Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will visit Qatar this week for talks on trade, energy and regional issues, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Monday. According to an official statement, PM Sharif will travel to Doha from Feb. 23-24 at the invitation of Qatar&rsquo;s Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. He will be accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar along with other ministers and senior officials. The prime minister is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with the Qatari Emir covering political ties, economic cooperation, energy partnership and people-to-people exchanges. Officials from both sides will discuss trade, investment, infrastructure development and manpower export. The agenda also includes regional and global developments. Pakistan and Qatar maintain close coordination at regional and international forums. The visit aims to expand cooperation across multiple sectors and deepen existing ties.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will travel to Doha from Feb. 23-24 at the invitation of Qatar’s Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.

Foreign Affairs

The prime minister is scheduled to hold bilateral talks with the Qatari Emir covering political ties, economic cooperation, energy partnership and people-to-people exchanges.

Pakistan’s PM Sharif to visit Qatar for key trade, energy talks

PALLEKELE: Pakistan on Monday warned England&#39;s inconsistent batting line-up to expect a trial by spin when the teams clash in the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/south-africa-thrash-india-to-end-12match-t20-world-cup-win-streak" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">T20 World Cup</a>&nbsp;Super Eights. Pakistan batsman Sahibzada Farhan told reporters that England struggled to 146-9 against Sri Lanka&#39;s spinners on Sunday. <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/tonup-farhan-helps-pakistan-seal-super-eight-spot-with-namibia-rout" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Farhan</a>&nbsp;said that England can expect more of the same from Pakistan&#39;s spinners when they meet on the same Pallekele ground in Kandy on Tuesday night. Pakistan need a win after their first match against New Zealand was washed out. A defeat would put England, who skittled Sri Lanka for 95 to win by 51 runs, through to the semi-finals with a game to spare. Pakistan would then need to beat Sri Lanka in their final Super Eights match and hope other results go their way to reach the last four. &quot;What we saw in the Sri Lanka-England game was that the ball was gripping and England struggled against spin,&quot; said the in-form opener Farhan on Monday. &quot;Sri Lanka have one or two spinners but we have five in all so we will give England a tough time on a pitch that looks good and will grip,&quot; said Farhan. Pakistan&#39;s spinners have taken 26 wickets in the four matches so far. Their seamers have dismissed only seven batsmen. History will be against Pakistan as they have never beaten England in three previous Twenty20 World Cup clashes. &quot;We are confident and our morale is high,&quot; said Farhan, who scored an unbeaten 100 against <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-opt-to-bat-first-against-namibia-in-do-or-die-match" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Namibia</a> in Pakistan&#39;s final group match. &quot;We are focused on this match to win and progress.&quot; Farhan, who tops the T20 World Cup run-scoring chart with 220, said he was ready for the threat of England&#39;s express pace bowler Jofra Archer. &quot;Facing Archer will not be difficult because I have faced similar bowlers in Pakistan,&quot; said Farhan. &quot;So if he has plans against me, I also have plans against him.&quot; Pakistan are likely to bring in spinner Abrar Ahmed in place of seaming all-rounder <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-opt-to-bat-first-against-namibia-in-do-or-die-match" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Faheem Ashraf</a>. England may name an unchanged side for the fifth match in succession with Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Adil Rashid and Jacob Bethell providing their spin options. Sri Lanka and New Zealand are the two other teams in Pakistan and England&#39;s Super Eights group. They face each other in Colombo on Wednesday. The top two teams will qualify for the semi-finals.

England's Joe Root plays a shot during the ICC Champions Trophy one-day international (ODI) cricket match between England and Afghanistan at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on February 26, 2025. (AFP)

Cricket

Pakistan warned England to expect a spin-heavy challenge in Tuesday’s T20 World Cup Super Eights clash at Pallekele, with Sahibzada Farhan confident as Pakistan seeks a crucial win to advance.

Pakistan warn England's flaky batting to expect a trial by spin

QAMISHLI: US forces that led a coalition against&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/us-kills-alleged-isis-militant-as-syrian-fm-visits-washington" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">ISIS</a>&nbsp;in Syria started leaving a major base in the northeast on Monday and should complete their withdrawal from the country within a month, sources told AFP. The move comes after Kurdish forces, long backed by Washington in the fight against ISIS group, ceded territory to Damascus and agreed to integrate into the state. American forces have already withdrawn from two other bases in the past two weeks, Al-Tanf in the southeast and Shadadi in the northeast. &quot;Within a month, they will have withdrawn from Syria and there will no longer be any military presence in the bases,&quot; a Syrian government official said, with a Kurdish source confirming the timeline. A third source, a diplomat, said the withdrawal should be completed within 20 days. The United States has about 1,000 troops still deployed in Syria. It began withdrawing on Monday from the Qasrak base in the northeast, which is still under the control of <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/kurdish-sdf-fighters-leave-north-syria-prison-under-govt-deal-report" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Kurdish forces</a>, a Kurdish official who requested anonymity told AFP. An AFP team saw a convoy of dozens of trucks, loaded with armoured vehicles and prefabricated structures, on a road linking the Qasrak base in Hasakeh province to the border with Iraq. Syria&#39;s government recently extended its control to the northeast of the country. Washington has drawn close to Syria&#39;s new authorities since the fall of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/syria-selects-members-of-first-postassad-parliament-in-contested-process" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bashar al-Assad</a>&nbsp;in late 2024.

Men watch as a US military mine-resistant ambush protected (MRAP) armored fighting vehicle moves in a convoy along a highway outside Qamishli in Syria's northeastern Hasakah province on February 23, 2026. (AFP)

Middle East

The move comes after Kurdish forces, long backed by Washington in the fight against ISIS group, ceded territory to Damascus and agreed to integrate into the state.

US forces to complete withdrawal from Syria within a month: sources

Web Desk/AFP

ISLAMABAD: India&rsquo;s government on Monday advised all its citizens in Iran to leave the country immediately, citing a worsening security situation, according to the Indian Embassy in Tehran. The advisory covers students, pilgrims, business travelers, and tourists in Iran. The embassy in Tehran recommended departure by any available means, including commercial flights. <div class="fr-embed"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><a href="https://t.co/hVDwTTdhja" style="font-size: 18px;">pic.twitter.com/hVDwTTdhja</a>&mdash; India in Iran (@India_in_Iran) <a href="https://twitter.com/India_in_Iran/status/2025823016672710921?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw" style="font-size: 18px;">February 23, 2026</a></blockquote></div> The advisory asked citizens to carry passports and identification, avoid protest areas, monitor local media, and stay in contact with the embassy for assistance.&nbsp;Emergency helplines were provided for immediate support. The warning comes ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s visit to Israel on Wednesday.&nbsp;Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Modi&rsquo;s trip would help build a new partnership to counter what he called &ldquo;radical&rdquo; threats. Modi first visited Israel in 2017, and Netanyahu visited India the following year.&nbsp;Modi said on Sunday that he looks forward to talks during the visit. &ldquo;India values its long-standing friendship with Israel, based on trust, innovation, and a shared commitment to peace and progress,&rdquo; he wrote on social media.&nbsp; India has expanded cooperation with Israel in defense, agriculture, technology, and security. US-Iran talks The move follows rising regional tensions and ongoing indirect&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iranus-talks-expected-thursday-despite-fears-of-strikes" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;" rel="noopener noreferrer">US-Iran negotiations</a>. Talks are scheduled to resume in Geneva on Feb. 26, 2026. Oman&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Badr Al Busaidi will act as mediator, according to the Omani Foreign Ministry. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that &ldquo;guiding principles&rdquo; had been agreed upon, though technical details remain unresolved, AFP reported. US officials confirmed that progress was made but many issues are still under discussion, as per the US Department of State. Relations sour Relations between Iran and India have soured in recent months, with tensions increasing after India seized three Iranian-linked oil tankers on Feb. 17, 2026, enforcing US sanctions. The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the move as a &ldquo;serious concern&rdquo; for trade and energy cooperation, as per official statements. The Chabahar Port project, a key trade route, faces uncertainty amid US sanctions. India holds a conditional waiver from the US Treasury valid until April 26, 2026, as per the Indian&nbsp;Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal. India has transferred $120 million for port equipment, while a $250 million credit line remains unfulfilled due to sanctions, according to the MEA. Iranian authorities also detained 16 Indian seafarers aboard the MT Valiant Roar since Dec. 8, 2025, over alleged diesel smuggling, according to the MEA.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/crash-pakistan-airspace-ban-push-air-india-toward-16-billion-annual-loss" target="_blank" style="font-size: 18px;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Indian airline</a>&nbsp;carriers, including IndiGo, have suspended flights over Iranian airspace and nearby hubs until at least Feb. 28, 2026, citing security risks.

India advised all citizens in Iran to leave immediately, recommending any available transport including commercial flights. (Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA)

Asia

Indian nationals in Iran are advised to leave immediately with the embassy in Tehran urging nationals to carry travel documents, avoid protests, and stay updated on local media.

India advises citizens to leave Iran over security concerns

BRUSSELS:&nbsp;EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged a &quot;diplomatic solution&quot; on Iran on Monday ahead of expected talks between Tehran and Washington, as US President Donald Trump threatens strikes on the country. &quot;We don&#39;t need another war in this region. We already have a lot,&quot; Kallas said ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers. &quot;It is true that Iran is at its weakest point that they have been. We should be really using this time to find a diplomatic solution.&quot;

Says the world does not need another war; 'we already have a lot.'

EU foreign policy chief calls for 'diplomatic solution' on Iran

GUADALAJARA: The Mexican army announced Sunday that it had killed powerful drug lord Nemesio &quot;El Mencho&quot; Oseguera in an operation that sparked a wave of violence in various parts of the country. Oseguera, the 59-year-old leader of the Jalisco New Generation Cartel, was wounded in a clash with soldiers in the town of Tapalpa, in Jalisco state, and died while being flown to Mexico City, the army said in a statement. He had a $15 million US bounty on his head. Gunmen retaliating for the raid blocked more than 20 roads in western Jalisco state, burning cars and trucks. As violence spread across the country, at least eight states suspended in-person classes, and the judiciary authorized judges to close courts where necessary. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum urged citizens to remain calm. Oseguera, whose nickname was &quot;El Mencho,&quot; is one of the biggest Mexican drug lords to be taken down since the capture of the founders of the Sinaloa cartel, Joaquin &quot;El Chapo&quot; Guzman and Ismael Zambada. Both are now serving time in the United States. Sunday&#39;s statement said that in addition to Mexico&#39;s own military intelligence, the raid was carried out with &quot;complementary information&quot; from US authorities. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Washington &quot;provided intelligence support.&quot; Six suspected cartel gunmen besides Oseguera were killed, and three soldiers were wounded, the Mexican army said. Two cartel suspects were arrested, and a variety of weapons were seized, including rocket launchers capable of taking down airplanes and destroying armored vehicles, the statement said. As gunmen blocked roads with retaliatory violence, Jalisco state, which is scheduled to host four World Cup games this summer, cancelled all events involving large crowds. &#39;Great development for Mexico&#39;&nbsp;The streets of the state capital, Guadalajara, were almost empty as stores, pharmacies, and gas stations shut down. Maria Medina, who works in a gas station that was set on fire, said men with guns showed up and told everyone to get out. &quot;I thought they were going to kidnap us. I ran to a taco stand to take cover with the people there,&quot; Medina told AFP. The violence spread to the neighboring state of Michoacan, where Oseguera&#39;s cartel also has a presence, and to the resort city of Puerto Vallarta. His cartel was formed in 2009 and became one of Mexico&#39;s most violent drug trafficking organizations, according to the US Justice Department. Amid the violence, Guatemala said it was reinforcing &quot;strategic&quot; sections of its frontier with Mexico, which has seen cross-border incursions by criminal groups linked to cartels in recent months. The United States has classified the Jalisco cartel as a terrorist organization and accuses it of sending cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine and fentanyl into the United States. US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau welcomed the operation and called Oseguera &quot;one of the bloodiest and most ruthless drug kingpins.&quot; &quot;This is a great development for Mexico, the US, Latin America, and the world,&quot; he added. The raid came amid pressure from US President Donald Trump for Mexico to stem the flow of drugs, particularly fentanyl, into the United States. Trump has threatened repeatedly to slap tariffs on Mexican exports, arguing that Sheinbaum has not done enough to combat the drug trade. In a statement on social media released after Sunday&#39;s violence broke out, the US State Department urged US citizens in large parts of Mexico to &quot;shelter in place until further notice.&quot; Canada also issued a travel warning for some areas, citing &quot;shootouts with security forces and explosions&quot; in Jalisco, Guerrero and Michoacan states. US and Canadian airlines cancelled dozens of flights to Mexico over the violence, with Air Canada saying cancellations to Puerto Vallarta would stretch into at least Monday.

A view of a burned car, allegedly set on fire by crime groups in response to an operation to arrest a high-priority security target, on a highway near Tlajomulco de Zuniga, Jalisco state, Mexico, on February 22, 2026. (AFP)

Americas

Mexican forces killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes after a clash in Jalisco, triggering nationwide violence, road blockades and school closures, as US authorities confirmed intelligence support and officials urged citizens to remain calm.

Top Mexican drug cartel leader killed

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Security remained on high alert in Sihora town in Madhya Pradesh&rsquo;s Jabalpur district amid communal tensions, two days after clashes between Muslim and Hindu communities, &nbsp;followed by 49 &ldquo;all-Muslim&rdquo; arrests, rocked the area, Indian media reported on Sunday.&nbsp;The police used barricades, foot patrols, and drone surveillance near Azad Chowk in Sihora where a Hindu temple and a mosque face each other.&nbsp;Alongside the official &ldquo;law-and-order&rdquo; updates, fresh social media footage has fuelled claims that Muslims are being targeted and threatened.&nbsp;A video shared on X shows a Hindutva mob using abusive language and hurling rape threats against Muslim women in the area.<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=2025553747435504107&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=8e272fe2cc394a17364e8280373a213894999c0d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 921px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Similar clips and descriptions were also circulated by rights-tracking channels that document anti-Muslim incidents, alleging attacks on Muslim homes and intimidation of residents in Sihora.&nbsp;<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" 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=2025513502807667010&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=8e272fe2cc394a17364e8280373a213894999c0d&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 825px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The backstory to the Jabalpur flare-up dates to Thursday night, Feb. 20, 2026. Indian media reported that violence broke out after a temple grill was allegedly broken, leading to stone-pelting and street clashes.&nbsp; Another Indian media outlet, quoting residents of the area, reported the dispute intensified when an evening Hindu ritual at the temple and prayers at the nearby mosque were taking place at the same time, prompting objections and formation of a Hindutva mob.&nbsp; By Friday, Feb. 21, police had stepped up deployments and used baton-charge and tear gas to disperse crowds, while protests were reported outside the police station by right-wing groups demanding strict action.&nbsp; India media reported that around 500 police personnel were deployed as authorities sought to prevent a repeat flare-up.&nbsp; The discrimination allegation is now focused on arrests and access to worship.&nbsp; Another India media publication, citing remarks attributed to the regional IG reported that 49 people, &ldquo;all Muslims&rdquo;, were arrested in the main case linked to alleged temple damage and sent to judicial custody.

India

Sihora, Jabalpur stayed under heavy security with 49 arrests after a temple-mosque flashpoint; Muslims allege targeted action, worship restrictions, and intimidation, including a viral video showing threats against women.

Temple-mosque flashpoint in India: ‘All Muslim’ arrest claim puts police action in spotlight 

HONG KONG:&nbsp;Asian stocks mostly rose and the dollar fell Monday after the US Supreme Court struck down a large part of President Donald Trump&#39;s tariffs policy that had sent shockwaves through the global economy last year. The rally was led by tech firms, which have been at the forefront of regional gains this year as traders turn away from Wall Street to seek out cheaper investments amid concerns about extended valuations. Trump&#39;s trade agenda was dealt a hefty blow Friday when the country&#39;s top court ruled that the International Emergency Economic Powers Act used by the White House to impose sweeping levies in April &quot;does not authorize the president to impose tariffs&quot;. Global tariff&nbsp;The president immediately vowed to impose a global tariff of 10% under a separate authority, before raising it to 15% on Saturday. However, the development fanned a fresh round of uncertainty, with calls growing for the government to repay cash taken under the scheme and analysts warning officials would likely pursue other ways of imposing his tolls. &ldquo;The first observation to make is that IEEPA tariffs may be dead, but Trump&#39;s trade regime isn&#39;t,&rdquo; wrote Rodrigo Catril at National Australia Bank. &quot;The administration has several avenues it can pursue, these are likely to be litigated over several years, but there is no sign President Trump is planning to back down. &quot;Another conclusion is that the tariff landscape is now more uncertain than before, uncertainty is not good news for any economy or market. &quot;Unless commonsense prevails, we could be entering a circular process where new tariffs are announced, then potentially overturned, only for new tariffs to be announced, and we do the dance again.&quot; EU-US deal &nbsp;The decision also raised questions about trade deals Washington has signed. European leaders had been due to approve the EU-US deal on Tuesday but the head of the European Parliament&#39;s trade committee said he would call Monday for putting &quot;legislative work on hold until we have a proper legal assessment and clear commitments from the US side&quot;. And Bloomberg reported that Indian trade officials will postpone a trip to the United States aimed at finalizing their interim agreement. Still, Asian investors welcomed the news, which is seen benefiting China and India, with tech firms the best performers. Hong Kong rose more than two percent, with ecommerce titans Alibaba and JD.com surging more than three percent, while Seoul hit another record high thanks to big advances for chipmakers Samsung Electronics and SK hynix. Singapore, Wellington, Taipei and Manila also rose, though Sydney dipped. Tokyo and Shanghai were closed for holidays. The strong start to the week followed gains on Wall Street, where the tariff ruling overshadowed data showing the US economy grew much slower than expected in the fourth quarter of 2025, when it was hit by the extended government shutdown. The uncertainty also weighed on the dollar, which was well down against the yen, pound and euro. Oil prices&nbsp;And oil prices dropped more than one percent amid hopes for an Iran nuclear deal. That has tempered last week&#39;s concerns about a possible US strike on the country after Trump warned &quot;bad things happen&quot;, as he deployed warships, fighter jets and other military hardware to the Middle East. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Key figures at around 0220 GMT&nbsp;</h2>Hong Kong - Hang Seng Index: UP 2.5% at 27,066.21 Shanghai - Composite: Closed for a holiday Tokyo - Nikkei 225: Closed for a holiday Euro/dollar: UP at $1.1823 from $1.1788&nbsp;on Friday Pound/dollar: UP at $1.3517 from $1.3487 Euro/pound: UP at 87.47 pence from 87.37 pence Dollar/yen: DOWN at 154.15 yen from 155.02 yen West Texas Intermediate: DOWN 1.3% at $65.63 per barrel Brent North Sea Crude: DOWN 1.3% at $70.86 per barrel New York - Dow: UP 0.5% at 49,625.97 (close) London - FTSE 100: UP 0.6% at 10,686.89 (close)

Business

The strong start to the week followed gains on Wall Street, where the tariff ruling overshadowed data showing the US economy grew much slower than expected in the fourth quarter of 2025, when it was hit by the extended government shutdown.

Asian stocks rally after Trump's Supreme Court tariffs blow

ISLAMABAD: Five India-sponsored terrorists including a suicide bomber were killed in an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan&rsquo;s Pishin district, Pakistan military&rsquo;s media wing said on Monday. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the operation was conducted on Sunday following reports of the presence of terrorists belonging to an&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-security-forces-kill-24-terrorists-in-khyberpakhtunkhwa-ibos" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">Indian proxy group</a>, described as &ldquo;Fitna al Khwarij.&rdquo; &ldquo;During the operation, own troops effectively engaged the entire group using multiple weapons. After an intense exchange of fire, a suicide bomber blew himself up, while four other India-sponsored terrorists were killed,&rdquo; the statement said. The ISPR added that weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the dead militants, who were involved in several terrorist activities in the area. Sanitization operations are ongoing to eliminate any other India-sponsored militants found in the vicinity, the statement said. The military said the&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/pakistan-army-officer-martyred-five-terrorists-killed-in-bannu-attack-military" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">counterterrorism campaign</a>&nbsp;under the vision of &ldquo;Azm-e-Istehkam,&rdquo; approved by the Federal Apex Committee under the National Action Plan, will continue at full pace to eradicate foreign-sponsored terrorism from the country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif hailed the security forces for a successful counterterrorism operation, saying they were making great progress against terrorist groups every day.&nbsp;&nbsp;&ldquo;The entire nation stands with Pakistan&#39;s armed forces and law enforcement authorities in this war against terrorists,&rdquo; he added.

Security

ISPR says weapons, ammunition and explosives were recovered from the dead militants, who were involved in several terrorist activities in the area.

Five India-backed terrorists including suicide bomber killed in Balochistan: Military

TEHRAN: Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday that recent talks between Iran and the United States had produced &ldquo;encouraging signals,&rdquo; but stressed that Tehran remains prepared for any possible scenario.&nbsp;&ldquo;Iran is committed to peace and stability in the region. Recent negotiations included the exchange of practical proposals and yielded encouraging signals. However, we continue to closely monitor US actions and have made all necessary preparations for any potential scenario,&rdquo; Pezeshkian wrote on X.<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: 320px; 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=2025631856285057217&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=7bf5e8c4d6cf2c3dac0caee1fbff48c1f0da1814&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px"></iframe></div></div>Iran and the United States have held two rounds of talks this month focused on Tehran&rsquo;s nuclear program and the lifting of sanctions on the Islamic republic.&nbsp;The discussions, held in Oman on Feb. 6 and in Switzerland on Feb. 17, marked the first such engagement since the 12-day war launched by Israel in June last year, which the United States later joined.&nbsp;Amid the negotiations, Washington has deployed aircraft carriers and other military assets to the region, while warning Tehran of possible military action.&nbsp;Earlier, Iran&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said he is&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/iranus-talks-expected-thursday-despite-fears-of-strikes" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">likely to meet US Special Envoy</a> Steve Witkoff in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday for a new round of negotiations. Speaking to CBS News on Sunday, Iran&#39;s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said details of a possible deal were being drawn up ahead of the renewed talks on Tehran&#39;s nuclear program, after Washington&#39;s envoy Steve Witkoff had publicly wondered why Tehran had not yet &quot;capitulated.&quot; Badr Albusaidi, foreign minister of regional mediator Oman, said talks would resume on Thursday in Geneva &quot;with a positive push to go the extra mile towards finalizing the deal.&quot; US threats of military action have multiplied since a nationwide protest movement in Iran sparked a crackdown that rights groups say killed thousands. On Sunday, Iranian students held competing pro- and anti-government protests, with critics of the clerical leadership risking arrest or worse if they are caught. &quot;If the US attacks us, then we have every&nbsp;<a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/fm-says-iran-has-right-to-selfdefence-if-us-attacks" target="_blank" style="color:#0073e6;" rel="noopener noreferrer">right to defend ourselves</a>,&quot; Araghchi said, alluding to American interests in the region as potential targets. Still, he said, &quot;there is a good chance to have a diplomatic solution.&quot;

Says the country continues to monitor US actions closely and has made all necessary preparations for any potential scenario.

Pakistan’s PM Sharif to visit Qatar for key trade, energy talks

Related Articles

Pakistan, Arab states condemn US envoy’s remarks on Israel's right to Mideast land

Islamabad, Washington advance talks on trade and investment

Latest News

Pakistan warn England's flaky batting to expect a trial by spin

US forces to complete withdrawal from Syria within a month: sources

India advises citizens to leave Iran over security concerns

Pakistan’s PM Sharif to visit Qatar for key trade, energy talks

EU foreign policy chief calls for 'diplomatic solution' on Iran