ISLAMABAD — The Taliban captured a district center Wednesday in southern Afghanistan, killing at least 13 government soldiers. The fighting comes as Russia asserted the Taliban is getting stronger and called for increased efforts to reach a negotiated settlement to the 17-year-old war. Local officials and insurgent sources reported Taliban fighters assaulted Shamulzayi in Zabul province before dawn, forcing Afghan… Read more »
KABUL, Afghanistan — Some Taliban fighters hid inside a sewage tanker truck, hoping the smelly interior would prevent a close inspection — as it did. They rode it into one of the most important military bases in Afghanistan and then hid in an empty warehouse. Other insurgents used ladders to climb the fences, scaling two sets of them, to cross… Read more »
Veteran all-rounder Nida Dar’s contributions with both the bat and ball helped Pakistan Women brushed aside their South African counterparts by seven wickets in the first of their three-T20I series in Pretoria on Wednesday. Dar, 32, took two wickets for 30 runs in the South African innings, which had its top order once again shattered by the excellent Sana Mir… Read more »
KARACHI: The Pakistani currency on Wednesday hit an all-time low of 146.25 rupees against the US dollar amid looming fears of further devaluation, just days after Pakistan signed a bailout deal with the International Monetary Fund.The $6 billion bailout package comes with strict reform conditions, including measures to maintain a free-floating exchange rate.After reaching the record low, the rupee closed… Read more »
Islamic State, in a continuation of its Wilayah restructuring, causally announced the creation of a Wilayah Pakistan on Wednesday, May 15 when claiming two attacks in Pakistan. This followed the creation of Wilayah al-Hind (India) in a May 10 statement claiming an attack in Indian-controlled Kashmir. A statement issued on May 15 claimed a gun attack on a police officer in the… Read more »
Jonny Bairstow smashed a sensational century as England coasted a chase of 359 to beat Pakistan by six wickets in the third one-day international in Bristol. Bairstow clubbed 128 from 93 balls, supported by 76 from Jason Roy, Joe Root’s 43 and an unbeaten 46 by Moeen Ali. It meant England completed their second-highest run-chase in ODIs, and best at… Read more »
ISLAMABAD — The Islamic State group says it has established a “province” in Pakistan, days after the terrorist organization used the name “Hind Province” for an attack it claimed in the India-ruled portion of the disputed Kashmir region. Both of the divisions formerly fell under the “Khorasan Province” or ISKP — the name the Middle East-based terrorist group uses for… Read more »
On the heels of the recent tensions between New Delhi and Islamabad, news broke out that Pakistan is set to purchase the Pantsir surface-to-air missile system and T-90 tanks from Russia. If true, this deal would be Russian industry’s biggest ever in its (to-date minuscule) arms trade with Pakistan and would have the potential to shift the balance of Moscow’s relations… Read more »
England are likely to play on more testing pitches in their final two one-day internationals against Pakistan in preparation for the World Cup knockout stages, says captain Eoin Morgan. The hosts coasted to a target of 359 in the third ODI on Wednesday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. “We are very realistic about the pitches we might play… Read more »
The marriage between a local Christian woman and a Chinese Christian man six months ago in the eastern Pakistani city of Faisalabad had all the signs of a perfect match. She was 19, he was 21. She was a trained beautician, he a businessman selling cosmetics. Her family didn’t have much money but the groom generously offered to pay all… Read more »