Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and briefed him on the security situation in the country, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said.

According to the PMO statement, Naqvi met with the premier in Lahore, where he briefed him on the security situation in the country and the measures taken in this regard.

The interior minister also informed the premier regarding the security arrangements for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) final scheduled to be held in Lahore tomorrow (Sunday).

PM Shehbaz directed Naqvi to make the best possible arrangements for the players, spectators and citizens.

In February, the minister had met with the premier to review the country’s overall security environment following major suicide attacks in the federal capital.

At the time, PM Shehbaz had directed Naqvi to address the security situation in Islamabad and other matters “in an effective and efficient manner”.

The Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday slammed a social media post by British Special Representative for Afghanistan Richard Lindsay regarding developments along the Pak-Afghan border, saying that the remarks were “devoid of a deeper understanding of the situation”.

Early on Friday, Lindsay had shared a post by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) on the social media platform X, which said it had documented “tens of civilians killed or injured” in strikes in eastern Afghanistan, including a university.

“Concerned by further violence along the Afghanistan-Pakistan border, including strikes in Kunar. All steps must be taken to protect civilians and avoid further escalation. I continue to urge dialogue and restraint, including in meetings in Afghanistan this week,” Lindsay said.

It is worth mentioning that earlier this week, the information ministry had rubbished reports by the Afghan media alleging Pakistan carried out attacks targeting a university and residential areas in the neighbouring country’s Kunar province.

On Saturday, FO Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi issued a response to media queries regarding Lindsay’s post.

“We have seen the social media post by the British special representative for Afghanistan regarding developments along the Pak-Afghan border. The one-sided remarks are devoid of a deeper understanding of the situation along the border,” the spokesperson said.

“Cross-border aggression and terrorist infiltration attempts from the Afghan side have continued unabated despite Pakistan’s goodwill gesture of a temporary pause, announced in March 2026,” Andrabi said.

Pakistan had lau­nched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban and terrorists operating from its soil on the night of Feb 26, following unprovoked cross-border attacks by the Afghan Taliban. After a temporary pause on March 18 at the request of “brotherly Islamic countries,” Pakistan had announced the operation’s resumption on March 26, saying it would continue “until its objectives are achieved”.

Andrabi said since the announcement of the temporary pause, “indiscriminate and unprovoked cross-border attacks by the Afghan Taliban, and terrorist activities by Afghan Taliban-supported Indian proxies inside Pakistan, resulted in the martyrdom of 52 civilians and 84 injuries”.

“Pakistan, while exercising restraint, has responded effectively by precisely targeting Afghan Taliban posts and terrorist support infrastructure, while also thwarting multiple infiltration attempts from the Afghan side,” the FO spokesperson said.

He noted that the “Afghan claims of civilian casualties due to Pakistan’s responses lack evidential credibility”.

“Such unwarranted remarks, without linking them to the root cause of terrorism, do not offer a balanced and objective perspective,” the FO spokesperson said.

“We urge a better understanding of regional dynamics, Pakistan’s principled stance, as well as the unparalleled sacrifices rendered by the people of Pakistan in the fight against terrorism,” the spokesperson concluded.

Minister says spate of Taliban attacks targeting civilians ‘unacceptable’

On Friday night, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said that the spate of Afghan Taliban attacks deliberately targeting civilians in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s border districts was “unacceptable, insidious and reflective of their barbaric nature towards human life”.

“Resorting to targeting civilian areas after being comprehensively beaten on the ground by the proud security forces of Pakistan and having no courage to face them is not only despicable but also speaks volumes of the low moral character of the regime leaders,” he said.

He also pointed to figures released by the Bajaur deputy commissioner regarding civilian casualties. He also said that three civilians playing cricket were also injured due to the “blatant and shameless quadcopter targeting by Fitna al Khawarij” on Friday.

Fitna al Khawarij is a term designated by the state for the banned Teh­reek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

“Conversely, the Afghan Taliban regime’s so-called representatives continue to lay frivolous false allegations of deliberate targeting of civilians by Pakistan,” Tarar said.

The minister said that it had been reported “with a lot of clarity and evidence that Pakistan targets only terrorist infrastructure” and information had always been promptly and transparently shared with the public.

“Pakistan’s fight against kharji terrorists, their sponsors and abettors remained based on truth, principles, honour, resolve and faith, viz the kharjis and their Indian-backed abettors whose unholy fight and death both are resigned in shame, duplicity, greed and evil,” he said.

PESHAWAR: A tribal gathering convened by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi on Saturday decided that a jirga will be formed to hold talks with the federal government and other stakeholders on drone attacks in the province.

In the past few days, CM Afridi has condemned “persistent drone attacks” in KP, even hinting at introducing legislation to criminalise collateral damage in such incidents.

On Saturday, a “loya (grand) jirga” was held at CM House, where tribal elders had been invited to decide the future course of action.

According to a statement issued by CM House, all participants of the loya jirga demanded “negotiations with stakeholders”, and therefore, it was decided to give talks “another chance”.

It was decided that a smaller jirga will be formed, which will hold talks with the federal government and other stakeholders. “If negotiations fail, a march towards Islamabad will be undertaken, and there will be no return until peace is secured,” the statement read.

The CM House statement further said that the jirga will also “struggle for the financial and Constitutional rights” promised to the tribal districts at the time of the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas’ (Fata) merger.

“When Fata was merged, a promise was made to give us Rs100 billion annually. For the merged districts, this amounts to Rs800bn, of which only Rs168bn have been given,” Afridi was quoted as saying, noting that if the population share of the merged districts was included, KP’s share in the National Finance Commission Award would increase from 14.6 per cent to 19pc.

The loss of lives of women, children and elders in drone attacks was strongly condemned during the gathering, the CM House statement said.

CM Afridi also “expressed deep regret over the improper conduct towards jirga members at checkpoints today”, stating that such an attitude was breeding hatred among the people.

“Starting today, practical measures will be taken to prevent drone attacks,” the statement announced. It noted that “miscreant elements attempted to re-enter Malakand but were rejected by the people”, calling on the residents of the tribal districts to also rise for peace.

The statement quoted CM Afridi as saying that “22 major military operations and over 14,000 intelligence-based operations have failed to establish peace”.

“The failure to achieve peace despite having all the resources is alarming … if these resources were handed over to me, I guarantee peace within 100 days,” he said.

The KP CM said the tribal youth were “being pushed toward provocation so they can be targeted”, adding that the people would keep up their “struggle for peace under all circumstances”.

“We have the right to self-defence against those who do not uphold the law and the Constitution,” the chief minister noted.

He also recalled that in the first cabinet meeting chaired by him on Nov 14, 2025, a decision was made to repeal the Actions (in Aid of Civil Power) Regulation 2011, which had been extended to the entire KP in 2019.

CM Afridi claimed that “970 individuals, whom they call terrorists, are being held in various detention centres without anyone’s knowledge”, adding that the KP government had sent letters seeking their names but “received no response”.

“If a list of those in custody exists, a complete account of every person can be maintained,” he emphasised.

Addressing a cabinet meeting on Friday, CM Afridi had expressed his intention to protest against drone attacks in his province, saying that these attacks were resulting in “collateral damage”.

On Tuesday, CM Afridi had convened a meeting of lawmakers from the merged districts at CM House, where it was decided that the issue would be taken up in the KP Assembly. The meeting had been organised by Afridi following a drone strike in his native Khyber district, which claimed the life of a minor girl and injured six members of a family a day earlier. The family of the slain girl held a protest in Peshawar near the Hayatabad toll plaza, and were dispersed by violent police action.

Subsequently, at a KP Assembly session on Thursday, Afridi questioned the results of military operations during the last 20 years and hinted at legislation to curb collateral damage.

“We held a meeting on bringing a law against drone attacks, but ‘they’ have protected themselves in the Constitution against drone attacks … However, we can legislate against collateral damage,” he said, without specifying further.

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday discussed the regional situation in the Middle East with Kuwait’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, the Foreign Office (FO) said.

In a statement, the FO said that the two leaders “discussed the evolving regional situation and exchanged views on its wider economic implications”.

Dar underscored Pakistan’s “continued efforts to promote constructive engagement and diplomacy in support of peace and stability in the region and beyond”.

“Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah commended Pakistan’s sincere efforts aimed at fostering lasting peace and security for the Ummah as well as the wider international community,” the FO statement noted.

Both sides reaffirmed the strong fraternal ties between Pakistan and Kuwait and agreed to remain in close contact, it said.

Dar’s call with his Kuwaiti counterpart comes amid the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz — a key shipping route in paralysis since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28. The US Navy has claimed a complete blockade of the strait in response to Iran re-imposing its control over the key waterway.

United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned on Thursday that the escalating crisis in Strait of Hormuz could push tens of millions into poverty, trigger a surge in global hunger and even tip the world toward recession.

Negotiations between Washington and Tehran remain stalled, with both holding firm positions even as a fragile ceasefire continues. The truce, initially brokered by Pakistan in April, has been extended to allow space for diplomacy, but officials acknowledge that the process faces serious sticking points.

On April 11-12, Pakistan hosted the first high-level contact between Iran and the US in decades and mediated the meetings, known as the “Islamabad Talks”. However, with challenges in convening a second round, Islamabad has shifted back to its role as a facilitator and go-between.

On Thursday, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said diplomacy to end the US-Iran conflict was continuing, with Islamabad maintaining its role as a facilitator between the two sides.

In a previous phone call with Dar in April, the Kuwaiti FM appreciated Pakistan’s role in facilitating the Islamabad Talks, according to the FO.

It added that Dar “reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to continue sustained efforts, emphasising dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable path to resolving issues”.

Earlier this year, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said brotherly relations between Pakistan and Kuwait were set to further strengthen through bilateral economic, investment and trade cooperation.

Animal rights advocates were crowing on Saturday after Korean Air banned transporting roosters on flights from the United States to the Philippines, which has a huge cockfighting industry.

Filipinos wager tens of millions of dollars daily, by some industry estimates, as they watch two roosters armed with metal spurs fight to the death in clashes that can end in less than a minute.

The US is an important source of roosters for these fights, according to activists as well as local breeder Eduardo Eugenio, who told AFP shutting down US imports would have a “huge impact”.

The South Korean carrier said in a statement sent to AFP on Saturday that it had “suspended the transportation of roosters of all ages on routes from the United States to the Philippines”.

“Korean Air is committed to the lawful and safe transport of live animals, in accordance with applicable laws and regulations,” it added.

US campaigner Animal Wellness Action said Korean Air was “in our estimation, the biggest global air carrier of illegally trafficked fighting birds”.

The company did not specifically mention cockfighting roosters in its statement, but animal rights groups said the ban was the result of their campaigning against what they describe as a cruel sport.

Jana Sevilla, spokeswoman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals in the Philippines, told AFP that Korean Air’s decision was “for sure” about cockfighting.

“We actually hope that other airlines will follow suit… We commend Korean Air for this move.”

She noted the Philippines was among a number of countries where cockfighting was still allowed, saying it “should be illegal all over the world”.

Animal Wellness Action took credit for the airline’s action “after months of investigations, and more recent inter-corporate engagement” in a statement released this week.

“Korean Air… has agreed to our demand to halt all shipments of roosters to the Philippines,” it said.

The group said US suppliers who often pose as farmers or “benign breeders” have been sending fighting birds to the Philippines “by the tens of thousands” every year, on top of US-reared birds shipped by ground and air to Mexico.

Eugenio, the Filipino breeder, said the local industry depends on US strains.

“Americans are second to none when it comes to propagation of breeding materials,” said Eugenio, who runs a 300-bird farm in the southern city of Tagum.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Saturday issued an alert for glacial lake outburst floods (Glof) in the upper regions of the country, including Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, as a result of an expected westerly wave this weekend.

A Glof refers to the sudden release of water and debris from a glacial lake, leading to the loss of lives, property, and livelihoods in mountain communities. Over 7.1 million people in GB and KP are vulnerable to the phenomenon, according to the Ministry of Climate Change.

In its statement, issued on Saturday, the Met Office said that a moderate westerly wave is expected to enter the upper regions of Pakistan from Sunday.

“During this period, widespread rain, wind thunderstorms, and isolated heavy falls, are anticipated across Gilgit-Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the alert said.

According to the PMD, the sudden increase in temperatures followed by widespread precipitation “significantly elevates” the risk of Glofs, flow of debris, and flash flooding in vulnerable areas, particularly in Hoper, Ghulkin, Shishper, Yasin, Phander, Badswat, lower Hunza, Nagar, Ghanche, Shigar, Swat, upper Chitral, Dir and Astore.

Residents in glaciated valleys are advised to avoid proximity to riverbanks and stream beds during rainfall and secure livestock and essentials in higher safe grounds. They were also asked to disseminate the alert via SMS and social media.

The PMD alert also advised residents to monitor local nullahs for sudden changes in water colour, indicating muddiness, or unusual sounds that could indicate grinding rocks.

It directed them to coordinate closely with Community-Based Disaster Risk Management Committees (CBDRMCs). It further directed the disaster management authorities to ensure round-the-clock alertness and maintain active communication links with technical focal persons in remote valleys.

The PMD advised all concerned parties to “remain alert and take necessary measures to avoid any untoward situation”.

Pakistan is home to over 13,032 glaciers, the largest reservoir of glaciers outside of the polar regions. However, experts have warned that about 10,000 glaciers in Chitral and GB have been reported to be receding due to climate change–induced temperature rise.

In February, the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) of NDMA issued an ad­­visory regarding potential Glof risks from March to September 2026, citing anticipated rising temperatures, changing weather patterns, and possible early heatwave conditions in northern Pakistan.

Rapidly melting glaciers, Glofs and cloudburst incidents severely affected residents of GB last summer. Experts said residents of the region, particularly those living downstream of rivers and glacial lakes, faced serious threats this summer.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif on Friday directed that an effective regulatory system for virtual assets in line with international standards should be operationalised as soon as possible

The remarks came as PM Shehbaz met with State Minister and Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) Chairman Bilal Bin Saqib in Lahore, according to a handout by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

“PM Shehbaz directed that an effective regulatory system for virtual assets in line with international standards should be fully operationalised as soon as possible to promote the digital economy in Pakistan and enhance investor confidence,” the handout said.

During the meeting, the prime minister said that special measures should be taken to provide training to the youth in modern technologies, particularly in the fields of artificial intelligence and digital finance, so that the country’s workforce can be aligned with future requirements.

Saqib also briefed PM Shehbaz on the PVARA’s transition into an operational regulator and the launch of a regulatory sandbox, the statement said.

The premier was told that innovation was being introduced in areas such as AI-powered payments and regulated virtual asset services, the handout stated. He was also told that work was underway to prepare national institutions, the workforce, and the regulatory framework for the next wave of economic transformation, it added.

Earlier this month, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had announced a significant policy change, legalising and encouraging the use of virtual assets through the enactment of the Virtual Assets Act 2026. Under the Act, PVARA is the statutory authority responsible for the licensing, regulation, supervision and oversight of virtual asset activities in Pakistan.

On Monday, the authority also stated that any agreement or pilot announced involving virtual assets required prior authorisation.

Pakistan recorded a second consecutive month of improving security indicators in April 2026, with militant attacks and related casualties declining markedly, according to a report released by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS).

The Islamabad-based think tank documented 85 verified militant attacks in April, down from 146 in March, a 42 per cent decrease. As per the data, fatalities resulting from militant attacks fell from 106 in March to 60 in April, continuing a downward trend that began the previous month, when overall combat-related deaths dropped by 35pc.

The report said that the improvement follows Pakistan’s cross-border military campaign targeting militant groups and Taliban positions between February 26 and March 18, which concluded with a suspension and subsequent talks in Urumqi, China.

Pakistan had launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq on the night of February 26, following unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban from across the border.

According to the PICSS report, total combat-related deaths — including those from militant attacks and security forces operations — stood at 291 in April. Militants accounted for 224 of these deaths, representing 77pc of the total. The remaining casualties included 28 security forces personnel, 37 civilians, and two members of pro-government peace committees.

It said that the losses among security forces personnel also declined significantly, falling from 59 in March to 28 in April, which was a 53pc reduction. It said that civilian fatalities remained relatively stable, with 37 deaths recorded in April compared to 39 in March.

The data also showed a notable decline in injuries. Overall injuries dropped from 210 in March to 131 in April, a 38pc decrease. Civilian injuries fell from 98 to 54, while militant injuries declined from 57 to 31. Injuries among security forces personnel decreased slightly from 48 to 46, and no injuries were reported among pro-government peace committee members in April.

The report said that 85 militant attacks recorded during the month were largely low-intensity incidents, with a few exceptions. These included two suicide attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu district and a high-profile assault on a mining facility operated in Balochistan’s Chagai district.

The report noted that despite the drop in attacks, operations conducted by security forces remained robust. It said that 224 militants were killed in April, compared to 228 in March. In total, security forces killed 988 militants during the first four months of 2026, the report said.

Regionally, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa continued to record the highest number of militant attacks, followed by Balochistan. The PICSS report said that in mainland KP, attacks declined slightly from 51 in March to 45 in April, while fatalities remained unchanged at 34.

It said that the most significant improvement was observed in KP’s tribal districts, where militant attacks dropped by 40pc, from 35 in March to 21 in April. Deaths from these attacks fell sharply to six, an 82pc decline.

At the same time, security forces intensified operations in the region, killing 120 militants — up from 24 in March — accounting for more than half of all militant fatalities nationwide in April, the report said.

According to the data, Balochistan also experienced a notable improvement, with militant attacks falling from 59 in March to 18 in April, a 69pc reduction.

These attacks resulted in 17 deaths, including 10 linked to the attack on the mining facility in Chagai. Security forces killed 66 militants in the province during April, although this figure was lower than the 145 militants killed in March, the data showed.

Elsewhere, an isolated attack in Gilgit-Baltistan’s Chilas district resulted in the deaths of three police personnel.

The PICSS report said that no militant attacks were reported in Punjab, Sindh, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, or Islamabad during the month of April. However, intelligence-based operations conducted by security forces in these regions led to the arrest of eight suspects — five in Sindh, two in Punjab and one in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Cumulatively, during the first four months of 2026, the PICSS recorded 401 militant attacks across Pakistan. These attacks resulted in the deaths of 190 civilians, 158 security forces personnel, and seven members of pro-government peace committees, it said.

Injuries during the same period included 469 civilians, 167 security personnel, and seven peace committee members. Meanwhile, security forces killed 988 militants and arrested 121 suspects nationwide, it stated.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif termed the labour force of Pakistan the “backbone” of society and a “pillar of national strength” in statements commemorating International Labour Day on Friday.

As the world commemorated the international holiday observed annually on May 1, the president and the premier issued separate messages to mark the occasion.

PM Shehbaz paid tribute to Pakistan’s labour force as well as its overseas workers, appreciating their “dedicated service” and terming them a national pride.

“On this occasion, I pay tribute to workers across the world, and especially to the hardworking labour force of Pakistan, for their selfless contributions and dedicated service,” he said in a statement on X.

He termed labourers, farmers, artisans, factory workers, and professionals across all sectors the “backbone of our society”.

“Their sacrifices, hard work and perseverance keep the wheels of life moving, from fields to factories, construction sites to workshops, at local level and right to the global stage,” he said, calling these workers a source of national pride.

The premier also appreciated the remittances of millions of Pakistani workers overseas, saying, “Our labour force, both at home and abroad, reflects our national capability, industriousness, and professional excellence … Their contributions towards the country’s future remain deeply valued and etched in our collective consciousness.”

According to the prime minister, the federal government has undertaken targeted initiatives to enhance the skills and professional capacity of Pakistanis seeking employment abroad. These include the National Skills Development Policy, under which “a comprehensive strategy has been developed to align our workforce with the evolving needs of industry, trade, and modern global standards”, he said.

He added, “Special emphasis is being placed on internationally recognised training, language proficiency, and certification to ensure that our workforce secures dignified opportunities worldwide.”

Additionally, he noted that national institutions such as the Employees’ Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI) and the Workers Welfare Fund (WWF) continued to strive for the welfare of workers and their families by providing pensions, housing, education, and other essential services.

He expressed resolve to “renew our collective commitment at government: both federal and provincial levels” and on an individual level to safeguard the rights of workers.

The premier called upon all stakeholders, including the business community and industrialists, to uphold the “dignity and protection” of the country’s labour force.

“We pray that the hardworking people of Pakistan continue to illuminate the nation’s name through their dedication, skill, and integrity, and remain a proud symbol of resilience, determination, and national honour,” he said.

President Asif Ali Zardari also issued a statement on the occasion, posted to his official social media account on X.

“I join the nation in recognising the historic struggle of workers whose sacrifices for fair wages, reasonable working hours and dignified conditions laid the foundation of modern labour rights,” he said.

“At the very beginning of our constitution, article 3 has been titled as ‘Elimination of exploitation’ and it says: ‘The State shall ensure the elimination of all forms of exploitation and the gradual fulfilment of fundamental principles, from each according to his ability to each according to his work,’” the president noted.

He extended his deep appreciation to Pakistani labourers, saying, “Their work … is the force that drives national development. The true strength of Pakistan lies in the hands of its labourers.”

The president added that Pakistan remained committed to upholding international labour standards and promoting fundamental rights at work, “including fair wages, social protection, the elimination of forced and child labour and non-discrimination”. He reaffirmed the government’s dedication to the International Labour Organisation’s conventions and achieving Sustainable Development Goals related to work and social protection.

He joined the premier in appreciating the overseas Pakistani workforce, calling them a “pillar of national strength”.

“Ensuring safe working conditions, fair wages and equal opportunities is both a national priority and a moral responsibility,” President Zardari said, adding that “investing in human capital is the most productive investment a nation can make”.

“I salute the workers of Pakistan,” he concluded. “You are not the margin of our economy; you are its foundation.”

According to the International Labourers Organisation (ILO), Pakistan has yet to ratify 55 conventions and protocols.

Labour laws exist but enforcement is weak, and despite government promises to create millions of jobs, issues like low pay, lack of social protection, and poor representation remain unresolved.

The military’s media affairs wing said on Thursday that 13 Indian-sponsored terrorists were killed in two foiled infiltration attempts along the Pak-Afghan border in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

In a statement, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the 13 Fitna al Khawarij terrorists were killed last night.

Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan.

ISPR said that in KP’s Mohmand district, the movement of a group of terrorists trying to infiltrate the Pak-Afghan border was picked up by security forces.

“Own troops effectively engaged this group of khawarij. As a result of precise and skillful engagement, eight khwarij belonging to the Indian-sponsored, Fitna al Khawarij were sent to hell,” it said.

It added that troops also foiled another infiltration attempt by a group of khawarij along the Pak-Afghan border in KP’s North Waziristan district. It added that after an intense exchange of fire, five terrorists were killed.

“These engagements once again substantiate Pakistan’s repeated stance regarding the abject failure of the Afghan Taliban regime to ensure effective border management on their side,” ISPR said.

“The Afghan Taliban regime must fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by khawarij and the involvement of its citizens in terrorism inside Pakistan,” it said.

It added that Pakistan’s security forces remained resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation’s frontiers. ISPR said that sanitisation operations were being conducted to eliminate other terrorists in the area, adding that the counterterrorism campaign would continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country.

There has been a resurgence in terrorism in Pakistan since the Afghan Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021.

Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned TTP. Officials say those appeals have gone unheeded.

Following unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban from across the border, Pakistan launched Operation Ghazab lil-Haq on the night of February 26.

A five-day temporary pause was observed from March 18 to 23 on the occasion of Eidul Fitr, with the Foreign Office later saying the operation would continue “until its objectives are achieved”.

Last year in November, ISPR Director General Lieutenant General Ahmad Sharif Chaudhry told journalists that Afghan forces open fire at Pakistani checkposts across the border to facilitate the infiltration of terrorists into the country.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday decided to extend the fuel subsidy for motorcyclists, and public and goods transport by one month.

According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the premier decided to continue providing relief to the economically vulnerable sections of society during the current situation.

It said that the prime minister “had decided to extend fuel subsidy given last month to motorcyclists, public and goods transporters by one more month”.

He also directed transporters not to increase travel and freight fares. He further issued instructions to maintain “effective monitoring” of relief measures.

According to the statement, PM Shehbaz vowed to continue the government’s relief efforts, stressing that “providing relief to the common man remained the government’s top priority”.

“The people will not be left alone under any circumstances,” the premier asserted, hoping that the “regional situation will improve soon so that fuel prices can stabilise”.

The subsidies were part of the targeted relief measures announced earlier this month for bikers, farmers and transporters to cushion the impact of global oil price shocks amid the US-Israel war on Iran.

The measures included a subsidy of Rs100 per litre for two-wheeler users, capped at 20 litres per month for three months. It was also announced that trucks carrying 80-85pc of food items would receive direct support of Rs70,000 per month, large transport vehicles would be given Rs80,000 per month and inter-city public service vehicles would receive Rs100,000 per month to help keep fares stable.

The provinces have taken the lead in administering subsidised fuel quotas. Altogether, the provinces are pooling around Rs200bn for three months on the pattern of their National Finance Commission (NFC) shares — Rs100bn or so from Punjab, Rs51-Rs52bn from Sindh, Rs15bn from Khyber Pakhtu­nkhwa and about Rs8-Rs9bn from Balochistan.

A day earlier, the premier, while addressing a meeting of the federal cabinet, said consultations were underway with provinces for the extension of fuel subsidies. He also said that the country’s weekly oil bill had reached $800 million amid the oil crisis from around $300m prior to the outbreak of the conflict.

Cambridge International Education (CIE) on Thursday confirmed that its AS-level mathematics paper was “shared prematurely” against its regulations.

The development comes after the Inter-Board of Coordination Commission (IBCC) on Thursday announced it would seek a report from Cambridge as parents and students raised questions about the transparency of the exam system following reports of the leak.

In an official statement, CIE said, “We can confirm that Cambridge International AS-Level mathematics paper 12 (9709) taken in our Africa, Europe, Middle East, Pakistan and South Asia regions, was shared prematurely against our regulations.

“We investigate such incidents promptly and thoroughly and we are now working to understand the extent of the leak and determine next steps,” it added.

It affirmed its priority to ensure that the students were not disadvantaged by this incident, saying it would take all possible measures to protect the integrity of its exams.

“It is important that candidates continue to prepare for, and take, the upcoming exam,” it advised. It said that it would issue a further update on its progress on May 7.

The CIE, part of Cambridge University Press and Assessment, offers internationally recognised exams to over scores of schools in 160-plus countries. In Pakistan, O Levels (grades 9–10) cover a broad subject range, while A and AS Levels (grades 11–12) are more specialised and advanced, providing pathways to higher education in Pakistan and abroad.

In a statement yesterday, the CIE stated that it was “aware of news about a reported paper leak of a question paper” after social media was abuzz with complaints from disgruntled parents and students. Users pointed out the high examination fees and the fact that Cambridge question papers had leaked in the previous years as well.

In June last year, question papers of three AS and A-Level examinations were partially leaked across Pakistan. The CIE had then offered free November 2025 resits for candidates who set for the three exams in question.