Author: EchoAsiaNews

Pakistan’s security forces have killed 177 militants linked to the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) in a large-scale counter-terrorism operation in the southwestern province of Balochistan, officials said. The offensive, which took place over the past three days, followed a wave of coordinated attacks by militants that struck multiple districts and targeted police stations, government facilities, and security posts across the province. Authorities reported that militants carried out simultaneous assaults in cities including Quetta, Gwadar, Dalbandin, Nushki and Mastung, killing at least 31 civilians and 17 security personnel during the weekend violence. The BLA, designated a terrorist organisation by the…

The United States and India have agreed on a significant bilateral trade deal aimed at reducing long-standing tariff barriers and strengthening economic cooperation between the two countries. The agreement was announced on February 2, 2026, following discussions between U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Under the terms of the deal, the United States will lower its tariffs on a wide range of Indian imports to 18 percent, down from previous rates that had reached as high as 50 percent due to reciprocal and punitive duties. This tariff reduction is contingent on India’s commitment to halt purchases…

Senior officials from the United States and Iran are expected to resume direct nuclear negotiations this Friday (February 6) in Istanbul, Türkiye, marking the first face-to-face engagement since diplomatic efforts stalled and tensions escalated following a regional conflict last year. U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are scheduled to meet to discuss a possible framework for a renewed nuclear agreement. The planned talks aim to revive diplomacy after months of strained relations and could involve representatives from regional countries seeking to mediate. Both sides have signaled openness to restarting discussions, although details…

ISLAMABAD/CAIRO — Pakistan and seven other Muslim-majority nations have issued a joint condemnation of repeated Israeli violations of the Gaza ceasefire, warning that continued breaches risk undermining peace efforts and regional stability. In a joint statement released Sunday, the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Indonesia, Jordan, Qatar, Türkiye and the United Arab Emirates condemned what they described as repeated and sustained violations of the ceasefire in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces. The ministers said the actions have resulted in widespread Palestinian casualties and pose a threat to efforts to consolidate calm and advance a lasting resolution. The…

ISLAMABAD — Pakistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Asim Iftikhar Ahmad, has warned that any unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty by India could trigger serious humanitarian and security consequences for the region. Speaking at an Arria Formula meeting of the United Nations Security Council, Ahmad said the decades-old water-sharing agreement remains one of the most resilient international treaties and should not be undermined for political reasons. He cautioned that disrupting established water arrangements would directly affect millions of people downstream in Pakistan. India announced last year that it was keeping the treaty “in abeyance” amid rising tensions with…

Tehran, Iran— Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei issued a stark warning on Sunday, saying that any military attack by the United States would not be confined to Iran but would ignite a “regional war” across the Middle East. Khamenei spoke at an event in Tehran, dismissing Washington’s deployment of warships and aircraft in the region and urging Iranians not to be intimidated by U.S. military rhetoric. He reiterated that Iran does not seek to start a war, but promised a strong response against any aggression, emphasizing that U.S. threats would not deter the Iranian nation. Khamenei’s comments come as…

QUETTA/ISLAMABAD– Pakistan has been rocked by one of the deadliest waves of militant violence in years, as coordinated attacks by insurgents swept across multiple districts of Balochistan on 31 January 2026, killing civilians and security personnel and prompting strong international reactions. Pakistani security forces reported killing hundreds of militants in counter-operations launched to repel the assaults, which targeted police stations, paramilitary posts and civilians in towns including Quetta, Gwadar, Mastung and Noshki. Official figures published by Reuters and other outlets say at least 15 security personnel and 18 civilians were killed during the violence, with 92 militants neutralised on Saturday…

Islamabad, Pakistan — The federal government today announced a significant adjustment in petroleum product prices for the next fortnight, sharply increasing the cost of high-speed diesel while keeping petrol prices constant. According to the official notification issued by the Petroleum Division, based on the recommendations of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA), the price of high-speed diesel (HSD) has been raised by Rs 11.30 per litre. The new diesel price has been fixed at Rs 268.38 per litre, up from Rs 257.08 in the previous pricing cycle. In contrast, the price of petrol (Motor Spirit) has been maintained at…

Pakistan has strongly warned that any unilateral suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) could seriously damage regional stability and weaken the credibility of international agreements worldwide. Addressing the issue at the United Nations, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative Asim Iftikhar said that undermining such a historic water-sharing pact sets a dangerous precedent and threatens global treaty compliance, international law, and diplomatic cooperation. Speaking before the United Nations Security Council, the Pakistani envoy highlighted that the Indus Waters Treaty, signed in 1960 under the supervision of the World Bank, has remained a cornerstone of peace and water security between Pakistan and India…

Gold and silver prices continued to fall sharply in global markets today, extending one of the most dramatic sell-offs seen in years. International commodity exchanges reported that gold futures on the MCX dropped around 12 % in the last session, with prices falling below ₹1,50,000 per 10 g from record levels earlier this month. Silver prices also collapsed, plunging about 27 %, wiping off more than ₹1 lakh per kilogram in a single day on Indian markets, with silver now trading near ₹2.92 lakh per kg after last week’s historic highs. Experts say both metals shed substantial value as investors…