Wednesday, April 1st, 2026
Iran’s Araghchi refutes Trump’s claim of ceasefire proposal, says war to continue until ‘aggressor is punished’
TEHRAN, APR 1: Trump claims US will leave Iran “pretty quickly” and return if needed; Iranian envoy to Russia says statements from Washington “cannot be trusted”.
Pakistan Records 18% Decline in Terrorism Violence in First Quarter
ISLAMABAD, APR 1 /DNA/ – During the first quarter of 2026, Pakistan recorded a nearly 18% quarter-on-quarter decline in violence related to terrorism and counter-terrorism, along with a mix of promising and concerning trends in the country’s security landscape. The Center for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) tallied as many as 813 violence-linked fatalities and 518 injuries – among civilians, security personnel, and outlaws – across at least 248 incidents involving both terrorist attacks and the state’s counter-terrorism operations. In terms of comparative impact, the reported drop in violence betweenRead More
Rape survivors in Pakistan struggle to access justice despite legal reforms, new report finds
Strengthening implementation, evidence gathering and support services can help Pakistan turn legal reforms into effective justice for sexual violence survivors. KARACHI, APR 1 /DNA/ – Reforms to expand Pakistan’s sexual violence laws, increase penalties, and improve procedures have not translated into better justice or protection for survivors, finds a new report by Equality Now. Legal Response to Sexual Violence in Pakistan: Challenges in Enforcement and Access to Justice reveals how poor implementation, long delays in investigations and trials, and illegal out-of-court “compromises” are just some of the factors contributing toRead More
Pakistan‑Romania Council engages SECP for trade facilitation
ISLAMABAD, APR 1 /DNA/ – Atif Farooqi, Advisor and Chief Operating Officer of the Pakistan‑Romania Business Council (PRBC), met Muzzafar Ahmed Mirza, Commissioner Licensing at the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), to discuss facilitation for Romanian companies entering Pakistan’s market. Atif Farooqi, Advisor PRBC highlighted PRBC’s efforts to promote trade and investment, noting the rising interest of Romanian firms in Pakistan and the need for SECP’s institutional support in licensing and compliance. He proposed closer cooperation to ease procedures and boost investor confidence. Referring to the recent KarachiRead More
Trump says Iran’s ‘new regime’ president has asked for ceasefire
DNA WASHINGTON, APR 1: U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Tuesday that the president of Iran’s “new regime” has asked for a ceasefire in the ongoing conflict, but the United States will only entertain any truce once the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened to international shipping. Speaking to reporters, Trump described progress in indirect communications with what he called a “much more reasonable” and “less radicalized” Iranian leadership that emerged following heavy U.S.-Israeli military strikes and the death of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei earlier in the war. HeRead More
British diplomat welcomes Pak’s efforts to De-escalate Middle East tensions
ISLAMABAD, APR 1: /DNA/ – Ed Llewellyn CVO OBE, the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office’s Director General Political, visited Islamabad on 1 April for a series of senior-level engagements. He reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to promoting peace and stability in the region. During his visit, the Director General welcomed Pakistani efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East and re-iterated the UK’s call for a cessation in attacks against civilian infrastructure. He also recognised the impact of terrorism on Pakistan’s people, and the sacrifices made by its law enforcement and security forces in seeking to combat it. He re-affirmed that the UK stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Pakistan in the fightRead More