Pakistan

The United States can only determine with certainty that it has destroyed about a third of Iran’s vast missile arsenal as the US and Israeli war on the country ​nears its one-month mark, according to five people familiar with the US intelligence. The status of around another third is less clear but bombings likely damaged, destroyed or buried those missiles in underground tunnels and ‌bunkers, four of the sources said. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity given the sensitive nature of the information. One of the sources said the intelligence was similar for Iran’s drone capability, saying there was some degree of certainty about a third having been destroyed. The assessment shows that while most of Iran’s missiles are either destroyed or inaccessible, Tehran still has a significant missile inventory and may be able to recover some buried or damaged missiles once fighting stops. The intelligence stands in contrast to President Donald Trump’s public remarks on Thursday that Iran ​had “very few rockets le...

The war in the Gulf is still expected to last weeks, not months, and Washington can meet all its objectives without using ground troops, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday. Rubio told reporters after meeting G7 counterparts in France that Washington was “on or ahead of schedule in that operation, and expect to conclude it at the appropriate time here — a matter of weeks, not months.” While he said Washington could achieve its aims without ground troops, he acknowledged that it was deploying some to the region “to give the president maximum optionality and maximum opportunity to adjust the contingencies, should they emerge”. Washington has dispatched two contingents of thousands of Marines to the region, the first of which is due to arrive around the end of March aboard a huge amphibious assault ship. The Pentagon is also expected to deploy thousands of elite airborne soldiers. The deployments have raised concern that an air war that has already disrupted global energy supplies could turn into a ...

Iran’s men’s national football team wore black armbands and held schoolbags as their ‌anthem played ahead of a match in Turkey on Friday, in what a team official said was a protest over the killing of schoolgirls on the first day of the Iran war. Iran were playing a friendly against Nigeria in the Mediterranean ​resort town of Belek ahead of the World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada, ​at which their participation is in doubt due to the conflict. Iran players line up before the match as school bags are laid in memory of the victims of the girls school bombing in Minab, Iran, March 27, 2026. — Reuters The men lined up ⁠holding pink and purple bags with ribbons on them — a reference to the attack on the ​Shajareh Tayyebeh School that Tehran says killed more than 175 people, including children and teachers, on the ​first day of joint US-Israeli strikes on the country. Mehdi Mohammad Nabi, a vice president of the Iranian football federation, told Reuters that the players had decided to stage the protest as a symb...

ISLAMABAD - Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Friday said strengthening governance is vital to restoring public trust, improving service delivery and enabling Pakistan to transition from economic stability to sustainable growth and transformation.

ISLAMABAD - Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Ishaq Dar Friday spoke with Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres and exchanged views on the evolving situation in West Asia and its implications for international peace and security.

LAHORE - Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif has announced that Earth Hour will be observed across the province on March 28 (today) as she urged citizens to switch off lights from 8:30 pm to 9:30 pm as part of the global initiative.

ISLAMABAD - The Supreme Court of Pakistan will take up on March 31 a review petition filed by the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) concerning his right of defense in a defamation case instituted by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan has urged a stronger United Nations (UN) peacekeeping role and the need for an immediate ceasefire in DRC Congo, said a press release shared by Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN on X on Friday.

ISLAMABAD - Senate Chairman Syed Yousaf Raza Gilani on Friday directed the Secretariat to implement austerity measures in letter and spirit in line with the policy of the federal government following energy and fuel crises after the US-Iran war.

ISLAMABAD - Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Shazia Marri yesterday strongly criticized remarks attributed to Kasim Khan, son of former prime minister Imran Khan, regarding the European Union’s GSP+ trade status, terming the comments “regrettable and irresponsible” and contrary to Pakistan’s national.

ISLAMABAD - Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Friday that Pakistan will continue to play a constructive role in bringing peace and stability to the region.

ISLAMABAD - Behind the scene diplomatic developments suggest that Pakistan is increasingly positioning itself as an important diplomatic intermediary in international crises, particularly in efforts to reduce tensions between the United States and Iran.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has issued a show-cause notice to fast bowler Naseem Shah for “violating the terms of [his] central contract as well as the media policy and regulations”, according to a press release. The press release, issued by the PCB on Friday, said that the show-cause notice to Naseem, who also plays for the Pakistan Super League team Rawalpindiz, had been served in accordance with the board’s disciplinary framework. “Naseem Shah is required to provide a response within the stipulated time,” the press release said, without specifying the date by when Naseem was required to submit his response. It added that upon receipt and review of Naseem’s response, the PCB would “decide on any further action in line with the regulations”. “The PCB remains committed to upholding professional standards, contractual obligations, and the integrity of the game,” the press release read. While the press release did not specify the exact violations or the events that led to the issuance of a show-cause notic...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced on Friday that he had rejected another recommendation for an increase in the prices of petrol and high-speed diesel (HSD). He made the announcement during an address to the nation, saying that he had been recommended to approve an increase of Rs95 per litre in the price of petrol and Rs203 per litre in that of HSD. “However, I have rejected it,” he said. The announcement comes a week after he said he rejected an increase of Rs76 per litre in the price of petrol Rs177 per litre in that of HSD. In the same instance, the premier had also said that he had rejected a similar recommendation earlier as well, following a hike in oil prices in the international market on March 13. The developments take place amid a global fuel crisis resulting from the US-Israeli war on Iran, which began on February 28. The government announced unprecedented austerity measures on March 9 and also hiked petroleum products’ prices earlier this month in the first steps to deal with the situation. M...

Iran-linked hackers on Friday claimed they had accessed FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal email inbox, publishing photographs of the director and other documents to the internet. On their website, the hacker group Handala Hack Team said Patel “will now find his name among the list of successfully hacked victims”. The hackers published a series of personal photographs of Patel sniffing and smoking cigars, riding in an antique convertible, and making a face while taking a picture of himself in the mirror with a large bottle of rum. A Justice Department official confirmed that Patel’s email had been breached and said the material published online appeared authentic. The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The hackers did not immediately respond to messages. Handala, which calls itself a group of pro-Palestinian vigilante hackers, is considered by Western researchers to be one of several personas used by Iranian government cyberintelligence units. Handala recently claimed the hack of Michig...

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday announced that he has once again declined a proposal to significantly increase fuel prices, reaffirming the government’s commitment to shielding the public from rising costs.

Digital fuel rationing programme approved

Rejects summary for increase in POL cost Says govt will absorb Rs56b burden Rs95/litre for petrol, Rs203 for die

Bill allows NADRA to block CNICs of suspects

Araghchi warns Israel of 'heavy price' after attacks on steel factories, power plant, nuclear sites Rubio says US