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.