116 stories
Pakistan has moved to shut down the impression of informal peace talks with the Afghan Taliban, insisting that there will be no dialogue without concrete and verifiable action against cross-border militancy.
The Diplomat’s piece rests on Ajmal Sohail’s unverified claims, presenting a politically situated Afghan figure as a neutral expert while offering no credible independent evidence for its most serious allegations. It also fails the basic logic test: Pakistan’s all-weather partnership with China makes the claim that Islamabad is targeting Chinese interests extremely difficult to sustain.
A claim by US Congressman Ryan Zinke that Taliban fighters in Pakistan are using American Humvees and M16s has revived Pakistan’s long-running warning about post-2021 weapons spillover, as Pakistani reporting cites CNN-linked serial checks and alleged recoveries of US-origin kit in KP and Balochistan.
A viral “Israel War Room” post is being cited as “official sources” to claim Pakistan is joining Israel, but Pakistan’s stance is deterrence and de-escalation aimed at stopping Gulf spillover; screenshots do not make alliances, decisions do.
Punjab’s aircraft acquisition has become politically charged, yet aviation experts argue that replacing an ageing jet with a modern, lower-maintenance asset may be fiscally rational in the long run. The Thursday Times analysis explores the tension between optics and economics.
More than 357,000 educated young people in IOJK are unemployed while thousands of sanctioned government posts remain vacant. The scale of the backlog suggests a structural hiring freeze that contradicts official claims of economic progress in the region.
In military doctrine, Modi's instructions to Naravane are not operational freedom. It is abdication. Decisions that could trigger a war between nuclear-armed states are not meant to be pushed downward at the last moment.
Epstein's emails about Modi's Israel visit read less like commentary and more like a mission report. The action was “for the benefit of” Donald Trump. And finally, the verdict is delivered in capital letters: IT WORKED.
Pakistan has been invited onto a US-backed Gaza peace board, a development that elevates its diplomatic profile and raises expectations on ceasefire, aid access and civilian protection.
From Beijing to Washington, the Gulf to the UN, Islamabad ended the year with more credibility, capability, and room to manoeuvre than it began with.
Pakistan is portraying a new Libya agreement as a major boost for defence exports and a wider trade revival strategy, linking it to military diplomacy and renewed international interest in Pakistani hardware.
Pakistan says no finality exists on a reported US visit by Field Marshal Asim Munir and no decision has been taken on sending troops to Gaza, The Thursday Times confirms.
British defence journal claims four Indian Rafales were shot down in the May air clash with Pakistan and points to serial numbers it says match aircraft lost during the engagement.
Pakistan did not just survive four days of high intensity conflict with India: it performed well enough that a United States report quietly called it a “military success.” For the first time in decades, India’s assumed conventional dominance met a Pakistan armed with modern systems, finding that punishment comes with real, unexpected costs.
Disgraced American financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s connection to Imran Khan was not criminal, but social and ideological: he knew the Goldsmith world, watched Imran’s rise, and turned him into a private obsession.
Kabul’s protection of TTP commanders is not a glitch in the system; it is the system, a living covenant that weighs more than any clause signed in Doha. The Taliban in Afghanistan are no longer guests or leverage to be casually traded away; they have hardened into a parallel sovereignty that Kabul cannot fully control.
When a priest with his record can promise the erasure of the Prophet’s name and still function within the margins of acceptability, it is the Indian state’s commitment to secular democracy that is under forensic examination, not just his words.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s political unrest under Sohail Afridi reveals a province caught between noise and neglect, as Pakistan’s federal resolve is tested by a populist movement that confuses chaos for courage and defiance for governance.
Pakistan eyes a cryptocurrency trading framework to attract global investment, aiming to become South Asia's leading crypto hub.
Pakistan's inflation rate fell to 4.1% in December 2024, the lowest since April 2018, due to improved food supplies and stabilising energy costs. This decline may prompt the State Bank of Pakistan to further reduce interest rates to stimulate economic growth.
Military courts sentence May 9 offenders to up to 10 years, marking a key step in Pakistan’s justice system. ISPR highlights the milestone as essential for accountability.
Bloomberg reports Pakistan’s remittances surge after crackdown on illegal trade, boosting reserves and stabilising the rupee.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu testifies in his corruption trial amid the Gaza conflict and an ICC arrest warrant, denying all charges and criticising the trial's timing during wartime.
Chief Justice Yahya Afridi asserts that the Constitutional Committee, not the Judicial Commission, will decide the allocation of cases against the 26th Amendment. He emphasised that post-amendment, the authority to schedule constitutional cases lies solely with the Constitutional Bench Committee
Pakistan's stock market makes history as the KSE-100 Index crosses the 100,000-point milestone, signalling robust investor confidence and record trading volumes reshaping economic dynamics.
Bluesky’s rapid growth offers users a decentralised, personalised social media experience, far from Big Tech’s control. As millions flock to this platform, CEO Jay Graber leads with a vision for user freedom and privacy.
Bluesky’s rise in Pakistan is a bold reaction to government bans on X and VPNs, offering a platform for free expression. With growing demand for open dialogue, Pakistanis are flocking to Bluesky as an alternative.
Millions are swapping X for Bluesky’s fresh, decentralised approach, pushing Musk’s platform into uncharted waters. Follow The Thursday Times on Bluesky for the latest on this digital transformation.
Mike Tyson’s comeback met an unstoppable force in Jake Paul, as youth triumphed over legend in a fight that echoed boxing’s timeless intensity. Tyson’s legacy lives on, but the new era just made its mark.
Imran Khan is making behind-the-scenes and unconditional efforts to negotiate a deal with the military for his release. However, senior military officials have stated that Khan should face his cases in the courts and should not expect any deal with the military, reports The Guardian.
Trump ally Kash Patel, of a Gujarati background, advocates sweeping changes to U.S. intelligence and law enforcement, seeking accountability, transparency, and a crackdown on “Deep State” influence.
At COP29, global leaders wrestle with the dilemma of climate action versus fossil fuel dependence, while developing nations push for immediate financial commitments to address mounting climate impacts.
Could RFK Jr’s entry into Trump’s cabinet signal a seismic shift in health and environmental policy? His controversial stance on vaccines and agriculture could redefine America’s approach in unprecedented ways.
Trump’s election sparks a historic Wall Street and crypto rally, with banks, small-cap stocks, digital assets, and energy firms gaining from expected deregulation and pro-business policies.
Donald Trump’s twin victories over Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris reveal a changing American political landscape shaped by voter dissatisfaction, gender biases, and Trump’s unique media-savvy approach.
Trump’s White House return reshapes the US political landscape, strengthening a populist, nationalist coalition with assertive policies on trade, alliances, and immigration.
Kamala Harris’s campaign unravelled as critical voter blocs drifted away, economic anxieties took centre stage, and strategic missteps left her struggling to connect with a divided electorate. Amidst disinformation and internal tensions, her historic bid faltered, revealing deep fractures within the Democratic base.
Polls and forecasts suggest a tight race as Harris and Trump fight for swing state dominance, with predictions split on who will win. Swing states, Pennsylvania especially, hold the key to a historic election.
Punjab plans to acquire PIA and rebrand as 'Air Punjab', aiming for better connectivity and economic boost with a focus on global direct flights to New York, Tokyo, Hong Kong, and London from all major Pakistani airports.
