Pakistan

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.

ISLAMABAD - Chairman Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Saturday said that Pakistan’s response under operation Bunyan-ul-Marsoos was necessary, proportionate and in clear exercise of the country’s right to self-defence under Article 51 of the UN Charter.

ISLAMABAD - The funeral prayer of Constable Muhammad Shahbaz was held on Saturday at Police Lines Headquarters, Islamabad.

Mohammad Rizwan is arguably the most media-savvy active cricketer in Pakistan right now. He knows the art of virality. The zappy Rizwan has a punchy remark for all situations, but that night he was compelled to repeat the very words he had uttered after it became all but certain that Pakistan would not go beyond the group-stage of a home Champions Trophy under his captaincy. “I do not like to be dependent on the results of the other teams,” the Multan Sultans captain said after Quetta Gladiators condemned his team to the largest defeat in terms of balls remaining in the history of the Pakistan Super League (PSL). They needed to win all the remaining matches and had to hope for other results to go in their favour after Sultans had lost six out of seven matches and had a negative net run rate of 2.355. Two days later, Karachi Kings thrashed Multan Sultans by 87 runs. The result effectively eliminated Rizwan’s side — that still had two more matches to play — from the playoffs race with still as many as 10 group ...