PAKISTAN

At least 14 people — including 11 security personnel — were killed in two bomb attacks and a gunfight in northwest Pakistan, authorities said, underscoring a surge in militant violence in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province along the Afghan border. At least 25 others were wounded across the separate incidents. A security official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said a suicide bomber in the evening rammed an explosives-laden vehicle into the wall of a religious college in Bajaur district. “The blast also caused the roofs of…

QUETTA, Pakistan — Pakistani forces are hunting separatist fighters across Balochistan after a wave of coordinated attacks left more than 190 people dead over two days, officials said, as the government vowed to strike back and the Baloch Liberation Army claimed responsibility. Authorities said around a dozen sites remained sealed off Sunday as troops combed banks, jails, police stations and military installations struck by militants a day earlier. At least 31 civilians and 17 security personnel were killed in the assaults,…

Somalia, Pakistan sign visa-waiver pact for diplomatic passport holders MOGADISHU — Somalia and Pakistan have signed an agreement abolishing visa requirements for holders of diplomatic passports, marking a bid to accelerate high-level engagement and deepen political cooperation between the two countries. The agreement was concluded during a meeting in Pakistan attended by President Asif Ali Zardari and Somalia’s Minister of Interior, Ali Yousuf, underscoring renewed momentum in bilateral ties. Pakistan’s Special Secretary at…

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan and Somalia agreed Friday to step up cooperation on internal security and counterterrorism in a meeting between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Somalia’s Interior Minister Ali Yusuf at the Ministry of Interior in Islamabad. Officials said the talks focused on building shared capacity across a range of security functions and formalizing channels for sustained collaboration between the two governments. The ministers also discussed ways to streamline people-to-people links, including easier…

Pakistan, Somalia move to strengthen security, counterterrorism ties ISLAMABAD — Pakistan and Somalia agreed to deepen cooperation on internal security and counterterrorism following talks between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Somali counterpart, Ali Yusuf, on Friday at Pakistan’s Ministry of Interior. The ministers outlined a plan to expand collaboration across security training, policing and border management, along with measures to bolster disaster response and share expertise on urban management. Both sides cast…

At least 55 dead in Karachi mall fire as families provide DNA amid painstaking search at Gul Plaza KARACHI, Pakistan — The death toll from a weekend fire at a shopping mall in Pakistan’s largest city climbed to at least 55 as rescuers combed the wreckage of the three-story Gul Plaza and families waited for news of missing loved ones, authorities said. “A total of 55 bodies have been recovered since Saturday night” when the blaze erupted, said Javed Nabi Khoso, deputy commissioner of Karachi’s south district, speaking to AFP.…

Karachi mall inferno leaves at least 21 dead, dozens missing as firefighters comb ruins of Gul Plaza KARACHI, Pakistan — Pakistani firefighters on Monday pulled bodies from the smoldering remains of Gul Plaza, a sprawling shopping complex in Karachi, as anguished families waited for word of more than 60 people still missing after the city’s deadliest blaze in more than a decade. The fire erupted late Saturday, racing through the multi‑story mall that housed some 1,200 shops across a footprint larger than a football field.…

Pakistan vows support to Somalia at UN after Israel recognizes North Western State of Somalia, drawing Muslim world rebuke ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar on Sunday pledged full support to Somalia at the United Nations and other multilateral forums after Israel became the first country to formally recognize North Western State of Somalia, a breakaway region that declared independence in 1991 but has never before been acknowledged by a UN member state. The commitment followed a phone call from Somali…

Strengthening Somalia: Defense Partnerships Pave New Paths In a noteworthy development, Somalia is forging forward with strategic defense agreements that promise to reshape its national security landscape. During a critical meeting chaired by Acting Prime Minister Salah Ahmed Jama, Somalia's cabinet approved several international defense agreements aimed at bolstering the country's armed forces. Forging Global Partnerships The spotlight of this diplomatic maneuvering falls on the newly signed memorandums of understanding…

Strengthening Bonds: Somalia and Pakistan's Vision for Collaboration In a rapidly changing global landscape, the importance of strategic alliances cannot be underestimated. This was evident when Somalia and Pakistan took significant steps to fortify their cooperation in diverse sectors, following a high-stakes meeting in Saudi Arabia. This alliance not only resonates within their borders but also has wider implications for the Muslim world and beyond. A Meeting with Purpose On the bustling sidelines of the 21st…