Category: National

Four people were killed and more than a dozen others injured in a car bomb explosion at a commercial market adjacent to the Frontier Corps (FC) fort in the Gulistan area of Qila Abdullah late Sunday evening.

The News quoted Deputy Commissioner (DC) Qila Abdullah, Muhammad Riaz Khan Dawar, as saying: “Four people have been killed and over 20 injured in the blast,” adding that an Improvised Explosive Device (IED)-fitted car was used for the explosion. The vehicle was reportedly detonated via remote control.

“Apparently, the attackers wanted to target the back wall of the FC fort located adjacent to the commercial market,” Dawar added, noting that following the massive blast, a heavy exchange of fire occurred between FC security personnel and the attackers. However, no additional loss of life was reported.

The bodies were transported to a nearby hospital, where they had yet to be identified. Levies forces are currently investigating the incident. Additional security personnel were deployed after the blast, and security was heightened across Qila Abdullah and Chaman.

According to government officials, a few of the injured were being shifted to Quetta owing to the lack of adequate medical facilities in the area.

At the time of the explosion, tribal leader Haji Faizullah Khan Ghabizai was present at his office. He, along with his security guard and a passer-by, was among those injured.

Heavy contingents of law enforcement agencies cordoned off the entire area and launched a search and clearance operation.

Meanwhile, the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has claimed responsibility for the attack on the FC fort.

Pakistan has witnessed a rise in terror incidents since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in August 2021, particularly in the bordering provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Balochistan.

However, the first quarter of 2025 has shown a change in trends in Pakistan’s security landscape, with fatalities among militants and insurgents outnumbering the combined losses of civilians and security forces.

Key findings issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) revealed significantly fewer fatalities among civilians and security personnel compared to the fourth quarter (Q4) of 2024, along with an overall 13 per cent reduction in violence, The News reported.

Days after the success of Pakistan’s Operation Bunyan Um Mursoos against India, authorities across the border have arrested six of their own citizens, including a travel vlogger from Haryana, for “spying for Pakistan”

.

Indian media reports quoted officials as saying that the six people, including vlogger Jyoti Malhotra, were allegedly in contact with officials at the Pakistani High Commission in New Delhi.

Jyoti, who runs the YouTube channel Travel with Jo, visited Pakistan in 2023 with a valid visa. During her trip, she reportedly met a Pakistan High Commission staffer, who was declared persona non grata and expelled from India earlier this month.

According to Indian officials, the vlogger allegedly maintained contact with the high commission staffer besides other Pakistani individuals through WhatsApp, Telegram and Snapchat. Without any publicly shared evidence, the officials have also claimed that Jyoti passed on sensitive information and projected a positive image of Pakistan on her social media platforms.

It merits a mention that praising Pakistan or showing goodwill towards the country has often led to strong reactions in India. 

Indian media claimed that Jyoti entered into a personal relationship with one of the Pakistani nationals and even travelled with him to Bali. She is now facing charges under India’s newly introduced Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the century-old Official Secrets Act of 1923. Her case has been handed over to the Economic Offences Wing in Hisar.

Indian authorities have also arrested 32-year-old widow named Guzala from Malerkotla, Punjab, accusing her of applying for a Pakistani visa and allegedly receiving money from the same high commission staffer. Her friend Banu Nasreena was also arrested, along with three other Indian men, namely Yameen Mohammad over accusations of financial dealings, Devinder Singh Dhillon for alleged filming of military areas, and one Arman for allegedly providing SIM cards and attending a Defence Expo.

Indian media, quoting officials, said the arrests were part of what they described as a “larger espionage network”, however, no concrete evidence or formal proof has been publicly shared so far and further probe is underway. Meanwhile, the repeated pattern of blaming Pakistan or linking cross-border interaction with espionage reflects the increasingly fascistic tendencies of the Modi government.

While Pakistan is yet to react to the reports, many believe that Indian authorities often overreact to soft diplomatic gestures, cultural exchanges or even individual travel visits, labelling them unfairly under the pretext of national security.

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday made an appearance before a Lahore court in his Rs10 billion defamation lawsuit against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former premier Imran Khan.

According to the details, PM Shehbaz appeared through video link before a sessions court as Additional Sessions Judge Yilmaz Ghani conducted the hearing.

As proceedings continued, the premier took an oath to “speak the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”. He also read out the part that said if he concealed anything, may Allah be displeased with him.

During cross-examination, Khan’s lawyer Advocate Muhammad Hussain Chotya asked the PM if he had a copy of the defamation suit before him. “No, I do not have a copy of the defamation case with me at the moment,” the premier replied.

PM Shehbaz then requested a short break, saying, “Please allow me a brief moment… my legal team is sending over a copy.”

The court accepted the request and granted a short recess.

The defamation suit to the tune of Rs10 billion was filed by PM Shehbaz over what he says were false and damaging statements made by Imran Khan. It stems from Khan’s claims that in 2017, Shehbaz had offered him Rs10 billion through an intermediary to drop the Panama Papers case.

The premier had during an earlier appearance in April also responded to questions posed by the defence counsel. He had acknowledged that while the statements were made during televised programs, no media personnel or TV channels were named as parties in the lawsuit.

PM Shehbaz had said he could not recall which city the programs were aired from nor did he confirm any direct confrontation with the former PTI chairman regarding the allegations.

Shehbaz had also verified that he personally signed the lawsuit and that an oath commissioner validated the filing. He had admitted to uncertainty over whether he was the president of the PML-N at the time of the alleged incident but confirmed that Khan was the head of his party and a political rival during that period.

Days after announcing that the United States (US) had mediated a ceasefire between Pakistan and India as tensions ran alarmingly high between the nuclear-armed neighbours, President Donald Trump has gone on to praise the Pakistanis as “brilliant people” and said that “no one can overlook them”.

“They are brilliant people,” Trump said in an interview with US-based Fox News, adding that Pakistanis couldn’t be forgotten or overlooked because it took “two to tango”.

The US president’s statements came a week after his announcement that Washington had successfully averted what could have been a nuclear war between Pakistan and India. The military confrontation between the two countries had come as New Delhi blamed Islamabad for an attack on tourists in held Kashmir’s Pahalgam area.

On the night of May 6-7, India had launched a series of airstrikes in Punjab and Azad Kashmir, resulting in civilian casualties. The move had resulted in a decisive response by Pakistan which saw the downing of at least five Indian jets and damage to multiple military targets across the border.

As tit-for-tat strikes continued, American intervention had pushed both sides to finally drop their guns with President Trump on May 10 announcing that a ceasefire had been reached.

“The situation had escalated to the point where nuclear war could have broken out,” Trump said Friday.

The US president added that he had great conversations with Pakistan and the country would love to trade with the US. “They are brilliant people. They make amazing products. We don’t do enough trading with them.”

On trade with New Delhi, Trump said that India was one of the highly tariffed nations, making it almost “impossible to do business”. However, India is ready to cut 100 per cent of its tariffs for the US, he added.

The interview was the third time in a week that President Trump expressed his intentions of deepening trade ties with Pakistan and India.

“We’re going to do a lot of trade with Pakistan […] and India,” Trump said earlier this week, recalling that he warned both countries of “not doing any trade” if they did not stop fighting.

A day after the ceasefire, he said he was going “to increase trade substantially with both of these great nations”.

During Friday’s interview, Trump also said that mediating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India was a “bigger success” than he’ll ever be given credit for. “Those are major nuclear powers. Those are not like a little bit, and they were angry.”

Days after Pakistan received second tranche of $1 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) amid military clashes with India, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in New Delhi has said that the global lender “should reconsider” its loan amid allegations of “terror financing”.

At least 70 people were killed as tensions between Pakistan and India reached a record high, resulting in the worst military violence in decades before a ceasefire was mediated by the United States (US) last Saturday.

The escalation came after a terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam area of Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJK) last month. While New Delhi accused Islamabad of backing terror groups, the country categorically denied any involvement and offered a transparent probe into the attack. Despite the offer, India attempted to violate Pakistan’s sovereignty through cross-border attacks that led to military confrontation resulting in a befitting response from this side of the border.

Despite India’s objections, the IMF last week approved a loan programme review for Pakistan, unlocking a $1 billion payment which the state bank said has already been received. A fresh $1.4 billion loan was also approved under the IMF’s climate resilience fund.

India, which also represents Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh on the IMF board, abstained from the review vote with a statement from its finance ministry stating that “concerns over the efficacy of IMF programmes in case of Pakistan given its poor track record”.

“India was the lone country which tried to stop it and it failed. It again reflects Indian frustration. Trying to criticise an institution like IMF speaks about this desperation,” reports quoted Pakistan’s foreign ministry spokesman Shafqat Ali Khan as saying.

“I believe a big portion of the $1 billion coming from IMF will be used for funding terror infrastructure,” Indian defence minister said while addressing troops at an air force base Friday. “I believe any economic assistance to Pakistan is nothing less than funding terror,” he added as Indian government members continue attempting to cash in on the conflict.

Meanwhile, Pakistani officials highlight how Islamabad and New Delhi, over the past seven decades, have gained nothing but miseries from wars.

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has offered India to sit for a comprehensive dialogue to settle contentious issues including Kashmir and jointly fight terrorism, reminding New Delhi that the neighbouring countries fought three wars in the past and gained nothing but miseries of the people.

“After settling disputes like Kashmir and water distribution, we can talk on trade and counter-terrorism as Pakistan is the worst affected country by terrorism which lost 90,000 lives and over $150 billion economic losses,” the premier said on Friday.

He was addressing a ceremony marking Youm-e-Tashakkur [Thanksgiving Day] as the nation celebrated Pakistan’s victory in the recent clashes with India.

US defence expert Dr C. Christine Fair has dismissed recent claims made by India regarding alleged damage to Pakistani military aircraft, labelling the statements as unfounded and lacking in evidence.

In an interview with Indian journalist Karan Thapar on The Interview with Karan Thapar on The Wire, Dr Fair addressed comments made by Air Marshal Sandeep Singh Bharti, Director General of Air Operations for the Indian Air Force. Air Marshal Bharti had alleged that India had downed several Pakistani jets and that satellite imagery showed significant damage to airbases in Chaklala, Rahim Yar Khan, Sargodha, Jacobabad, and Bholari.

Dr Fair, known for her critical stance on Pakistan’s military and political establishment, disputed these claims. She pointed out that there is no verifiable evidence supporting India’s assertions, particularly the claim that 20% of Pakistan’s air force had been rendered inoperable.

“I find the claim that 20% of Pakistan’s air force has been disabled to be astonishing and decidedly untrue. I’ve never encountered such a statement before,” she told Thapar.

When questioned directly about Bharti’s assertion regarding the downing of Pakistani aircraft, Dr Fair described the claim as “bakwas” (nonsense). She reiterated that there is no credible evidence to support the allegation that any Pakistani jets were shot down during the incident in question.

These claims were made amid escalating tensions between the two countries, alongside widespread speculation on social media about potential Pakistani military losses. References to satellite images and alleged airbase damage fuelled the discourse, prompting analysts and journalists to seek expert insights.

Dr Fair’s dismissal of these claims has drawn attention, particularly given her longstanding criticism of Pakistan. Her remarks, diverging from her usual views, have sparked widespread discussion online, with many viewing her stance as adding weight to the rebuttal.

To date, no independent sources have provided official verification or evidence to substantiate the claims made by the Indian Air Force against Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam incident.

Australian Broadcaster Yalda Hakim has criticized Indian officials for evading questions in media interviews, comparing them unfavourably with their Pakistani counterparts who, she claims, are more open to facing the camera even during tense situations.

In a recent appearance on CNN-News18 with anchor Zakka Jacob, Hakim shared her experiences interviewing officials from India and Pakistan. Noting her recent televised discussions with officials amidst escalating Indo-Pak tensions, she remarked, “We typically don’t hear Indian officials addressing these matters—not only during moments of heightened tension but at other times too. To be fair to Pakistan, they are willing to send their defense minister or interior minister to face the cameras, regardless of how the interviews unfold, to tackle accusations, answer tough questions, and engage with the dialogue.”

Hakim suggested that this may indicate a broader cultural difference concerning media openness between the two nations.

Her comments followed a series of interviews she conducted with Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, and BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill. These interviews were held during a period of increasing tensions between India and Pakistan. Hakim’s interview with Khawaja Asif stirred criticism on social media, where some users felt her tone resembled an interrogation. One comment read, “I suggest people check out the entire interview on YouTube. It was nothing short of an interrogation on live TV by this Afghanistan-born Australian anchor.”

Following the interview, Pakistani users also found old photos of Hakim with BJP spokesperson Jaiveer Shergill, posting them on X with accusations of bias. One widely shared post stated: “Sky News aired false claims about Pakistan. Yalda Hakim (@SkyYaldaHakim) allowed her Indian guests, whom she often socializes with, to spread misinformation and target Pakistan in front of British & international audience. Why is @SkyNews being used for these friendly, fixed matches?”

The differing reactions were prominently noted by viewers online, many of whom commended Hakim’s recent statements. A user remarked, “Even though she has shown bias from the beginning, hearing these words from her? She deserves praise.” Another commented, “Is this even real? It’s astonishing to see her articulate such a clear statement.”

However, some users questioned Hakim’s motives. One comment stated, “She is known to be one of the strongest anti-Pakistan voices, but after losing her credibility when many pointed out her bias, she’s now attempting to clear her image.” Others pushed back, saying, “She really seems unbiased now.”