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PAKISTAN, AFGHANISTAN SEAL ‘DOHA TRUCE’ TO END HOSTILITIES; PLAN NEXT ROUND IN ISTANBUL Monday, 20 October, 2025 | 26 Rabius Sani, 1447
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 103 | 48 Pages | Islamabad Edition
CEASEFIRE AGREEMENT FINALIZED AND TERROR g SAYS BOTH NEIGHBOURING COUNTRIES WILL ATTACKS FROM AFGHANISTAN ON PAKISTAN’S RESPECT EACH OTHER’S TERRITORY AND SOIL WILL CEASE IMMEDIATELY: KH ASIF PLEDGE END TO CROSS-BORDER ATTACKS CEASEFIRE TAKES EFFECT IMMEDIATELY AS BOTH SIDES PLEDGE TO RESPECT EACH OTHER’S SOVEREIGNTY, FOLLOW-UP MEETING SET FOR OCT 25 IN ISTANBUL
Interior minister briefs PM Shehbaz on national security LAHORE
Staff RepoRt
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DOHA/ISLAMABAD Saleem Jadoon
AKISTAN and Afghanistan on Sunday agreed to an immediate ceasefire following intenQatar-facilitated sive, negotiations in Doha—a breakthrough aimed at halting weeks of deadly cross-border clashes and easing rising tensions between the two neighbours. The agreement, reached after a marathon 13-hour session, commits both sides to “respect each other’s sovereignty” and refrain from supporting or sheltering groups involved in attacks against the other. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif,
who led Pakistan’s delegation, said both countries had pledged to end hostilities and would meet again on October 25 in Istanbul to discuss mechanisms for long-term peace. “A ceasefire agreement has been finalised. The terrorist attacks from Afghanistan on Pakistan’s soil will cease immediately. Both neighbouring countries will respect each other’s territory,” Asif announced on X (formerly Twitter). He expressed gratitude to Qatar and Turkiye for mediating between Islamabad and Kabul during the Doha round, calling their efforts “brotherly and constructive.”
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi briefed Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday on the country’s overall law and order situation and ongoing development projects in Islamabad, as the government reviews internal security amid recent counterterrorism operations and protests, according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The meeting comes a week after the premier and the interior minister last met ahead of a police operation to dismantle the protest camp of the Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) in Muridke. The TLP had announced plans to march on Islamabad and stage a demonstration outside the US embassy “in solidarity with Gaza.” During Sunday’s meeting, Minister Naqvi updated the prime minister on the latest law and order situation nationwide. The premier appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Interior and law enforcement agencies, directing that coordinated and effective actions continue to ensure the
IMF can’t impose conditions against Pakistan’s national interest, says FinMin WASHINGTON
Staff RepoRt
Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Aurangzeb has said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) cannot impose any condition that goes against Pakistan’s national interest, asserting that ongoing reforms under the Fund programme have already begun to stabilise the economy. Addressing a press conference in Washington, where he is attending the IMF–World Bank Annual Meetings, the minister said the government’s reform measures had restored macroeconomic stability and investor confidence. He termed the talks with the IMF and World Bank as “positive and productive.” Aurangzeb confirmed that Pakistan expects to receive a $1.2 billion tranche from the IMF by December 31, adding that discussions were progressing smoothly under the current programme. He said several American companies had shown a strong interest in investing in Pakistan, while Chinese investments would continue to create new development opportunities in the months ahead. Earlier, speaking at the 15th V20 Ministerial Dialogue on “Cost of Capital, Debt & Growth Pathways,” held on the sidelines of the annual meetings, Aurangzeb reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening climate resilience and achieving sustainable growth. He said Pakistan continues to bear the cost of the 2022 floods through its own resources while simul-
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taneously funding reconstruction and relief activities. He appreciated the support of the CVF–V20 Secretariat in preparing Pakistan’s Climate Prosperity Plan, and noted that financing under the Country Partnership Framework was helping to operationalise the plan. Calling for greater urgency on climate finance, the finance minister urged the early operationalisation of the Loss and Damage Fund and faster decision-making at the Green Climate Fund to ensure timely assistance for vulnerable nations. On the sidelines of the meetings, Aurangzeb also met with Turkey’s Minister of Treasury and Finance, Mehmet Şimşek, where both sides reaffirmed their resolve to further strengthen Pakistan–Turkey economic relations and continue high-level bilateral engagement. The finance minister briefed his Turkish counterpart on Pakistan’s ongoing reform agenda, including steps in tax policy, energy, state-owned enterprises, privatisation, and public finance management. He highlighted efforts to improve the tax-to-GDP ratio and integrate data systems across departments to enhance transparency and efficiency. In a separate meeting with International Finance Corporation (IFC) Managing Director Makhtar Diop, Aurangzeb welcomed the IFC’s decision to designate Pakistan as a regional hub, calling it a “vote of confidence” in the country’s economy. He also updated the IFC chief on progress in the Reko Diq mining project, expressing hope that the EXIM Bank would soon join the venture.
Govt greenlights wheat policy 2025–26 to safeguard food security ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
The federal government has approved the wheat policy for 2025–26, ensuring that there will be no restriction on inter-provincial movement of the crop to maintain a “steady nationwide supply, fair prices for farmers and stable strategic reserves to safeguard national food security, a Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) statement said on Sunday. The announcement follows weeks of tension after the Punjab government tightened controls on wheat and flour transport across provincial borders under a permit regime—a move that drew sharp criticism from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for disrupting market flows. According to the PMO, the new policy was finalised at a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and attended by the chief ministers of Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, and GilgitBaltistan. A representative of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister, as well as the AJK prime minister and senior stakeholders, also took part. Terming wheat the “lifeline of Pakistan’s agricultural economy,” the prime minister said the crop was not only the country’s staple food but also the primary source of income for millions of farmers. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring farmer welfare and national food security, calling
growers the “backbone of the economy.” PM Shehbaz said the wheat policy had been prepared through broad consultations with provincial governments, farmers’ associations, and the private sector, adding that the new framework was “based on consensus” and designed to balance farmer profits with consumer affordability. Under the 2025–26 policy, the federal and provincial governments will maintain strategic reserves of about 6.2 million tonnes of wheat from the upcoming harvest. Procurement will be made at Rs3,500 per maund (40 kg)—a rate aligned with international import prices to ensure both market competitiveness and fair farmer returns. A new National Food Security Committee, comprising representatives from all provinces, will oversee the policy’s implementation and meet weekly to monitor progress. The committee will report directly to the prime minister. The PMO said the policy was designed to safeguard farmers’ interests, stabilize the market, and strengthen food security. “This measure will ensure fair prices, adequate reserves, and uninterrupted supply across the country,” the statement concluded. Pakistan was ranked as the world’s eighth-largest wheat producer by the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) last year as the country had produced 31.4 million tons of the crop that year, which amounted to 4 percent of the world’s total wheat production.
safety of citizens’ lives and property. Reaffirming the government’s resolve, Prime Minister Shehbaz said protecting people’s lives, upholding the rule of law, and eradicating terrorism remained top priorities for his administration. Earlier in the day, Naqvi met Governor Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Faisal Karim Kundi in Lahore to review counterterrorism operations across various districts of KP, the situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, and ongoing efforts to restore durable peace and stability in the region. The two leaders paid rich tribute to the security forces and police personnel engaged in anti-terror operations against Indian-backed militant groups. They expressed deep grief over the martyrdom of officers and troops in recent attacks on the Police Training Centre and the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) office in Dera Ismail Khan, vowing that their sacrifices would not go in vain.
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PAF jets land in Azerbaijan for ‘Indus Shield Alpha’ to sharpen modern air combat skills ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
A contingent of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) has arrived in Azerbaijan to take part in a high-profile bilateral air combat exercise titled “Indus Shield Alpha,” aimed at honing modern aerial warfare tactics, interoperability, and joint operational readiness, the military’s media wing said on Sunday. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the PAF contingent comprises JF-17 Thunder Block-III fighter jets accompanied by experienced air and ground crew. The fighter aircraft executed a non-stop flight from Pakistan to Azerbaijan, successfully completing a flawless in-flight air-to-air refueling operation conducted by the PAF’s IL-78 aerial tanker, underscoring the force’s long-range precision and endurance capabilities. “The exercise aims to enhance mutual understanding, tactical coordination, and interoperability between the two brotherly Air Forces,” the ISPR said, noting that the drills would emphasize joint mission planning, real-time combat simulation, and response strategies shaped by evolving airpower dynamics and rapid technological advancements. The statement added that Indus Shield Alpha would serve as a “vital platform” for the two air forces to exchange operational insights, develop integrated aerial combat strategies, and build collaborative responses to emerging defense challenges. The ISPR said the PAF’s participation reaffirmed Pakistan’s enduring commitment to regional stability, international military cooperation, and continued adaptation to the demands of contemporary air warfare.
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