Blaze News - Pakistan

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Tuesday that Washington would negotiate and deal with Beirut directly, and that Lebanon-Israel negotiations were separate from the deal. “Well, that process is separate. It's separate because Lebanon is a sovereign country. It has a government, and when it comes to Lebanon … we're going to negotiate and deal directly with the Lebanese government,” Rubio told reporters after landing in Abu Dhabi. Rubio is on a visit to the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Bahrain from June 23 to 25 to discuss regional security, following a memorandum of understanding reached between the US and Iran. “I spoke to President [Joseph)] Aoun, along with the vice president, a few moments ago, spoke to him on Friday. Their people are there now on the ground directly,” Rubio said. He said the “Iranian issue with regards to Lebanon” was “the support and sponsorship of Hezbollah”, w...

A United States F-15 pilot rescued after being shot down above Iran in April reported seeing an unusual “jellyfish” formation of Iranian drones before ejecting, CNN reported on Tuesday, citing sources. During a post-mission debrief, the pilot reportedly told intelligence officials he observed several drones moving together in a pattern resembling a “jellyfish”, sparking debate within the US intelligence community. If accurate, the sighting could indicate a significant advancement in Iran’s drone technology, said the report. One source familiar with the account described it as “multiple drones interconnected and moving as one with smaller drones below the bigger drones like legs.” The source added, “Real alien (expletive).” Read More: Iran says technical talks with US concluded in Switzerland Another source said the pilot saw a “minefield of drones” in the sky, according to the report. Investigators are still de...

Despite escalating hostilities across the Gulf region, more than 300,000 Pakistanis sought employment in Middle Eastern countries during the first five months of 2026 alone. Saudi Arabia absorbed over 143,000 workers, even as reports emerged of Iranian strikes targeting American facilities on its territory. Thousands more continued to queue outside the Dubai consulate in Karachi. For many, the danger was simply less frightening than the economic reality at home. On the other hand, the state takes comfort in these numbers. Remittances reached a record $4.2 billion in May, and total inflows for FY26 are expected to exceed $40 billion. These figures are routinely celebrated as signs of economic resilience. Yet behind them are millions of workers who only left because they had few alternatives. Their families live with constant uncertainty, their children spend months or years separated from them, and their safety in foreign lands can never be taken for granted. For decades, Pakista...

Owing to a sharp decline in global fuel prices, the government on Monday decided to discontinue fuel subsidies provided to motorcyclists, small farmers and public transport. The development comes after recent reductions in petroleum prices, under which petrol was cut by Rs74 per litre and diesel by Rs67 per litre, bringing them down to Rs299 per litre and Rs311 per litre respectively, following a decline in the international market after the US and Iran reached an agreement to end a conflict that had lasted over three months. The decision was taken during the seventh meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy, chaired by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar @MIshaqDar50 chaired the 7th meeting of the National Steering Committee on Fuel Subsidy. The Committee reviewed the rollout of fuel subsidy for motorcyclists, small farmers, public transport & goods transport in...

From Shakira's timeless dancing to Messi's mesmerising dribbling to Ronaldo's mercurial habit of goal-scoring – all the world's eyes in June and July will be fixed on the 'football' – the ones made in Sialkot, Pakistan! Yes, the official ball of the 2026 World Cup, named "Trionda", designed by Adidas, is manufactured by a company named Forward Sports of Sialkot. And yes, the biggest ever global sporting event is projected to attract an eye-popping 60 million on the ground and a staggering over 5 billion global TV and digital viewers. It's hard for Pakistanis to get their heads around the fact that the world's most technologically advanced match ball ever made – featuring cutting-edge AI-powered chip, enabling real-time match data to support umpiring decisions – is stitched by Pakistani craftsmen and in one of our own cities with broken streets and crumbling roads. Sialkot, often hailed as the global capital for fo...

A great power rests on three pillars: military, diplomacy and economy. Pakistan has achieved many milestones on the military and diplomatic fronts. Two recent events further reinforced our strength. First, the decisive victory in Operation Bunyan Marsoos strengthened Pakistan's credentials as a formidable military power. It elevated Pakistan's global profile. Countries began to show keen interest in establishing military linkages with Pakistan. Our military leadership was invited around the world to share our experiences and expertise. It also opened the door to the sale of military equipment, weapons and fighter jets. The Saudi Arabia-Pakistan defence pact is also derived from this victory. Many countries have shown interest in strengthening security and military cooperation with Pakistan. Simultaneously, Pakistan was blessed with another major trump: mediation between Iran and the US. Pakistan brokered a ceasefire at a time when the world was counting down to the outbr...