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ISLAMABAD: Pakistan government has announced public holidays on the occasion of Eidul Fitr through a notification issued on Sunday. According to the Cabinet Division&rsquo;s notification, the prime minister has declared March 20 and March 21, 2026 (Friday and Saturday), as public holidays for Eidul Fitr. The notification stated that the holidays will apply to offices observing both five-day and six-day working weeks.<img src="https://paktv-assets-7d41fab8.s3.eu-west-2.amazonaws.com/d14d33a7-4d3b-42f8-8d59-481e58866733.png" style="width: 1000px;" class="fr-fic fr-dib">

Culture

According to the Cabinet Division’s notification, the prime minister has declared March 20 and March 21, 2026 (Friday and Saturday), as public holidays for Eidul Fitr.

Pakistan government announces Eidul Fitr holidays

BEIJING:&nbsp;Officials from China and the United States met for trade talks in Paris on Sunday, China&#39;s state news agency Xinhua said. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent was due to meet Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to hash out trade issues between the world&#39;s two largest economies, less than three weeks before President Donald Trump is expected to make an official visit to China to meet his counterpart Xi Jinping. China&#39;s state broadcaster CCTV said the talks were being held at the OECD headquarters in Paris. The diplomatic engagements come at a tumultuous time for the global economy, as energy markets are sent spinning from the impact of the US-Israeli war with Iran. Beijing is a close partner of Tehran and has condemned the killing of Iran&#39;s former supreme leader, but it has also criticized Iranian strikes against Gulf states. Trade war&nbsp;China and the United States fought a bruising trade war for much of 2025, with reciprocal tariffs reaching triple digits at one point and export restrictions threatening to wreck global supply chains for critical minerals. Tensions cooled after Trump met Xi in Busan, South Korea, in October, but new US probes into Chinese industrial overcapacity and forced labor announced on Wednesday threaten more instability. China&#39;s commerce ministry said in a statement on Friday that officials in Paris would &quot;conduct consultations on economic and trade issues of mutual concern&quot;, without giving further details about the content of the talks. Bessent, who was to be accompanied by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, said in a statement on Thursday that &quot;economic dialogue&quot; between the countries &quot;is moving forward&quot;. The Paris gathering, which is due to last two days, is seen as setting the stage for Trump&#39;s expected visit to China later this month. Washington has said Trump will visit China from March 31 to April 2, although Beijing has yet to confirm those dates in line with its usual practice.

Asia

Washington has said Trump will visit China from March 31 to April 2, although Beijing has yet to confirm those dates; 

Chinese, US delegations meet for trade talks in Paris: State media

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;On the International Day to Combat Islamophobia &mdash; observed annually on March 15 to raise awareness about prejudice, exclusion, and attacks against Muslims worldwide &mdash; new data from India and other countries indicates a growing trend of anti-Muslim hostility, discrimination, and hatred.&nbsp;India stands out for the scale of documented hate speech incidents in the past year alone, with fresh data pointing to a widening pattern of anti-Muslim hostility, discrimination, and hate.&nbsp;&nbsp;A 2025 report by India Hate Lab documented 1,318 hate speech events targeting religious minorities -- a majority of them Muslims -- across 21 states, one union territory, and the National Capital Territory of Delhi, averaging roughly four incidents a day.&nbsp; The report said this marked a 13% increase from 1,165 incidents in 2024 and a 97% increase from 668 incidents in 2023. The UN High Commisioner Human Rights, Volker T&uuml;rk, released a video statement, saying &ldquo;We need to call out Muslim hatred wherever we find it.&rdquo;<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; line-height: 2;"><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=2033084198085435435&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fmedia-library%2F&sessionId=2ccfa1571c6c120c81b9b8d41e10598d3b8c2617&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>In the European Union, the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights found in 2024 that 47% of Muslims in 13 member states had experienced racial discrimination in the previous five years, up from 39% in 2016.&nbsp; It also found that 35% reported discrimination in the previous 12 months, compared with 25% in 2016. The highest five-year rates were recorded in Austria, Germany, and Finland.&nbsp; According to the Agency, in Germany, a 2025 summary based on official police data said 1,848 Islamophobic offenses were recorded in 2024, along with 79 attacks on mosques.&nbsp; In 2024, Statistics Canada reported a 94% increase in police-reported hate crimes against Muslims in the previous year, a number which experts agree does not capture the full extent of hate due to underreporting. In England and Wales, official Home Office figures recorded 4,478 anti-Muslim religious hate crimes in the year ending March 2025, accounting for 45% of all religious hate crimes where the targeted religion was known.&nbsp; Taken together, the figures suggest that Islamophobia is not confined to one country or one region, and sustained efforts are needed to promote mutual respect among communities for peaceful coexistence. The United Nations General Assembly officially designated March 15 as the International Day to Combat Islamophobia on March 15, 2022, after Pakistan introduced a resolution on behalf of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to raise awareness and fight anti-Muslim hatred worldwide.

United Kingdom

Americas

Europe

Data from across the world, including from India, shows rising anti-Muslim hate, underscoring growing global concern.

International Day to Combat Islamophobia: Data shows anti-Muslim hate rising in India, other countries

KOLKATA: Indian police said Sunday they had arrested a Bangladeshi man for allegedly helping two fellow nationals, accused of murdering a popular student leader in Dhaka, enter India illegally. <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/tens-of-thousands-attend-funeral-of-killed-bangladesh-student-leader" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Sharif Osman Hadi</a>, a vocal India critic who took part in Bangladesh&#39;s 2024 mass uprising, was shot by masked assailants in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-to-seek-un-probe-into-hadi-killing-case" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Dhaka</a> on Dec. 12 and later succumbed to his injuries at a hospital in Singapore. <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/indian-police-arrest-alleged-killers-of-bangladesh-uprising-leader" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">West Bengal police</a>&nbsp;named Faisal Karim Masud and Alamgir Hossain as the prime suspects in the killing and said they allegedly fled <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/bangladesh-police-to-submit-charge-sheet-in-hadi-murder-case-wednesday" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bangladesh</a> through the Haluaghat border with India shortly after Hadi&#39;s attack. India arrested the pair on March 8 and they remain in police custody. Arrest on suspicion&nbsp;On Sunday, West Bengal&#39;s Special Task Force Superintendent Indrajit Sarkar told AFP that Philip Sangma had been arrested on suspicion of helping Masud and Hossain enter the state of West Bengal through its porous border. Sangma was &quot;held on Saturday for facilitating the illegal entry of the two prime suspects in the murder of Bangladeshi youth activist (Sharif Osman) Hadi,&quot; Sarkar said, adding that he appeared in a district court on Saturday before being remanded to police custody for a week. Hadi&#39;s death set off violent protests in Bangladesh. India-Bangladesh ties&nbsp;The killing further strained ties between India and Bangladesh that had frayed since former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled the pro-democracy uprising and sought refuge in India. India&#39;s foreign ministry has said it rejects &quot;false narratives&quot; about New Delhi&#39;s involvement in Hadi&#39;s killing.

Bangladesh

On Sunday, West Bengal's Special Task Force Superintendent Indrajit Sarkar told AFP that Philip Sangma had been arrested on suspicion of helping Masud and Hossain enter the state of West Bengal through its porous border. 

India arrests another suspect in Bangladesh uprising leader's killing

ISLAMABAD: On the International Day to Combat Islamophobia on March 15, the prime minister and the president of Pakistan called for increased global cooperation to fight discrimination against Muslims and safeguard religious freedoms. In a message issued on Sunday by the President&#39;s Office, President Asif Ali Zardari said the day, observed following a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly, was an opportunity to stand &ldquo;against hatred, discrimination and intolerance directed at Muslims worldwide.&rdquo; &lsquo;Respect for religious diversity&rsquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;The day calls attention to the rise in prejudice and violence faced by Muslim communities and to the need for tolerance and respect for religious diversity,&rdquo; the president said. Recalling the Christchurch mosque shootings in New Zealand on March 15, 2019, he noted that the tragedy &ldquo;shocked the conscience of humanity.&rdquo; The president said Islamophobia manifests through &ldquo;hate speech, discrimination, attacks on religious symbols and places of worship,&rdquo; adding that such acts &ldquo;violate fundamental human rights and run counter to the basic principle that all people deserve equal treatment under the law.&rdquo; He emphasized that &ldquo;Islam teaches peace, compassion and justice,&rdquo; and said that &ldquo;attempts to link Islam with extremism or violence reflect ignorance and weaken efforts to promote dialogue and mutual understanding among civilizations.&rdquo; &lsquo;Free and equal&rsquo;Highlighting international human rights standards, the president said the Universal Declaration of Human Rights affirms that all people are born &ldquo;free and equal in dignity and rights,&rdquo; and that everyone is entitled to these rights without distinction, including religion. He added that Pakistan &ldquo;has ratified several human rights conventions&rdquo; and continues to raise the issue of Islamophobia at international forums. &ldquo;Freedom of expression is a fundamental right, but it carries responsibility. It must not be used to incite hatred or division,&rdquo; the president said.<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" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2032980068730048907&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b6d38365a2cf36976d856bbda67d4eed7ba70976&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 873px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2032980068730048907"></iframe></div></div>Pakistan condemns Islamophobia: PMMeanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan has consistently raised its voice against Islamophobia globally. The prime minister said that&nbsp;the International Day to Combat Islamophobia is a global voice in condemning prejudice against Islam and Muslims.<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-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-2&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2033079421460955454&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b6d38365a2cf36976d856bbda67d4eed7ba70976&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 897px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2033079421460955454"></iframe></div></div>He added that the UN resolution on combating Islamophobia &ldquo;discourages discriminatory and hateful behavior against Muslims worldwide,&rdquo; stressing that &ldquo;civilized societies do not discriminate in human rights on the basis of beliefs, but are based on mutual respect and sacrifice.&rdquo; Sharif said Pakistan &ldquo;condemns all forms of Islamophobia,&rdquo; adding that &ldquo;the religion of Islam is a message of peace and harmony for all mankind,&rdquo; and that &ldquo;attributing Islam to extremist views is blatant ignorance.&rdquo; Pakistan committed to eliminating Islamophobia: DarIn a separate message, Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Senator Ishaq Dar said Pakistan remains firmly committed to advancing international efforts to counter Islamophobia.<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-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2033057638603276452&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=b6d38365a2cf36976d856bbda67d4eed7ba70976&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 925px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2033057638603276452"></iframe></div></div>&ldquo;We are working with OIC Member States and the UN Special Envoy to Combat Islamophobia on the development of a UN Plan of Action that would provide a structured framework to understand better, prevent, and eliminate this challenge,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; Dar stressed that the international community must stand united in condemning Islamophobia while also addressing the structural conditions that allow it to flourish. &nbsp; &ldquo;Pakistan calls upon all nations to undertake sustained efforts to promote mutual respect, dialogue, and understanding among communities, and to uphold the values of tolerance, dignity, and peaceful coexistence,&rdquo; he added.

Foreign Affairs

President Asif Ali Zardari says the International Day to Combat Islamophobia on March 15 calls attention to the rise in prejudice and violence faced by Muslim communities and to the need for tolerance and respect for religious diversity.

Pakistan president, PM urge global cooperation to combat Islamophobia

HANOI: Polling stations opened in Vietnam, AFP journalists saw Sunday, as voters began casting their ballots for members of the National Assembly of the one-party state.&nbsp;The National Assembly is the country&#39;s top legislative body, but serves mainly to ratify decisions by the ruling Communist Party.&nbsp;The Southeast Asian nation of 100 million is both an economic success story, boasting eight percent growth last year, and a repressive one-party state that often jails its critics.&nbsp;Out of 864 candidates for the 500-seat legislature, which serves mainly to ratify decisions by the ruling Communist Party, only 65 are not party members.&nbsp;In the capital Hanoi, patriotic red-and-yellow banners fluttered from lampposts and traffic lights, extolling the &quot;national festival&quot; where people &quot;eagerly cast ballots&quot;.&nbsp;Elderly voters, well-dressed in suits or traditional costumes, were some of the first to cast their ballots at polling stations.&nbsp;&quot;I do expect top leaders after this election will make major changes to make our country better,&quot; Nguyen Thi Kim, 73, told AFP at a polling station set up in a community room of a high-rise residential block in Hanoi.&nbsp;Among the new parliament&#39;s first tasks when it sits next month will be to confirm top leaders already selected by the party at its twice-a-decade congress in January.&nbsp;The president, prime minister and head of the national assembly will all be confirmed by lawmakers&#39; votes.&nbsp;Top leader To Lam was reaffirmed as general secretary at the congress, but he is widely expected to become president as well -- a post that requires approval by lawmakers.&nbsp;This general election aims &quot;to choose the most prestigious people to continue leading the country to more development&quot;, To Lam said on live TV after casting his ballot.&nbsp;Most polling stations were due to close at 7:00 pm (1200 GMT), with results not expected for at least a week.

Polling stations open across Vietnam as voters elect members of the 500-seat National Assembly of Vietnam

Polls open in Vietnam legislative election

ISLAMABAD: The current United States war with Iran is putting pressure on the American weapons pipeline, with expensive missiles being consumed faster than industry can replace them.&nbsp; A report published by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, and an article in The National Interest, point to the problem: modern high-intensity war burns through precision weapons very quickly, while the factories and chemicals behind those weapons move much more slowly.&nbsp;The think tank&rsquo;s report found that, in a major war, the United States could exhaust some critical missile inventories within days or about a week, and that rebuilding certain stockpiles could take years.&nbsp; The report modeled a conflict in Taiwan, but the core lesson is broader: when a war depends heavily on long-range strikes, stockpiles can shrink at wartime speed while production remains on peacetime timelines.&nbsp; Applying that logic to the current war with Iran suggests a similar strain if American forces keep firing interceptors, cruise missiles, and other guided munitions in repeated rounds.&nbsp; The National Interest article explains why replacement is so slow.&nbsp; One of the biggest bottlenecks is the solid rocket motor, the engine inside many missiles. These motors depend on specialty chemicals, certified plants, strict safety rules, and highly skilled workers.&nbsp; The article says this is not a production chain that can be expanded quickly in the middle of a war, and notes that the United States industry has narrowed from six domestic producers to two main manufacturers over the past two decades.&nbsp; It also identifies ammonium perchlorate, a key chemical used in solid rocket fuel, as a major chokepoint. If supplies of the chemical tighten or a plant goes down, missile output can slow across several programs at once. The problem is not just how many weapons the United States has today, but how hard it would be to replace them if the war keeps dragging on.

Middle East

The United States war with Iran is straining missile supplies, as analysts warn that precision weapons are being used faster than they can be replaced because production depends on slow, fragile supply chains.

Missile shortages loom as US-Israeli war on Iran drags on

ISLAMABAD: Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament) has officially recognized Md. Shafiqur Rahman, MP from Dhaka-15, as the Leader of the Opposition in the 13th Jatiya Sangsad, state run Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha (BSS) reported on Saturday. According to a gazette notification issued by the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat, the recognition was given under Rule 2(1)(Ta) of the Rules of Procedure of the Jatiya Sangsad of Bangladesh and the Leader and Deputy Leader of the Opposition (Remuneration and Privileges) Act, 2021. The notification also said that Syed Abdullah Muhammad Taher, MP from Cumilla-11, has been recognized as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition under the same law. The recognition was given by the Speaker considering the parliamentary party or alliance having the highest number of members opposing the government in the 13th parliament. The gazette notification was issued on March 12, 2026, by the Bangladesh Jatiya Sangsad Secretariat.

The Banglasdeshi Jamaat-e-Islami Ameer, Md Shafiqur Rahman was recognized as the Opposition Leader in the 13th Parliament of Bangladesh

Shafiqur Rahman recognized as Opposition Leader in Bangladeshi Parliament

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) on Sunday rejected India&rsquo;s remarks regarding Islamabad&rsquo;s actions against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, calling New Delhi&rsquo;s stance &ldquo;absurd&rdquo; and &ldquo;shamefully hypocritical.&rdquo; The response came after India&rsquo;s Ministry of External Affairs criticized Pakistan over strikes inside Afghan territory.&nbsp; &quot;India condemns air strikes by Pakistan in Afghanistan&#39;s territory,&quot; an Indian statement said. &quot;Pakistani establishment remains hostile to the idea of a sovereign Afghanistan.&quot; In a statement, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said India&rsquo;s comments regarding Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;legitimate, targeted and precise actions against terrorist hideouts and support bases inside Afghanistan&rdquo; were unwarranted. Andrabi accused India of supporting terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil. &ldquo;India&rsquo;s active support and sponsorship of terrorist groups operating from Afghan soil, including Fitna-al-Khawarij and Fitna-al-Hindustan, are well known,&rdquo; he said. He added that India&rsquo;s criticism reflected &ldquo;frustration at the destruction of its terrorist franchise in Afghanistan.&rdquo; The spokesperson also pointed to India&rsquo;s record in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, saying New Delhi continued to violate international law in the region. He further said that following &ldquo;extreme Hindutva ideology,&rdquo; India had systematically &ldquo;marginalized minorities,&rdquo; promoted &ldquo;Islamophobia,&rdquo; and even &ldquo;weaponized water.&rdquo; He said that, &ldquo;India has not only played the role of a spoiler in Afghanistan, but also in the entire region.&rdquo; The spokesperson said Pakistan remained committed to protecting its citizens and would continue to act in line with international law.

 Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) rejects India’s remarks regarding Islamabad’s actions against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, calling New Delhi’s stance “absurd” and “shamefully hypocritical.”

Pakistan rejects India's 'absurd', 'hypocritical' stance on actions in Afghanistan

WASHINGTON:&nbsp;The Pentagon on Saturday released the identities of six US crew members killed during the crash of a refueling aircraft in western Iraq earlier this week, which authorities said was not caused by &quot;hostile fire.&quot; The KC-135 aerial refueling aircraft crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, bringing the number of US troops killed in operations against Iran to at least 13. A second aircraft involved in the operation landed safely. The Pentagon said the six members killed in the crash were: John Klinner, 33, of Auburn, Alabama; Ariana Savino, 31, of Covington, Washington; Ashley Pruitt, 34, of Bardstown, Kentucky; Seth Koval, 38, of Mooresville, Indiana; Curtis Angst, 30, of Wilmington, Ohio; and Tyler Simmons, 28, of Columbus, Ohio. The first three were members of the US Air Force, while the latter three were stationed with the US Air National Guard. The crash remains under investigation, Pentagon officials said, but US Central Command previously stated that &quot;the loss of the aircraft was not due to hostile fire or friendly fire.&quot; The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which is a loose alliance of Iran-backed Iraqi factions, claimed to have downed a KC-135. They also said they had targeted another plane that escaped. Since the start of the Middle East war, the alliance has been claiming daily attacks on US interests in Iraq and across the region. The KC-135 crash is at least the fourth US military aircraft lost during the war, after three F-15s were shot down by friendly fire over Kuwait. KC-135s, which have been in operation for more than 60 years, generally have a crew of three -- a pilot, a copilot and a third who operates the boom used to refuel other aircraft, according to the US Air Force. But some KC-135 missions require a navigator, and the aircraft can carry up to 37 passengers, an Air Force factsheet said. Early in the war&mdash;which began on February 28&mdash;Kuwaiti forces mistakenly downed three American F-15E fighters, but all six crew members were able to eject, according to CENTCOM. That incident occurred during combat, including &quot;attacks from Iranian aircraft, ballistic missiles, and drones,&quot; the military command said at the time.

The Pentagon release the identities of six US crew members killed during the crash of a refueling aircraft in western Iraq earlier this week, which authorities said was not caused by "hostile fire."

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