Heavy fighting has erupted once again between Pakistani forces and Taliban fighters along the volatile border separating Pakistan and Afghanistan, leaving dozens dead and escalating one of the most serious confrontations between the two sides since the Taliban’s return to power in 2021. The clashes, centered around Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, have plunged relations between Islamabad and Kabul to a new low, with both governments trading accusations over who initiated the latest round

Paul Kapur, a noted American academic and expert on South Asian security, has been appointed as the new Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia in the United States government. Known for his hardline stance against Pakistan’s military establishment, Kapur’s appointment marks a significant shift in Washington’s regional approach, especially amid renewed tensions in South Asia. His selection comes as the US seeks to redefine its engagement with both India and Pakistan whil

The United States has approved the supply of AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Pakistan, marking a new phase in defence cooperation between the two countries. The US Department of War announced the inclusion of Pakistan as one of several international buyers under a recently modified arms contract with Raytheon, the American defence manufacturer responsible for producing the missile systems. According to the department’s notification, Raytheon received

A protest encampment set up outside Washington, D.C.’s Union Station was dismantled early Friday morning by crews believed to be part of the U.S. National Park Service and United States Park Police. According to members of the activist group For Liberation and Resistance Everywhere (FLARE), the removal took place around 5 a.m., when officers arrived and began clearing tents and other property from the site. FLARE claims the action was carried out without prior notice and amounted to an

Saudi Arabia’s decision to sign a Strategic Mutual Defence Agreement with Pakistan has stirred debates across South Asia and the Middle East. The pact, which promises that an attack on one country will be treated as an attack on both, resembles a NATO-style commitment. For Pakistan, struggling with economic and diplomatic challenges, this deal is seen as a significant political win and a potential deterrence against India. Yet, beneath the surface, exper

At the Doha emergency summit attended by leaders from over 40 Muslim countries, the idea of an Islamic Nato gained momentum, with Pakistan aggressively pitching for an Arab-Islamic task force. The meeting followed Israel’s strike in Qatar and brought together Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, and others under one forum. Pakistan, represented by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Is

The emergency Arab-Islamic summit held in Doha on Monday has triggered renewed calls for a NATO-style military alliance of Muslim nations. The push, spearheaded by Egypt, comes in the wake of Israel’s strike in Doha that killed Hamas operatives and a Qatari officer. While leaders differed on concrete action against Israel, the summit may have set in motion the groundwork for an Arab-Islamic defense pact. Egypt,

The International Cricket Council has turned down the Pakistan Cricket Board’s request to remove veteran referee Andy Pycroft from the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 after the controversial no-handshake episode in the India-Pakistan clash. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Asian Cricket Council, had alleged that Pycroft instructed Pakistan captain Salman Agha at the toss not to engage in a handshake with India’s Suryakumar Yadav, sparking outrag

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has officially addressed the controversy surrounding the handshake row during the Asia Cup 2025 clash between India and Pakistan. Following India’s 7-wicket victory, captain Suryakumar Yadav and his teammates did not exchange handshakes with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha or the opposing team. This move sparked outrage from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which lodged a formal complaint with the Asian

India issued a sharp rebuttal to Switzerland during the 60th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva after the Swiss delegation expressed concerns about the treatment of minorities in India. Representing New Delhi, Kshitij Tyagi, Counsellor at India’s Permanent Mission in Geneva, described Switzerland’s comments as “surprising, shallow, and ill-informed.” He emphasized that as the current president of the UNHRC, Switzerland sho

The Indian government has made its position clear regarding sports engagements with Pakistan, especially in the context of upcoming international events. In a new policy unveiled by the Sports Ministry, the government declared that India will not participate in any bilateral sporting events with Pakistan, even if hosted at neutral venues. The policy, which has been implemented immediately, aims to limit interactions with Pakistan in sports following the strai

Pakistan has extended its ban on Indian aircraft using its airspace until September 23, further escalating the ongoing standoff with India. The Pakistan Airports Authority issued a fresh Notice to Airmen confirming the extension, which will apply to all Indian aircraft, both civilian and military, as well as those leased or owned by Indian carriers. This extension marks another chapter in the tit-for-tat measures that have defined the strained relationship betw

Tensions are mounting in Washington, DC after DC Council Chairman Phil Mendelson came under fire from the city's police union for his response to a protest that took place outside his residence over the weekend. The protest centered around Initiative 82, a controversial measure that has drawn sharp division among residents, lawmakers, and labor advocates. According to the DC Police Union, Mendelson allegedly called the police to report a group of peaceful protesters gathere

Dassault Aviation shares saw renewed upward movement for the second straight day after India officially denied reports that any of its Rafale fighter jets were shot down during Operation Sindoor. On July 8, the company's stock opened slightly higher at €297.40, marginally up from the previous close of €297. The development follows weeks of pressure on the stock, which had declined by about 3 percent over the past month, largely due to speculation surrounding the Indian Air Force&rs

  Hundreds of demonstrators gathered outside the Ohio Statehouse on Friday evening to participate in a peaceful protest as part of the growing national “No Kings” movement. The protest in downtown Columbus was one of several planned across the country in response to what participants described as increasingly authoritarian rhetoric coming from former President Donald Trump. Organizers and attendees expressed concern about recent messages and imagery associated with

In a significant diplomatic development, Pakistan’s attempt to interfere with an Indian parliamentary delegation’s visit to Malaysia has been firmly rejected by Kuala Lumpur. Citing “Islamic solidarity,” the Pakistani embassy had urged Malaysian authorities to cancel engagements planned by the Indian delegation. However, Malaysian officials ignored Islamabad’s appeal, and the Indian delegation’s full itinerary proceeded as s

During a high-level visit aboard INS Vikrant, India’s first indigenously built aircraft carrier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh issued a powerful statement underscoring the unmatched capabilities of the Indian Navy. Speaking from the Arabian Sea, Singh remarked that if the Indian Navy had joined active combat during Operation Sindoor, Pakistan could have faced consequences far more severe than in 1971, potentially splitting into four parts. Referring to the Navy’s role i

Sunnyvale residents are raising serious concerns as new housing developments threaten to displace grocery stores in their northern neighborhoods, pushing the area closer to becoming a food desert. The latest project, proposed by True Life Companies, aims to construct 101 townhomes at the current site of Lakewood Shopping Center—one of the few places offering accessible groceries in North Sunnyvale. This plan would result in the demolition of the New Wing Yuan Market, a vital grocery sou

A controversial proposal to build a slaughterhouse in Wonder Lake, Illinois has triggered a wave of strong opposition from local residents, who voiced their concerns during a recent McHenry County zoning board meeting. The project, proposed by Sergiy Bazlyuk, aims to process chickens and pigs on a parcel of land located within one mile of at least two residential subdivisions and less than a mile from Greenwood Elementary School. Many attendees at the meeting expressed alarm over the potentia

On May 16, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump once again reiterated his claim that India had offered a zero-tariff trade deal to the United States, in a move he framed as part of his broader efforts to mediate peace between India and Pakistan. During an interview, President Trump emphasized that his engagement in regional diplomacy and trade had led to a de-escalation of tensions between the two South Asian neighbors. His comments come amid a charged geopolitical backdrop and continuing discussio