Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: &nbsp;Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Ataullah Tarar has said that the Afghan Taliban carried out an unprovoked act of aggression, which Pakistan responded to with utmost readiness and strength. Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV, the minister said Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces demonstrated the highest level of professionalism and expertise in defending the motherland under challenging circumstances. He stated that the response by Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces overwhelmed the Afghan Taliban, leaving them in a state of uncertainty. According to the minister, the coordinated and forceful retaliation compelled the Afghan Taliban to resort to spreading fake news on social media.<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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2027162195524534431&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=d2db63fee3b7c2a37f07e9faf1d7f0e5cf55f319&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>Tarar added that an international news channel also disseminated what he described as fake news from the Afghan Taliban, but later had to delete its tweet. Providing details of the counter-operation, the minister said 133 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed, more than 200 were injured, 27 posts were destroyed, and nine posts were taken over by Pakistani forces. The Pakistan Air Force targeted Afghan Taliban defensive installations in Kandahar, Kabul, and Paktia, the minister said. He further stated that two Corps Headquarters, three Brigade Headquarters, two ammunition depots, one logistics base, three battalion headquarters, two sector headquarters and 80+ tanks, artillery, APCs were destroyed. Tarar said Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces have once again demonstrated that any aggression or malicious intent against the country will be dealt with firmly. He said the Pakistani nation stands shoulder to shoulder with its armed forces and that the forces have made the nation proud. The minister also said Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif praised the timely and courageous response of the armed forces under the leadership of Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir. Reiterating Pakistan&rsquo;s position, Tarar said it is unacceptable for Afghan territory to be used for attacks against Pakistan. He added that terrorists trained on Afghan soil carry out attacks inside Pakistan. Pakistan has once again made it clear that any such actions or unprovoked aggression will be met with a strong response, the minister said.

SAT News Desk

Ataullah Tarar says 133 khwarij killed, key installations destroyed as armed forces respond with “coordinated and robust” action.


Pakistan retaliates befittingly after unprovoked Afghan aggression: information minister

ISLAMABAD: Turkish-Pakistani influencer Turkan Atay shared her observations on the spirit of Ramadan in both Pakistan and T&uuml;rkiye during an exclusive appearance on Pakistan TV&rsquo;s morning show &quot;World This Morning&quot;. She highlighted the similarities in communal gatherings, family meals, and the spiritual atmosphere, while noting unique customs in each country. Turkan explained that in T&uuml;rkiye, Ramadan comes alive with bustling streets, festive lights, traditional sweets, and communal iftars that bring communities together. While Istanbul&rsquo;s Ramadan has become more modern due to tourism, many other cities still preserve traditional practices. Local governments organize free iftar gatherings for hundreds or thousands of people, accompanied by activities for children and adults. Historic mosques like the Blue Mosque and Hagia Sophia Grand Mosque play a central role, with people breaking their fast outside before attending prayers. The government also supports inclusive participation by providing free tea alonside educational activities. She also reflected on how her household blends Turkish and Pakistani Ramadan customs, showcasing a fusion of flavors, traditions, and celebrations. From shared meals to family gatherings, Turkan emphasized that the essence of Ramadan&mdash;generosity, devotion, and community spirit&mdash;is celebrated in both countries. Turkan said, &ldquo;Whether in T&uuml;rkiye or Pakistan, Ramadan is about bringing people together, sharing meals, and strengthening bonds,&rdquo; wishing viewers a blessed month.

Food

Turkish-Pakistani Influencer Shares Similarities of Ramadan Traditions in Türkiye and Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Turning strategies into real impact on the ground &ndash; that&rsquo;s the message from UK at the Pakistan Governance Forum. The British High Commissioner to Pakistan, Jane Marriott, in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, stressed that while roadmaps and policies are important, true success is measured by what citizens actually experience. &ldquo;I am delighted that the UK has been able to join in and support this Pakistan Governance Forum and conference happening today and tomorrow,&rdquo; High Commissioner Marriott said. &ldquo;As we just heard from the Prime Minister, it&rsquo;s a whole-of-government effort by countries like the UK to bring together resources and expertise to deliver for the people of Pakistan.&rdquo; Marriott highlighted the UK&rsquo;s long-standing partnership with Pakistan, recalling work in 2013 when the current Prime Minister, then Chief Minister of Punjab, collaborated with the UK to implement key development roadmaps. &ldquo;Now he is the Prime Minister delivering across Pakistan. What matters is delivering for citizens on the ground,&rdquo; she 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-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2026629165865382301&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4092%2F&sessionId=37927809d4a612c8185ab0376b196ac60d8a9571&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2026629165865382301"></iframe></div></div> The High Commissioner praised Pakistan&rsquo;s talent and dedication: &ldquo;Pakistan has amazing people, brilliant civil servants, doctors, and teachers delivering every day. This is about ensuring systems are in place so they can do their jobs to the best of their ability.&rdquo; The Pakistan Governance Forum brings together government officials, international partners, and civil society to discuss strategies and actionable solutions for improved governance and citizen services across the country. The UK&rsquo;s participation underscores its ongoing commitment to support Pakistan in achieving tangible outcomes for its citizens.

At the Pakistan Governance Forum in Islamabad, British High Commissioner Jane Marriott told Pakistan TV that the UK supports Pakistan in turning policies into real results, stressing whole-of-government cooperation, strong systems, and tangible improvements for citizens nationwide.

UK Backs Pakistan Governance Forum: Focus on Delivering Results for Citizens

ISLAMABAD: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has warned that Pakistan will act again if attacks originating from Afghan soil continue, saying the country has no choice but to defend itself if Afghan Taliban fails to take action against terrorist groups. &ldquo;We have told the Afghan government if again in future something will happen and if we have intelligence reports that these are their hideouts, we will strike again,&rdquo; Governor Kundi said while speaking on Pakistan TV&rsquo;s programme &lsquo;Experts Corner&rsquo;. He said Islamabad has repeatedly asked Afghan authorities to ensure their territory is not used for attacks against Pakistan, adding that terrorist organisations, including the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and al-Qaeda, continue to operate from across the border and launch attacks inside Pakistan. Kundi said Pakistan has presented evidence at international forums showing that Afghan territory is being used against it, but Afghanistan has failed to take effective action. Referring to recent cross-border strikes, he said Pakistan responded after attacks in Bajaur and Bannu, maintaining that intelligence-based operations targeted militant hideouts. He described the operations as successful and reiterated that similar measures would be taken if cross-border attacks persist. &ldquo;If one government is not taking any action then Pakistan has to take action,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; The governor said Pakistan has been fighting terrorism for more than two decades, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. He identified the TTP as a major threat in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and blamed the Balochistan Liberation Army for violence in Balochistan. Kundi expressed full support for the military, police and Frontier Corps, praising their coordination and sacrifices in efforts to restore peace in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He also criticized a previous policy that allowed terrorists to return to Pakistan, saying it reversed gains achieved during operations between 2008 and 2013 in Swat and the former Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA).&nbsp; He argued that many terrorists regrouped and rearmed, benefiting from weapons left behind after the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan. On the merged districts, he said promised development funds had not been fully delivered or effectively utilized, contributing to unrest.&nbsp; He stressed the need for sustained investment in infrastructure, education and policing to ensure long-term stability in the region.

The Experts Corner

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi warned Pakistan will act against cross-border attacks from Afghanistan if Afghan Taliban fails to curb TTP and al-Qaeda, emphasizing security, development, and long-term stability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan.

Pakistan to act again if attacks from Afghan soil continue: Kundi

ISLAMABAD: Deep concern and visible unease have gripped government, diplomatic and policy circles in New Delhi amid reports that US President Donald Trump may raise the long-standing dispute of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir at an upcoming meeting of the US-backed Peace Board in Washington. President Trump has invited India to join the newly formed Gaza Board of Peace.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" 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=2024319015250747495&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=c084efd8f4348f649f0e3a17f370cfd09a458fee&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 720px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2024319015250747495"></iframe></div></div>Pakistan, along with Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, has accepted membership of the board, which was formally signed into existence by President Trump on January 22. Indian media flags &ldquo;red alert&rdquo;Leading Indian daily The Hindu publicly flagged concerns over India&rsquo;s potential association with President Trump&rsquo;s Board of Peace. In a strongly worded editorial, the newspaper warned that the body&rsquo;s peace mandate could extend beyond Gaza and potentially include Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir Kashmir. &ldquo;For India, Pakistan&rsquo;s decision to join the board is a red-flag, particularly if Mr Trump decides to include the Kashmir dispute in peace plans the BoP will seek to resolve,&rdquo; the editorial cautioned. The remarks underscore mounting anxiety within India&rsquo;s strategic community over the scope and long-term intent of the US-backed initiative, particularly as Pakistan has formally joined the platform. Former diplomats voice alarmThe apprehensions have been echoed by former Indian ambassador to the United Nations, Syed Akbaruddin, who recently wrote in The Times of India that the UN Security Council resolution governing the arrangement sets its term until December 31, 2027, with mandatory reporting to the Security Council every six months. He stressed that such oversight ensures the mechanism remains temporary and does not evolve into a permanent global model. In contrast, he warned that President Trump&rsquo;s peace plan appears open-ended and &ldquo;could be used outside Gaza as well,&rdquo; raising concerns that it may be extended to other conflict regions including the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Akbaruddin further noted indications from some UN officials that the framework could potentially be applied to other disputes &mdash; a possibility that has intensified fears in New Delhi. Similarly, former Indian diplomat Jayant Prasad cautioned that India should be wary of the board&rsquo;s evolving role and its possible implications for South Asia. Writing in The Times of India, Prasad observed that the Board of Peace is expected to comprise 60 nations in a tiered structure, overseen by an executive body. He warned that while Gaza may be the initial focus, the mandate may not remain confined there. Referring directly to India-Pakistan relations and the Kashmir dispute, Prasad expressed concern that the board could expand its scope to address other conflicts, &ldquo;perhaps not excluding the one between India and Pakistan, one that Trump seems so fixated on.&rdquo; Prasad further remarked that India &ldquo;cannot expect fair treatment&rdquo; regarding Jammu and Kashmir under the chairmanship of President Trump, particularly in light of what he termed a re-hyphenation of US relations in the subcontinent. Growing unease in New DelhiAnalysts observe that India&rsquo;s unease reflects its deep-seated apprehension about the potential internationalisation of the Kashmir dispute.&nbsp; The prospect of the issue being raised at a high-level international peace platform chaired by the US president has triggered visible concern across Indian political and diplomatic circles.

India

Deep concern and visible unease have gripped government, diplomatic and policy circles in New Delhi amid reports that US President Donald Trump may raise the long-standing dispute of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir at an upcoming meeting of the US-backed Peace Board in Washington.

Panic in New Delhi over fears Trump may raise IIOJK issue at Board of Peace meeting

WASHINGTON DC: Pakistan&rsquo;s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, said participation in the Board of Peace (BOP) as a founding member would deepen US-Pakistan cooperation, emphasizing that the inaugural BOP meeting is a defining moment in shaping its future framework. The envoy expressed these views in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV&rsquo;s anchor person Sana Maqbool a day before the highly anticipated Gaza Board of Peace meeting, being attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.&nbsp; The first-of-its-kind meeting, convened at the invitation of US President Donald Trump, aims to define new international dynamics on critical peace issues, particularly Palestine.<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=2024251240788697394&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=c084efd8f4348f649f0e3a17f370cfd09a458fee&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 649px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>Ambassador Sheikh underscored the historic significance of the Board of Peace, describing it as a defining moment in shaping its future framework. &quot;This meeting of the Board of Peace is actually the first following the signing ceremony in Davos. Since Pakistan has been one of the founder members, and since Pakistan has had a principled position on the issue of Palestine, which actually predates our independent existence, we have been at the forefront of standing up and advocating the right to self-determination of the Palestinian people.&quot; He noted that Pakistan&#39;s inclusion among the eight Muslim nation states reflects its steadfast advocacy. He added that Prime Minister Sharif&rsquo;s presence signals commitment at the highest level. &quot;Pakistan being a founding member, Prime Minister&#39;s presence is certainly significant and indicates Pakistan&rsquo;s interest and commitment at the highest level.&quot; A &#39;good looking&#39; phase in US&ndash;Pakistan relationsTurning to bilateral relations, Ambassador Sheikh described the current moment as particularly promising. &quot;Over almost the past eight decades, the relationship has seen its ups and downs, twists and turns, but it has withstood multiple tests of time.&quot; Referring to recent developments, including the India-Pakistan conflict, he stated:&nbsp;&quot;While this relationship has been better in history in terms of the actual situation on ground, I would say that it has never ever been so good looking.&quot; He stressed, however, that positive intent must now translate into action. &quot;It is looking good. We have to make good on it. If last year was the time of improvement in relations, this year is the time for action.&quot; On leadership engagement, he highlighted unprecedented diplomatic momentum. He said, &quot;The leadership&hellip; has come together on a number of occasions, which is the ideal of any diplomatic effort. A personal rapport, a personal chemistry&hellip; is what makes difference.&quot; &nbsp;Economic partnership and investment push&nbsp;Ambassador Sheikh also announced a major upcoming initiative. &quot;We are having an unprecedented Pakistan Investment Conference in Washington DC on the 31st of March&hellip; fully hosted and organised by the United States Chamber of Commerce.&quot; The conference will focus on minerals, energy, and IT sectors and is expected to be the first in a three-part series. Emphasising sustainability, he remarked, &quot;Challenges are a fact of life&hellip; but surmounting challenges is the act of life.&quot; He further stressed that long-term ties must be economically grounded. &quot;A strategic partnership entrenched in economic ties would outlast me as an ambassador&hellip; it would outlast us as a generation,&rdquo; he added. Ambassador Sheikh framed the relationship in strategic terms, saying, &quot;The Pakistan-United States relationship has been a fact of history. It will be&hellip; a very consequential fact of future.&rdquo; With Prime Minister Sharif&rsquo;s visit and the Board of Peace meeting underway, Pakistan appears poised to expand its diplomatic footprint, both in advancing Palestinian advocacy and deepening strategic ties with the United States. Pakistan&rsquo;s strategic position and UN roleHighlighting Pakistan&#39;s geopolitical standing, Ambassador Sheikh pointed to its current position at the United Nations. He said, &quot;Pakistan happens to be on the non-permanent seat of the UN Security Council. We are an elected member and this is the second and final year of our term&hellip; We also have to carry some extra responsibility in terms of taking everybody along.&quot;&nbsp;Addressing criticism from some countries hesitant to join the Board, he said, &quot;The Board is at its nascent stage&hellip; tomorrow&rsquo;s meeting would incrementally lay out perhaps the next few steps and define the contours of not just the way forward but the modus operandi.&quot;

Foreign Affairs

 Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United States, Rizwan Saeed Sheikh, says participation in the Board of Peace (BOP) as a founding member will deepen US-Pakistan cooperation, emphasizing that the inaugural BOP meeting is a defining moment in shaping its future framework.

Trump’s Board of Peace sets stage for deeper US-Pakistan cooperation: Envoy

VIENNA: Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Mariano Grossi has said that newly signed agreements with Pakistan reflect continued and expanding cooperation across nuclear medicine, agriculture, and environmental recovery, calling the partnership productive and forward-looking. Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV in Vienna, he said the latest engagements build on years of joint technical work between the agency and Pakistani institutions. Grossi said cooperation is being strengthened particularly in radiotherapy and oncology through collaboration with a leading institute in Lahore, alongside ongoing joint programs in food, nutrition, water management, and nuclear energy. He noted that IAEA-supported initiatives in Pakistan have achieved extraordinary progress in crop development, especially in cotton production, helping improve both quality and yield, and contributing directly to the country&rsquo;s economy. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2023754401845047514&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=3cf33467196594088ea070effbcfeb5a82e85041&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2023754401845047514"></iframe></div></div> He added that further efforts are underway to expand cooperation in water management and soil recovery following the devastating floods in 2022 and again in 2025, with international and Pakistani technical teams working closely together. Referring to his meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Vienna, Grossi said the premier&rsquo;s personal engagement with international organizations reflects a strong belief in multilateral solutions to pressing global challenges and demonstrates active leadership in advancing Pakistan&rsquo;s international partnerships

IAEA Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi said newly signed agreements with Pakistan expand cooperation in nuclear medicine, agriculture, water management and environmental recovery. He highlighted progress in crop development and praised Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s engagement in strengthening international partnerships.

DG IAEA Says New Agreements Show Expanding Cooperation With Pakistan Across Multiple Fields 

VIENNA: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif stole the show in Vienna with his fluent German, winning the hearts of Austrians and setting an upbeat tone for Pakistan&rsquo;s renewed diplomatic outreach in Europe. His confident address in the local language drew applause from delegates and business leaders alike, marking a memorable moment during his official visit to Austria.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=2023437360915255454&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=81b890e00241fcbf3593adc6ac9e9b9da3d1a0ba&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2023437360915255454"></iframe></div></div> Speaking exclusively to Pakistan TV host Sana Maqboul in Vienna, Federal Minister for Information Atta Tarar said the Prime Minister&rsquo;s gesture of speaking German resonated deeply with the Austrian audience. &ldquo;I think the Prime Minister is very fluent with his German, and he surprised all the delegates by speaking very fluent German,&rdquo; the minister said. &ldquo;The delegates from the Austrian side felt very good about this gesture that the Prime Minister was speaking in their native language.&rdquo; Tarar noted that such gestures carry weight in diplomacy. &ldquo;These gestures go a long way in promoting relations between the two countries,&rdquo; he said, adding that the Prime Minister also shared his admiration for Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, a cultural touch that further endeared him to his hosts. The Prime Minister&rsquo;s visit to Vienna included high-level meetings and participation in the Pakistan-Austria CEOs Forum and Business Forum. According to Tarar, the engagements were held after more than three and a half decades of limited top-level exchanges, making the trip a potential landmark in bilateral relations. &ldquo;The Pakistan-Austria CEOs Forum and the Business Forum went exceedingly well,&rdquo; Tarar said. &ldquo;There were business CEOs from both sides. They discussed issues of mutual interest and how to promote and enhance trade and investment between Austria and Pakistan.&rdquo; He highlighted significant potential in information technology, mining, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and textiles. &ldquo;There&rsquo;s a long way to go, but this is a good start,&rdquo; he remarked. Tarar added that the Austrian Chancellor was delighted to welcome Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, describing the visit as &ldquo;the first of many&rdquo; expected in the coming years. An Austrian business delegation is anticipated to visit Pakistan in April, a development the minister said would be beneficial for boosting trade and investment.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; 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=2023519447953326418&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=81b890e00241fcbf3593adc6ac9e9b9da3d1a0ba&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2023519447953326418"></iframe></div></div>&ldquo;The sentiment here is very welcoming,&rdquo; Tarar said, referring to both Austrian leadership and the business community. &ldquo;Even his German was a hit at the forum.&rdquo; Looking ahead, the Prime Minister and his delegation are set to travel to the United States to attend a Board of Peace meeting in Washington. Addressing the significance of Pakistan&rsquo;s participation, Tarar said the country has emerged as an important player in global geopolitics. &ldquo;I think Pakistan is now a very important player as far as global politics and geopolitics are concerned,&rdquo; he stated. &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s foreign policy has never been like this. We&rsquo;ve made great advances, and Pakistan is now relevant to all international issues.&rdquo; As the delegation heads to Washington for the high-profile engagement, the minister expressed optimism about Pakistan&rsquo;s expanding diplomatic footprint, saying, &ldquo;Let&rsquo;s see how things turn out in the United States.&rdquo;

Prime Minister’s visit to Vienna includes high-level meetings, participation in the Pakistan-Austria CEOs Forum and Business Forum; Information Minister Tarar says engagements held after more than three and a half decades, making the trip a potential landmark in bilateral relations.



PM Shehbaz Sharif Wins Austrian Hearts in German, MoIB Atta Tarar Calls Vienna Visit a Diplomatic Breakthrough

ISLAMABAD: Pro-Khalistan leader Gurpatwant Singh Pannun launched a fierce attack on the Indian government, accusing it of orchestrating a global campaign of assassinations and intimidation against Sikh activists on Western soil. His remarks come on the heels of a dramatic development in New York, where an Indian national, Nikhil Gupta, pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy charges tied to a plot to assassinate Pannun in Manhattan. US prosecutors alleged that Gupta coordinated with an Indian government employee in arranging the attempted hit. US Attorney Jay Clayton said following the plea, in what observers view as a pointed warning to New Delhi, &ldquo;Our message to nefarious foreign actors should be clear: steer clear of the United States and our people.&rdquo; According to court filings and statements by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the plot involved direction from an Indian official, raising serious concerns in Washington about foreign-sponsored violence targeting US citizens and residents. &ldquo;A state-sponsored killing machine&rdquo;In a blistering exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, Pannun alleged that the evidence presented in US federal court &ldquo;speaks loudly&rdquo; and directly implicates the office of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in authorising and funding assassination plots abroad. &ldquo;After making Punjab a killing field in the 1980s and 1990s, India is now exporting violence,&rdquo; Pannun said. &ldquo;They are sending hitmen to America, Canada, and the UK to silence the Khalistan referendum movement.&rdquo; He linked the New York plot to the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, describing it as part of what he called a coordinated campaign to eliminate prominent voices advocating Sikh self-determination. Canadian officials have previously acknowledged investigating credible allegations of Indian involvement in Nijjar&rsquo;s death. Pannun further alleged that Khalistan activists in the United Kingdom, including Paramjit Singh Pamma, have also been targeted. Diplomatic backlash mountsThe guilty plea in New York has intensified scrutiny of India&rsquo;s actions abroad and fueled diplomatic unease across Western capitals. The idea that a foreign government could attempt to carry out assassinations in the United States has sparked bipartisan concern in Washington. Security analysts describe the alleged plot as part of a broader pattern of &ldquo;transnational repression,&rdquo; in which governments pursue critics beyond their borders. For Pannun, the case represents what he calls a turning point. &ldquo;They tried to label us terrorists. When we turned to ballots instead of bullets, they answered with bullets again,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But the world is watching now.&rdquo;

In a blistering exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, Gurpatwant Singh points to Modi government’s direct involvement in targeting activists in the US, Canada and UK

Pro-Khalistan leader says India running global assassination campaign to kill Sikh activists on Western soil

ISLAMABAD: Kazakhstan has expressed strong readiness to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in science, research, and higher education, as part of broader efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and promote knowledge-driven economic growth. Kazakhstan&rsquo;s Minister of Science and Higher Education Sayasat Nurbek, in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, said Kazakhstan is positioning itself as a regional knowledge and research hub for Central Asia, with higher education at the core of its economic transformation.&nbsp; He noted that rapid global technological change, particularly the rise of artificial intelligence, has made investment in education, research, and human capital more critical than ever. He said Kazakhstan is building a knowledge-based economy by training its youth and attracting global expertise. Mr. Nurbek said Kazakhstan is establishing specialized research centers in key areas including mining, agriculture, nuclear research, and social sciences, aimed at supporting industrial growth and informed policymaking.&nbsp; He said Pakistan has strong universities and a large pool of talented youth, and emphasized that collaboration between the two countries could help expand access to quality education. He added that President of Kazakhstan&rsquo;s visit to Pakistan reflects strengthening bilateral relations, including in science and higher education. Highlighting people-to-people connections, the minister said Pakistan and Kazakhstan share historical roots, cultural links, and similarities in language that should bring the two nations closer. He said Kazakhstan is exploring scholarship opportunities for Pakistani students and identifying artificial intelligence and agriculture as priority areas for cooperation. Mr. Nurbek further said Kazakhstan is streamlining its visa system to provide faster processing for Pakistani students.&nbsp; He said hundreds and thousands of Pakistani students could study in Kazakhstan and also explore employment opportunities after completing their education, calling academic mobility a key pillar of future bilateral cooperation.

Education

Kazakhstan has expressed strong readiness to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in science, research, and higher education, as part of broader efforts to strengthen bilateral ties and promote knowledge-driven economic growth

Kazakhstan ready to deepen cooperation with Pakistan in science and higher education

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/trump-not-thrilled-with-iran-but-undecided-on-attack" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">US President Donald Trump</a>&nbsp;said Friday that the United States will not step into the situation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, while praising Pakistan&rsquo;s leadership and bilateral ties.&nbsp;Responding to a question about whether Washington would intervene in a possible conflict involving Pakistan, Trump said he has &ldquo;very good relations&rdquo; with the country.&nbsp;&ldquo;Well, I would, but I get along with Pakistan, as you know, very well &mdash; very, very well,&rdquo; he told reporters.&nbsp;The US president described Pakistan&rsquo;s prime minister and military leadership in positive terms, saying he has &ldquo;a lot of respect&rdquo; for them.&nbsp;&ldquo;You have a great prime minister [Shehbaz Sharif], you have a great general [Field Marshal Asim Munir] there, you have a great leader &mdash; two of the people that I really respect a lot,&rdquo; Trump said, adding that he believes Pakistan is &ldquo;doing terrifically well.&rdquo;&nbsp;His remarks came amid heightened tensions along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, where security incidents have raised concerns about further escalation.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said late on Friday that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-says-297-taliban-fighters-killed-in-afghanistan-strikes" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">297 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed</a>&nbsp;and more than 450 were injured in retaliatory military strikes across Afghanistan.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 471px; 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=2027449317087408548&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=485de7e742b2156c528f877ea42b0a2dc7039429&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>In a post on the social media platform X, Tarar said the action was carried out under&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-says-297-taliban-fighters-killed-in-afghanistan-strikes" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Operation Ghazb lil Haq</a>&nbsp;and involved precision air and ground strikes at 29 locations in Afghanistan.&nbsp;The information minister said 89 Taliban check posts were destroyed, 18 captured, and 135 tanks and armed vehicles eliminated during the operation.

US President Donald Trump speaks to the press before boarding Marine One as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House for Texas in Washington, DC, on February 27, 2026. (Photo: AFP)

Security

Praises the Pakistan leadership, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Asim Munir; says he believes Pakistan is 'doing terrifically well.'

Trump says US will not intervene in Pakistan-Afghan conflict

Muhammad Ibrahim

ISLAMABAD: Recent security developments have reinforced Pakistan&rsquo;s long-standing assessment that Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Afghan Taliban operate as a mutually reinforcing nexus, where pressure on one group is met with retaliation by the other. The pattern was again visible this week after Pakistan launched <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-says-297-taliban-fighters-killed-in-afghanistan-strikes" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Operation Ghazab lil Haq</a>&nbsp;in response to unprovoked cross-border attacks. As <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/why-pakistan-struck-afghanistan" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistan struck Afghan Taliban targets</a> inside Afghanistan, TTP elements attempted to escalate violence inside Pakistan, including failed drone attacks in northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Pakistan&rsquo;s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar confirmed that TTP-linked terrorists attempted to launch drones in Abbottabad, Swabi and Nowshera, but said Pakistan&rsquo;s anti-drone systems intercepted all of them, preventing any loss of life. &ldquo;These <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-responds-afghan-border-fire" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">incidents have again exposed direct linkages</a> between the Afghan Taliban regime and terrorism in Pakistan,&rdquo; Tarar said in a statement. Terrorist groups&#39; messaging, released the same day, removed any remaining ambiguity. A TTP faction, Jamaat-ul-Ahrar, publicly issued directives to its terrorist operatives across Pakistan to escalate attacks on security forces, portraying the violence as retaliation for Pakistan&rsquo;s military action against Afghan Taliban targets. The message openly described attacks inside Pakistan as an act of &ldquo;solidarity&rdquo; with the Afghan Taliban. An earlier internal directive attributed to TTP leadership went further, declaring that the &ldquo;Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan stands with our mujahideen&rdquo; and ordering commanders to escalate attacks while amplifying propaganda through media channels. <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-briefed-at-military-headquarters-as-pakistan-inflicts-heavy-taliban-losses" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistani officials</a> say this coordinated messaging reflects an operational reality that has persisted since the Taliban takeover of Kabul in 2021: Afghan soil has increasingly been used as a safe haven for groups targeting Pakistan. Islamabad maintains that the return of the Taliban to power removed constraints on terrorist networks, enabling training, planning and cross-border attacks with impunity. Security sources argue the sequence is now predictable. When Pakistan confronts terrorist infrastructure inside Afghanistan, TTP cells activate inside Pakistan. When TTP strikes Pakistani targets, protection and facilitation trace back across the border. Pakistan says repeated diplomatic engagements have failed to alter this behavior and that the Afghan Taliban regime has neither acknowledged nor acted against the presence of anti-Pakistan terrorist groups on its territory. As military operations and militant reprisals continue in parallel, Pakistani authorities say the distinction between the Afghan Taliban and TTP is no longer theoretical but operational. A shared ecosystem in which an attack on one triggers a response from the other.

Blogs

Pakistan says recent drone attempts, militant directives, and retaliatory strikes demonstrate a coordinated operational pattern, where pressure on the Afghan Taliban consistently triggers Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan attacks inside Pakistan, reinforcing concerns over cross-border safe havens.

TTP–Taliban nexus exposed as attacks and retaliation mirror each other

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan said Friday that <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-army-kills-274-afghan-taliban-affiliates-as-operation-ghazab-lil-haq-continues" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">297 Afghan Taliban fighters were killed</a> and more than 450 injured in retaliatory military strikes across Afghanistan, as Information Minister Attaullah Tarar denounced the Kabul administration as an &ldquo;illegitimate regime&rdquo; following unprovoked attacks along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. In a post on social media platform X, Tarar said the action was carried out under Operation Ghazb lil Haq and involved precision air and ground strikes on 29 locations inside Afghanistan. The information minister said 89 Taliban check posts were destroyed, 18 captured, and 135 tanks and armed vehicles eliminated during the operation.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 471px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=2027449317087408548&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=485de7e742b2156c528f877ea42b0a2dc7039429&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2027449317087408548">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Earlier, while addressing a press briefing, Tarar said <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-briefed-at-military-headquarters-as-pakistan-inflicts-heavy-taliban-losses" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban regime</a> along the Pakistan&ndash;Afghanistan border was being and will continue to be responded to strongly and effectively. He described Pakistan&rsquo;s response as &ldquo;immediate and decisive,&rdquo; adding that Taliban fighters fled several positions, leaving behind weapons and bodies. The minister said the latest fighting further exposed what he called a direct&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/why-pakistan-struck-afghanistan" style="color:#0073e6;">nexus between the Afghan Taliban regime and terrorist networks</a>&nbsp;targeting Pakistan. &ldquo;Afghan soil is being used for training, facilitation, and launching attacks that kill our civilians and security personnel,&rdquo; he said, referring to recent assaults on religious sites, judicial facilities, and Pakistani military officers. Tarar also launched a broad attack on the Taliban&rsquo;s governance, calling it &ldquo;a system based on repression and the perversion of religion.&rdquo; He quoted the government&rsquo;s position, saying, &ldquo;The activities of the Afghan Taliban regime and Fitna al-Khawarij against Pakistan are unacceptable.&rdquo; He accused the Kabul authorities of ruling without legitimacy, denying fundamental rights and enforcing discriminatory laws against women, children, and minorities. &ldquo;This regime has nothing to do with Islam,&rdquo; Tarar said. &ldquo;It has imposed oppression on its own people and exported terrorism across the border.&rdquo; Tarar said Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces remain on full alert and prepared to respond to any further aggression. &ldquo;Pakistan knows very well how to defend itself,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Our response will remain strong, effective, and in defense of our sovereignty.&rdquo;

Information Minister Attaullah Tarar slams the Afghan Taliban regime as illegitimate and repressive, says cross-border attacks trigger decisive military action, confirms heavy Taliban losses and vows zero tolerance while defending sovereignty, citizens and security.

Pakistan says 297 Taliban fighters killed in Afghanistan strikes

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump said Friday he was frustrated by Iran&#39;s position in talks but added he had not yet decided whether to carry out a threatened attack.&nbsp;A day after the United States and Iran held talks in Geneva, Trump said that the cleric-run state was &quot;not willing to give us what we have to have.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;We haven&#39;t made a final decision,&quot; he told reporters when asked about the use of force.&nbsp;&quot;We&#39;re not exactly happy with the way they negotiated. They cannot have nuclear weapons, and we&#39;re not thrilled with the way they&#39;re negotiating,&quot; Trump said.&nbsp;&quot;We want no nuclear weapons by Iran and they&#39;re not saying those golden words.&quot;&nbsp;Iran has said repeatedly that it is not pursuing nuclear weapons and US intelligence has found no evidence that it has made a decision to do so.&nbsp;But the United States and Israel, which carried out a major bombing campaign in Iran in June, are skeptical of the statements by Iran, which backs Palestinian militants Hamas.&nbsp;Asked if an attack would trigger all-out war in the Middle East, Trump said, &quot;I guess you could always say there&#39;s always a risk.&nbsp;&quot;You know when there&#39;s war, there&#39;s a risk in anything, both good and bad.&quot;&nbsp;Trump was circumspect on whether a US attack would bring down the Islamic republic, a sworn enemy of the United States and Israel.&nbsp;Authorities last month killed thousands of people as they crushed mass protests in the biggest threat to the ruling clerics since the 1979 Islamic revolution toppled the pro-Western shah.&nbsp;&quot;Nobody knows. There might be and there might not be,&quot; Trump said of regime change.&nbsp;Trump in his first term ripped up a nuclear deal negotiated by his predecessor Barack Obama in which Iran agreed to strict limits on uranium enrichment.

Americas

US President Donald Trump expressed frustration with Iran after Geneva talks, saying no final decision on military action has been made. He demanded Iran abandon nuclear ambitions, while US and Israeli skepticism persists amid regional tensions.

Trump 'not thrilled' with Iran but undecided on attack

ISTANBUL: Flights from Istanbul airport to Tehran were cancelled on Friday night amid a mounting US military buildup around Iran.&nbsp;Istanbul airport said flights by Turkish Airlines and two Iranian companies to the Iranian capital had been cancelled.&nbsp;Four flights to Tehran scheduled for Saturday were also cancelled, though six others remained on the schedule. A Turkish Airlines flight to the northern Iranian city of Tabriz, due to leave early Saturday, was called off.&nbsp;Turkish authorities made no comment on events in Iran on Friday, declining to join the litany of nations advising their citizens against travel to the Islamic republic.&nbsp;Turkey has a 550 kilometer (340 mile) frontier with Iran that has three crossing points.

Asia

Flights from Istanbul Airport to Tehran were cancelled Friday night amid rising US military tensions around Iran. Turkish Airlines and Iranian carriers halted services, affecting several Saturday flights, while Turkey issued no travel warning despite the situation.

Istanbul flights to Tehran cancelled Friday night: airport

CAPE CANAVERAL: NASA on Friday said it would revise its Artemis lunar program that has suffered multiple delays in recent years, in a bid to ensure Americans can return to the Moon&#39;s surface by 2028.&nbsp;The US space agency will add missions between this spring&#39;s Artemis 2 and the ultimate lunar landing, a strategic revision that NASA administrator Jared Isaacman told a briefing would allow for improved launch &quot;muscle memory.&quot;&nbsp;That means Artemis 3, which was meant to send astronauts to the Moon&#39;s surface, will now have the alternate goal of &quot;rendezvous in low-Earth orbit&quot; of at least one lunar lander.&nbsp;The next phase, Artemis 4, will aim for a lunar landing in early 2028. Isaacman said he hoped that mission could be followed relatively quickly by a second Moon landing within the year.&nbsp;&quot;We&#39;re not necessarily committing to launching two missions in 2028,&quot; he said, &quot;but we want to have the opportunity to be able to do that.&quot;&nbsp;The NASA chief said speeding up the cadence of Artemis launches would allow for building more institutional knowledge in the model of the Apollo program, which originally put Americans on the Moon.&nbsp;&quot;Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, through the shuttle program -- I don&#39;t think it would surprise many of the folks in the room that our average launch cadence was closer to three months throughout all those programs, not three years,&quot; he said. &quot;We need to start getting back to basics and moving in this direction.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;Launching every three years, your skills atrophy, you lose muscle memory.&quot;&nbsp;Space raceThe revised architecture announcement comes in the wake of repeated delays to the Artemis 2 mission, which now will not launch before April.&nbsp;It is meant to see the first flyby of the Moon in more than half a century.&nbsp;Earlier this week, the US space agency rolled back its towering SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft off the launchpad to investigate its problems and make necessary repairs.&nbsp;President Donald Trump announced he wanted Americans to once again set foot on the lunar surface in his first term.&nbsp;The US space agency now hopes to put humans back on the Moon as China forges ahead with its own effort, which is targeting 2030 at the latest for a first crewed mission.&nbsp;China&#39;s uncrewed Chang&#39;e 7 mission is expected to be launched in 2026 for an exploration of the Moon&#39;s south pole, and testing of its crewed spacecraft Mengzhou is also set to go ahead this year.&nbsp;Queried on the so-called &quot;space race,&quot; Isaacman said Friday that &quot;I think competition is good.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;We&#39;re here talking to you about what is a common-sense approach to achieve the objective, whether we had a great rival in the running or not.&quot;

Artificial Intelligence

NASA will revise its Artemis program after delays, adding missions before a planned 2028 lunar landing. Artemis 3 will test lunar lander rendezvous in low-Earth orbit, while Artemis 4 targets Moon landing as China advances its space ambitions.

NASA announces overhaul of Artemis lunar program amid technical delays

COLOMBO: Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks smashed 44 off 16 balls to take England to a thrilling four-wicket T20 World Cup win in Colombo that denied New Zealand a guaranteed place in the semi-finals but kept Pakistan&#39;s slender hopes alive.&nbsp;New Zealand would have joined England in the knockouts with a win in their final Super Eights match and they scored 159-6 after opting to bat.&nbsp;England lost wickets early and looked like they would be squeezed out at 117-6, needing 43 from the last three overs.&nbsp;But Ahmed and Jacks took 22 off the 18th over from Glenn Phillips to turn the match on its head.&nbsp;Ahmed blasted 19 off seven balls in his first T20 World Cup match alongside Jacks, who made an unbeaten 32 off 18, to see England to 161-6 with three balls to spare.&nbsp;England will move on to a semi-final in Mumbai on Thursday against either India or the West Indies, who clash on Sunday to decide the final semi-final berth.&nbsp;New Zealand now have to wait on the outcome of Saturday&#39;s clash between Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Kandy to know if they have qualified for a semi-final in Kolkata against South Africa.&nbsp;Pakistan have an inferior run rate so need to win by 65 runs or inside 13 overs to overtake the Kiwis and deny them a place in the final four. If Pakistan qualify then the semi-final would be played in Colombo.&nbsp;England used five spinners to bowl 16 of the 20 overs on a turning track. The 2010 and 2022 champions had never bowled so many overs of spin before in a T20 international.&nbsp;Jacks returned the best figures with 2-23, while Adil Rashid picked up 2-28 and is now England&#39;s leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 11.&nbsp;Rashid was complemented by fellow wrist spinner Ahmed, who was called up in place of Jamie Overton, and took a wicket with his first ball before finishing with 2-28 from three overs.&nbsp;Glenn Phillips top scored with 39 off 28 including four fours and a six while opener Tim Seifert scored 35.&nbsp;Liam Dawson (1-32) and Jacob Bethell (0-13) were the other spinners employed by England.

Cricket

England beat New Zealand by four wickets in Colombo after Rehan Ahmed and Will Jacks powered a late chase of 160. England reached 161-6, keeping Pakistan’s semi-final hopes alive while New Zealand await Sri Lanka-Pakistan result.

Ahmed, Jacks blast England to thrilling win over New Zealand

SAN FRANCISCO: OpenAI announced Friday a massive $110 billion funding round valuing the ChatGPT maker at $730 billion, with SoftBank, Nvidia and Amazon each making multi-billion-dollar commitments as the artificial intelligence company races to meet surging global demand.&nbsp;The investment round -- one of the largest in Silicon Valley history -- includes $30 billion from Japanese conglomerate SoftBank, $30 billion from chip giant Nvidia, and up to $50 billion from Amazon, with additional investors expected to join as the round progresses.&nbsp;Alongside the capital injection, OpenAI announced strategic partnerships with both Amazon, the world&#39;s biggest cloud company through its AWS division, and Nvidia, whose AI chips remain unparalleled in their capacity for AI training.&nbsp;&quot;SoftBank, Nvidia, and Amazon are long-term partners who share our ambition to turn real scientific progress into systems that deliver meaningful benefits for people at global scale,&quot; OpenAI said in a statement.&nbsp;The eye-watering level of funding reflects the soaring costs of computing power and comes amid lingering questions about whether OpenAI and other AI companies can generate sufficient revenue to cover those costs.&nbsp;The Amazon investment will begin with $15 billion, followed by another $35 billion in the coming months when certain conditions are met, the companies said.&nbsp;According to reports, these include OpenAI going public or achieving artificial general intelligence, a sometimes ill-defined standard of AI capability that more closely matches human-level ability.&nbsp;OpenAI and Amazon also struck a deal in which the ChatGPT maker will use two gigawatts of computing capacity powered by Amazon&#39;s in-house Trainium chips.&nbsp;Amazon&#39;s cloud computing rival Microsoft, which did not participate in the funding round, remains a major shareholder of OpenAI and a strategic partner.&nbsp;In the announcement, OpenAI cited a series of user metrics pointing to a breakneck pace of AI adoption.&nbsp;Even if short of its previous forecasts, ChatGPT now counts more than 900 million weekly active users and over 50 million paying consumer subscribers, with January and February on track to be the platform&#39;s biggest-ever months for new subscriptions, the company said.&nbsp;It added that more than nine million businesses pay to use ChatGPT for workplace tasks, while its Codex software development tool has seen weekly users more than triple since the start of the year to 1.6 million.&nbsp;The figures are intended to reassure more skeptical investors who have questioned OpenAI&#39;s ability to secure revenue, with user growth for its flagship ChatGPT slowing.&nbsp;The company this month began rolling out advertising for its non-premium users in a bid to bring in more revenue.&nbsp;According to The Information tech news, OpenAI now predicts that it will burn more than twice as much cash through 2030 than previously predicted, spending $665 billion on the costs of running and training its AI.&nbsp;Competition has ramped up too.&nbsp;Arch-rival Anthropic, founded by former OpenAI employees, continues to gain ground and grab headlines for its well-regarded Claude AI models.&nbsp;Anthropic earlier this year secured a $30 billion funding round.&nbsp;Google&#39;s AI model Gemini has also emerged as a potent competitor, with Elon Musk&#39;s xAI also attracting investment and users.

OpenAI announces a $110 billion funding round valuing it at $730 billion, with major backing from SoftBank, Nvidia, and Amazon, as it expands partnerships, scales computing capacity, and accelerates growth amid rising costs and intensifying AI competition.

OpenAI raises $110 bn in record funding round

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday visited General Headquarters for a detailed security briefing on the evolving&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/why-pakistan-struck-afghanistan" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Pakistan&ndash;Afghanistan border situation</a>, as Islamabad reported significant losses inflicted on Afghan Taliban forces during retaliatory operations.&nbsp;According to a statement from the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office, PM Sharif met senior military leadership and reviewed&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-army-kills-274-afghan-taliban-affiliates-as-operation-ghazab-lil-haq-continues" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">ongoing operational and security developments</a>&nbsp;along the western border.&nbsp;Addressing the meeting, the prime minister directed that &ldquo;zero tolerance&rdquo; be shown toward the nexus between Fitna al-Khawarij and the Afghan Taliban regime, accusing them of orchestrating cross-border violence against Pakistan. &ldquo;The activities of the Afghan Taliban regime and Fitna al-Khawarij against Pakistan are unacceptable,&rdquo; Sharif said, according to the statement.&nbsp;He reaffirmed confidence in the country&rsquo;s defense posture, saying Pakistan&rsquo;s armed forces, under the leadership of Asim Munir, remain fully prepared to defend national sovereignty.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan knows very well how to defend itself against any aggression,&rdquo; the prime minister said, while praising the armed forces for what he called their professionalism and effective response to recent attacks.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2027378237693636665&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=474dcd5142e766d958cde2e29c4a9c2530630431&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2027378237693636665"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;Earlier, the military said at least 274 Afghan Taliban fighters and terrorists had been killed so far in Pakistan&rsquo;s retaliatory action following unprovoked aggression along the Pakistan&ndash;Afghanistan border.&nbsp;Briefing the media, Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said Pakistan carried out targeted strikes on terrorist hideouts inside Afghanistan during the night of February 21 and 22, as part of a broader response to border violations.&nbsp;The prime minister commended the armed forces for repelling attacks in border areas and for carrying out what he termed a &ldquo;full retaliatory action.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;The entire nation stands shoulder to shoulder with its armed forces for the protection of the motherland,&rdquo; Sharif said.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visits GHQ for a security briefing on Pakistan-Afghanistan border tensions, orders zero tolerance for cross-border militancy, and backs retaliatory strikes, as military reports 274 Afghan Taliban fighters killed in operations.

PM Sharif briefed at military headquarters as Pakistan inflicts heavy Taliban losses

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s military said Friday it had killed 274 Afghan Taliban fighters and their affiliates while wounding 400 others in an ongoing operation dubbed Operation Ghazab lil Haq. Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhary announced the figures at a press conference, saying the Afghan Taliban regime serves as the primary sponsor of militant proxies active along the border.&nbsp; He noted that the United Nations has identified more than 21 such terrorist organizations operating out of Afghanistan. &quot;Yesterday, the whole world watched how different proxies are physically supporting the terrorists in Afghanistan and the world saw the Pakistani response,&quot; Lt. Gen. Chaudhary said. &quot;We were ready, we were vigilant, and we responded immediately.&quot; The spokesperson said Pakistani forces successfully repelled attacks at all 53 targeted locations, with no breaches reported. Enemy posts, gun positions, tank positions, battalion headquarters and sector headquarters were all neutralized in the operation, he added. &quot;They came with quadcopters, armed quadcopters and they were not only effectively repulsed but, exercising our right of self-defense, wherever this attack came from, the Pakistan Army responded effectively,&quot; he said. &ldquo;I want to make one thing clear: the oppressive Afghan Taliban regime has to make a clear choice. The choice is to choose between Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, Baloch Liberation Army, Daesh, Al Qaeda, the terrorists and terrorist organizations and Pakistan,&rdquo; the ISPR spokesperson said while giving a briefing on security forces&rsquo; response to unprovoked aggression by the Afghan Taliban. &ldquo;It is difficult to distinguish where the Taliban regime ends and where the terrorism starts. The lines have blurred. Therefore, it is necessary to make it clear that if anyone tries to carry out any terrorist activity in Pakistan &hellip; its response will be given to terrorists, their guardians, and those who protect them. No place will be safe for them as we also have equal rights,&rdquo; he added. Pakistan&#39;s military also confirmed the deaths of 12 soldiers during the clashes. &quot;Twelve brave sons of this soil have embraced martyrdom while safeguarding the territorial integrity of Pakistan,&quot; Lt. Gen. Chaudhary said. The operation is ongoing.

DG ISPR Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry on Friday said all 53 cross-border attack points were successfully repulsed, with 400 terrorists wounded.

Articles by Pakistan TV Satellite