Pakistan marked its 79th Independence Day on August 14 with ceremonies across the country, including a 31-gun salute in Islamabad and 21-gun salutes in provincial capitals. A changing-of-the-guard ceremony was held at Mazar-e-Quaid in Karachi. The country’s top leadership emphasized stability, economic and institutional reforms, and the pursuit of regional and global peace.

President Asif Ali Zardari said independence was not only a historic achievement but also a responsibility for future generations. He called for a stronger economy, employment and skills development for young people, good governance, and institutional reform. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s position on Kashmir and alleged that terrorist activities were being conducted from Afghan territory.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said Pakistan had made significant progress toward economic stability over the past two and a half years, with remittances rising by $11.3 billion in two years. He identified information technology, innovation, industry, agriculture and skills development as priorities. Sharif described every drop of water as a red line for Pakistan, warned India, and pledged continued support for regional peace and the people of Palestine and Kashmir.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi has warned that he will lead two million people in a march toward Islamabad on September 27 if he is not allowed to meet Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf founder and former prime minister Imran Khan. Afridi made the warning while speaking to journalists outside Adiala Jail on Thursday.

Afridi said he would return to Adiala only if the government itself confirmed the meeting. He said the prison situation suggested authorities had no intention of allowing him to meet Khan. He also announced nationwide road blockades from 10 p.m. Thursday under PTI's D-Chowk protest programme if permission for the meeting was not granted.

Afridi said the Islamabad High Court had instructed prison authorities on Tuesday to arrange meetings between Khan and family members and lawyers, and on the following day with party leaders. He alleged such court orders had not been implemented for months, including orders by three judges allowing two meetings weekly. PTI's media wing said protests had already taken place in several cities, while Afridi also announced a planned street programme in Bannu on Sunday.

Date workers in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province say extreme heat is making harvesting and boiling dates increasingly difficult during the season that began in July. In Khairpur district, where more than half of Pakistan’s dates are produced, workers collect fruit from trees, transport it by trolley, boil it over fires and dry it in the sun. Temperatures regularly reach 40 degrees Celsius, and were at 42 degrees when AFP spoke to worker Idris on August 14.

Workers begin before sunrise and divide their day into short shifts, but say the heat quickly overwhelms them. Some start in date orchards at about 2 a.m. to avoid the hottest part of the day, take breaks and continue until evening. Several workers told AFP they often suffer heatstroke, fainting and fever. Idris, who has harvested dates for more than a decade, said the heat has become unbearable and that workers seek medical treatment before returning to work.

Thousands of farmers and seasonal workers depend on Khairpur’s date sector. Idris said he earns about 1,200 Pakistani rupees a day. Grower Shah Nawaz Phulpoto said heavier seasonal rainfall linked to changing weather has disrupted yields and caused financial losses, while heat is the immediate main challenge.

Pakistan has strongly criticized Israel’s refusal to withdraw troops from Gaza, calling it a serious setback for a peace plan. At a press conference in Islamabad on August 13, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the refusal would hinder peace efforts and urged Israel to honor its commitments.

Andrabi reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for the establishment of a Palestinian state. He said such a state is founded under international law and United Nations resolutions and possesses established international legitimacy as a state. He argued that Israel’s refusal cannot alter the legal and diplomatic realities surrounding the Palestinian statehood issue.

According to Andrabi, Prime Minister Netanyahu’s refusal to withdraw Israeli troops from Gaza would create a major obstacle to implementing decisions adopted by the peace board. He said Hamas’s disarmament and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza were two joint commitments. Pakistan said it hopes Israel will comply with those commitments.

Pakistan is undertaking intensified diplomatic efforts to bring the United States and Iran back to the negotiating table amid international tensions. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi confirmed the initiative at a news conference on August 12. He said Islamabad had taken the step to preserve the peace process between the two countries and avoid an ongoing conflict.

Andrabi said work is under way to implement the “Islamabad Memorandum,” or MOU, signed to restore a ceasefire between the United States and Iran and resolve disputes related to the strait. As part of the initiative, Pakistan’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister held high-level meetings with officials from Iran, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait on August 10.

Pakistan’s interior minister Mohsin Naqvi is currently visiting Tehran as part of efforts to protect regional security. The Foreign Ministry also said discussions are moving forward on the “Mecca Joint Defense Agreement,” aimed at further strengthening Pakistan’s strategic and defense relations with Saudi Arabia.

Allegations that Israel is secretly supporting separatist activity in Pakistan’s Balochistan have resurfaced, raising debate over pressure on Pakistan and its strategic position. The report, published on August 12, 2026, says no formal declaration of such support has come from the Israeli government. It describes the issue as remaining within political analysis, statements by separatist leaders and wider regional geopolitical discussion.

A letter circulated on social media in July under the name “Republic of Balochistan” claimed that Balochistan had declared independence from Pakistan and that rebel groups controlled about 85 percent of the region. The claim could not be independently verified, and no international organization or state has recognized Balochistan as an independent country. Balochistan is Pakistan’s largest province by area and is strategically significant because of mineral resources, natural gas, its Arabian Sea location and its role in Pakistan’s cooperation with China.

Analysts cited in the report point to political deprivation, control of natural resources, allegations of disappearances and anger over security operations as factors behind separatist movements. The report says there is no public, independently verified evidence that Israel is providing state-backed funding, weapons or military assistance. Pakistan faces both security threats and demands to address long-standing political, economic and social grievances.

Pakistan has invited Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf to visit Islamabad for talks, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei said on Monday. Speaking to state media, Baghaei said the two Iranian officials would travel to Pakistan at an appropriate time, without providing a specific schedule.

Baghaei described reciprocal visits and exchanges of views as a natural part of the growing relationship between the two neighbouring countries. The report presented the invitation as part of continuing diplomatic contact between Iran and Pakistan.

Pakistan has previously acted as a mediator to reduce tensions between the United States and Iran, according to the report. Islamabad helped establish a ceasefire in April and contributed to creating a framework agreement in June. That agreement collapsed last month, followed by nearly two weeks of attacks between the United States and Iran. Amid reports of efforts to begin talks to resolve the conflict, US President Donald Trump unexpectedly announced a halt to the attacks.

Kuwait congratulated Pakistan on the recently signed Mecca Joint Defense Agreement involving Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. According to Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah spoke by telephone late at night with Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and extended congratulations on the agreement.

The two foreign ministers exchanged views on the regional situation, including conditions in occupied East Jerusalem. They also discussed Pakistan-Kuwait bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest. Their call covered follow-up steps after the Kuwaiti foreign minister’s recent visit to Pakistan, as well as ways to strengthen cooperation and investment in important sectors.

The agreement was signed on Friday in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. Under its terms, an armed attack against any one of the three countries will be treated as an attack against all three. The stated aims are to reinforce collective deterrence capabilities and expand defense cooperation among the three countries.

Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has called for the creation of a “united military front” against Israel, describing Israel as a threat to the entire Muslim world. He made the remarks in an interview with Geo News after Pakistan signed what the report described as a landmark defence agreement with Turkey and Saudi Arabia. The report was published on August 9, 2026.

Asif called Israel an illegal state and said Palestinians have continued their struggle since the Balfour Declaration. Citing Israel’s current actions and what he described as its historical conduct, he urged the Muslim world to unite in confronting the situation. He said there was no room for disagreement on the need for collective action.

According to Asif, the issue will persist until the Palestinian people’s problem is resolved in line with their aspirations. He also argued that the Israeli state’s anti-Palestinian and anti-Islamic character would not change regardless of who comes to power. He said Israel would continue to incite one Muslim country against another.

Pakistan’s military said seven India-backed militants were killed in an intelligence-based security operation in Hangu, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on Friday. The Inter-Services Public Relations agency, or ISPR, identified them as Fitna al-Khawarij militants. A 27-year-old army officer, Captain Hamza Akram of Narowal district in Punjab, was killed during the exchange of fire.

According to the ISPR statement, security forces launched the operation after receiving information about the militants’ presence in the area. The military said troops effectively engaged the militants, who at one stage took shelter inside a mosque. Seven militants were killed in firing between the two sides, the statement said.

The ISPR said weapons and ammunition were recovered from those killed. It alleged that they had been actively involved in numerous militant activities against security forces and law-enforcement agencies, as well as killings of innocent civilians. A sanitisation operation is continuing in the area to eliminate India-backed militants, according to the military’s statement.

The sons of jailed former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, Kasim Khan and Sulaiman Khan, have expressed deep concern about their father’s wellbeing, saying authorities have barred family members, lawyers and doctors from seeing him for seven months. They made the claim in an interview with CNN on the third anniversary of his detention.

The brothers said they have received no new information about Khan during that period. They also alleged that Pakistani authorities delay visa processing and create administrative obstacles whenever they speak publicly about his imprisonment. Kasim said they want to travel but have received no response, while the brothers said their identity documents have expired and were not renewed.

The statements came as supporters of Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party held protests across Pakistan demanding the immediate release of Khan and his wife, Bushra Bibi. Khan has been imprisoned since 2023 after convictions in several cases, including corruption and disclosure of official secrets. His political associates reject the allegations as politically motivated. Amnesty International called on authorities to restore Khan and Bushra Bibi’s right to meet their families and lawyers.

Pakistan’s military media wing said 10 militants were killed in two separate operations in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Inter-Services Public Relations, or ISPR, issued the statement on Friday, reporting on two clashes that occurred a day earlier. The report was published on August 7, 2026.

ISPR described those killed as India-backed “Fitna al-Khawarij,” a term Pakistan uses for members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. It said a group of militants attempted to attack a security forces checkpoint in the Azam Warsak area of South Waziristan.

According to the military statement, troops foiled the attempted attack and killed eight militants in the ensuing exchange of fire. ISPR said two more militants were killed in another clash in Dir district. It also said weapons and ammunition were recovered from the dead, whom it alleged had been actively involved in numerous militant activities.

Pakistan is actively engaging regional partners in diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions in the Gulf and Middle East, with particular focus on resolving the Strait of Hormuz impasse. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi announced the effort at a weekly briefing in Islamabad on August 6, saying Pakistan was working with other brotherly countries and would continue its diplomacy to promote regional peace.

Andrabi praised Oman for what he described as its constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability as a coastal state bordering the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf. As part of the initiative, Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held separate telephone conversations with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Their discussions covered recent developments in the Red Sea, the Bab al-Mandab Strait, Palestine and occupied East Jerusalem.

Dar also invited Araghchi to visit Pakistan. Washington and Tehran signed a framework agreement on June 18 and began talks toward a final settlement, but negotiations later stalled over guarantees for security and freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Tensions rose again last month after US strikes inside Iran, followed by Tehran's claim that it targeted US military facilities and equipment in several Arab countries.

Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif will visit Saudi Arabia from August 6 to 8, accompanied by Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. During the trip, Sharif is scheduled to meet Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said at a weekly press briefing that the meeting will focus on strengthening Pakistan-Saudi bilateral relations, expanding strategic cooperation, and exchanging views on regional and international issues. He described the visit as highly significant amid continuing tensions in the Gulf region.

Andrabi said the trip would further strengthen the two countries’ longstanding relationship of mutual trust, cooperation and brotherhood. Sharif previously visited Saudi Arabia in April this year. Pakistan has recently supported Saudi Arabia’s proposed multinational maritime defense alliance aimed at safeguarding shipping and energy supplies in the Red Sea, while reiterating its commitment to Saudi security, legitimate maritime trade and strategic cooperation.

Pakistan and Iran have agreed to introduce round-the-clock border operations to increase bilateral trade. The decision was made on Wednesday during a meeting between Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and an Iranian delegation led by Minister of Industry, Mines and Trade Mohammad Atabak. The two sides also agreed to improve border infrastructure and logistics and strengthen coordination in customs procedures.

The countries decided to expand cooperation in mining, particularly in processing and adding value to precious gemstones. Sharif said Pakistan would continue diplomatic efforts for regional peace and stability. He expressed hope that joint efforts by both countries could achieve their set target of $10 billion in bilateral trade. He also emphasized expanding trade in food and agricultural products.

Atabak praised Pakistan's hospitality and reiterated Iran's interest in further strengthening economic and commercial ties between the two countries. He said technical-level discussions on a Pakistan-Iran free trade agreement, or FTA, are under way. The reported measures focus on facilitating cross-border commerce through longer operating hours, infrastructure and logistics improvements, and greater customs coordination.