Wednesday, April 1st, 2026
Pakistan Navy, PLA Navy conclude SEA GUARDIAN IV exercise
RAWALPINDI, APR 1 /DNA/ – Exercise SEA GUARDIAN IV, conducted from 25 March to 1 April 2026 between the Pakistan Navy and PLA (N), aimed to enhance interoperability and maritime cooperation. The exercise included a five-day port phase in Karachi and a two-day sea phase in the North Arabian Sea. During the port visit, PLA Navy Ship DAQING was welcomed by PNS TAIMUR. Activities included exchange visits, orientations at naval installations, professional discussions on maritime challenges, and a maiden Young Officers Seminar. The sea phase featured key exercises such asRead More
Iran’s Araghchi refutes Trump’s ceasefire claim
DNA TEHRAN: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has firmly rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that Tehran requested a ceasefire, calling the assertion “false and baseless” and insisting that Iran will continue fighting until its conditions are met. Speaking amid intensifying conflict, Araghchi said there are no negotiations underway with the United States, directly contradicting Trump’s recent statement that Iran’s leadership had sought a halt to hostilities. Trump had earlier claimed that Iran’s president wanted a ceasefire and suggested the U.S. might consider it only if the Strait of HormuzRead More
Islamabad, Beijing reaffirm commitment to enhance consular cooperation
BEIJING, APR 1 /DNA/ – The 10th Round of Pakistan-China Consular Consultations was held between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs on 31 March 2026 in Beijing. Mr. Tariq Wazir, Director General (China) led the Pakistani delegation while the Chinese side was led by Mr. Long Zhao, Director General, Department of Consular Affairs. The two sides reviewed the whole gamut of bilateral consular matters and expressed satisfaction at the continued growth of people-to-people exchanges between Pakistan and China. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening consular cooperation and enhancing facilitationRead More
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