PAKISTAN NEWS

Islamabad, 9 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher, Secretary for Relations with States of the Holy See, has commended Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability through mediation, dialogue and diplomacy. He expressed these views during a meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad on Friday. Archbishop Gallagher is visiting Pakistan to mark the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and the Holy See. Welcoming the visiting dignitary, Senator Ishaq Dar acknowledged the Holy See’s important role in promoting peace, interfaith harmony and dialogue. He also appreciated the valuable contributions of Pakistan’s Catholic c...

Islamabad, 9 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned repeated attacks by the Houthi militia against the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, including the targeting of King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and Abha International Airport, which resulted in civilian casualties and injuries. In a statement posted on social media platform X, the prime minister commended the vigilance and professionalism of the Saudi armed forces and the coalition for intercepting multiple ballistic missiles. He also praised their continued efforts to protect innocent lives and safeguard the Kingdom. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed Pakistan’s unwavering solidarity with the leadership and people of Saudi Arabia, describing the two countries as brotherly nations. Reaffirmin...

Islamabad, 9 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Ethiopia and Pakistan have agreed to enhance cooperation in the education sector to further strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries. The agreement was discussed during a meeting between Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr. Oumer H. Oba, and Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Dr. Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui in Islamabad on Thursday. Both sides explored key areas of collaboration, including institutional linkages, higher education, technical and vocational training, student exchanges, and research and development. Ambassador Dr. Oumer emphasized the importance of educational cooperation in bringing the two nations closer and promoting shared progress across the Global South. Highlighting Ethiopia’s young populatio...

Peshawar, 8 October, 2026 (Ghufran): Security forces have killed nine terrorists, including four senior commanders, during intelligence-based operations in North Waziristan under the Azm-e-Istehkam campaign. According to sources, the operations were conducted in Palangzai, Nadeem Kot and Kot Khazri areas, where security personnel targeted positions associated with Fitna al-Khawarij. Four commanders identified as Khalid Raza, Kamran, Musa and Maftoon were among those killed. A significant quantity of weapons and ammunition was also recovered, while several militant hideouts were destroyed during the operations. The operations were launched on the basis of intelligence reports and resulted in the elimination of key militant figures operating in the area. President Asif Ali Zardari praised th...

Islamabad, 8 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has confirmed the presence of Pakistani troops in Saudi Arabia, saying their deployment in the kingdom dates back several decades. Speaking in an interview with CNN, the military spokesperson said Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had maintained longstanding defence ties, with Pakistani personnel stationed in Saudi Arabia for decades. Lt Gen Chaudhry said Pakistani personnel deployed under the Makkah agreement belonged to different domains and that the longstanding defence relationship between the two countries remained an important component of their security cooperation. He said Pakistan had also reaffirmed its commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security, with Isla...

Karak, 8 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Two policemen, including Station House Officer (SHO) Daud Khan and his gunman Farhad, were martyred when armed assailants opened fire on police personnel in the New Karpah area of Karak district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to police, SHO Banda Daud Shah Daud Khan and his gunman Farhad were targeted in the armed attack and succumbed to their injuries. Following the incident, District Police Officer Karak Imran Khan reached the scene along with additional police personnel. Police launched a search operation in the area to arrest the armed suspects involved in the attack, while further investigation into the incident is underway.

Islamabad, 8 October, 2026 (Nosheen): Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has directed all federal ministries to complete, within the stipulated timeframe, measures for digitizing relevant data in coordination with provincial governments and concerned institutions and ensure its timely provision to the central data centre under the Digital Nation Pakistan initiative. Chairing a progress review meeting on the implementation of the Digital Nation Pakistan Programme, the prime minister said the national-level central data centre would play a key role in improving government services and providing facilities to citizens. He said clearly defined responsibilities of federal ministries, along with the provision of relevant data to the central data centre, would help bring the government system...

 Peshawar, 8 October, 2026 (Ghufran): The Peshawar High Court has sought a response from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in a case concerning the alleged use of government resources for political activities and the October 4 protest long march. A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice S.M. Attiq Shah heard a petition filed by PML-N MPA Qari Zahir. The petitioner contended that the Peshawar High Court had barred the use of government resources for political activities in an important judgment issued in November 2025. He alleged that Chief Minister Sohail Afridi travelled to Lakki Marwat in an official helicopter on October 4 at the beginning of the protest long march. The petition requested the court to take notice of the alleged use of government resources during...

 Islamabad, 8 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Pakistan and Bahrain have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation, with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressing Islamabad’s resolve to take economic relations with the Gulf kingdom to a new level. Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani, who arrived in Pakistan for a two-day visit, co-chaired the third session of the Pakistan-Bahrain Joint Ministerial Commission (JMC) with Ishaq Dar in Islamabad. Addressing a joint press briefing, Dar thanked his Bahraini counterpart and his delegation for their constructive participation in the JMC meeting. He described Pakistan and Bahrain as brotherly countries with longstanding relations and said both countries r...