TEHRAN: Iran will hold a three-day state funeral for Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iranian-embassy-in-pakistan-condemns-ayatollah-khameneis-assassination" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">assassinated in US-Israeli strikes</a>, official news agency IRNA said.&nbsp;&quot;Starting at 10:00 pm (1830 GMT), the faithful will be able to pay a final homage to the body of the martyred guide of the nation, by visiting the Imam Khomenei grand mosque&quot; in Tehran, Irna said, citing a statement from the Islamic Development Coordination Council.&nbsp;Khamenei was 86 years old when he was killed, and will be buried in his home city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran. More to follow.

People mourn the death of Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in Tehran (AFP/File)

Middle East

Khamenei was 86 years old when he was assassinated, and will be buried in his home city of Mashhad in northeastern Iran.

State funeral for Ayatollah Khamenei to begin Wednesday evening

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Saudi Arabia has assured Pakistan of full support in securing an alternative crude oil supply route through the Yanbu port on the Red Sea, as Islamabad moves to safeguard energy supplies amid widening regional disruptions, according to Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Energy.&nbsp;The assurance was conveyed during a meeting between Federal Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik and Saudi Ambassador to Pakistan Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki in Islamabad.&nbsp;Pakistan requested access to an alternative supply corridor via Yanbu Port, following mounting instability affecting traditional energy transit routes.&nbsp;Saudi Arabia, officials said, responded by assuring uninterrupted cooperation and logistical support.&nbsp;&ldquo;Saudi sources have assured the security of supply through the Yanbu port in the Red Sea,&rdquo; the state broadcaster reported, adding that a commitment had been made to dispatch a Pakistani vessel to lift crude oil from the port.&nbsp;Malik expressed gratitude for Riyadh&rsquo;s backing, saying the government was taking all necessary measures to ensure continuity of the national energy supply chain.&nbsp;&ldquo;The government is taking steps to ensure the uninterrupted supply of energy to the public,&rdquo; Radio Pakistan quoted the petroleum minister as saying.&nbsp;The Saudi ambassador reaffirmed that cooperation would continue in any emergency situation, underscoring what officials described as a long-standing partnership.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan and Saudi Arabia will stand by each other during times of trial,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The development comes as Pakistan reviews contingency plans to shield critical imports from fallout linked to escalating tensions across the Middle East, with energy security emerging as a top priority for policymakers.

Foreign Affairs

Saudi Arabia assured Pakistan of an alternative crude oil supply via Yanbu port amid regional instability. Pakistan praised the support, emphasizing energy security, continuous cooperation, and longstanding partnership to safeguard national energy supplies.

Saudi Arabia assures Pakistan alternative oil supply route amid regional crisis

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defense Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir visited Wana in South Waziristan to review the security situation and operational preparedness along the country&rsquo;s western border, the military&rsquo;s media wing said on Wednesday.&nbsp;According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the army chief was given &ldquo;a comprehensive briefing on the security environment, ongoing intelligence-based operations and measures in place for border management.&rdquo;&nbsp;The ISPR said the field marshal received a detailed briefing on the progress of Operation &ldquo;Ghazab lil Haq&rdquo; and recent developments along the Pakistan&ndash;Afghanistan border.&nbsp;&ldquo;Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir interacted with the officers and troops deployed in forward areas, commending their unwavering professionalism, operational vigilance, and high morale during the ongoing skirmishes,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;During his visit, the army chief praised troops for what he described as their steadfast commitment to safeguarding Pakistan&rsquo;s sovereignty and maintaining peace and stability in the region.&nbsp;In separate remarks posted on social media, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said Pakistani security forces had killed 481 Afghan Taliban fighters and affiliated terrorists and injured more than 696 others during cross-border strikes carried out under Operation &ldquo;Ghazab lil-Haq.&rdquo;&nbsp;In a statement posted on X, Tarar said Pakistani forces had destroyed 226 posts and captured 35 others during the operation. He lauded the army&rsquo;s operational preparedness and expressed &ldquo;full confidence in the combat readiness, synergy, and resilience of the formations deployed along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border.&rdquo;<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" 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=2029150379343323512&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=e89ca13751ef0bcef96ae4da37cf19618eeda595&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 472px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2029150379343323512"></iframe></div></div>The ISPR statement added that CDF Munir emphasized that the use of Afghan territory by &ldquo;Fitna al Khawarij&rdquo; and &ldquo;Fitna al Hindustan&rdquo; for terrorist activities against Pakistan was unacceptable.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Field Marshal reiterated that peace could only prevail between both sides if the Afghan Taliban renounced their support for terrorism and terrorist organizations,&rdquo; the statement said, adding that Pakistan would take all &ldquo;necessary measures&rdquo; to neutralize threats emanating from across the border.&nbsp;During the visit, Munir laid a floral wreath at the Shuhada Monument to honor soldiers who lost their lives in the line of duty.&nbsp;He offered Fateha and reaffirmed that &ldquo;the sacrifices of Shuhada remain the cornerstone of Pakistan&rsquo;s security and resilience,&rdquo; the ISPR said.

Security

Pakistan’s Chief of Army Staff Syed Asim Munir visited Wana, checked border security, praised soldiers, reviewed Operation 'Ghazab lil Haq'  and condemned cross-border attacks, honoring fallen troops at the Shuhada Monument.

Pakistan military chief reviews western border security amid Afghan operation

VATICAN CITY: The Vatican on Wednesday warned artificial intelligence could lead to &quot;social control&quot; and &quot;manipulation&quot; and called for more focus on human relationships to counter the dehumanising effects of digital technology. In a wide-ranging document with the Latin title &quot;Quo Vadis, Humanitas?&quot; (Whither Humanity?), the Vatican&#39;s International Theology Commission said humanity was faced with &quot;never before imagined risks&quot; from tech. &quot;Today we are witnessing a loss of the sense of history and a reduction of experience to the fleeting moment,&quot; the document said. &quot;Digital culture tends to... transform the living culture of memory and hope into a postmodern culture of a present closed in on itself.&quot; It said AI was creating a &quot;hyper-connected&quot; world with &quot;an increasing acceleration of economic, political, social, and military dynamics that risk becoming uncontrollable and therefore ungovernable&quot;. &quot;In such a world, human action itself becomes material to be analysed and shaped according to power or market goals that are not always transparent. Social control increases, as does the risk of manipulation,&quot; it said. It said relationships, particularly within families, were &quot;a barrier against the spread of a homogenising globalisation, which does not always help to shape authentic bonds&quot;. The document was approved by Pope Leo XIV, who has repeatedly warned about the risks of generative artificial intelligence. In a message marking the World Day of Social Communications in January, Pope Leo said AI systems reflect the worldview of their creators and can reproduce biases. He has also condemned the use of AI by the military, warning against delegating life-and-death decisions to machines. The Vatican&#39;s warnings come as generative AI makes leaps and bounds towards replicating, altering and manufacturing images, music and text to levels sometimes indistinguishable from human-made works.

Artificial Intelligence

The Vatican warned AI could enable social control and manipulation, eroding human relationships and historical awareness.

Vatican warns AI could lead to 'social control'

ISLAMABAD: The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors has unanimously approved the Safeguards Agreement for Unit 5 of Pakistan&rsquo;s Chashma Nuclear Power Plant (C-5), marking a significant milestone for the country&rsquo;s energy sector.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister, Ishaq Dar, welcomed the approval on social media platform X, stating: &ldquo;IAEA approval of Safeguards Agreement for Chashma Unit 5 (C-5) marks a key milestone for Pakistan&rsquo;s energy future &mdash; underscoring global trust in our nuclear safety, security, nonproliferation, and peaceful nuclear program.&rdquo;&nbsp;According to the Pakistan Foreign Office, the agreement reflects the international community&rsquo;s continued confidence in Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and compliance with global non-proliferation and safeguards obligations.&nbsp;Unit 5, a pressurized water reactor with a gross capacity of 1,200 MW(e), is expected to become operational by 2030.&nbsp;Upon completion, it will provide a substantial source of low-carbon electricity to Pakistan&rsquo;s national grid, supporting energy security, climate targets, and sustainable economic growth.&nbsp;Pakistan currently operates six nuclear power plants with a combined installed capacity of 3,530 MW(e), achieving an average capacity factor exceeding 90%.&nbsp;Over the past year, nuclear power accounted for 18.3% of the national electricity mix and 34% of total low-carbon electricity generation.&nbsp;With more than 100 reactor-years of operational experience, Pakistan maintains a strong record of safe, secure and fully safeguarded nuclear power operations in line with international standards, the Foreign Office emphasized.

Climate & Environment

The International Atomic Energy Agency approved safeguards for Chashma Unit 5,marking a significant milestone for the country’s energy sector. Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar welcomed the move, underscoring global trust in Pakistan's nuclear safety.

UN nuclear watchdog approves safety for Pakistan’s new Chashma Reactor

KOLKATA: New Zealand&#39;s Finn Allen blasted the fastest century in T20 World Cup history in Kolkata on Wednesday as his side hammered South Africa by nine wickets to reach the final.&nbsp;Chasing 170 to win the first semi-final, Allen hit an unbeaten 100 off just 33 balls, to obliterate the previous mark of 47 balls by Chris Gayle, as New Zealand raced home with 7.1 overs to spare.&nbsp;Allen went on a rampage as he finished with two fours, two sixes and a four off successive balls to hit the winning runs and reach his hundred with a roar of delight at Eden Gardens.&nbsp;Tim Seifert hit 58 in a 117-run opening stand with Allen off just 9.1 overs to set up the victory romp.&nbsp;Seifert hit two sixes and seven fours while Allen bludgeoned eight sixes and 10 fours in a brutal display of controlled power hitting.&nbsp;New Zealand, who edged into the semi-finals on net run rate but are seeking a first World Cup title, will play either India or England in Sunday&#39;s final in Ahmedabad.&nbsp;Spinners Rachin Ravindra and Cole McConchie took two wickets each to restrict South Africa to 169-8 after New Zealand elected to field first.&nbsp;The 2024 runners-up South Africa, led by Aiden Markram, had been unbeaten in seven matches but slumped to 77-5 before Marco Jansen hit an unbeaten 55 to give the total some respect.&nbsp;Seifert reached his fifty off fast bowler Lungi Ngidi. Allen raised his half-century off 19 balls.&nbsp;Kagiso Rababa bowled Seifert in the 10th over but it wasS South Africa&#39;s only success.&nbsp;Spinners Rachin Ravindra and Cole McConchie earlier took two wickets each before Tristan Stubbs (29) and Jansen put on 73 for South Africa.&nbsp;Jansen hit two fours and five sixes in his 30-ball knock.&nbsp;McConchie struck first in the second over with his off-spin to send back Quinton De Kock for 10 and Ryan Rickelton next ball, but Dewald Brevis avoided the hat-trick.&nbsp;Left-arm spinner Ravindra had Markram caught in the deep by Daryl Mitchell for 18.&nbsp;David Miller fell for six to Ravindra five balls later, with Mitchell again taking the catch at long-on.&nbsp;South Africa had lost half their side in 10.2 overs when Jimmy Neesham cut short Brevis&#39;s knock on 34.&nbsp;Ferguson bowled Stubbs but Jansen hit him for six to reach his fifty.&nbsp;Pace bowler Matt Henry, who arrived back only on Tuesday night after going home for the birth of his child, took 2-34.

Cricket

New Zealand's Finn Allen smashed a record 33-ball T20 World Cup century as New Zealand crushed South Africa team by nine wickets to reach the final, chasing 170 comfortably.

Allen's record ton powers New Zealand into T20 World Cup final

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday strongly condemned Israel&rsquo;s attacks on Lebanon, expressing condolences over civilian casualties and reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s solidarity with the Lebanese people, according to a statement from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office.&nbsp;PM Sharif conveyed these views during a telephone conversation with his Lebanese counterpart, Nawaf Salam, as hostilities intensified across the Middle East.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Prime Minister condemned, in the strongest terms, Israel&rsquo;s aggression against Lebanon and conveyed deep condolences over the loss of precious lives,&rdquo; the statement said.&nbsp;PM Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;full support for Lebanon&rsquo;s sovereignty and territorial integrity&rdquo; and offered to play a constructive role in peace efforts.&nbsp;Recalling longstanding ties between the two countries, PM Sharif assured the Lebanese leadership of Pakistan&rsquo;s continued support at what officials described as a critical moment for regional stability.&nbsp;The two leaders also discussed the wider regional escalation following Israel&rsquo;s attacks on Iran and subsequent retaliatory strikes across Gulf states.&nbsp;Both agreed on the urgent need for de-escalation and the early restoration of peace, the statement added.&nbsp;PM Salam thanked Sharif and the people of Pakistan for their expressions of solidarity, according to the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, and welcomed Islamabad&rsquo;s support amid the ongoing crisis.&nbsp;Pakistan has repeatedly called for restraint, respect for international law and renewed diplomacy as fighting spreads across multiple fronts in the Middle East.

During a phone call with Lebanon’s prime minister, PM Shehbaz Sharif offers condolences, pledges support for Lebanese sovereignty, and urges de-escalation, as both leaders stress diplomacy to prevent wider regional conflict following recent Middle East hostilities.

Pakistan PM condemns Israel attacks on Lebanon, urges regional de-escalation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani security forces killed 481 Afghan Taliban terrorists and injured more than 696 during cross-border strikes under Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq, the country&#39;s information minister reported on Wednesday. Pakistan&rsquo;s military campaign entered its sixth day with intensified strikes inside Afghanistan. The large-scale military response followed multiple attempted cross-border attacks by terror groups overnight in the Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. In a statement posted to X (Twitter) at 4 p.m. local time, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar reported that Pakistani forces destroyed 226 posts and captured 35 posts.<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=2029150379343323512&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=88a28265f24030f21d53cfe1b7daa663bbf1ec3b&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 468px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&ldquo;198 tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery guns were destroyed,&rdquo; Tarar said. He stated that 56 locations across Afghanistan were &quot;effectively targeted by air.&quot; Earlier today Radio Pakistan reported Pakistan army destroyed &ldquo;Taliban hideouts at fifty different locations by using heavy weapons.&rdquo; As per the security sources, &ldquo;effective actions were carried out in Qila Saifullah, Chaman, Sambaza, Ghudwana, Jani and Ghaznali sectors.&rdquo; According to security sources, &ldquo;one Afghan Taliban terrorist was killed, while three others were captured alive in a wounded state.&rdquo; Pakistan army also foiled an infiltration attempt by Afghan Taliban and Fitnah al Khawarij near Torkham. According to security sources, &ldquo;Afghan Taliban ringleader was killed along with associates while attempting infiltration.&rdquo;&nbsp;The Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, defined the operation as a &quot;measured and proportionate response&quot; to unprovoked cross-border aggression earlier this week. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tahir Andrabi called the engagement an &ldquo;effective and forceful response&rdquo; to safeguard territorial integrity during a weekly press briefing on Feb. 26. Addressing a joint sitting of Parliament on Monday, President Asif Ali Zardari warned Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim government to dismantle terrorist groups operating from its territory. He said that Pakistan would not tolerate cross-border attacks and &quot;will respond decisively&quot; to any aggression.&nbsp;&quot;The Taliban regime saw with shock and awe what Pakistan could do if pushed past the red line,&quot; Zardari said. He added that security forces acted quickly to signal zero tolerance for incursions into sovereign territory.&nbsp;The President noted that despite repeated diplomatic engagements, the Afghan de facto regime continues to provide safe havens to groups, including the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and IS-KP. He said that commitments made during talks in Doha to prevent such activity have been ignored.&nbsp;Pakistan&#39;s defense minister, Khawaja Asif, characterized the current security climate as an &quot;open war,&quot; stating that national patience regarding border incursions has been exhausted.

Pakistani security forces killed 481 Afghan Taliban terrorists and injured more than 696 during cross-border strikes under Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq, the country's information minister reported.

Operation Ghazab lil-Haq: 481 Taliban fighters, terrorists killed as Pakistan continues strikes

KATHMANDU: Six months after joining anti-corruption protests that rocked Nepal, 23-year-old Amrita Ban will vote in Thursday&#39;s election, hoping the new government will realise the movement&#39;s demands. Last September&#39;s violence, in which at least 77 people were killed, parliament set on fire and the government ousted, still shadows her today. &quot;It took months to sleep properly again,&quot; she told AFP. &quot;As soon as I closed my eyes, I would hear gunshots, like it was happening right now.&quot; The demonstrations were initially sparked by anger over a brief government ban on social media but were driven by deeper frustration over economic hardship, corruption and entrenched political practices. At least 19 people were killed in a security crackdown on the first day of protests, before the unrest spread across the country. &quot;The candidates I support are those whom I believe will carry forward the spirit of our movement,&quot; said Ban, who worked to encourage young people to vote. Nearly 19 million people have registered to vote in the parliamentary polls, including about 800,000 for the first time. &#39;Political awakening&#39; Young Nepalis largely led the protests, rallying under the loose banner of Gen Z. They do not have a party of their own, but exert pressure and wield significant influence, especially online. &quot;We are not in the election race, but we will still be active in raising our voices from outside, the streets are with us,&quot; said Yujan Rajbhandari, aged 24. &quot;The movement still continues.&quot; Former protesters have backed a surge of new candidates calling for change, and invoking the Gen Z movement. &quot;They cannot forget us if they win,&quot; 22-year-old Astha Basnet told AFP. &quot;There has been a political awakening among younger people,&quot; she added, saying people were &quot;very curious&quot; about the parties, policies and candidates. &quot;There is an excitement &ndash; and also a sense of responsibility &ndash;among the voters of our generation.&quot; Still, some activists warn against equating popularity with competence, or ignoring experience simply because someone is new. &quot;There is a danger to our democracy if we choose populism over capability,&quot; said Riyab Baniya, aged 21. &quot;Right now, those whose voices are louder are getting popular, but we have to be critical &ndash; we have to support people who will take our mandate forward.&quot; &#39;Tired of old leaders&#39; Many who drove the movement remain outside mainstream politics &ndash; raising concerns about whether their demands will be fully represented. &quot;We raised our voices against bad governance and corruption,&quot; said Janak Pokharel, 28. &quot;But the parties and leaders need to have a roadmap on how to address these issues and older existing problems.&quot; More than 3,400 candidates are running for 165 seats in direct elections to the 275-member House of Representatives, the lower chamber of parliament, with 110 more chosen via party lists. Nearly a third of them are under the age of 40, some of whom came to prominence through the protests. &quot;We are not looking just for new faces, we need a change in the culture &ndash; society was tired of the old leaders,&quot; Ban added. &quot;It is a testing period for forces of alternative politics.&quot;

Polling officials prepare a polling booth in Kathmandu on March 4, 2026, a day before the country’s parliamentary elections. (AFP)

Asia

Young Nepalis, leaders of deadly anti-corruption protests that ousted the government, rally first-time voters for Thursday's election, backing new candidates to combat graft and economic woes.

Nepal's Gen Z pins hopes on post-uprising elections

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif gathered parliamentary leaders for a private briefing on&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/usisrael-war-on-iran-day-5" target="_blank">regional tensions.</a>&nbsp;Participants called for unity, stronger diplomacy, and renewed determination to eliminate terrorism, the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office reported Wednesday. In an official statement released by the PMO, a meeting of leaders and representatives of parliamentary parties was chaired by PM Sharif. The participants received an in-camera briefing on the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/67-afghan-taliban-killed-one-fc-soldier-martyred-in-crossborder-attacks-minister" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistan-Afghanistan situation</a>, Iran, tensions in the Middle East and the Gulf, and Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic efforts. Parliamentary leaders talked about the need for national unity, consensus and solidarity in the current situation. The group welcomed Pakistan&#39;s peace efforts in the region, with the leaders urging more action and sharing&nbsp;suggestions for next steps. They also pledged to eradicate <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/president-zardari-warns-afghanistan-over-militant-sanctuaries-says-pakistan-ready-to-act" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">terrorism</a> in Pakistan.

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting of Parliamentary Leaders and Representatives of Political Parties. Islamabad, 4 March 2026. (PMO)

The meeting received an in-camera briefing on the Pakistan-Afghanistan situation, Iran, tensions in the Middle East and the Gulf, and Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts.

Pakistani leaders back anti-terror push, call for national unity

MADRID: Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez hit back on Wednesday at US President Donald Trump&#39;s criticisms of Madrid&#39;s refusal to let US planes use its bases to attack Iran.&nbsp;&quot;The position of the government of Spain can be summed up in four words: no to war,&quot; he said in a televised address, a day after Trump threatened to sever all trade with Spain.&nbsp;&quot;We will not be complicit in something harmful to the world and contrary to our values and interests, simply out of fear of retaliation,&quot; he added.&nbsp;&quot;We oppose this disaster,&quot; Sanchez said, arguing that his stance is shared by &quot;many other governments&quot; and &quot;millions of citizens across Europe, North America and the Middle East who do not want more war or uncertainty tomorrow&quot;.&nbsp;Trump called Spain a &quot;terrible&quot; ally on Tuesday as he met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House.&nbsp;He also pointed to Sanchez&#39;s <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-threatens-spain-ties-over-iran-war-refusal" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">refusal to join NATO allies</a> in a pledge to boost defence spending to 5% of GDP as demanded by Trump, who has frequently argued that the United States shoulders too much of the alliance&#39;s burden.&nbsp;Sanchez&#39;s leftist government has angered Washington with a series of other policies, including his staunch opposition to Israel&#39;s war in Gaza and the military operation to abduct and arrest President Nicolas Maduro of Venezuela.&nbsp;US forces use the Rota naval base and Moron air base in Spain. During the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Spain, then led by conservative prime minister Jose Maria Aznar, staunchly backed the United States.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez. (File photo: Screengrab/ X @@sanchezcastejon)

Europe

Trump reacts strongly, calls Spain a "terrible" ally on Tuesday as he met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz at the White House.

State funeral for Ayatollah Khamenei to begin Wednesday evening

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