Muhammad Usman Amin

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has officially launched the Insaf Female Education Card, a financial safety net aimed at ensuring higher education is free for female students and orphans in public sector institutions.&nbsp;The initiative, announced last week by Chief Minister Sohail Afridi at Frontier College for Women, Peshawar, is being actively rolled out under his administration.&nbsp;Secretary Higher Education KP Kamran Ahmed Afridi told Pakistan TV Digital that &ldquo;the groundwork for this scheme was laid during the tenure of former Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, highlighting a sustained commitment to education reform across political transitions.&rdquo;&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Muzzammil Aslam, Advisor Finance &amp; Inter-Provincial Coordination to the Chief Minister KP, said the provincial government had declared an &ldquo;education emergency&rdquo; to prioritize female education.&nbsp;&ldquo;Even when girls manage to attend school, many parents still do not allow them to study further. To encourage parents to send their daughters for higher education, an endowment-based scholarship fund has been created,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The program targets financial barriers that often prevent girls from continuing education in rural areas. &ldquo;In many families, sons are prioritized for college if funds are limited. This scheme will help girls avail higher education along with boys,&rdquo; Afridi said.&nbsp;The scheme specifically targets female students and orphans, aiming to improve retention and ensure state guardianship for vulnerable students.&nbsp;The card functions as a complete tuition waiver. According to the Higher Education Department, it covers all admission, examination, and tuition fees, ensuring financial constraints do not force students to abandon their studies after matriculation.&nbsp;Aslam added that the Chief Minister had approved a two-billion-rupee scholarship endowment fund, from which nearly 14,000 girls, including 1,731 orphaned students, will benefit.&nbsp;&ldquo;Until the endowment fund becomes fully operational, the provincial government will issue Rs325 million [$1.15 million] from the provincial finance department for the first phase,&rdquo; he explained.&nbsp;He said that as of 11 November 2025, Rs118 million ($418,050) have already been released for 54,354 girls, including 1,730 orphans, a figure that also includes 3,442 girls and 207 orphans from the merged districts.&nbsp;&ldquo;In the future, the endowment fund will make the program sustainable. If more girls qualify, the fund will be expanded,&rdquo; he noted, adding that scholarships will eventually be financed through the fund&rsquo;s own income to avoid repeated budget requests.&nbsp;Social activist Spogmay Masood praised the initiative, telling Pakistan TV Digital: &ldquo;This is an excellent initiative by the Government, as long as it&#39;s sustainable and can be scalable in the future so more and more girls and orphans can be incentivised to go for higher education.&rdquo;&nbsp;The rollout will initially benefit 54,085 students across KP, including 52,354 female students and 1,731 orphans. To support the program, the provincial cabinet approved an Endowment Fund of Rs2 billion ($7.09 million) last year.&nbsp;Meanwhile, the Finance Department provided an interim allocation of Rs325 million, of which Rs118.367 million ($419,500) has already been reimbursed to institutions as of November 11, 2025.&nbsp;The initiative emphasizes inclusivity, with particular focus on the Merged Districts (formerly FATA) and underprivileged areas with low female literacy. Initial data shows 3,472 female students and 207 orphans from these regions are enrolled.&nbsp;Operationally, the secretary clarified that students must be enrolled in government institutes. Once eligibility is confirmed, the government reimburses the institution directly, &ldquo;bypassing the red tape often associated with cash-transfer scholarships,&rdquo; the department said.&nbsp;According to social activist Rabia Qayyum, &ldquo;The launch of the Insaf Female Education Card by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government marks an important and commendable step toward gender equality and social inclusion.&rdquo;&nbsp;She said by providing free intermediate-level education to nearly 55,000 female students and orphaned children in public colleges, the initiative aims to remove one of the most significant obstacles young women encounter, the financial burden of pursuing further studies.&nbsp;&ldquo;So it&#39;s a marvelous step by the government,&rdquo; she added.&nbsp;The Insaf Female Education Card represents a strategic shift in KP&rsquo;s education policy, moving from infrastructure development to direct student investment, and aims to institutionalize the right to education for the province&rsquo;s daughters.

Education

The Insaf Female Education Card represents a strategic shift in KP’s education policy, moving from infrastructure development to direct student investment, and aims to institutionalize the right to education for the province’s daughters.

Pakistan rolls out free education card for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s young women

ISLAMABAD: Germany Federal Ministry of the Interior Spokesperson Elena Singer stated on Wednesday, in an exclusive comment to Pakistan TV Digital, that it has held talks with Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities to establish a formal process for deporting Afghan nationals.&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, the ministry spokesperson confirmed that discussions were held at a technical level with Kabul&rsquo;s de facto authorities to create a structured mechanism for deporting Afghan migrants from Germany.&nbsp;This development follows recent reports that Germany had offered certain Afghan individuals in Pakistan, who had been shortlisted for asylum in Germany. This includes a sum of &euro;1,500 to forgo relocation to Germany and remain in Pakistan, or &euro;5,000 to return to Afghanistan, a move that has caused dismay among asylum hopefuls.&nbsp;In an official statement to Pakistan TV Digital, the spokesperson confirmed the new government&rsquo;s policy to repatriate Afghan citizens, a move signaling a controversial engagement with the Taliban.&nbsp;&ldquo;The Federal Government is currently holding talks with the Afghan de facto authorities in order to establish a return mechanism that will allow the regular repatriation of Afghan citizens,&rdquo; said Singer.&nbsp;The ministry stated that this policy is part of the government&rsquo;s &ldquo;coalition agreement.&rdquo;&nbsp;The incumbent Friedrich Merz-led government in Germany, a coalition between the Christian Democrats and the Social Democrats, signed an agreement during their campaign pledging to take a tougher stance on migration and to resume deportations of Afghans and Syrians. This marks a departure from the previous administration, which had promised not to carry out such deportations.&nbsp;The statement further noted that deportations &ldquo;will be resumed, starting with criminals and persons considered a potential threat.&rdquo;&nbsp;This new diplomatic engagement follows a precedent set in July 2025, when &ldquo;a first return operation under the current government took place, during which 81 Afghan citizens who had committed serious crimes in Germany were repatriated.&rdquo;&nbsp;Previously, deportations had been conducted with Qatar acting as an intermediary. However, this time Germany is engaging directly with the Afghan authorities.&nbsp;The goal of the new talks is to move beyond one-off operations and establish a regularized process.&nbsp;The spokesperson noted that the &ldquo;return mechanism&rdquo; is intended for Afghan citizens who &ldquo;have no legal right to stay in Germany and are required to leave the country.&rdquo;&nbsp;This could potentially mean that deportations will be expanded to include Afghans whose asylum applications have been rejected and who are therefore residing illegally in Germany.&nbsp;Moreover, the ministry&rsquo;s use of the term &ldquo;de facto authorities,&rdquo; instead of &ldquo;the Afghan government,&rdquo; when referring to the Taliban, clearly indicates that Berlin is dealing with the group in power without recognizing it as the legitimate government.&nbsp;The ministry acknowledged the sensitive nature of the negotiations, concluding that &ldquo;no further information can be provided at this stage of the talks.&rdquo;

Afghanistan

Germany’s Interior Ministry confirms holding talks with Afghanistan’s de facto authorities; purpose is to establish a formal deportation process for Afghan nationals; marking direct engagement with the Taliban after previous indirect repatriations via Qatar

Germany negotiates with Taliban over refugees but denies 'legitimacy' 

Nearly a month of political and security issues has halted trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, stopping bilateral commerce and causing over $100 million in losses for traders in both countries.&nbsp; As of Nov. 10, major border crossings, including Torkham and Chaman, remain closed to commercial traffic. The recent collapse of talks in Istanbul has dashed hopes for a quick resolution, potentially shifting regional trade. The crisis, which began in early October following deadly border clashes, has escalated into an economic standoff. The recent third round of negotiations in Istanbul, mediated by Turkey and Qatar, also ended without any agreement. Islamabad maintains that Kabul must first address its concerns regarding militant groups like the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan and rein in terrorist elements operating against Pakistan on Afghan soil. With diplomacy on pause, the economic fallout is on full display. The Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Investment has confirmed that combined losses have exceeded $100 million. For reference, annual trade between the two countries is estimated at $2.3 billion.&nbsp; Junaid Altaf, President of the Sarhad Chamber of Commerce, speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, said, &ldquo;Containers are still stranded at the Torkham border. Many perishable items had to be returned, resulting in significant financial losses. Nearby warehouses are filled to capacity; there is no space left.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Containers are also stuck on the Afghan side, unable to enter Pakistan. These containers are loaded with stone, coal, and fresh fruit. Traders estimate that these blockades are impacting more than just trade; they are affecting employment, supply chains, and people-to-people relations between the two countries,&rdquo; he added. For Pakistan, the closure has affected certain imports, leading to temporary domestic price increases. Prices for essentials like tomatoes had soared to many times the usual rate, but the recent harvest in Pakistan&#39;s Sindh has brought prices back down.&nbsp; Coal, another major import from Afghanistan, is in short supply. Pakistan has substantial coal reserves in the Thar region, but the quality does not meet the required standards, and it needs to import higher-quality coal from South Africa and other countries. &nbsp; In Afghanistan, on the other hand, the impact is quite severe. The crucial dried fruit market, a mainstay of its export economy, has come to a near standstill, with traders in provinces like Zabul and Kandahar reporting devastating price drops as their goods cannot reach Pakistani markets. The suspension of Afghan imports of grapes, apples, and pomegranates has raised prices in Pakistan. In Afghanistan, however, orchard owners are lamenting that prices need to be slashed by almost 50% compared to last year, as the fruit is piling up with no buyers in sight.&nbsp; Pakistan is also the largest exporter of cement to Afghanistan. The construction industry is one of the country&#39;s biggest employers, especially in a nation ravaged by decades of war. However, the border closure has brought construction to a halt and impacted the lives of millions of laborers. Afghanistan can turn to Iran for cement, as it is already the second-largest importer, but this transition will require time, resources, and infrastructure.&nbsp; According to the Afghanistan Food and Drug Authority, 95% of the pharmaceuticals in Afghanistan are imported, with the majority being from Pakistan and India (imported via Pakistan). The border closure has put a significant strain on Afghanistan&#39;s fledgling healthcare sector.&nbsp; Khanjan Alokozay, Chairman of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Joint Chamber&mdash;Kabul Chapter, commenting on the ties between the two countries, said, &ldquo;Unless trade and social matters are separated from intelligence and security issues and addressed seriously, resolving this problem is impossible.&rdquo; Faced with a blocked eastern border, Afghanistan is actively seeking alternatives, but the necessary infrastructure isn&#39;t available, and the costs are significantly higher. The lack of easy access to a port makes Kabul&#39;s task even more difficult. Pakistan remains firm, linking trade to its security needs. The approach is part of a nationwide effort to repatriate undocumented foreigners, mostly Afghans. The belief is that the long-term security gains outweigh the short-term economic difficulties. For a landlocked and unrecognized government, the Taliban must now treat border diplomacy as an absolute necessity, not a political afterthought. Although Pakistan benefits from trade with its western neighbor, its overall reliance on it is limited. However, for Kabul, it could serve as a critical choke point with long-term economic consequences.

Asia

Political and security issues has halted trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan, stopping bilateral commerce and causing over $100 million in losses for traders in both countries

Pakistan, Afghanistan border closure costs surpass $100M as talks remain stalled

PESHAWAR: Afghanistan is now facing what observers are calling a &ldquo;great return,&rdquo; as large numbers of Afghan nationals are being sent back from multiple directions, including Pakistan, Iran, and increasingly, Europe. According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), nearly 2.3 million Afghans have returned since April 1, 2025, with 1.5 million arriving from Iran and almost 600,000 from Pakistan. Pakistan&rsquo;s Illegal Foreigners&rsquo; Repatriation Plan (IFRP), initiated in late 2023, remains underway. Initially focused on undocumented Afghans, it has since widened in scope, with some Proof of Residence (PoR) cardholders also returning. The government announced in October that only Afghans with valid visas will be allowed to stay. Meanwhile, deportations from Iran have surged at an even faster pace. According to UNHCR figures referenced in the draft, more than 1.7 million Afghans have been expelled or returned from Iran in 2025 alone. Tajikistan has also begun small-scale deportations. However, a major new direction is emerging from Europe. Germany&rsquo;s new government under Chancellor Friedrich Merz is holding direct talks with Afghan authorities to establish a formal deportation framework. These meetings were confirmed by the German media consortium ARD to have taken place in Kabul on October 1. Germany&rsquo;s Interior Minister Alexander Dobrindt has publicly stated: &ldquo;We want to facilitate regular and routine deportations to Afghanistan. To this end, discussions are taking place at a technical level with Afghan representatives.&rdquo; The initial phase focuses on Afghan nationals convicted of crimes, but the policy is expected to eventually address all Afghans residing illegally in Germany, aligning with the coalition government&rsquo;s campaign commitments. Germany has deported Afghan convicts before, but those removals were carried out via Qatar as a mediator. This time, Germany is negotiating directly with the Taliban government, marking a significant policy shift. A broader European move is also underway. In mid-October, 19 EU countries and non-EU Norway jointly called for the resumption of both voluntary and forced expulsions to Afghanistan, particularly focusing on individuals convicted of serious offenses. This initiative, led by Belgium, signals growing coordination among European states. These developments highlight that Afghan return is now a global issue, not one limited to Pakistan or its neighbors. Yet, the returnees face immense challenges. Many have not lived in Afghanistan for decades and now enter a country struggling with economic collapse, food shortages, unemployment, and the approach of a harsh winter. As conditions tighten, the question remains whether Afghanistan has the capacity to absorb the scale and speed of these return movements, and what the humanitarian consequences may be in the months ahead.

Europe

Afghans are returning from Iran, Pakistan and now Europe as governments accelerate deportations, creating a multi-front influx into an economically strained Afghanistan facing winter hardship.

Europe joins regional push to deport undocumented Afghans in 2025 shift

PESHAWAR: In Peshawar, a city in northwestern Pakistan renowned for its food, one restaurant stands out not only for its taste but for its unapologetic celebration of meat. Situated on the main University Road, directly under the flight path of the airplanes landing and taking off from the airport runway right across the road, Shinwari Pulao has become a legendary destination for meat-lovers since its inception in 1994. The restaurant&#39;s fame rests on its namesake dish, Shinwari Pulao. It is not just a plate of rice with meat but rather a mountain of meat with a bit of rice. Carnivorous cravings &nbsp;This is the main reason for its appeal in a region that takes its carnivorous cravings very seriously. The meat, tender mutton, is cooked to perfection. It is succulent, juicy, and richly marbled, with soft bone marrow served alongside. The creator of this phenomenon is Yar Muhammad, who started with a small shop and a unique vision. Kabuli Pulao is the main rice dish famous in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and he deliberately wanted to depart from the standard. Instead of cooking components separately like Kabuli Pulao, his method involves simmering the meat and rice together in the meat&#39;s own flavorful broth, removing the meat and cooking it a second time separately to render the fat, and adding it to the rice again, but without using any heavy spices in the dish. Good rice and rich meat&nbsp;&quot;The reason for the rice&#39;s flavor is that for every one kilo of rice we cook, we add at least 17 to 18 kilos of meat,&quot; he reveals. This huge ratio is the secret to the dish&#39;s rich umami flavor that satisfies even the most intense cravings. The result is a very simple dish &mdash; just good rice and rich meat. The natural flavor of the high-quality mutton flows through, creating a rich, gelatinous broth that the rice cooks in for hours. The dish is finished with a generous sprinkle of julienned carrots and raisins, lightly fried in sugar, adding a touch of sweetness that cuts through the richness. &lsquo;Unique taste&rsquo;&nbsp;This focus on quality and quantity has turned Shinwari Pulao from a small shop into a large establishment occupying an entire plaza.&nbsp; During lunch and dinner, hundreds of customers throng the place, from locals to travelers who have heard of its legendary status. &quot;I have eaten at other restaurants, but the taste of this place&#39;s rice is unique,&quot; says Muhammad Salim, a regular customer from Kurram District currently working in Peshawar, who came along with his friends. &quot;The meat is tender, soft, and delicious. That&#39;s the main reason we come here.&quot; For anyone visiting Peshawar, a meal at Shinwari Pulao is more than just dinner: it is an experience that speaks to the heart of Pashtun hospitality and its profound love for meat.

Culture

For anyone visiting Pakistan's northwestern city of Peshawar,  a meal at Shinwari Pulao is more than just dinner: it is an experience that speaks to the heart of Pashtun hospitality and its profound love for meat.

More meat than rice: How one Peshawar restaurant became a carnivore's paradise

PESHAWAR: In a small workshop tucked inside the narrow streets near Peshawar&rsquo;s old city, 78-year-old Riaz Ahmad sat cross-legged on the floor, shaping thread-like lines of soft, off-white paste into swirling floral patterns. His hands were steady, his posture fixed, his expression one of practiced calm. He has been doing this work for more than 60 years, long enough to know that with him, an entire art form might disappear. &ldquo;This work used to be everywhere,&rdquo; he told Pakistan TV Digital, his voice steady but thoughtful. &ldquo;They would make these patterns and paste them on the wooden ceilings of houses. First, they would apply sand, then mica, so that the design shimmered under the light.&rdquo; He paused, remembering a piece he once treasured. A ceiling panel he had kept for decades. &ldquo;I did not want to sell it,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But an Englishman insisted, at Lok Virsa [cultural festival in Pakistani capital of Islamabad]. I quoted Rs2,000 [$7.12]. He gave me Rs20,000 [$71.20] instead.&rdquo; The piece left his hands, but the memory never did. Art passed down generationsRiaz traced the origins of this craft through his family line, a lineage older than the border that now divided Pakistan and India. &ldquo;My great-grandfather, Mian Muhammad, used to do this work before partition,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;After partition, my grandfather came here. He had money then, around Rs20,000 to Rs25,000. He bought five or six houses. One of those is the house we still live in.&rdquo; His grandfather worked at Kabuli Gate. His father later moved to Saddar. And Riaz? He joined as soon as he finished his matriculation. &ldquo;The first design I made was the Taj Mahal,&rdquo; he recalled, smiling softly. What began as an apprenticeship turned into a life. Through his art, he raised his children and built his home. &ldquo;I got my children married and settled through this work,&rdquo; he said. Craft built by hand, heart, and painThe process behind each piece was slow, physical, and unforgiving. Riaz explained how the paste, the foundation of the design, came from flax seeds heated and stirred in large cauldrons in Bara and Jamrud. Once cooled and kneaded, it turned into a workable dough. &ldquo;We take a little in the hand,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We roll it into a thin string&hellip; and we create the design, line by line.&rdquo; Then came the brushwork. Then the sun. Only after drying under open sky would the piece be ready. &ldquo;It looks easy,&rdquo; he said quietly, &ldquo;but it is very hard work. Every single joint in your body aches. Your head spins. Your back hurts. You sit in one position and just keep making, keep making.&rdquo; Yet he continued, not out of obligation but devotion. &ldquo;I could never make such beautiful designs in my youth as I could now,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Because skill and knowledge are learned with the passion of the heart.&rdquo; Recognition, honor, and silenceRiaz&rsquo;s talent did not go unnoticed. In 2004, he represented Pakistan in New Delhi under the theme &ldquo;Dost-Kari.&rdquo; There, he received the Seal of Excellence. Later, in 2012, he was awarded the &ldquo;Tamgha-e-Imtiaz&rdquo; by the President of Pakistan. &ldquo;It was a tremendous honour,&rdquo; he said simply. Once, in 1997, he recalled meeting the daughter of US President Bill Clinton. &ldquo;She said I should not be sitting there,&rdquo; he recalled. &ldquo;She said I should be placed on a pedestal.&rdquo; Her words stayed longer than the moment itself. But acclaim did not mean survival. Not for the craft, not for the craftsmen. The last two practitionersToday, only Riaz and his eldest son remain. &ldquo;My eldest son and I &mdash; that&rsquo;s it. No one else in the world,&rdquo; he told Pakistan TV Digital. &ldquo;The others in the family left the work. Some got sick. Some just left it. The art was too difficult.&rdquo; His son, now in his 50s, received orders from Japan and France, yet even he struggled to find time to create the older, traditional pieces. Demand was small. The labor was immense. Riaz sold small works for Rs500 [$1.78]. Larger peacock designs sometimes for Rs3,000 [$10.68] to Rs5,000 [$17.80]. Each piece could take days. Sometimes weeks. Always, the price seemed too little for the time. Riaz did not speak in regret. He spoke in hope, even if fragile. &ldquo;This art has been good for me,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But people should learn it, so this ancient art of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa lives on&hellip; even after me.&rdquo;

78-year-old Riaz Ahmad has been doing this work for more than 60 years, long enough to know that with him, an entire art form might disappear.



Last pattern keeper: In Peshawar, one artist preserves a fading craft

PESHAWAR: Lal Chapoor stood at his raised platform as he had for forty years, a metal ladle in his hand, steam rising in soft clouds around him. His movements were measured and unhurried: dip, scoop, pour, filling bowl after bowl of slow-cooked mutton and potatoes. The bustle around him was constant, but he remained steady, the quiet center of a noisy, crowded world. Inside his shop, the sounds blended into a rhythm of their own: dishes clattering, tandoor flames roaring, and servers shouting orders as they navigated the tight space with trays lifted over customers&rsquo; heads. Outside, Karkhano Market churned with heat, bargaining voices, and the dust of Peshawar&rsquo;s old trade routes. Yet it was the savory aroma drifting from the shop&rsquo;s modest five-foot entrance that drew people in from nearby streets and faraway cities. Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Lal Chapoor said the secret to his famous Rosh was not in hidden spices or complicated recipes. &ldquo;It requires honesty,&rdquo; he explained, his tone calm. &ldquo;You can&rsquo;t cook it with dishonesty&hellip; the taste won&rsquo;t be there.&rdquo; His day began at sunrise. He supervised the butcher himself, inspecting every cut of meat. The ingredients were simple&mdash;mutton, potatoes, onions, and salt. The daig, a giant pot, was sealed with wet flour and left to cook slowly for hours, the steam locked inside until the meat fell apart at the touch. &ldquo;The magic is in how you make it,&rdquo; he said. Over the past few years, his shop had gone from a local secret to a nationwide destination. Food bloggers, vloggers, travelers, and families came after seeing his stew on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. Men like Muhammad Jaleel traveled seven hours from Upper Dir just to taste what they had seen online, and many nodded in quiet approval after their first bite. There were no reserved tables or restaurant d&eacute;cor. Customers sat shoulder to shoulder on mats spread across the floor. Students, traders, drivers, and businessmen all eating together. Hot naan arrived fresh from the tandoor next door, torn into pieces and dipped into the broth. In a city of fleeting trends and new eateries opening every month, Lal Chapoor had remained unchanged. The daig, the ingredients, the pace, the flavor: all the same as when he started. As he handed another steaming bowl to a server, he told Pakistan TV Digital, &ldquo;The work must stay the same. The taste must stay the same. If the taste changes, it is finished.&rdquo; Outside, the line continued to grow. Inside, the ladle kept moving. And the aroma continued to guide people through the crowd, just as it always had.

Food

In Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Lal Chapoor has spent four decades serving his famous Rosh in Peshawar’s Karkhano Market. He told Pakistan TV Digital the dish’s enduring flavor comes from “honesty,” drawing visitors from across the country


Lal Chapoor: The quiet master behind Peshawar’s famous Rosh

PESHAWAR: With militant groups in northwestern Pakistan increasingly deploying drone technology to strike security forces and state installations, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) authorities have begun rolling out advanced anti-drone guns as part of a revised counter-terror response, senior police officials said.&nbsp;Militant outfits operating in KP have steadily expanded their use of quadcopter drones to launch attacks, shifting the conflict &ldquo;from a horizontal to a vertical level.&rdquo;&nbsp;Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Bannu Police Sajjad Khan said the drones being used are &ldquo;acquired through the black market and smuggled across the border from Afghanistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;According to internal estimates, 57 drone-assisted attacks were reported between July and August alone.&nbsp;Earlier this month, militants targeted the Khadi Fort of paramilitary forces in Mir Ali, North Waziristan. Before using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device (VBIED), militants deployed drones to strike the compound and divert security personnel.&nbsp;In another incident in Bannu district, officials reported at least eight drone attacks over recent months, including one where an explosive drone missed its intended target and hit a nearby house, killing a woman and injuring three children.&nbsp;The drones, often commercially available quadcopters modified to carry explosives or mortar shells, have prompted a new defensive strategy.&nbsp;The KP police have begun equipping personnel with anti-drone guns designed to disrupt the communication link between a drone and its operator. These devices emit electromagnetic pulses that jam the drone&rsquo;s control, navigation, and video feed, forcing it to land safely and allowing for intelligence extraction.&nbsp;Sajjad Khan said the technology can disable suspicious drones from up to three kilometers away, providing protection for public gatherings, security convoys, and sensitive locations.&nbsp;The first operational deployment took place in July during the Ashura procession in Peshawar, where officials say the technology helped prevent attacks during an event historically vulnerable to violence.&nbsp;Initially, anti-drone systems are being deployed in Peshawar, Bannu, and Bajaur, districts that have seen a spike in militant activity.&nbsp;The Public Relations Officer (PRO) to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) KP, Riaz Khan, told Pakistan TV Digital that the technology &ldquo;is now being used in many areas,&rdquo; and that its introduction has &ldquo;successfully reduced drone attacks to zero in the areas where it has been implemented.&rdquo;&nbsp;This early success has encouraged a broader rollout. IGP KP Zulfiquar Hameed recently announced that 70 drones will be deployed across the province, including to the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD), alongside the acquisition of additional anti-drone guns. The objective, he said, is to build a &ldquo;comprehensive security umbrella&rdquo; across KP.&nbsp;The KP police say they remain committed to &ldquo;making the citizens of KP and Pakistan safer by equipping their forces with the latest technologies.&rdquo;

Security

In Pakistan’s northwestern province, authorities have deployed anti-drone guns to counter militants increasingly using quadcopter drones for attacks, disrupting their communication signals and reducing drone strikes in key high-risk districts.

Pakistan deploys anti-drone tech to counter militants in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

PESHAWAR: Pakistani officials and analysts say the Afghan Taliban allowed militants to cross into Pakistan and carry out attacks, including suicide bombings, while delegations from both countries were meeting in Doha and Istanbul, Pakistan TV Digital has learned.&nbsp;&ldquo;This is Taliban&#39;s classic modus operandi. During their talks with the United States in Doha in 2021, the Taliban kept attacking the US forces to build leverage,&rdquo; Professor Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy, an international relations expert at the University of Peshawar, told Pakistan TV Digital.&nbsp;He added that the interim Afghan government showed an &ldquo;overtly [a] ceasefire but covertly... allow[ing] the TTP to continue or escalate the attacks.&rdquo;&nbsp;Pakistani and Afghan delegations met in Doha on October 19 and again in Istanbul from October 25&ndash;29 after a series of cross-border clashes. Islamabad says the Afghan side gave no commitments to prevent militants from operating on its soil.&nbsp;Security agencies and military sources say violence continued even as talks were underway. According to the military&rsquo;s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), at least 36 militants were killed during infiltrations from Afghan territory and subsequent intelligence-based operations.&nbsp;The ISPR also reported that five security personnel were martyred during the Istanbul talks.&nbsp;Chronology of attacks and interdictions&nbsp;<ul><li>On October 24, security forces in Tank and North Waziristan say they neutralized 11 terrorists and destroyed a vehicle-borne suicide bomb.</li><li>That same day in Swabi, security personnel engaged militants in a firefight as talks commenced.</li><li>On the day the Istanbul dialogue opened, a targeted double-bombing in Hangu killed Superintendent of Police Operations Asad Zubair.</li><li>In subsequent days, authorities defused a 20kg IED in Bannu, and police in Hangu repelled two more attacks, killing two assailants.</li><li>On October 25, security forces intercepted two large groups attempting to infiltrate Pakistan while the Istanbul talks were in progress. Forces say they repelled the incursions, killing 15 terrorists, including four suicide bombers, in North Waziristan, and another 10 in Kurram District.</li></ul>&nbsp;Analysts say the timing of the infiltration attempts, coinciding with active diplomatic engagement, raises questions about the Afghan interim administration&rsquo;s intentions.&nbsp;&ldquo;They are doing the same with Pakistan,&rdquo; Professor Suhrawardy told Pakistan TV Digital, drawing a direct parallel with Taliban tactics during earlier negotiations.&nbsp;Political and strategic falloutInformation Minister Attaullah Tarar described the Istanbul talks as &ldquo;fruitless,&rdquo; saying Kabul refused to impose controls on militants operating from Afghan soil despite Pakistan&rsquo;s demands.&nbsp;In response to the failed diplomacy and the sustained cross-border threat, some defense analysts are urging a shift in Pakistan&rsquo;s approach. Brig. (R) Haris Nawaz, a defense analyst, told Pakistan TV Digital that Islamabad should adopt a dual &ldquo;stick and carrot&rdquo; policy.&nbsp;&ldquo;We must now pursue kinetic options, such as striking terrorist bases, neutralizing commanders, and destroying militant infrastructure near the border,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Brig. Nawaz also advocated a complementary diplomatic push that would: involve regional stakeholders like China and Iran; seek US engagement to pressure India over alleged proxy activity in Afghanistan; and raise the matter at the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to leverage influence over Kabul.&nbsp;Longstanding Pakistani concernsFor years, Islamabad has pressed the Afghan Taliban to stop militants using Afghan territory to attack Pakistan. Officials in Islamabad also allege that the Afghan authorities have deepened ties with New Delhi, an accusation Pakistan says is corroborated by evidence that India funds militant groups in Afghanistan, a charge India denies.&nbsp;The failure of the Istanbul talks, alongside brazen infiltration attempts and targeted killings, appears to have shifted Pakistan&rsquo;s posture from patient diplomacy toward a dual-track policy combining limited kinetic operations and intensified international pressure.&nbsp;Islamabad is simultaneously continuing its domestic counterterrorism campaign, &ldquo;Azm-e-Istehkam,&rdquo; while signaling it may expand operations to neutralize cross-border threats.

Pakistani analysts say the Afghan Taliban allowed militants to cross the border and launch attacks even as delegations met for talks in Doha and Istanbul. Security forces repelled infiltrations, prompting calls for a shift toward kinetic and diplomatic pressure.

Kabul looked away as terrorists attacked Pakistan during talks

<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">PESHAWAR: Muhammad Sakhi leans over a steaming counter, lifting fresh plates of Mantu as customers line up shoulder to shoulder in the narrow basement restaurant. The air is warm with the scent of yogurt, spices, and rising steam.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Outside, the busy market of Peshawar, in Pakistan&rsquo;s northwestern frontier near the border with Afghanistan, roars with traffic, fruit vendors and old tea stalls but inside Sakhi&rsquo;s shop, the world slows to the rhythm of his hands &mdash; steady, graceful, familiar.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He has been doing this almost his entire life.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now in his late 40s, Sakhi began working at the age of nine. &ldquo;I started this business in 1992,&rdquo; he tells Pakistan TV Digital, remembering the early days. &ldquo;I worked with someone else first and learned the craft from him.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The lessons stayed with him &mdash; how to knead dough the right way, how to balance spices, how to make food that feels like home. Today, his small kitchen is one of Peshawar&rsquo;s most well-known destinations for Afghani Mantu and the Afghani Burger, dishes tied to Afghan identity, memory and migration.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Mantu steamer sits tall and gleaming, each tier filled with dumplings carefully stuffed with minced meat, onions and warm Afghan spices. When cooked, Sakhi plates them with a wide, practiced motion: first the &ldquo;chaka,&rdquo; a thick Afghan yogurt; then a spoonful of warm lentils; a sprinkle of fresh salad; and finally, French fries, which melt slightly into the yogurt and sauce below. The dish is soft, rich and comforting &mdash; more than a meal, it is memory on a plate.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Arshad Khan, a regular customer, it is the reason he keeps returning. &ldquo;Their specialty is the Afghani Burger and the Afghani Mantu,&rdquo; he says, watching Sakhi work.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;I personally love the Mantu because of the &lsquo;chaka&rsquo; they use. The taste... it&rsquo;s truly authentic Afghan flavor.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He explains that nothing about the dish is rushed. &ldquo;It&rsquo;s made very simply, steamed. We&rsquo;ve seen how they make it since we&rsquo;ve been coming here for a long time. The taste is excellent. It&rsquo;s really good. I love it!&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But if the Mantu is gentle, the Afghani Burger is bold. On the other side of the kitchen, naan warms on a hot griddle. Sakhi spreads it with fries, sliced meatloaf, sausages, smoked chicken, cheese, salad and a bright house-made tomato chutney.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">&ldquo;The Afghani Burger is the kind of food that... once someone tries it, they get hooked,&rdquo; he says with a smile. &ldquo;But only if the quality is good.&rdquo; Customization is part of the experience. &ldquo;We add sausages, meatloaf, smoked chicken, cheese... many items, brother.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If a customer asks for a special version, he adds more meat, more flavor, more heart.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">People travel for this flavor.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Naeem Ullah, holding a freshly wrapped burger, says, &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve traveled here from District Khyber. I&rsquo;ve been coming here for about three to four years. Their specialty, and what they&rsquo;re known for, is the Afghani Burger. I just had one, and it&rsquo;s incredibly tasty.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He glances around the room. &ldquo;Their staff and the whole place are very clean and very high quality.&rdquo;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">For Afghan families who crossed into Pakistan during difficult years, these dishes carry the taste of home. For Pakistanis, they have become beloved local favorites. For Sakhi, they are a life&rsquo;s work, served one plate at a time in the warmth of steam, spice and steady hands.

Afghan burgers from a shop in Peshawar (Muhammad Usman)

A crowded basement eatery fills with steam, spices, and conversation as customers line up for Mantu and Afghani burgers, foods carrying nostalgia, Afghan culinary tradition, and a devoted following built on flavor, memory, and generous hospitality.

In Peshawar, Afghani burger and Mantu keep refugee traditions alive

PARIS: Four European nations Thursday urged Israel to stop what they called increasing &quot;settler violence against Palestinian civilians&quot; in the occupied West Bank.&nbsp;&quot;We -- France, Germany, Italy, the United Kingdom -- strongly condemn the massive increase of settler violence against Palestinian civilians and call for stability in the West Bank,&quot; they said.&nbsp;&quot;These attacks must stop,&quot; they added, saying they risked undermining plans to end the Gaza war and prospects for long-term peace.&nbsp;Israel has occupied the West Bank since 1967.&nbsp;Violence in the West Bank has soared since Palestinian militant group Hamas&#39;s October 2023 attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war.&nbsp;It has not ceased despite the fragile truce between Israel and Hamas coming into effect last month.&nbsp;Israeli troops or settlers have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians in the West Bank -- many of them militants, but also scores of civilians -- since the start of the Gaza war, according to an AFP tally based on Palestinian health ministry figures.&nbsp;At least 44 Israelis, including both soldiers and civilians, have been killed in Palestinian attacks or Israeli military operations, according to official Israeli figures.&nbsp;Israel&#39;s military on Wednesday launched a new operation against Palestinian armed groups in the occupied West Bank. A local governor told AFP that Israeli forces had raided several towns.

Middle East

France, Germany, Italy and the UK urged Israel to halt rising settler violence in the West Bank, warning it endangers Gaza ceasefire efforts. West Bank casualties have surged as Israeli forces launch new operations across several towns.

Four European nations urge Israel to end West Bank 'settler violence'

Pakistan TV

Islamabad: Russia stands ready to &ldquo;lend a helping hand whenever needed,&rdquo; said the Russian Energy Minister Sergei Tsivilev as he reaffirmed Moscow&rsquo;s commitment to expanding long-term cooperation with Pakistan across energy, pharmaceuticals, education, tourism, and space technology. He called the 10th meeting of the Pakistan-Russia Intergovernmental Commission (IGC) a &ldquo;turning point&rdquo; in bilateral ties.&nbsp;In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, during his visit to Islamabad, Tsivilev highlighted a series of initiatives aimed at deepening collaboration, stressing that both nations are prepared to support each other in times of need.&nbsp;Russian Delegation Arrives with Cultural, Rescue and Space Missions&nbsp;Tsivilev noted that the Russian delegation&mdash;comprising economic experts, rescue workers, medics, and cultural representatives&mdash;began work immediately upon arrival. He referenced a joint concert in Islamabad featuring Russian and Pakistani artists, as well as a special appearance by Russian cosmonaut Yelena Serova to inspire youth as both countries advance cooperation in outer-space research.&nbsp;Rescue workers who assisted Pakistan during the 2005 earthquake were also honoured during the visit, marking 20 years since their deployment. Tsi said their stories symbolize the &ldquo;human connection&rdquo; between the two nations.&nbsp;Insulin Production in Pakistan a Priority for &lsquo;Pharmaceutical Security&rsquo;&nbsp;One of the most concrete proposals discussed was localized insulin production in Pakistan. Tsivilyov said Moscow wants Pakistan to achieve &ldquo;pharmaceutical security&rdquo; by manufacturing essential medicines domestically rather than relying on imports.&nbsp;He confirmed that the final pricing model&mdash;aligned with the cost of American-made insulin currently imported by Pakistan&mdash;will be discussed during the IGC meeting. He added that Russia is open to jointly producing additional medicines and vaccines, including veterinary vaccines crucial for livestock protection.&nbsp;Energy Justice: A Shared Vision for Development&nbsp;The minister reiterated Russia&rsquo;s global call for &ldquo;energy justice,&rdquo; pointing to the urgent need for equal access to reliable electricity in developing regions.&nbsp;&ldquo;Energy today defines competitiveness, transport systems, AI infrastructure, even finance through cryptocurrencies,&rdquo; he said, adding that Russia has raised the issue at BRICS and SCO forums.&nbsp;Tsivilev said Pakistan-Russia cooperation in the energy sector will expand as new technologies and investments are explored.&nbsp;Engineering Education: Russia Proposes Joint Schools and Training&nbsp;A major long-term initiative Tsivilev announced is the potential rollout of Russia&rsquo;s Engineering Schools Program in Pakistan.The model begins at the secondary-school level with specialized physics, chemistry, and mathematics tracks, followed by university training and industrial internships.&nbsp;He said Russia aims to train 300,000 engineers by 2030 and is ready to include Pakistani students in a similar pipeline.&nbsp;&ldquo;It&rsquo;s time to invest in children. In five to seven years, the payback will be far greater than any money spent today,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Tourism and Direct Flights on the Agenda&nbsp;Tourism emerged as another expanding avenue, with both sides seeing strong interest from travelers. Tsivilyov said Pakistan and Russia must &ldquo;remove existing restrictions&rdquo; and simplify travel, adding that increased tourism flows could justify regular direct flights between the two countries. This issue remained a key focus of working-group meetings ahead of the IGC sessions, he confirmed.&nbsp;Putin&rsquo;s Message to Pakistan&nbsp;Tsivilev said he arrived in Islamabad on the direct instructions of Russian President Vladimir Putin, who conveyed &ldquo;respect to the Pakistani nation&rdquo; and expressed hope that bilateral ties will continue to grow stronger each year. Putin, he said, wishes &ldquo;every success&rdquo; to the IGC and hopes for the launch of maximum joint projects for the development of both nations.&nbsp;&ldquo;Russia Will Always Stand by Pakistan&rdquo;&nbsp;The minister said Russia values its friendship with Pakistan and remains ready to assist whenever needed.&nbsp;&ldquo;We are always prepared to lend a helping hand to the friendly nation of Pakistan,&rdquo; he said

Foreign Affairs

Russia’s energy minister called the Pakistan–Russia IGC a turning point, outlining deeper cooperation in energy, pharma, education, tourism, and space while reaffirming Putin’s message that Moscow stands ready to support Pakistan whenever needed.

Russia ready to lend helping hand as Energy Minister outlines major cooperation plans for Pakistan

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Tajikistan&rsquo;s Foreign Ministry has condemned an armed drone attack launched from Afghanistan that killed three Chinese workers in the country&rsquo;s southern Khatlon region, calling on Afghan authorities to take &ldquo;effective measures&rdquo; to secure the shared border.&nbsp;In a statement issued on Thursday, the ministry said the assault occurred late Wednesday, when an unmanned aerial vehicle &ldquo;equipped with grenades and firearms&rdquo; struck the employees&rsquo; camp of LLC Shohin SM near the 1st Border Guard Post Istiqlol of the Yol Border Detachment.&nbsp;&ldquo;As a result of the attack, three employees of the LLC Shohin SM of Chinese citizenship were killed,&rdquo; the statement said. Tajikistan described the incident as an operation conducted &ldquo;from the territory of Afghanistan.&rdquo;&nbsp;The ministry noted that, despite Tajikistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;constant efforts&hellip; to maintain security and create an atmosphere of peace and stability&rdquo; along the frontier, &ldquo;disruptive actions by criminal groups located in the territory of Afghanistan still continue.&rdquo;&nbsp;Expressing &ldquo;deep concerns,&rdquo; the Tajik government said it &ldquo;strongly condemns these acts of terrorist groups&rdquo; and urged Afghanistan&rsquo;s de facto authorities &ldquo;to take effective measures to ensure stability and security on the state border between two neighboring countries.&rdquo;

Central Asia

Tajikistan condemned a deadly drone attack launched from Afghanistan that killed three Chinese workers in Khatlon, urging Kabul’s authorities to curb cross-border militant activity and ensure stronger security along the two countries’ shared frontier.

Tajikistan condemns Afghanistan drone strike killing three Chinese workers

ISLAMABAD: As the United Nations observes 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, we take a look at Pakistan&#39;s efforts to combat digital violence against women. The global campaign, running from November 25 through December 10, has increasingly focused on digital violence. It is a growing threat that disproportionately affects women and girls worldwide. Pakistan has responded with specific legislation, though implementation gaps remains. Legal framework Pakistan&#39;s primary tool for addressing online harassment is the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) of 2016, which criminalizes various forms of digital abuse. The law includes provisions against cyberstalking, unauthorized sharing of intimate images and cyber blackmail. Section 24A of PECA specifically addresses non-consensual distribution of private images, carrying penalties of up to five years imprisonment and fines reaching Rs1 million ($3,600). The Federal Investigation Agency&#39;s Cyber Crime Wing, established in 2007, handles complaints and investigations under PECA. The agency reported receiving 8,500 complaints from women facing online harassment in 2018 and 2019, though only 19.5% were investigated, according to testimony before a parliamentary committee. Pakistan&#39;s Punjab Protection of Women against Violence Act of 2016 specifically defines violence to include cybercrime, acknowledging it as a form of abuse. The FIA is required by law to submit biannual reports to parliament but has submitted only one report in four years, according to Human Rights Watch. Recent case In a recent application of the law, a Karachi court sentenced a man to six years in prison for sending explicit photos of a woman to her fianc&eacute;. The defendant, identified only as Anas, was arrested in September 2021 after the victim filed a complaint with the FIA. The court also imposed a fine of Rs90,000 ($318). According to court documents, the victim had been in a relationship with Anas for four years and had shared intimate photos with him. When her family arranged her marriage to another man, Anas sent the photos to her fianc&eacute;. Enforcement challenges Despite the legal framework, women&#39;s rights advocates and journalists have raised concerns about inconsistent enforcement. In 2020, a group of prominent female journalists issued a statement condemning what they described as a coordinated campaign of online harassment, including threats of violence. The FIA operates with approximately 500 staff members for a country of 34 million internet users. Until 2018, only two women staffed the cybercrime help desk, according to news reports. Human rights organizations have also criticized PECA&#39;s defamation provisions, warning they can be misused to silence women. The 16 Days campaign, coordinated by the Center for Women&#39;s Global Leadership and supported by UN Women, addresses violence affecting nearly one in three women globally. This year&#39;s focus on digital violence reflects the growing recognition of online harassment as a serious threat. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights stated that there was an urgent need for survivor-centered responses and stronger legal protections. The campaign uses orange as its symbolic color, representing a future free from violence.

The global campaign from November 25 to December 10 highlights rising digital violence, with Pakistan addressing it through legislation, though gaps remain.

16 Days of Activism: How Pakistan tackles digital violence against women

ANKARA: Pope Leo XIV arrived in Turkiye on Thursday for a four-day visit where he will hold talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and meet Christian leaders on the first overseas trip of his papacy.&nbsp;The trip, which includes a second leg to Lebanon, begins in the Turkish capital Ankara, where the first American pope landed shortly after midday.&nbsp;&quot;I have very much been looking forward to this trip because of what it means for Christians, but it is also a great message to the whole world,&quot; he told reporters travelling with him on his plane, describing it as a &quot;historic moment&quot;.&nbsp;After paying his respects at the mausoleum dedicated to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of modern Turkiye, Leo will head into talks with Erdogan, who is seen as a key player for peace efforts in a region fraught with conflict.&nbsp;Then he will address authorities, civil society and the diplomatic corps before heading to Istanbul in the early evening.&nbsp;Leo&#39;s first steps abroad will be scrutinised by the world&#39;s media, with more than 80 journalists accompanying him on his papal plane.&nbsp;Since his election in May as the leader of the world&#39;s 1.4 billion Catholics, the pope has shown himself to be adept at handling the media, talking to reporters weekly.&nbsp;In a sign of his desire to reach a wide audience, Leo will deliver all his speeches during the trip in English, his native language, rather than the Italian he usually uses.&nbsp;His first address in Turkiye is expected to focus on dialogue with Islam in a country where Christians account for only 0.1 percent of the 86 million inhabitants -- most of them Sunni Muslims.&nbsp;On the doorstep of a conflict-ridden Middle East, the pope who upon his election called for &quot;unarmed and disarming&quot; peace, is expected to address the crises troubling the region.&nbsp;But between the colonnades of Ankara&#39;s monumental presidential palace, Leo will have to tread delicately if he plans to address the sensitive issue of human rights, the arrest of Erdogan&#39;s opponents, or the status of Turkey&#39;s Christians, who are struggling against inequality and exclusion.&nbsp;Promoting unityThe Holy See also acknowledges Turkiye&#39;s efforts in taking in more than 2.5 million mostly Syrian refugees, according to authorities.&nbsp;On the subject of refugees and migrants, Leo has followed in the footsteps of his predecessor Francis, most recently criticising the &quot;extremely disrespectful&quot; treatment of migrants by the government of US President Donald Trump.&nbsp;Friday&#39;s calendar will take on a more religious aspect with the celebration in Iznik of the 1,700th anniversary of the First Council of Nicaea, a gathering of bishops in the year 325 that resulted in a creed, or statement of faith, still central to Christianity.&nbsp;Invited by the Patriarch of Constantinople, Bartholomew I, leader of the world&#39;s Orthodox Christians, Leo will take part in a prayer on the shores of Lake Iznik that was initially to include former Pope Francis, who died in April.&nbsp;&quot;Bartholomew and I have already met several times, and I think this will be an exceptional opportunity to promote unity among all Christians,&quot; Leo told journalists late Tuesday.&nbsp;Catholics and Orthodox Christians have been divided since a schism in 1054.&nbsp;Catholics recognise the universal authority of the pope as the head of the Church, while Orthodox Christians are organised into local Churches with their own leaders.&nbsp;Leo&#39;s trip comes as the Orthodox world appears even more fragmented than ever, with the war in Ukraine accelerating the split between the Moscow and Constantinople patriarchates. The pope is the fifth pontiff to visit Turkiye, after Paul VI in 1967, John Paul II in 1979, Benedict XVI in 2006 and Francis in 2014.&nbsp;On Sunday, Leo will head to religiously diverse Lebanon, a nation that has been crushed by a devastating economic and political crisis since 2019 and which has been the target of repeated bombings by Israel in recent days, despite a ceasefire.&nbsp;

Pope Leo XIV begins his first papal trip in Turkiye, holding talks with President Erdogan and Christian leaders, addressing regional conflicts, interfaith dialogue, refugees, and church unity before continuing to Lebanon amid ongoing political and humanitarian crises.

Pope lands in Turkiye to meet Erdogan on first overseas trip

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Maritime Affairs has unveiled a long-term program to expand the country&rsquo;s Blue Economy and position Pakistan as a regional maritime hub by 2047, according to Radio Pakistan.&nbsp;The ministry said the new Maritime @100 initiative lays out a roadmap for &ldquo;development projects worth a hundred billion dollars&rdquo; aimed at strengthening the shipping and fisheries sectors. According to Radio Pakistan, officials said the plan is designed to expand maritime capacity, increase exports and create &ldquo;new economic opportunities.&rdquo;&nbsp;Under the shipping-sector component, the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation will add 15 ships to its fleet over the next three years. The ministry said the expanded fleet &ldquo;will result in [a] surge of exports and foreign reserves,&rdquo; Radio Pakistan reported.&nbsp;Officials also announced a series of industrial upgrades, including the establishment of Sea to Steel, Pakistan&rsquo;s first green ship-repair and recycling yard, at Port Qasim. A separate $43 million modernization program is planned for the Gadani Ship Breaking Yard to improve safety and operational standards.&nbsp;In the fisheries sector, the National Fisheries Policy 2025&ndash;35 calls for expanded deep-sea fishing, upgraded facilities and increased seafood exports. The ministry said the broader development program &ldquo;will create substantial investment and employment opportunities in the maritime industry,&rdquo; according to Radio Pakistan.&nbsp;The Ministry of Maritime Affairs said the combined measures underscore Pakistan&rsquo;s long-term strategy to strengthen its maritime footprint and grow sustainable economic activity across the country&rsquo;s coastal and marine sectors.

File Photo - Screengrab of Port Qasim on Nov 5, 2025 (X / Ministry of Maritime Affairs)

Economy

The Pakistani Ministry of Maritime Affairs has developed a comprehensive program to strengthen the country’s Blue Economy with support from the Special Investment Facilitation Council, outlining a long-term plan to make Pakistan a regional maritime hub by 2047.

Pakistan outlines $100 billion maritime plan to build regional hub by 2047

ISLAMABAD: Artificial intelligence (AI) has become the latest weapon in a years-long disinformation campaign targeting Muslims in India and Pakistan internationally, with AI-generated images now spreading hatred globally at unprecedented speed and scale across social media platforms. A September 2025 report by the Washington-based&nbsp;nonprofit Center for the Study of Organized Hate documented how 297 accounts created 1,326 AI-generated images and videos between May 2023 and May 2025 that dehumanized India&#39;s approximately 200 million Muslims. The posts accumulated 27.3 million total engagements across X, Facebook, and Instagram, with activity surging after January 2024 as AI tools became more accessible. The AI-generated content follows four patterns: sexualizing Muslim women, portraying Muslims as subhuman, promoting conspiracy theories, and glorifying violence. Images depict Muslims as snakes wearing skullcaps, show fabricated scenes of Muslims celebrating terror attacks, and create pornographic content featuring Muslim women without consent. &quot;This represents the acceleration of hate speech practices through content with greater credibility and precision at scale,&quot; the report said. <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-6" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 802px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-6&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1928845624885076458&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F2451%2F&sessionId=b7f57312e8b4bb5dae91c4d445484d177aedce35&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The synthetic images reinforce long-standing conspiracy theories. &quot;Love Jihad&quot; falsely claims that Muslim men systematically seduce Hindu women for forced conversion. &quot;Rail Jihad&quot; baselessly attributes train accidents to Muslim sabotage. Following a January 2025 train accident in Jalgaon that killed 11 people, caused by passengers fleeing what they thought was a fire, Hindu nationalist outlet Sudarshan News circulated AI-generated images showing a Muslim man holding an axe near a train as supposed proof of a deliberate attack. The report stated how&nbsp;Hindu nationalist media outlets OpIndia, Sudarshan News, and Panchjanya have emerged as primary producers and amplifiers of AI-generated hate. OpIndia&#39;s network alone produced 262 posts generating 1.1 million engagements. When researchers reported 187 posts for violating platform guidelines, only one was removed. <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-5" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 1042px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-5&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1916168793027444787&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F2451%2F&sessionId=b7f57312e8b4bb5dae91c4d445484d177aedce35&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The AI-driven hate campaign is built&nbsp;on infrastructure exposed years earlier. In December 2020, Brussels-based EU DisinfoLab revealed a network of over 750 fake local media outlets operating in 116 countries, as well as more than 10 sham NGOs accredited to the UN Human Rights Council. The operation, primarily targeting Pakistan, resurrected defunct NGOs, impersonated European Union institutions, and used a deceased international law professor&#39;s identity to manufacture credibility. Asian News International, an Indian news agency, amplified content from these fake outlets globally, according to the report. <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-4" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1992066818165617029&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F2451%2F&sessionId=b7f57312e8b4bb5dae91c4d445484d177aedce35&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div> More recently, a temporary location feature on X revealed several accounts claiming to be Israeli or Zionist were actually operating from India, showing a coordinated identity deception across the network. The tactics parallel those of Western far-right movements. After the 2024 Southport stabbings in Britain, AI-generated images spread Islamophobic claims about the attacker&#39;s identity.</div> In Italy, opposition parties filed complaints against Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini&#39;s League party for distributing AI-generated images depicting men of color assaulting women. The Center for the Study of Organized Hate describes this as &quot;slopaganda&quot;: deliberate use of cheap, abundant synthetic content to seed hate across digital spaces. In India, the consequences extend beyond digital harassment. Following the April 2025 Pahalgam attack in Indian-occupied Kashmir, civil rights groups documented 184 anti-Muslim and anti-Kashmiri hate crimes between April 22 and May 8. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1970417210247291132&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F2451%2F&sessionId=b7f57312e8b4bb5dae91c4d445484d177aedce35&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> A February 2025 Center for the Study of Organized Hate report found that of 1,165 hate speech events recorded in 2024, 995 were first shared or livestreamed on social media platforms. The spike in AI-generated content coincides with rising religious tensions. A 2019 Indian Supreme Court verdict awarded the disputed Ayodhya site (formerly the 16th-century Babri Mosque, later demolished) to Hindus for temple construction. The 1992 Babri Mosque destruction sparked riots that killed thousands, mainly Muslims. AI-generated images now depict that demolition in romanticized animation styles. Hindu nationalist groups claim numerous historical mosques were originally Hindu temples, including promoting a debunked theory that the Taj Mahal was a Hindu temple named &quot;Tejo Mahalaya.&quot; In 2021, Meta whistleblower Frances Haugen revealed that the company knew users in India were being flooded with hateful propaganda against Muslims, fueling violence. Platform failures to moderate AI-generated hate content persist as synthetic media proliferates faster than enforcement mechanisms adapt. With low-cost ChatGPT subscriptions now available in India for less than $5 a month, the report warns that conditions exist for exponential growth in AI-generated hateful material threatening religious minorities with psychological harm and physical violence.

India

The AI-generated content follows four patterns: sexualizing Muslim women, portraying Muslims as subhuman, promoting conspiracy theories, and glorifying violence. 

India's AI-driven anti-Muslim disinformation network spans the globe

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to advancing ties with Bahrain during meetings in Manama with King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince and Prime Minister <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;" id="isPasted">H.E. Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif&rsquo;s official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At Al-Qudaibiya Palace, the prime minister invited Bahraini investors to explore opportunities in food security, information technology, construction, mines and minerals, healthcare, renewable energy, and tourism, Radio Pakistan reported.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">He also proposed enhanced port-to-port connectivity between Karachi, Gwada,r and Khalifa Bin Salman Port, describing the expanded link as a key driver for trade and logistical cooperation.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In a post on X, Sharif said the meeting with the crown prince was &ldquo;warm and most cordial&rdquo; and that both sides reviewed the full range of bilateral relations and agreed to deepen cooperation across political, economic, and defence areas.<span style="font-size: 18px; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent; font-weight: 400; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Prime Minister Sharif said both countries aim to translate &ldquo;excellent political goodwill into meaningful and tangible outcomes,&rdquo; with the discussions expected to elevate Pakistan&ndash;Bahrain cooperation further.<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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 726px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=1993882486024061337&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard&sessionId=07432a2de99e7fec841b199edda31e7e338b7b5d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar also met Bahrain&rsquo;s Minister of Finance and National Economy, H.E. Sheikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, during this visit. According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-Bahrain relations, with a particular focus on expanding economic cooperation.<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" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1993938644466585884&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F2448%2F&sessionId=8741f748336569ac057f0bfb67f6fd1cc77dc1ce&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 750px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Both ministers highlighted significant potential in fintech, banking, and financial services and agreed to intensify collaboration in these sectors. They also discussed possibilities for central bank-level cooperation, including the creation of joint working teams to develop a comprehensive roadmap for enhanced economic engagement. Pakistan and Bahrain underscored that deeper economic ties would help unlock new opportunities for investment, innovation, and sustainable growth, reinforcing the long-standing partnership between the two countries.

The two sides reaffirm their commitment to further strengthening Pakistan-Bahrain relations, with a particular focus on expanding economic cooperation.

Pakistan, Bahrain reaffirm commitment to deepen economic partnership

ISLAMABAD: Apple has mounted a major legal pushback against India&rsquo;s updated competition penalty framework, filing a petition in the Delhi High Court to contest the 2024 amendment that lets regulators levy fines based on a company&rsquo;s global turnover, Indian media reported.&nbsp;According to Indian news outlets, including India Today, the case could set a benchmark for how India regulates multinational tech giants.&nbsp;Apple calls India&rsquo;s new penalty rule unconstitutionalIndian media reports say Apple&rsquo;s 545-page petition asks the Delhi High Court to declare the 2024 amendment &ldquo;illegal&rdquo; and &ldquo;unconstitutional.&rdquo; &nbsp;The rule empowers the Competition Commission of India (CCI) to calculate fines using a firm&rsquo;s worldwide turnover, not just its Indian revenue.&nbsp;Apple argues the method is &ldquo;manifestly arbitrary&rdquo;, &ldquo;grossly disproportionate&rdquo; and could result in fines of up to $38 billion.&nbsp;The challenge comes amid a CCI investigation triggered by complaints from Match Group and Indian startups, alleging Apple restricts third-party payments and charges up to 30% commission on in-app purchases. &nbsp;Apple denies the allegations, saying iOS is a secure platform and that Android dominates India&rsquo;s market.&nbsp;Apple fears the law may be applied retroactivelyAs per media reports, Apple cited a recent case where the CCI applied the global-turnover principle to conduct from almost a decade ago. &nbsp;Apple says this forced it to file the constitutional challenge to avoid similar treatment in its ongoing case.&nbsp;To illustrate, Apple compared it to penalizing the entire turnover of a stationery shop for a violation committed only by its toy business.&nbsp;Regulators and legal experts defend the amendmentAccording to experts quoted in Indian media, Apple faces a difficult legal fight. &nbsp;Competition lawyers say the amendment clearly authorizes the CCI to consider global turnover, aligning India with EU-style antitrust practices. &nbsp;Government officials argue the law is designed to prevent global corporations from escaping proportionate penalties.&nbsp;Apple&rsquo;s rising footprint in India increases scrutinyIndian media reports cite research showing Apple&rsquo;s smartphone base in India has quadrupled in five years, boosted by local manufacturing and premium demand. &nbsp;With Apple increasingly important in India&rsquo;s digital economy, regulators are watching it more closely.The Delhi High Court will hear Apple&rsquo;s plea on December 3. &nbsp;If the company loses, it could face one of India&rsquo;s largest-ever corporate fines and set a precedent allowing global turnover to become the new penalty benchmark for tech multinationals operating in India.

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According to Indian news outlets, the case could set a benchmark for how India regulates multinational tech giants.

Apple challenges India’s antitrust law that could cost it $38B fine: reports

PARIS: President Emmanuel Macron is to announce on Thursday that France is restoring military service on a voluntary basis in the face of the growing threat posed by Russia and the risk of a new conflict breaking out in Europe. Almost three decades after France scrapped conscription, the head of state is due to lay out the change in a speech from 1000 GMT on a visit to an infantry brigade stationed in the Alps in southeastern France, said a presidential official, asking not to be named. The announcement will come more than three and a half years into Russia&#39;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Macron and other French officials warning that Moscow risks not stopping at Ukraine&#39;s borders. France&#39;s top general, armed forces chief of staff Fabien Mandon, sparked uproar at home last week by warning that France must be ready &quot;to lose its children,&quot; adding that Russia is &quot;preparing for a confrontation by 2030 with our countries.&quot; Macron told RTL broadcaster he would announce a &quot;transformation of national service into a new form&quot; on Thursday, but did not provide further details. A source with knowledge of the matter, who asked not to be named, told AFP that the plan is to train 2,000 to 3,000 people in the first year, aiming to increase the number of sign-ups over time to 50,000 per year. &quot;It will start slowly,&quot; said the source. This &quot;new form of national service&quot; will be &quot;on a voluntary basis,&quot; said a presidential official. An adviser to Macron, also requesting anonymity, emphasized it would be launched at a time of tight budget constraints. Its implementation will therefore be &quot;phased in over time,&quot; said the adviser, promising a &quot;realistic&quot; project that &quot;takes into account our current resources.&quot; Not going to &#39;send our young&#39;&nbsp;While around a dozen states have some form of conscription, the use of military service is uneven across Europe. But France would join European countries like Baltic states Latvia and Lithuania, which have brought it back in recent years, while others, such as Denmark, have toughened its terms. So far, there is no suggestion that military service in France would be compulsory, as it was before then-president Jacques Chirac abolished conscription in 1997 as part of the army reform. Military service is seen as a way to bolster armies with recruits and to provide a large pool of potential reservists who could be called up in the event of a future war. The French armed forces have approximately 200,000 active military personnel and 47,000 reservists, numbers expected to increase to 210,000 and 80,000, respectively, by 2030. Accused of warmongering by the left, General Mandon has expressed no regret over his comments last week, saying the aim was to &quot;alert and prepare&quot; amid a &quot;rapidly deteriorating&quot; context. Mandon argued on Saturday that the reactions to his comments &quot;show that this is something that was perhaps not sufficiently perceived in our population.&quot; But ahead of Thursday&#39;s announcement, Macron and other officials have been at pains to douse the outcry caused by the general&#39;s forthright comments and fears that French youth were heading for the front lines. The president on Tuesday said he needed to dispel any notion &quot;we are going to send our young people to Ukraine.&quot;

Announcement will come more than three and a half years into Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, with Macron and other French officials warning that Moscow risks not stopping at Ukraine's borders.

Articles by Muhammad Usman Amin