PAKISTAN NEWS

 New York, 22 September, 2026 (Nosheen): Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has responded to criticism of the newly established Makkah Defence Pact, saying it is unfair to judge the alliance based on the long-running crisis in Yemen because “we have only just started.” Speaking at a panel discussion in New York titled “Türkiye-US Relations in the Centennial Era,” Fidan was asked whether Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia represented the pact’s first test and how the alliance had performed. Referring to former US Ambassador to Türkiye James Jeffrey, Fidan asked how long he had served in the military, to which Jeffrey replied that it had been nearly 50 years. Fidan then asked how many times NATO’s Article 5 had been activated during that period, prompting the response that it had been...

New York, 22 September, 2026 (Ghufran): Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have agreed to waive visa requirements for holders of diplomatic and official or special passports, in a move aimed at facilitating high-level engagement and institutional exchanges between the two countries. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan signed the agreement in New York on the sidelines of the 2026 United Nations General Assembly session. Under the agreement, Pakistani citizens holding diplomatic and official passports will be able to travel to Saudi Arabia without obtaining a visa, Ishaq Dar said in a post on X. Dar described the agreement as an important step towards facilitating high-level engagement and institutional exchanges between Pakistan an...

 New York, 22 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): US President Donald Trump has praised Pakistan and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif during his address to the United Nations General Assembly, describing Pakistan as a “great country” and the prime minister as a “terrific man.” Speaking at the UN forum on Tuesday, Trump recalled a telephone call from Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in which the Pakistani premier thanked him for the US role in helping resolve what he described as an important matter. Trump said Shehbaz Sharif had told him that his intervention contributed to ending the Pakistan-India conflict in May 2025 and, according to Trump’s claim, helped save 30 million lives. Trump also claimed that he had played a role in settling eight wars while addressing a range of international i...

Islamabad, 22 September, 2026 (Ghufran): Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has said that the Palestine issue remains central to the collective consciousness of the Muslim Ummah, stressing that Israel continues to violate the Gaza ceasefire on a daily basis. Addressing the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Palestine Committee, Dar said the six-member committee had a responsibility to mobilise political and diplomatic support for the Palestinian people and called for immediate attention to the situation in the occupied Palestinian territories and Gaza. He appreciated the efforts of the United States, Egypt, Qatar and Türkiye aimed at ending the conflict in Gaza and strongly condemned Israeli violations at the Al-Aqsa Mosque. Dar said incursions by extremist Israeli...

Rawalpindi, 22 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): France’s Secretary-General for Defence and National Security, Nicolas Roche, accompanied by the French Ambassador to Pakistan, visited General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi and met Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). During the meeting, matters of mutual interest, regional security and bilateral cooperation in defence and security were discussed. Field Marshal Asim Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with France and expanding cooperation in defence and security. French Secretary-General Nicolas Roche acknowledged Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability and reiterated France’s interest in further expanding c...

 Islamabad, 22 September, 2026 (Nosheen): Foreign ministers of Pakistan and seven other Muslim countries have expressed deep concern over the humanitarian situation in Gaza and called on Israel to fulfil its commitments and protect the ceasefire. The joint statement was issued by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and Qatar. According to the Foreign Office spokesperson, the ministers stressed the need for immediate, safe and unhindered humanitarian assistance to Gaza. They called for preserving the ceasefire and ending all violations, while demanding the complete withdrawal of Israeli forces and the deployment of an international stabilisation force. The eight countries also agreed on the commencement of the...

 Rawalpindi, 22 September, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Pakistan has commenced two joint military exercises with Russia and Oman, focusing on counter-terrorism training, operational coordination and the exchange of military expertise. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the ninth edition of the Pakistan-Russia joint military exercise Druzhba 9 and the second edition of the Pakistan-Oman exercise Al Weshq Al Jabal 2 began on Tuesday. Druzhba 9 is being conducted at Cherat, while Al Weshq Al Jabal 2 is taking place at the National Counter Terrorism Centre (NCTC) in Pabbi. Troops from the Pakistan Army, Russian military and Royal Army of Oman are participating in the exercises, which will continue for two weeks. The drills include counter-terrorism procedures, operational...

Rawalpindi, 22 September, 2026 (Ghufran): Chief of Army Staff and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Asim Munir has reiterated that the armed forces, with the unwavering support of the nation, remain resolute in their determination to defeat terrorism and ensure lasting peace and stability across the country. During his visit to Corps Headquarters Peshawar on Tuesday, Field Marshal Asim Munir was briefed on the prevailing security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ongoing counter-terrorism operations, border management measures and the operational preparedness of formations deployed in the province. The COAS and CDF commended the high morale, readiness and professionalism of officers and troops, acknowledging their steadfast commitment to safeguarding the country and its people. He direc...

Mardan, 22 September 2026 (Kamran Raja): Inspector General of Police Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Zulfiqar Hamid visited the residence of martyred SP Traffic Akbar Khan Shinwari in Lawand Khwar, Mardan, who embraced martyrdom in the Kohat Police Lines Mosque attack. The IGP met the bereaved family, offered his condolences and assured them of full support and cooperation. He also offered Fateha for the departed soul and prayed for the elevation of the martyr’s ranks. Zulfiqar Hamid said that SP Akbar Khan Shinwari had set a great example by sacrificing his life while performing his duty and fulfilling the sacred mission of the police force. He said the sacrifices of police martyrs are a matter of pride for the police department and the entire nation. The IGP stated that brave officers and personnel o...

Tehran, 21 September 2026 (Ghufran): Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met his Iranian counterpart, Eskandar Momeni, in Tehran during his official visit to Iran, with discussions focusing on Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations, regional developments and ongoing cooperation. The two sides reviewed progress in cooperation across various sectors and exchanged views on matters of mutual interest, with both ministers emphasising the importance of continued efforts to promote peace and stability in the region. Eskandar Momeni appreciated Pakistan’s continued efforts for regional peace and stability and thanked the Pakistani leadership for its role in promoting peace in the region. He also highlighted the importance of continued cooperation between the two neighbouring countries. Mohsin Naqvi ...