Pakistan

Trump links KSA N-deal to Abraham Accords

6 terrorists killed, several arrested in Balochistan

Rejects Amnesty claims, urges scrutiny of Taliban regime

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has recorded a significant decline in the detection of poliovirus in environmental samples during the first six months of 2026, with the positivity rate dropping from 48.1 per cent during the same period last year to 13.1pc this year. Prime Minister’s Focal Person for Polio Eradication Ayesha Raza Farooq told Dawn that the improvement was the result of a new strategy involving external audits, better team selection, enhanced training and the support of law enforcement agencies. However, a polio expert cautioned that unchecked cross-border movement from Afghanistan remained a major concern, as poliovirus strains linked to Kandahar and Nangarhar had been detected in environmental samples collected from Quetta and Peshawar, respectively. According to data released by the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) for Polio Eradication, 127 environmental samples were collected across the country during June 2026 as part of routine poliovirus surveillance. Of these, 117 tested negative, while ...

Israeli far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir led hundreds of Israeli Jews into Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa mosque compound on Thursday, breaching the site’s decades-old status quo as he marked a Jewish day of mourning. The visit coincided with Tisha B’Av, the Jewish fasting day commemorating the destruction of the First and Second Temples, which is being observed from Wednesday night through Thursday this year. AFP footage showed Ben Gvir and hundreds of fellow worshippers at the Al-Aqsa compound, including Jewish settlers who lined up from the early morning hours to enter the site, where many performed prayers. “Look at what’s happening here: Jews are praying and feel that they are the rightful owners here,” Ben Gvir said in a video filmed at the compound and posted on his Telegram channel. “Everywhere, people understand that the State of Israel is the sovereign authority. There is still more to do, and with God’s help, we will continue to move forward.” Located in Israeli-annexed East Jerusalem, the...

The Republican-led US House of Representatives backed a resolution on Thursday directing President Donald Trump to halt military action against Iran unless he obtains Congress’ approval, but the Senate voted hours later to block a separate, similar measure. The House vote, the latest rebuke of Trump from Congress, was 214-208 in favour of the war powers resolution as four Republicans joined Democrats in voting for it. But the Senate voted 49 to 47 to block its own war powers measure within hours of the House vote. The House resolution, introduced by Representative Pramila Jayapal, a Washington Democrat, directed Trump “to remove the use of United States Armed Forces from hostilities” against Iran unless Congress authorises it. However, it was largely symbolic. Lawmakers have passed similar resolutions repeatedly in recent months, but they have not led to a cessation of the war. US Speaker of the House Mike Johnson is followed by reporters as he walks back to his office in the US Capitol Building on July 23, 2...

KARACHI: The police on Thursday killed the alleged abductor and murderer of a six-year-old girl in a shootout after the suspect allegedly opened fire on law enforcers during a raid in Karachi’s Keamari area. According to a statement issued by the Keamari police spokesperson, a first information report (No. 265/2026) under Sections 364-A and 302 of the Pakistan Penal Code was registered at Jackson Police Station regarding the abduction and murder of a six-year-old girl. The spokesperson stated that police obtained CCTV footage from various locations along with other available evidence, which was thoroughly examined during the investigation. “Based on the CCTV footage and information gathered during the investigation, police received credible information regarding the whereabouts of a suspect,” the spokesperson said. Acting on this information, he said, a police party reached the Mubarak Mosque area, within the jurisdiction of Jackson Police Station. “However, upon seeing the police party, the suspect opened fi...

Torrential rains in Gilgit-Baltistan caused widespread travel disruptions in the mountainous region as flash floods and landslides washed away roads and bridges, leaving thousands, including tourists, stranded. The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) forecast rain and warned of glacial lake outburst floods (GLOFs) in GB until July 26. Floods blocked the Karakoram Highway (KKH), Babusar Road, Baltistan Road, Naltar Highway, Ghizer-Shandur Road, Astore Valley Road and other routes connecting various remote areas, leaving thousands, including tourists, stranded at multiple locations. The GB Disaster Management Authority (GBDMA) said the KKH was blocked at multiple sections from Dassu to Hunza and Nagar districts. Picture taken on July 23, 2026 shows a tractor stranded after landslides and floods were caused by torrential rainfall in Gilgit-Baltistan. —Photo via author Continuous flooding at multiple locations caused difficulties for relief and rehabilitation activities. Many areas remained disconnected from...

Mobile phone and internet services have started to resume in Mirpur and nearby areas of Azad Kashmir after a 45-day disruption, offering relief to residents and businesses affected by the prolonged outage.

UBL, NBP, Bank Alfalah top performers as govt relies on domestic borrowing

Analysts see benefits for US too if it agrees to Pakistan's funding requests

KSE-100 dives nearly 2,700 points as US-Iran tensions rattle investors

Centre will integrate manufacturing tech, applied research to improve product quality

Gold slides Rs1,800 per tola as global prices drop over 2%

Platform will feature agri engineering solutions for researchers, farmers & entrepreneurs

$7.6m US-backed WASH assets transferred to provinces with training support

Minister invites tech giant to engage with digital economy agenda, trade associations

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New Land Cruiser is in addition to a pool of such vehicles bought for protection

During its war with the United States, Iran has targeted Middle East bases where American troops are stationed, turning assets once seen as a bulwark against Tehran into targets. Below, AFP examines some of the major concentrations of US forces in the region, which fall under the US military’s Central Command (Centcom). Elizabeth Dent, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said Middle East bases housing US troops “can support a wide range of missions from logistics, pre-positioning assets, refuelling, and of course combat operations”. Iran, in justifying its own retaliatory strikes, has accused Gulf states of allowing the US to use the bases to launch attacks, which Dent said was likely, though Tehran’s “perennial argument that all of these bases are inherently offensive is not accurate”. Bahrain The small kingdom hosts the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet and US Naval Forces Central Command headquarters. Bahrain’s deep-water port can accommodate the largest US military vessels, such as aircr...