GAZA CITY: The head of the Palestinian technocratic committee formed to handle day-to-day governance of Gaza, Ali Shaath, was in Washington Thursday to attend the inaugural &quot;Board of Peace&quot; meeting, two Palestinian officials told AFP.&nbsp;&quot;Ali Shaath ... arrived in Washington at dawn today to participate in the Washington meeting of the Board of Peace,&quot; a source familiar with the committee told AFP.&nbsp;&quot;Shaath is scheduled to deliver a speech outlining the general framework of his plan for the first 100 days. He is accompanied by the committee&#39;s official in charge of the finance portfolio,&quot; the source added.&nbsp;A committee member confirmed to AFP that Shaath had arrived &quot;following an invitation he received yesterday to attend the Washington meeting&quot;.&nbsp;Around two dozen world leaders and senior officials have travelled to Washington for the meeting, which was set up after the Trump administration, along with Qatar and Egypt, negotiated a ceasefire in October to halt two years of war in Gaza.&nbsp;At Thursday&#39;s meeting, Trump is expected to detail pledges of more than $5 billion for Gaza.&nbsp;The meeting will also discuss how to launch the International Stabilization Force to ensure security in Gaza.

Middle East

Ali Shaath arrives in Washington for the inaugural Board of Peace meeting. The Trump administration, along with Qatar and Egypt, seeks $5 billion in pledges and a stabilization force for security there.

Head of Gaza technocrat committee in Washington for 'Board of Peace' meeting

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has extended restrictions on Indian aircraft, keeping its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-extends-airspace-ban-on-indian-aircraft" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">airspace closed</a>&nbsp;to all Indian civil and military flights until March 23, the Pakistan Airports Authority said Thursday. The new notice, NOTAM A0096/26, covers both the Karachi and Lahore flight information regions, which make up the country&rsquo;s airspace. It replaces a previous directive that was set to expire on Feb. 23. Indian carriers have been forced to reroute flights along longer paths. Westbound flights from cities including Delhi, Mumbai, and Ahmedabad now take a southern route over the Arabian Sea and Gulf of Oman, passing through the United Arab Emirates or Oman before continuing to Europe, the UK, or North America. Some northern routes now pass through Chinese and Central Asian airspace. The rerouting has increased flight times and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/crash-pakistan-airspace-ban-push-air-india-toward-16-billion-annual-loss" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">operational costs</a>&nbsp;due to extra fuel stops.&nbsp;Indian airlines, particularly Air India, report fuel costs rising by up to 29% and estimated monthly losses of roughly $500 million. Pakistan and India have closed their airspaces to each other since tensions rose in late April 2025 following an attack in Pahalgam, in India-occupied Kashmir. New Delhi accused Islamabad of backing the attack, which Pakistan denied while offering a neutral probe. The two countries briefly fought their fiercest military engagement in decades in early May 2025, with Pakistan downing several Indian jets.

Pakistan has extended restrictions on Indian aircraft, keeping its airspace closed to all Indian civil and military flights until March 23. (PIA)

Politics

Indian carriers have been forced to reroute flights along longer paths, increasing flight times and operational costs, due to extra fuel stops. 

Pakistan extends airspace ban for Indian flights until March 23

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Office on Thursday summoned Afghanistan&rsquo;s deputy head of mission and lodged a strong protest over a terrorist attack in Bajaur that killed 11 Pakistani soldiers. It said the attack was carried out by Fitna al-Khawarij, referring to the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a terrorist group that operates from Afghan territory with its leadership based there. According to the Foreign Office, the government condemned &ldquo;in strongest possible terms&rdquo; the vehicle-borne suicide bombing followed by a fire assault on a military and law enforcement post in the district. He said Pakistan has received repeated assurances from the Afghan Taliban regime but has not seen concrete action. Andrabi said Pakistan called on the Afghan Taliban regime to take immediate and verifiable steps against all militant groups operating from its territory, including their leadership. He stated that Pakistan informed the Afghan Taliban regime that it reserves the right to act against members of the Fitna al-Khawarij group and their affiliates wherever they are located to protect its soldiers, civilians and territorial boundaries.

The photograph shows the Ministry of Foreign Affairs building in Islamabad, Pakistan. (File Photo: PTV)

Foreign Affairs

Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said officials told the Afghan Taliban representative that the attack was carried out by Fitna al-Khawarij, referring to the proscribed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, a terrorist group that operates from Afghan territory with its leadership based there.

Pakistan delivers strong demarche to Afghan diplomat after Bajaur terrorist attack 

ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump praised Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir during a speech in Washington on Thursday. Speaking at the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pm-sharif-to-land-in-us-for-board-of-peace-inaugural-session" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">inaugural meeting</a> of the Board of Peace at the Donald Trump Institute of Peace, the US President described Field Marshal Munir as &ldquo;a tough man, a good fighter, serious fighter,&rdquo; adding, &ldquo;I like good fighters actually.&rdquo; Trump said he intervened during a military confrontation between Pakistan and India, which he said could have cost &ldquo;25 million lives.&rdquo; He described the conflict as &ldquo;intense&rdquo;, stating that the &ldquo;war was raging [and] planes were being shot down.&rdquo; &ldquo;Prime Minister Sharif, I like this man, of Pakistan. There was some fighting going on when I got to know him and your Field Marshal, great general, great Field Marshal, great guy,&rdquo; Trump said. He recalled PM Sharif telling White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles that Trump had &ldquo;saved 25 million lives when he stopped the war between India and Pakistan.&rdquo; The US President said that 11 jets were shot down during the fighting. He also praised PM Sharif and the Field Marshal for their cooperation in preventing a larger conflict in the region. &ldquo;I think we will always be able to settle up with them. It&rsquo;s a lot of progress that&rsquo;s made even in the relationship. They are all great men, and I was very proud of it,&rdquo; Trump said. Trump also reflected on his first year in office, saying he had &ldquo;settled eight wars and I think a ninth to come,&rdquo; and called the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/head-of-gaza-technocrat-committee-in-washington-for-board-of-peace-meeting" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Board of Peace</a> &ldquo;one of the most important and consequential things I think that I&rsquo;ll be involved in.&rdquo; While the US pledged $10 billion, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, the UAE, Morocco, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Uzbekistan, and Kuwait contributed more than $7 billion to relief efforts. Indonesia pledged 1,000&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indonesia-sets-conditions-for-8000strong-gaza-peacekeeping-deployment" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">troops</a>&nbsp;to a stabilization force in Gaza. Albania, Kosovo, and Kazakhstan have committed troops and police, while Egypt and Jordan are providing training and support for Palestinian police. &ldquo;We work together to ensure the brighter future of Gaza, the Middle East and the entire world,&rdquo; Trump said. He added that &ldquo;there is nothing more important than peace&rdquo; and that going to war is &ldquo;a hundred times&rdquo; more expensive than peace.

US President Donald Trump and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attend the Peace Council meeting held during the 56th World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland on January 22, 2026. (AFP)

Speaking at the inaugural meeting of Board of Peace at the Donald Trump Institute of Peace, the US President described Field Marshal Munir as “a tough man, a good fighter, serious fighter,” adding, “I like good fighters actually.”

Board of Peace: Trump praises Pakistan’s PM, calls Field Marshal 'tough fighter'

LONDON: Britain&#39;s former prince Andrew was arrested on Thursday on suspicion of misconduct during his time as a trade envoy, as UK police investigations into allegations emerging from the Jeffrey Epstein files gathered pace. Unprecedented in Britain&#39;s modern era, the arrest was a new blow for the ousted royal, who was marking his 66th birthday on Thursday. Andrew was last year stripped of all his titles, having been forced out of his former home by his brother King Charles III. As part of the investigation into Andrew, &quot;we have today (19/2) arrested a man in his sixties from Norfolk on suspicion of misconduct in public office,&quot; Thames Valley police said in a statement, without naming the suspect, as is common practice in the UK. Several UK media outlets reported that a fleet of unmarked cars, believed to be police vehicles, was seen arriving early Thursday at the Sandringham estate in eastern England, where Andrew now resides. New revelations last week appeared to show that Andrew sent potentially confidential documents to convicted US sex offender Epstein during his time as a UK trade envoy. In a November 2010 email seen by AFP, Andrew appeared to share with Epstein reports on Vietnam, Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Singapore following an official visit to Asia. The ex-royal, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, also reportedly sent the American financier details of the trip -- on which he was accompanied by Epstein&#39;s business associates -- along with investment opportunities months later. The former prince was eventually stripped of his titles after one of Epstein&#39;s victims alleged she had been trafficked to have sex with him. He has previously denied any wrongdoing in his associations with Epstein. Charles has voiced &quot;concern&quot; over his brother&#39;s actions and, last week, issued an unprecedented statement noting that Buckingham Palace was &quot;ready to support&quot; the police in their inquiries. Official guidance stipulates that trade envoys have a duty of confidentiality regarding sensitive, commercial, or political information related to their official visits, the BBC has said. Andrew, whose ties to Epstein have caused a spectacular years-long fall from grace, served as a British trade envoy for a decade from 2001. Police &#39;aware&#39; of reportAt least nine separate UK police forces have confirmed they are assessing reports which appear to link the former prince to Epstein. Police in Surrey, southeastern England, said Wednesday they had become &quot;aware&quot; of a redacted report alleging &quot;human trafficking and sexual assaults on a minor&quot; between 1994 and 1996 in the village of Virginia Water. The report emerged in the latest tranche of millions of files released by the US Justice Department from the investigation into Epstein, who died in prison in 2019. &quot;After reviewing our systems using the limited information available to us, we found no evidence of these allegations being reported to Surrey Police,&quot; its statement read. &quot;We therefore encourage anyone with information in relation to these allegations to report this to us.&quot; The statement did not name any individuals involved. But it comes as high-profile figures, including former UK prime minister Gordon Brown, have urged police to probe dozens of flights dating back decades arriving at UK airports and tied to Epstein. Writing in the New Statesman magazine last week, Brown said he had been &quot;told privately that the investigations related to the former Prince Andrew did not properly check vital evidence of flights.&quot; &quot;I have asked the police to look at this as part of the new inquiry,&quot; he stated, adding it appeared &quot;the authorities never knew what was happening.&quot; London&#39;s Metropolitan police has also launched an investigation into the relationship between the UK&#39;s former ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson, and the disgraced financier.

United Kingdom

Britain's former prince Andrew has been arrested on suspicion of misconduct during his time as a trade envoy, police said Thursday.

UK police arrest ex-prince Andrew on suspicion of misconduct

ISLAMABAD: In a video shared on social media, prominent Indian journalist Pravin Sawhney said that &ldquo;Pakistan cannot lose&rdquo; and added that India &ldquo;cannot defeat Pakistan.&rdquo; In the video available on social media, <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/how-major-attacks-have-shaped-indias-nationalsecurity-narrative-under-modi" target="_blank">Sawhney&nbsp;</a>refers&nbsp;to the events surrounding Balakot.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2024132023405715801&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=2843bca68dc21193f548380296fd147f28a9d9ab&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 849px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>&ldquo;What happened in Balakot? In Balakot, our Indian Air Force at night time, in an area where there was no radar, where they were not ready because&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/congress-hates-indian-armed-forces-bjp-incensed-by-oppositions-criticism-of-operation-sindoor" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Air Force</a>&nbsp;was never used before between India and Pakistan, there we threw our missiles in Balakot,&rdquo; he said. &lsquo;Cannot defeat Pakistan&rsquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;The next day, they came in broad daylight, they came in broad daylight and we were not ready. Why am I saying we were not ready? Because we took down our own helicopter with our own missiles in confusion.&rdquo; Sawhney added: &ldquo;Pakistan cannot lose. You cannot defeat Pakistan in this war. I can explain to any professional of India why I am saying this. And I am saying this in the interest of the country. It is not that I am against the country that is why I am saying this.&rdquo; &lsquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s international profile&rsquo;&nbsp;He further stated: &ldquo;We have taken a huge loss. That is the reality in Sindoor. Today, Pakistan&#39;s international profile has increased because of Sindoor.&rdquo; Referring to published accounts, he said: &ldquo;On Sindoor, many generals have written a book. In any book, the first night where we took a huge loss of the Air Force which CDS has said that yes, there was a loss. We do not mention it and it is not mentioned in this book.&rdquo; &ldquo;They had the visibility of the whole battlefield. So, they knew where our aircrafts were. They were just waiting that you throw the missile and we will answer it. And we took a loss that night. It was a lot. We do not want to talk about it.&rdquo; He added: &ldquo;Sir, our history of India and Pakistan tells us that if you throw a missile there, it will not sit quietly. But what we did within half an hour we told them that we are ready for ceasefire. [Indian Defense Minister] Rajnath Singh&#39;s statement is in the parliament.&rdquo;

India

Prominent Indian journalist Pravin Sawhney, in a video shared on social media, says that 'Pakistan cannot lose,' adding India 'cannot defeat Pakistan.' 

India can never defeat Pakistan, says Indian journalist 

GENEVA:&nbsp;Israel&#39;s increased attacks and forcible transfers of Palestinians &quot;raise concerns over ethnic cleansing&quot; in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank, the United Nations said Thursday. The UN human rights office said the cumulative impact of Israel&#39;s military conduct during the war in Gaza, plus its blockade of the territory, had inflicted living conditions &quot;increasingly incompatible with Palestinians&#39; continued existence as a group in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/israel-conducting-gradual-de-facto-annexation-of-west-bank-un-official" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Gaza</a>.&quot; &quot;Intensified attacks, the methodical destruction of entire neighborhoods and the denial of humanitarian assistance appeared to aim at a permanent demographic shift in Gaza,&quot; the office said in a report. &lsquo;Ethnic cleansing&rsquo;&nbsp;&quot;This, together with forcible transfers, which appear to aim at a permanent displacement, raise concerns over ethnic cleansing in Gaza and the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/israel-accused-of-move-expanding-jerusalem-borders-for-first-time-since-1967" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">West Bank</a>.&quot; The report covered the period from Nov. 1, 2024, to Oct. 31, 2025. In the occupied West Bank and annexed East Jerusalem, the report said the &quot;systematic use of unlawful force&quot; by Israeli security forces, &quot;widespread&quot; arbitrary detention, and the &quot;extensive unlawful demolition&quot; of Palestinian homes were being carried out to &quot;systematically discriminate, oppress, control and dominate the Palestinian people&quot;. These violations were &quot;altering the character, status and demographic composition of the occupied West Bank, raising serious concerns of ethnic cleansing,&quot; it said. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">&#39;Inhumane choice&#39;&nbsp;</h2>In Gaza, the report condemned the continued killing and maiming of &quot;unprecedented numbers of civilians&quot;, the spread of famine, and destruction of the &quot;remaining civilian infrastructure.&quot; During the 12 months covered in the report, at least 463 Palestinians, including 157 children, starved to death in Gaza, it said. &quot;Palestinians faced the inhumane choice of either starving to death or risking being killed while trying to get food,&quot; said the report. &quot;The situation of famine and malnutrition was the direct result of actions taken by the Israeli government,&quot; with the deaths and suffering from hunger &quot;foreseeable and repeatedly foretold.&quot; <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Impunity &#39;kills&#39;&nbsp;</h2>Last week, UN rights chief Volker Turk warned that the world was witnessing &quot;rapid steps to change permanently the demography of the occupied Palestinian territory.&quot; On Tuesday, Israel&#39;s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich vowed to encourage &quot;emigration&quot; from the Palestinian territories. And on Wednesday, UN Under-Secretary-General Rosemary DiCarlo warned the Security Council that steps by Israel to tighten control of areas of the West Bank administered by the Palestinian Authority amount to &quot;gradual de facto annexation.&quot; Thursday&#39;s rights office report concluded that, considered together, Israeli practices &quot;indicated a concerted and accelerating effort to consolidate annexation of large parts of the Occupied Palestinian Territory and to deny Palestinians&#39; right to self-determination.&quot; The report said there was a pervasive climate of impunity for serious violations of international law by the Israeli authorities in the Palestinian territories. &quot;Impunity is not abstract -- it kills. Accountability is indispensable. It is the prerequisite for a just and durable peace in Palestine and Israel,&quot; Turk said in a statement.

‘Intensified attacks, the methodical destruction of entire neighborhoods and the denial of humanitarian assistance appeared to aim at a permanent demographic shift in Gaza,’ UN human rights office says in a report.

UN says Israeli actions raising 'ethnic cleansing' fears in West Bank, Gaza

NEW DELHI: Sam Altman, head of ChatGPT maker OpenAI, told a global artificial intelligence conference on Thursday that the world &quot;urgently&quot; needs to regulate the fast-evolving technology. An organization could be set up to coordinate these efforts, similar to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), he said. Altman is one of a host of top tech CEOs in New Delhi for the AI Impact Summit, the fourth annual global meeting on how to handle advanced computing power. &quot;For an obvious example, there&#39;ll be extremely capable biomodels available open-source that could help people create new pathogens, he said on stage. &quot;We need a society-wide approach about how we&#39;re going to defend against this.&quot; Frenzied demand for generative AI has turbocharged profits for many companies while fuelling anxiety about the risks to individuals and the planet. &quot;Democratisation of AI is the best way to ensure humanity flourishes,&quot; Altman said, adding that &quot;centralisation of this technology in one company or country could lead to ruin&quot;. &quot;This is not to suggest that we won&#39;t need any regulation or safeguards,&quot; he said. &quot;We obviously do, urgently, like we have for other powerful technologies.&quot; Many researchers and campaigners say stronger action is needed to combat emerging issues, ranging from job disruption to sexualised deepfakes and AI-enabled online scams. &quot;We expect the world may need something like the IAEA for international coordination of AI,&quot; with the ability to &quot;rapidly respond to changing circumstances&quot;, Altman said. &quot;The next few years will test global society as this technology continues to improve at a rapid pace. We can choose to either empower people or concentrate power,&quot; he added. &quot;Technology always disrupts jobs; we always find new and better things to do.&quot;

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman attends the AI Impact Summit in New Delhi on February 19, 2026. (Photo by Ludovic MARIN / AFP)

Artificial Intelligence

Sam Altman urges global coordination and safeguards for advanced AI, warning of biosecurity risks, power concentration, and rapid societal disruption.

OpenAI's Altman says world 'urgently' needs AI regulation

ISLAMABAD: Bangladeshi Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Wednesday pledged to uphold the rule of law and guarantee equal rights for all citizens. He outlined his government&rsquo;s priorities in his first televised address to the nation after taking office, according to state-run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS). In the address, the premier said, &ldquo;Not party or political influence or force, but the rule of law will be the final word in governing the state.&rdquo; Rahman said the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP)&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-minister-terms-meeting-with-bangladesh-opposition-leader-very-cordial-meaningful" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">government</a>&nbsp;believes that although party, opinion, religion and philosophy may differ, the state belongs to all.&nbsp;&nbsp;Equal rights&nbsp;He said every citizen, regardless of whether they voted for the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-minister-signals-pm-visit-intent-as-bangladeshs-new-government-takes-office" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">BNP</a>, has equal rights in the country. The&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/planning-minister-to-represent-pakistan-at-bangladesh-oathtaking-ceremony" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">prime minister</a>&nbsp;said the government&rsquo;s goal is to build a self-reliant, secure, humane and democratic Bangladesh, where Muslims, Hindus, Buddhists and Christians, irrespective of party affiliation, opinion, religion or ethnicity, can live safely in both hills and plains. He said all constitutional, governmental and non-governmental institutions will operate according to established laws and regulations.&nbsp;&nbsp;Law and order&nbsp;Improving law and order and strictly controlling corruption to restore peace and security are the government&rsquo;s top priorities, he added, noting that gambling and drugs have contributed to the deterioration of law and order. Rahman said law enforcement agencies are taking strict measures to control gambling and drugs, and the government is working to ensure peace in public life.&nbsp; He also pledged to dismantle syndicates of wrongdoing and irregularities in every sector.&nbsp;Economic challenges&nbsp;Addressing economic and social challenges, he highlighted the need to transform the large population into a skilled workforce, particularly as the world enters the era of artificial intelligence.&nbsp; He assured students and youth of full government support for intellectual and scientific development and reiterated commitments to employment and a supportive work environment. The premier also called for austerity, responsible governance, and public cooperation as his government begins implementing its commitments.

Bangladesh

Improving law and order and strictly controlling corruption to restore peace and security are the government’s top priorities, Tarique Rahman said, noting that gambling and drugs have contributed to the deterioration of law and order.

Bangladeshi PM vows to establish rule of law, equal rights

ISLAMABAD: The United States has bolstered its military presence in the Middle East in recent days ahead of what Israeli media reports describe as &quot;preparations for a potential joint US-Israeli military campaign against Tehran.&quot;&nbsp; Israeli outlets, including The Times of Israel, cited security sources as saying the emerging plan would likely go beyond limited, symbolic strikes and instead involve coordinated American and Israeli action. Sources quoted in the reports indicated the operation could surpass the scale of the 12-day Israeli-led bombing campaign carried out last June, the operation the US later joined under the codename Midnight Hammer, which targeted Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. According to Israeli reports, the confrontation could begin sooner than many anticipate and may be far broader in scope than previous escalations. US media echoes the sameIt is not only the Israeli media; the US media have also echoed similar reports about a potential campaign against Iran.&nbsp; CBS News was the first major American outlet to report on Wednesday that top national security officials have told President Donald&nbsp;Trump the military is ready for potential strikes on Iran as soon as Saturday. CNN also reported on Thursday that the US military has been placed on high readiness to strike Iranian targets this weekend. Still, President Trump has not yet made a final call on authorizing military action. But one source cautioned that Trump has privately argued both for and against military action and has polled advisers and allies on the best course of action, CNN said. Military buildup and strategic postureOver the past week, US military assets in the Middle East have increased. Reports indicate deployments include aircraft&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-aircraft-carrier-located-near-iran-as-washington-increases-military-pressure" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">carrier</a>&nbsp;strike groups, advanced fighter aircraft, aerial refueling tankers, and support units, a buildup described as one of the most significant in the region in years. The New York Post reported that President Trump is sending the USS Gerald R Ford, along with F-22 and F-35 fighter aircraft and refuelling tankers, toward the region. The naval news outlet US Naval Institute reported that the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier and its strike group departed the Atlantic and were heading toward the Mediterranean via the Strait of Gibraltar. BBC Verify said on Tuesday it has tracked 12 US ships in the Middle East in recent weeks, including destroyers positioned in Bahrain, the eastern Mediterranean near the Souda Bay base, and the Red Sea. Iran&#39;s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday posted on X, saying, &quot;The US President constantly says that the US has sent a warship toward Iran. Of course, a warship is a dangerous piece of military hardware&quot;. &quot;However, more dangerous than that warship is the weapon that can send that warship to the bottom of the sea.&quot;<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2023707826011378060&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4286%2F&sessionId=95318898e0030ebf9e8668c5941f779cfe26e718&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 321px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The USS Gerald R Ford and USS Abraham Lincoln carrier strike groups, along with accompanying vessels, would provide both offensive and defensive capabilities if operations are authorized. CBS also reported that the Pentagon is temporarily relocating some US personnel from parts of the Middle East, primarily to Europe or back to the United States, as a precaution ahead of potential Iranian retaliation if military action proceeds. Diplomacy still in playDespite the heightened military posture, there has been no public confirmation from the White House or Pentagon of an imminent strike order. US officials&nbsp;have maintained that diplomatic engagement remains the preferred course. Indirect talks in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-us-hold-new-geneva-talks-as-khamenei-warns-of-sinking-us-warship" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Geneva</a>&nbsp;between US negotiators and Iranian representatives concluded this week, with Iranian officials saying progress was made on broad principles, though significant differences remain. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at a briefing on Wednesday that there are &ldquo;many reasons and arguments that one could make for a strike against Iran,&rdquo; but stressed that diplomacy remains President Trump&rsquo;s first option. &ldquo;Iran would be very wise to make a deal with President Trump and with his administration,&rdquo; she said. As of Thursday, no formal declaration of military action had been issued by Washington, and the situation remains fluid.

STOCKSHOTS: World's largest aircraft carrier, USS Gerald R. Ford (AFP)

Americas

The United States is increasing its military presence in the Middle East amid reports of a possible joint US-Israeli strike on Iran; media outlets are citing operational readiness, while President Trump has not yet officially authorized any action.

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