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ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan&#39;s Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif visited the Command and Staff College in Quetta on Monday, addressing military faculty and student officers, according to the Prime Minister&#39;s Office. PM Sharif praised the professionalism, operational readiness, and sacrifices of Pakistan&#39;s Armed Forces in defending the nation&#39;s sovereignty, the statement said. He paid tribute to fallen soldiers and acknowledged the military&#39;s commitment to the country&#39;s defense. The prime minister praised Pakistan&rsquo;s military victory led by Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir during Marka-e-Haq. He stated that Pakistan&rsquo;s restraint response to India&#39;s unprovoked aggression was recognized by the international community. &ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s mature, prudent and just stance was also acknowledged by the international community,&rdquo; he said. Pakistan&rsquo;s will &ldquo;defend [its] sovereignty and territorial integrity against any misadventure at all costs.&rdquo; PM Sharif stated how Operation Ghazab lil-Haq (a major counter-terrorism offensive launched by the Pakistan Armed Forces against the Afghan Taliban and its militant faction) was protecting the &ldquo;lives and property&rdquo; of Pakistani citizens against &ldquo;Afghan Taliban-based terrorist&rdquo; groups and dismantle their support networks. He also talked about Pakistan&rsquo;s &ldquo;unwavering support&rdquo; for the people of &ldquo;Jammu and Kashmir&rdquo; and Palestine. The prime minister talked about the importance of military diplomacy and cooperation. He described Pakistan as a regional stabilizer contributing to peace and stability in the region, as the college hosts military students from allied nations, the statement said. Federal Defence, Interior, and Information Ministers and Balochistan&#39;s chief minister accompanied the prime minister. Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir had received PM Sharif upon arrival at the college. Terrorism cannot derail Pakistan&#39;s progress: CDF&nbsp; Meanwhile,&nbsp;Pakistan Chief of Defense Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir warned that foreign-backed efforts to destabilize the country were doomed to fail, the military&rsquo;s media wing said.&nbsp;In an official statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated that the Field Marshal while on a visit to Quetta, said Pakistan&#39;s trajectory cannot be derailed by &ldquo;propaganda, fake news, or externally-sponsored terrorism.&rdquo;&nbsp;The CDF told officers and soldiers stationed across Balochistan that those working against Pakistan through proxies will ultimately fall short, given &ldquo;the resilience&rdquo; of the state and the unity of its people.&nbsp;Earlier in the day, the field marshal addressed faculty and student officers at the Command and Staff College in Quetta, one of the military&#39;s premier training institutions. He praised the college&#39;s academic and professional standards, noting that its graduates have consistently performed at a high level throughout their careers.&nbsp;&ldquo;The nature of war is shifting fast,&rdquo; the field marshal told the gathering. He urged officers to stay ahead of emerging technologies and evolving battlefield demands.&nbsp;The CDF called for tighter coordination across all three military branches and greater readiness for multi-domain operations.&nbsp;Turning to the security situation in Balochistan, the field marshal stated that Pakistani armed forces were committed to wiping out terrorism &ldquo;in all its forms and manifestations.&rdquo;&nbsp;He said that &ldquo;lasting stability in the province hinges on governance, development,&rdquo; and a &ldquo;focus on the needs of ordinary citizens,&rdquo; and not security operations alone.&nbsp;CDF Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir also praised the provincial government&#39;s ongoing work toward those goals.

Security

PM Sharif told officers Pakistan's restrained response to India's aggression won international recognition and vowed to defend the nation's sovereignty at all costs while intensifying counter-terrorism operations against Afghan Taliban.

Pakistan's PM honors armed forces' sacrifice at military college

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting on Monday with the country&#39;s ambassadors to Iran and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, during which discussions focused on the regional and international situation, according to a statement from the Prime Minister&#39;s Office. &nbsp; Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also attended,&nbsp;accompanied by other senior officials. During the meeting, the ambassadors briefed the prime minister on the current state of bilateral relations, emerging opportunities, and challenges in their respective countries.&nbsp; &ldquo;Issues relating to the strengthening economic diplomacy, enhancing trade and investment ties, remittances, and the Pakistani diaspora, were discussed, &ldquo;the statement added. PM Sharif emphasized the historic, economic and strategic importance of the GCC countries and Iran in Pakistan&#39;s foreign policy, it added.&nbsp; Bilateral cooperationThe prime minister directed the ambassadors to work proactively on enhancing bilateral cooperation in trade, investment, energy, and people-to-people contacts. The meeting also included discussions on the regional and international situation, with particular focus on promoting peace, stability, and economic cooperation in the broader region.&nbsp;Regional Envoys&rsquo; ConferenceLast Thursday, Pakistan welcomed ambassadors from across the Gulf and the region to a high-level diplomatic conference in Islamabad as the country steps up its regional engagement amid ongoing tensions in the Middle East and efforts to sustain dialogue among regional powers.&nbsp;FM Dar received the Pakistani envoys attending the conference in Islamabad from May 14 to 18, as Islamabad continues to position itself as an active diplomatic player amid a fragile US-Iran ceasefire and ongoing negotiations related to the conflict in the Middle East.&nbsp;&ldquo;At a time of evolving regional and global dynamics, Pakistan remains committed to proactive diplomacy, stronger strategic partnerships, enhanced economic cooperation with our brotherly countries, and continued efforts for regional peace and stability,&rdquo; Dar said in a statement posted on X. PM reaffirms commitment to dialogue, diplomacy Separately, in a conversation with Qatar&#39;s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani, PM Sharif reaffirmed Islamabad&#39;s steadfast commitment to &quot;dialogue and diplomacy as the only path to lasting peace and stability.&quot; In a post on his X account, the premier said that, during his call with his Qatari counterpart, the pair &quot;exchanged views on our bilateral cooperation and the evolving situation in the Middle East, particularly the ongoing Pakistan-led peace efforts.&quot; &quot;I also conveyed my warm regards and best wishes to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar,&quot; he said.

Foreign Affairs

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a meeting that included discussions on the regional and international situation.

Pakistan PM chairs meeting with envoys to Iran, GCC amid regional situation

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday placed water reserves and hydropower at the top of the country&#39;s national development budget, ordering that water storage projects receive first priority for available funds, according to the Prime Minister&#39;s Office. According to a statement from the PMO, PM Sharif chaired a review of Pakistan&#39;s Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), the government&#39;s annual infrastructure and development spending plan. He directed that budget allocations be tied to results, with funding going on a priority basis only to top-performing ministries. The meeting was briefed on progress at three major dam projects: Dasu, Diamer Bhasha, and Mohmand. The railways, IT, and power ministries were singled out for praise. PM Sharif also called for broader use of public-private partnerships in development projects. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb received recognition for the successful launch of Pakistan&#39;s Panda Bonds (debt instruments sold in China&#39;s capital market) and their reception among investors. The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers, including Ahsan Iqbal, Shaza Fatima Khawaja, and Hanif Abbasi, as well as senior officials.

People watch the Rawal Dam after the spillway opened due to heavy monsoon rains, in Islamabad on August 31, 2020. (AFP)

Climate & Environment

PM Sharif chairs a review of Pakistan's Public Sector Development Program; briefed on progress at three major dam projects: Dasu, Diamer Bhasha, and Mohmand

Pakistan prioritizes water storage, hydropower in development budget

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday held separate meetings in Islamabad with senior officials from the United States and Azerbaijan, focusing on geopolitical developments, economic coordination and institutional cooperation amid heightened regional diplomacy. US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur met Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, where the two sides reviewed bilateral relations, regional developments and ongoing diplomatic efforts linked to the Middle East crisis, according to Pakistan&rsquo;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In a statement posted on X, the Foreign Office said discussions included US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s &ldquo;vision for peace,&rdquo; the Iran-US ceasefire understanding and the April 11&ndash;12 visit of US Vice President JD Vance to Pakistan. Dar reaffirmed Pakistan&rsquo;s commitment to resolving issues through &ldquo;dialogue and diplomacy,&rdquo; while highlighting growing engagement in Pakistan-US relations. <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: 648px; 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=2054890599174520963&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=154d1219d29f76a3cbd6adc3b133d0505ae07d3e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" spellcheck="false">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Kapur, meanwhile, according to the statement, acknowledged Pakistan&rsquo;s role in regional mediation and described the trajectory of bilateral ties as positive. &ldquo;Both sides agreed to expand cooperation in trade, investment and development,&rdquo; the ministry said. Pakistan and Azerbaijan&nbsp; Separately, Azerbaijani Justice Minister Farid Turab Oglu Ahmadov met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, where both sides discussed strengthening institutional cooperation and legal coordination between the two countries, according to the Prime Minister&rsquo;s Office. The PMO said PM Sharif described Pakistan and Azerbaijan as &ldquo;brotherly countries&rdquo; with steadily expanding ties across multiple sectors.&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-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 697px; 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=2054879995621970280&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=154d1219d29f76a3cbd6adc3b133d0505ae07d3e&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The Azerbaijani minister, the statement said, thanked Pakistan for its hospitality and briefed the leadership on cooperation in legal and judicial fields, including mutual legal assistance and capacity-building initiatives. PM Sharif also conveyed greetings to Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and said he looked forward to future engagements aimed at further strengthening bilateral cooperation. The meetings took place amid continued diplomatic activity across the region, as Islamabad remains engaged with key international partners on issues ranging from Middle East tensions and economic connectivity to trade, development and institutional cooperation.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs Paul Kapur meets Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Islamabad, Pakistan, on May 14, 2026. (Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs/X)

Pakistan holds separate talks with US and Azerbaijani officials on regional developments, economic cooperation and legal collaboration during meetings in Islamabad.

Pakistan steps up regional diplomacy with US and Azerbaijan meetings

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar announced on Wednesday that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will undertake an official visit to China from May 23 to 26, as Islamabad and Beijing continue to deepen cooperation in trade, technology and digital connectivity. Speaking at the launch ceremony of the IBI Pakistan Digital Economy Headquarters in Islamabad, Dar said the visit &ldquo;will also include a very vibrant B2B business forum.&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" 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=2054631284853362923&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=9727868c3f739df78ae119345ce33d4e9b0e90d0&theme=light&widgetsVersion=6a3ad42b224df%3A1778106238597&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 576px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="2054631284853362923"></iframe></div></div>Highlighting the growing partnership between the two countries, Dar said, &ldquo;Today, with the launch of the IBI Digital Economy Headquarters in Pakistan, we take another significant step together towards innovation, digital connectivity and the economy of the future as our partnership enters a new phase in the digital age.&rdquo; He described Pakistan-China relations as unique, stating, &ldquo;Pakistan-China friendship is not ordinary diplomacy.&rdquo; &ldquo;It is a relationship tested by time and strengthened by trust. When the world was uncertain, this partnership remained steady. When Pakistan needed support, China was always there,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;&lsquo;True digital corridor&rsquo;Dar said China has remained a &ldquo;consistent and reliable partner&rdquo; for Pakistan and noted that bilateral cooperation is now shifting towards technology and digital infrastructure. &ldquo;Today we are moving from roads to networks, from physical infrastructure to digital architecture,&rdquo; the foreign minister said. He noted that Chinese companies have already made significant contributions to fiber-optic connectivity between Pakistan and China, helping establish what he called a &ldquo;true digital corridor.&rdquo;He added that cooperation in artificial intelligence and emerging technologies is also expanding rapidly. Referring to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the Belt and Road Initiative, Dar said Pakistan had attracted &ldquo;tens of billions of dollars in transformative investments in infrastructure and connectivity.&rdquo; He added that bilateral cooperation now extends beyond infrastructure into digital transformation, agriculture, disaster management, climate resilience, healthcare, education, ICT and smart cities.Discussing the emerging Pakistan-China digital corridor, Dar said it would &ldquo;not only deepen bilateral ties, but also create opportunities for the wider global south.&rdquo;&nbsp;&lsquo;Digital Silk Road&rsquo;&ldquo;Pakistan is not a country waiting for its moment,&rdquo; Dar said. &ldquo;In our assessment, Alhamdulillah, Pakistan has reached at that moment, which has been waited for many decades so far.&rdquo; He said Pakistan&rsquo;s population of 240 million, growing youth demographic and global diaspora positioned the country for rapid economic growth and digital transformation.&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan&#39;s digital economy is expanding rapidly, driven by growing internet penetration, increasing mobile connectivity, and rising innovation across the technology sector,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;With a young talent base and growing digital ecosystem, Pakistan is well-positioned to become an important hub for digital investment, technology partnerships, and innovation in the region.&rdquo; Welcoming Beijing United Information Technology to Pakistan, Dar described the firm as representing &ldquo;the kind of partnership we seek &mdash; technology-driven, market-oriented, and transformative.&rdquo; &ldquo;A platform serving millions of enterprises across more than 100 industrial sectors in China is now entering Pakistan, and that reflects strong confidence in our economy and future potential,&rdquo; he said. Dar also thanked the company&rsquo;s leadership for fulfilling their commitment to establish operations in Pakistan. &ldquo;Today we are building a digital Silk Road,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It begins today with the launch of IBI headquarters in Islamabad.&rdquo;

Economy

FM Dar says, ‘With the launch of the IBI Digital Economy Headquarters in Pakistan, we take another significant step together towards innovation, digital connectivity and the economy of the future.’

Pakistan PM Sharif  to undertake official China visit, says FM Dar 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met with President Asif Ali Zardari Monday evening at the President&rsquo;s House in Islamabad.&nbsp; During the meeting, the leaders paid tribute to the martyrs of Marka-e-Haq and discussed the national and broader regional situation.&nbsp; The discussions reaffirmed Islamabad&rsquo;s commitment to national defense and public relief. The meeting also included Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Minister of Interior Moshin Naqvi, and Chairman of the Senate Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani, along with other senior leaders.

Politics

Leaders pay tribute to the martyrs of Marka-e-Haq, discuss the national and broader regional situation.

PM, President discuss evolving regional situation

ISLAMABAD:&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief on Tuesday over a <a href="https://www.pakistantv.com/article/china-fireworks-factory-explosion-kills-21-injures-61" target="_blank" style="color: rgb(0, 115, 230);">deadly explosion</a>&nbsp;at a fireworks factory in China. According to an official statement posted on X (Twitter), PM Sharif said he was deeply saddened by the loss of lives and injuries caused by the blast in Liuyang, Hunan province. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: absolute; visibility: hidden; width: 0px; height: 0px; 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=2051678463992684944&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=a5b9dfb6e49d814bb83fcc6ff6f4a5c0f4e0e931&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div><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: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=e30%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2051678463992684944&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=16ff121c6dd01fb7225e26bedc145675543c5d12&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> At least 26 people were killed and 61 were injured in the explosion at a fireworks factory in Liuyang, Hunan province, according to the Chinese state broadcaster. The blast occurred around 4:43 pm Monday at the Liuyang Huasheng Fireworks Manufacturing and Display Company. Authorities ordered fireworks producers in Changsha, which oversees Liuyang, to halt operations for safety inspections. More than 480 rescuers were deployed, a control zone was set up, and nearby residents were evacuated. The prime minister extended condolences to the families of the victims and wished a swift recovery to those injured. He also expressed solidarity with Chinese President Xi Jinping, the Chinese people and the Chinese government. Pakistan FM sends message of solidarity Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed grief on Tuesday over the fireworks factory explosion in a statement posted 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-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=e30%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2051683827840618864&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=16ff121c6dd01fb7225e26bedc145675543c5d12&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> Dar said he was deeply saddened by the incident in Hunan province and extended condolences to the Chinese leadership and the families of those killed. He offered his condolences to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and said Pakistan prays for the swift recovery of those injured.

PM Sharif offers condolences after a fireworks factory explosion in China kills 26 and injures 61; expresses solidarity with Chinese leadership, wishing recovery for those injured.

Pakistan's PM condoles with China over deadly fireworks factory blast

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday extended condolences to Turkiye following deadly floods and extreme weather that hit several southern provinces, leaving casualties and damage in their wake. In a post on X, Sharif conveyed sympathies on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Turkish nation, describing Erdogan as a &ldquo;dear brother&rdquo; and expressing sorrow over the loss of lives and property. The floods affected provinces including Gaziantep, Sanliurfa and Adiyaman, as well as surrounding areas. &ldquo;Pakistan stands in full solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Turkiye in this hour of grief,&rdquo; Sharif said, adding that his thoughts and prayers are with the victims&rsquo; families and those affected by this natural calamity.&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-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=2051539628365435172&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=f7c548893efd43ef819eecfc9c3e1ebbf909a86b&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 345px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;"></iframe></div></div>He also said Pakistan is ready to provide humanitarian and material assistance to support Turkiye&rsquo;s relief and recovery efforts.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif speaks during the federal cabinet meeting in Islamabad on April 3, 2024. (Photo courtesy: PMO)

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expresses condolences and solidarity with Turkiye after deadly floods, offering assistance for relief efforts.

Pakistan PM offers condolences to Turkiye over deadly floods

Washington, United States:&nbsp;World leaders expressed shock after a shooter charged a glitzy media gala in Washington on Saturday night attended by US President Donald Trump -- and relief that there were no casualties. US law enforcement said the sole suspect, armed with &quot;a shotgun, a handgun and multiple knives,&quot; has been detained and will face charges Monday in federal court. Here is how leaders reacted: <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Shehbaz Sharif&nbsp;</h2>The Pakistani prime minister wrote he was &quot;deeply shocked by the disturbing shooting incident.&quot; &quot;Relieved to know that President Trump, the First Lady, and other attendees are safe. My thoughts and prayers are with him, and I wish him continued safety and well-being,&quot; Sharif wrote on X. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Keir Starmer&nbsp;</h2>Britain&#39;s prime minister said he was &quot;shocked by the scenes at the White House Correspondents&#39; Dinner in Washington overnight.&quot; &quot;Any attack on democratic institutions or on the freedom of the press must be condemned in the strongest possible terms,&quot; Starmer wrote on X on Sunday. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Mark Carney&nbsp;</h2>The Canadian prime minister said he was &quot;relieved that the President, the First Lady, and all guests are safe.&quot; &quot;Political violence has no place in any democracy and my thoughts are with all those who have been shaken by this disturbing event,&quot; Carney wrote on X. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Claudia Sheinbaum&nbsp;</h2>The Mexican president wrote on X that &quot;it is good that President Trump and his wife are safe following the recent events. We send them our respect.&quot; &quot;Violence must never be the way,&quot; Sheinbaum added. <h2 style="line-height: 2;">Pedro Sanchez&nbsp;</h2>Spain&#39;s prime minister condemned what he called &quot;the attack that took place tonight against President (Trump).&quot; &quot;Violence is never the answer. Humanity will only move forward through democracy, coexistence, and peace,&quot; Sanchez wrote on X. Emmanuel Macron France&#39;s President Emmanuel Macron said Sunday that the incident of a shooter charging a glitzy media gala attended by US President Donald Trump was &quot;unacceptable&quot;. &quot;The armed attack targeting the president of the United States last night is unacceptable. Violence has no place in a democracy,&quot; he said on X.&nbsp; &quot;I extend my full support to Donald Trump.&quot; Recep Tayyip Erdogan Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned the incident, saying: &quot;In democracies, struggles are waged with ideas; there is no place for any form of violence&quot;. Ursula von der Leyen The EU chief said on X: &quot;Violence has no place in politics, ever&quot; and lauded &quot;the swift action of the police and responders for ensuring the safety of the guests&quot;. Giorgia Meloni Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her &quot;full solidarity and sincere sympathy&quot; to Trump and the others present at the event. &quot;Political hatred has no place in our democracies. We will not allow fanaticism to poison the spaces of free debate and information,&quot; she said.

Americas

World leaders express shock after a shooter charged a glitzy media gala in Washington on Saturday night, attended by US President Donald Trump -- and relief that there were no casualties.

World leaders react to Washington gala shooting

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives in the tragic attack on a school in Kahramanmaraş, a city in southern Turkiye, according to a Thursday post on X. The message specifically conveyed heartfelt condolences to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the people of Turkiye, emphasizing the close bond between the two nations. The message mourned the loss of young lives, offering prayers for the departed souls and wishing a swift recovery for those injured in the attack. <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=2044564635186077787&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F4092%2F&sessionId=c3a94c16a11c093f2e7e49a1d8ec2454a12b1be0&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> He reiterated that the nation stands firmly with Turkiye during this difficult time. Highlighting the enduring friendship between the two countries, the statement underscored Pakistan&rsquo;s unwavering solidarity with the Turkish people, particularly the families grappling with the devastating loss.

Members of education unions chant slogans as they hold a banner which reads "We will not surrender our schools to violence" during a protest against school shootings in front of the Ministry of National Education headquarters in Ankara on April 15, 2026.

Pakistan expressed deep condolences and solidarity with Turkiye, including Recep Tayyip Erdogan, following the tragic school attack in Kahramanmaraş.

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