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POLITICAL LEADERSHIP RALLIES BEHIND UNITY AS PARTIES BRIEFED ON REGIONAL, INTERNAL SECURITY
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Thursday, 5 March, 2026 | 15 Ramazan, 1447
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PM SHEHBAZ CHAIRS IN-CAMERA BRIEFING TO DISCUSS REGIONAL, INTERNAL SECURITY AND FUTURE COURSE OF ACTION OPERATION GHAZAB LIL-HAQ, MIDDLE EAST CONFLICT DISCUSSED IN DETAIL, WITH LEADERS REAFFIRM RESOLVE TO ERADICATE TERRORISM
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 240 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition
PARLIAMENTARIANS EMPHASIZE NEED FOR ‘UNITY, CONSENSUS AND UNANIMITY’ AMID VOLATILE GEOPOLITICAL SITUATION
PAKISTAN’S DIPLOMATIC PUSH FOR DE-ESCALATION IN IRAN-GULF TENSIONS HIGHLIGHTED AT BRIEFING
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PTI STAYS AWAY, LINKS PARTICIPATION TO MEETING WITH IMRAN KHAN
Dar speaks to Turkish, Egyptian counterparts; stresses de-escalation, regional peace ISLAMABAD
staff report
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ISLAMABAD
saleem jadoon
EADERS and representatives of parliamentary parties on Wednesday underscored the need for “national unity, consensus and unanimity” amid the prevailing national and regional situation during a high-level meeting chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, state media reported. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the high-level meeting of parliamentary parties’ leaders to discuss the “evolving geopolitical situation” in the region, during which participants were given an “in-camera briefing,” according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO). The PMO said the briefing began shortly after 11:30am at the Prime Minister’s House and lasted for more than two hours. The discussion “primarily focused” on the ongoing Oper-
IAEA board approves safeguards for Chashma nuclear power plant unit 5
ation Ghazab lil-Haq against terrorist hideouts as well as the conflict in the Middle East. “The meeting was given an in-camera briefing regarding the Pakistan-Afghanistan situation, the hostilities in Iran, the Middle East and the Gulf, and Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts,” the PMO statement said, adding that leaders of the participating political parties freely expressed their views. The participants underscored the need for “national unity, consensus and unanimity” in the “prevailing circumstances.” The PMO said Prime Minister Shehbaz had invited parliamentary leaders to sit together and develop a collective course of action to move forward. The statement added that the attendees appreciated Pakistan’s “diplomatic efforts aimed at peace,” stressed the need to further intensify them, and offered “recommendations for a future plan of action.” All participants reiterated their firm commitment to the eradication of terrorism from the country and lauded the prime
ISLAMABAD
staff report
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) board of governors has unanimously approved an agreement with Pakistan for the application of safeguards at Unit 5 of the Chashma nuclear power plant, according to a statement from the Foreign Office (FO) on Wednesday. The announcement was shared by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on the social media platform X. The FO stated that this development demonstrates the international community’s continued confidence in Pakistan’s commitment to the peaceful use of nuclear energy and its adherence to global nonproliferation and safeguards obligations. According to the FO, Chashma Unit 5 has a gross capacity of 1,200 megawatts. The plant is a pressurised water reactor and is expected to become operational by 2030. The FO further noted that, once completed, the unit will provide a significant source of low-carbon electricity to Pakistan’s national grid. This contribution is expected to support the country’s energy security, climate objectives, and sustainable economic growth. The FO also highlighted that Pakistan remains committed to fulfilling its international obligations regarding the peaceful use of nuclear technology. The approval of the safeguards agreement by the IAEA board was described as an important step in furthering Pakistan’s cooperation with the agency. Officials said the application of IAEA safeguards at Chashma Unit 5 is in line with Pakistan’s policy of ensuring transparency and compliance with global standards in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
Ishaq Dar on Wednesday held separate telephone conversations with his Turkish and Egyptian counterparts, reaffirming Pakistan’s solidarity with friendly nations and underscoring the urgent need for de-escalation amid the evolving regional situation. In his conversation with Hakan Fidan, Dar reiterated Pakistan’s firm solidarity with Turkiye in the wake of recent attacks. The two leaders exchanged views on the escalating regional situation and expressed serious concern over ongoing attacks, including a recent attempt targeting Turkiye. Both sides stressed the imperative of restraint and de-escalation to prevent further deterioration of the security environment. The deputy prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to
minister’s move to take the entire political leadership into confidence. While the ruling Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz extended an olive branch to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and invited it to join the meeting in view of internal and external security threats, the PTI opted not to attend, maintaining it would only participate if a meeting with its founder Imran Khan was arranged. PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman were among the prominent leaders who attended the briefing. Other party leaders included Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui of the MQM-P, Abdul Aleem Khan of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, Khalid Hussain Magsi of the Balochistan Awami Party,
closely coordinate efforts with Turkiye in support of regional peace and stability. In a separate call, Dar spoke with Badr Abdelatty to discuss the evolving regional developments. The two leaders expressed deep concern over the escalating situation and emphasized the importance of de-escalation, restraint, and adherence to international law to safeguard regional peace and stability. Reaffirming the strong ties between Pakistan and Egypt, both leaders agreed to maintain close coordination and continue consultations aimed at promoting constructive diplomatic engagement for lasting peace and security in the region. The back-to-back diplomatic engagements reflect Pakistan’s active outreach and its emphasis on dialogue, international law, and collective efforts to address mounting regional tensions.
and Chaudhry Salik Hussain of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q. Senators present included PPP’s Sherry Rehman, BAP’s Manzoor Ahmed Kakar, PMLN’s Pervaiz Rasheed, MQM-P’s Faisal Subzwari, National Party’s Jan Muhammad, Anwarul Haq Kakar and Hafiz Abdul Kareem, the PMO statement said. MNAs attending the meeting included PPP’s Naveed Qamar, MQM-P’s Farooq Sattar and Aminul Haque, and National Party’s Pullain Baloch. Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Senate Deputy Chairman Syedal Khan Nasar and NA Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa Shah were also present.
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Qatar pM urges immediate halt to attacks in call with FM araghchi as iran death toll rises to 1,045 g
QATARI PREMIER SHEIKH MOHAMMED BIN ABDULRAHMAN AL THANI ACCUSES IRAN OF SEEKING TO 'HARM ITS NEIGHBOURS AND DRAG THEM INTO A WAR THAT IS NOT THEIRS' DOHA/TEHRAN staff report
Qatar's prime minister condemned Iran's attacks on Gulf states in a call with Tehran's foreign minister on Wednesday, the first high-level contact since the Islamic republic launched its missile and drone campaign as the number of people killed in five days of US-Israeli attacks against Iran has topped 1,000, state media says. As the conflict engulfs the region, Turkiye said a ballistic missile fired Iran was destroyed by NATO air and missile defence systems in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The target of the missile was not immediately clear. Qatari premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani accused Iran of seeking to "harm its neighbours and drag them into a war that is not theirs", on the call with Iran's Abbas Araghchi, according to a statement by Qatar's foreign ministry. Gulf countries have borne much of Tehran's response since the United States and Israel launched a massive air campaign against Iran over the weekend with an 11year-old girl killed in Kuwait on Wednesday by falling shrapnel. Thirteen people, seven of them civilians, have been killed in countries around
the Gulf since the war began. The Pentagon has announced the deaths of six US servicemen since Saturday, four of them in Kuwait. The Qatari prime minister urged "an immediate halt to these attacks" on the call and said Iran had "struck civilian and residential areas" despite Araghchi's assertion "the Iranian missile attacks were directed at US interests and did not target the State of Qatar". "These attacks cannot pass without a response," Sheikh Mohammed added. Kuwait's health ministry said "resuscitation was performed in the ambulance while the girl was being transported to the hospital", adding attempts continued for nearly half an hour at Al-Amiri Hospital but she "passed away due to her injuries". The United Arab Emirates and Qatar said they had intercepted Iranian drone and missile barrages, with the UAE reporting it engaged three ballistic missiles and intercepted 121 of 129 drones, while Qatar said it shot down 10 drones and two cruise missiles. US troops told Iran war is 'God's plan' to trigger Armageddon American service members across every branch of the military have been told by commanders that the US-Israeli war on Iran is intended to induce the biblical end times, or Armageddon, Turkey’s Anadolu
and TRT reported quoting multiple complaints lodged with a US watchdog. “This morning our commander opened up the combat readiness status briefing by urging us to not be ‘afraid’ as to what is happening with our combat operations in Iran right now,” a non-commissioned officer said in an emailed complaint lodged with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF). “He urged us to tell our troops that this was ‘all part of God's divine plan’ and he specifically referenced numerous citations out of the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ.” The MRFF is a non-profit dedicated to ensuring religious freedom for members of the US military. The officer who wrote to the group said he penned the message on behalf of himself and 15 other members of his unit who were all stationed in the region in a “ready-support” function. Anadolu obtained a copy of the complaint from the MRFF after independent journalist Jonathan Larsen first reported on the matter. The officer’s message was one of over 200 the foundation has received across more than 50 military units since Saturday when US President Donald Trump announced the beginning of sweeping strikes against Iran, a military offensive the US is embarking on alongside Israel.
uS orders non-emergency staff to leave Consulates in Karachi, Lahore ISLAMABAD
staff report
The United States has directed non-emergency government employees and family members at its consulates in Karachi and Lahore to depart Pakistan, citing security concerns. The order, issued by the US State Department, does not affect the status of the US Embassy in Islamabad, according to official statements. Security Risks Prompt Departure According to sources, the US Mission in Pakistan announced that the decision was made due to safety risks. The updated travel advisory maintains Pakistan at Level 3, urging US citizens to reconsider travel to the country. The advisory highlights ongoing threats, including the risk of drone and missile attacks from Iran and significant disruptions to commercial flights, amid continuing conflict in the Middle East. Reports indicate that the State Department's order applies specifically to the consulates in Karachi and Lahore. There is no mention of changes to the consulate in Peshawar in the latest advisory. Regional Tensions and Recent Developments Sources note that the updated advisory follows the escalation of hostilities between Iran, the US, and Israel since February 28. In response to these developments, the State Department has issued similar instructions for its personnel in several countries in the region. On March 2, police and paramilitary vehicles were seen outside the US Consulate General in Karachi, a day after protests related to recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran. However, officials have not linked the departure order directly to these events. The advisory does not indicate any change in the operational status of the US Embassy in Islamabad. The consulate in Peshawar is also not mentioned in the updated guidance.
CDF Munir vows action against cross-border threats from Afghanistan RAWALPINDI
staff report
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) and Chief of Defence Staff (CDF) Syed Asim Munir on Wednesday visited Wana in South Waziristan to review the prevailing security situation and operational preparedness of formations deployed along the western border. During the visit, the army chief laid a floral wreath at the Shuhada Monument to pay homage to the martyrs who rendered supreme sacrifices in defence of the motherland. He offered Fateha and reaffirmed that the sacrifices of the Shuhada remain the cornerstone of Pakistan’s security and national resilience. The Field Marshal was given a compre-
hensive briefing on the overall security environment, ongoing intelligence-based operations, and measures in place for effective border management. He was also briefed in detail on the progress of Operation Ghazab lil Haq and recent developments along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border. Interacting with officers and troops deployed in forward areas, the army chief commended their unwavering professionalism, operational vigilance, and high morale amid ongoing skirmishes. He lauded their steadfast commitment to safeguarding Pakistan’s sovereignty and ensuring peace and stability in the region. Emphasising the security challenges emanating from across the border, the COAS
stated that the use of Afghan soil by Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan for terrorist activities against Pakistan was unacceptable, adding that all necessary measures would be taken to neutralise threats to national security. He reiterated that sustainable peace between the two countries could only prevail if the Afghan Taliban renounced support for terrorism and terrorist organisations. Expressing full confidence in the operational preparedness of the Pakistan Army, the Field Marshal appreciated the combat readiness, synergy, and resilience of formations deployed along the PakistanAfghanistan border. Upon arrival in Wana, the army chief was received by the Corps Commander Peshawar.