Ariana: Former U.S. Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad has questioned whether Pakistan pursued a “double game” during the war in Afghanistan, following recent remarks by Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif about Islamabad’s role after the September 11 attacks. Speaking in Pakistan’s parliament, Asif said the country had effectively “rented itself to the United
Amu: Speaking during a session of Pakistan’s National Assembly on Monday, Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif said Pakistan’s participation in wars linked to Afghanistan, beginning during the Cold War and continuing after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, was a strategic choice made to secure international support, particularly from the United States. “We did not enter
Afghanistan International: Three months after the Taliban ordered a halt to pharmaceutical trade with Pakistan, medicine prices in Kabul have risen by as much as 40 precent, according to pharmacy owners and market sources. Formal medicine imports have largely stopped, and many drugs are now entering the market through smuggling routes. Click here to read
Khaama: ISIS claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing at a mosque in Islamabad as Kabul rejected Pakistan’s claims linking Afghanistan to attack. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad that killed at least 31 people and injured 169 others during Friday prayers, according to the IS
Afghanistan International: Pakistan’s defence minister, Khawaja Asif, said the deadly explosion at a Shia mosque in Islamabad was a suicide attack and that the attacker had previously travelled to Afghanistan. In a post on X, Asif said those responsible for killing worshippers in a mosque were “enemies of religion and the country,” adding that the
Amu: Pakistan’s defense minister Khwaja Asif has said that militants behind deadly attacks in the country’s Balochistan province were acting as proxies for the Taliban, warning that Islamabad would hold those backing them to account. Asif said fighters from the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) were being used by both India and the Taliban to destabilise
Afghanistan International: Pakistan’s ambassador to the United Nations said militant attacks from Afghanistan into Pakistan have increased sharply and described the situation as “intolerable”. Asim Iftikhar Ahmad accused the Taliban authorities of failing to rein in armed groups operating from Afghan territory. His remarks follow a wave of attacks by Baloch separatists in different parts
Amu: Afghanistan’s Chamber of Commerce and Investment said prolonged border closures with Pakistan have inflicted heavy losses on both countries, warning that bilateral trade has become politicised as disruptions enter a fourth month. Members of the chamber’s board said Pakistan is losing about $200 million a month due to the closures, which have been in
Afghanistan International: Sher Ali Hamad made the comments at a funeral in Guldara district for a man identified as Ayoub, also known as Zakir. In his speech, Hamad described the political systems of Central Asian states and Pakistan as “parliamentary and infidel,” and called for the overthrow of those governments to establish Islamic rule. He
Amu: Pakistan’s defense minister said internal divisions within the Taliban have contributed to Pakistan’s deteriorating security situation and regional instability, adding that the Taliban have failed to provide Islamabad with concrete assurances on curbing militancy. Khawaja Muhammad Asif said the Taliban were split into rival factions based in Kabul and Kandahar, with differing approaches to