Pakistan | News

• Smaller mines and larger copper, antimony projects under consideration • US Embassy official says Reko Diq moving forward, but slower than expected • Encourages Pakistan to provide level playing field to American firms • Finance minister, US trade representative review progress on bilateral trade talks ISLAMABAD: Amid a big push from the Trump administration to secure global critical mineral supply chains, US companies are exploring opportunities to take over and develop smaller mines in Pakistan, besides looking at more significant investments in larger projects, potentially in copper and other critical minerals such as antimony. Speaking to journalists at a background briefing, a US Embassy official said the Trump administration had been focusing on critical mineral supply chains around the world, particularly in Pakistan, through multilateral agencies, the US International Development Finance Corporation and the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The official said the US Exim Bank had committed $1....

Pakistan, US talks focus on terror threats

Pakistan beat the West Indies by eight wickets on the fourth day of the second and final Test at Queen’s Park Oval in Trinidad on Wednesday to level the series. Beaten by 90 runs in the first Test the previous week, the visitors were left with a target of only 75 runs after the home side — already in deep trouble overnight at 103 for six in the second innings — were dismissed for 117 half an hour into the start of the day’s play. Abdullah Shafique and captain Babar Azam guided their team to victory after openers Imam-ul-Haq and Azan Awais fell cheaply to pacers Jayden Seales and Shamar Joseph, with Babar hoisting consecutive sixes off spinner Jomel Warrican to seal the result. Babar Azam (L) of Pakistan hits 6 and Shai Hope (R) of West Indies watch during the 4th day of the 2nd Test match between West Indies and Pakistan at Queens Park Oval, Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago, on August 5, 2026. — AFP It gave Pakistan a share of the series in the same manner as their last campaign in the Caribbean in 2021, wh...

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, on Wednesday, reaffirmed that Pakistan highly valued its close and brotherly ties with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Pakistan and Iran on Wednesday agreed to further expand trade ties by keeping border crossings open round the clock, improving logistics and harmonising customs procedures. The development came during a meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and a six-member Iranian delegation, led by Iran’s Minister for Industry, Mine and Trade Mohammad Atabak, in Islamabad, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). During the meeting, the prime minister said that Pakistan highly valued its relations with its close, brotherly neighbour Iran, the PMO said. “Pakistan will continue its sincere efforts for peace in the region,” PM Shehbaz was quoted as saying. He added that he had recently held a productive discussion with Iranian President Dr Masoud Pezeshkian on establishing lasting peace in the region and further enhancing Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations, particularly in trade, the statement said. During the meeting, the prime minister expressed hope that sustained efforts would enable bot...

WASHINGTON: The United States and Pakistan on Tuesday held the fourth counter-terrorism dialogue in Washington, reaffirming their commitment to combating terrorist groups and strengthening security cooperation at a time when regional tensions remain high. The talks were led by US Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ambassador Gregory LoGerfo and Foreign Ministry Special Secretary Ambassador Nabeel Munir, a joint statement released by the US State Department said. “The dialogue underscored shared interests in the US-Pakistan counter-terrorism partnership and the two countries’ determination to confront terrorism,” the joint statement said. “Delegations exchanged views on the current threat environment, explored avenues to enhance collaboration, and discussed steps to strengthen border security and disrupt terrorist facilitation networks,” it added. The statement specifically named ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), Al Qaeda, the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its affiliates a...

PM Shehbaz says sustained efforts can help Pakistan and Iran achieve their $10b bilateral trade target

WASHINGTON: The United States and Pakistan on Tuesday held the fourth counterterrorism dialogue in Washington, reaffirming their commitment to combating terrorist groups and strengthening security cooperation at a time when regional tensions remain high. The talks were led by US Coordinator for Counterterrorism Ambassador Gregory LoGerfo and Foreign Ministry Special Secretary Ambassador Nabeel Munir, a joint statement released by the US State Department said. “The dialogue underscored shared interests in the US-Pakistan counterterrorism partnership and the two countries’ determination to confront terrorism,” the joint statement said. “Delegations exchanged views on the current threat environment, explored avenues to enhance collaboration, and discussed steps to strengthen border security and disrupt terrorist facilitation networks,” it added. The statement specifically named ISIS-Khorasan (ISIS-K), Al Qaeda, the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and its affiliates amo...

Pakistan’s spinners put their team on course for a series-levelling victory as the West Indies stumbled to 103 for six — a lead of just 60 runs — on an eventful third day of the second and final Test in Trinidad on Tuesday. Abdullah Shafique’s unbeaten 160 ensured the visitors did not completely squander an excellent overnight platform in eventually getting to a first-innings total of 387. Sajid Khan then made his second meaningful contribution of the day in taking four second-innings wickets, while Ali Usman claimed two, including home captain Roston Chase caught-and-bowled off the final ball of the day. First-innings top-scorer Justin Greaves will carry the fight for the West Indies into the fourth morning with uncertainty over the availability to bat of regular opener Brandon King. On a deteriorating pitch offering sharp turn and variable bounce, West Indies left-arm spinner Jomel Warrican was as much in his element as 18 months earlier against these same opponents in Multan. Here, his haul of six for 112,...

Chehlum processions held to commemorate Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and the martyrs of Karbala passed peacefully across Pakistan on Tuesday, with authorities maintaining extensive security arrangements.

EVERY few years, Pakistan revisits the debate on creating new provinces. The interior minister’s recent proposal to establish smaller administrative units has again raised an important question. Yet the real issue is not how many provinces Pa­­kistan should have. It is whether government is close enough to serve its citizens effectively. Adm­inistrative boundaries matter only because they influence how quickly people receive education, healthcare, justice, infrastructure and disaster relief. If governance remains distant and unresponsive, merely redrawing maps won’t improve lives. With over 240 million people spread across nearly 796,000 square kilometres, Pakistan is one of the world’s largest federations. Its administrative challenges vary enormously — from the mountains of Gilgit-Baltistan to the deserts of Thar and the vast expanse of Balochistan. A governance model suited to Lahore or Karachi cannot automatically meet the needs of Kech, Upper Kohistan or Astore. The real challenge is one of state capacit...

He highlights Pakistan’s spin advantage after a strong bowling comeback

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, NI (M), HJ visited the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) at the Headquarters of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), where he received a briefing on Pakistan’s disaster preparedness and coordinated response arrangements for.

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Iran on Tuesday reiterated their resolve to expand bilateral trade to $10 billion, with Commerce Minister Jam calling for transforming “historic brotherly relations” with Iran into a robust economic partnership. Since March this year, both countries have rolled out a series of measures to facilitate border trade, including easing customs procedures, formalising Taftan as a customs station, and notifying new transit routes, against the backdrop of the ongoing US-Iran conflict in the Middle East that has strained economies in the region and beyond. Their latest engagement took place at the 10th session of the Pak–Iran Joint Trade Committee (JTC), which is being held in Islamabad from August 3-5. The meeting was co‑chaired by Iranian Industry, Mine and Trade Minister Mohammad Atabak and Pakistan’s Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan. On the occasion, Khan also underscored the urgency to finalise the Pak–Iran Free Trade Agreement, a statement issued by his ministry said. He called for the rem...

Former South African cricketer Michael Smith has been appointed as the batting coach of the Pakistan men’s cricket team for two years, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) announced on Tuesday. According to a press release issued by the PCB, the “46-year-old will work with the team across both red-ball and white-ball formats”. He will join the Pakistan team ahead of the three-match Test series against England, commencing on Aug 19, the press release stated. Elaborating on Smith’s experience, the press release stated that he had featured in 89 first-class matches, 72 List-A matches and 16 T20 matches between 2003 and 2013. “The right-handed batter scored 7,029 runs across the three formats, including nine centuries and 40 half-centuries,” the PCB said. Smith, who holds a Level 4 coaching qualification, has served on the coaching staffs of three HBL Pakistan Super League (PSL) franchises — Islamabad United, Karachi Kings and Multan Sultans, it added The press release further stated that he has also worked as a batt...

According to Anadolu NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq invited Tehran's chief negotiator Bagher Ghalibaf to visit Pakistan

• Washington makes visa bond programme permanent; Bangladesh, Nepal among 50 countries covered, India also excluded • Visitors from listed nations face refundable deposits of up to $20,000 WASHINGTON: Pakistan is not among the 50 countries whose citizens may now be required to deposit up to $20,000 as a financial guarantee before obtaining a US visitor visa under a new programme that took effect on Aug 1. The list published in the US Federal Register does not include Pakistan. Among South Asian countries, Bangladesh and Nepal are covered by the programme, while India is not. Afghanistan and Iran are not included because the United States does not maintain normal diplomatic relations with either country. The State Department said the decision followed a review of the 2025 pilot programme, which it said significantly reduced visa overstays among travellers from participating countries and improved compliance with US immigration rules. Officials said those findings prompted Washington to make the programme perma...

ISLAMABAD: Pakis­tan on Monday invited Iran’s parliament speaker and foreign minister for urgent consultations on regional developments, as Tehran described Islamabad as its primary mediator with the US. National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq invited Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Iran’s chief negotiator with Washington and speaker of parliament. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, meanwhile, invited his Iranian counterpart, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi. The invitations were delivered in Tehran late Monday night after Dar spoke with Araghchi. “They exchanged views on regional and international developments, including the deteriorating situation in Occupied East Jerusalem,” the Foreign Office said in a statement. It remained unclear when Ghalibaf and Araghchi would travel to Pakistan. A diplomatic source said both men had been asked to come as soon as possible for discussions on regional and international developments. Araghchi was in Iraq on Monday for Arbaeen, which is being observed on Tuesday. The invitations came roughly 36 ho...

Justin Greaves made an unbeaten 64 to steer West Indies to 239-5 at stumps on a rain-shortened opening day of the second and final Test against Pakistan in Trinidad on Sunday. After a match-winning display with the ball in the first Test last week, Greaves displayed what has now become his trademark ease and composure at the crease in a battling knock at Queen’s Park Oval. His only error of judgement came just after reaching the half-century mark when captain Babar Azam put down a straightforward chance at leg-slip off spinner Sajid Khan. Greaves at that time was almost hobbling after a left leg injury sustained while completing a sharp run that necessitated lengthy treatment on the field. His sixth-wicket partnership with Roston Chase (36 not out) was worth 66 runs at the close of play and Greaves will be hoping for a return to his usual athletic mobility when he resumes the innings with his captain on the second morning. He had come to the crease in mid-afternoon at 91 for three as Kavem Hodge became Khan’s...

Dr Tanaka Akihiko's first visit to Pakistan as JICA chief focuses on uplift projects