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Afghan officials on Sunday called on Pakistan to prepare a joint mechanism for the gradual repatriation of refugees, adding that forced deportation is in neither country’s interests. The interior ministry, in a statement on March 7, had stated “All illegal foreigners and ACC holders are advised to leave the country voluntarily before 31 March 2025; thereafter, deportation will commence wef 1 April 2025.” Mufti Abdul Mutalib Haqqani, spokesman for the Ministry of Refugees and Repatriation, said that bringing the refugees back is official Afghan policy, but it should be under a joint mechanism with Pakistan so that refugees are returned gradually and with “honour”. “But if Pakistan unilaterally sends refugees, we are fully prepared to receive them,” the spokesman told the Taliban’s Hurriyat Radio . “We have held meetings with Pakistani officials on the issue and are still in contact with them,” he added. “Our demand is that they (Afghan refugees) should not be forcibly deported, as ...

In a strongly worded statement, Karachi Kings owner Salman Iqbal expressed his disappointment and frustration with a fellow team owner who publicly criticised the Pakistan Super League (PSL). Iqbal, who also serves as President and CEO of ARY Digital Network,  defended the league, calling it ‘Pakistan’s pride’ and a ‘made-in-Pakistan success story.’ Salman Iqbal highlighted the growth and achievements of the PSL, citing the support of ARY, which has been a key partner in promoting the league. He also praised the efforts of Salman Naseer and the PCB team in uplifting the PSL. “PSL is Pakistan’s pride a product which has made stars . From day one, ARY stood by PSL placing the highest bid to own Karachi Kings, building its image through our platforms, and broadcasting every draft live and uninterrupted. Later, A Sports stepped up and gave the highest ever bid for PSL TV rights a testament to our belief in this league. And this ramzan ARY offered their highest rated and biggest gam...

Hamas released a video on Saturday showing two Israeli hostages alive in Gaza, speaking to the camera and describing how they had survived an alleged Israeli strike. The Ezzedine al-Qassam Brigades released the more than two-minute clip, in which one of the two men appears with his right cheek and right hand bandaged. AFP was unable to verify the authenticity of the footage or when it was filmed. The video was released a day after Israeli forces launched a ground offensive in Gaza City in the Shujaiya area “in order to expand the security zone” inside the Palestinian territory. Hamas said on Friday the offensive was putting hostages’ lives at risk. During their October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war in the Gaza Strip, Hamas took 251 Israelis hostages. Fifty-eight hostages remain in captivity, including 34 whom the Israeli military says are dead. During a recent ceasefire that ended on March 18 when Israel resumed air strikes on Gaza, Hamas released 33 hostages,...

Onijah Robinson (Onijah Andrew Robinson) is back in New York City after going viral in Pakistan, and she claims she did indeed marry her online boyfriend, despite accusations of catfishing him. Onijah Robinson became a viral sensation earlier this year after travelling to Pakistan to marry 19-year-old Nidal Ahmed Memon, whom she had met online. It was reported that Onijah Robinson had used a filter during video chats to appear as a white woman with blonde hair, leading Nidal to refuse the marriage. This caused Onijah to demand money from the Pakistani government, which also went viral. Despite the rocky start, Onijah Robinson says she and Nidal eventually tied the knot. @tmz #Exclusive Video: #OnijahRobinson, the woman who went viral for Pakistan marriage trip is back in #NYC ♬ original sound – TMZ However, she also revealed that he is still in Pakistan, and she isn’t sure when she will return. As for her earlier demands for money and land, Onijah stated that she was on...

RAWALPINDI: Security forces killed two khwarij in an intelligence based operation (IBO) in the Kech district of Balochistan, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Friday. “On 4 April 2025, security forces conducted an intelligence based operation in general area Buleda, Kech District, on reported presence of terrorists,” the military’s media wing said in a statement. According to the ISPR, during the conduct of operation, security forces effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, and after an intense fire exchange, two terrorists were killed. The killed terrorists remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities in the area against the law enforcement agencies as well as the innocent civilians. “Sanitisation operation is being conducted to eliminate any other terrorist found in the area, as the security forces of Pakistan, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan,” the ISPR a...

Termination notices sent by billionaire Elon Musk’s cost-cutting team to US Agency for International Development (USAID) staff were so rife with errors that corrected versions are being issued to avoid affecting pensions and pay, according to five sources familiar with the issue. The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) “did this so quickly that they screwed lots of stuff up”, said a US official, who requested anonymity, as did all of those who spoke to Reuters . The State Department, which is assuming some of USAID’s functions under the Trump administration’s plan to cut US foreign aid , did not immediately respond to requests for comment. USAID’s human resources staff, most of whom have been on paid administrative leave and face termination, have been brought back to the office to send out accurate notices, said the US official and a person familiar with the matter. “My letter was completely wrong,” one USAID worker told Reuters on condition of anonymity. “The only thing ...

April 3 (Reuters) – The euro and the Japanese yen soared against the dollar on Thursday, as investors grappled with how U.S. President Donald Trump’s far-reaching  tariffs  will impact global trade and economic growth. Investors continue to flock to safe-haven units such as the yen and Swiss franc as the dollar weakened to six-month lows against both those currencies. “The takeaway there is that the U.S. doesn’t care about growth, at least short-term growth, in the way that it always has,” said Adam Button, chief currency analyst, Forex Live. “The market wants to invest in the fastest growing places, and the U.S. administration is showing that it is not trying to maximize growth, or they have a different idea about how to get there. And I think that’s rattled the market.” The highly anticipated  tariff  announcement  sent shockwaves  through markets, sinking global stocks and sending investors into the safety of bonds as well as gold, fearing that a fu...