KARACHI: Pakistani security forces have killed ten militants in multiple operations in the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, the Pakistani military said on Friday.
The operations were conducted in KP’s Dera Ismail Khan and North Waziristan districts, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military’s media wing.
Four militants were killed in Dera Ismail Khan’s Kulachi area, while six others were killed in North Waziristan’s Datta Khel, Hassan Khel, Ghulam Khan and Mir Ali areas.
“Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed khwarij [militants], who remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in these areas against the security forces as well as killing of innocent civilians,” the ISPR said in a statement.
“Sanitization operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Kharji found in the area.”
Pakistan has witnessed a surge in militancy in KP, which borders Afghanistan, since a fragile truce between the Pakistani Taliban, or the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the state broke down in November 2022.
The TTP and other militant groups have stepped up their attacks against security forces, besides targeted killings and kidnappings of law enforcers and government officials, in recent months.
The latest casualties in the province come a day after the military said two Pakistani soldiers, including an army captain, and six militants were killed in a gunfight in the North Waziristan district, which borders Afghanistan.
Islamabad has frequently accused neighboring Afghanistan of sheltering anti-Pakistan groups which launch cross-border attacks. Afghan officials deny allowing the use of their soil against any country.
Ten militants killed in separate operations in Pakistan’s northwest — military
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Ten militants killed in separate operations in Pakistan’s northwest — military
- The operations were conducted in Dera Ismail Khan and North Waziristan districts on the reported presence of militants
- Islamabad blames a surge in militancy on militants operating out of neighboring Afghanistan, Kabul denies the allegation
PM Sharif urges ‘grants-based’ climate financing for developing nations like Pakistan
- Shehbaz Sharif says climate adaption and green transformation is not possible with global support
- He points at the ‘cruel paradox’ of Pakistan suffering despite accounting for 1 percent of global emissions
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday called for “more flexible and grants-based” financial assistance to help developing countries like Pakistan build climate resilience in a message to a gathering focusing on the issue.
Sharif’s video message was played at the Breathe Pakistan International Climate Change Conference, a two-day event hosted by Dawn Media Group in Islamabad. The event brought together nearly 100 global experts to address critical climate issues, aiming to foster collaboration and develop actionable solutions for a sustainable future.
In recent years, Pakistan has experienced erratic environmental patterns attributed to climate change, including extreme weather events such as droughts, heatwaves and floods. These events have led to loss of life, infrastructure damage and food security concerns.
“Pakistan’s climate story embodies a cruel paradox of our times,” Sharif told the gathering. “Our emissions are less than 1 percent, yet we are one of the most climate-affected countries with an unprecedented cycle of climate-induced floods, rapid glacial meltdown, blistering heat waves and soil-cracking droughts.”
“Developing countries like Pakistan need more predictable, flexible and grant-based financial support to build resilient infrastructure and invest in sustainable development,” he continued while reflecting on the nature of international support.
Sharif recalled that two years ago, one-third of Pakistan was submerged in floodwaters, displacing 33 million people and claiming 1,700 lives, transforming climate change from a distant threat to an urgent call to action.
He noted that without global empathy and support, “the path to climate adaptation and green transformation will remain elusive.”
“Therefore, let us make Breathe Pakistan a resounding call to action to ensure a cleaner, greener and more resilient Pakistan for generations to come,” he added.
Pakistan PM inaugurates renovated Gaddafi Stadium, hopes for Champions Trophy victory
- Sharif praises the national team for playing good cricket in recent month and winning people’s hearts
- He says the nation is praying for players and await the time of their ‘decisive victory’ over India in Dubai
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif inaugurated the newly renovated Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Friday ahead of the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) Champions Trophy 2025, expressing hope for the national team’s victory in the tournament.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has renovated major cricket venues in Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi for the first ICC event hosted in Pakistan since the 1996 World Cup.
The PCB said a day earlier that Gaddafi Stadium had been transformed into a world-class facility, now featuring over 34,000 seats, new digital scoreboards and state-of-the-art floodlights to ensure clear visibility for players and spectators during night matches.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony, Sharif praised the national team for playing good cricket in recent months, saying Pakistani players had won “the hearts of the entire nation.”
“Championship Trophy is looking forward to your victory,” Sharif said, addressing the players present at the gathering. “We are all praying for you and will wait for the time when you will score a decisive victory against India.”
The prime minister specifically acknowledged star players, skipper Muhammad Rizwan, batting ace Babar Azam and leading pacer Shaheen Shah Afridi, saying the nation had tremendous expectations from them.
Sharif also congratulated PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi for overseeing the stadium’s transformation within just 117 days, adding the Punjab provincial administration would ensure foolproof security for the matches played at the venue.
He highlighted that Pakistan was hosting a major ICC event after 29 years and expressed his desire to watch the India-Pakistan match in Dubai, referencing the hybrid model of the tournament after India’s cricket board refused to play in Pakistan, citing “security concerns.”
The ICC Champions Trophy 2025 will be held from February 19 to March 9.
The stadium’s inauguration ceremony, attended by high-profile politicians and government officials, was followed by a fireworks display, light show and live music performances.
Oman eyes Pakistan’s indigenous defense production, deeper air force ties
- Both countries have history of defense cooperation, including military exercises and procurement
- Oman’s officials expressed interest in closer defense collaboration during Pakistani air chief’s visit
ISLAMABAD: Oman has expressed interest in expanding collaboration with the Pakistan Air Force and exploring Pakistan’s indigenous defense production capabilities, according to a statement by the military media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), on Friday.
The announcement follows Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu’s visit to the Arab country, where he engaged in discussions with civil and military leaders. The air chief was received with full military honors, underscoring the importance of the visit in enhancing bilateral relations.
Sidhu highlighted that both countries had consistently supported each other in challenging times, and the Pakistan Air Force was committed to providing training and support for the Royal Air Force of Oman, from basic to tactical-level training.
“During the meetings, the leadership of the Sultanate of Oman showed keen interest in the National Aerospace Science & Technology Park and expressed a strong desire for enhanced industrial and technological collaboration,” the statement said, referring to a high-tech facility established by Pakistan to promote indigenous defense production, aerospace research and technological innovation.
“The leadership of the Sultanate of Oman expressed a deep desire to expand the existing Air Force-to-Air Force collaboration, underscoring the importance of joint bilateral and multilateral aerial exercises, exchange visits and knowledge-sharing platforms,” it added.
Pakistan and Oman have a history of defense cooperation, including joint military exercises and defense procurement. In October 2020, both nations signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen military ties through knowledge exchange and expertise-sharing.
Diplomatically, the two countries share close relations based on mutual cooperation and cultural ties. Oman has an embassy in Islamabad and a Consulate-General in Karachi, while Pakistan maintains an embassy in Muscat.
The ISPR statement informed the Omani officials acknowledged the participation of a Royal Air Force of Oman contingent as observers in Exercise Indus Shield-2024, expressing appreciation for the multi-domain airpower strategies demonstrated, particularly the integration of disruptive technologies in space, cyber and electronic warfare.
Pakistan’s LNG deal with Qatar open to renegotiation next year
- Country’s petroleum minister previously described the deal as ‘costly,’ expressing interest in revisiting it
- He says no renegotiation decision has been made, though Pakistan has a whole year to figure out options
KARACHI: Pakistan’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) pact with Qatar allows for either party to initiate renegotiation talks next year but no decision has been taken on whether to do this, Pakistan's petroleum minister told Reuters on Friday.
Musadik Malik was clarifying comments made to a parliamentary committee on energy, as reported in local newspaper The News, which had quoted him as saying: “The Qatar agreement is costly, and we will negotiate better terms next year.”
Malik told Reuters he had been laying out details of the various contracts Pakistan has for LNG. “One provision was price renegotiation could take place at the 10th year of the Qatar LNG deal,” he said, adding that Pakistan has a whole year to “figure out its options.”
Pakistan’s biggest LNG agreement was signed in 2016 between Pakistan State Oil and Qatar's Qatargas-2, the world’s largest producer, for up to 3.75 million tons of LNG a year for 15 years, although a cancellation option can shorten the deal to 11 years if the parties fail to agree a new price.
An economic crisis has slashed power use in Pakistan, which gets more than a third of its electricity from natural gas, saddling it with excess capacity it still needs to pay for under decade-old contracts with independent power producers.
Citing a surplus of LNG, Malik said in December that Pakistan had deferred five contracted cargoes under the Qatar deal for a year and would now receive them in 2026 instead of 2025, with no financial penalty.
He added that Pakistan was also negotiating to defer five more cargoes from other unnamed sellers.
Imran Khan’s party says his lawyer arrested outside Rawalpindi’s high-security prison
- Local news outlet says Faisal Chaudhry was arrested after a verbal altercation with police a day earlier
- Khan’s opposition PTI party condemns the development, calling for his lawyer’s immediate release
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s main lawyer was arrested outside the high-security Adiala Jail on Friday, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party said, after he arrived there to visit the ex-premier along with the legal team.
Khan, who was ousted from power in a parliamentary no-confidence vote in April 2022, has been in prison since his arrest in August 2023 in a graft case.
He has faced a slew of charges, which he calls politically motivated, and has been acquitted in some cases. However, last month he was found guilty in a corruption reference involving £190 million and sentenced to 14 years in prison.
His lawyer’s arrest comes as PTI prepares to observe February 8 as “Black Day,” marking the first anniversary of Pakistan’s last general election, whose results the party has disputed.
“Former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s lawyer, Advocate Faisal Chaudhry, has been arrested outside Adiala Jail,” PTI announced in a post on social media platform X. “He, along with other lawyers, had gone to get Imran Khan’s power of attorney signed. He was taken away by a heavy contingent of forces.”
The party condemned the arrest and demanded Chaudhry’s immediate release.
While there has been no official government statement on the development, local media widely reported the incident, with a leading channel quoting police sources as saying the arrest was linked to a verbal altercation with a jail officer a day earlier.
“They [the police] arrested the lawyer for using derogatory language against jail officer Imran Riaz a day ago,” Geo TV reported, citing police sources.
The exchange reportedly took place on Thursday after Chaudhry was denied permission to meet Khan.
However, Chaudhry told the media his only fault was relaying the former prime minister’s conversations to the public after their previous meetings.
