Pakistan

DEBRIS is strewn across the runway and lounge of Sheikh Zayed International Airport after it was hit by a missile fired by India on Saturday.—Dawn RAHIM YAR KHAN: The Sheikh Zayed International Airport (SZIA) in Rahim Yar Khan district of Punjab — a landmark viewed as a symbol of friendship between Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates — was struck by an air-to-surface missile fired by India in the early hours of Saturday, causing significant damage to its infrastructure, including the Royal Lounge used by the UAE president and his family. Deputy Commissioner Khuram Javed confirmed that India targeted the airport with both a missile and a drone. He said the airport is occasionally used by the Abu Dhabi royal family, as commercial flight operations have been suspended since 2023. The attack destroyed the Royal Lounge, and a 10-foot-wide crater was left at the apron area of the airport. The deputy commissioner also confirmed that the UAE embassy has been informed about the damage caused to the airport. Locals l...

• Two police vans set on fire • Five grenade attacks reported in Quetta • Blast near Sibi railway station QUETTA/ GWADAR: Unknown armed men snatched official weapons from the police and Levies force personnel on various highways of Noski and Mastung districts and also set on fire their two vehicles. Earlier, the armed men had blocked the highways at different points in the districts. Officials said armed men blocked the main road in Washbo area late on Friday night and intercepted two police vehicles patrolling in the area. They took the police personnel into custody and after snatching their weapons, burnt both vehicles. Reports suggested that the miscreants also blocked the Quetta-Taftan highway in Ahmedwal area of Noshki district. They intercepted four vehicles carrying gas from Taftan and took away four persons with them at gunpoint who belonged to Punjab. They also entered police and Levies stations and snatched their weapons. The armed men also blocked roads in the Dasht area of Mastung district and som...

ISLAMABAD: The Reg­istrar Office of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) has returned a petition seeking the release of former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan on parole, citing multiple procedural objections. The plea was filed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur through senior advocate Latif Khosa. The petition, which sought Mr Khan’s release under parole, was dismissed for not fulfilling basic legal requirements. The Registrar Office objected that the plea was not filed by the aggrieved individual himself and failed to name Mr Khan as a party in it. Additionally, the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) — the prosecuting authority in the case in which Mr Khan is serving the sentence — was not listed as a respondent. The registrar also noted that the full addresses of involved parties were missing, and raised concerns over the legal standing of a third party seeking such relief on behalf of a convicted individual. Returns petition for not fulfilling basic legal requirements Following t...

MOSCOW: After European leaders backed a US plan for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine and threatened Russia with “massive” sanctions if it failed to comply, the Kremlin accused European countries on Saturday of making contradictory and confrontational statements. “We hear many contradictory statements from Europe. They are generally confrontational in nature rather than aimed at trying to revive our relations. Nothing more,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying. Ukraine and European leaders agreed on Saturday to an unconditional 30-day ceasefire on May 12 with the backing of US President Donald Trump, threatening Presi­dent Vladimir Putin with new “massive” sanctions if he failed to comply. The announcement was made by the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Poland and Ukraine after a meeting in Kyiv, after which they held a phone call with Trump. The US leader, who wants a rapid peace, has not commented publicly on the course of action. “So all of us here, together with the US, are calling Putin...

A state disaster management authority official shows area-wise losses on a map amid India’s missile attacks in AJK.—Photo by the writer MUZAFFARABAD: In yet another night of devastation along the Line of Control (LoC), Indian troops resorted to intense artillery shelling past midnight on Saturday and continued firing in intervals until noon, leaving 13 more civilians martyred— including a three-year-old girl — and over 55 others wounded across Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). According to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA), the latest casualties raised the death toll to 30 since Indian missile strikes targeted two cities in AJK, followed by heavy and indiscriminate shelling in several border areas. Officials said the shelling intensified after Fajr prayers, targeting civilian population with heavy guns, causing massive damage. In Poonch district, three people were killed in Chaffar village of Abbaspur tehsil. The victims were identified as Areesha, 26, her three-year-old daughter Hadia, and Rehman Ja...

LAHORE: After Pakistan and India agreed to a ceasefire facilitated by the US, water experts have urged the federal government to take up with Washington the unilateral suspension of the Ind­us Waters Treaty by India following the Pahalgam attack. “They (our government) must take up this issue with the US authorities immediately to ensure withdrawal of the illegal unilateral decision of holding the treaty in abeyance by India on April 24,” advised Jawaid Latif, a former member (water) of the Water and Power Development Authority. “I think it is the right time to raise this issue with immediate effect,” he told Dawn. According to him, India may withdraw its decision covertly in confidential meetings with Pakistan during mediation by the US, as it would avoid announcing this publicly for face-saving. The 1960 treaty regulates the sharing of water from the rivers. Under the treaty, India has the right to use water from the eastern rivers Ravi, Beas and Sutlej, with some discharges to Pakistan downstream. Pakistan...

RAWALPINDI: Pakis­tan reopened its airspace for all types of flig­hts on Saturday as tensions eased with India following a ceasefire agreement. The two neighbouring nations closed their airspaces multiple times since Wednesday, when India launched missiles into Pakistan, triggering a series of hostilities. On Saturday evening, the Pakistan Airport Aut­hority (PAA) announced that the airspace has been fully restored for all types of flights and issued a fresh notice to airmen (NOTAM). “All airports in the country are available for normal flight operations,” a spokesman for PAA said. He requested passengers to contact the airline for the latest flight schedule. However, the normalisation of flight operations is expected to take time as passenger aircraft and other equipment were shifted to safe locations as a precaution during escalating tensions between Pakistan and India. Officials have said the aircraft are being brought back to the operational area for routine operations. The Pakistan International Airlines...

PM calls Pak-India ceasefire historical victory n Shehbaz Sharif says agreement made for the benefit of everybody Thanks US, Saudi Arabia, China, Turkey, Qatar and UK Peaceful negotiations with India to solve longstanding issues including Indus water, Kashmir Operation Bunyan-un-Marsoos was against hatred,.

ISLAMABAD - Many world leaders and international organisations widely welcomed the ceasefire understanding between Pakistan and India, lauding the diplomatic efforts that led to the de-escalation and emphasizing the need for lasting peace in South Asia.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan late Saturday night said that it had not violated any ceasefire agreement reached with India hours earlier.

ISLAMABAD - After days of rising tensions, missile and drone strikes, and near-daily warnings from both sides of further escalation, a flurry of quiet diplomacy appears to have averted a deeper crisis between nuclear-armed rivals India and Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan and India on Saturday agreed to a full and immediate ceasefire, hours after Pakistan launched an operation to exercise its right of self-defence following the Indian missile attacks.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan early Saturday a robust response to blatant Indian aggression under “Operation Bunyan un Marsoos” (Iron Wall), symbolising national unity and an unwavering commitment to safeguarding the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the homeland.

ISLAMABAD - Though a sudden ceasefire between the nuclear powers (Pakistan and India) was declared after a fourth day of strikes and counter strikes, this brief episode would be remembered as a ‘Great victory of Pakistan’ in history.

ISLAMABAD - The opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday highly praised the armed forces, particularly the Pakistan Air Force, “backed by a resolute nation”, for their befitting and decisive response that brought India to its knees.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that armed forces have given a strong, coordinated and powerful response to the Indian aggression and avenged the blood of innocent people.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has released videos showing the destruction caused during Operation Bunyan-al-Marsoos, with visuals capturing thick smoke, intense fires, and the complete demolition of several Indian military targets.

ISLAMABAD - Foreign Office spokesperson Saturday said that all elements of the national power remained committed to ensuring the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Pakistan.

ISLAMABAD - President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday reaffirmed his faith in Pakistan’s armed forces, lauding their befitting response to Indian aggression and defending the nation’s sovereignty.

ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar said on Saturday that Pakistan was neither aggressor nor provocator, it only responded to unprovoked Indian aggression in self-defence under the United Nations Charter.