Mariam Ellahi

ISLAMABAD: As the final whistle blew at Islamabad&rsquo;s Jinnah Stadium on Thursday night, the scoreboard read 0-0, &nbsp;but for the crowd spilling out into the cool evening air, the result meant more than just numbers.&nbsp;For many fans, it was an evening of renewed belief that football in Pakistan is finally finding its rhythm. Inside the stadium, Pakistan and Afghanistan fought a tense, end-to-end battle in their AFC Asian Cup 2027 qualifier. Both sides pressed hard, but neither could break the deadlock.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s defense, led by Sweden-based Abdullah Iqbal, kept Afghanistan&rsquo;s forwards at bay, while Shayak Dost and Ahmed Faraz came close on the counter. The biggest moment came when Otis Khan&rsquo;s penalty kick flew over the bar, a miss that drew collective gasps from the stands.&nbsp;But outside the stadium, disappointment quickly gave way to pride and optimism.&nbsp;&ldquo;This was a really positive performance for Pakistan,&rdquo; said Zain, a university student draped in a green flag. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve faced so many hardships in our football journey, but today felt different. You could feel the energy. The new faces, the fight. It gives hope to every young footballer dreaming of wearing that green shirt one day.&rdquo;&nbsp;Nearby, Saif, another football enthusiast, praised both teams for their spirit. &ldquo;It was a close, cutting-edge contest,&rdquo; he told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;Pakistan missed a few chances, but the brotherhood between Pakistani and Afghan fans was beautiful. We were joking, cheering together, it felt like football was uniting us.&rdquo;&nbsp;The match also drew fans who usually follow cricket, signaling a cultural shift. Rimsha, a former athlete attending her first live football game, said the sight of packed stands gave her goosebumps.&nbsp;&ldquo;I&rsquo;ve grown up in a cricket-crazy country,&rdquo; she said, &ldquo;but tonight showed that Pakistanis love football too. It&rsquo;s amazing to see families, women, and kids all here supporting the team.&rdquo;&nbsp;Head coach Nolberto Solano, speaking after the match, echoed the fans&rsquo; optimism. &ldquo;These players have shown great effort and commitment,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;They deserve more opportunities to compete at this level, and more support from the nation.&rdquo;&nbsp;As fans drifted out into the Islamabad night, flags still waving and chants echoing faintly, one thing was clear: even without goals, Pakistan&rsquo;s football revival has found its heartbeat and its believers.

AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027 Qualifier - Pakistan vs Afghanistan (PFF)

Football

Pakistan will face Afghanistan again on October 14 in Kuwait, where both teams will fight for their first win in Group E. With morale high after Islamabad’s draw, Pakistan aims to convert promise into points.

Pakistan, Afghanistan battle to goalless stalemate in Asian Cup qualifier

ISLAMABAD: The Green Balochistan Initiative, the province&rsquo;s key socio-economic development project, is nearing completion of its first phase and has entered its second phase, the project&#39;s coordinator said on Monday. Shehzad Jaffer told Pakistan TV Digital that the initiative, launched in 2022-23, targets the needs of local communities in areas such as water, roads, agriculture, and irrigation. District administrations, the Pakistan Army, and local Baloch citizens identified and prioritized issues, which were turned into detailed projects in 2023. Implementation began in 2024. &ldquo;Phase I is almost complete,&rdquo; Jaffer said. About 80% of the work is done, and the project is expected to be finished by June 2026. Phase I details and impact Phase I includes 74 projects worth Rs21.2 billion, focusing on agriculture, roads, water supply, and small dams. The roads component features 22 farm-to-market links that will connect remote settlements to Balochistan&rsquo;s highway network. The water component includes 33 schemes, ranging from filtration plants to piped water supply, across several districts. Small dams have also been built in areas like Kalat and Awaran to improve irrigation. Jaffer described the reconstruction of a 50-60 km section of the Washuk road, which turned a previously impassable route into a paved carriageway. Talking about its importance, especially in case of emergencies, he stated how &ldquo;it can save lives when patients need to reach medical care.&rdquo; The project coordinator also mentioned a village that had lacked proper water supply for nearly 40 years. &ldquo;We [installed] a solar-powered well, underground storage, and a filtration plant at the village&#39;s doorstep. People no longer [have to] walk long distances for unsafe water.&rdquo; Similarly, in Awaran, a cluster of 54 reverse osmosis plants is being installed to provide clean drinking water to remote areas. Green Balochistan Initiative: Focus on agriculture The Green Balochistan Initiative (GBI), which includes 13 agriculture projects, is central to the program. It aims to improve farm productivity and resilience. One major element is the development of the Kachhi Canal&rsquo;s command area, which is expected to irrigate around 100,000 acres when fully developed. The initiative also includes 333 solar-powered tubewells, submersible wells, drip irrigation systems, and plantations. &ldquo;GBI will create jobs in remote areas and improve Balochistan&rsquo;s agriculture,&rdquo; Jaffer said. Phase II launches with new projects The government has approved the second phase of the project, which includes 46 new projects worth Rs15.6 billion. This phase features 20 road projects, 18 water supply schemes, and eight irrigation schemes. Work on the second phase has already begun, the project coordinator confirmed. Monitoring and transparency measures To track progress, the government has set up an online dashboard, updated every two weeks. The dashboard is accessible to all stakeholders. &ldquo;If progress is not updated on time, an alert is sent to the responsible officer,&rdquo; Jaffer said. Monitoring teams also conduct field checks to ensure projects meet deadlines and quality standards. Jaffer stated that the initiative is community-driven. &ldquo;The people encouraged us to start and expand into the second phase. They see the impact on their daily lives already.&rdquo;

The Green Balochistan Initiative is nearing completion of its first phase and has entered its second phase.

Economy

Balochistan’s socio-economic development initiative enters its second phase, with 74 projects focused on agriculture, roads, water supply, and irrigation, with the aim of improving rural conditions in Pakistan's largest province. 

Pakistan's Green Balochistan Initiative drives agricultural, infrastructure growth

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday declared that Pakistan is on course to become a &ldquo;regional hub of investment,&rdquo; as he chaired a high-level meeting reviewing the economy, foreign investment, and development projects.&nbsp;Sharif said stabilizing the economy on strong foundations was his government&rsquo;s foremost priority, pointing to recent positive indicators as evidence of renewed investor confidence. He stressed that transparency, international best practices, and swift policy implementation would be the cornerstones of Pakistan&rsquo;s economic strategy.&nbsp;&ldquo;The role of the private sector will be central in our planning, and its active inclusion will be guaranteed,&rdquo; the Prime Minister said, directing ministries and institutions to ensure maximum facilitation for international investors.&nbsp;The meeting also reviewed progress in energy, infrastructure, IT, and industrial projects. Sharif noted that attracting and retaining foreign investment, alongside expanding trade, would not only strengthen Pakistan&rsquo;s economy but also enhance public welfare and create new employment opportunities.&nbsp;Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, and other senior cabinet members and officials attended the session.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a high-level meeting on Pakistan’s economy, pledging to make the country a “regional hub of investment,” stressing transparency, private sector inclusion, and reforms, while reviewing progress in energy, IT, infrastructure, and industrial projects.

PM Sharif vows Pakistan to become ‘regional hub of investment’

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday expanded the federal negotiation team tasked with defusing tensions in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), according to his office, amid ongoing protests led by the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC).&nbsp;According to an official statement, the team has travelled to Muzaffarabad to engage in dialogue with JAAC leaders and provide recommendations to the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office.&nbsp;The expanded team now includes Senator Rana Sanaullah, Federal Ministers Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Sardar Muhammad Yousaf, Ahsan Iqbal, senior leaders Amir Muqam, Raja Pervez Ashraf, Qamar Zaman Kaira, former AJK president Masood Khan, and Sardar Masood Ahmed.&nbsp;PM Sharif emphasized that peaceful protest is a democratic right, but warned against actions that disrupt public order and peace. He directed law enforcement agencies to exercise restraint and avoid excessive use of force, assuring protesters that the government is committed to addressing their concerns.&nbsp;Dialogue and government responseSharif also announced support for families affected by the unrest and has called for a transparent investigation into the recent violence. He said he will personally oversee the negotiation process upon his return from London.&nbsp;Federal Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry reiterated the government&rsquo;s openness to dialogue, saying it is now the JAAC&rsquo;s responsibility to help stabilize the situation.&nbsp;Background of the unrestProtests erupted across AJK on September 29, triggering a near-complete shutdown in Muzaffarabad. Markets remained closed, public transport was suspended, and most schools were empty, despite being officially open.&nbsp;The JAAC submitted a 38-point charter of demands, which included the abolition of 12 assembly seats reserved for Kashmiri migrants from Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and royalty payments from regional hydropower projects.&nbsp;Government officials reported that nearly 90% of the demands were accepted. However, two key demands &mdash; reducing the number of ministers and abolishing migrant seats &mdash; were rejected, as they require constitutional amendments.&nbsp;Calls for calmAt a joint press conference on Wednesday, Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry and AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq urged the JAAC to resume talks. They warned that continued violence would undermine public welfare.&nbsp;&ldquo;Public rights are affected where human lives are lost,&rdquo; said PM Anwar-ul-Haq, noting that the federal government had already engaged in extensive negotiations, resulting in a draft agreement.&nbsp;Officials added that federal ministers stationed in Muzaffarabad and Rawalakot will oversee the implementation of any agreements reached with protest leaders.

Politics

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expanded a federal team to negotiate with protest leaders in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, urging calm and restraint. Most protest demands were accepted, as talks continue to resolve the unrest.

Pakistan PM expands negotiation team to ease Azad Kashmir tensions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said Tuesday that the country&rsquo;s leadership will soon decide its role in the Gaza peace plan, as world leaders move to implement the US-brokered initiative.&nbsp;Dar told reporters in Islamabad that the plan envisions Gaza being run by a technocratic government under international oversight, with day-to-day security handled by Palestinian law enforcement. He noted that Indonesia has already offered to contribute 20,000 personnel, while Pakistan is reviewing its potential contribution.&nbsp;&ldquo;The leadership will determine Pakistan&rsquo;s role in the coming days,&rdquo; Dar said, reaffirming Islamabad&rsquo;s commitment to a durable peace that safeguards Palestinian sovereignty.&nbsp;The plan, unveiled by US President Donald Trump on Monday night, sets out a 20-point roadmap that includes a ceasefire, the exchange of hostages and prisoners, staged Israeli withdrawal from Gaza, the disarmament of Hamas, and large-scale reconstruction with international support.&nbsp;A joint statement from the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Turkiye, Indonesia, Qatar, Egypt, and Jordan welcomed the initiative, praising Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;sincere efforts to end the war&rdquo; and reaffirming their readiness to engage constructively with Washington and all stakeholders.&nbsp;&nbsp;The ministers also underlined their backing for a two-state solution, with Gaza fully integrated with the West Bank under a Palestinian state recognized by international law.&nbsp;Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the proposal as a &ldquo;major step toward ending Israel&rsquo;s nearly two-year offensive,&rdquo; which has killed more than 66,000 Palestinians since October 2023.&nbsp;Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has voiced cautious support, though some elements of the plan, particularly regarding future Palestinian governance, clash with his government&rsquo;s past positions.&nbsp;The biggest challenge lies with Hamas, which must agree to disarm under the terms of the deal. Trump has given the group &ldquo;three or four days&rdquo; to respond, warning that otherwise it faces &ldquo;a very sad end.&rdquo;&nbsp;For now, attention is turning to how swiftly the international community, including Pakistan, can move from agreement to practical implementation on the ground, amid growing urgency to halt the violence and address Gaza&rsquo;s dire humanitarian crisis.

Foreign Affairs

Pakistan’s Deputy PM Ishaq Dar says Islamabad will soon decide its role in the Gaza peace plan, as regional states back Trump’s roadmap for ceasefire, reconstruction, and a two-state solution requiring Hamas’ disarmament.

Pakistan weighing role in Gaza peace implementation plan: Dar

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;&nbsp;AJK Prime Minister Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq challenged the leaders of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) to contest elections if they want to be treated as public representatives, accusing them of trying to &ldquo;hold the state hostage&rdquo; through coercion. &ldquo;If you claim to be a public representative, there are only two constitutional paths: local bodies or Legislative Assembly elections,&rdquo; he said in an interview with PakistanTV Digital on Sunday. &ldquo;A small group cannot hold the entire system hostage by force.&rdquo; While acknowledging the legitimacy of demands such as, affordable power and flour, he maintained that they were leveraging a popular narrative to create political space, he added that the government had honored constitutional limits and could not accept conditions that undermined state functioning.&nbsp; &ldquo;Their concerns about subsidies and relief are understandable, but issues such as perks, privileges, or unrealistic allocations must be weighed against our financial constraints,&rdquo; he added. Linking local demands to the wider regional context, he warned against forgetting the value of freedom: &ldquo;Ask those across the LoC. Cheap electricity and cheap flour cannot come at the cost of our principles.&rdquo; He further noted that protests must remain peaceful, cautioning against attempts to paralyse civic life. &ldquo;The constitution allows protest, but no one has the right to shut down the state,&rdquo; Chaudhry underlined. Skepticism over the UN&nbsp;The PM also voiced skepticism about the United Nations&rsquo; role in resolving the Kashmir dispute. &ldquo;During the limited 32&ndash;33 years of my life, I have not seen the UN solve a single problem for the Muslim Ummah,&rdquo; the PM remarked while speaking to Pakistan TV Digital. He added his expectations were now tied to Islamic regional groupings such as Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the Arab League. Speaking during the UN General Assembly&rsquo;s (UNGA) High-Level Week in New York, the AJK premier welcomed the recently-signed Pakistan&ndash;Saudi Arabia defence pact. He argued that the agreement would lend a new urgency to the Kashmir issue at both the OIC and Arab League levels.&nbsp; &ldquo;I believe that due to this, Kashmir will once again become a flashpoint in the Muslim Ummah&hellip; not only will it remain on the OIC platform, which it already had, but now it will be raised with full force in the Arab League as well,&rdquo; the PM said. Governance and salariesResponding to criticism over rising public expenditure, the premier defended government salaries, saying that these were in line with service requirements. He insisted that his administration had prioritised development projects, particularly road construction and infrastructure in rural areas, despite limited fiscal space. &ldquo;The federation provides a certain volume of funds. We are utilising them transparently, whether for subsidies, health, education or infrastructure. But we cannot stretch beyond our means,&rdquo; the PM noted. Kashmir struggleTurning to the broader Kashmir dispute, the AJK PM condemned India&rsquo;s crackdown in occupied Jammu and Kashmir, highlighting restrictions on political and religious freedoms. He stressed that the struggle for self-determination would continue despite repression. &ldquo;The people of occupied Kashmir have not given up their struggle, even under severe restrictions. Our responsibility is to amplify their voices at every forum we can,&rdquo; he said. The premier reiterated that while the UN had historically fallen short, the onus now lay on Muslim states to leverage their collective strength.&nbsp; &ldquo;The UNGA week may end, but the Kashmiri struggle will not. It is our duty to keep it alive through every available platform,&rdquo; he concluded.

Security

Contest elections if you want to represent people: AJK PM to Action Committee

ISLAMABAD: Russia&rsquo;s Ambassador to Pakistan Albert Khorev on Tuesday reiterated Moscow&rsquo;s commitment to a diplomatic solution in Ukraine, while accusing Kyiv and its Western allies of &ldquo;obstructing&rdquo; meaningful peace efforts.&nbsp;Speaking at a press briefing in Islamabad, Khorev claimed that President Vladimir Putin had resumed direct negotiations with Ukraine in May 2025, but &ldquo;despite three rounds of talks, Ukraine refused to engage seriously on key technical details for a ceasefire.&rdquo;&nbsp;The envoy alleged that Kyiv and its backers were &ldquo;not interested in real peace,&rdquo; instead using temporary ceasefires to &ldquo;regroup and rearm.&rdquo; He cited European Union military and financial assistance to Ukraine exceeding $70 billion since the war began.&nbsp;&ldquo;Ceasefires are being exploited by Ukraine and its sponsors,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We&rsquo;ve seen this pattern before, calls for peace only to gain time for rearmament.&rdquo;&nbsp;Khorev also accused Ukrainian forces of violating multiple temporary truces this year, including &ldquo;nearly 4,900 breaches during the Easter ceasefire alone.&rdquo;&nbsp;No Putin-Zelensky summitAddressing speculation over a potential summit between President Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, Khorev dismissed the possibility.&nbsp;&ldquo;Zelensky&rsquo;s term expired in May 2024. A summit must conclude a peace process, not initiate one,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Until Kyiv abandons its neo-Nazi policies, stops persecuting Russian-speaking communities, and halts NATO expansion onto Ukrainian territory, peace will remain elusive.&rdquo;&nbsp;Prisoner exchange and children&rsquo;s allegationsKhorev acknowledged recent progress in humanitarian matters, including prisoner exchanges and repatriation of remains.&nbsp;&ldquo;Over 1,000 prisoners have been exchanged in recent months, and a working group for ceasefire verification is under discussion,&rdquo; he noted.&nbsp;He also rejected Ukrainian claims that thousands of children had been abducted by Russia. &ldquo;Only 339 names have been submitted through official negotiators. The rest is misinformation,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Criticism of Ukrainian lawsKhorev strongly criticized new Ukrainian legislation banning Soviet-era symbols and the term &ldquo;Great Patriotic War,&rdquo; calling it &ldquo;a violation of Ukraine&rsquo;s own constitution and international conventions.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Such laws are an attempt to erase history and impose a revisionist narrative. Under martial law, Ukraine has descended into authoritarianism, censorship, and a crackdown on civil liberties,&rdquo; he claimed.&nbsp;Remarks on the UNThe Russian envoy also criticized the United Nations Secretariat, accusing it of bias.&nbsp;&ldquo;The UN under Secretary-General Ant&oacute;nio Guterres has consistently adopted anti-Russian positions while remaining silent on U.S. actions in Israel and the occupied territories,&rdquo; Khorev said.&nbsp;He added that Russia, alongside partners like Pakistan, would continue to challenge &ldquo;racist and neo-colonial approaches&rdquo; in global institutions.&nbsp;Relations with PakistanKhorev praised Islamabad&rsquo;s neutral stance on the Ukraine conflict and its call for dialogue.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan strongly supports a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, a position that aligns with Russia&rsquo;s stance,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We are grateful for Pakistan&rsquo;s balanced and independent foreign policy despite external pressure.&rdquo;&nbsp;He also welcomed the recently announced Pakistan-Saudi Arabia defense agreement, calling it a positive development for regional stability.&nbsp;&ldquo;Russia appreciates Pakistan&rsquo;s efforts to build strategic partnerships and promote dialogue over confrontation,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;Drone incursions deniedResponding to reports of alleged Russian drone incursions into Polish airspace, Khorev denied any aggressive intent.&nbsp;&ldquo;Moscow has no interest in escalating tensions with NATO. We are open to bilateral consultations to prove these allegations are unfounded,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Concluding his remarks, Khorev reaffirmed Russia&rsquo;s openness to dialogue with &ldquo;any nation genuinely interested in peace and stability.&rdquo;

Russia's ambassador in Islamabad blamed Ukraine and its allies for stalling peace efforts, while reaffirming Moscow’s readiness for dialogue and praising Pakistan’s neutrality in the ongoing conflict.

Ukraine blocking peace talks: Russian envoy in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has voiced renewed alarm over the recent surge in terrorist attacks across the country, attributing much of the violence to safe havens in neighboring Afghanistan. Officials urged Kabul to fulfill its commitments under the Doha Agreement and prevent the use of Afghan territory by militant groups. Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry emphasized that Pakistan had consistently supported Afghanistan and now expects reciprocal responsibility. &ldquo;Under the Doha Agreement, the Taliban pledged that Afghan soil would not be used for terrorism or threats against the US and its allies,&rdquo; Chaudhry said. &ldquo;They should honor that commitment.&rdquo; According to data from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Pakistan has been conducting nearly 190 intelligence-based operations daily. Since January 2024, over 112,000 such operations have been carried out nationwide, resulting in the elimination of more than 2,200 terrorists. Chaudhry noted that Pakistan had repeatedly presented evidence of cross-border attacks and urged the Taliban to sever ties with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). DG ISPR also raised similar concerns on Friday in an interview with a German news outlet, stating that &ldquo;the base of operation that the Indians use is Afghanistan, the whole of terrorism that is being done is executed by the Indians over there.&rdquo; He added that &ldquo;Indians have a playbook of using terror as a tool of state,&rdquo; claiming that their &ldquo;main tools&rdquo; at the moment are terrorist outfits TTP and BLA. &ldquo;We have provided proof that their soil is being used against us. The Afghan government must not only disassociate from the TTP but take concrete action against them,&rdquo; Chaudhry said. He added that Pakistan reserves the right to act in defense of its citizens. &ldquo;We have stood by Afghanistan for decades. But if they fail to act, Pakistan will do what&rsquo;s necessary to protect itself,&rdquo; he said, adding that the TTP operates as a proxy for anti-Pakistan elements, particularly India. &ldquo;India has long used such groups to destabilize us because it fears our rise as a regional power.&rdquo; Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during a recent visit to Bannu, echoed similar concerns, stating Kabul must choose between Pakistan and the TTP. Senior journalist Sami Yousafzai, speaking to Pakistan TV, highlighted the Taliban&rsquo;s internal dilemma. &ldquo;There are an estimated 6,000 TTP fighters in Afghanistan. Acting against them under Pakistani pressure could risk Taliban unity,&rdquo; he explained. While some Taliban factions view the TTP as problematic, Yousafzai said a broader confrontation is unlikely. He noted that recent relocations of TTP fighters to provinces like Ghazni were significant but insufficient. &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s expectations rise with every attack, but the Taliban&rsquo;s room for concessions is shrinking,&rdquo; he added. Security analyst Dr Khurram Abbas pointed to Kabul&rsquo;s &ldquo;inability or unwillingness&rdquo; to crack down on TTP sanctuaries as the core issue. &ldquo;Until Afghanistan takes decisive action, this cycle of militancy will continue,&rdquo; he warned. Dr Abbas outlined possible responses from Pakistan, including enhanced border security, precision counter-terrorism strikes, and expanded diplomatic engagement. &ldquo;Pakistan may also bring China into the fold as a strategic partner while increasing international pressure,&rdquo; he said. Despite rising tensions, experts agree that the path forward requires firm action against militant sanctuaries and renewed regional cooperation.

Pakistan has urged Afghanistan to curb militants under Doha pledges, with DG ISPR accusing India of orchestrating terror via Afghan soil using TTP and BLA.

Pakistan to Afghanistan: Stop harboring militants, fulfill Doha promises

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to travel to Doha on Monday to take part in the Emergency Arab‑Islamic Summit, which Islamabad has helped sponsor, the foreign office has said.&nbsp;The summit has been called in response to Israel&rsquo;s airstrikes on the Qatari capital and the worsening situation in Palestine.&nbsp;The heads of state, government leaders, and senior officials from Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) member nations are expected to attend, the statement added.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;The Summit has been convened in the wake of Israel&rsquo;s airstrikes on Doha and the escalating developments in Palestine,&rdquo; the foreign office said. &ldquo;Unlike previous emergency meetings from Muslim platforms that were often delayed, this one has been convened swiftly, reflecting the seriousness of the situation,&rdquo; Mansoor Jafer, Al-Arabiya Urdu chief, told Pakistan TV, terming Israel as a &ldquo;bully state.&rdquo; He said Qatar&rsquo;s diplomatic support from Muslim countries and beyond highlights its legitimacy as a mediator and its growing weight in regional diplomacy.&nbsp;On Sunday, a ministerial meeting of foreign ministers will prepare a draft resolution condemning the Israeli strike on Qatar, according to Majed al‑Ansari, spokesperson for the Qatari foreign ministry. Qatar has been vocal in calling the airstrikes an infringement of international law and a direct attack on its sovereignty.&nbsp;Analysts believe Pakistan&rsquo;s cosponsorship signals its desire to play a more prominent role in Middle‑East diplomacy. &ldquo;This is Pakistan drawing a line, it wants its voice heard beyond domestic policy,&rdquo; said Dr. Luciano Zaccara, Gulf politics expert. &ldquo;Expect more than expressions of anger. This summit could mark a shift toward coordinated regional pressure.&rdquo;&nbsp;Notable leaders expected in Doha include Iran&rsquo;s President Masoud Pezeshkian and Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al‑Sudani. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan may also attend, though his participation has not yet been confirmed.&nbsp;Israel&rsquo;s strikes on Hamas officials in Doha, killing five members and one Qatari security officer, have provoked global condemnation, including from Gulf states that are typically aligned with U.S. policy. Scholars and diplomats argue the summit reflects growing discomfort among Arab nations over what they view as unchecked Israeli military actions.&nbsp;In the lead‑up to the summit, Pakistan has underlined its commitment to solidarity and regional unity. &nbsp;Islamabad emphasized that Pakistan strongly condemns &ldquo;Israeli aggression against Qatar and other regional states,&rdquo; reaffirming its support for the sovereignty and security of its neighbors.&nbsp;&nbsp;Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar will also join the preparatory session of foreign ministers on September 14.&nbsp;Sharif visited Doha on September 11 to meet Qatari leaders, expressing Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;unwavering support for the security and sovereignty of Qatar&rdquo; and its commitment to peace and stability in the Middle East.

Middle East

Islamabad says PM Shehbaz Sharif will attend the Emergency Arab-Islamic Summit in Doha to coordinate a unified response to Israeli airstrikes.


Arab, Muslim leaders to gather in Qatar for Pakistan co-sponsored summit

<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 700; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">POZA RICA: The death toll from Mexico&rsquo;s torrential rains rose to 47 on Sunday as the fallout mounted from flooding and landslides throughout the country, as the authorities were rushing to help affected residents and look for missing people.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Days after heavy rains drenched several parts of Mexico, the country saw over the weekend the extension of devastation in some states, where the flooding swept away vehicles and destroyed houses and roads.<figure><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/4f536df9-d91d-4b50-9b5c-33b6b9e0bb72-AP25285857233726.jpg" alt="Damaged vehicles sit in mud after flooding in Poza Rica, Veracruz state, Mexico, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)" class="fr-fic fr-dii"><figcaption>Damaged vehicles sit in mud after flooding in Poza Rica, Veracruz state, Mexico, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)</figcaption></figure> <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">President Claudia Sheinbaum traveled to some of the states and said the government will begin a census among affected people to distribute aid. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mexico&#39;s Civil Protection agency said as of Sunday night, the heavy rains had killed 18 people in Veracruz state on the Gulf Coast and 16 people in Hidalgo state, north of Mexico City. At least 12 people were killed in Puebla, east of Mexico City. Earlier, in the central state of Quer&eacute;taro, a child died being caught in a landslide. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That toll could still rise as rescue workers continued to dig through sodden villages clogged with mud and debris on Sunday.<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/e8c1a4cc-76d6-4bf1-a350-9a1ca933970d.png" style="width: 810px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib fr-fil"> <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Civil Protection said at least 38 people were missing in three different states.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Authorities have attributed the deadly downpours to two tropical systems that formed off the western coast of Mexico and have since dissipated, Hurricane Pricilla and Tropical Storm Raymond. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Veracruz and Puebla, hundreds of army personnel, police officers and firefighters conducted rescue operations and set up temporary shelters where stranded residents could find food and medical attention. Thousands of residents across the country were still struggling with a lack of running water and electricity. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;There are still various communities in Veracruz that find themselves cut off that fortunately today they were able to establish air bridges to be able to take food, water and attend to any sick people,&rdquo; Sheinbaum said on a visit to Veracruz Sunday. &ldquo;We know that there is a lot of desperation and worry. We&rsquo;re going to get to everyone.&rdquo; <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Parts of Veracruz state received some 21 inches (54 centimeters) of rain from Oct. 6 to 9. <span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In Poza Rica, an oil town 170 miles (275 kilometers) northeast of Mexico City, where Sheinbaum spoke with residents in muddy streets, some low-lying neighborhoods saw 12 feet of water or more when the Cazones River jumped its banks Friday.

A Marine helps a woman cross a flooded street in Poza Rica, Veracruz state, Mexico, Sunday, Oct. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Felix Marquez)

Americas

The death toll from Mexico’s torrential rains rose to 47 on Sunday as the fallout mounted from flooding and landslides throughout the country, as the authorities were rushing to help affected residents and look for missing people.

Mexico rushes rescue efforts after torrential rains leave 47 dead

HONG KONG: China&#39;s exports to the United States fell 27% in September from the year before, even though growth in its global exports hit a six-month high.&nbsp;Customs figures released Monday showed that China&rsquo;s worldwide exports were 8.3% higher than a year earlier, at $328.5 billion, surpassing economists&rsquo; estimates. That was markedly better than the 4.4% year-on-year increase in August.&nbsp;Imports grew 7.4% last month, significantly better than a 1.3% increase by year in August, although a weaker domestic economy and a real estate sector downturn continue to weigh on demand and consumption.&nbsp;China&rsquo;s exports to the United States have fallen for six straight months. In August they dropped 33%.&nbsp;The outlook is cloudy as a truce between Beijing and Washington unravels and both sides hit out with new tariffs and other retaliatory measures.&nbsp;As exports to the United States have come under pressure from US President Donald Trump&#39;s policies aimed at trying to get manufacturers to shift factories to America, China has expanded markets for its products in other regions.&nbsp;Shipments to Southeast Asia grew 15.6% year-on-year in September. Exports to Latin America and Africa were up 15% and 56%, respectively.&nbsp;&ldquo;China&rsquo;s exports continue to show resilience given the low costs and limited choices for replacement globally despite the higher tariffs,&rdquo; said Gary Ng, a senior economist at Natixis.&nbsp;Tensions with the US reignited Friday after Trump threatened an additional 100% tariff on Chinese goods and export controls on &ldquo;critical&rdquo; software.&nbsp;That came after China announced it would hit American ships with new port fees in response to a US plan to impose port fees on Chinese vessels docking in the country. Beijing also extended export controls on lithium-ion batteries and on exports of rare earths and related technologies.&nbsp;The friction could jeopardize plans for a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping in late October. It also suggests a lack of progress in efforts to forge a broad trade agreement between the world&#39;s two biggest economies.

Business

China's exports to the US sink nearly 30% in September as trade truce unravels with new threats of higher tariffs.

China's US exports drop 30% as tariff tensions rise

SYDNEY: Pat Cummins has conceded he&#39;s a doubtful starter for Australia&#39;s Ashes series opener against England in Perth next month.&nbsp;&ldquo;I wouldn&rsquo;t put a percentage on it, but I&rsquo;d say probably less likely than likely,&rdquo; the pace bowler told domestic media Monday. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve still got a bit of time.&rdquo;&nbsp;The Australia captain has been sidelined for three months with a back stress injury, and speculation has mounted in recent weeks that he&#39;d miss at least the first test, and likely more, of the biggest test cricket series on the 2025 calendar.&nbsp;Cummins said he&#39;s back into physical training and &quot;each session feels better and better.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;We get into slight bowling prep, I think next week,&quot; he said. &quot;I&rsquo;m probably a couple of weeks away before I actually put on these spikes and bowl on the turf.&quot;&nbsp;The five-test series starts Nov. 21 in Perth, followed by a day-night test in Brisbane from Dec. 4, before the series moves to Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.&nbsp;The 32-year-old Cummins has not bowled since Australia&#39;s 3-0 series sweep of the West Indies in the Caribbean in July.&nbsp;&ldquo;The immediate goal is to make sure I&rsquo;m giving myself a chance to be right for as much of (the series) as possible,&rdquo; Cummins said. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s really too early to kind of make some big decisions.&nbsp;&ldquo;With these things, it&rsquo;s pretty hard to go from not bowling or anything at all to suddenly playing five tests. The first step is trying to give us a shot at being (fit), and then we&rsquo;ll work it out a bit closer.&rdquo;&nbsp;Cummins said he wasn&#39;t in serious pain and was trying to increase his workload.&nbsp;&ldquo;A few of the symptoms hung around for a little bit longer than I would have liked,&quot; he said, &ldquo;but they&rsquo;re all gone now.&rdquo;&nbsp;If Cummins is ruled out, Scott Boland is likely to take his place in the pace attack that should include Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood.&nbsp;Australia&#39;s white ball squad is preparing for a series of one-day and Twenty20 internationals against India starting Oct. 19.

Cricket

Cummins says he's back into physical training and "each session feels better and better.”

Pat Cummins is doubtful for Ashes series opener against England

ACCRA: A boat capsized on a lake in northeastern Ghana, killing 15 people, mostly children, maritime authorities said on Sunday. &quot;Tragically, 11 of the deceased were children between the ages of two and 14 years (five males and six females)&quot; in the incident that took place Saturday on Lake Volta in the Krachi West District of the Oti Region, the Ghana Maritime Authority said in a statement. The children and other victims, aged up to 64, were traveling from Okuma to Bovime when their vessel overturned, it added. Four adults survived, the statement said, describing the accident as &quot;a critical and unacceptable breach of safety standards.&quot; Preliminary findings suggested the boat was overloaded, the authority said. A specialized investigation team, including naval personnel, was deployed to determine the cause. The authority added that it would set up a high-level investigation committee with the transport ministry and launch a &quot;sustained lakeside safety enforcement operation&quot; to ensure compliance with passenger limits and life jacket rules. Boat disasters are common on Lake Volta, often caused by overloading and collisions with tree stumps. In August, six passengers died in a similar incident. In May 2023, 18 people were killed after their boat struck a submerged tree stump. The GMA said it &quot;remains resolute in unravelling the root causes of this disaster and implementing measures to ensure that no such tragedy ever occurs again.&quot;

Africa

Authority says it will set up a high-level investigation committee with the transport ministry, launch a "sustained lakeside safety enforcement operation" to ensure compliance with passenger limits and life jacket rules.



Ghana boat capsize kills 15, mostly children: authorities

GAZA CITY: Hamas was set to release all surviving hostages on Monday in exchange for Palestinian prisoners held by Israel, as US President Donald Trump headed to the region for a peace summit having declared the war &quot;over.&quot; Trump&#39;s lightning visit to Israel and Egypt aims to celebrate his role in brokering last week&#39;s ceasefire and hostage release deal &mdash; but comes at a precarious time as Israel and Hamas negotiate what comes next. Under the US president&#39;s proposed roadmap, once the Palestinian fighters have handed over the surviving hostages, Israel will begin releasing around 2,000 detainees in exchange. Israel expects all 20 living hostages to be released to the Red Cross &quot;early Monday morning&quot;, according to a spokesperson for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu&#39;s office. Speaking to reporters on Air Force One at the start of the &quot;very special&quot; visit, Trump brushed off concerns about whether the ceasefire would endure. &quot;I think it&#39;s going to hold. I think people are tired of it. It&#39;s been centuries,&quot; he said of the fighting. &quot;The war is over. Okay? You understand that?&quot; the US president added. In Israel, Trump is due to meet the families of hostages seized by Hamas in the deadly cross-border attack two years ago that sparked the war, before addressing the Israeli parliament in Jerusalem. His trip is partly a victory lap over the Gaza deal he helped broker with a 20-point peace plan announced in late September. &quot;Everybody&#39;s very excited about this moment in time,&quot; Trump said earlier as he prepared to board the plane at Joint Base Andrews near Washington. Key US officials travelling with him included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, CIA chief John Ratcliffe and top military officer Dan Caine. Peace summit&nbsp;After visiting Israel, Trump will head to Egypt where he and President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will co-host a summit of more than 20 world leaders to back his plan to end the Gaza war and promote Middle East peace. Trump will be looking to resolve some of the huge uncertainty around the next phases of the peace plan &mdash; including Hamas&#39;s refusal to disarm and Israel&#39;s failure to pledge a full withdrawal from the devastated territory. Trump insisted he had &quot;guarantees&quot; from both sides and other key regional players about the initial phase of the deal, and the future stages. &quot;I don&#39;t think they&#39;re going to want to disappoint me,&quot; he said. Trump also said he would be &quot;proud&quot; to visit Gaza itself, but did not say when such a difficult security challenge would be possible. A new governing body for devastated Gaza &mdash; which Trump himself would head under his own plan &mdash; would be established &quot;very quickly,&quot; he added. Under the plan, as Israel conducts a partial withdrawal from Gaza, it will be replaced by a multi-national force coordinated by a US-led command center in Israel. Israel&#39;s campaign in Gaza has killed at least 67,806 people, according to figures from the health ministry in the territory that the United Nations considers credible. The data does not distinguish between civilians and combatants but indicates that more than half of the dead are women and children.

Under the US president's proposed roadmap, once the Palestinian fighters have handed over the surviving hostages, Israel will begin releasing around 2,000 detainees in exchange.

Hamas and Israel set for hostage and prisoner exchanges

MEXICO CITY: The death toll from Mexico&#39;s torrential rains increased to 44 on Sunday as the fallout mounted from flooding and landslides across the country, prompting President Claudia Sheinbaum to convene governors from hard-hit states to direct an emergency response plan. Mexico&rsquo;s National Coordination of Civil Protection reported that as of Sunday, the heavy rains had killed 18 people in Veracruz state on the Gulf Coast and 16 people in Hidalgo state, north of Mexico City.&nbsp; At least nine people were killed in Puebla, east of Mexico City. Earlier, in the central state of Quer&eacute;taro, a child died being caught in a landslide. That toll could still rise as rescue workers continued to dig through sodden villages clogged with mud and debris on Sunday. In Veracruz and Puebla, hundreds of army personnel, police officers and firefighters conducted rescue operations and set up temporary shelters where stranded residents could find food and medical attention.&nbsp; Thousands of residents across the country were still struggling with a lack of running water and electricity. &ldquo;We will not leave anyone helpless,&rdquo; President Sheinbaum wrote on social media.&nbsp; On Sunday, surveying authorities&#39; aid distribution in the hard-hit Huauchinango municipality in Puebla, Sheinbaum said that Sunday&#39;s improved weather offered a chance to reach communities still entirely isolated. Authorities have attributed the deadly downpours to Tropical Storm Priscilla, formerly a hurricane, and Tropical Storm Raymond, both off the western coast of Mexico.

Toll can still rise as rescue workers continue to dig through sodden villages clogged with mud, debris.



Mexico's president convenes governors as death toll from torrential rains rises to 44

JERUSALEM: US President Donald Trump declared the Gaza war &quot;over&quot; on Sunday as he headed to the region to host a peace summit, while Hamas prepared to release surviving hostages after two years in captivity. Under the US president&#39;s proposed roadmap, once the Palestinian fighters have handed over the hostages, Israel will begin releasing around 2,000 detainees in exchange. But negotiators were still wrangling late on Sunday over the final arrangements, with two Hamas sources telling AFP the group was insisting that Israel include seven senior Palestinian leaders on the list of those to be released. A confident Trump told reporters travelling with him that &quot;the war is over,&quot; as he took off from Washington for &quot;a very special&quot; trip. The US leader is due to arrive in Israel shortly after the expected release, and will address the Israeli parliament before heading to Egypt to host a meeting of world leaders to back his plan to end the two-year-old Gaza war and promote Middle East peace. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said: &quot;Together we achieved tremendous victories, victories that amazed the whole world ... But at the same time, I must tell you, the fight is not over.&quot; &quot;This is an emotional evening, an evening of tears, an evening of joy, because tomorrow our children will return to our borders,&quot; Netanyahu said, quoting a biblical verse. Israel&#39;s army chief, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, also claimed victory. &quot;The military pressure we applied over the past two years, together with complementary diplomatic measures, constitute a victory over Hamas,&quot; Zamir said. Shosh Bedrosian, a spokesperson for Netanyahu&#39;s office, said the hostage release will begin early on Monday, with Israel &quot;expecting all 20 of our living hostages to be released together at one time.&quot; A senior Israeli military official however told reporters: &quot;Unfortunately... we anticipate that not all fallen hostages will be returned tomorrow.&quot; Bedrosian earlier said an &quot;international body&quot; would be set up to locate the remains of those not returned as part of Monday&#39;s exchange. &#39;Completed all preparations&#39; &quot;Palestinian prisoners will be released once Israel has confirmation that all of our hostages set to be released tomorrow are across the border into Israel,&quot; Bedrosian said. Two Hamas sources, meanwhile, told AFP the group was insisting Israel free seven prominent Palestinian figures as part of the exchange &mdash; at least one of whom Israel has previously refused to release. The source said that the group and its allies had nevertheless &quot;completed all preparations&quot; for handing over to Israel all the living hostages. Under the plan, Hamas is to release the remaining 47 hostages &mdash; living and dead &mdash; who were abducted on October 7, 2023, during a cross-border Hamas attack that left 1,219 people dead, and triggered Israel&#39;s devastating campaign. Hamas is also expected to hand over remains of a soldier killed in 2014 during a previous Gaza war. Among the Palestinian prisoners to be released, 250 are security detainees, including many convicted of killing Israelis, while about 1,700 were detained by the Israeli army in Gaza during the war. After his Israel visit, Trump and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi will chair a summit of leaders from more than 20 countries in the Egyptian Red Sea resort town of Sharm El-Sheikh. &#39;Fear and worry&#39; UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has said he will attend, as have leaders from Britain, Italy, Spain, France and King Abdullah of Jordan. No Israeli nor Hamas officials will be present, officials from both camps confirmed. The third day of the ceasefire saw some aid trucks cross into Gaza, but residents in Khan Younis, in the south of the Strip, said some shipments were being ransacked by starving residents in chaotic scenes that saw food parcels trampled. For Mahmud al-Muzain, a bystander, the scuffle showed that Gazans did not trust that the US-led negotiations would lead to a long-term peace. &quot;Everyone fears the war will return,&quot; he told AFP. &quot;We stockpile food out of fear and worry that the war will come back.&quot; In Israel, the mother of 25-year-old hostage Matan Zangauker described her intense longing. &quot;My emotions are immense, there are no words to describe them &mdash; for me, for us, for all of Israel, which wants the hostages home and waits to see them all return,&quot; said Einav Zangauker. &#39;A long-term truce&#39; Hamas has over the past two years suffered staggering losses including the killing of its top leaders both in Gaza and in exile. But the movement has not been crushed, and a source close to its negotiating committee told AFP on Sunday that while it would not participate in post-war Gaza governance, it will not lay down its weapons. Under the Trump plan, as Israel conducts a partial withdrawal from Gaza, it will be replaced by a multi-national force coordinated by a US-led command center in Israel. Israel&#39;s campaign in Gaza has killed at least 67,806 people, according to the health ministry in the territory, figures the United Nations considers credible.

Under the US president's proposed roadmap, once the Palestinian fighters have handed over the hostages, Israel will begin releasing around 2,000 detainees in exchange.

Trump declares Gaza war 'over,' hostages due home

PARIS: France&#39;s President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a new government on Sunday, after marathon talks to cobble together a cabinet and prevent the country from slipping deeper into a political crisis. The lineup, a mix of old and new faces, is Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu&#39;s second attempt at bringing together a team to overcome months of deadlock and pass a much-needed budget through a hung parliament. Last Sunday he presented his first cabinet, but resigned a day later after the lineup was criticized for not having enough new faces. Macron reappointed him on Friday to try again. &quot;A mission-driven government has been appointed to provide France with a budget before the end of the year,&quot; Lecornu wrote on X on Sunday.<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-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=1977464958712500451&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=aee2e4f9e0ae9f799ef8acc74c4194d5785ce556&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 392px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div><a href="https://twitter.com/SebLecornu/status/1977464958712500451?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="font-size: 18px; color: rgb(0, 115, 230);"></a></div>According to the lineup published by the presidency, Jean-Noel Barrot remained as foreign minister. Outgoing labor minister Catherine Vautrin took on the defense portfolio. Roland Lescure, a Macron loyalist, is in charge of the economy, with next year&#39;s budget as a top priority. There were also new faces. Paris police chief Laurent Nunez took over the interior ministry, replacing Bruno Retailleau whose right-wing Republicans party said it would not be part in any government this weekend. Monique Barbut, the former France director of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), was to head the ministry of environmental transition. Gerald Darmanin however stayed on as justice minister. And Rachida Dati, a scandal-ridden culture minister who is set to stand trial for corruption next year, also retained her post.

France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks during a meeting with European and Arab foreign ministers at the foreign ministry in Paris, France, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025. (Thomas Samson, Pool Photo via AP)

Europe

The lineup, a mix of old and new faces, is Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu's second attempt at bringing together a team to overcome months of deadlock and pass a much-needed budget through a hung parliament.

France's president unveils new cabinet lineup

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan desired a peaceful, stable, friendly, inclusive, regionally connected, and prosperous Afghanistan, the foreign office said late Sunday, following its forces repelling an &ldquo;unprovoked&rdquo; cross-border assault overnight by the neighboring country. The Pakistani military said the overnight assault of October 11&ndash;12 saw Afghan Taliban fighters and allied militants launch coordinated attacks along multiple border sectors. Pakistani forces repelled the offensive, killing over 200 attackers, while 23 soldiers embraced martyrdom, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). ISPR said the Taliban were joined by Fitna al-Khawarij, Islamabad&rsquo;s term for the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), along with Fitna al-Hindustan, referring to Indian-sponsored proxies, and Daesh/ISKP. &ldquo;Exercising the right of self-defense, Pakistan&rsquo;s forces repelled the assault and inflicted heavy casualties,&rdquo; ISPR said, adding that precision strikes destroyed multiple Taliban posts and training centers inside Afghanistan. Islamabad calls for responsibility and restraintIn a statement issued later by the foreign office, Pakistan reiterated its long-standing desire for peace and stability in Afghanistan, emphasizing that Islamabad sought &ldquo;a peaceful, stable, friendly, inclusive, regionally connected, and prosperous Afghanistan.&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" 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=1977430286989492596&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=51a0539cd1ad8431fa5f54b10ba1a403d113dd99&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 673px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> &ldquo;Pakistan expects the Taliban regime to act responsibly, honor its commitments, and play a constructive role in achieving the shared objective of rooting out terrorism from its soil,&rdquo; the statement said. The foreign office expressed &ldquo;deep concern at the unwarranted aggression,&rdquo; adding that such unprovoked actions aimed at destabilizing the border &ldquo;belie the overall spirit of peaceful neighborhood and cooperative relations between the two brotherly countries.&rdquo; &ldquo;Pakistan, exercising its right of self-defense, not only effectively repulsed the assaults all along the border, but also inflicted heavy losses on Taliban forces and affiliated Khawarij, in terms of men, material, and infrastructure,&rdquo; the statement continued. &ldquo;These infrastructures were used to plan and facilitate terrorist attacks against Pakistan.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;In our targeted and precise response, all possible measures were taken to prevent collateral damage and protect civilians.&rdquo; The ministry emphasized that Pakistan values &ldquo;dialogue and diplomacy and a mutually beneficial relationship with Afghanistan,&rdquo; but warned that continued provocation would not be tolerated. &ldquo;At the same time, the Government of Pakistan continues to closely monitor the situation and would take all possible measures to safeguard its territory and the lives of its people,&rdquo; the ministry said. &ldquo;Any further provocations will be met with an unwavering and befitting response.&rdquo; India&rsquo;s role and Afghan minister&rsquo;s remarksThe foreign office strongly rejected what it called &ldquo;baseless insinuations&rdquo; made by Afghanistan&rsquo;s Interim Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi during his visit to India, saying he attempted to divert attention from the presence of terrorist elements operating freely in Afghanistan. &ldquo;By making these baseless assertions, the Taliban regime cannot absolve itself of its responsibilities toward regional peace and stability,&rdquo; it said. &ldquo;Continued presence of terrorist elements on Afghan soil and the freedom of activities enjoyed by them in Afghanistan are well-documented in UN Monitoring Team reports.&rdquo; The statement noted that Pakistan has repeatedly conveyed its concerns to Kabul about the activities of Fitna-e-Khawarij and Fitna-e-Hindustan operating from Afghan territory, warning that these elements enjoy active support from India. &ldquo;Pakistan expects concrete and verifiable actions against these terrorist elements by the Taliban regime,&rdquo; the foreign office added. The ministry also drew attention to the timing of the border provocation, which coincided with the Taliban foreign minister&rsquo;s visit to New Delhi, &ldquo;the biggest state sponsor of terrorism in the region,&rdquo; according to ISPR. Islamabad views this as further evidence of Indian efforts to exploit Afghan soil to destabilize Pakistan. National leadership stands unitedPrime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the Armed Forces for their professionalism and valor in defending Pakistan&rsquo;s borders, saying there would be &ldquo;no compromise on national defense.&rdquo; &ldquo;Every provocation will be met with a strong and effective response,&rdquo; the prime minister said, while offering prayers for the 23 soldiers who embraced martyrdom and extending condolences to their families. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi condemned the cross-border attacks as a &ldquo;blatant violation of international law,&rdquo; saying Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces &ldquo;have shown with an immediate and effective response that any provocation will not be tolerated.&rdquo; &ldquo;The fire and blood being played out from Afghanistan have links to our perennial enemy,&rdquo; Naqvi said, referring to India. &ldquo;Afghanistan will be given a strong, decisive response &mdash; just as India was.&rdquo; Border closuresFollowing the clashes, Pakistan closed all major crossings along the 2,600-kilometer (1615.5 miles) Pak-Afghan border, including Torkham, Chaman, Kharlachi, Angoor Adda, and Ghulam Khan, officials confirmed. Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing policy of humanitarian engagement with Afghanistan, the foreign office said: &ldquo;In the spirit of good neighborliness, Islamic brotherhood, and humanity, Pakistan has generously hosted around four million Afghans for more than four decades.&rdquo; The statement added that Pakistan would continue to regulate the presence of Afghan nationals on its territory &ldquo;in accordance with international norms and laws.&rdquo; &ldquo;We also hope that one day, the Afghan people will be emancipated and governed by a truly representative government,&rdquo; it concluded.

Says country expects Taliban regime to act responsibly, honor its commitments, and play a constructive role in achieving the shared objective of rooting out terrorism from its soil.

Pakistan desirous of peaceful, stable, friendly, prosperous Afghanistan: foreign office

ISLAMABAD: The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has approved Pakistan&rsquo;s landmark proposal to tackle disinformation, misinformation, and hate speech while safeguarding freedom of expression.&nbsp;The initiative, presented by Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador Mumtaz Zahra Baloch at the 222nd Session of the UNESCO Executive Board in Paris, received overwhelming cross-regional support, underscoring Islamabad&rsquo;s growing role in shaping global digital policy.&nbsp;The proposal calls for stronger international cooperation to build a safe, trustworthy, and human rights&ndash;based digital environment, one that balances free speech with responsibility in an era increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence and algorithmic influence.&nbsp;&ldquo;UNESCO&rsquo;s centrality to promoting a safe, reliable, and inclusive information environment that upholds human rights, democratic values, and access to information for all remains essential,&rdquo; Pakistan&rsquo;s statement noted.&nbsp;Member States lauded the proposal for addressing pressing challenges in the age of emerging technologies, including AI, neuro-technology, and immersive digital platforms.&nbsp;The Executive Board emphasized the need for greater transparency and accountability from digital platforms, urging measures to detect and label AI-generated or manipulated content and to strengthen content authentication systems.&nbsp;UNESCO works to build peace through international cooperation in education, science, culture, and communication. It plays a leading role in promoting media freedom, ethical AI, and digital literacy worldwide.&nbsp;By championing this initiative, Pakistan has positioned itself as an emerging voice in the global effort to safeguard information integrity and strengthen digital safety. Observers say the proposal&rsquo;s adoption marks a forward-looking step toward creating international standards that protect both truth and transparency in the digital age.

UNESCO has endorsed Pakistan’s proposal to combat disinformation and promote digital integrity, highlighting Islamabad’s leadership in shaping global digital policy and balancing free expression with accountability.

Articles by Mariam Ellahi