Author: EchoAsiaNews

Zimbabwe all-rounder Sikandar Raza has acknowledged that he hosted visitors in his hotel room during the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 11, but said neither he nor Lahore Qalandars captain Shaheen Shah Afridi were aware of recently updated security protocols that prohibit players from hosting relatives or friends. The incident took place after Lahore Qalandars’ match against Karachi Kings at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, when four visitors, described as close relatives or friends of Raza, were escorted to his room at the team hotel despite prior refusals by the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) security and anti-corruption unit. A letter from Punjab police…

Pakistan, alongside seven other Muslim-majority nations, has strongly condemned restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities on access to Muslim and Christian holy sites in occupied Jerusalem, calling the measures a violation of international law, officials said on Tuesday. In a joint statement issued by the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Jordan, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia, Türkiye, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, the countries rejected Israel’s continued limitations on freedom of worship at key religious sites, including Al-Aqsa Mosque/Al-Haram al-Sharif and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. They criticised actions that prevented Muslim worshippers from accessing Al-Aqsa during Ramadan and barred Christian…

Gas supply was suspended in multiple districts of Balochistan on Tuesday after unknown armed men blew up a main gas pipeline in the Western Bypass area of Quetta, disrupting service to thousands of residents. Officials from the Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) confirmed that an 18-inch diameter pipeline was detonated in the Akhtarabad locality on the outskirts of Quetta, causing a fire and significant damage to the infrastructure. The blast forced authorities to cut off gas supply to several areas of Quetta, including Hazara Town, Hazarganji, Khaizi, and Nohsar, as well as to neighbouring districts such as Pishin, Ziarat, Kalat,…

The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) posted strong gains on Tuesday as investor sentiment improved amid optimism over potential diplomatic progress in the Middle East conflict. The benchmark KSE-100 Index climbed to an intraday peak of 149,684.93 points, rising by 2,841.96 points, or 1.94%, driven by renewed confidence in regional stability prospects. Market analysts linked the rally to hopes that negotiations or de-escalatory signals in the ongoing US-Iran confrontation could ease geopolitical risks that have weighed on global markets and regional investor confidence. Oil prices also showed signs of easing, which supported equities as energy costs and conflict fears had previously…

At least 70 people were killed and around 30 injured in a massacre near Petite-Rivière in Haiti’s Artibonite region, a local human rights organisation reported Monday, a toll significantly higher than official figures. Rights group Défenseurs Plus said the violence displaced about 6,000 people, while the United Nations mission in Haiti (BINUH) estimated more than 2,000 residents fled their homes amid the attacks. Residents and local media described the assault by armed gangs in rural communities around Jean-Denis, which began early Sunday and continued into Monday, with homes burned and civilians targeted. Initial police reports had put the death toll…

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar departed Islamabad on a one-day official visit to China on Tuesday, as Pakistan intensifies diplomatic engagement to help reduce regional hostilities linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Dar’s visit to Beijing comes at a time when Islamabad has been actively pursuing dialogue and de-escalation efforts, including hosting a quadrilateral meeting with foreign ministers from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt to discuss ways to bring an end to the war involving the United States, Israel, and Iran. According to the Foreign Office, Dar was invited by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang…

Indonesia has called on all parties involved in Middle East conflicts to respect international humanitarian law following the killing of its peacekeeping personnel in Lebanon. The statement came after three Indonesian peacekeepers serving under the United Nations mission in Lebanon were killed amid ongoing hostilities in the region. According to Indonesia’s defence ministry spokesman Rico Ricardo Sirait, the safety of peacekeeping troops must remain the highest priority, and all sides must ensure the protection of personnel deployed under international mandates. Indonesia emphasized that attacks affecting peacekeepers represent a serious concern under international law and urged restraint to prevent further escalation.…

A crude oil tanker was set ablaze off the coast of Dubai following an apparent drone strike, amid rising tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and surrounding waters. The vessel, identified as the Kuwait-flagged Al-Salmi and owned by Kuwait Petroleum Corporation, was reportedly fully loaded with crude oil at the time of the incident. According to initial reports, the attack is believed to have been carried out using an explosive drone, marking the latest in a series of maritime security incidents targeting commercial shipping in the Gulf region. The strike comes against the backdrop of escalating hostilities between the United…

A strike hit the southern suburbs of Beirut on Monday, according to AFP footage, following an Israeli warning for residents in the area, considered a stronghold of Hezbollah—to evacuate. The attack marks the first reported strike in the district since Friday, amid a pattern of intensified Israeli operations against Hezbollah positions since early March. Live broadcasts showed smoke rising over largely deserted neighborhoods, reflecting ongoing displacement and heightened tensions. The developments come against the backdrop of escalating cross-border hostilities involving Israel and Hezbollah, further contributing to instability in southern Lebanon and surrounding areas.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday expressed gratitude to the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt following a quadrilateral meeting in Islamabad focused on the escalating Middle East crisis, reiterating Pakistan’s commitment to promoting regional peace and stability. The meeting, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, brought together top diplomats from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Egypt as part of coordinated efforts to de-escalate tensions between the United States and Iran, which have intensified over the past month amid ongoing military exchanges and concerns over global energy security. In statements shared on social media,…