Islamabad | Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: Flight operations at the Islamabad airport may be affected due to “operational reasons” from May 8-10, the Pakistan Airports Authority (PAA) notified in a notice to airmen (Notam) on Friday. The Notam said flight arrivals and departures could be delayed because of “operational” reasons from 10:45am to 12:15pm on May 8 and between 8pm and 9:15pm on May 9 and 10. It further stated that flights arriving at the Islamabad airport had been asked to “bring sufficient holding fuel to cater to the delay”. The PAA had issued a similar Notam for the airport in the federal capital in March as well. It said flight operations at Islamabad airport would be suspended for two hours on March 17 due to “operational reasons”. The arriving aircraft were advised to “bring sufficient holding fuel to cater for delay” back then as well. PIA reinstates weekly flights from Muscat Separately, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) announced on Friday that it would reinstate flights from Oman to Islamabad, Lahore, and Multan, s...

ISLAMABAD - Islamabad police have claimed an overall 30 percent reduction in crime in the federal capital during the first four months of the ongoing year.

The US State Department has announced the phased closure of its consulate in Peshawar, saying it would transfer operations to the embassy in Islamabad, it emerged on Wednesday. “Responsibility for diplomatic engagement with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will transfer to the US Embassy in Islamabad.  This decision reflects our commitment to the safety of our diplomatic personnel and efficient resource management,” it said in a statement. While our physical presence in Peshawar is changing, the administration’s policy priorities in Pakistan remain steadfast.  We will continue to engage meaningfully with the people and officials of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to foster economic ties, promote regional security, and advance the interests of the American people,” it said. “The department, through the US Mission to Pakistan, remains dedicated to advancing the US-Pakistan relationship through our remaining diplomatic posts in Islamabad, Karachi, and Lahore,” it said. The Independent had reported about the consulate’s closure in March. T...

Mild to moderate earthquake tremors were felt in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Monday, causing brief panic among residents, though no loss of life or property was reported.

Tremors were felt in Islamabad and Rawalpindi on Monday after a 5.2-magnitude earthquake was reported. According to the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), the earthquake was recorded at 10:56am. It added that the epicentre was located near the Tajikistan–Xinjiang border region and had a depth of 128 kilometres. According to state-run PTV, the tremors were felt in Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Pakistan falls on three major tectonic plates — the Arabian, Euro-Asian and Indian — which create five seismic zones under the country. The intersection of multiple fault lines means that tectonic movements remain a frequent occurrence in the region. Last week, a 5.7-magnitude earthquake jolted parts of Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Residents of Islamabad and KP also felt tremors on April 3, when a 6.1-magnitude earthquake struck the Hindu Kush region in Afghanistan.

Tremors were felt in Islamabad and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday as an earthquake of 5.7 magnitude struck the Afghanistan-Tajikistan border region, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said. In a statement, the PMD said the quake was recorded at 11:46am. It added that the epicentre was located near Afghanistan’s border with Tajikistan and had a depth of 170 kilometres. According to PMD, jolts from the earthquake were felt in Islamabad, Swat, Shangla and Buner. However, the United States Geological Survey (USGS) recorded the earthquake’s magnitude as 5.1 on the Richter scale, with its epicentre having a depth of 105.1km. Residents of Islamabad and KP had last felt earthquake tremors on April 3, when an earthquake of 6.1 magnitude hit the Hindu Kush Region in Afghanistan. Earlier this month, Balochistan also witnessed two quakes. Pakistan falls on three major tectonic plates — the Arabian, Euro-Asian and Indian — which create five seismic zones under the country. The intersection of multiple fault lines ...

Islamabad - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed profound shock after a shooting incident at a high-profile event in Washington, where a gunman opened fire but was swiftly apprehended, and all senior officials were safely evacuated.

ISLAMABAD: Four members of a family, including a woman and a teenager, were gunned down in the capital’s suburbs, a police official said on Saturday. According to the police official, the incident occurred in a house located in the Jhangi Syedan area, adjacent to Sectors I-15 and I-18 of Islamabad. The police official said people in the neighbourhood heard gunshots in the morning and informed police about the incident. Upon reaching the spot, a police team found four bodies on the first floor of the house, with two victims on separate beds and one on the floor. All victims sustained bullet injuries on their heads, the police official said. The victims were identified as Mula Khalil; his wife, Shamim Bibi; their 14-year-old son, Musa Khan; and Habib Majid, believed to be Shamim Bibi’s brother. Police shifted the bodies to a hospital for medical-legal procedures. The reason behind the killing was yet to be ascertained, but police suspected it could be an incident of so-called honour killing. Preliminary investi...

Tight security arrangements were in place in Islamabad’s Red Zone on Saturday as a high-level Iranian delegation was in town amid intensifying diplomatic activity around the US-Iran conflict. Araghchi arrived in Islamabad late on Friday, carrying Tehran’s formal response to proposals conveyed earlier by the US through Pakistan. The Islamabad police have said that the Red Zone and Extended Red Zone will be “completely closed to all types of traffic” and issued an alternative traffic plan for the public. Dawn takes a look at some of the scenes from key roads in Islamabad, where security personnel stand guard and barricades are placed as part of stringent security. Police personnel keeps watch in the Red Zone area of Islamabad on April 25, 2026. — AFP A security personnel diverts traffic at a closed road in the Red Zone area of Islamabad on April 25, 2026. — AFP An army trooper keeps watch in the Red Zone area of Islamabad on April 25, 2026. — AFP An army trooper stands guard at a closed road in the Red Zone are...

Foreign Office (FO) Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said on Friday that an Iranian delegation led by the Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi had arrived in Islamabad. The development came as the White House said that envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner would also be heading to Pakistan for talks with Iran. However, Iran asserted that it would not be meeting with the US. In a post on X, FO spokesperson Andrabi Araghchi was received by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and other senior officials. “During the visit, the Iranian foreign minister will hold meetings with Pakistan’s senior leadership to discuss the latest regional developments as well as ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability,” he added. Subsequently, Dar posted on X that he was pleased to “receive and welcome my brother, Foreign Minister of Iran, Abbas Araghchi, to Islamabad”. “Look forward to our meaningful engagements aimed at promoting regional peace...

ISLAMABAD - Security has been heightened in federal capital Islamabad ahead of arrival of US and Iranian delegations for peace talks aimed at ending the Middle East crisis.

Pakistan is set to witness renewed diplomatic activity as Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is expected to arrive in Islamabad tonight with a small delegation, amid growing momentum for a possible second round of US-Iran negotiations.

Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met US Chargé d’Affaires to Pakistan, Natalie Baker, in Islamabad, where the two discussed ongoing diplomatic efforts to hold a second round of US-Iran talks, the interior ministry said. According to the interior ministry’s statement, during their “important meeting”, Naqvi and Baker exchanged detailed views on the latest regional situation and discussed diplomatic efforts regarding the possible second round of US-Iran negotiations in Islamabad. Naqvi commended US President Donald Trump’s initiative to extend the ceasefire, calling it a “welcome development” that made significant progress towards reducing tensions. “We also hope for positive progress from Iran’s side,” the interior minister was quoted as saying. The meeting emphasised the need for continuity in diplomatic channels for a lasting resolution to the conflict. According to the ministry, the minister told Baker that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) Field Marshal Asim Munir were making “a...

Islamabad’s Red Zone remained sealed to the general public on Wednesday, but other routes in the twin cities, sealed earlier for the security of foreign delegations visiting the capital, were opened to the public, easing some hardship faced by the residents. US Vice President JD Vance and his team had been expected to arrive on Wednesday morning, but the White House abruptly changed plans, with Iran’s negotiating delegation also delaying a decision on attending talks. Major roads have been closed in recent days to facilitate the arrival of foreign delegations and advance teams. Markets were quiet, government officials worked from home, children attended classes online and security forces enforced strict curbs on entering the vast Red Zone. The security in the Red Zone, where government buildings and offices are located, remained high. There was a heavy deployment of law enforcement personnel and the army was patrolling the area. Public entry to the Red Zone has remained sealed since Sunday, with access restri...

Reports in the United States media have suggested that a second round of negotiations between the US and Iran is expected to take place in Islamabad on Wednesday, though uncertainty persists amid conflicting signals from Tehran.

Key developments Trump has confirmed an American delegation will be arriving in Pakistan for talks. While he said on Monday evening that JD Vance and an American delegation were en route to Islamabad, US news outlets reported that the US vice president had yet to depart Iran says it has yet to decide whether it will attend next round of talks with US; parliament speaker highlights lack of trust in Washington Tight security in Islamabad for arrival of foreign delegations; Red Zone sealed and public transport in twin cities suspended Uncertainty prevailed on Monday over whether the United States and Iran would hold a second round of direct talks, as mixed signals emerged from Tehran amid intensifying tensions with Washington, even as Islamabad prepared to host the two sides. Meanwhile, US Donald Trump confirmed that a US team would be in Islamabad for the expected talks. However, it was not clear when the team would depart and arrive in Pakistan. Initially, Trump told The New York Post on Monday evening that US...

The high security measures were in place in Islamabad for the arrival of foreign delegations, even as mixed signals emerged from Iran amid intensifying tensions with the United States. Iran has said it has not yet decided on attending a new round of negotiations with the US, while President Donald Trump said on Sunday that a US delegation will be arriving in the federal capital “tomorrow evening”. Despite this, security in Islamabad was on high alert on Monday, with the Red Zone sealed and public transport in the twin cities suspended. A police officer gestures to a vehicle at a checkpost along a road near Faisal Masjid, as Pakistan prepares to host the US and Iran for the second phase of peace talks in Islamabad on April 19, 2026. — Reuters Rangers descend from a vehicle during their deployment along a road leading to the Presidentâ’ss House, as Pakistan prepares to host the United States and Iran for the second phase of peace talks in Islamabad on April 20, 2026. — Reuters A police officer guards a road blo...

Ministry of National Health Services has dismissed reports claiming a sharp rise in HIV/AIDS cases in Islamabad, terming them inaccurate and without factual basis.

Authorities in Islamabad have closed several hiking trails and implemented a comprehensive traffic management plan amid heightened security arrangements for the arrival of foreign delegations.

President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that representatives from Washington were heading to Islamabad and they would be “there tomorrow evening for negotiations” with Iran. The US president made the announcement in a Truth Social post, where he also insisted that Washington was offering Tehran “a very fair and reasonable” deal. “And I hope they take it because, if they don’t, the United States is going to knock out every single Power Plant, and every single Bridge, in Iran,” he warned. “NO MORE MR. NICE GUY! They’ll come down fast, they’ll come down easy and, if they don’t take the DEAL, it will be my Honour to do what has to be done, which should have been done to Iran, by other Presidents, for the last 47 years. IT’S TIME FOR THE IRAN KILLING MACHINE TO END!” US media outlets reported, citing the White House spokesperson and officials, that Vice President JD Vance would lead the American delegation, and that Trump’s envoy Steve Kushner and the president’s son-in-law Jared Kushner would also be part of t...