TT Staff Reporter

Breaking stories from The Thursday Times' in-house reporter.

Iran says Pakistan holds a special place in its foreign policy

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in Islamabad, describing Pakistan as holding a significant place in Tehran’s foreign policy outlook while briefing Pakistan’s leadership on ceasefire developments, regional stability and bilateral cooperation.

U.S. vows full review of Kabul’s fall and Afghanistan withdrawal

Pete Hegseth has promised a historic review of the Afghanistan withdrawal, saying the department will examine the decisions that led to Abbey Gate, the Kabul evacuation and what he described as a wider loss of American deterrence after 2021.

Trump rules out nuclear strike on Iran, says peace must last

Donald Trump said the U.S. will not use nuclear weapons in the war with Iran, insisting Tehran has already been badly weakened by conventional military force. He also signalled he is not interested in a rushed settlement, saying any agreement with Iran must be durable and lasting.

Levi’s bets on Pakistan’s cotton belt to future-proof denim

Levi Strauss has opened a new front in its sustainability strategy with a three-year regenerative agriculture programme in Pakistan’s cotton belt, where water stress, degraded soil and climate volatility are reshaping one of the country’s most important farming sectors.

U.S. adviser commends Shehbaz, Dar for Pakistan’s peace efforts

A senior adviser to President Trump used a meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum to publicly praise Pakistan’s role in mediation, regional stability and ongoing peace efforts.

ACROSS TT

Trump to meet Mamdani in New York

President Trump will meet NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani at Gracie Mansion on Monday, his first visit to the mayor's own city despite months of public sparring between the two.

After Pakistan, Turkiye vows “no difficulty” defending Saudi Arabia under Makkah pact

Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told NTV that Ankara would have "no difficulty" meeting Saudi Arabia's military needs under the Makkah Defence Alliance, following similar commitments already made by Pakistani officials, as the pact nears full institutionalisation.

Pakistan to Taliban: stop sponsoring terrorism or face the consequences

Pakistan has condemned the deadly Kohat mosque attack and called on the Afghan Taliban to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries, recruitment networks, and infrastructure operating from Afghanistan. "Condemnation must be matched by concrete action," the Ministry of Information said, demanding credible and verifiable action.

Boris Johnson has lost it on Imran Khan

Pakistan's courts are already ordering what Johnson demands. The man who slashed Britain's aid to Pakistan now wants to use "our leverage" to overrule its courts. Everything else in his Daily Mail column is wrong, half-told or left out.

Secret meetings, millions in funding: Sources detail RAW-Taliban nexus targeting Pakistan

Secret meetings in Kandahar, millions of dollars in funding, weapons transfers and shared fighters: Pakistani intelligence sources detail what they describe as a network involving RAW, Afghanistan’s GDI, the BLA, TTP and AQIS, with financing and operational cooperation targeting Pakistan.

Looking to advertise?

With our team of industry-leading experts with decades of experience in the fields of marketing, design, and journalism, we've got a person for any niche your business deals in.