JERUSALEM: Israel has recaptured four of the six Palestinian militants who escaped from a high-security prison earlier this week in one of the most spectacular breakouts in the country’s history, police said on Saturday. Since Monday’s breakout, the army has poured troops into the occupied West Bank for a massive manhunt. But the two latest fugitives to be recaptured, who …

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Saturday hosted a meeting of spymasters of some countries in the region on the situation in Afghanis­tan, a security source said. There was no official statement on the meeting, but an intelligence source privately confirmed that the session had taken place. The meeting was attended by the intelligence heads from Russia, China, Iran and some Central Asian …

Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, along with National Security Adviser Dr Moeed Yusuf and Federal Human Rights Minister Shireen Mazari, on Sunday presented a detailed dossier of war crimes and human rights violations in Indian-occupied Kashmir. Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, the foreign minister pointed out that the decision to compile the dossier was taken due to the actions of …

Women in Afghanistan can continue to study in universities, including at postgraduate levels, but classrooms will be gender-segregated and Islamic dress is compulsory, the higher education minister in the new Taliban government said on Sunday. The minister, Abdul Baqi Haqqani, laid out the new policies at a news conference, several days after Afghanistan’s new rulers formed an all-male government. On Saturday, the …

MULTAN: Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari has asked the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to stand firm on its just stand on the electronic voting machines. “Since Imran Khan wants to steal the vote once again, his ministers are attacking the Election Commission of Pakistan. But I want to tell the ECP that the people of Pakistan are with …

ISLAMABAD: A psychological profiling of officials of the capital police has been started to evaluate their religious and sectarian inclinations and possible violent tendency. So far, 60 officials have been found not fit for sensitive and important duties such as guarding VIPs and important installations. Police officers told Dawn that the profiling was being conducted through psychology tests – written and interview …

ISLAMABAD: The capital administration on Saturday sealed scores of localities in different sectors as Covid-19 spread in the capital. The areas that have been sealed are located in G-6, G-7, G-9, G-10, G-11, G-13, F-7, F-10, E-11, I-8, I-9 and I-10. A notification issued from the office of the deputy commissioner said on the recommendations of the District Health Office …

ISLAMABAD: Minister for National Food Security and Research Syed Fakhar Imam on Saturday announced that a ‘national agriculture commission’ would be set up for the promotion of agricultural education and research. Presiding over a meeting at the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF), Mr Imam said that no nation could achieve development without investing in human resources, and Pakistan would need …

ISLAMABAD: The Parliamentary Reporters Association (PRA) on Satur­day announced boycotting the presidential address at the joint sitting of parliament on Sept 13 (Monday) in protest against the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA). The decision was taken by the PRA’s executive body after reviewing the recommendations of the association’s walkout committee. It was unanimously decided to walk out of the …

ISLAMABAD: Over 1,500 candidates will be vying for 206 general seats in as many wards of the country’s 39 cantonment boards on Sunday (today) in the first electoral contest at the grassroots level between arch political rivals since the 2018 general elections. All leading political parties have fielded their candidates but the main battle is expected among the ruling Pakistan …