Syed Ahmed Raza

ISLAMABAD: A series of anti-Pakistan, pro-separatist and politically motivated X accounts, including ones posing as Afghan, Baloch or Western-based users, appear to be operating from India, according to the platform&rsquo;s automated location tracking and system warnings.&nbsp;Several accounts that frequently post hostile content about Pakistan, or amplify separatist narratives, are now displaying either an Indian location tag or an X-generated alert cautioning that the user may be masking their real location through a proxy or VPN.&nbsp;One striking example is the X account of Abdul Qahar Balkhi, spokesperson for the Afghan interim government&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.&nbsp;The account, created in August 2021, shows its base location as India, despite presenting itself as an official Afghan source.<figure class="fr-media"> </figure><figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/8782e09b-5048-4a48-b2f4-c8758ae402a3.png" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></figure>A number of Baloch separatist-linked accounts have also been flagged. The handle &ldquo;Free Balochistan,&rdquo; which regularly spreads anti-state propaganda, displays India as its operating location. Another account, @Baluchifghter, which had more than 33,000 followers and was active in pushing separatist content, has recently been suspended after being reported to authorities.<figure class="fr-media"><figure class="fr-media"> </figure></figure><figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/3011f20b-b92f-47fd-b453-58fbb9a6fd34-Screenshot 2025-11-24 131048.png" alt="Screenshot 2025-11-24 131048.png" class="fr-dib" style="width: 1000px;"></figure>X&rsquo;s own system is also issuing warnings for several accounts, stating:&nbsp;&ldquo;Country or region may not be accurate&hellip; this account may be connecting via a proxy &mdash; such as a VPN.&rdquo; The platform adds that proxies can mask real locations and that location data &ldquo;may not be accurate.&rdquo;&nbsp;One such flagged profile is @Sajeda_Akhtar, which frequently posts political content linked to Baloch issues. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/d1bb011e-45f7-4c26-b382-5b9e24095bea-Screenshot 2025-11-24 134851.png" alt="Screenshot 2025-11-24 134851.png" class="fr-dib" style="width: 1000px; height: 1000px;"></figure>Another is @Amir_Baloch18, whose bio lists &ldquo;Balochistan&rdquo; as the location, yet X marks the account as being based in Central Asia, with an additional VPN warning. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/21fc8ddd-5ce5-4044-b0f3-7a8e6b7902ce.png" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></figure><figure class="fr-media"> </figure>In a surprising development, the profile of former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria, with over 165,000 followers, is also showing up as being operated from India, according to the platform&rsquo;s location exposure.<figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/5d11c425-b3e2-44ee-8c2a-a4653125b728.png" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></figure><figure class="fr-media"> </figure>Alongside Afghan and Baloch-linked accounts, numerous pro-Israel and MAGA-aligned profiles that routinely target Pakistan have also been flagged by X as being based in India or connecting through VPN networks that obscure their origins. <figure class="fr-media"><img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/uploads/4689fe4c-3aef-4a4b-8943-3792ad2036e1-Screenshot 2025-11-24 140355.png" alt="Screenshot 2025-11-24 140355.png" class="fr-dib" style="width: 1000px; height: 1000px;"></figure><figure class="fr-media"> </figure>The pattern suggests a coordinated effort to shape online narratives through accounts that misrepresent their identity, geography or political affiliation.&nbsp; Australian journalist CJ Werleman notes that &ldquo;roughly 90% of online disinformation originates in India, where government cyber units generate bogus content to advance India&rsquo;s strategic objectives.&rdquo;&nbsp; He quoted India-based fact-checking organization BOOM&#39;s report on how Hindu nationalist&ndash;aligned platforms are major sources of pro-Israel, anti-Ukraine and anti-Pakistan propaganda.<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=e30%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1992734207983133096&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=1bcbd8a49c25c9b4cbff715a15837e40435e5095&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 673px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Werleman quoted another study showing India responsible for 76% of all anti-Islam hate online, as well as the lion&rsquo;s share of global scam texts and calls targeting elderly and vulnerable people.

India

Several accounts that frequently post hostile content about Pakistan, or amplify separatist narratives, are now displaying either an Indian location tag or an X-generated alert cautioning that the user may be masking their real location through a proxy or VPN.

X location data exposes network of anti-Pakistan accounts operating from India

ISLAMABAD: In a strategic move to bolster its self-reliance in space and defense technologies, India on Sunday launched a communications satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in&nbsp;Sriharikota. The CMS-03 communications satellite, also known as GSAT-7R, was launched aboard India&#39;s indigenous Launch Vehicle Mark-3 rocket.&nbsp;According to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the satellite will operate in geostationary orbit, providing secure, multi-band communications for the Indian Navy. Indian media described it as a military communications satellite designed to strengthen the Navy&rsquo;s command, control, and surveillance network across the Indian Ocean.&nbsp;The CMS-03 replaces the ageing GSAT-7 and marks a major upgrade in India&rsquo;s military communications capability. ISRO said the launch also tested, for the first time in orbit, an indigenously developed cryogenic upper-stage engine, improving payload precision and fuel efficiency.&nbsp;Expansion of India&rsquo;s orbital ambitionsThe launch continues a series of recent Indian space milestones. In January, ISRO&rsquo;s GSLV-F15 successfully placed the NVS-02 navigation satellite into orbit, while in July, the joint NASA-ISRO radar mission, NISAR, was launched &mdash; a $1.5 billion project aimed at global environmental monitoring.&nbsp;In September, ISRO transferred its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to enable commercial production by 2027. The agency has also declared 2025 as &ldquo;Gaganyaan Year,&rdquo; with an uncrewed human spaceflight test featuring the humanoid robot Vyommitra scheduled for December.&nbsp;Together, these steps reflect India&rsquo;s push toward self-reliance in strategic space technology and defense applications. Strategic recalibration post-May 2025 air engagementsIndia&rsquo;s latest satellite focus highlights its efforts to restore strategic confidence following its setback in the May 2025 air engagements with Pakistan. During those encounters, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had demonstrated superior coordination and situational awareness against advanced Indian aircraft, downing at least six Indian aircraft, including the top-of-the-shelf Rafale. PAF Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, in a post-engagement briefing earlier this year, credited Pakistan&rsquo;s performance to its multi-domain operational capability and to the integration of real-time intelligence, cyber defense, and space-based data into air operations. That experience underscored a key shift in modern warfare: information dominance &mdash; not firepower alone &mdash; now determines superiority. India&rsquo;s new satellite is therefore widely seen as an attempt to close that gap and strengthen its command-and-control resilience through space-enabled systems. Pakistan&rsquo;s growing space cooperationPakistan has also accelerated its own space program through its space agency, the Space &amp; Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), in partnership with China. In January this year, SUPARCO launched the Electro-Optical Satellite (EO-1) to support agriculture, resource mapping, and disaster management. In October, it launched its first hyperspectral imaging satellite (HS-1) aboard a Chinese rocket, enhancing capabilities in environmental monitoring and precision agriculture. Pakistan has also joined China&rsquo;s astronaut training program, with two candidates preparing for a future mission aboard the Tiangong space station in 2026. Additionally, the PAKSAT-MM1 communications satellite completed its first operational year, expanding national connectivity, e-learning, and telemedicine networks. Budgetary gap and road to autonomyOfficial documents reveal a stark contrast in space program funding between the two countries. Pakistan&rsquo;s SUPARCO operates on an annual budget of roughly $120 million, while India&rsquo;s ISRO receives around $1.6 billion &mdash; a nearly 14-fold difference that highlights the scale of Pakistan&rsquo;s resource constraints. This financial disparity largely explains Pakistan&rsquo;s reliance on external partnerships, particularly with China, to advance its space capabilities. While such collaborations provide access to cutting-edge technology and help bridge immediate gaps, they also highlight the challenges Pakistan faces in achieving long-term self-reliance and fostering indigenous innovation in its space sector. Under the National Space Policy 2024 and Space Vision 2047, Pakistan aims to build self-reliant capacity by developing domestic satellites, indigenous launch vehicles, and a sovereign data network. Experts say achieving that goal will require greater investment, local manufacturing, and a skilled technical workforce. Space: the new strategic frontierThe growing focus on orbital infrastructure reflects the changing nature of South Asia&rsquo;s defense landscape. As India expands its military communications network through space, Pakistan is deepening cooperative development to ensure access and capability. Both countries now view the space domain not merely as a scientific frontier but as a core element of national security, a shift that places information dominance and satellite communications at the center of regional deterrence and defense planning.

Security

India’s launch of the CMS-03 satellite underscores its push for space-based military dominance, while Pakistan accelerates its own space program through China partnerships, aiming for long-term self-reliance and strategic capability

India shifts focus to space after losing air war to Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: The World Bank estimates an untapped potential of nearly US$60 billion for Pakistan&#39;s exports, according to its latest Pakistan Development Update report released this week. The report stated that some structural constraints obstructed Pakistan&rsquo;s export competitiveness and productivity. &quot;While the country has made progress in recent years, more reforms are needed to support export-led growth and improve resilience,&quot; it said.&nbsp;The World Bank said some tariffs, regulations, and limited access to trade finance and logistics continue to hamper export performance.&nbsp;The report acknowledged recent government initiatives, including the five-year National Tariff Policy (2026-2030), which aims to reduce the average tariff rate from 20.2 percent to 9.7 percent by 2030. However, it said tariff reforms alone would need to be complemented by steps such as a market-determined exchange rate, stronger trade finance systems, and improved digital and energy infrastructure to boost exports.&nbsp;&ldquo;The government has placed export growth at the center of its development agenda and has made important strides in tackling policy and structural barriers,&rdquo; said Anna Twum, co-author of the report. &ldquo;However, tariff reforms alone will not suffice and must be complemented by broader measures to ensure a market-determined exchange rate, strengthen trade finance, enhance trade facilitation, and expand access to export markets,&rdquo; she added. The report also underscored Pakistan&rsquo;s growing potential in digital services, noting that while digitally delivered exports now account for about 10 percent of total exports, Pakistan&rsquo;s global share remains low at just 0.1 percent. It suggested investing in broadband expansion, fiber-optic connectivity, and modern digital regulations to enhance export capacity in the IT and technology sectors.&nbsp;With the World Bank revising Pakistan&rsquo;s growth projection to 2.6 percent, the report said that unlocking export potential will be key to achieving sustainable, debt-free growth and ensuring long-term economic stability.

Economy

The bank highlights that high tariffs, regulatory barriers, and limited access to trade finance and logistics continue to weigh on export performance.

Pakistan has $60bn export potential, says World Bank

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan government has shifted its strategy in Balochistan from a security-centric approach to one focused on development and inclusion, launching a series of major infrastructure, education, and employment projects aimed at addressing the root causes of unrest in the province. In a statement following a meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC), the government announced approval of several new schemes, including road networks, energy projects, hospital upgrades, and university expansions. Officials said the initiatives are intended to bridge the long-standing economic and infrastructure gap between Balochistan and other regions of the country. The policy shift reflects a growing recognition among policymakers that lasting peace in Balochistan cannot be achieved through force alone. Speaking to Pakistan TV Digital, Balochistan&rsquo;s Planning Minister Zahoor Buledi said the development initiatives would &ldquo;effectively counter the Indian-sponsored terrorists&rsquo; narrative of deprivation&rdquo; and reinforce the government&rsquo;s efforts to restore peace and stability in the province. &ldquo;These projects will help dismantle the false sense of marginalization that external elements have used to mislead our youth,&rdquo; Buledi said, adding that the government&rsquo;s focus on inclusive growth would serve as the most effective response to extremism and separatism. The government has also introduced over 60,000 paid internships nationwide, with 10,000 special placements reserved for Balochistan&rsquo;s youth under the Baikhtiar Naujawan Internship Program. Additionally, it expanded the Uraan Pakistan Scholarship Program to create more higher-education opportunities for Baloch students, particularly women. Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal said the initiatives form part of a broader effort to promote inclusive growth across Balochistan. &ldquo;Our goal is to ensure that every young person in Balochistan has access to education, training, and opportunity,&rdquo; Iqbal said. &ldquo;Peace is not imposed &mdash; it is built through justice, participation, and development.&rdquo; The shift in tone has also been echoed by the security establishment. Earlier this month, Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir described the people of Balochistan as &ldquo;patriotic and resilient contributors to Pakistan&rsquo;s future,&rdquo; emphasizing that development and inclusion are &ldquo;essential pillars of national unity.&rdquo; Analysts say the renewed focus on socioeconomic uplift marks a critical turning point after years of conflict. If sustained, it could lay the groundwork for a new chapter in Balochistan&rsquo;s integration and stability.

Pakistan’s government has approved a new set of development projects in Balochistan, including roads, energy schemes, and youth programs, as part of a strategic shift to address insurgency through empowerment rather than force, with ministers calling development the “strongest weapon against extremism.”

Pakistan turns to development to secure lasting peace in Balochistan

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan football team captain Abdullah Iqbal has made history after helping Swedish club Mj&auml;llby AIF win their first-ever Allsvenskan title, completing one of European football&rsquo;s most remarkable underdog stories.&nbsp;The small club from H&auml;llevik, a fishing town of just 1,485 residents, clinched the Swedish championship with a 2-0 win over IFK G&ouml;teborg, finishing 11 points clear of second-placed Hammarby. The triumph also secured Mj&auml;llby a spot in the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League qualifying rounds, marking their debut on the European stage.<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" 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=1980337166673932288&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F1595%2F&sessionId=2da540749153ee2e00a3972b36aebaab94b84613&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 578px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>The 22-year-old center-back, who grew up in Denmark and has roots in Kharian, Punjab, has been an integral part of Mj&auml;llby&rsquo;s defense this season. Iqbal featured in 22 league matches, playing the second-most minutes among defenders and contributing two assists. Swedish media and fans have hailed Iqbal on social media as one of Mj&auml;llby&rsquo;s standout performers of the season. His consistency and leadership have earned praise for elevating the team&rsquo;s defensive discipline and helping turn a small-town club into national champions. <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" 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=1980399567695921177&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=e81047ebe1425aa34b39905fd30ae8d5e4228e0b&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 748px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>European interest in Iqbal is also growing. According to FootballDirekt, one of Sweden&rsquo;s biggest football sites, several clubs from Italy and England are preparing offers for the young defender following his impressive debut season in Sweden.<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=1980250178171928944&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=e81047ebe1425aa34b39905fd30ae8d5e4228e0b&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 713px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Mj&auml;llby&rsquo;s rise from the third division in 2016 to national champions in 2025 has been described as the most unlikely title win in Sweden since Leicester City&rsquo;s Premier League triumph in 2016. Built on smart recruitment and tight defense, the club operated on a budget nearly one-sixth that of serial champions Malm&ouml; FF.

Football

The small club from Hällevik, a fishing town of just 1,485 residents, clinch the Swedish championship with a 2-0 win over IFK Göteborg, finishing 11 points clear of second-placed Hammarby.

Pakistani football star helps underdog Mjällby win historic Swedish league title

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed on Saturday that Zimbabwe will replace Afghanistan in the upcoming T20 International tri-series to be held next month. PCB spokesperson Amir Mir told Pakistan TV Digital that the series, featuring Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Zimbabwe, will be played from November 17 to 29 across Rawalpindi and Lahore. This will mark the first-ever T20 tri-series hosted on Pakistani soil. &ldquo;The event aims to help all participating teams prepare for the ICC Men&rsquo;s T20 World Cup scheduled in India and Sri Lanka next year,&rdquo; Mir said. The tri-series will open with Pakistan facing Zimbabwe at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium on November 17, followed by Sri Lanka taking on Zimbabwe on November 19. The remaining matches &mdash; including the final on November 29 &mdash; will be played at Lahore&rsquo;s Gaddafi Stadium. Afghanistan had earlier informed the PCB of its inability to participate, but the board confirmed the series would proceed as planned with Zimbabwe stepping in.&nbsp;Tri-Series Schedule:Nov 17: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe &ndash; RawalpindiNov 19: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe &ndash; RawalpindiNov 22: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka &ndash; LahoreNov 23: Pakistan vs Zimbabwe &ndash; LahoreNov 25: Sri Lanka vs Zimbabwe &ndash; LahoreNov 27: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka &ndash; LahoreNov 29: Final &ndash; Lahore

Cricket

Zimbabwe will replace Afghanistan in a T20 tri-series with Pakistan and Sri Lanka from November 17–29 in Rawalpindi and Lahore, marking Pakistan’s first home T20 tri-series ahead of next year’s ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Zimbabwe join Pakistan, Sri Lanka in T20 tri-series next month

ISLAMABAD: At an age when most cricketers start contemplating retirement, Pakistan&rsquo;s Noman Ali continues to redefine persistence and performance. Affectionately known as &lsquo;Chachu&rsquo; in the dressing room, Noman has quietly evolved into Pakistan&rsquo;s most dependable force in Test cricket. His relentless accuracy, unwavering fitness, and mastery of spin have not only earned him admiration but also reshaped Pakistan&rsquo;s Test fortunes in recent years. Yet, it remains baffling that a player with such influence still languishes in Category C of the Pakistan Cricket Board&rsquo;s central contracts. Why is Pakistan&rsquo;s most consistent match-winner not valued accordingly? Let&rsquo;s dig in.&nbsp;Breaking records, defying ageIn Pakistan&rsquo;s historic 93-run victory over defending World Test Champions South Africa in Lahore this week, Noman once again rose to the occasion. His 10-wicket haul (10/191) was his third in just 20 Tests, an extraordinary feat achieved by only 11 other players in cricket history within a few matches.<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=1978352490656526759&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F1422%2F&sessionId=d92f6f8f14ec3f8a18ae56bfb1be02fbb9a7f668&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-twitter-extracted-i1760601469914208806="true">Noman Ali grabs his career&#39;s 3rd 1️⃣0️⃣-wicket haul vs South Africa in the first Test at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore🔥<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PAKvSA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PAKvSA</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GreenPeYaqeen?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GreenPeYaqeen</a> <a href="https://t.co/aNS5J4Lq9m">pic.twitter.com/aNS5J4Lq9m</a>&mdash; Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) <a href="https://twitter.com/TheRealPCB/status/1978352490656526759?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 15, 2025</a></blockquote></div>He now joins an elite club alongside Fazal Mahmood, Sydney Barnes, and Australia&rsquo;s C.V. Grimmett &mdash; bowlers who defined their eras. Even legends like Muttiah Muralidaran, Shane Warne, and Ravichandran Ashwin didn&rsquo;t reach this milestone so early in their careers. Noman&rsquo;s match-turning spells against England, West Indies, and now South Africa highlight his reliability. Eleven and nine wickets against England, six and ten versus West Indies, and another ten against South Africa, these numbers speak of a spinner at the peak of his craft.&nbsp;Dominance backed by numbersSince making a late Test debut in 2021 at 35, Noman has become Pakistan&rsquo;s most trusted match-winner in the longer format, a bowler capable of altering the course of a game on his own. Over 20 Tests, he has taken 93 wickets at an impressive average of 24.15, including nine five-fors and three ten-wicket match hauls. No Pakistani bowler has claimed more wickets during this period. He leads the pack ahead of Shaheen Shah Afridi (81), Sajid Khan (64), Hasan Ali (49), and Abrar Ahmed (46). In the past year alone, Noman&rsquo;s form has been sensational, 52 wickets at a remarkable average of 15.21 since July 2023, the best by any bowler in the world over that span.&nbsp;A tireless workhorseBeyond the stats, it&rsquo;s Noman&rsquo;s work ethic that truly defines him. In the recent Lahore Test, Pakistan bowled 144.5 overs, and Noman shouldered 63 of them, a testament to his stamina and commitment. His ability to maintain accuracy, extract turn, and sustain pressure makes him indispensable in the red-ball format. At 39, his endurance and discipline remain unmatched, setting a benchmark for the next generation of Pakistani spinners.&nbsp;Recognition overdueDespite his remarkable consistency, it&rsquo;s disappointing that Noman remains in Category C of the PCB&rsquo;s central contracts, a slot that hardly does justice to his impact. For a player who has carried Pakistan&rsquo;s spin attack for nearly four years, higher recognition is long overdue.&nbsp;A case for T20 inclusionWith the T20 World Cup 2026 set to be played in spin-friendly conditions across India and Sri Lanka, Pakistan&rsquo;s lack of experienced spinners could once again be exposed. Given Noman&rsquo;s control, temperament, and ability to deceive with flight and drift, he could be a surprise yet valuable addition to Pakistan&rsquo;s T20 setup. In a format dominated by mystery and wrist-spinners, his classical left-arm orthodox style could bring control and stability, especially on turning tracks.&nbsp;An underrated legend in the makingFrom being a late bloomer to becoming Pakistan&rsquo;s most consistent Test bowler, Noman Ali&rsquo;s journey embodies resilience, patience, and quiet excellence. He may not command the spotlight like Shaheen or Naseem, but his numbers tell a story of dominance and reliability few can match. At 39, Noman continues to prove that age is just a number, not a limitation, in the story of a spinner who refuses to stop rewriting Pakistan&rsquo;s Test history.

At 39, Noman Ali defies age and odds to become Pakistan’s most reliable Test match-winner yet remains undervalued.

Noman Ali: Pakistan’s unsung hero rewriting Test cricket history

ISLAMABAD: Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have escalated following a recent surge in cross-border terrorist attacks from Afghanistan.&nbsp;Islamabad accuses the Taliban-led government in Kabul of sheltering banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) terrorists and allowing them to operate freely in Afghanistan &mdash; a charge Afghan authorities deny.&nbsp;During a recent official visit to India, Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi reiterated Kabul&#39;s denial of TTP presence in the country. His statement came just days after TTP terrorists ambushed a Pakistani military convoy in the northwestern Orakzai District, killing 11 soldiers, including a lieutenant colonel and a major.&nbsp;Soon after, the TTP launched coordinated cross-border assaults on Pakistani military posts, exposing what security analysts describe as a growing nexus between the Afghan Taliban and the TTP.&nbsp;In response, Pakistani forces carried out precision strikes targeting TTP and Daesh hideouts inside Afghanistan, reportedly eliminating more than 200 terrorists.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s consistent goodwill toward KabulPakistan has long supported the Taliban-led government in Kabul. Islamabad was one of the few countries to keep its embassy open after the Taliban&rsquo;s takeover in August 2021 and has consistently advocated for unfreezing Afghanistan&rsquo;s $9 billion in foreign assets.&nbsp;Through regional forums such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), Pakistan repeatedly urged the international community to extend humanitarian and economic support to Afghanistan.&nbsp;Islamabad&rsquo;s approach has long been guided by the belief that a stable and friendly government in Kabul is essential for regional peace and the security of Pakistan&rsquo;s western borders.&nbsp;In this spirit, Pakistan even extended an invitation to Afghanistan to join the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), envisioning trilateral cooperation with China to bring investment, energy connectivity, and infrastructure development to the war-torn country.&nbsp;Goodwill met with denial and hostilityHowever, officials and observers say this goodwill has largely been met with mistrust and denial from the Afghan side.&nbsp;&ldquo;All Pakistan expected in return was for the Afghan Taliban to take concrete action against TTP terrorists using Afghan territory to attack Pakistan,&rdquo; said retired Air Commodore Khalid Chishti. &ldquo;But instead of cooperation, we are witnessing denial, deflection, and, increasingly, alignment with India.&rdquo;&nbsp;Chishti said the Afghan Taliban&rsquo;s outright denial of TTP&#39;s presence &ldquo;amounts to making fun of themselves.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;The whole world knows the TTP is operating from Afghanistan,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Either the Taliban are part of it or they are helpless. When they claim control over all of Afghanistan yet deny cross-border attacks, it shows either a lack of capacity or will.&rdquo;&nbsp;He added that Afghan Foreign Minister Muttaqi &ldquo;spent much of his youth in Pakistan and served as the Taliban&rsquo;s information minister during their first regime from 1996 to 2001,&rdquo; describing him as &ldquo;someone for whom Pakistan was like a second home.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;This is the same individual once listed as a terrorist&mdash;whom India accused of hijacking its plane&mdash;but now welcomed in New Delhi simply because he shares an anti-Pakistan stance,&rdquo; Chishti noted.&nbsp;India&rsquo;s expanding footprint in AfghanistanThe retired air commodore said India has long used Afghanistan as a strategic pressure point against Pakistan, pouring billions into infrastructure, education, and development projects to gain political leverage.&nbsp;&ldquo;India cannot compete with Pakistan on the eastern border,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;So, it funds proxies across the western border&mdash;buying loyalty, outsourcing terrorism, and using the TTP as a rented force.&rdquo;&nbsp;Chishti also cited a 2016 statement attributed to India&rsquo;s current National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, in which he reportedly said India would use the Taliban &ldquo;the way we want,&rdquo; adding, &ldquo;They are mercenaries. India is a much bigger economy. We will inject more funds, and they will be on our side.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said the statement reflects India&rsquo;s long-standing intent to exploit instability in Afghanistan to its advantage.&nbsp;During the US presence in Afghanistan, Chishti noted, &ldquo;around 2,700 contractors were told to pay protection money to the Taliban&mdash;nearly $47 million per week&mdash;which shows how the group learned to monetize conflict and power.&rdquo;&nbsp;Terrorism data paints grim pictureAccording to data from the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies (PIPS), terrorist attacks in Pakistan surged from 89 in 2021 to 262 in 2022, 306 in 2023, and 521 in 2024. In the first 10 months of 2025 alone, 585 attacks have been recorded&mdash;the highest escalation in recent years.&nbsp;The situation worsened during Pakistan&rsquo;s brief conflict with India in May 2025, when a 40-member TTP group&mdash;including the son of a Taliban official&mdash;reportedly attempted to open a western front against Pakistan. Analysts say this highlights a dangerous convergence between anti-Pakistan groups operating from Afghan territory and external actors seeking to destabilize the region.&nbsp;The latest escalation came after the October 8 attacks in Orakzai and Dera Ismail Khan, which killed 18 security personnel. Pakistan&rsquo;s retaliatory strikes were followed by a terrorist assault on the DI Khan Police Training School by a group linked to the Taliban, killing seven policemen and injuring several others.&nbsp;According to the Islamabad-based Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS), Pakistan witnessed a 46% rise in violence in the third quarter of 2025, with at least 901 fatalities and 599 injuries in 329 incidents of terrorism and counterterror operations.&nbsp;A looming questionChishti said the growing threat underscores the need for a &ldquo;clearer regional strategy.&rdquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;We must protect our borders and people,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;But continued tolerance for terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan endangers not just Pakistan&rsquo;s security&mdash;it threatens regional peace and stability as a whole.&rdquo;&nbsp;As Pakistan re-evaluates its policy toward Kabul, one question looms large: Are the Afghan Taliban truly living up to India&rsquo;s expectations&mdash;or merely playing into a dangerous regional game that could consume them next?

Pakistan’s goodwill toward the Afghan Taliban government is straining as TTP attacks surge, fueling suspicions of Indian influence.

TTP resurgence strains Pakistan-Afghanistan ties, fuels suspicions of Indian hand

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will begin its 2025-27 World Test Championship (WTC) journey on Sunday when they take on defending champions South Africa in the first of two Test matches at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore. This will also be the first occasion since the inception of the ICC World Test Championship in 2019 that Pakistan will be playing their opening series of a WTC cycle at home. In the 2019-21 WTC, they began the cycle with a tour to Australia, while in 2021-23, with a championship tour of the West Indies. In the previous 2023-25 cycle, Pakistan started their campaign with a tour of Sri Lanka. Golden opportunityIn earlier WTC cycles, Pakistan finished fifth, seventh, and ninth, failing to win more than five matches in a single campaign. The team never came close to qualifying for the final. However, the upcoming cycle offers a favorable mix of opponents and venues, presenting a realistic chance for Pakistan to turn the tide.&nbsp;One of Pakistan&rsquo;s biggest advantages is the fixture list. Under the WTC format, each team plays six series, three at home and three away, while missing two opponents. For Pakistan, those two are India and Australia, two of the strongest sides in WTC history.&nbsp;Australia, the 2023 champions and 2025 runners-up, hold the best win/loss ratio at 2.750, followed by India at 1.631. Avoiding both significantly boosts Pakistan&rsquo;s chances of staying competitive on the points table.&nbsp;Home advantageAt home, Pakistan will host South Africa, Sri Lanka, and New Zealand &mdash; six Tests in total. The series against South Africa marks a tough opening challenge, but also a golden opportunity to build early momentum. Pakistan&rsquo;s record against both South Africa and New Zealand is stronger on home soil, and victories here could set the tone for the entire cycle.&nbsp;Away fixturesTheir away fixtures, against England, Bangladesh, and West Indies, pose varying levels of difficulty.&nbsp;The three-Test series in England is expected to be the toughest, but Pakistan have historically performed well there, with five Test wins since 2010, their best record among SENA countries.&nbsp;Bangladesh remains a favorable venue, with Pakistan having won eight of the nine Tests, while the West Indies could offer a balanced contest.&nbsp;Masood for maximizing home advantagePakistan captain Shan Masood, speaking to the PCB Digital, ahead of the South Africa series, emphasized a strong start to the new WTC cycle.&nbsp;&ldquo;The main goal is always to win the championship, but for us, it&rsquo;s about starting well &mdash; and facing the defending champions at home is a great opportunity,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;Masood noted that the WTC serves as a true test of progress. &ldquo;It allows us to measure ourselves against the best. If we perform well, we&rsquo;ll know we&rsquo;re right up there.&rdquo;&nbsp;Highlighting the value of home advantage, he added, &ldquo;Teams that reach the final have always dominated at home. For us, it&rsquo;s about finding that blueprint and beginning strongly.&rdquo;&nbsp;Final wordWith a relatively shorter schedule of 13 Tests, the second lowest after Sri Lanka, Pakistan&rsquo;s unpredictability could turn into an asset. Fewer games mean less room for prolonged slumps, provided the team maintains consistency.

This is the first occasion since the inception of the ICC World Test Championship in 2019 that Pakistan will be playing their opening series of a WTC cycle at home.

Pakistan eye final as WTC 2025-27 campaign begins against South Africa

COLOMBO: Pakistan will face traditional rivals India in their ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup 2025 fixture at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, in what promises to be one of the tournament&rsquo;s most anticipated encounters. The match will start at 2:30 PM.&nbsp;Pakistan are seeking a strong comeback after their opening match defeat to Bangladesh, while India began their campaign with a win over Sri Lanka.&nbsp;For Pakistan, the contest provides an opportunity to register a historic first victory over India in the 50-over format and boost their hopes of progressing further in the tournament.&nbsp;The match comes amid heightened political tensions between the two countries. Officials indicated that, as seen during the men&rsquo;s Asia Cup last month, players may not exchange customary handshakes before or after the game.&nbsp;Both sides are under pressure, with India aiming to move closer to a semifinal spot and Pakistan determined to turn the tide against their arch-rivals in Colombo.&nbsp;Likely XIs&nbsp;Pakistan: Muneeba Ali, Omaima Sohail, Sidra Amin, Rameen Shamim, Aliya Riaz, Sidra Nawaz, Fatima Sana (C), Natalia Pervaiz, Diana Baig, Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal.&nbsp;India: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh, Amanjot Kaur, Sneh Rana, Kranti Goud and Shree Charani.

Pakistan eye breakthrough against India in Women’s World Cup clash

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Monday announced a 25% tariff on any country trading with Iran, ramping up pressure on Tehran over its violent crackdown on a wave of protests. &quot;Effective immediately, any Country doing business with the Islamic Republic of Iran will pay a Tariff of 25% on any and all business being done with the United States of America. This Order is final and conclusive,&quot; Trump said on Truth Social. Iran&#39;s main trading partners are China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq, according to the economic database Trading Economics. The tariffs announcement comes as Trump mulls possible military action against Iran over the protests. Rights groups have reported a growing death toll. &quot;Air strikes would be one of the many, many options that are on the table,&quot; White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said earlier Monday. But she said Iran also had a diplomatic channel open to Trump&#39;s special envoy Steve Witkoff, adding that Iran was taking a &quot;far different tone&quot; in private than it was in its public statements.

Americas

Iran's main trading partners are China, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq; tariffs announcement comes as Trump mulls possible military action against Iran over the protests.

Trump announces tariffs on countries doing business with Iran

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.

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.

Business

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.

Foreign Affairs

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.

Articles by Syed Ahmed Raza