U.S. Approves $686 Million Upgrade Package for Pakistan’s F-16 Fleet The United States has approved a $686 million upgrade package for the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) F-16 fleet, marking a major development in bilateral defence cooperation. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) formally notified Congress, triggering a 30-day review period. The move follows a series of recent high-level engagements between President Donald Trump, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, indicating a renewed diplomatic thaw. According to the DSCA, the upgrade package will enhance Pakistan’s interoperability with US and partner forces involved in…
Author: Farhan Ali
Pakistan Warns Taliban of Defensive Measures Over Rising Cross-Border Terr0r Threats Pakistan has delivered a strong warning to the Taliban regime, stating that Islamabad will adopt all necessary defensive measures if Kabul fails to act against terr0rist groups operating from Afghan territory. Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, addressed the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) and detailed the growing secu-rity risks emerging from Afghanistan. The ambassador said Afghanistan has once again become a safe sanctuary for violent networks. According to his statement, groups including Daesh-K, Al-Qaeda, TTP, ETIM, BLA, and the Majeed Brigade benefit from…
Former ISI Chief Faiz Hamid Sentenced to 14 Years by Field General Court Martial The Field General Court Martial (FGCM) has sentenced former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Lt Gen (retd) Faiz Hamid to 14 years of rigorous imprisonment. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced the verdict after a 15-month legal process conducted under the Pakistan Army Act. The proceedings covered four major charges related to political involvement, the misuse of authority, and violations of state-related laws. According to the ISPR, Faiz Hamid faced allegations of engaging in political activities and breaching the Official Secret Act. His actions, described as harmful…
Pakistan’s Economy Shows Improvement as Corruption Perception Decreases: Transparency International A recent survey by Transparency International Pakistan reveals positive signs for the country’s economy, alongside a decline in corruption perception among citizens. The findings, captured in the National Corruption Perception Survey (NCPS) 2025, suggest that governance reforms and economic policies under the current government are gradually taking effect. Positive Trends in Governance and Transparency According to the NCPS 2025 report, Pakistanis are increasingly experiencing transparent and accountable governance. Around 66% of citizens reported not having to pay a bribe for government services, highlighting a notable improvement in public sector efficiency.…
US Arrest Case: FO Confirms Suspect Is Afghan, Not of Pakistani Origin Pakistan’s Foreign Office (FO) has clarified that the man arrested in the United States last week for possessing firearms and written plans for an att@ck is not Pakistani, countering several inaccurate media reports circulating internationally. FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi stated that the suspect is an Afghan national who spent a few years as a refugee in Pakistan before moving to the United States, where he lived for most of his life. The clarification came after multiple American and Indian media outlets incorrectly identified the arrested individual as being…
11th NFC Holds Maiden Meeting, Forms Working Groups to Shape Pakistan’s Future Fiscal Framework The inaugural meeting of the 11th National Finance Commission (NFC) was held in Islamabad under the leadership of Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, marking an important step toward redefining Pakistan’s federal-provincial fiscal landscape. Senior representatives from all four provinces — including chief ministers, finance ministers, and technical experts — gathered to outline priorities for the upcoming NFC Award. During the session, participants engaged in detailed discussions on resource distribution, revenue-sharing formulas, and the constitutional framework guiding the NFC. The meeting was described as constructive, cooperative, and inclusive,…
Pakistan Seeks Stronger Economic Partnership with Bahrain, Says PM Shehbaz During Manama Visit Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening economic cooperation with Bahrain. During his address to the Bahraini business community in Manama on Thursday, the premier highlighted key sectors where both countries can expand collaboration, including agriculture, information technology, artificial intelligence and fintech. A Renewed Push for Economic Synergy PM Shehbaz said Pakistan and Bahrain share decades of strategic cooperation. He noted that both nations stand on a foundation built on cultural affinity, religious ties and mutual trust. These shared values, he added, continue to…
TTP Chief Noor Wali Mehsud Linked to Islamabad Blast: Information Minister Reveals Full Network Information Minister Attaullah Tarar has revealed that the November 11 suicide att@ck outside Islamabad’s Judicial Complex was planned by the banned TTP’s chief, Noor Wali Mehsud. While addressing a press conference in Islamabad, he said the entire operation was orchestrated from inside Afghanistan. He added that the network behind the att@ck has now been uncovered, with four key facilitators arrested within 48 hours. The suicide blast, which claimed 12 lives and injured 35 others, was carried out by an Afghan national identified as Usman Shinwari. Tarar…
Pakistan Clarifies No Strike on Afghanistan: DG ISPR Rejects Kabul’s Accusations Pakistan has firmly rejected Afghanistan’s latest claims regarding alleged strikes inside Khost, Kunar, and Paktia. DG ISPR Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry stated that Pakistan has not launched any operation across the border and emphasized that the country’s policy targets terr0r outfits rather than Afghan civilians. His remarks came during an interaction with senior reporters in Islamabad, where he presented Pakistan’s position in clear terms. Although Afghanistan accused Pakistan of hitting civilian areas, the DG ISPR stressed that such allegations hold no basis. He explained that Pakistan values peace…
Pakistan and Saudi Arabia Strengthen Strategic Military Cooperation at GHQ Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reaffirmed their commitment to expanding strategic military cooperation during a high-level meeting at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) confirmed that Saudi Armed Forces Chief of General Staff (CGS) General Fayyadh Bin Hameed Al Rowaili met Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Monday. Both sides agreed on the importance of deepening defence ties, secur-ity coordination and counter-terr0r collaboration. High-Level Meeting Focuses on Strategic Coordination General Al Rowaili received a guard of honour on his arrival at…