Pakistan and India agree to ceasefire 

Breaking News Pakistan and India agree to ceasefire 
Pakistani people flashing victory signs stand over a tank as they celebrate after the ceasefire between Pakistan and India, in Multan on May 10, 2025. (AFP)
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Updated 10 May 2025
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Pakistan and India agree to ceasefire 

Pakistan and India agree to ceasefire 
  • US secretary of state says two countries had agreed to talks on “broad set of issues at a neutral site”
  • Announcement comes after Pakistan and India launched attacks on each other early morning Saturday 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India both confirmed on Saturday they had agreed to a ceasefire after President Donald Trump said the US had mediated late night talks between the nuclear-armed South Asian nations on the brink of an all-out war.

The announcement came after the Pakistan military said early on Saturday India had attacked three bases in Pakistan with missiles, after which it had targeted multiple bases in India in response, including a missile storage site in India’s north. India said there was limited damage to equipment and personnel at air force stations in the Udhampur, Pathankot, Adampur and Bhuj areas. The military said there were several high-speed missile attacks on several air bases in Indian Punjab, and that India had responded to the attacks.

Five civilians were killed in attacks in the Jammu region of Indian-administered Kashmir, regional police said.

“Pakistan and India have agreed to a ceasefire with immediate effect. Pakistan has always strived for peace and security in the region, without compromising on its sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar wrote on X.

The Indian ministry of external affairs also confirmed the ceasefire deal in a briefing. 

Separately, Trump said:

“After a long night of talks mediated by the United States, I am pleased to announce that India and Pakistan have agreed to a FULL AND IMMEDIATE CEASEFIRE. Congratulations to both Countries on using Common Sense and Great Intelligence.”

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the two countries had also agreed to talks on a “broad set of issues at a neutral site.”

Earlier on Saturday, Pakistani and Indian officials had both separately said they would consider de-escalation if the other nation reciprocated. 

Through this week, allies and friends like Saudi Arabia, China, Iran and Qatar have offered mediation and urged restraint. The Group of Seven (G7) major countries called on India and Pakistan to engage in direct dialogue while the US government said it had offered assistance in starting “constructive talks.”

Saturday’s military confrontation, the worst fighting between the longstanding enemies in decades, followed days of daily clashing since Wednesday through drones and missiles and gunfighting on the Line of control, the de facto border that divides the disputed Kashmir region between them. At least 50 have been killed on both sides.

The latest tensions were triggered by a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 people on April 22. New Delhi said Islamabad was involved, which denied the allegation and repeatedly said it was willing to participate in a transparent and credible inquiry.

Pakistan and India have a history of bitter relations, having fought two of their three wars over Kashmir, a region split between them, since gaining independence from the former British colonial rule in 1947.

Both nations acquired nuclear weapons in 1998.

– Inputs from Reuters


Etisalat CEO reaffirms investment commitment to Pakistan in meeting with deputy PM 

Etisalat CEO reaffirms investment commitment to Pakistan in meeting with deputy PM 
Updated 8 sec ago
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Etisalat CEO reaffirms investment commitment to Pakistan in meeting with deputy PM 

Etisalat CEO reaffirms investment commitment to Pakistan in meeting with deputy PM 
  • UAE telecom giant expresses interest in ICT expansion as Pakistan pushes for digital growth
  • Meeting comes amid stalled PTCL privatization process over unresolved asset transfer issue

ISLAMABAD: The chief executive of UAE-based telecom firm Etisalat met Pakistan’s deputy prime minister in Islamabad on Monday and reaffirmed the group’s long-term investment commitment to the country, Pakistan’s ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar hosted Etisalat Group CEO Hatem Dowidar and a high-level delegation that included top Pakistani officials from the IT, commerce, and privatization ministries, as well as the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC).

Dar highlighted Pakistan’s “growing digital economy and the government’s commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment. He invited Etisalat Group to expand its investments in the country’s ICT and telecom sectors,” a statement from the foreign ministry said. 

Dowidar “appreciated the Government of Pakistan’s consistent support” and expressed interest in contributing to the country’s digital connectivity and growth goals, the statement added.

Etisalat currently owns a 26 percent stake in Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL), a former state-owned enterprise that was partially privatized in 2006. However, the transaction has been mired in disputes, with Etisalat withholding $800 million of the sale price over issues related to the transfer of properties promised as part of the deal.

Pakistan’s repeated efforts to fully privatize PTCL have faced delays due to the unresolved asset transfer issue and lack of consensus on valuation. The government has said resolving the matter with Etisalat is crucial for moving forward with broader privatization goals, especially under commitments tied to IMF-supported economic reforms.
 


Pakistan army chief rejects Indian claims of Chinese help in May conflict

Pakistan army chief rejects Indian claims of Chinese help in May conflict
Updated 42 min 36 sec ago
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Pakistan army chief rejects Indian claims of Chinese help in May conflict

Pakistan army chief rejects Indian claims of Chinese help in May conflict
  • In early May, the two sides engaged in a four-day war involving drones, missiles and artillery fire
  • Top Indian general has said China gave Pakistan “live inputs” about key Indian military positions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s army chief on Monday rejected recent Indian military claims Islamabad received real-time support from China during the May 2025 conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, calling the insinuations “factually incorrect” and a “shoddy attempt” to deflect from its battlefield failures.

The remarks came during an address by Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Pakistan’s army chief, to graduating officers at the National Defense University in Islamabad.

Last week, Indian Army Deputy Chief Lt. Gen. Rahul Singh alleged at a defense forum in New Delhi that during the May fighting, China had provided Pakistan with “live inputs” about key Indian military positions. Singh did not detail the evidence behind the claim.

In an interview with Arab News last month, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif denied any direct Chinese military involvement during the May 7-10 conflict.

“Insinuations regarding external support in Pakistan’s successful Operation Bunyan Al Marsoos are irresponsible and factually incorrect,” Munir said, according to a statement from the military’s media wing, referring to the name of the Pakistani military response to Indian attacks on May 10.

He described the allegations as reflecting “a chronic reluctance to acknowledge indigenous capability and institutional resilience developed over decades of strategic prudence.”

“Naming other states as participants in the purely bilateral military conflagration is also a shoddy attempt at playing camp politics and desperately trying that India remains the beneficiary of larger geopolitical contestation as the so-called net security provider in a region which is getting increasingly weary of its hegemonic and extremist Hindutva ideology.”

Munir said India’s failure to achieve its stated goals during the conflict highlighted shortcomings in planning and capability.

“India’s inability to achieve its stated military objectives during Operation Sindoor, and the subsequent attempt to rationalize this shortfall through convoluted logic, speaks volumes about its lack of operational readiness and strategic foresight,” he said.

The Indian government and military have not yet responded to Munir’s remarks. 

Tensions between the two countries escalated after a deadly April 2025 attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. New Delhi blamed Pakistan for the assault, which Islamabad denied.

In early May, the two sides engaged in a four-day war involving drones, missiles, and artillery fire — their worst clash in decades — before a ceasefire was brokered by the United States.

Pakistan said its armed forces launched Operation Bunyan Al Marsoos in response to Indian strikes on civilian and military infrastructure. India, for its part, claimed it had targeted militant camps and infrastructure inside Pakistan.

In his speech, Munir warned that any future misadventure would be met with a swift and forceful response.

“Any attempt to target our population centers, military bases, economic hubs and ports will instantly invoke a ‘deeply hurting and more than reciprocal response,’” he said. “The onus of escalation will squarely lie on the strategically blind, arrogant aggressor.”


Pakistani films Nayab and Deemak win top honors at SCO Film Festival in China

Pakistani films Nayab and Deemak win top honors at SCO Film Festival in China
Updated 47 min 27 sec ago
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Pakistani films Nayab and Deemak win top honors at SCO Film Festival in China

Pakistani films Nayab and Deemak win top honors at SCO Film Festival in China
  • Nayab wins Jury Special Award, Deemak Best Editing Award at 2025 event
  • Pakistan’s film industry has seen a creative resurgence in recent years

ISLAMABAD: Two Pakistani films, Nayab and Deemak, have won major accolades at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Film Festival in China, state-run news agency APP reported on Monday. 

The festival showcased 27 films from SCO member states, including China, Russia, Pakistan, India, and Central Asian countries. Organized to foster regional cinematic exchange, the event featured screenings, industry forums, a film technology expo, and a gala concert, with awards presented in ten categories.

The SCO Film Festival first launched in 2018 and is a cultural initiative of the multilateral bloc to promote cooperation in cinema and the creative industries among member countries. 

“Pakistani film Nayab and Deemak received prestigious ‘Jury Special Award’ and ‘Best Editing Award’ respectively at the colorful concluding ceremony of SCO film festival held at Chongqing, China,” Associated Press of Pakistan reported.

Director of Pakistani movie, Nayab, Umair Nasir Ali (center) giving acceptance speech at the SCO Film Festival for the Jury Special award in China, in a picture shared by the director himself on social media on July 7, 2025. (Umair Nasir Ali/Instagram) 

Nayab, released in 2024, is a sports-drama centered on a young woman from Karachi, played by Yumna Zaidi, who aspires to become a professional cricketer despite intense family and societal opposition. The cast includes Fawad Khan, Javed Sheikh, and Adnan Siddiqui.

The film has previously won multiple awards, including Best Foreign Film and Best First-Time Filmmaker (Feature) at the World Film Festival in Cannes, and a Special Jury Diploma at the 30th Minsk International Film Festival.

“The cinema was packed, and what truly moved me was how deeply they engaged with the film,” Nayab’s director Umair Nasir Ali told APP after the film’s screen at the SCO festival. “They picked up on the layers, the emotional arcs and asked thoughtful, relevant questions that showed how closely they had followed the story.”

Deemak is a psychological horror film directed by Rafay Akbar Rashdi and starring Soniya Hussyn, Faysal Quraishi, Samina Peerzada, and Bushra Ansari. 

Screengrab of a reel showing director of Pakistani movie, Deemak, Rafay Akbar Rashdi (second left) receiving the best editing award for his movie Deemak at the SCO Film Festival held in China in a video shared on social media on July 7, 2025. (RafayRashidi/Instagram)

Set in an aging home haunted by unexplained phenomena, the film explores family tensions and mental trauma. It became Pakistan’s highest-grossing horror film when it released earlier this year, earning over Rs60 million [$211,173] in its opening week.

Pakistan’s film industry has seen a steady resurgence in recent years, with a new generation of filmmakers experimenting with genres from sports dramas to horror and social realism. 

Joyland (2022) became the first Pakistani feature to premiere at the Cannes Film Festival, where it won the Jury Prize in the Un Certain Regard section, and was later selected as Pakistan’s official entry to the Oscars. The country has also received two Academy Award wins in the documentary short category by filmmaker Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy. 

Meanwhile, The Legend of Maula Jatt (2022) set new box office records, becoming Pakistan’s highest-grossing film to date and finding global audiences with its big-budget, Punjabi-language action storytelling.


Pakistani interior minister to discuss ‘visa rejections’ with UAE counterpart this week

Pakistani interior minister to discuss ‘visa rejections’ with UAE counterpart this week
Updated 07 July 2025
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Pakistani interior minister to discuss ‘visa rejections’ with UAE counterpart this week

Pakistani interior minister to discuss ‘visa rejections’ with UAE counterpart this week
  • There has been a reported sharp decline in UAE visa approvals for Pakistanis in recent months
  • Interior minister Naqvi says business community among those most affected by restrictions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi said on Monday he would meet his counterpart from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) later this week to discuss the issue of visa rejections for Pakistani nationals, expressing hope for a resolution of the recurring problem.

The statement comes amid ongoing reports of a sharp decline in UAE visa approvals for Pakistanis. Local media outlets have attributed the rejections to an alleged lack of respect for local laws and customs by Pakistani expats. The issue has also been linked to concerns over documentation and criminal record checks.

“You are right, this [UAE visa rejection] has become an issue,” Naqvi said during a news conference in Karachi when asked about the recurring problem of visa rejections. 

“I am meeting the interior minister of the UAE regarding this two days from now [July 9] and I have a lot of hope that we will find a solution to this.”

He acknowledged the matter was affecting a wide segment of Pakistanis, particularly those with business ties to the UAE.

In February, Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE, Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, described the refusal of visas to Pakistani nationals as a “serious and significant” issue that authorities in both countries were working to resolve. He pointed to several contributing factors, including discrepancies in visa documents and criminal records of some applicants.

Naqvi also referenced Kuwait’s decision in May to lift a 19-year-old visa ban on Pakistani citizens, framing it as part of broader efforts by the current government to enhance Pakistan’s global mobility and the standing of its passport.

“In the next two years, you will see this green passport that you have at a better position in the ranking,” he said.

The UAE is Pakistan’s third-largest trading partner after China and the United States, and is considered a critical market due to its geographic proximity and logistical advantages. The Gulf state is also Pakistan’s second-largest source of foreign remittances, after Saudi Arabia, with over 1.8 million Pakistani expatriates living and working there.


Pakistan launches first-ever AI customs system to boost transparency, efficiency

Pakistan launches first-ever AI customs system to boost transparency, efficiency
Updated 07 July 2025
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Pakistan launches first-ever AI customs system to boost transparency, efficiency

Pakistan launches first-ever AI customs system to boost transparency, efficiency
  • FBR says new risk management system showed over 92% improved performance in initial testing
  • System uses AI, bots and machine learning to automate customs and reduce human interference

ISLAMABAD: In a first, Pakistan has launched an artificial intelligence-based customs clearance and risk management system, aiming to improve transparency, reduce human intervention and make cross-border trade more efficient, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement on Monday.

Developed by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), the new system uses AI, bots, and machine learning to automate the classification and valuation of imported and exported goods. Officials say this will reduce delays, streamline tax assessment and minimize manual interference by customs personnel.

“The new risk management system will bring transparency to the system, reduce human intervention to a minimum and facilitate businesspersons,” according to a statement from PM Shehbaz Sharif’s office after he chaired a high-level meeting on the subject. 

“With the launch of the new system, there will be an immediate and effective estimation of the classification and cost of goods, resulting in time savings.”

During initial testing, authorities recorded more than 92% improved performance and an 83% increase in identified goods declarations for tax collection. The FBR also reported a one-and-a-half-times increase in green channel clearances compared to previous manual processes.

Sharif described FBR reform as one of the government’s top priorities and emphasized the importance of integrating and sustaining the new platform.

“By automating the tax system, we are making it more transparent and effective,” the PM said, adding that the AI-powered system would enable “ease of doing business and make things easier for taxpayers.”

“Due to reduced human intervention, the system will be more efficient and will save time and money,” he added.

During the meeting, officials also briefed Sharif on ongoing efforts to increase tax collection in the manufacturing sector using video analytics. The system, they said, would allow automated and transparent tax assessment and had shown 98% efficiency in early-stage testing. No timeline for full rollout was given in the statement.

Pakistan’s current customs clearance system has long been criticized for its heavy reliance on manual processes, which leave it vulnerable to delays, inefficiencies and corruption. Importers frequently face inconsistent valuation of goods, excessive documentation requirements, and prolonged clearance times at ports, all of which contribute to higher costs of doing business.

The lack of automation and poor risk profiling mechanisms have also led to overburdened inspection processes, creating bottlenecks in trade and undermining investor confidence.