark outrage

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Climate Change Dr. Musadik Malik says Pakistan is going after terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan and will continue operations until all threats to national security are neutralized, emphasizing that civilians remain completely safe.&nbsp;Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV, Dr. Malik dismissed claims of attacks on hospitals or civilian areas, calling them &ldquo;nonsense.&rdquo;&nbsp;He stressed that Pakistan&rsquo;s strikes are guided entirely by intelligence and focused solely on neutralizing threats to national security. &ldquo;Our target is completely intelligence-based. We are only going after terrorist centers and nothing else,&rdquo; he said, reaffirming that civilians are never a target.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 698px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2034257766651433173&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4795%2F&sessionId=d369d6eb44e90908a198e58168d327a35917a503&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>Dr. Malik highlighted the strong cultural and historical ties between Pakistan and Afghanistan. &ldquo;Our hearts go out to the people of Afghanistan. They are our neighbors, our brothers and sisters,&rdquo; he said, emphasizing Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing hospitality and shared traditions.&nbsp;He added that our operations are purely defensive, aimed at protecting Pakistan from suicide bombings and terrorist attacks originating from across the border.&nbsp;On the legitimacy of terrorist groups, he remarked, &ldquo;Afghan terrorists are losing legitimacy&mdash;not just militarily, but also morally and politically.&nbsp;No peace-loving citizen anywhere in the world supports acts of terror or suicide bombings.&rdquo; He explained that terrorists are now increasingly exposed and forced to resort to propaganda to maintain influence.&nbsp;Dr. Malik also clarified that the operations do not target any technical or civilian infrastructure. &ldquo;We are going after the infrastructure of terrorism&mdash;the hideouts, the training centers, and the sponsors of violent attacks,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;He emphasized that these measures protect not only Pakistan but also ordinary people living in neighboring areas affected by militant activity.&nbsp;Concluding, he reiterated Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to intelligence-led operations: &ldquo;Our focus is clear&mdash;we are going after terrorist infrastructure now and will continue going after it until the threats to our people are fully neutralized.&rdquo;

Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV, Dr. Malik dismisses claims of attacks on hospitals or civilian areas, calling them “nonsense.”

Pakistan targets only terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan: Musadik Malik

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday strongly rejected remarks issued by the Ministry of External Affairs of India regarding Pakistan&rsquo;s actions against alleged terrorist infrastructure in Afghanistan.&nbsp;In a statement, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi termed the Indian remarks &ldquo;baseless, misleading, and unwarranted,&rdquo; accusing New Delhi of hypocrisy and duplicity.&nbsp;The spokesperson alleged that India has been involved in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-conducts-airstrikes-targeting-talibans-military-positions-in-afghanistan-security-sources" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">sponsoring terrorism against Pakistan</a>&nbsp;from Afghan territory while also playing a destabilizing role in the region.<div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">🔊PR No.7️⃣1️⃣/2️⃣0️⃣2️⃣6️⃣ Statement by the Spokesperson <a href="https://t.co/x5iEmTaysp" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">pic.twitter.com/x5iEmTaysp</a>&mdash; Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Pakistan (@ForeignOfficePk) <a href="https://twitter.com/ForeignOfficePk/status/2034248008951271589?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">March 18, 2026</a></blockquote></div>He further criticized Indian leadership, claiming it had failed to address rising Islamophobia domestically and pointing to its recent expressions of support for actions by Israel amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza.&nbsp;The Foreign Office said it was &ldquo;preposterous&rdquo; for a country it accused of undermining the sovereignty of its neighbors to comment on international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.&nbsp;Reiterating its longstanding position, Pakistan accused India of denying&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-conducts-airstrikes-targeting-talibans-military-positions-in-afghanistan-security-sources" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kashmiris their right to self-determination</a>&nbsp;in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, in violation of UN resolutions.&nbsp;The statement also called on India to cease support for militant groups operating from Afghan soil, including those designated under the UN Security Council sanctions regime, and urged it to stop criticizing Pakistan&rsquo;s counter-terrorism efforts.&nbsp;The development marks a further escalation in tensions between the two countries, with both sides trading accusations over regional security and militancy.

Taliban security personnel manning anti-aircraft gun patrol in a vehicle amid the ongoing clashes between Afghanistan and Pakistani forces in the Momand Dara district of Nangarhar province on March 13, 2026.

The Foreign Office says it was “preposterous” for a country it accused of undermining the sovereignty of its neighbors to comment on international law and the principles of the United Nations Charter.