Ali Andaz Haider

DHAKA, Bangladesh: Ali Riaz, special assistant to chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, has said participation of more than 50 political parties in the parliamentary elections reflects their enthusiasm, pointing out that New Delhi has not been able to recognize the change in Bangladesh. Talking exclusively to Pakistan TV in Dhaka, Ali Riaz said the broad political participation demonstrates that Bangladesh is entering a new political phase following years without a credible electoral process. He said many Bangladeshis had not previously had the opportunity to participate in a free and fair vote. &ldquo;So far the voters have been very much enthusiastic because they did not have an opportunity to participate in a free and fair vote,&rdquo; he said, adding that nearly one-fourth of the electorate is under the age of 37, meaning they have never voted in what is widely regarded as a genuinely competitive election. Ali Riaz went on to say that around four million voters are casting ballots for the first time, making this their &ldquo;first test of democracy&rdquo;. With nearly 130 million registered voters, Riaz described the polls as one of the largest electoral exercises globally in 2026, saying that the elections follow a popular uprising that ended a 16-year autocratic regime of Sheikh Hasina. The special assistant said the elections offer an opportunity to establish an accountable democratic government, adding that proposed constitutional reforms placed before the electorate could usher in a more accountable governance structure. He said the interim government had inherited a &ldquo;hollowed-out&rdquo; economy and focused on stabilizing it, leaving longer-term reforms to the next elected administration. Ali Riaz was critical of Sheikh Hasina regime&rsquo;s approach toward India, saying it was overly aligned with Indian interests. He said the Indian establishment has not been able to recognize the change and accept the change in Bangladesh. &ldquo;But this cannot continue. India will have to rethink its policies,&rdquo; he added. He said any incoming government would have to prioritize Bangladesh&rsquo;s national interest in its foreign policy, stressing that relations should be based on mutual respect and benefit. While acknowledging potential post-election challenges, including economic pressures and destabilizing forces, Riaz said he remains optimistic that a government emerging from strong voter participation would pursue accountable governance at home and a balanced, sovereign foreign policy abroad. He further said the parliamentary elections represented both a democratic reset within Bangladesh and a signal to regional actors that the country is charting a new direction.

SAT News Desk

Ali Riaz, special assistant to chief adviser Muhammad Yunus, has said participation of more than 50 political parties in the parliamentary elections reflects their enthusiasm, pointing out that New Delhi has not been able to recognize the change in Bangladesh.

BD chief adviser’s aide says political parties show enthusiasm for polls

Dhaka, Bangladesh: Shafiqul Alam, press secretary to Chief Executive Muhammad Yunus, has said the interim government faced an Indian misinformation campaign but remained steadfast in its commitment to ensure free and fair elections, and put in place strict security and administrative measures. Talking exclusively to Pakistan TV in Dhaka, Shafiqul Alam said the interim government has deployed some 900,000 police and other security forces, including over 100,000 military troops. &ldquo;We have never seen such unprecedented level of security before,&rdquo; he said. Alam said several thousand voting centres identified as vulnerable have received reinforced security, with 16 to 19 officers deployed at each location. He said the army will function as a striking force, ready to respond immediately to any disruption, while border guards will secure centres along the borders. The press secretary said the administration has carefully appointed neutral officials at every level, from district commissioners to police chiefs, to ensure no partisan influence over the electoral process. &ldquo;There is no way anyone can attack a voting centre or a voting booth, and then snatch a ballot box,&rdquo; he said, adding that, &ldquo;I think it will be a safe and very peaceful election&rdquo;. He said these arrangements reflect the government&rsquo;s commitment to neutrality and transparency. Central to the vote is the proposed July National Charter, a sweeping reform package developed after nine months of dialogue between the interim government and political parties. According to Alam, the reforms reflect a broad public demand for &ldquo;sanskar&rdquo;, or structural change, a call echoed widely by young people and civil society. He said whoever assumes power will have to implement the changes due to widespread national consensus. Shafiqul Alam also voiced concern over what he described as an unprecedented wave of misinformation and disinformation from sections of the Indian media. He said the government was &ldquo;taken aback&rdquo; by unprecedented level of misinformation and disinformation propagated by the Indian media. He said there was flood of misinformation coming from Indian media about the interim government and the minority Hindu community. &ldquo;These stories are false and fabricated,&rdquo; he said, rejecting allegations of widespread violence. Shafiqul Alam said the interim government had invited Indian journalists to visit Bangladesh, offering expedited visas and access to locations where alleged incidents were reported. Despite the tensions, he reiterated that Bangladesh seeks constructive regional relationships based on mutual respect and fairness. Alam said the country&rsquo;s focus remains firmly on protecting democracy and ensuring that its future is determined peacefully through the ballot box.

Shafiqul Alam said Bangladesh’s interim government will hold free and fair elections despite alleged Indian misinformation. He cited unprecedented security deployment, neutral officials, and electoral reforms, rejected violence claims, and reaffirmed commitment to a peaceful, transparent, and credible democratic process

Despite India-led misinformation campaign, interim govt stands firm on holding credible polls - Shafiqul Alam

Web Desk

Americas

Middle East

Iran guarantees safe passage for maritime traffic through the vital Strait of Hormuz for two weeks, announces pause will be used for talks with US on ending the war; PM Sharif invites delegations from both countries to Islamabad on Friday, "to further negotiate for a conclusive agreement to settle all disputes."



Trump terms Iran deal a 'total and complete victory,' White House says discussing in-person talks 

BEIRUT: An aid convoy organized by the Vatican envoy to Lebanon headed for Christian villages in the country&#39;s south had to turn back on Tuesday after it came under fire, a security source told AFP.&nbsp;Apostolic Nuncio Paolo Borgia, who was traveling in the convoy, was being escorted by French peacekeepers from the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) through the village of Debl near the Israeli border, the source told AFP on condition of anonymity.&nbsp;His convoy came under fire as it approached border villages, with vehicles sustaining damage but no casualties reported, according to the source, who is on the ground in south Lebanon.&nbsp;A number of Christian-majority villages near the border, including Debl, have been caught up in the fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.&nbsp;The militant group drew Lebanon into the wider Middle East war on March 2 with rocket fire towards Israel in support of its backer Iran.&nbsp;Israel has responded with heavy strikes and a ground invasion in the country&#39;s south.&nbsp;The source said that after several attempts to proceed, the convoy finally turned back after an unidentified projectile exploded nearby.&nbsp;The state-run National News Agency reported that the convoy turned around after waiting more than two hours near the border town of Bint Jbeil &quot;due to exchanges of fire and the intensification of fighting&quot;.&nbsp;Residents of Christian villages have been refusing to leave despite the Israeli army&#39;s advance and sweeping evacuation orders for swathes of south Lebanon.&nbsp;The villagers say it is not their war and that they feel abandoned after the Lebanese army withdrew from several border locations.&nbsp;In Rmeish, another frontier village, the local municipality has launched a social media campaign seeking donations of basic necessities, including medication and baby formula.&nbsp;Borgia had organized previous aid convoys to Christian border villages since the war erupted.&nbsp;A visit planned for Sunday was canceled for security reasons.

A Vatican aid convoy led by envoy Paolo Borgia turned back in south Lebanon after coming under fire near border villages, amid ongoing fighting between Israel and Hezbollah.

Vatican envoy's aid convoy to south Lebanon retreats after taking fire: Security source

ISLAMABAD: While most countries tolerate the rain, Pakistanis have built an entire culinary culture around it. April showers don&#39;t just bring clouds &ndash; they bring out the fryers, the &quot;chai dhabaas,&quot; and a very specific, very non-negotiable list of cravings that has barely changed over generations. There&#39;s a reason for that: April rain in Pakistan hits differently. Unlike the humid streak of the monsoons or winter&#39;s dry bite, spring showers arrive with cool breezes and heavy skies, triggering something deep in the national appetite. For generations, Pakistanis have refined exactly which foods answer that call, and the pattern holds remarkably consistent across cities, regions, and households. Here&#39;s the countdown to the five that define the rainy day in April, from Karachi&#39;s food streets to the dhabas (roadside eateries) of Rawalpindi. Fried fish and haleem: When the craving goes deep Opening the countdown is the heaviest hitter on the list. Snacks dominate the visual culture of rainy day eating, but cooler April temperatures also drive a quieter, equally serious demand for protein. In the valleys of Swat and Kaghan, light spring showers coincide with fresh trout marinated in pomegranate powder and spices, then fried to a golden crisp. In Karachi, pomfret (paaplet) and rahu pull crowds back to Keamari Seafood Street the moment rain hits the forecast. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/c4221564-768a-4afa-aee8-53570c9f66e1-afp.jpg" alt="Pakistani men prepare a large quantity of Haleem, a dish made of several cereals and meat, on the 9th day Moharram during the Ashura religious festival in Karachi, March 1, 2004. (AFP)" class="fr-fic fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic" style="line-height: 2;">Pakistani men prepare a large quantity of haleem, a dish made of several cereals and meat, on the 9th day of Muharram during the Ashura religious festival in Karachi, March 1, 2004. (AFP)</figcaption></figure> For the landlocked and comfort-food inclined, haleem is the answer. Slow-cooked meat, lentils, wheat, and barley, simmered for 7-8 hours into a thick, porridge-like stew, it&#39;s a fixture of rainy weekends in Islamabad. Add seekh kebabs or a chapli kebab from northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on the side, and you have a meal that carries you through an entire cold, wet afternoon. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/0e75fdf0-f685-461a-9fba-eb8c7b0468a1-Chapli Kebab app.jpg" alt="Chapli Kebab app.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic" style="line-height: 2;">(Associated Press Of Pakistan)</figcaption></figure> Jalebi: The sweet antidote to the April chill As rain lingers into the evening and temperatures keep dropping, the craving pivots hard toward sweetness. Jalebi, deep-fried spirals of fermented batter soaked in saffron-cardamom sugar syrup, delivers exactly the warmth and glucose hit the body is asking for. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/04b92036-e0d9-49ae-a1e4-9988f4f91479-A vendor prepares sweet food item Jalebi to the customers at his roadside setup in the Provincial Capital. (APP).jpg" alt="A vendor prepares sweet food item Jalebi to the customers at his roadside setup in the Provincial Capital. (APP)" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic" style="line-height: 2;">A vendor prepares the sweet jalebi for customers at his roadside stall. (APP)</figcaption></figure> The preparation is more technical than it looks. The batter ferments overnight, developing a subtle tang that stops the dessert from being one-dimensional. A dash of lemon juice in the syrup prevents crystallization, and the frying temperature has to be precise to nail that crispy-yet-syrupy contrast. In Punjab, jalebi is served with warm milk, a combination called doodh jalebi that is widely believed to help the body retain heat on damp evenings. Meanwhile in Karachi, jalebi alongside spicy kachori is the standard order: sweet and savory, sorted in one sitting. Halwa puri: The rainy morning ritual The countdown so far has been evenings and afternoons. Halwa puri claims an entirely different slot: the rainy morning. Rain arrives overnight. You wake up to grey skies and a cool breeze. The only appropriate response in much of Pakistan is to either make halwa puri at home or drive, immediately, to the nearest trusted spot. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/8f4fd534-2a5b-4762-bc16-61a908845163-halwa puri (APP).jpg" alt="(APP)" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic" style="line-height: 2;">(APP)</figcaption></figure> The platter is a balancing act: puffed deep-fried puri bread, semolina halwa roasted in ghee with cardamom, slow-cooked chickpeas, and tangy potato stew. Sweet, savory, spicy, and fried, all at once. Outlets across Rawalpindi and Islamabad get noticeably busier every time rain falls on a weekend, families gathering over shared plates, happy to wait out the weather together. It&#39;s famously calorie-dense, nicknamed &quot;the breakfast of survivors&quot; in local food writing, and the portion sizes earn that title. Lunch is typically skipped. Samosas: Geometry and comfort in one bite A close second. The samosa, triangular, fried, and perfect, has been a fixture of South Asian food culture since the Delhi Sultanate era, arriving via the Silk Road as the Middle Eastern sambusak. Centuries of refinement later, it&#39;s Pakistan&#39;s go-to rainy day social food. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/f3f9b914-84f3-41fd-905c-5c7765f3b04a-samosa app 2.webp" alt="samosa app 2.webp" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic" style="line-height: 2;">(Associated Press Of Pakistan)</figcaption></figure> In April, the aloo samosa (potato) and matar samosa (fresh pea) dominate, making the most of the spring harvest. The appearance of rain clouds produces a near-immediate spike in sales across Islamabad and Karachi, with vendors routinely selling out within hours of the first downpour. The samosa never travels alone. Tamarind chutney, or a spicy mint-coriander dip, is non-negotiable. For the full experience, there&#39;s samosa chaat, crushed samosas topped with chickpeas, yogurt, chopped onions, and chaat masala. That&#39;s where the rainy afternoon really begins. Pakoras: The undisputed king Nothing else comes close. The pakora, a deep-fried gram flour fritter, is the most consumed rainy-day food in Pakistan. It earns that title across every city, every socioeconomic background, and every generation. When it rains in April, pakoras aren&#39;t just popular, they&#39;re expected. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/8b63754c-95ed-423e-ac90-13533a88e07e-istockphoto-1295460571-612x612.jpg" alt="istockphoto-1295460571-612x612.jpg" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic" style="line-height: 2;">(iStock)</figcaption></figure> The classics are aloo pakora (potato) and pyaz pakora (onion), loved universally from Karachi to Peshawar. April adds a seasonal dimension: fresh green onions and spinach at their spring peak give street vendors and home cooks a wider palette to work with. Whatever ends up in the fryer, the formula is the same. Spiced gram flour batter, hot oil, and a tang from dried pomegranate seeds (anaardana) that cuts clean through the richness. The scale of demand on a rainy afternoon is hard to overstate. Queues spill past stalls on Burns Road and Hussainabad in Karachi, and on a busy rainy day, a single stall can put out staggering numbers. The anchor: Chai Every single entry on this countdown shares one thing. None of it is complete without tea. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/072ac668-d9b4-4293-a2ce-131475a1bff0-A shopkeeper serves pink tea to customers as demand rises with the onset of winter (APP).jpg" alt="A shopkeeper serves pink tea to customers as demand rises with the onset of winter (APP)" class="fr-fil fr-dib"><figcaption class="caption-cover-image text-sm text-gray-600 italic" style="line-height: 2;">A shopkeeper serves pink tea to customers as demand rises with the onset of winter (APP)</figcaption></figure> Whether it&#39;s the strong, condensed kick of karak chai (strongly brewed tea), the slow-brewed creaminess of dhoodh patti (milky tea), or the earthy sweetness of gur wali chai (jaggery-sweetened tea), tea is the constant across every city, every class, and every food choice. The cardamom in most brews is traditionally credited with aiding digestion after all that fried food, while the warmth of the cup counters the chill outside. The ritual of sitting with tea while rain falls, alone or with family, is for most Pakistanis the real point of the whole experience. The food is good. The rain makes it better. And the chai makes it unforgettable.

This photograph taken on July 14, 2025 shows Reshma as she sips tea at the Ponjo Kolhi village, about 30 km from Umerkot, Pakistan. (AFP)

Culture

April showers in Pakistan spark unique culinary cravings, from street vendors to home kitchens. Rainy afternoons bring families together over fried snacks and warm tea, reflecting a deep-rooted seasonal food culture.

Pakoras, samosas and tea: Food Pakistanis crave when it rains

PARIS: Two French nationals held in Iran are on their way back home, President Emmanuel Macron said Tuesday, following their release in November after more than three years in prison on espionage charges. &quot;Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris are free and on their way to France, after three and a half years in detention in Iran,&quot; the French president wrote on X. A source at the French foreign ministry, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the couple left Iran Tuesday at dawn in a diplomatic convoy with the French ambassador and &quot;are currently in Azerbaijan&quot;. Kohler, 41, and Paris, 72, were arrested in May 2022 at the end of a trip to Iran that their families say was purely touristic in nature. They were freed from Tehran&#39;s Evin prison in November after more than three years in jail on espionage charges their families say were fabricated, but the pair had been waiting to leave the country. Their fate had seemed even more uncertain after US-Israeli strikes on Iran in late February that killed the country&rsquo;s Supreme Leader. Both teachers &ndash; although Paris is retired &ndash; they were among a number of Europeans caught up in what activists and some Western governments including France describe as a deliberate strategy of hostage-taking by Iran to extract concessions from the West. They left after US President Donald Trump on Monday warned that all of Iran could be &quot;taken out&quot; late Tuesday at the expiry of a deadline he issued for the Middle Eastern nation to reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz.

A pedestrian walks past portrait placards of Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, two French citizens formerly detained in Iran, set up on a fence of the French National Assembly, in Paris on March 11, 2026. (AFP)

Europe

Two French nationals, Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris, freed from Iranian prison on espionage charges, are returning home via Azerbaijan, President Macron said, following more than three years in detention.

French pair held in Iran 'free and on their way to France': Macron

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi granted over 2,800 visas to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/prokhalistan-leader-alleges-statebacked-targeting-of-sikh-activists-abroad" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Indian Sikh</a>&nbsp;pilgrims for Baisakhi celebrations taking place in Pakistan from April 10 to 19. In a post on X, the Pakistan High Commission wrote that Sikh pilgrims will travel from India to participate in the annual festivities on the occasion of Baisakhi. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="fr-embed"><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; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 296px; 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=2041417655006187567&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=1d10bac2743f0dd42d9389f83b3e6a7914538a6a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2041417655006187567">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div></div></div> The visas allow devotees to visit Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, the birthplace of Guru Nanak, and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib. These pilgrimages occur under the 1974 Bilateral Protocol on Visits to Religious Shrines, according to an official statement by the High Commission. The Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) describes Baisakhi as an ancient religious and cultural festival rooted in the Punjab region. It holds religious significance in Sikhism.<div class="fr-embed" style="line-height: 2;"> The festival marks the founding anniversary of the Khalsa Panth, established by the tenth Sikh Guru, Guru Gobind Singh, in 1699. Government records call it the formal founding day of the Sikh faith. It is also known as Khalsa Janam Din, when the Panj Piare were initiated.</div> Baisakhi serves as a harvest festival. It marks the ripening of rabi crops, particularly wheat. The festival marks the beginning of the new solar year for the Punjabi community. It includes the Awat Pauni tradition, where people gather in groups to harvest wheat to the beat of drums and folk songs. In Pakistan, the government facilitates an annual 10-day Vaisakhi Mela pilgrimage for thousands of local and international pilgrims. This includes a quota for Indians under the 1974 Bilateral Protocol, as per the ETPB. Key rituals feature the Bhog conclusion ceremony of the three-day recitation of the Guru Granth Sahib, ritual bathing called Ashnan, and raising the Nishan Sahib flag. Main festivities center at Gurdwara Panja Sahib in Hasan Abdal, Gurdwara Nankana Sahib, and Gurdwara Darbar Sahib in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/nha-directed-to-link-kartarpur-nankana-sahib-with-motorway-network" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kartarpur</a>.

The Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi issued 2,856 visas to Indian Sikh pilgrims for Baisakhi celebrations in Pakistan, officials said. (Evacuee Trust Property Board)

Foreign Affairs

The step enables pilgrims to visit key Sikh religious sites in Pakistan under a bilateral protocol as annual cross-border pilgrimage arrangements continue.

Pakistan issues over 2,800 visas to Indian Sikhs for Baisakhi pilgrimage

ISLAMABAD: China has expressed support for Pakistan&#39;s efforts to mediate between the United States and Iran, urging all parties to seek a diplomatic solution to a conflict that has destabilized the region and shaken global energy markets, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning stated. Speaking at a regular press conference, the spokesperson said Beijing &quot;welcomes all efforts conducive to peace and supports Pakistan in making an active mediation effort.&quot; She also called upon all relevant parties to &quot;seize the opportunity for peace, bridge differences through dialogue and put an early end to the conflict.&quot; The conflict, which has &quot;caused heavy casualties and damage, [is] hitting the security and stability of regional countries and impacting the world economy and energy security,&quot; she stated. Beijing has pursued its own diplomatic track. According to Mao Ning, Foreign Minister Wang Yi has made 26 phone calls with parties including Iran, Israel, Russia, and Gulf states since hostilities began. China&#39;s Special Envoy to the Middle East also traveled to the region to mediate directly. Last week, China and Pakistan jointly issued a five-point peace initiative, which Mao Ning stated embodied &quot;the international consensus for ceasefire and peace.&quot; Beijing was direct in assigning blame. &quot;The root cause of the conflict is the US-Israeli launch of military attacks against Iran in violation of international law,&quot; the Chinese spokesperson said. She called for an immediate cessation of military operations and a return to negotiations. A 45-day ceasefire framework remains under consideration, with Pakistani officials leading negotiations and working to reopen the strait amid continued airstrikes and regional escalation, according to AFP. The conflict began on Feb. 28, when the US and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iranian strategic sites, killing the country&rsquo;s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei. Iran retaliated with missile strikes on regional military bases and closed the Strait of Hormuz.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning speaks at a regular press briefing April 7, 2026. (Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China)

Asia

Urges ceasefire and dialogue to end the war in the Middle East to stabilize the region and protect global energy markets, the Foreign Ministry said.

China says it supports Pakistan’s mediation efforts between US, Iran

RAWALPINDI: Pakistan&#39;s military leadership condemned attacks on Saudi Arabia&#39;s petrochemical and industrial complex, calling them an unnecessary escalation that undermines efforts to resolve the Middle East conflict diplomatically, the military&rsquo;s media wing reported on Tuesday. The statement came following the 274th Corps Commanders&#39; Conference, chaired by Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), commanders warned that the strikes carry serious consequences for ongoing peace efforts and the diplomatic environment that mediators have worked to sustain. Saudi Arabia&#39;s restraint despite repeated provocations had kept mediation viable. &ldquo;Continued attacks,&rdquo; the forum said, &ldquo;risk collapsing that process.&rdquo; The forum supported the government&#39;s efforts to end the Middle East conflict, while calling for dialogue and de-escalation in the region. The statement also noted that it affirmed Pakistan&#39;s commitment to principled diplomacy and constructive engagement. The forum also described Pakistan as a responsible regional stakeholder and active contributor to peace and stability, designating it a Regional Security Stabilizer. The conference opened with a collective prayer for soldiers, law enforcement personnel, and civilians martyred in the service of the country. The commanders paid tribute to their sacrifices, noting that their legacy forms the bedrock of Pakistan&#39;s national security. Field Marshal Asif Munir commended the armed forces for their professionalism and sustained intelligence-based counter-terrorism operations. He credited the combined effort of the government, military, and civilian population for consolidating security gains, strengthening economic resilience, and improving Pakistan&#39;s regional and global standing. On domestic security, commanders pledged to pursue and eliminate all terrorist groups operating on behalf of India and other foreign sponsors, along with their facilitators and abettors. According to the statement, Operation Ghazab lil-Haq will continue until terrorist sanctuaries are dismantled and cross-border use of Afghan territory against Pakistan ends. The forum rejected India&#39;s disinformation campaigns, baseless allegations, and false flag narratives &ndash; tactics that have been discredited internationally. The commanders also raised concern over human rights violations in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, citing a recent pattern of staged encounters used to conceal extrajudicial killings. The field marshal directed commanders to maintain operational readiness, professionalism, and adaptability across all threat levels. He expressed full confidence in the armed forces&#39; ability to ensure Pakistan&#39;s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir chairs the 274th Corps Commanders’ Conference at General Headquarters in Rawalpindi on April 7, 2026. (ISPR)

Terms the strikes on Saudi petrochemical and industrial facilities as an unnecessary escalation that threatens Middle East peace efforts and regional stability, the military's media wing said.

Pakistan military condemns Saudi industrial strikes, warns of regional escalation

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump warned that &quot;a whole civilization will die&quot; in Iran on Tuesday if the country does not heed his ultimatum to accept US war demands.&nbsp;&quot;A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don&#39;t want that to happen, but it probably will,&quot; Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.&nbsp;Trump did not give details but he has already said the US military could bomb Iran&#39;s bridges, power plants and other civilian infrastructure into the &quot;stone age.&quot;&nbsp;Trump has announced a deadline of midnight GMT Tuesday for Iran to end its de facto closing of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow, strategic waterway used to transport oil and other commodities.&nbsp;On Monday, he said a temporary cease-fire proposal being circulated was insufficient.&nbsp;Iran has rejected US pressure, with state media reporting that the authorities are insisting that instead of just a cease-fire it wants a full end to the war.&nbsp;In his Truth Social post, Trump left the door open for a last-hour agreement.&nbsp;&quot;Now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight,&quot; he wrote.&nbsp;Trump said Monday that starting late evening in Washington, DC on Tuesday, US forces would destroy &quot;every bridge in Iran&quot; and cripple &quot;every power plant&quot; in the country -- something that many experts say would be a blatant war crime.&nbsp;US and Israeli warplanes have been continuously bombing Iran since February 28 and on Tuesday, even before Trump&#39;s threat about ending &quot;civilization,&quot; Tehran said that its crucial oil export terminal on Kharg island was under attack.

Donald Trump warned Iran that “a whole civilization will die” if it ignores a US ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as US and Israeli strikes continue and Iran demands a full end to the war

Trump warns 'whole civilization will die' in Iran if ultimatum expires

Says he received a 10-point "workable" proposal based on which negotiations could be held, terms it an honor to bring the "long-term problem close to resolution"; Iranian FM Araghchi says for a period of two weeks, “safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible.” 



PM Sharif invites Iran, US delegations to 'Islamabad Talks' for negotiations on Friday  

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s renewable energy capacity shielded the country from an energy crisis despite regional oil supply disruptions, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Tuesday, as the government moves to accelerate a sweeping clean energy expansion and protect export routes to Gulf markets. According to an official statement released by the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, PM Sharif chaired a meeting on long-term power supply planning and the outlook for domestic exports amid current international pressures. He directed officials to formulate a comprehensive national action plan to expand renewable energy sources. He also ordered the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation to arrange vessels to boost export volumes through sea routes. Renewables currently account for 55% of Pakistan&#39;s total electricity generation, with fossil fuels making up the remaining 45%. The government is targeting a 90% renewable share within ten years, with biofuels comprising the remaining 10%. The prime minister ordered work on the Battery Energy Storage System project to be fast-tracked. &quot;Solar energy and other renewable energy sources are the future of the power sector,&quot; he said. On trade, PM Sharif said Pakistani exports to Gulf countries have continued despite recent global tensions. He credited diplomatic efforts for securing uninterrupted access to those markets. Demand for Pakistani agricultural commodities in the Gulf has risen steadily, officials reported during the briefing. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, along with federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Dr Mosaddeq Masood Malik, Muhammad Aurangzeb and Attaullah Tarar, Minister of State for Finance Bilal Azhar Kayani and other senior officers.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chairs a meeting regarding long term energy planning and export strategy during current international situation, in Islamabad on 7 April 2026. (PMO)

Economy

Pakistan’s renewable energy now generates 55% of electricity, shielding it from regional oil disruptions. PM Shahbaz Sharif aims for 90% renewables in a decade while securing Gulf export routes.

Articles by Ali Andaz Haider