Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held a telephone conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan on Wednesday to discuss regional developments and issues of mutual interest, the Saudi foreign ministry said. Earlier in the day, according to a state-run Saudi Press Agency (SPA), the Saudi Cabinet &mdash; headed by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman &mdash; welcomed the immediate ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and Afghanistan &ldquo;and the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability between the two countries.&rdquo; It affirmed support for regional and international efforts to achieve security and peace worldwide, SPA reported. The Saudi Cabinet&#39;s statement comes amid heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul over the presence of terrorist sanctuaries in Afghanistan and a recent surge in terrorist activity targeting Pakistani security forces and civilians.

Foreign Affairs

Saudi Cabinet welcomes immediate ceasefire between Pakistan and Afghanistan, and the establishment of mechanisms to consolidate lasting peace and stability between the two countries.'

Saudi FM discusses regional developments with Pakistani counterpart: Riyadh

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Wednesday &ldquo;strongly condemned&rdquo; the latest Israeli attacks in Gaza, terming them a &ldquo;flagrant violation&rdquo; of the Gaza Peace Agreement, and called upon the international community to take immediate and effective measures to halt the aggression. In an official statement, the Foreign Office expressed deep concern over the renewed Israeli airstrikes that have claimed numerous civilian lives in Gaza. &ldquo;Pakistan strongly condemns Israel&rsquo;s violation of the Gaza Peace Agreement and the continued targeting of civilians,&rdquo; the statement said. &ldquo;These actions constitute a serious breach of the understanding reached in Sharm El-Sheikh under the witness of the international community.&rdquo; According to Gaza&rsquo;s Government Media Office, more than 100 Palestinians have been killed and over 230 wounded since the start of the ceasefire. The office accused Israeli forces of breaching the truce more than 80 times through &ldquo;direct gunfire, bombardments, and arrests of civilians.&rdquo; The Israeli military, however, claimed its airstrikes were in response to &ldquo;a blatant violation&rdquo; of the truce following the killing of two Israeli soldiers. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Knesset that &ldquo;153 tons of bombs were dropped on Hamas positions last week,&rdquo; insisting the strikes were &ldquo;necessary defensive actions.&rdquo; Hamas denied any breach, slamming Israel for &ldquo;fabricating pretexts&rdquo; to resume hostilities. The exchange of accusations has heightened concerns over the fragile ceasefire, which had allowed thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza to find their homes destroyed. Islamabad and Expatriates of Palestine also denounced what it described as &ldquo;terrorist assaults&rdquo; by Israeli settlers against Palestinian civilians and international solidarity activists during the olive harvest season in the occupied West Bank. The Pakistan Foreign Office echoed this concern, stating: &ldquo;Such actions run contrary to the spirit of the peace agreement signed in Sharm El-Sheikh in the presence of leadership from the Muslim and Arab world, the United States, Europe, and the United Nations.&rdquo; Islamabad urged the global community to intervene decisively to ensure full implementation of the ceasefire and to prevent further loss of civilian life. &ldquo;Pakistan calls for urgent and effective international measures to end these violations and restore peace,&rdquo; the statement read. &ldquo;Pakistan reaffirms its unwavering support for the Palestinian people and calls for the establishment of an independent, sovereign, viable, and contiguous State of Palestine, based on pre-June 1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.&rdquo; In related developments, Qatar&rsquo;s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani on Tuesday condemned Israel for repeatedly violating the ceasefire in Gaza, calling its recent strikes a &ldquo;flagrant breach&rdquo; of international law and warning that the fragile truce could collapse if such actions continue. Delivering his annual address to the Shura Council, Sheikh Tamim said the humanitarian situation in Gaza had deteriorated despite the US-brokered ceasefire that took effect on October 10. He urged the global community to &ldquo;hold Israel accountable for its actions.&rdquo; &ldquo;We reiterate our condemnation of all Israeli violations and practices in Palestine, particularly the transformation of the Gaza Strip into an area unfit for human life and the continued violation of the ceasefire,&rdquo; the emir said. Qatar, which has served as a key mediator between Israel and Hamas, has been facilitating talks in Doha to prevent renewed hostilities and secure humanitarian access to Gaza. The emir also denounced Israel&rsquo;s &ldquo;genocidal war,&rdquo; its expansion of illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank, and what he described as attempts to &ldquo;Judaize the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound&rdquo; in East Jerusalem. Referring to an alleged Israeli strike on a Hamas delegation in Doha, Sheikh Tamim said: &ldquo;Israel has violated all international laws and norms governing relations between states by attacking a country that acts as a mediator and by attempting to kill delegation members. We consider this aggression an act of state terrorism.&rdquo;

Middle East

Islamabad slams Israeli Gaza attacks, urges global action, reaffirms support for Palestine, and calls for an independent state with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as capital

Pakistan condemns Israeli attacks in Gaza, urges urgent global action

RAWALPINDI: The No. 11 batter Kagiso Rabada and Senuran Muthusamy hit career-best half-centuries as South Africa scripted one of its most memorable comebacks to dominate Pakistan on Day 3 of the second and final test.&nbsp;South Africa was all out Wednesday for 404 in its first innings &mdash; having resumed on 185-4 and being reduced to 235-8 and 306-9 &mdash; to take a 71-run lead. Pakistan&#39;s left-arm spinner Asif Afridi claimed six wickets and became the oldest bowler in test cricket to grab a five-wicket haul in his debut test at the age of 38.&nbsp;Pakistan collapsed to 94-4 in its second innings at stumps. Off-spinner Simon Harmer took 3-26 and Rabada had Abdullah Shafique caught in the slips cordon in his incisive opening spell with the new ball.&nbsp;Babar Azam, who hasn&rsquo;t scored an international century in more than two years, is 49 not out and wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan undefeated on 16 as the pair led Pakistan&#39;s resistance.&nbsp;South Africa earlier fought back in a match where Pakistan had won the important toss on a spinning wicket.&nbsp;Afridi (6-79) had put Pakistan in sight of a meaningful first-innings lead before the home team ran into Muthusamy and Rabada&rsquo;s electrifying 98-run last wicket stand.&nbsp;Muthusamy made an unbeaten 89 off 155 balls and Rabada smashed four sixes and four boundaries in his belligerent 71 off 61 as the Proteas bid to level the two-match series.&nbsp;Afridi&rsquo;s five-wicket haul saw World Test Championship winner South Africa slipping to 221-7 in 80 overs before Pakistan&rsquo;s ploy to finish off the innings with the second new ball misfired badly.&nbsp;Muthusamy cut Pakistan&#39;s lead to 27 when he shared a 71-run ninth-wicket stand with Keshav Maharaj, who gave at least three chances and went on to score 30. Rabada blunted the pace of Shaheen Shah Afridi and the spinners with his first test 50.&nbsp;It was only the second time in test matches that both the ninth and 10th wickets shared partnerships of 50-plus in a test innings.&nbsp;South Africa went to lunch 48 runs behind with two wickets in hand, but Muthusamy swept and reverse swept against the spinners with ease and Rabada didn&rsquo;t spare the bowlers before he holed out to long-on at the stroke of tea that ended a superb counterattack from South Africa.&nbsp;Record haulAfridi became only the sixth Pakistani spinner after Mohammad Nazir, Shahid Afridi, Bilal Asif, Noman Ali and Abrar Ahmed to grab a five-wicket haul in a debut test after South Africa resumed on 185-4.&nbsp;In doing so, he beat the test record set by England legspinner Charles Marriott, who returned 5-37 on debut against West Indies in 1933 at the age of 37.&nbsp;Afridi&rsquo;s sliders baffled the South Africa batters as he struck on the fourth ball of the day, finding the outside edge of Kyle Verreynne&rsquo;s (10) bat.&nbsp;Tristan Stubbs (76) added eight to his overnight 68 before he was undone by another straight delivery as he tried to flick the left-arm spinner off the back foot and was out leg before wicket.&nbsp;Afridi then celebrated his memorable five-wicket haul when Harmer (2) went for a sweep but was struck on the back leg directly in front of the stumps.&nbsp;Pakistan took the second new ball and Noman Ali finally got his first wicket when he had Marco Jansen lbw.&nbsp;Pakistan leads the two-match series after a win in Lahore last week.

South Africa's Kagiso Rabada, left, plays a shot as Pakistan's Mohammad Rizwan watches during the third day of the second test cricket match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, October 22, 2025. (AP)

Cricket

Pakistan collapsed to 94-4 in its second innings at stumps. Off-spinner Simon Harmer took 3-26 and Rabada had Abdullah Shafique caught in the slips cordon in his incisive opening spell with the new ball.

Rabada hits first test 50 to lead South Africa's comeback vs Pakistan

DHAKA: A Bangladeshi court remanded in custody on Wednesday 15 high-ranking army officers on charges of enforced disappearances and atrocities committed during the 2024 uprising that toppled the government. It is first time that formal charges have been brought for enforced disappearances in Bangladesh, and the first time so many senior military officials have faced a civilian trial. The men, including five generals, are accused of running a secret detention centre during the tenure of the now-ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina. All have served in Bangladeshi military intelligence or the feared paramilitary Rapid Action Battalion (RAB). Defence lawyer Sarwar Hossain said all rejected the charges. The army has said it will assist the judicial process, but the situation has been tense since the court issued arrest warrants earlier this month. &quot;They declared their allegiance to the law of the land and their respect for the judicial process,&quot; the court&#39;s chief prosecutor Tajul Islam told reporters. &quot;That was reflected in the cooperation they have extended.&quot; UN Human Rights Chief Volker Turk, in a statement on October 15, said that the court process was an important step towards accountability. &quot;It is a significant moment for victims and their families,&quot; Turk said. The officers were brought by a prison van to the court, guarded by a heavy deployment of police. &quot;These officers are confident of their innocence, and believe they will be released through due judicial process,&quot; their lawyer Hossain said. Bangladesh is prosecuting former senior figures connected to Hasina -- now a fugitive in exile in India -- and her now-banned Awami League party. Up to 1,400 people were killed in the clashes between July and August 2024 as the security forces tried to quash anti-government protests, according to the United Nations. During Hasina&#39;s rule, RAB forces carried out scores of killings, and the organisation was sanctioned by the United States in 2021. Hasina, 78, fled last year to New Delhi, where she has defied court orders to return to attend her ongoing crimes against humanity trial for ordering the deadly crackdown. Her trial in absentia is in its final stages, with Hasina&#39;s state-appointed defence giving closing arguments. The prosecution have demanded the death penalty for Hasina. Hasina&#39;s Awami League says that she &quot;categorically&quot; denies the charges.

Police personnel escort detained army officers to the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) court in Dhaka on October 22, 2025, over charges of crimes against humanity. (AFP)

Bangladesh

It is first time that formal charges have been brought for enforced disappearances in Bangladesh, and the first time so many senior military officials have faced a civilian trial.

Bangladesh court detains army officers for landmark trial

Monitoring Desk

ISLAMABAD: The long-debated Durand Line, a 2,640-kilometer border demarcation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has once again come into focus as legal experts and political leaders reaffirm its legitimacy as an international border under international law. Historical Context of the Durand LineThe Durand Line was established in 1893 following an agreement between Sir Mortimer Durand, representing British India, and Amir Abdur Rahman Khan of Afghanistan. The line was meant to define the spheres of influence between British India and Afghanistan. Following the partition of the Indian subcontinent in 1947, Pakistan inherited all international treaties and boundaries agreed upon by British India &mdash; including the Durand Line. However, successive Afghan governments have contested its legal status, arguing that the agreement lapsed after the British withdrawal. Legal Standing and International FrameworkLegal expert Ahmer Bilal Soofi notes that the international legal framework supports Pakistan&rsquo;s position. Referring to Article 62 of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, he explains that while states may withdraw from certain treaties due to a &ldquo;fundamental change of circumstances,&rdquo; boundary treaties remain permanent and binding. &ldquo;This means that once a border treaty is agreed upon, it cannot be unilaterally disregarded due to political changes,&rdquo; Soofi emphasized, pointing out that boundary agreements enjoy a unique status in international law. A 1969 Supreme Court of Pakistan decision also reaffirmed the Durand Line as a valid and recognized boundary, rejecting any interpretation that challenges its legal sanctity. Khurram Dastgir Khan Reaffirms Pakistan&rsquo;s PositionSenior PML-N leader and former federal minister Khurram Dastgir Khan underscored that Pakistan&rsquo;s stance on the issue remains firm and consistent. &ldquo;Pakistan has insisted on and will continue to insist, and as a successor state to Great Britain, that the term &lsquo;Durand Line&rsquo; itself is not acceptable; it is the international border,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;There are multiple agreements, documents, and international laws that declare it as the international border.&rdquo; He added that Afghanistan&rsquo;s continued reluctance to recognize the border stems largely from domestic economic and political factors. &ldquo;Their insistence that it is not the border is mainly due to their economic and political reasons to keep their population somehow questioned regarding the Pakistan situation,&rdquo; Dastgir noted. Emphasizing the importance of securing the frontier, he said Pakistan must invest further in strengthening the border. &ldquo;We have to find ways to secure the border, and we have to make sure that the Pakistan border is now an actual line that demarcates two countries. I cannot emphasize enough how important this issue is; this is really crucial for the future of peaceful Pak-Afghan relations.&rdquo; The Way ForwardThe reaffirmation of the Durand Line&rsquo;s legal status&mdash;both by legal authorities and political leadership&mdash;highlights Pakistan&rsquo;s consistent policy that the border is final and internationally recognized. Pakistani officials stress that effective border management and mutual recognition remain essential for fostering peaceful and stable Pak-Afghan relations in the years ahead.

Security

The long-debated Durand Line, a 2,640-kilometer border demarcation between Pakistan and Afghanistan, has once again come into focus as legal experts and political leaders reaffirm its legitimacy as international border under international law

Pakistan reaffirms Durand Line as international border: legal and strategic perspectives

HARARE: Zimbabwe won a Test by an innings for only the third time when they defeated Afghanistan by an innings and 73 runs at Harare Sports Club on Wednesday, with two days to spare.&nbsp;Afghanistan batted after Zimbabwe won the toss and were all out for 127. Zimbabwe made 359 in reply with Ben Curran hitting a maiden century, giving the hosts a 232-run first innings lead.&nbsp;Curran won the player of the match award for his 121 runs, which swung the one-off Test decisively in favour of the hosts on the second day.&nbsp;The tourists&#39; batters struggled again in their second innings and were dismissed for 159 with only Ibrahim Zadran (42) and middle-order Bahir Shah (32) having some success.&nbsp;Brad Evans took five wickets in the first Afghan innings and second time round it was the turn of Richard Ngarava (5-37) to sparkle as the quick claimed his first Test five-for.&nbsp;It was the first Test victory by Zimbabwe in Harare since 2013, when they beat Pakistan by 24 runs in a thriller.&nbsp;&quot;It is a nice end to a tough year of Test cricket for us,&quot; said Zimbabwe captain Craig Ervine, referring to seven losses in their eight previous Tests.&nbsp;&quot;On a wicket that offered a little bit throughout, I thought it was a brilliant effort with the bat from the boys.&nbsp;&quot;They have learnt a fair bit over the last few months, playing the amount of Test cricket that we did against top-class opponents.&nbsp;&quot;The bowlers were outstanding. Brad (Evans) in the first innings picked up a five-for. Richie (Ngarava) stepped up in the second innings and did the same.&quot;&nbsp;Afghanistan captain Hashmatullah Shahidi said: &quot;Zimbabwe played really good cricket, and we did not. The conditions supported the fast bowlers.&nbsp;

Zimbabwe crushed Afghanistan by an innings and 73 runs in Harare, securing their first home Test win since 2013. Ben Curran scored 121, while Brad Evans and Richard Ngarava took five wickets each.



Zimbabwe crush Afghanistan for rare Test win by an innings

ISLAMABAD: Millions across Pakistan have recently&nbsp;faced significant internet disruptions, exposing the fragility of both national and international digital infrastructure.&nbsp; These outages highlight the global reliance on a limited network of subsea cables and data lines to support modern economies and facilitate global communication. Why does this happen? The root causes are often damage to undersea cables, power failures in data centres, or congestion in routing networks. Around 300 subsea cables carry 99% of transoceanic data traffic, according to AP research. These cables, vulnerable to ship anchors, earthquakes, or sabotage, are the backbone of global telecommunication. In February 2025, cable cuts in the Red Sea caused widespread internet disruptions, affecting countries across Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, including Kenya, Mozambique, Pakistan, Tanzania, and the United Arab Emirates. A September 2025 AP report noted that experts highlighted the vulnerability of these cables, estimating that up to 70% of Europe&ndash;Asia data flow was disrupted. Cyberattacks and shutdowns Cyberattacks, government-imposed shutdowns, and infrastructure failures have also been increasing. Context News, a Thomson Reuters Foundation project, reported 296 shutdowns in 54 countries, disrupting communications, posing economic challenges, and restricting access to essential services. Last year, Reuters reported that severe heatwaves in Southern Europe triggered power grid failures, shutting down data centres and damaging telecom and financial sectors. Impact on Pakistan&rsquo;s IT sector The Sustainable Development Policy Institute, a non-profit research organization based in Pakistan, reported a decline in internet quality. Pakistan ranks 79th globally in the Inclusive Internet Index, with poor scores in infrastructure (34) and performance (31). The country ranks seventh in South Asia on the Internet Resilience Index, ahead of only Iran and Afghanistan. Recent disruptions in Pakistan have been caused by malfunctions in critical cables, including the AAE-1 cable and the SMW-4 cable (1.5T), as reported by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). Similarly, Pakistan Telecommunication Company Ltd (PTCL) reported outages from damage to two undersea cables: FLAG and SEA-ME-WE 4. Pakistan is heavily dependent on vulnerable undersea cables, linked to international networks via SEA-ME-WE 3, SEA-ME-WE 4, TWA1, and FLAG cables. In 2024, one cable was damaged near Alexandria, Egypt, and another near Marseille, France. These cables, managed and operated separately, were damaged within hours of each other, highlighting Pakistan&rsquo;s reliance on fragile infrastructure. PTCL has confirmed that traffic into the country&nbsp;is now being rerouted through limited backup cables, causing slower speeds and increased latency nationwide. Digital Rights Monitor reported in October 2025 that experts pointed out the significant impact of such disruptions on Pakistan&rsquo;s digital economy, including e-commerce and remote work. The Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) stated, &quot;connectivity issues directly affect the credibility of Pakistan&#39;s IT workforce in the global market.&quot; Business setbacks and economic fallout Internet disruptions carry substantial economic costs. A Deloitte report found that a one-hour outage can cost major economies like the United States or Germany over $100 million in lost revenue. A Cisco survey found that 82% of firms in the Philippines experienced digital outages, contributing to an estimated global loss of $160 billion annually. Top10VPN, a digital privacy firm, estimated that internet shutdowns across Asia in 2024 resulted in a total loss of $4.64 billion. The World Economic Forum noted that internet reliability has become a key factor in attracting investment, especially in developing countries seeking IT outsourcing. Restoration and global investment Repairing undersea cables is a complex, time-consuming process. According to the International Cable Protection Committee, repairs can take 7 to 20 days, depending on weather conditions and vessel availability. Specialized ships must locate, remove, and repair damaged fiber&mdash;operations that cost millions of dollars. Governments and telecom operators are increasing spending to mitigate the risks of future disruptions. The World Bank predicts that investments in submarine and terrestrial fibre networks will reach $32 billion in 2024, a 19% rise from 2022. The European Commission&rsquo;s Digital Connectivity Act is aiming to develop multi-route 5G corridors, while the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States has established a $42 billion Broadband Equity Fund to improve redundancy. &nbsp;

Artificial Intelligence

Gadgets

Pakistan’s recent internet outages highlight global vulnerability to undersea cable faults, shutdowns, and infrastructure failures, disrupting economies and IT sectors. Costly repairs and rising investment show states racing to prevent future connectivity breakdowns.

Internet disruption: The global cost of going offline

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb has observed that &ldquo;improved macroeconomic fundamentals have enabled Pakistan to regain access to international commercial markets after more than two years.&rdquo; Aurangzeb, in an interview with CGTN America (China Global Television Network) during his visit to Washington DC for the IMF-World Bank Annual Meetings, outlined Pakistan&rsquo;s continuing progress on macroeconomic stabilization, structural reforms, and growth-oriented policy measures, said a press release issued by Pakistan&rsquo;s Finance Division on Wednesday. <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: 585px; 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=1980874049086529583&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=18d9926d3d3369db3b05cd5b23637d87fea6e65e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The minister noted that over the past year, Pakistan&rsquo;s economy has achieved notable consolidation in macroeconomic indicators. &ldquo;Fiscal and external accounts have stabilized, the exchange rate has remained steady, and foreign exchange reserves have increased to 2.5 months of import cover,&rdquo; Aurangzeb stated. He noted that &ldquo;inflation has returned to single digits, the policy rate has been reduced by half, and all major global rating agencies, including Fitch, S&amp;P, and Moody&rsquo;s, have upgraded Pakistan&rsquo;s outlook for the first time in nearly three years.&rdquo; Growth forecast&nbsp;The finance minister informed that the second review under the International Monetary Fund (IMF)&rsquo;s Extended Fund Facility had recently been completed in Islamabad, resulting in a staff-level agreement. The Fund&rsquo;s management has expressed continued confidence in Pakistan&rsquo;s reform agenda, which remains focused on structural adjustments in taxation, energy, public finance, and privatization, he said, according to the press release. The IMF has raised Pakistan&rsquo;s economic growth forecast to 3.6% for the current fiscal year, exceeding the World Bank&rsquo;s 2.6% estimate, while cautioning of possible higher inflation and current account deficit. The IMF states, &ldquo;the severe flooding in Pakistan during the third quarter of 2025 may have more adverse effects on growth, inflation, and the current account than currently estimated, although these impacts remain highly uncertain,&rdquo; making the figures provisional.&nbsp;Revival of privatization programThe finance minister highlighted the revival of the privatization program, noting the successful completion of the first transaction of the current fiscal year involving the sale of a small bank to a UAE-based conglomerate, with additional investment planned in digital expansion, the Finance Division&rsquo;s press release said. &ldquo;The privatization of the national airline is also expected to be finalized before the end of the fiscal year,&rdquo; Aurangzeb said. He observed that &ldquo;improved macroeconomic fundamentals have enabled Pakistan to regain access to international commercial markets after more than two years.&rdquo; &ldquo;The government has recently secured borrowing from Middle Eastern banks and is preparing to issue the country&rsquo;s inaugural Panda Bond before the end of the year,&rdquo; Aurangzeb said. He added that &ldquo;Pakistan had smoothly repaid a $500 million Eurobond in September and is well positioned to meet the next $1.3 billion repayment due in April 2026.&rdquo;&nbsp;&lsquo;Existential challenge&rsquo;&nbsp;Addressing the economic impact of recent flooding, the minister emphasized that climate change remains &ldquo;an existential challenge&rdquo; for Pakistan. &ldquo;While agriculture, particularly rice and cotton crops, has suffered due to flooding, growth is still expected to remain close to 3.5% for FY2025-26.&rdquo; On Pakistan&rsquo;s partnership with China, Aurangzeb reaffirmed &ldquo;the long-standing and robust nature of bilateral relations, highlighting the launch of CPEC Phase 2.0.&rdquo; The finance minister said the new phase focuses on industrial cooperation, special economic zones, and private-sector-led investments. &ldquo;During the prime minister&rsquo;s recent visit to Beijing, 24 joint venture agreements were signed across key sectors such as mining, agriculture, information technology, artificial intelligence, and pharmaceuticals, signaling strong investment traction.&rdquo; Digital transformation&nbsp;The minister, while elaborating on the government&rsquo;s digital transformation agenda, said: &ldquo;Efforts are underway to digitize all government payments and strengthen digital infrastructure across sectors.&rdquo; &ldquo;These initiatives have contributed to improved transparency and a broader tax base, reflected in the increase of the tax-to-GDP ratio from 8.8% to 10.2%. The integration of artificial intelligence and data analytics has also significantly enhanced the efficiency of tax administration,&rdquo; he added. Trade policy&nbsp;Discussing trade policy, Aurangzeb mentioned that &ldquo;Pakistan recently concluded tariff negotiations with the United States, securing favorable rates that are expected to benefit textile exporters, particularly in the home textile segment.&rdquo; He underlined Pakistan&rsquo;s broader commitment to trade diversification, noting the government&rsquo;s increased engagement with Central Asian republics and South-South economic cooperation frameworks. In reference to the Shanghai Cooperation Organization Summit held in Tianjin, China, the finance minister expressed support for &ldquo;President Xi Jinping&rsquo;s Global Governance Initiative, which emphasizes sovereign equality, the rule of law, and multilateralism.&rdquo;&nbsp; He noted that these principles align closely with Pakistan&rsquo;s approach to global engagement and cooperation. Aurangzeb underscored that &ldquo;Pakistan remains firmly committed to macroeconomic stability, structural reform, and sustainable, inclusive growth, with a clear focus on strengthening resilience, encouraging investment, and advancing the country&rsquo;s long-term development agenda&rdquo;, the press release concluded.

Taxation

Business

‘Fiscal and external accounts have stabilized, the exchange rate has remained steady, and foreign exchange reserves have increased to 2.5 months of import cover;’ ‘inflation has returned to single digits, the policy rate has been reduced by half’ -- Finance Minister 

Financial stability has helped Pakistan regain access to international markets: finmin

Hammaad Qayyum Khan

ISLAMABAD: Leading international scholars have flayed the Narendra Modi-led Indian government&rsquo;s denial of entry at Delhi airport to a prominent Hindi and Urdu scholar from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), University of London. Professor Francesca Orsini arrived in Delhi from Hong Kong on a valid five-year e-tourist visa but was stopped by immigration officials and asked to return immediately, Indian media reported on Wednesday. An Indian media outlet, citing government sources, claimed that Orsini was blacklisted in March 2025 for allegedly violating her tourist visa conditions during a previous visit in October 2024. &nbsp; Meanwhile, speaking to The Wire from Delhi airport, Orsini said that no explanation was provided. &ldquo;I am being deported. That is all I know,&rdquo; she said. Professor Orsini is a literary historian working primarily with Hindi and Urdu materials with an interest in exploring how multilingualism works and continues to work within the literary cultures of South Asia. &nbsp; Ashok Swain, professor of Peace and Conflict Research, Uppsala University, Sweden, while condemning the denial of entry in a post on X, said: &ldquo;The list of Modi deporting scholars and writers out of India is getting longer, and when it happens, Indian media only then remembers my on-going struggle with the Modi regime.&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;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 825px; 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=1980579659332137297&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=0083dfb22d742003fd30aa17a73549605aad47ce&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1980579659332137297"></iframe></div></div>Dr Audrey Truschke, professor of South Asian history, in her social media post stated: &ldquo;Academics matter. And Hindu nationalism is no match for us. Hindu nationalists know their weakness.&quot;&nbsp; &quot;That&#39;s why they fight to keep professors out and crush those within their borders; it&#39;s their only tool to suppress critical inquiry and knowledge,&rdquo; she added.<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" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 764px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1980634579963916663&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=0083dfb22d742003fd30aa17a73549605aad47ce&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1980634579963916663"></iframe></div></div>Ramachandra Guha, historian of modern India and biographer of Gandhi, shared the news on social media platform X, commenting, &ldquo;Stopping Francesca Orsini From Entering India is an Insult to the Very Concept and Culture of Knowledge&hellip;&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;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-2" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 664px; 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=1980548591669371095&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=0083dfb22d742003fd30aa17a73549605aad47ce&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1980548591669371095"></iframe></div></div>Professor Srila Roy lamented in her post on X: &ldquo;We don&#39;t talk enough about the lack of academic freedom in India.&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;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-3" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 907px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-3&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1980532339999674751&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=0083dfb22d742003fd30aa17a73549605aad47ce&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1980532339999674751"></iframe></div></div>Author Saba Naqvi, while sharing the news, commented: &ldquo;Small diminished minds. Big talk about Vishwaguru. Does this fit in?&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;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-4" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 688px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-4&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1980521425674121343&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=0083dfb22d742003fd30aa17a73549605aad47ce&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="1980521425674121343"></iframe></div></div>

Asia

Professor Francesca Orsini arrived in Delhi from Hong Kong on a valid five-year e-tourist visa but was stopped by immigration officials and asked to return immediately.

Leading academics condemn India’s denial of entry to SOAS scholar 

RAMALLAH: Illegal Israeli settlers descended on Palestinian olive harvesters and activists this week in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, beating them with clubs in an attack Palestinian health officials said sent at least one woman to the hospital with serious injuries. The attack Sunday in the town of Turmus Ayya, which was captured in videos obtained by The Associated Press, came as Palestinians say settler violence in the region is worsening. The United Nations and rights groups have raised the alarm as harvest season begins and Palestinian farmers are at growing risk while gathering olives.&nbsp;Settler violence skyrockets&nbsp;&ldquo;Settler violence has skyrocketed in scale and frequency,&quot; Ajith Sunghay, the head of the UN Human Rights Office in the Palestinian territory, said in a statement released Tuesday. &ldquo;Two weeks into the start of the 2025 harvest, we have already seen severe attacks by armed settlers against Palestinian men, women, children, and foreign solidarity activists.&quot; In one of the videos obtained by the AP, a masked man was seen running through an olive grove and beating at least two people with a club, including a woman as she lay motionless on the ground. The masked man appeared to be wearing tzitzit, a ritual fringed garment for Jews.&nbsp;The woman was hospitalized with serious injuries, the Ramallah-based Palestinian Health Ministry said. Torched carsIn a separate video, more than a dozen masked men were seen running down a village road alongside an olive grove, pursuing a car. One settler clubbed the car and opened the door. A passenger managed to escape and run away with the group of men running after him. A third video showed flames and smoke rising from several torched cars. Israel&rsquo;s Channel 12 reported that the head of the West Bank police force said in an internal police WhatsApp group that the footage of the masked settler beating the woman &ldquo;kept him up at night&rdquo; and instructed officers to bring the settler to justice. Israel&#39;s military and police did not respond to an AP request for comment on the attack.&nbsp;Palestinian American population&nbsp;Turmus Ayya, whose population is predominantly Palestinian American, has long been a target of settler attacks, but villagers say the violence worsened during the Israel-Hamas war. It is nestled in a valley surrounded by hilltops crowned with Israeli settlements and outposts. Since the killing of a 14-year-old Palestinian-American, Amer Rabee, by Israeli forces in the town in April, protests against settler violence and the military&#39;s perceived failure to curb it have provoked regular clashes with settlers. More broadly, settler violence is surging across the West Bank.&nbsp;Over 750 settler attacks&nbsp;The UN says the first half of 2025 has seen 757 settler attacks causing casualties or property damage &mdash; a 13% increase compared with the same period last year. The first week of olive harvest season has seen more than 150 settler attacks and over 700 olive trees uprooted, broken, or poisoned, according to Muayyad Shaaban, who heads an office in the Palestinian Authority that is tracking the violence. Israel captured the West Bank, along with East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip, in the 1967 Mideast War. The Palestinians seek those territories for a future independent state. Settler advocates hold key Israeli Cabinet positions that grant them and the settlers an essential say over the West Bank.

UN says first half of 2025 has seen 757 settler attacks causing casualties or property damage; settler advocates hold key Israeli Cabinet positions that grant them and the settlers an important say over the West Bank. 

Illegal Israeli settlers beat Palestinian farmers on video as attacks mount 

ISLAMABAD: Under mounting pressure from Washington, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly agreed to further reduce Russian oil imports following what US President Donald Trump described as a &ldquo;very good&rdquo; conversation between the two leaders.&nbsp;Speaking at the Oval Office on Tuesday, President Trump said he had spoken with Modi about the regional situation and the war in Ukraine, claiming that India is sharply reducing its oil imports from Russia and intends to continue doing so.<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=1980742051600953557&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=cb91aadad6b39265589051e7fd402cd173d5ebd1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 648px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>According to Trump, Modi assured him that India would further cut its purchases of Russian oil, adding that both leaders shared a desire to see the Russia-Ukraine conflict end soon. &ldquo;India has already reduced its oil purchases and is continuing to cut it back,&rdquo; Trump said. Trump&rsquo;s remarks came days after he made similar claims that were dismissed by New Delhi. In response, India&rsquo;s Ministry of External Affairs said it was &ldquo;not aware of any recent conversation&rdquo; between the two leaders, stressing that the country&rsquo;s energy imports are guided by &ldquo;the interests of the Indian consumer and the stability of supply and prices.&rdquo; He stated that Modi assured him India would further cut oil imports from Russia, emphasizing that both leaders share a desire to see the Russia-Ukraine war reach an end soon. Trump noted that India had already reduced its oil purchases and was &ldquo;continuing to cut it back.&rdquo; Modi confirmed the conversation in a post on X, signaling a shift in New Delhi&rsquo;s stance amid growing US pressure.<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=1980826742379184347&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=cb91aadad6b39265589051e7fd402cd173d5ebd1&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 393px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe><div class="fr-embed"> </div>The US president has in recent weeks also criticized India for continuing to purchase Russian oil, and his administration has imposed tariffs on Indian exports to pressure New Delhi to support efforts for peace in Ukraine. Earlier this week, Trump reiterated that India would continue to face &ldquo;massive tariffs&rdquo; if it did not halt its imports of Russian oil.

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Says India is sharply reducing its oil imports from Russia and intends to continue doing so.

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