Faraz Saeed

Shizza Jasmin

ISLAMABAD/LAHORE: An Indian Muslim lawmaker has condemned Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for pulling down the hijab of a Muslim woman doctor during an official ceremony, describing the act as &ldquo;foolish&rdquo; and &ldquo;condemnable,&rdquo; amid growing concern over India&rsquo;s treatment of religious minorities.&nbsp;Speaking in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV Digital, Lok Sabha Member of Parliament Tariq Anwar said the incident was unacceptable but suggested it may have been linked to what he described as the chief minister&rsquo;s ongoing neurological or mental health issues.&nbsp;He added that Kumar had previously been criticized for similar conduct and was reportedly undergoing medical treatment, while maintaining there was no history of him intentionally targeting Muslims.&nbsp;&ldquo;It has been said for the last several months that he has some neurological and mental problems,&rdquo; Anwar said. &ldquo;However, if anyone commits such an act, it is certainly wrong.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;We do not appreciate it; rather, we condemn the incident.&rdquo;&nbsp;The controversy erupted earlier this week during an appointment ceremony at the Bihar Chief Minister&rsquo;s Secretariat, Samvad, where newly recruited doctors were receiving appointment letters. Indian media reported that 1,283 doctors were appointed, including practitioners of Ayurveda, homeopathy, and Unani medicine.&nbsp;As Nusrat Parveen, a newly appointed Unani doctor, stepped forward to receive her letter, Kumar appeared startled by her hijab, which partially covered her face, and reached out to pull it down. A video of the moment quickly went viral, triggering widespread outrage and renewed debate over minority rights and intolerance in public life.&nbsp;Anwar said the chief minister&rsquo;s conduct appeared to be the result of illness or medical treatment and reiterated that there had never been any complaint of Kumar intentionally committing such an act. Nevertheless, he stressed that the incident was &ldquo;not right&rdquo; and remained condemnable.&nbsp;Opposition parties were far less charitable. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Kumar&rsquo;s former ally, publicly questioned his fitness to govern. &ldquo;What has happened to Nitish ji? Has his mental state reached a completely pitiable condition, or has Nitish Babu become 100% Sanghi now?&rdquo; the party said in a post on X.&nbsp;RJD spokesperson Ejaz Ahmed framed the episode as part of a broader pattern. &ldquo;The removal of the hijab from a Muslim woman&rsquo;s face clearly reflects the National Democratic Alliance government&rsquo;s mindset toward the Muslim community,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;The incident also drew criticism from politicians and academics, who described it as further evidence of a shrinking space for minorities in India. Ashok Swain, a professor at Uppsala University in Sweden, linked the episode to the political climate under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.&nbsp;&ldquo;Modi&rsquo;s key ally and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar forcibly pulls down the veil of a Muslim woman doctor while handing her an appointment letter,&rdquo; Swain wrote on X. &ldquo;In Modi&rsquo;s India, misogyny and Islamophobia have official sanction.&rdquo;&nbsp;Samajwadi Party MLA Ravidas Mehrotra said the act disqualified Kumar from holding office. &ldquo;This incident clearly shows that the Chief Minister of Bihar is not mentally stable,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;After this, he has no moral right to remain in office even for a single day.&rdquo;&nbsp;Lok Sabha MP Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi described the conduct as &ldquo;indefensible and deeply disturbing,&rdquo; calling for accountability.&nbsp;&ldquo;He owes the woman and the public an unconditional apology,&rdquo; Mehdi said. &ldquo;This erratic conduct is alarming and raises serious concerns about his capacity to hold constitutional office.&rdquo;&nbsp;India&rsquo;s main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, also demanded Kumar&rsquo;s resignation, raising questions about women&rsquo;s safety and Muslim dignity in Bihar.&nbsp;&ldquo;Look at his shamelessness, a female doctor had come to collect her appointment letter, and Nitish Kumar pulled off her hijab,&rdquo; the party said. &ldquo;This vileness is unforgivable.&rdquo;&nbsp;For critics, the episode is not an isolated lapse but a stark illustration of how Muslim identity is increasingly treated as a provocation in India&rsquo;s public sphere, where even state ceremonies are no longer free from humiliation and coercion.

India

Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Tariq Anwar condemns Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for pulling down a Muslim woman doctor’s hijab, calling the act foolish and unacceptable

Pulling veil by Bihar CM condemnable, ‘foolish’ act: Indian Muslim lawmaker

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and T&uuml;rkiye share an enduring bond founded on brotherhood, shared struggle, and resistance to imperial domination, a leading Turkish civil society figure said in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV Digital last week.&nbsp;&nbsp;He urged global powers to &ldquo;abandon their colonial ambitions&rdquo; and allow smaller nations to thrive in peace.&nbsp;In a wide-ranging interview, İsmail Hakkı Turun&ccedil;, president of T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s July 15 Association, condemned the ongoing atrocities in Gaza, describing them as &ldquo;a direct consequence of imperial greed&rdquo; and a reflection of the exploitative mindset that continues to shape global politics.&nbsp;&ldquo;It is absolutely wrong for any country, especially those backed by powers like the US, the UK, France, or Germany, to invade others and take away their rights,&rdquo; Turun&ccedil; said. &ldquo;Such actions bring neither peace to Gaza nor security to those who support these aggressions.&rdquo;&nbsp;Turun&ccedil;, who has personally visited Gaza six times, said he was &ldquo;tortured&rdquo; during his last visit, adding that the suffering of Gazans mirrors the world&rsquo;s moral collapse in the face of oppression.&nbsp;&ldquo;Over 80,000 people have lost their lives in Gaza, thousands more have been wounded, and millions are confined to a tiny strip of land,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;This is not only a humanitarian tragedy but a reflection of an imperial, exploitative mentality that must end.&rdquo;&nbsp;&lsquo;T&uuml;rkiye stands with Pakistan&rsquo;&nbsp;Reaffirming T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s solidarity with Pakistan, Turun&ccedil; said his country has &ldquo;always stood by its brotherly nation,&rdquo; particularly in times of crisis or tension with India.&nbsp;&ldquo;Whenever we face hardship, the first country to rush to our side has always been Pakistan, both its government and its people,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We are brothers, and if a brother does not share in his brother&rsquo;s sorrow or joy, that cannot be called brotherhood.&rdquo;&nbsp;He recalled his first visit to Pakistan following the 2005 Kashmir earthquake, when he came as part of a Turkish humanitarian delegation.&nbsp;&ldquo;We built schools, established soup kitchens, and distributed food,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;That bond of brotherhood was not symbolic.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;It was lived and felt on the ground.&rdquo;&nbsp;Turun&ccedil; emphasized that both countries must continue to expand cooperation in areas such as economic development, energy, and humanitarian work.&nbsp;&ldquo;Each country should make use of its own resources to improve the lives of its citizens,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;No state should covet the wealth of another, that is what separates sovereignty from imperialism.&rdquo;&nbsp;The July 15 Association is a leading non-governmental organization in T&uuml;rkiye, established after the failed 2016 coup attempt, which left more than 250 people dead and thousands injured. The association works to commemorate the martyrs and veterans of that night, support their families, and preserve the memory of the public&rsquo;s resistance as a defining moment in T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s democratic history.&nbsp;On the night of July 15, 2016, a faction within the Turkish military attempted to overthrow the elected government. The attempt was thwarted after millions of civilians took to the streets in response to a call from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The Turkish government blames the coup on the G&uuml;len movement (FET&Ouml;), which has since been designated a terrorist organization by T&uuml;rkiye.&nbsp;Reflecting on those events, Turun&ccedil; said the coup attempt was &ldquo;an initiative backed by several imperial powers and carried out by traitors within the system.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Thanks to the trust our people have in President Erdoğan, millions took to the streets,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The people won, the coup plotters lost. Praise be to God, there was joy and peace in our victory.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that T&uuml;rkiye&rsquo;s experience serves as a lesson for nations like Pakistan that continue to resist foreign interference.&nbsp;&ldquo;We will never recognize any system other than democracy,&rdquo; he quoted President Erdoğan as saying. &ldquo;Those who want to abolish democracy will never be given the chance.&rdquo;&nbsp;&lsquo;World has enough for all, if shared fairly&rsquo;Calling for global cooperation and ethical resource distribution, Turun&ccedil; said the world must learn to share its wealth rather than exploit others.&nbsp;&ldquo;The world has enough resources to sustain far more than eight billion people if used wisely,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But the egoism of some and the exploitative mentality of others prevent fair sharing. This greed drives conflicts, occupations, and suffering, from Gaza to beyond.&rdquo;&nbsp;Concluding the interview, Turun&ccedil; expressed affection for the Pakistani people and optimism about the future of bilateral relations.&nbsp;&ldquo;The people of T&uuml;rkiye love Pakistan deeply,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;God willing, this brotherhood will last forever, and our friendship will continue for many generations to come.&rdquo;

Foreign Affairs

In a wide-ranging interview, İsmail Hakkı Turunç, president of Türkiye’s July 15 Association, praises Pakistan-Türkiye brotherhood, condemns Gaza atrocities, recalls resisting the 2016 coup, and urges world powers to end imperial exploitation and share resources equitably.

Pakistan, Türkiye stand united against imperial aggression: Turkish leader

If you&#39;re a regular online shopper, you&#39;re familiar with the frustration of hearing &quot;card not accepted&quot; just as you&#39;re about to pay. Even worse is being told, &quot;You can transfer online.&quot; Navigating banking apps and entering merchant details can be a clumsy and frustrating experience. After recently returning to Pakistan, I decided to tackle this issue. To get more insight, I interviewed Pakistan&rsquo;s Minister of State for Finance and Railways, Bilal Azhar Kiyani, on my podcast, &quot;Chatroom with Shizza.&quot; Our goal was to explore Pakistan&#39;s digital transformation plans. The vision of a cashless Pakistan A cashless future isn&#39;t just a dream; it&#39;s becoming a reality. Kiyani said the &quot;Cashless Pakistan&quot; initiative is more than just government talk. It is a top priority for the prime minister, who meets biweekly with the Cashless Economy Steering Committee. The stakes are high: increased transparency, improved efficiency, and an alarming Rs18 billion ($63.8 million) lost each year in payment processing. A unified effort: Government, telecom, and banks One of the most promising aspects of this transformation is the cooperation among key players. Major telecom companies like Jazz and Easypaisa, along with the Pakistan Banks Association, are now working together. Kiyani described the effort as a comprehensive movement, merging both government and private sector goals. The strategy is built on three main pillars, each led by a government organization. The State Bank of Pakistan aims to increase the number of merchants accepting digital payments from 500,000 to 2 million. They also want to grow digital banking users from 95 million to 120 million and double annual digital transactions from 7.5 billion to 15 billion by June 2026. Economic transparency and tax reform This transformation isn&#39;t just about technology. For instance, the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is the largest social safety net in the country. Previously, it relied on cash payments, which led to issues like middlemen and mistakes. Now, 10 million beneficiaries are receiving e-wallets, making digital banking more accessible. &quot;This isn&#39;t just about technology,&quot; Kiyani said, &quot;It&#39;s about education.&quot; The new Pakistan Digital Authority will oversee digital payments and promote financial literacy across the country. Tax reform is also critical. Pakistan&#39;s tax-to-GDP ratio improved from 8.2% to 10.6% last fiscal year. Digital transactions can help with better economic documentation and fairer tax distribution. &quot;Digital payments increase transparency,&quot; Kiyani said. &quot;They reduce wrongdoing and lessen our reliance on human resources.&quot; Expected timeline The government has set an ambitious timeline. By the end of 2026, all payments involving federal, provincial, and state-owned enterprises will be digitized. They plan to subsidize QR-based payment systems for small merchants, encouraging digital payment adoption through lower processing fees. When I asked Kiyani if this effort might be too late, he remained positive. &quot;The pace has been organic,&quot; he said. &quot;But the ecosystem is maturing. The prime minister has set clear targets.&quot; The road ahead After the interview, I felt hopeful. The combination of improved infrastructure, political will, and private-sector cooperation appears stronger this time. Success will depend on effective implementation, education, and convincing everyday vendors that digital payments are not just feasible but preferable. As someone who prefers scanning to fumbling with cash, I&rsquo;ll be watching this digital revolution closely. Until then, I&rsquo;ll continue with manual transfers &mdash; and some grumbling. Catch the full episode of &quot;Chatroom with Shizza&quot; on our YouTube channel.

Banking

Business

Taxation

Pakistan’s digital payment push aims to boost digital transactions by 2026 through government-private cooperation, improving transparency, tax reform, and financial education.

Cashless Pakistan: A nation's ambitious leap toward transparency

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, in an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV Digital, outlined his vision on youth, agriculture and economic prosperity. The prime minister made these remarks during the launch of Pakistan TV Digital, an English-language platform designed to present Islamabad&rsquo;s voice to global audiences through credible, video-first journalism.&nbsp; &ldquo;These devastating floods have damaged our economy in a way which we did not foresee,&rdquo; PM Sharif said on Pakistan TV&rsquo;s podcast The Chatroom with Shizza. &ldquo;We are meeting this challenge with joint efforts,&rdquo; referring to the coordinated flood response and rescue operations by the federal government, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), provincial governments, and the military.<div class="fr-embed responsive-video"><div class="video-wrapper aspect-video"><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/kuOoFRxCQsI" title="Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Launches Pakistan TV Digital" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen="" style="width: 100%; height: 100%; min-height: 0px;"></iframe></div></div>He outlined a future where Pakistan leverages its &ldquo;youth bulge,&rdquo; expands its agricultural sector, and implements vocational training programs to convert demographic challenges into economic opportunities. Once on the brink of economic collapse, &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s economy is now stable&rdquo;, the prime minister said. He credited the change to what he called &ldquo;extraordinary teamwork, untiring efforts, and a sense of purpose to achieve results.&rdquo;

Economy

Launches Pakistan TV Digital, affirms resilience after floods, Islamabad’s shift toward stability and growth, hails synergy among stakeholders.

Economic collapse averted, focusing on youth: PM Shehbaz

BEIRUT: The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon said an Israeli tank fired near its peacekeepers on Monday, and warned that such attacks were becoming &quot;disturbingly common.&quot; UNIFIL has repeatedly reported Israeli fire near or towards its personnel in recent months, and less than two weeks ago, said gunfire from an Israeli position hit close to peacekeepers twice. &quot;UNIFIL peacekeepers observed two Merkava tanks move&quot; from an Israeli army position inside Lebanese territory &quot;further into Lebanon&quot; on Monday, the force said in a statement. UNIFIL has acted as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon for decades, and recently has been working with Lebanon&#39;s army to support a year-old ceasefire between Israel and fighter group Hezbollah. Under the November 2024 truce, Israel was to withdraw its forces from south Lebanon, but it has kept them in five areas it deems strategic and carries out regular strikes on Lebanon, usually saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites and operatives. &quot;The peacekeepers requested through liaison channels that the tanks stop their activity,&quot; the statement said. Later, &quot;one of the tanks fired three shells from its main gun, with two impacts approximately 150 meters away from the peacekeepers,&quot; UNIFIL said, adding that &quot;as the peacekeepers moved away for safety, they were continuously tracked with a laser from the tanks&quot;. The statement reported no casualties but noted UNIFIL had informed the Israeli army of its activities in the area in advance. &quot;Attacks like these on identifiable peacekeepers ... are becoming disturbingly common,&quot; the statement said, urging a stop to such incidents. It called them &quot;a serious violation&quot; of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, which ended a 2006 war between Israel and Hezbollah and forms the basis of the current truce. Under heavy US pressure and fears of expanded Israeli strikes, Beirut has committed to disarming Hezbollah, and last week, Lebanon&#39;s army said it had finished doing so in the area near the border. UNIFIL&#39;s final mandate ends this year, and the force is to leave Lebanon in 2027.

Middle East

UNIFIL says "attacks like these on identifiable peacekeepers ... are becoming disturbingly common"; UNIFIL has acted as a buffer between Israel and Lebanon for decades, and recently has been working with Lebanon's army to support a year-old ceasefire between Israel and the fighter group Hezbollah.

UN force says Israeli tank fired near peacekeepers in Lebanon 

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: China has confirmed that its exported J-10CE fighter jet has achieved its first combat victory, successfully shooting down multiple enemy aircraft during an aerial engagement without suffering any losses, marking a significant milestone for the Chinese-made combat aircraft. In a statement issued on Monday, China&rsquo;s State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defense (SASTIND) said the J-10CE&rsquo;s battlefield performance demonstrated the aircraft&rsquo;s operational effectiveness in real combat conditions outside China. &ldquo;The J-10CE fighter jet, exported by China, achieved its first combat success abroad by downing multiple aircraft without incurring any losses,&rdquo; the Chinese defense authority said. The confirmation comes in the wake of the brief but intense Pakistan-India military confrontation in May, during which air power played a central role. Pakistan has previously stated that its air force downed several Indian aircraft during the escalation, while China&rsquo;s acknowledgement underscores the growing operational credibility of its defense exports and Pakistan&rsquo;s reliance on advanced Chinese military technology. According to the US Department of War, Pakistan is currently the only country operating the Chinese-built J-10C fighter jet. The report noted that as of May 2025, 20 additional aircraft were delivered to Pakistan, raising the Pakistan Air Force&rsquo;s J-10CE fleet to 36 jets since 2020. China&rsquo;s state news agency Xinhua described the J-10CE as an &ldquo;all-weather, single-engine, single-seat, multi-role fighter jet&rdquo; independently developed by China to meet modern aerial warfare requirements. Commenting on the aircraft&rsquo;s performance, the Chinese side said the combat outcome reflected both reliability and competitiveness. The J-10CE&rsquo;s &ldquo;combat success abroad fully demonstrates its practicality and usability, highlights its strong competitiveness compared to similar foreign equipment, and promotes Chinese aviation products in the international market,&rdquo; Xinhua quoted Chinese defense officials as saying. Pakistan has stated that during the May confrontation, it shot down seven Indian fighter jets, including three French-made Rafale aircraft. The conflict followed an attack on civilians in Indian-occupied Kashmir, an incident India blamed on Pakistan. A charge Islamabad categorically rejected and has offered &ldquo;independent investigation.&rdquo; The four-day conflict marked the deadliest cross-border fighting since 2019, involving missile, drone, and artillery strikes, before both sides agreed to a US-brokered ceasefire. Addressing the United Nations General Assembly in September, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistani forces had reduced Indian aircraft to &ldquo;scrap and dust.&rdquo; India, meanwhile, claimed it had shot down five Pakistani fighter jets. A claim Pakistan&rsquo;s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif dismissed as &ldquo;comical.&rdquo; Islamabad and Beijing are long-term strategic allies, bound by strong bilateral ties, deep defense cooperation, and a shared commitment to regional stability.

China

In a statement, the Chinese defense authority says its exported J-10CE fighter jet achieves first combat victory, downing multiple enemy aircraft without losses during combat.

China confirms J-10CE ‘first combat victory’ in Pakistan-India May conflict

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Monday strongly condemned a terrorist attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa&rsquo;s Tank district that resulted in the martyrdom of police personnel. He reaffirmed the government&rsquo;s resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country, according to an official statement.&nbsp;The attack targeted a police vehicle in the Tank area, killing five police officials, including an Additional Station House Officer (SHO). An investigation into the incident has been ordered and authorities have been directed to bring those responsible to justice at the earliest, according to Radio Pakistan.&nbsp;In his statement, the prime minister offered prayers for the elevation of the martyrs&rsquo; ranks and expressed condolences to the bereaved families.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2010691992112562181&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=8f9e95ef61cc881f44a56b9642bae75afec05f34&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 921px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;&ldquo;The Government of Pakistan remains committed to the complete elimination of terrorism from the country,&rdquo; the prime minister stated.&nbsp;President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed deep grief and sorrow over the martyrdom of police personnel in the attack, according to a separate statement on X.&nbsp;The president paid tribute to the fallen officers for their bravery and service to the nation. <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=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2010658334727458837&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=8f9e95ef61cc881f44a56b9642bae75afec05f34&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 416px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;&ldquo;May Allah Almighty grant the martyrs an exalted place in His eternal mercy and grant fortitude (Sabr-e-Jameel) to the bereaved families,&rdquo; President Zardari said.&nbsp;Meanwhile, Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hameed said the &ldquo;cowardly terrorist attacks in Tank and Lucky Marwat cannot, under any circumstances, shake the resolve of our police personnel,&rdquo; according to KP police&#39;s official Facebook page.&nbsp;&ldquo;The martyred officers and soldiers laid down their lives in the line of duty; the entire force takes immense pride in them,&rdquo; the IGP said, adding that the morale of the police force remains high.&nbsp;He stated that the sacrifices of the martyrs would never go in vain and assured that the families of the fallen officers would be provided &ldquo;every possible cooperation and full support.&rdquo; The IGP further confirmed that investigations had been accelerated and those involved would be brought to justice soon.&nbsp;Separately, District Police Officer Lucky Marwat Nazir Khan said the police remained firm against militant elements.<div class="fr-embed"><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fpakhtunkhwapolice%2Fposts%2Fpfbid0c7V4FofrVAvXESbwjqcJKcVo5Lwe6QY2crUc6zRKFoD6B2cu6f5SJumVf1FEToZtl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="250" style="border:none;overflow:hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share"></iframe></div>&nbsp;&ldquo;These cowardly acts by Fitna al-Khawarij cannot dampen our morale. The Lucky Marwat Police are responding forcefully to every challenge and are prepared to make every possible sacrifice for the protection of the public,&rdquo; he stated in a Facebook post by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police.&nbsp;Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also strongly condemned the blast near the police vehicle in Tank and paid tribute to the five martyred officers.&nbsp;&ldquo;The brave soldiers of the police have sacrificed their &lsquo;today&rsquo; for the peaceful &lsquo;tomorrow&rsquo; of the nation,&rdquo; the interior minister said on X, adding that the sacrifices of the martyrs would always be remembered.<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" 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=2010658332152152415&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=8f9e95ef61cc881f44a56b9642bae75afec05f34&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 368px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;&ldquo;The martyrs are our pride, and the nation can never forget their timeless sacrifices,&rdquo; Naqvi stated.

Security

Pakistan’s leadership condemned a terrorist attack in KP’s Tank district that killed five police personnel. The prime minister ordered an investigation as the president, interior minister and police vowed justice and reaffirmed resolve against terrorism.

President, PM condemn attack on police, vow eradication of terrorists

Pakistan TV Satellite

ISLAMABAD: Iran&rsquo;s Ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghaddam, has said the United States and Israel are orchestrating unrest inside Iran, warning that any foreign aggression would be met with a strong and decisive response. In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, the ambassador thanked the government, media and people of Pakistan for closely and sensitively following developments in Iran. He said Iran&rsquo;s security was being threatened through a &ldquo;designed plan&rdquo; involving the US, Israel and terrorist elements, while Iranian security forces and the public were working to maintain law and order. Moghaddam said recent protests were rooted in economic challenges caused by decades-long US sanctions, government reforms related to foreign exchange and subsidy mechanisms for essential goods.&nbsp; He stressed that peaceful protest is a constitutional right in Iran and that the government engaged directly with traders and demonstrators, including meetings held by the interior minister, commerce minister and the president. However, he said the protests were later exploited by hostile foreign actors. The Iranian envoy said that the US and Israel facilitated the infiltration of armed groups from Syria and Iraq under the cover of protests, adding these elements targeted both security personnel and civilians. He said Iran has lost around 100 police and security personnel, adding that terrorist violence, including attacks on women and children, is unacceptable anywhere in the world. Rejecting foreign-backed opposition narratives, the ambassador said public rallies in support of Iran&rsquo;s political system were underway, reflecting what he described as the people&rsquo;s rejection of external interference. On the possibility of military aggression, the ambassador warned that Iran has proven over the past four decades that it will deliver a befitting response to any attack by the US or Israel. He said diplomatic channels with Washington remain open through the Swiss-managed interest protection office, but stressed that Iran will never recognize or negotiate with Israel.

Beyond Borders

In an Exclusive Interview with Pakistan TV, Iranian Envoy Says Security Threats Are Part of a ‘Designed Plan’.

Iranian Ambassador says US, Israel Behind Unrest, Warns of Strong Response

Pakistan TV

ISLAMABAD: The Minister for Climate Change and Environmental Coordination, Dr. Musadik Malik said Islamabad was ready and willing to play a constructive role in defusing tensions between Iran and the United States, stressing that Pakistan does not seek instability in the region and will make every possible effort to help lower tensions. In an exclusive interview with Pakistan TV, Dr. Musadik Malik said Pakistan enjoyed strong relations with both Iran and the United States and believed dialogue and diplomacy remained the only viable path to preventing further escalation in the region. He said, &quot;The growing instability is being fueled by Israel&rsquo;s continued actions across Palestine, Syria and Lebanon.&quot; &quot;This is a vulgar display of atrocities,&quot; he said. He said Israel committed the genocide in Gaza. Malik questioned Israel&rsquo;s right to occupy land, seize water resources and carry out repeated military aggression across the region. He warned that such actions carry serious repercussions. The minister emphasized that Pakistan wants peace and stability across the Middle East and South Asia, adding that unchecked unilateral actions weaken the global rule-based order and threaten international peace. He said no country had the right to kill civilians, including women and children, under any pretext. Turning to South Asia, Malik strongly criticized India&rsquo;s approach to the Indus Waters Treaty, calling any attempt to control or delay Pakistan&rsquo;s water supply illegal and irrational. He said the Indus river system was the backbone of Pakistan&rsquo;s economy and livelihoods, supporting nearly half of the population and a significant share of the country&rsquo;s GDP. Malik warned that any effort by India to disrupt water flows, particularly during critical agricultural seasons, would be viewed as an act of war and met with a commensurate response. He said India was attempting to manipulate water flows through a cascade of hydropower projects in violation of the treaty. He also questioned India&rsquo;s reluctance to approach international arbitration mechanisms, saying that refusal to engage neutral forums suggests the wrongdoing. Addressing regional security concerns, Malik said Pakistan would continue to combat terrorism and urged Afghanistan to prevent militant groups from using its soil to attack Pakistan. He noted that Pakistan has hosted millions of Afghan refugees for decades and expects Kabul to act as a responsible neighbour. Malik concluded by warning that weakening multilateralism and international treaties could push the world toward greater instability, calling for renewed commitment to diplomacy, dialogue and international law.

Minister For Climate Change Talks Exclusively to Pakistan TV

Malik Says Pakistan Ready to Help Defuse Iran–US Tensions

SAN FRANCISCO: Tech giants Apple and Google announced Monday a multi-year partnership that will see Apple&#39;s next-generation artificial intelligence features, including its Siri assistant, be powered by Google&#39;s Gemini technology.&nbsp;The collaboration marks a significant shift for Apple, which has traditionally developed its core technologies in-house.&nbsp;A joint statement said Apple selected Google&#39;s AI technology after a &quot;careful evaluation&quot; determined it provided &quot;the most capable foundation&quot; for the iPhone-maker&#39;s AI ambitions.&nbsp;The announcement represents a rare alliance between two companies that have long competed in the smartphone market, where Apple&#39;s iOS and Google&#39;s Android operating systems dominate globally.&nbsp;However, the two rivals have maintained a lucrative partnership for years, with Google paying Apple billions of dollars annually to remain the default search engine on iPhones and other Apple devices.&nbsp;That arrangement has faced scrutiny from regulators, with the US Justice Department arguing in an antitrust case that the deal helps Google maintain its search monopoly, though a judge said the arrangement could continue.&nbsp;Financial details of the AI arrangement were not provided.&nbsp;Dan Ives of Wedbush Securities said the partnership was &quot;a major validation moment for Google&quot; and &quot;a stepping stone&quot; for Apple to get its AI strategy on track into 2026 and beyond.&nbsp;Apple reportedly also considered partnerships with OpenAI, Anthropic, and Perplexity.&nbsp;The company co-founded by Steve Jobs is largely perceived to have stumbled in efforts to roll out AI capabilities across its products and last month announced the head of its artificial intelligence team was stepping down.&nbsp;Apple last year delayed the release of an improved Siri digital assistant and is now promising it for later in the year.&nbsp;Google, Microsoft, OpenAI and other tech rivals have been releasing ever-improved AI models and features in a fierce race to lead the sector.&nbsp;Despite the collaboration, Apple emphasized that its in-house AI system, Apple Intelligence, will be used to power its iPhones and iPads at the device-only level, maintaining what it described as &quot;industry-leading privacy standards.&quot;

Artificial Intelligence

Apple and Google announced a multi-year partnership to power Apple’s next-generation AI, including Siri, with Google’s Gemini, marking a rare alliance as Apple seeks to catch up in AI while stressing privacy and competition pressures.

Apple chooses Google's Gemini AI to power Siri

SAN FRANCISCO: Meta on Monday appointed banker Dina Powell McCormick as president and vice chairman, tapping a former member of the Trump administration to help steer the technology giant&#39;s massive AI infrastructure expansion.&nbsp;Powell McCormick, who served on Meta&#39;s board, will join the company&#39;s management team as it scales what founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg described as &quot;the massive physical and financial model that will power the next decade of computing.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;Dina&#39;s experience at the highest levels of global finance, combined with her deep relationships around the world, makes her uniquely suited to help Meta manage this next phase of growth,&quot; Zuckerberg said.&nbsp;In a separate post, Zuckerberg said Powell McCormick &quot;will be involved in all of Meta&#39;s work, with a particular focus on partnering with governments and sovereigns to build, deploy, invest in, and finance Meta&#39;s AI and infrastructure.&quot;&nbsp;The appointment comes as Meta accelerates investments in artificial intelligence infrastructure, including data centers and energy supply.&nbsp;In her new role at Meta, Powell McCormick&#39;s banking experience will be key. She will help guide the company&#39;s overall AI infrastructure strategy and oversee its multi-billion-dollar investments.&nbsp;She will also focus on building partnerships to expand the company&#39;s investment capacity, the company said, as Meta seeks to keep up with its big tech rivals in spending massively on AI.&nbsp;An Egyptian-American, Powell McCormick spent 16 years as a partner at Goldman Sachs, serving on the firm&#39;s management committee and leading its global sovereign investment banking business.&nbsp;Sovereign wealth funds from the Middle East have become major investors in the AI infrastructure build-out and could play a role in Meta achieving its AI spending goals.&nbsp;Her last job was at BDT &amp; MSD Partners, a bank and advisory firm that has been involved in finding US investors for TikTok, according to news outlet Axios.&nbsp;Her hiring continues Zuckerberg&#39;s political pivot to the right, with Republican Powell McCormick one of the company&#39;s most visible arrivals since Sheryl Sandberg, the former chief operating officer and member of the Clinton administration who left in 2022.&nbsp;Zuckerberg has recently made a visible shift toward President Donald Trump and conservative positions, doing away with third-party fact-checking, reversing company diversity initiatives and embracing a more traditionally masculine image.&nbsp;Trump congratulated Powell McCormick on the appointment in a social media post, calling her &quot;a fantastic, and very talented, person, who served the Trump Administration with strength and distinction.&quot;&nbsp;Powell McCormick served as deputy national security advisor during Trump&#39;s first term, a role in which she helped shape US foreign policy.&nbsp;She is married to the Republican senator from Pennsylvania, Dave McCormick.

Meta names Dina Powell McCormick president and vice chairman, tasking the former Goldman Sachs banker and Trump administration official with guiding the company’s expanding AI infrastructure and global investment strategy.

Zuckerberg names banker, ex-Trump advisor as Meta president

ISLAMABAD: A high-level Indonesian defense delegation visited Pakistan on Monday to discuss expanding cooperation in defense production, the Ministry of Defense Production said in a statement. The delegates focused on establishing joint working groups and exploring collaboration between the two countries&#39; defense institutions. The delegation was led by Indonesian Defense Minister Sjafrie Sjamsoeddin, who met with Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Defense Production, Muhammad Raza Hayat Harraj, and senior officials from the ministry of defense production. Harraj said that Pakistan has immense potential in the field of defense production and agreed to establish Joint Working Groups for Defense Production cooperation between entities of both countries. Indonesia&rsquo;s minister for defense expressed keen interest in expediting the Joint Working Groups, as it will open doors to future collaboration and help explore and benefit from each other&rsquo;s capabilities. &ldquo;Pakistan is a very important country with rich culture, working democracy and vibrant economy. Both sides hoped the brotherly relationship is translated into long term relationship based on mutual trust &amp; respect,&rdquo; the statement added. During the meeting, Harraj extended an invitation to the Indonesian Authorities to actively participate in the Defense Exhibition IDEAS-2026 to explore defense collaboration. &ldquo;Federal Minister for Defense Production Raza Harraj stated that the bilateral relationship between the two countries is characterized by feelings of mutual trust, respect, and goodwill towards each other,&rdquo; the statement said. He further stated that recent significant interactions between the two countries have set the pace for a high-yielding relationship. Later on Monday, the Indonesian minister also met with the Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, as per a statement by Pakistan&#39;s military media wing.&nbsp; &quot;The meeting focused on matters of mutual interest, evolving regional and global security dynamics, and exploration of avenues for enhancing bilateral defence cooperation,&quot; the statement said. &quot;The visiting dignitary lauded professionalism of Pakistan Armed Forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in the fight against terrorism.&quot; The COAS &amp; CDF reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to fostering strong defense relationship with Indonesia based on shared values and mutual respect. Additionally, the Indonesian defense minister called on the Chief of Air Staff and Air Chief Marshal, Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, following the recent state visit of the Indonesian President. &ldquo;The meeting reaffirmed the historic and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Indonesia and focused on strengthening bilateral Air Force cooperation, particularly in capacity building, training, and technological collaboration,&rdquo; according to ISPR.&nbsp; During the meeting, the air chief briefed the delegation on PAF&rsquo;s modernization drive, including infrastructure development, revamped training, and induction of niche capabilities to enhance readiness for multi-domain operations. The Indonesian Defense Minister praised PAF&rsquo;s professionalism, combat readiness, and indigenization achievements under the National Aerospace Science &amp; Technology Park, and expressed strong interest in expanding cooperation in training, aviation, and aerospace domains.&nbsp; Islamabad and Jakarta underscored the strengthening trajectory of Pakistan&ndash;Indonesia defense relations and a mutual commitment to expand cooperation through continued engagement and dialogue.

A high-level Indonesian defense delegation visited Pakistan to discuss expanding defense production cooperation. Both sides agreed to form Joint Working Groups, explore collaboration, and strengthen bilateral ties based on mutual trust, respect, and goodwill.



Indonesia delegation visits Pakistan to boost defense production cooperation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Minister for Information and Broadcasting of Pakistan, Attaullah Tarar, called for a united front against misinformation, according to the Associated Press of Pakistan on Monday. According to the statement, Tarar cited a World Economic Forum report that ranks false information as a bigger short-term global threat than nuclear warfare or climate change. The information minister was speaking at a dialogue organized by the Institute of Business Administration, Karachi. The event focused on &quot;Facts Survive AI: Fighting Misinformation Together.&quot; &quot;The World Economic Forum Global Risks Report of 2024 says that the biggest short-term risk to the world at large is misinformation,&quot; Tarar said, according to APP. &quot;They do not say climate change. They do not say nuclear warfare.&quot; The information minister announced the establishment of Pakistan&#39;s first Digital Communication Department under the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The department counters misinformation through social media handles that verify information or label fake content, he said. The minister met with representatives of social media platforms that have started labeling AI-created content, the news agency reported. &quot;So, I think we need to have labels for AI-created content or AI-generated content,&quot; he said. Tarar praised IBA&#39;s iVerify system for its success in combating false information at the national and international levels. He called for establishing more such systems to promote responsible journalism and combat fake news effectively. &quot;The community at large, the government, media houses, academia, the civil society, everyone has a role to play in countering misinformation,&quot; Tarar said. The minister urged the Pakistan Broadcasters Association and All Pakistan Newspaper Society to join the effort. He assured them of full government support. Tarar cited Pakistan&#39;s information response during a May conflict with India as an example of effective narrative management. &quot;Pakistan won that war in a very, very effective manner,&quot; he said. The ministry, he said, is collaborating with the United Nations Development Program to address misinformation. A training workshop scheduled this week will equip Ministry of Information officers and media professionals with skills to counter false information. Tarar stated that there was a need to educate younger generations about the ethical use of AI. &quot;We need to educate all segments of society on how to use AI responsibly,&quot; he said. The minister highlighted vulnerable groups, including minorities, children, and women, as particularly at risk from misinformation campaigns. The information minister stated that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has granted the ministry full authority to combat misinformation. He expressed hope that younger generations can work together to defeat misinformation.

Tarar also urged tech platforms to cooperate on combating AI-generated fake news and disinformation campaigns.

Misinformation bigger threat than nuclear war, climate change: Pakistan information minister

ISLAMABAD: Afghan social media outlets on X on Sunday night posted fake news claiming that Pakistani airspace is being used by the US to enter Iranian airspace, according to an official statement by the fact-checking department of Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Information.&nbsp;<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-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2010696154892337439&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=966ed82eed211b3e8074c63bd20a898d65000333&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 922px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div> As per the statement, the outlets claimed that &ldquo;the United States has moved aerial refuelling (KC-135R) and surveillance aircraft to Pakistan.&rdquo; They further claimed that, &ldquo;Pakistan is being used as a base or launch corridor to support US stealth fighters (F-35/F-22) for a possible imminent military strike on Iran.&rdquo;&nbsp;One of the accounts, named &ldquo;Afghanistan Defense,&rdquo; that made these claims has changed its username four times recently, according to publicly available information on its X handle, as seen by Pakistan TV Digital. The account has been tweeting information without giving any source. <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=2010401563039453384&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=966ed82eed211b3e8074c63bd20a898d65000333&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 945px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;The other account mentioned in the statement by the ministry is named &ldquo;Khurasan Media Urdu.&rdquo; &nbsp;The account was created a few months earlier and has changed its username three times, most recently in December 2025, as per X&rsquo;s publicly available account details. <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" 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=2010404704380154030&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=966ed82eed211b3e8074c63bd20a898d65000333&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 945px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;This account has made the same claims as &ldquo;Afghanistan Defense,&rdquo; with language being the only difference, as it operates in Urdu rather than English.&nbsp;According to the ministry&rsquo;s X post, Pakistan &ldquo;publicly condemned US strikes on Iran&rdquo; while at the same time &ldquo;called them a violation of international law.&rdquo; The statement confirmed that &ldquo;US tanker activity increased, but not from &lsquo;Pakistan&rsquo;,&rdquo; rather from Europe.&nbsp;&ldquo;Reuters reported the US moved a large number of refueling aircraft to Europe as Middle East tensions rose,&rdquo; the statement clarified.&nbsp;The ministry further linked all claims related to the USA to verified sources such as Reuters and The Washington Post.&nbsp;The ministry urged users not to follow fake news accounts for information.&nbsp;&ldquo;For national security and defence matters, rely only on ISPR, MoIB, MoFA, and reputable defence outlets,&rdquo; the statement concluded.

Information ministry debunks false reports on use of Pakistani airspace by US forces

Articles by Shizza Jasmin