Ambassadors from European countries have rejected India’s invitation for a two-day visit to occupied Kashmir, seeking instead the “freedom to meet the people unescorted”, several Indian media outlets reported on Wednesday. According to Associated Press, envoys from 15 countries including the United States are visiting occupied Kashmir starting from Thursday (today) for two days, the first by New Delhi-based diplomats since …

The United States knew Iranian missiles were going to strike American facilities in Iraq well before the actual attacks, according to a report published by Washington Post, quoting several defence and White House officials. Officials say the early warning came from intelligence sources as well as from communications in Iraq. “We knew, and the Iraqis told us, that this was coming many hours in …

KARACHI: Fifty-four fresh­water turtles that had been trapped by poachers near a canal in a Larkana village were rescued by a wildlife department team in a late evening raid on Wednesday, sources told Dawn. The species has been identified as the (endangered) Indian soft-shelled turtles. “The turtles were caught by poachers near Gerelo village in Bakrani taluka. The department had …

LAHORE: The largest AIDS control programme in the country seems to be on the verge of collapse after the Punjab government failed to procure 100,000 test kits amid reports emerging that the number of registered AIDS patients across the province has alarmingly risen to 18,556. Due to the inordinate delay in purchase of the HIV rapid test kits, it is …

PESHAWAR: Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which recorded 89 of the nationwide 129 polio cases last year, are hoping to bring the incidence to single digit by June 2020, following quality campaign with the support of administrations and security force under the oversight of chief secretary due to which 99 per cent children were vaccinated in December last year. Dr Nadeem …

ISLAMABAD: After smooth sailing of the three key bills on tenure of the services chiefs through the parliament, the government and the opposition on Wednesday agreed to discuss and build consensus for legislation on other important matters including the powers of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB). As a first step to shun their differences causing delay in the legislation process, …

KARACHI: Naval officers of Pakistan and China on Wednesday emphasised the importance of a joint exercise, saying it strengthens ties between the two forces. This was stated by Commodore Raja Rab Nawaz of Pakistan Navy and Senior Captain Zhou Han Wen of China at a media briefing held in connection with Sea Guardians Exercise-2020. They spoke about the objectives, contours …

RAWALPINDI: Police have said that the man believed to have been the shooter in an attack on police in Saddar on Tuesday was affiliated with the banned Jamaatul Ahrar. The police have registered an FIR under section seven of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) and on murder charges on the complaint of Constable Hassan Mehmood, from the police’s Dolphin Force. The …

ISLAMABAD: The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) filed 30 references in the multi-billion-rupee Modaraba/Musharka (Islamic mode of investment) scams unearthed seven years ago and recovered Rs2.291 billion in cash and assets in some cases, besides arresting 45 people. Several cases are still pending in different accountability courts. The information was shared at a meeting of the NAB board presided over by …

LAHORE: A petition by PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz for removal of her name from the Exit Control List (ECL) and a one-time permission to travel abroad has been fixed for hearing before a two-judge bench of the Lahore High Court as winter vacation ends on Wednesday. The bench comprising Justice Muhammad Tariq Abbasi and Chaudhry Mushtaq Ahmad will take …