Global Order Should Not Override National Interests, Says Rubio
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Saturday at the Munich Security Conference that the global order should not take precedence over national interests.
World
Pakistan Plans Deportation Of Nearly 20,000 Afghans Awaiting US Resettlement
Pakistan plans to deport thousands of Afghan refugees waiting for resettlement in the United States, according to a report by The Nation newspaper citing official sources.
Afghan National Planned Islamabad Mosque Bombing, Says Pakistan
Pakistani authorities say they have arrested four people in connection with the deadly bombing of a Shia mosque in Islamabad, including an Afghan national described as the main planner of the attack.
Islamabad Mosque Bomber Previously Visited Afghanistan, Says Pak Defence Minister
Pakistan’s defence minister, Khawaja Asif, said the deadly explosion at a Shia mosque in Islamabad was a suicide attack and that the attacker had previously travelled to Afghanistan.
Blast At Shia Mosque In Islamabad Leaves 31 Dead, Nearly 170 Injured
Pakistani authorities say at least 31 people were killed and 169 injured in a suicide bombing at a Shia mosque in Islamabad on Friday, warning that the death toll could rise.
UN Urges Australia To Sustain Support For Afghan Women & Girls
A senior UN Women official has urged Australia to maintain its support for women and girls in Afghanistan, describing their situation under Taliban rule as the worst in the world.
Pakistan Seeks To Link Ports To Central Asia Via China
Pakistan is working to connect its seaports with Central Asia through China under a regional transit framework that officials say could become the most efficient trade corridor in the region.
Militants Attack Government Facilities In Pakistan’s Balochistan
Militants attacked government facilities in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, setting buildings on fire and seizing vehicles, local officials said Monday.
145 Militants Killed After Balochistan Attacks, Says Pak Official
Pakistan’s chief minister of Balochistan said security forces killed 145 militants within 40 hours following coordinated attacks across the province.
10 Security Personnel Killed In Balochistan Attacks, Says Pakistan
Pakistan’s interior minister said Saturday that 10 security personnel and 37 militants were killed in clashes across cities in Balochistan province.
Baloch Militant Attacks Disrupt Telecom Services In Parts Of Balochistan
Telecommunications services were suspended in Quetta, Sibi and Chaman after coordinated attacks by the Baloch Liberation Army across parts of Pakistan’s Balochistan province, local media reported.
Pakistan President’s Spokesman Calls Taliban ‘Brainless Beasts’
A spokesperson for Pakistan’s president referred to the Taliban as “brainless beasts” in a social media post reacting to a report on killings in Afghanistan.
EU Lists Iran’s Revolutionary Guard As Terrorist Organisation
European Union foreign ministers have designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organisation, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Thursday.
Any Instability At Home Would Spread Across Region, Says Iran
Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson warned Monday that any instability inside the country would extend across the wider region, saying Tehran would respond decisively to any military aggression.
Inviting Iran’s Foreign Minister To Davos Is Like Inviting Hitler, Says Graham
US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham criticised the invitation of Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi to the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, comparing it to inviting Adolf Hitler to an international event.
US Welcomes Argentina’s Terrorist Designation Of Iran’s IRGC Quds Force
The United States has welcomed Argentina’s decision to designate the Quds Force of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organisation.
Khamenei Calls Trump A ‘Criminal,’ Blames US For Iran Protests
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei has described US President Donald Trump as a “criminal,” accusing Washington of causing deaths and damage to the Iranian nation and seeking to undermine the country.
Internet Access in Iran Sees ‘Slight Rise’ After Prolonged Shutdown, Says Watchdog
NetBlocks said indicators show only a very limited restoration of internet connectivity in Iran after more than 200 hours of near-total disruption.
Iran Protests Subside After Deadly Government Crackdown, Says Reuters
Reuters reported on Friday, citing human rights groups and local residents, that protests in Iran have subsided following a deadly crackdown by security forces. However, Tehran and several other cities remain under a heavy military and security presence, according to the report.
Former Iranian President Calls Protests An ‘Israeli & US Conspiracy’
Former Iranian president Mohammad Khatami has described the ongoing protests in Iran as a “major, premeditated conspiracy” involving Israel and the United States. He expressed support for the government of Masoud Pezeshkian.
Iran’s Leaders Choose Violence Over Dialogue, Says US
The US Department of State said Iran’s leadership has responded to nationwide protests with violence rather than dialogue, accusing the Islamic Republic of threatening neighbouring countries and US interests in the region.
Saudi, Iranian Foreign Ministers Hold Call On Regional Stability
The foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia and Iran held a phone call on Thursday amid growing regional tensions and speculation about possible US military action against Iran.