Web Desk

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;The Pakistan embassy in the UAE launched an online registration system on Monday to enhance coordination with its citizens living in the emirates as the escalating&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/no-us-troops-on-ground-in-iran-now-but-well-go-as-far-as-we-need-defense-secretary" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">conflict</a>&nbsp;between Iran, Israel, and the United States continues. The move follows a series of retaliatory strikes across the Persian Gulf that have claimed the life of at least one Pakistani national in Abu Dhabi. Emergency response measures The Embassy of Pakistan in Abu Dhabi and the Consulate General in Dubai established 24-hour facilitation desks on Sunday to support the expatriate community. Officials encouraged all Pakistanis in the region to register through a new digital portal to ensure &quot;necessary support and coordination&quot; during the crisis. <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" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 608px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=2028355254497267834&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4519%2F&sessionId=f3acbf03de11989d80aa5ca41fdf7613e1ac2b52&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The diplomatic mission said it remains &quot;fully engaged&quot; even as explosions were reported in Dubai and Doha for a third consecutive day. The outreach efforts come as the regional security situation deteriorates following the killing of Iran&rsquo;s supreme leader. Travel advisory issued Authorities have advised Pakistani nationals to avoid all non-mandatory travel to Iran. Those currently residing in Iran were instructed to exercise extreme caution, minimize movement, and maintain regular contact with Pakistani diplomatic missions. The conflict has expanded significantly, with <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-israel-strikes-iran-live-updates" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Hezbollah launching</a> rocket barrages into Israel and Israeli forces conducting broad strikes on Tehran.

A plume of smoke rises from the Zayed Port following a reported Iranian strike in Abu Dhabi on March 1, 2026. (AFP)

Foreign Affairs

Security

The embassy launches an emergency registration portal and 24-hour facilitation desks in the UAE to coordinate support, manage potential evacuations, and assist citizens stranded by the intensifying regional conflict.

Pakistan launches UAE registration system to protect citizens as ME conflict escalates

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; font-style: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-weight: 600; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: capitalize; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; white-space: nowrap; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); text-decoration-thickness: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-color: initial; float: none; display: inline !important;" id="isPasted">&Icirc;LE LONGUE: President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that France will expand its atomic arsenal and could deploy nuclear-armed aircraft to allied countries for the first time, as he unveiled a plan to bolster security on the continent. Speaking from the Ile Longue nuclear submarine base as the clock ticks on his presidency, Macron announced that eight European countries including Germany, Poland, Sweden and Britain had agreed to participate in what he called a &quot;forward&quot; nuclear deterrence scheme. In a joint statement following Macron&#39;s speech, France and Germany said they had set up a &quot;nuclear steering group&quot;, saying such an arrangement would &quot;add to, not substitute for, NATO&#39;s nuclear deterrence&quot;. &quot;We are currently experiencing a period of geopolitical upheaval fraught with risks,&quot; Macron said, speaking after the launch of US and Israeli attacks against Iran in a campaign that risks destabilising the Middle East. &quot;We must strengthen our nuclear deterrent in the face of multiple threats, and we must consider our deterrence strategy deep within the European continent, with full respect for our sovereignty.&quot; Macron said eight European countries had agreed to join his plan to use France&#39;s nuclear stockpile to bolster security on the continent. The countries&mdash;including the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, and Denmark&mdash;will be able to temporarily host French &quot;strategic air forces,&quot; which will be able to &quot;spread out across the European continent&quot; to &quot;complicate the calculations of our adversaries,&quot; he said. The scheme could also involve &quot;the conventional participation of allied forces in our nuclear activities&quot;, such as recent military exercises in which British forces have been involved, Macron added. He stressed that France would maintain tight control over nuclear decision-making. In the joint statement, France and Germany said they had agreed to take &quot;first concrete steps beginning this year,&quot; including German conventional participation in French nuclear exercises. &#39;Arming up with our friends&#39;Macron updated France&#39;s nuclear doctrine as Russia&#39;s war against Ukraine grinds into a fifth year and NATO allies worry about Washington&#39;s wavering commitment to Europe. Reassurances from US officials that the American deterrent would continue to cover Europe under the NATO alliance have done little to quell European fears&nbsp;of fickleness under US President Donald Trump. Macron stressed the new effort would be &quot;in addition to NATO&#39;s nuclear mission.&quot; &quot;The forward deterrence we are proposing is a separate effort, which has its own value and is fully complementary to NATO&#39;s, both strategically and technically,&quot; he said. He also said he ordered an increase in the number of nuclear warheads but added France would no longer be disclosing any details on its stockpile. Macron listed the measures as France&#39;s allies fret that a possible win by the eurosceptic far-right National Rally party of Marine Le Pen in next year&#39;s presidential election could undermine European cooperation. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Poland was in talks with France and other European allies on further steps. &quot;We are arming up together with our friends so that our enemies will never dare to attack us,&quot; he said on X. Swedish PM Ulf Kristersson also said his country viewed Macron&#39;s initiative &quot;positively.&quot; &quot;Naturally, we would most like to see a world completely free of nuclear weapons,&quot; he said. &quot;But as long as Russia has these weapons and threatens its neighbors, democracies must be able to deter attacks and safeguard our own security and freedom.&quot; Electoral politicsFrance maintains the world&#39;s fourth-largest nuclear arsenal, with around 290 warheads.&nbsp;Britain, which is no longer a member of the EU, is the only other European nuclear power. By contrast, the US and Russia, the world&#39;s two main atomic powers, each have thousands of nuclear warheads. Rafael Loss, a policy fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations, warned that a far-right electoral victory next year &quot;could walk back many or even most of these steps.&quot; &quot;Macron emphasized that France would not share decision-making authority and that it would not conduct joint planning of nuclear operations with European partners&mdash;suspicions that the French fringes harbor as undermining French sovereignty,&quot; he told AFP. &quot;Still, electoral politics can have a great impact on the credibility of nuclear deterrence as perceived by allies and adversaries&mdash;as developments since Trump&#39;s re-election demonstrate.&quot;

Europe

President Emmanuel Macron said France will expand its atomic arsenal and could deploy nuclear-armed aircraft to allied countries for the first time, as he unveiled a plan to bolster security on the continent

France to boost nuclear arsenal, could deploy atomic weapons to European allies

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-says-297-taliban-fighters-killed-in-afghanistan-strikes" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">military campaign</a>, Operation Ghazab lil-Haq, entered its fourth day on Monday with intensified strikes inside Afghanistan. It has killed 435 operatives and destroyed 188 checkposts, according to official updates. In a statement posted to X (Twitter) at 3 p.m. local time, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar reported that Pakistani forces injured more than 630 others since the multi-domain offensive began on Feb. 26. He confirmed that 31 posts were captured and 188 tanks, armored vehicles, and artillery guns were destroyed. Tarar stated that 51 locations across Afghanistan were &quot;effectively targeted by air.&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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 453px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=2028422206955704407&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=092574d2423100f6e24a1677225e793a41889c9e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The Director General of the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Lt. Gen. Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, has defined the operation as a &quot;measured and proportionate response&quot; to unprovoked cross-border aggression. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Tahir Andrabi called the engagement an &ldquo;effective and forceful response&rdquo; to safeguard territorial integrity during a weekly press briefing on Feb. 26. Addressing a <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/president-zardari-warns-afghanistan-over-militant-sanctuaries-says-pakistan-ready-to-act" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">joint sitting of Parliamen</a>t on Monday, President Asif Ali Zardari warned Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim government to dismantle <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/no-dialogue-pakistan-says-terrorism-from-afghanistan-must-end" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">terrorist groups</a> operating from its territory. He said that Pakistan would not tolerate cross-border attacks and &quot;will respond decisively&quot; to any aggression. &quot;The Taliban regime saw with shock and awe what Pakistan could do if pushed past the red line,&quot; Zardari said. He added that security forces acted quickly to signal zero tolerance for incursions into sovereign territory. The President noted that despite repeated diplomatic engagements, the Afghan de facto regime continues to provide safe havens to groups, including the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/ttptaliban-nexus-exposed-as-attacks-and-retaliation-mirror-each-other" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer"></a>and IS-KP. He said that commitments made during <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-afghanistan-agree-to-immediate-ceasefire-after-peace-talks-in-doha" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">talks in Doha</a> to prevent such activity have been ignored. Pakistan&#39;s defense minister, Khawaja Asif, characterized the current security climate as an &quot;open war,&quot; stating that national patience regarding border incursions has been exhausted.

A Pakistani soldier stands guard in a bunker at the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Chaman on February 27, 2026, following overnight cross-border firing between the two countries. (AFP)

Airstrikes have destroyed key military assets, including tanks and artillery, and caused significant militant casualties, as Pakistan continues its offensive against Taliban and terrorist camps in Afghanistan.

Operation Ghazab lil-Haq: 435 Taliban fighters, terrorists killed as Pakistan continues strikes

ISLAMABAD: US officials informed congressional staff that there was no intelligence indicating Iran intended to attack United States forces prior to the joint US-Israeli strikes, according to sources familiar with the sessions, CNN reported. The disclosure by CNN contradicts public statements from the Trump administration claiming a preemptive strike on Iran was needed to prevent an &ldquo;imminent threat.&rdquo; According to CNN, officials acknowledged in closed-door briefings that Iran&rsquo;s intent was defensive. Sources reportedly said the Pentagon cited Iran&rsquo;s ballistic missile program and proxy forces as persistent threats but noted these capabilities had existed for years and did not justify a pre-emptive strike. No intelligence on Iran&#39;s readiness to strike USIn an interview with the American news organization, the Vice Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator Mark Warner, said he &ldquo;saw no intelligence that Iran was on the verge of launching any kind of pre-emptive strike against the United States of America.&rdquo; The Democrat lawmaker described the administration&rsquo;s decision as a &ldquo;war of choice&rdquo; and questioned the timing of the strike. &ldquo;The decision to put our service members in harm&rsquo;s way was entirely based upon the President&rsquo;s decision, not an imminent threat to America,&rdquo; he said to CNN. Administration claims Senior officials said Saturday that the US launched strikes on Iran because of indications the regime might pre-emptively attack US bases, according to CNN. The sources said there was no intelligence to support that rationale. Briefers said US forces focused the first two days on destroying Iranian air defenses and command-and-control nodes. Sources said future operations would target ballistic missile launch sites. Officials said the US has been &ldquo;burning through long-range precision guided munitions&rdquo; and would continue until US and Israeli forces were confident of air superiority over Iran. White House spokesperson Dylan Johnson said the Pentagon &ldquo;briefed the bipartisan staffs of several national security committees in both chambers for over 90 minutes on the military action in Iran.&rdquo; Warnings of potential retaliation Warner said the president missed an earlier opportunity in January, when millions of Iranians were protesting, to take strategic action. At that time, an aircraft carrier capable of supporting operations was off the coast of Venezuela, and European allies were distracted. He said eliminating Iran&rsquo;s supreme leader could benefit regional stability but warned of potential retaliation. &ldquo;We have had very little visibility into what happens next after the supreme leader is eliminated,&rdquo; Warner said. Warner described the Iranian regime as deeply entrenched and likely to resist. &ldquo;We are seeing just the opening salvos of what could be a sustained war in the region,&rdquo; he said. He stated that the US president must justify military actions to Congress and the American people. &ldquo;When the president commits American forces to a war of choice, he needs to come before Congress and the American people and ask for a declaration of war.&rdquo;

Residents stand on a street beside damaged residential buildings near Niloufar square in Tehran during the ongoing joint US-Israeli military campaign on Iran on March 2, 2026. (AFP)

Americas

The disclosure by CNN contradicts public statements from the Trump administration claiming a pre-emptive strike on Iran was needed to prevent an 'imminent threat.'

Congresssional staff told no evidence Iran had planned first strike on US

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari on Monday warned Afghanistan&rsquo;s interim government to dismantle&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/armed-forces-ready-to-defend-pakistans-sovereignty-field-marshal-munir" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">terrorist groups</a>&nbsp;operating from their territory, saying Pakistan will not tolerate cross-border attacks and &ldquo;will respond decisively&rdquo; to any aggression. Addressing a joint sitting of Parliament, Zardari said Pakistan had exercised restraint but acted firmly when its sovereignty was challenged. Cross-border attacks The president said the past 10 months&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/no-dialogue-pakistan-says-terrorism-from-afghanistan-must-end" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">tested the country</a>&nbsp;in &ldquo;profound and complex ways.&rdquo; He said that when confronted with attacks on its borders, Pakistan responded with &ldquo;strategic restraint and firm resolve.&rdquo; On the western border, he said, security forces acted quickly after an increase in attacks on Feb. 26 by the Taliban regime. &ldquo;Our security forces acted decisively to signal zero tolerance for any incursions into our sovereign territory,&rdquo; he said. He stated that the political leadership stood united and the people of Pakistan &ldquo;resolute.&rdquo; Warning to Kabul Zardari said Pakistan had tried &ldquo;every possible form of diplomacy&rdquo; to prevent escalation after terrorist incursions from Afghan territory. But he warned that patience has limits. &ldquo;The Taliban regime saw with shock and awe what Pakistan could do if pushed past the red line,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We let both India and Afghanistan see a fraction of our capability.&rdquo; He cited Article 51 of the UN Charter, which he said gives Pakistan the right to defend its sovereignty. He said Pakistan would not allow any entity to use neighboring territory to destabilize its peace. President Zardari said that despite repeated diplomatic engagements, the Afghan de facto regime continues to provide safe havens to groups including Al-Qaeda, <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-urges-unsc-to-designate-bla-as-terrorist-group" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">Balochistan Liberation Army</a> (BLA) and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Commitments made in Doha to prevent such activity, he said, had been ignored. &ldquo;They must choose to dismantle the terrorist groups that survive on conflict and its war economy,&rdquo; he said, urging Afghanistan&rsquo;s rulers not to allow their country to be used as a battlefield for other powers. Broader security message The president said the past year tested Pakistan in &ldquo;profound and complex ways.&rdquo; He said the country responded with &ldquo;strategic restraint and firm resolve&rdquo; when its sovereignty was challenged. He praised the armed forces for successful operations on both eastern and western borders and said the political leadership and the public stood united. &ldquo;The soil of Pakistan is sacred,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We will not allow any entity, domestic or foreign, to destabilize our peace.&rdquo; Regional and global stance Zardari condemned the war on Iran while negotiations were underway, saying the attacks undermined peace. He said Pakistan supports Iran&rsquo;s sovereignty and territorial integrity. The president described ties with China as having reached new heights and thanked&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/president-xi-says-china-to-hit-2025-growth-target-of-around-5" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">President Xi Jinping</a>&nbsp;for solidarity and cooperation. Economy and federation President Zardari linked&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-defies-panic-as-foreign-investment-continues-to-rise" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);" rel="noopener noreferrer">economic stability</a>&nbsp;to national security. He said the government had steered the country away from economic collapse in 2022 and restored stability to key indicators. He called for inclusive growth, structural reforms and transparency in taxation. He also focused on energy reform, climate resilience, agricultural stability and equitable resource distribution among provinces. &ldquo;A strong federation does not require centralization,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It requires coordination and constitutional governance.&rdquo;

Says Pakistan has exercised restraint but acted firmly against cross-border attacks; criticizes Afghan Taliban for harboring militants, and warns that continued safe havens for groups like TTP, BLA, and al-Qaida would provoke a decisive response.

President Zardari warns Afghanistan over militant sanctuaries, says Pakistan ready to act

WASHINGTON: The US defense secretary on Monday declined to rule out putting troops on the ground in Iran and indicated the war launched over the weekend could go on for as long as six weeks.&nbsp;US forces began carrying out sweeping strikes on Iran Saturday in concert with military action by Israel, and have struck hundreds of targets across the country since then, including the Islamic republic&#39;s missiles, navy and command-and-control sites.&nbsp;When asked if the United States already had boots on the ground, Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth told a news conference: &quot;No, but we&#39;re not going to go into the exercise of what we will or will not do.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;We&#39;ll go as far as we need to go,&quot; he said.&nbsp;&quot;I think it&#39;s one of those fallacies for a long time that this department or presidents or others should tell the American people and our enemies by the way, &#39;Here&#39;s exactly what we&#39;ll do, here&#39;s exactly how long we&#39;ll go,&#39;&quot; he said.&nbsp;As for how long the war will last, Hegseth said: &quot;Four weeks, two weeks, six weeks, it could move up. It could move back.&quot;&nbsp;He sought to differentiate the Iran operation from past long-running US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, saying the war is not an effort to build democracy in Iran.&nbsp;&quot;No stupid rules of engagement, no nation building quagmire, no democracy-building exercise. No politically correct wars. We fight to win and we don&#39;t waste time or lives,&quot; the Pentagon chief said.&nbsp;&quot;This is not Iraq. This is not endless,&quot; Hegseth said. &quot;Our generation knows better and so does this president. He called the last 20 years of nation building wars &#39;dumb&#39; and he&#39;s right.&quot;&nbsp;&quot;With every passing day, our capabilities get stronger and Iran&#39;s get weaker. We set the terms of this war from start to finish. Our ambitions are not utopian, they are realistic scoped to our interests and the defense of our people and our allies,&quot; he added.&nbsp;General Dan Caine, the top US military officer, spoke alongside Hegseth, saying that air superiority had been achieved over Iran.&nbsp;Strikes by American forces &quot;resulted in the establishment of local air superiority. This air superiority will not only enhance the protection of our forces, but also allow them to continue the work over Iran,&quot; Caine said.&nbsp;

Central Asia

Middle East

The US defense secretary declined to rule out putting troops on the ground in Iran and indicated the war launched over the weekend could go on for as long as six weeks.

Pentagon chief refuses to rule out 'boots on ground' in Iran

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Monday debunked claims that Afghan forces conducted airstrikes on Pakistani military bases, calling the reports &quot;completely false.&quot; The move follows social media posts and news reports from Kabul alleging that the interim Afghan Taliban government targeted high-profile installations deep within Pakistani territory. Claims of strikes The Afghan Defense Ministry announced Sunday on the social media platform X that its air force had allegedly struck military bases in Pakistan. The ministry cited attacks near the Nur Khan base in Rawalpindi. <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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=2028176116096418246&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4519%2F&sessionId=f3acbf03de11989d80aa5ca41fdf7613e1ac2b52&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div> Local news outlets, such as TOLO news, reported that security sources said Afghan forces targeted the army corps headquarters in the city of Quetta, Balochistan. The report claimed the strikes responded to &quot;indiscriminate bombings&quot; by the Pakistani military. Indian media outlets amplified the fabrications a day later. They described a &quot;dramatic escalation&quot; in regional tensions. Some reports linked the hostilities to wider conflicts involving Iran, Israel and the United States. State rebuttal The information ministry&rsquo;s fact-check wing rejected the claims, describing them as &quot;futile efforts&quot; to create &quot;fake success stories.&quot; Officials stated the Afghan Taliban lack the capability to conduct long-range aerial attacks. <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" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 948px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=2028073199427059984&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4519%2F&sessionId=f3acbf03de11989d80aa5ca41fdf7613e1ac2b52&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The ministry noted the Taliban air force relies on a small fleet of aging Mi-17 helicopters and captured aircraft. It said the group lacks modern combat jets and maintenance support. The XII Corps headquarters in Quetta sits more than 150 kilometers from the border. Pakistan officials said the site is protected by robust air defense systems. Border allegations The claims follow a separate debunked report on Feb. 28 alleging a US Navy MQ-4C Triton drone landed at a Pakistani airbase in Jiwani. Pakistan officials stated that no foreign military is using their territory. They identified the drone as a specific US Navy model but said it never entered Pakistani airspace.

Officials load emergency relief supplies aboard a C-130 aircraft at Nur Khan Air Base in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on May 7, 2022. (APP) 

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting debunked reports of Afghan airstrikes inside Pakistan, citing the Taliban's lack of long-range aerial capabilities and Pakistan's robust air defenses.

Pakistan debunks fabricated Afghan reports of strikes on airbase

NICOSIA: An Iranian drone hit the runway of a UK military base in Cyprus on Monday, prompting the EU to vow solid backing for member states as the <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-israel-strikes-iran-live-updates" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">US-Israeli conflict</a> with Iran spread. Cyprus President Nikos Christodoulides said that just after midnight (2200 GMT), &quot;a Shahed unmanned aerial vehicle crashed into the military facilities of the British Bases in Akrotiri, causing minor material damage&quot;. Britain&#39;s foreign minister said the drone had hit a runway. &quot;This is an unmanned drone strike specifically on the airport runway... we&#39;re not able to provide further information and detail at this point, but obviously all of the precautionary measures are being taken around the base,&quot; Yvette Cooper told Sky News. The European Union, of which Cyprus is a member state, reacted immediately. &quot;While the Republic of Cyprus was not the target, let me be clear: we stand collectively, firmly and unequivocally with our Member States in the face of any threat,&quot; EU chief Ursula von der Leyen said after talks with Christodoulis. &quot;We are in a region of particular geopolitical instability with many challenges and problems, which is going through an unprecedented crisis. Our homeland does not participate in any way and does not intend to be part of any military operation,&quot; Christodoulides said earlier. Britain agreed on Sunday to allow the United States to use British <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/journalists-held-for-filming-near-airbase-hosting-us-forces-in-turkey" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">military bases</a> to fire &quot;defensive&quot; strikes aimed at destroying Iranian missiles and their launchers. The Royal Air Force Akrotiri base is a British overseas territory near the southern coastal city of Limassol. While announcing that British bases can be used by US forces for defensive strikes, Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed that Britain was &quot;not involved in the initial strikes on Iran and we will not join offensive action now&quot;. &quot;But Iran is pursuing a scorched-earth strategy, so we are supporting the collective self-defense of our allies and our people in the region,&quot; he said in a post on X.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer talks to soldiers at the RAF base in Akrotiri on the southern coast of Cyprus on December 10, 2024. (AFP)

An Iranian drone hit the runway of Britain’s Akrotiri base in Cyprus, causing minor damage. The EU pledged support for member states as US-Israel-Iran tensions escalate in the region.

Iranian drone hits runway of UK base in Cyprus

BEIJING: China called on Monday for a ceasefire and diplomatic talks to end the conflict in the Middle East as it stretched into a third day. Israel and the United States have been conducting strikes on Iran and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/eight-hezbollah-members-killed-in-israels-friday-strikes-official-to-afp" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Lebanon</a>, with the conflict extending to regional neighbors. &quot;The most urgent task is an immediate cessation of military operations and preventing a spread and spillover of conflict,&quot; foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning told a news conference, urging &quot;a resolution through dialogue and negotiation.&quot; One Chinese citizen was killed as a result of the conflict in Tehran, she said, where Israel and the United States have been carrying out strikes in an operation that&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iran-supreme-leader-ali-khamenei-dies-in-israeli-strike-officials-say" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">assassinated the Islamic republic&#39;s supreme leader.</a> &quot;The foreign ministry has instructed the Chinese embassy in Iran to provide assistance to the individual involved and the family,&quot; Mao added, without giving further details of the victim or incident. Beijing warned its citizens last week against travelling to Iran for the time being &quot;in light of the current security situation.&quot; More than 3,000 Chinese nationals have left Iran as of Monday. Iran&#39;s Revolutionary Guards have vowed to launch the &quot;most ferocious&quot; operation in history against Israel and US bases, which are located in Gulf countries that were already counting the cost of an unprecedented series of deadly Iranian strikes. Explosions were heard in Doha, Dubai and Manama over the weekend, according to AFP journalists.

Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, speaks to journalists. (File photo: X/@SpoxCHN_MaoNing)

Asia

Israel and the United States have been conducting strikes on Iran and Lebanon, with the conflict extending to regional neighbors.


China calls for ceasefire, diplomacy to end Middle East conflict

ISLAMABAD: The United States has canceled all visa and American citizen services appointments scheduled for Tuesday, according to an official statement.&nbsp;&ldquo;Due to protest activity around the US Consulates General in Karachi and Lahore, and the US Embassy in Islamabad, all appointments for US visas and American Citizen Services are canceled for tomorrow, March 2,&rdquo; the US Embassy said in a statement.<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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 438px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" 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=2028326669241794713&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=06c3caf29ca8b12712ae2f0851d9ce12a182c089&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>The decision follows the reports of demonstrations outside the US Consulate General Lahore, while violent protests were reported near the US Consulate General Karachi.&nbsp;Officials said they are also monitoring calls for gatherings near the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-israel-strikes-iran-live-updates" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">US Embassy</a>&nbsp;Islamabad and the US Consulate General Peshawar.&nbsp;US government personnel in Pakistan have been advised to limit their movements as a precaution.&nbsp;US citizens have been advised to avoid large gatherings, follow local media for updates, and carry identification.

The decision follows the reports of demonstrations outside the US Consulate General Lahore, while violent protests were reported near the US Consulate General Karachi.

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