Tue, 21-Oct-2025

Pakistan, US want peaceful settlement of Afghan conflict: Ambassador Asad Khan

Pakistan, US want peaceful settlement of Afghan conflict: Ambassador Asad Khan

With the United States having nearly completed the withdrawal of its troops from Afghanistan, an inclusive political settlement in the war-torn country would best serve Pakistan and US’ shared security interests in the region, Pakistani Ambassador in Washington Asad Majeed Khan said on Thursday. Speaking at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), where he … Read more

Pakistan-China relationship leads to regional, global stability: Ambassador Haque

Pakistan-China relationship leads to regional, global stability: Ambassador Haque

KARACHI: The friendly relations between Pakistan and China led to stability in the region and beyond and both the countries are keen to further promote ties for the development of the entire region, a diplomat said on Tuesday. “Regional peace is important for the development of our people, so that’s why we promote friendly neighbourly … Read more

Taliban Threatens To Respond If Troops Withdrawal Deadline Missed

Taliban Threatens To Respond If Troops Withdrawal Deadline Missed

The Taliban say they will retaliate if all foreign forces do not complete their withdrawal by the deadline. Speaking to the BBC, Sohail Shaheen, a spokesman for the Taliban’s political office in Qatar, said: “no foreign troops, including military contractors, should remain in the country once the withdrawal process is complete.” “If they leave their … Read more

Afghanistan: Violent Clashes Escalate As US Forces Withdraw

Afghanistan: Violent Clashes Escalate As US Forces Withdraw

Hundreds of Taliban fighters have been killed in fierce fighting with Afghan officials in several Afghan provinces, while Washington has announced it will complete the withdrawal of its troops by the end of August. According to the report, Washington’s announcement came at a time when all US and NATO troops evacuated Bagram Air Base, from … Read more

Fast-paced withdrawal of troops could undermine Pakistan’s influence in Afghanistan

Fast-paced

The fast-paced withdrawal of foreign troops amid stalled peace talks and rising incidents of violence in Afghanistan could threaten to undermine Pakistan’s efforts to facilitate Taliban’s return to Kabul through power-sharing arrangements that have international backing, a report by the International Crisis Group said. The report compiled by the think-tank with information received from Islamabad, … Read more

President Alvi dubs India ‘spoiler’ in Afghan peace process

President Alvi

Dubbing India a ‘spoiler’ in the Afghan peace talks, President Arif Alvi said that New Delhi had always created misunderstanding between Islamabad and Kabul. “Peace and stability in Afghanistan is vital for regional stability and Pakistan would especially immensely benefit from it,” the president said in an interview to a private news channel. Alvi expressed … Read more

North Waziristan: Two Soldier Martyred In Afghan Cross-Border Terrorist Attack

Two soldiers embrace martyrdom slaying four terrorists in Bajaur attack

Terrorists from inside Afghanistan across the international border opened fire on a military post in Dwatoi, North Waziristan District. According to the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR), during the exchange of fire, 2 soldiers Havaldar Saleem age 43 years and Lance Naik Pervaiz age 35 years, embraced shahadat. Own troops responded in a befitting manner. ISPR … Read more

Foreign Minister Terms India’s Allegation of Drone Strike on Pakistan “Baseless”

Foreign Minister Terms India's Allegation of Drone Strike on Pakistan Baseless

Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi has termed India’s allegation of a drone strike on Pakistan as baseless and said it remains to be seen why they are resorting to such allegations. According to details, Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi in a statement on the Afghan peace process, regional security, and FATF said that the thinking … Read more

Turkey revises quarantine policy for Pakistani travellers

Turkey revises quarantine policy for Pakistani travellers

ISLAMABAD: The Turkish authorities on Tuesday issued revised policy regarding the mandatory quarantine requirement for the passengers arriving in Turkey. As per the new policy, which will come into effect on July 1, 2021, the quarantine period for the passengers arriving from Pakistan and Afghanistan has been reduced from 14 to 10 days. Meanwhile, the … Read more

Qureshi lauds LEAs for exposing elements aiming to destabilise Pakistan

India’s terror-financing

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Tuesday congratulated law enforcement agencies (LEAs) for exposing foreign elements aiming to destabilise Pakistan. In a statement regarding the progress made in the investigation of Lahore blast, he said our intelligence agencies, Punjab Counter Terrorism Department and police have carried out a thorough probe and arrested those responsible. “Anti-terror … Read more

Pakistan Cold-Shouldered by Many Countries To Meet FATF’s Conditions

Pakistan Cold-Shouldered by Many Countries To Meet FAFT's Conditions

Pakistan has been cold-shouldered by more than two dozens of countries on the requests seeking mutual legal assistance to tackle terrorism-financing, money laundering, and cyber terrorism to meet the Financial Action Task Force’s (FATD) conditions and recommendations. Pakistan has sent more than 232 official requests to two dozen countries under its mutual assistance laws in … Read more

Taliban Made Rapid Inroads, Surprises Pakistan

Taliban Involved In Killing Afghan Radio Station Manager, Kidnapping Journalist: Officials

Pakistan was not expecting the Afghan Taliban to make rapid inroads after the US and NATO forces started to withdraw from Afghanistan from May 1. When the US and NATO forces started withdrawing their troops from Afghanistan, the Taliban have took control over 69 of the 407 districts in the country, including the northern districts … Read more

Interior Minister Hopes Afghan Taliban Will Not Allow TTP To Harm Pakistan

Interior Minister Hopes Afghan Taliban Will Not Allow TTP To Harm Pakistan

Federal Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed has said that Pakistan will not allow its land to be used against Afghanistan and the Afghan Taliban is also expected to prevent other elements, including the TTP, from harming the lives and properties of the people of Pakistan. Talking to the media on the occasion of visiting injured … Read more

US President Calls For Afghanistan To Decide Its Future

US President Calls For Afghanistan To Decide Its Future

US President Joe Biden held a meeting with Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and his former political foe, Abdullah Abdullah, on Friday at the White House. He called on the Afghans to decide on their future as the last US troops are set to leave Afghanistan after 20 years of war. Biden said that US support … Read more

US troops withdrawal: Taliban eyeing greater control of Afghan territory

Afghanistan: Violent Clashes Escalate As US Forces Withdraw

UNITED NATIONS: Amid the swift withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, the top UN official in the Central Asian state told the UN Security Council on Tuesday that the Taliban fighters are flexing their muscles to gain greater control of the territory. “The Taliban’s advances are significant,” said Deborah Lyons, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative and … Read more

The US Military Forces Might Slow Down Its Withdrawal From Afghanistan: Pentagon

The US Military Forces Might Slow Down Its Withdrawl From Afghanistan: Pentagon

The US military might slow down its withdrawal from Afghanistan as the Taliban arise, Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby said. Kirby added that the date for the complete withdrawal of the military by President Joe Biden will remain the same. However, the pace of withdrawal could be adjusted based on the conditions. “The situation in Afghanistan … Read more

PM Imran Postpones His Visit To UK Amid Troops Withdrawal

Prime Minister To Visit Gwadar Today To Inaugurate Several Projects

Prime Minister Imran Khan has postponed his visit to the United Kingdom (UK) which will be scheduled next month. According to sources, the Prime Minister has decided not to visit the UK  in view of the internal, political and regional situation in the country. Sources said that the Prime Minister has decided to monitor the … Read more

COVID-19 Pandemic Out of Control in Afghanistan

COVID-19 Pandemic Out of Control in Afghanistan

COVID-19 pandemic is getting out of control in Afghanistan as the cases rise by 2,400pc in the past month. As a result, hospital beds and medical resources are running out of stock as stated by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC) Societies on Thursday. It was reported by IFRC that among … Read more

Erdogan Offers To Help US Stabilize Afghanistan

Recep Tayyip Erdogan

A day before his first meeting with US President Joe Biden, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that Turkey is the “only reliable” country that can bring stability to Afghanistan after the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. According to the report, the Turkish president signalled to the United States that it could rely on … Read more

MWL’s ‘Declaration of Peace in Afghanistan’ conference commences today

MWL’s ‘Declaration of Peace'

MAKKAH: The Islamic Conference of Declaration of Peace in Afghanistan, aimed at consolidating peace in the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, began in Makkah on Thursday. The conference hosted by The Muslim World League (MWL) will be a milestone to enhance dialogue between senior scholars of Afghanistan and Pakistan in order to reconcile among fighting Afghani … Read more

Rashid Khan: I never wanted to be a cricketer

Rashid Khan shines as Lahore Qalandars defeat Islamabad United.

Rashid Khan recently told in an interview that his family wanted him to be a doctor, as no one is a doctor in his family so his parents never allowed him to play cricket.

Afghanistan’s star spinner Rashid (wrist-spinner) developed himself as one of the most demanded bowlers in the T20 leagues. However, he is currently in Dubai to play for ‘Lahore Qalandars’ in the remaining matches of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

Rashid in an interview stated how he worked hard to become a top-class cricketer where his parents wanted him to be a doctor. He told that since no one is a doctor in his family and he was pretty good at studies too, so his parents wanted him to be a doctor and they never allowed him to play cricket.

Rashid said, “I wasn’t allowed to play cricket as such. There were no doctors in our family that is why my parents wanted me to become a doctor. Cricket wasn’t in my initial plans and I had to struggle a lot for it. I was pretty good at studies too and I used to go for matches without telling anyone”.

He also told that he never joined any club or academy to enhance his skills. He believes that he always played his ‘natural game’, which helped him to excel well in his career and also helped him to grow a lot.

He said, “I never went to any academy or club. My friends used to take me to matches and I started performing regularly with both bat and ball. As far as my early training is concerned, I never went to a club or an academy and I haven’t received any coaching as well. I was completely natural and it helped me progress as a player”.

 

[embedpost slug=”afghan-cricketer-rashid-khan-prefers-pakistan-super-league-over-county-cricket/”]

Read more

PPP Calls For Parliamentary Briefing Over Situation In Afghanistan

PPP Calls For Parliamentary Briefing Over Situation In Afghanistan

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has demanded the government to take Parliament into confidence over the regional security situation following the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan. According to the details, the demand was made by PPP Information Secretary and former Deputy Speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi and Senator Rubina Khalid in a news conference … Read more

Afghan security advisor should be ashamed for defaming Pakistan, says FM Qureshi

Shah Mehmood Qureshi Islamabad

Minister for Foreign Affairs Shah Mahmood Qureshi on Saturday said Afghan National Security Advisor Hamdullah Mohib should be ashamed for maligning Pakistan and advised him against using aggressive language against Islamabad. “Listen to me closely,” he said, calling out the Afghan official, “Pakistan has played an important role in helping achieve stability in Afghanistan.” The … Read more

Peace In Region Interlinked With Pak-China-Afghanistan Trilateral Cooperation: FM

Peace In Region Interlinked With Pak-China-Afghanistan Trilateral Cooperation: FM

Pakistan has stressed the need for close trilateral cooperation between Islamabad, Kabul and Beijing for peace and stability in Afghanistan and the region. Addressing the 4th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Trilateral Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, the Foreign Minister said, “Therefore, we must consider how the three neighbouring countries can work together effectively to cope with this changing situation and … Read more

US To Hand Over Its Main Bagram Air Base To Afghan Forces In 20 Days

US To Hand Over Its Main Bagram Air Base To Afghan Forces In 20 Days

KABUL: The US military will hand over its main Bagram airbase to Afghan forces in 20 days, according to an official. This vast base was built by the Soviet Union in 1980 and is the largest military facility in Afghanistan used by US and NATO forces, and at the height of the Afghan war, millions … Read more

US Military To Hand Over Bagram Air Base to Afghan forces in 20 days

US Military To Hand Over Bagram Air Base to Afghan forces in 20 days

As Washington presses on with withdrawing the last of its troops from Afghanistan, an official on Tuesday said that in about 20 days, the US military will hand over its main Bagram Air Base to Afghan forces.

Bagram Air Base was built by the Soviets in the 1980s and is the biggest military facility used by US and NATO forces in Afghanistan. Moreover, during the peak of US military involvement in Afghanistan, ten of thousands of troops stationed there.

a US defense official said,

“I can confirm we will hand over Bagram Air Base.”

On the other hand, an Afghan security official said the handover was expected in about 20 days and the defense ministry had set up special committees to manage it.

It should be mentioned here that Washington has already handed over several military bases to Afghan forces before May 1, when it started the final withdrawal of troops.

Taliban Threatens US Over Delaying In Troop Withdrawal From Afghanistan

The Taliban had threatened Washington in March 2021 with dire consequences if it does not abide by the May 1 deadline for the withdrawal of US and NATO troops from Afghanistan.

The Taliban issued the warning during a press conference in Moscow, according to the reports.

The administration of US President Joe Biden says it is reviewing an agreement reached with the Taliban with the administration of former US President Donald Trump.

Biden told ABC News in an interview that May 1 could be the deadline, but that it would not be long if the deadline was extended.

Sohail Shaheen, a member of the Taliban’s negotiating team, told reporters that “they have to go and the withdrawal of US troops beyond May 1 would be a violation of the agreement.”

“And we will not violate the agreement, which will result in a backlash,” he said.

Member Sohail Shaheen did not elaborate on what the response would be, but in compliance with the agreement he signed in February 2020, the Taliban did not attack US or NATO forces, not even the last few.

There has also been an increase in unannounced bombings and targeted killings over the months.

“We hope that this will not happen, they will give up and we will focus on a solution to the Afghan problem and a peaceful settlement so that a political roadmap can be reached and a permanent and comprehensive ceasefire can be achieved,” the Taliban leader said.

He also confirmed that the Taliban stood by the demands of the Islamic government.

Sohail Shaheen did not elaborate on the structure of the Islamic government.

He also did not say whether the Taliban would accept the election but stressed that President Ashraf Ghani’s government did not live up to his definition of an Islamic government.

It should be noted that along with Russia, China and Pakistan, the United States has also demanded an immediate ceasefire from the warring parties in Afghanistan.

In addition, a Taliban delegation is meeting in Moscow with the Afghan government to discuss future plans for ending the war in Afghanistan.

[embedpost slug=”/joe-biden-to-withdraw-us-troops-from-afghanistan-sources/”]

Read more

Mortar Shell Hits Afghan Wedding, Kills at Least 10

Mortar shell hits Afghan wedding

A mortar shell hits a house during a wedding ceremony in Afghanistan’s Kapisa province, killing 10 civilians and injuring eight others.

According to Afghan security officials, a mortar shell fell on a house in Tagab district on Saturday evening, where clashes between the Taliban and Afghan security forces continued.

Provincial police, on the other hand, have blamed the Taliban for the mortar attack, while a Taliban spokesman has denied the allegations.

A Taliban spokesman said mortar shells were fired by Afghan security forces in the area.

Earlier, an Alberoni University bus blown up in Afghanistan which killed four lecturers and 13 people were left injured.

The university bus was targeted in the Bagram district of Parwan province.

The bus was carrying about 20 teachers and other staff. The blast was so severe that the vehicle was completely destroyed and passengers were badly trapped in the bus after the blast.

Rescue workers evacuated the passengers from the bus and transported them to a nearby hospital, where the deaths of four lecturers were confirmed.

The blast injured 13 people, most of them being teachers and professors. According to hospital sources and reports, the death toll is expected to rise as six of the injured are in critical condition, while some teachers have lost limbs.

No militant group has claimed responsibility for the attack yet.

[embedpost slug=”afghanistan-kabul-mosque-blast-kills-12-worshipers/”]

Read more

Key TTP Commander Mufti Khalid Found Murdered In Afghanistan

Key TTP Commander Mufti Khalid Found Murdered In Afghanistan

Mufti Khalid, a key militant commander linked to banned militant group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), has been killed by unknown individuals across the border in Afghanistan. According to reports, Mufti Khalid was shot dead and his body was found in the Afghan province of Kunar, adjacent to Pakistan’s tribal districts of Bajaur and Mohmand. Mufti Khalid’s … Read more