Author: EchoAsiaNews

The Pakistan Air Force has conducted Exercise Golden Eagle within the operational jurisdiction of its Southern Air Command, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations, the exercise was designed to evaluate the force’s combat preparedness and operational flexibility through the coordinated deployment of its full range of air power capabilities. The ISPR said the exercise followed a two-opposing-force framework and emphasised AI-supported, network-centric warfare concepts. It also incorporated locally developed smart and disruptive technologies, reflecting the changing nature of regional security challenges. Operating under an integrated air defence architecture, participating…

An Islamabad district and sessions court on Monday issued non-bailable arrest warrants for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi in a case involving alleged defamation of state institutions. The warrants were issued after the chief minister failed to appear before the court despite repeated summons. The case was registered by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act, accusing Afridi of spreading misleading allegations and damaging the reputation of state institutions through electronic means. Senior Civil Judge Abbas Shah presided over the hearing and directed the relevant authorities to arrest and produce the chief minister…

US President Donald Trump has warned that Washington may be forced to take “very tough” action if ongoing diplomatic efforts with Iran fail, according to Reuters, as preparations continue for another round of indirect talks between the two sides. Reuters reported that Trump’s comments came after Oman hosted indirect negotiations last week, which Iranian officials said helped assess Washington’s seriousness and created sufficient ground to keep the diplomatic process alive. However, the time and venue for the next round of talks have yet to be announced. In interviews with Israeli media, Trump said the outcome was binary. “Either we reach…

Türkiye’s foreign minister has stated that foreign airstrikes would not lead to the collapse of the Iranian government, and urged that diplomatic engagement, not military action, is the way forward amid escalating tensions involving Tehran, Washington and other regional actors. In a televised interview, Hakan Fidan said that while external military pressure might weaken Iran’s institutions, it would not successfully overthrow the government. He described the notion that an air campaign could topple Tehran as unrealistic and warned of broader regional destabilisation if military options were pursued. Fidan’s remarks come as U.S.–Iran negotiations over nuclear and security issues have been…

Pakistan’s army has concluded a 60-hour joint military exercise involving troops from 19 countries, including Saudi Arabia and the United States, the military’s media wing said on Monday. According to a statement issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the 9th International Pakistan Army Team Spirit (PATS) Competition was held from February 5 to 9 in the semi-mountainous terrain of Kharian district in Punjab province. The exercise focused on long-duration patrolling operations aimed at enhancing tactical skills and interoperability among participating forces. The ISPR said the exercise was designed to promote the exchange of professional military expertise, operational concepts, and…

The Indian rupee is poised to open with a muted response to the recent slide in the U.S. dollar and strengthening Chinese yuan, as local market flows continue to outweigh global currency trends, analysts say. Despite the U.S. dollar weakening broadly, with the U.S. dollar index falling and the offshore Chinese yuan rising to multi-year highs, the rupee has shown limited movement. Traders note that corporate dollar demand and technical factors dominated trading, preventing the rupee from fully benefiting from the weaker dollar backdrop. On Monday, the rupee closed slightly weaker at around 90.76 against the U.S. dollar, remaining within…

Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Monday called for national unity in the fight against terrorism as the National Assembly unanimously passed a resolution condemning the deadly suicide attack on an imambargah in Islamabad. Addressing the lower house, Asif said that while political اختلافات are a natural part of democracy, issues such as national sovereignty, territorial integrity and state security must rise above partisan politics. His remarks followed the suicide bombing at an imambargah in Islamabad’s Tarlai area during Friday prayers, which claimed at least 33 lives and left dozens injured. According to officials, the attacker first opened fire before detonating…

Pakistani rapper Talha Anjum has confirmed his engagement to London-based content creator Zoiea Karim following widespread social media speculation. Speculation began earlier this week after video clips and photos of what appeared to be an engagement ceremony circulated online. In the clips, Anjum and Karim were seen together, and moments from the gathering appeared to show a ring exchange and celebratory rituals. On Monday, Anjum shared a carousel of engagement photos on his official Instagram account, confirming the reports and posting a message dedicated to Karim that described the occasion as a new chapter in their lives. Fans and followers…

Pakistan’s government has directed its national men’s cricket team to play the scheduled ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match against India on Feb. 15 in Colombo, ending uncertainty over the high-profile fixture. The decision came after discussions involving the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), officials said. Friendly countries, including Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and the United Arab Emirates, had formally requested Pakistan reconsider an earlier stance that had signalled a possible boycott of the match. Pakistan had been under pressure after announcing its intent not to play the India fixture…

Australian leaders called for calm on Tuesday after clashes broke out between police and demonstrators in central Sydney during the visit of Isaac Herzog, authorities said. Police said confrontations occurred near Sydney’s Town Hall on Monday evening as protesters gathered to oppose Herzog’s visit. New South Wales police used pepper spray to disperse the crowd after demonstrators attempted to breach police lines. At least 27 people were arrested, including 10 charged with assaulting police officers, according to police statements. The protests coincided with Herzog’s official visit to Australia, which includes events marking the victims of a deadly attack at a…