ISLAMABAD, MAY 1: Former Pakistani diplomat and former president of Azad Kashmir, Sardar Masood Khan on Friday cautioned that the evolving confrontation between the United States and Iran is entering a dangerously volatile phase, marked by military posturing, economic pressure, and strategic signaling from multiple global actors. In a statement, Khan observed that while both Washington and Tehran are escalating pressure through military deployments and strong rhetoric, parallel efforts are underway to explore diplomatic off-ramps. “We are witnessing a dual-track approach—on one hand coercive strategies, and on the other, aRead More

Ansar M Bhatti ISLAMABAD: In a development that could significantly reshape Pakistan’s telecommunications landscape, UAE-based telecom giant Etisalat is reportedly considering an exit from Pakistan, potentially relinquishing control of Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL). While no formal announcement has been made, sources suggest that a combination of geopolitical tensions, unresolved financial disputes, and longstanding operational challenges has pushed relations to a breaking point. At the heart of the issue lies a complex mix of regional politics and bilateral strain. The ongoing Iran-related conflict has had ripple effects across the region,Read More

ISLAMABAD, APR 30: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved a one-month extension in fuel subsidy for motorcyclists, public transport operators, and goods transporters to sustain relief measures amid economic pressures linked to the Middle East crisis. The premier also directed that increases in passenger and freight transport fares be prevented, the PM’s Office said in a statement. While approving the continuation of relief measures, the prime minister stated that effective monitoring of public welfare initiatives must be ensured to directly benefit deserving individuals. He further said that the federalRead More

ISLAMABAD, APR 30 /DNA/ – Pakistan on Thursday strongly condemned what it described as unprovoked cross-border firing and shelling by Afghan forces targeting civilian populations in the border areas of South Waziristan, while also affirming that its diplomatic mediation between the United States and Iran remains actively ongoing. At a weekly press briefing, the Foreign Office Spokesperson detailed two separate incidents on April 26 and 29 in the Angoor Adda region, which resulted in several civilian injuries, including three children aged 3, 8, and 10, and damage to multiple houses.Read More

ISLAMABAD, APR 30: Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Thursday that Pakistan is maintaining sustained engagement with both Washington and Tehran to support de-escalation and ceasefire efforts. “The clock of negotiations has not stopped,” he said while addressing a weekly briefing in Islamabad on Thursday. He described ongoing mediation efforts as constructive, noting that recent ceasefire understandings had helped prevent further escalation and civilian casualties. Speaking on the blockaded Strait of Hormuz, Andrabi described the Hormuz as a vital corridor for global trade and oil transport, and called forRead More