In partnership with Saturday, 5 July, 2025 | 9 Muharram, 1447
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 357 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
Khawarij neutralized EVOLVING GLOBAL LANDSCAPE WARRANTS REGIONAL 30 attempting to infiltrate Pak-Afghan border in COOPERATION TO CONFRONT CHALLENGES: PM
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PM SHEHBAZ ADDRESSES ECO SUMMIT, SAYING, ‘FORCES OF INSTABILITY AND CHAOS CONTINUE TO DESTABILISE OUR REGION FOR GEO-POLITICAL AGENDA’
REITERATES INDIA COULDN’T BE ALLOWED TO ‘PURSUE THE DANGEROUS PATH THAT WILL BE REGARDED AS AN ACT OF AGGRESSION BY THE PEOPLE OF PAKISTAN’
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CONDEMNS RECENT INDIAN AGGRESSION AND NEW DELHI’S ATTEMPTS TO WEAPONISE WATER BY HOLDING IWT IN ABEYANCE PM MEETS AZERBAIJAN PRESIDENT, REITERATES SHARED RESOLVE TO STRENGTHEN THE ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP
PM discusses regional developments with presidents of Türkiye, Iran and Uzbekistan KHANKENDI, AZERBAIJAN staff report
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BAKU/ISLAMABAD staff report
RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday urged stronger regional cooperation in view of the increasing geopolitical tensions, including the Iran-Israel conflict and Indian hostility towards Pakistan, stressing that the Economic Cooperation Organisation (ECO) offered the country its “best hope” for a unified response. Addressing the 17th ECO Summit in Azerbaijan’s city of Khankendi, the prime minister said two recent events— the Iran-Israel war and the India-Pakistan conflict—showed that “the forces of instability and chaos continue to destabilise our region for geopolitical agendas.
“The evolving global landscape has made regional cooperation even more essential,” PM Shehbaz said while addressing the 10-nation Eurasian bloc. “ECO represents our best hope, and Pakistan is a proud partner in these collective efforts.” Speaking about the 12-day Iran-Israel war, he said that “the unlawful, uncalled-for and unjustified Israeli attack on Iran was the most recent manifestation of this dangerous trend.” “Pakistan condemns this act of Israeli aggression against Iran and offers our condolences to the martyrs,” he said. The premier also condemned the recent Indian aggression against Pakistan and New Delhi’s attempts to weaponize water by holding the Indus Water Treaty in abeyance. “The unprovoked and reckless Indian
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday held productive meetings with President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, and President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and discussed matters of regional and mutual interest, state media reported. According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), Premier Shehbaz Sharif met with President of Türkiye Recep Tayyip Erdogan on the sidelines of the 17th ECO Summit in Khankendi and discussed matters of mutual interest. The two leaders engaged in a comprehensive review of bilateral re-
hostility directed at Pakistan after an unfortunate incident in India’s illegally occupied Kashmir was yet another attempt to destabilize regional peace. “The world saw the steadfast determination of our armed forces under the
lations and exchanged views on key regional developments. The two leaders reiterated their resolve and commitment to bringing about meaningful progress in relations between the two countries in all important sectors. Both leaders emphasized the importance of deepening cooperation in trade, defense, energy, connectivity, and investment sectors. To this end, the two countries agreed to exchange high-level delegations so as to ensure early finalization of the understandings reached between the two leaders. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to working closely with Türkiye in advancing their shared goals of peace, stability, and sustainable development throughout the region.
leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir and the unyielding spirit of our resilient people who stood firm in the face of provocation and responded with courage and professionalism.”
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North Waziristan: ISPR RAWALPINDI
staff report
Security forces thwarted a mass infiltration attempt and killed 30 India-sponsored terrorists in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s North Waziristan district, according to the military’s media wing. “The security forces successfully foiled the infiltration bid by the India-sponsored Khwarij terrorist group in Hassakhail area of North Waziristan along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border,” said a statement issued by the ISPR on Friday morning. “The attempt was made by the militant group acting as an Indian proxy under the banner of the Fitna alKhwarij. However, the intrusion was timely intercepted by Pakistani security forces in a high-alert operation near the volatile border region,” the statement stated. “The gunbattle took place in North Waziristan, where the security forces not only neutralized all 30 infiltrators. A significant cache of weapons, ammunition, and explosive materials was recovered from the slain terrorists, confirming plans for a major terror attack,” the ISPR said. The intelligence-driven operation underscores the continuing threat posed by foreign-sponsored militant networks and Pakistan’s resolve to dismantle such outfits before they can sow chaos in the region. The ISPR called on the interim government in Afghanistan to take action to prevent use of its soil by the Indian agents. The security forces of Pakistan remain resolute and unwavering in their commitment to defend the nation’s frontiers and to eradicate the menace of Indian-sponsored terrorism from the country, the ISPR statement added. This significant operation came just days after June 28 tragic attack in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan, when 13 Pakistan Army personnel embraced martyrdom when a vehicle-borne suicide bomber rammed into a convoy of security forces. According to the ISPR, in the cowardly attack, planned and orchestrated by the terrorist state of India and executed by its proxy Fitna al-Khwarij, a security forces convoy was targeted when a vehicle-borne suicide bomber attempted to explode himself near the convoy. Resultantly, 13 brave sons of the soil embraced Shahadat.