Pakistan is set to take part in the Miss World pageant for the first time in its 73-year history. Twenty-four-year-old Anika Meraj has been selected as the country’s inaugural representative after winning the title of Miss World Pakistan 2026. She will represent Pakistan at the 75th anniversary edition of Miss World, scheduled to be held in Vietnam from August 9 to September 5, 2026. This marks Pakistan’s official debut on the international stage of the competition.

Anika Meraj has drawn attention not only for her beauty but also for her academic achievements. She holds undergraduate degrees in business administration and economics and is currently pursuing postgraduate studies in auditing and accounting. She has expressed aspirations to become a state-certified public accountant and to work for the protection of children’s rights and the promotion of women’s education.

According to Anika, she hopes to contribute to building a brighter future for Pakistan’s next generation through education and awareness.

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Friday that 24 militants allegedly backed by India were killed in a security operation in Bannu district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The statement said the operation targeted members of the group Al-Kharizira, which had recently increased attacks against police and civilians in the area.

According to ISPR, weapons and ammunition were recovered from the dead militants, who were described as being involved in numerous terrorist acts and civilian killings. The operation was conducted jointly by intelligence and security forces to eliminate the group’s presence in the region.

The ISPR added that the counterterrorism campaign will continue until all perpetrators are brought to justice, signaling an ongoing effort to curb militant activity in Pakistan’s northwest.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for the revival and greater effectiveness of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). He made the appeal during a meeting with outgoing SAARC Secretary-General Ambassador Golam Sarwar at the Prime Minister’s residence in Islamabad, according to a press release from the Prime Minister’s Office.

The statement said Sharif praised Sarwar’s leadership in advancing regional cooperation during his tenure and reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm commitment to the SAARC Charter. He emphasized the importance of revitalizing regional collaboration to promote connectivity, sustainable development, and shared prosperity among the people of South Asia. Sarwar expressed gratitude to Sharif for Pakistan’s support during his term.

The report also noted that Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar had made a similar call for SAARC’s revival a day earlier. Established in 1985 to promote socio-economic and cultural development across South Asia, SAARC has faced significant challenges in recent years, largely due to tensions between India and Pakistan, and has not held a summit since 2014.

Pakistan has called on Iran and the United States to immediately stop retaliatory military strikes and return to dialogue. At a regular briefing in Islamabad, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said the ongoing conflict over the past week has raised serious concerns, urging all parties to exercise maximum restraint and avoid actions that could further harm peace and stability. He emphasized that all disputes are ultimately resolved through negotiations and confirmed that Pakistan continues to engage with key stakeholders to reduce tensions.

The appeal comes amid escalating hostilities around the Strait of Hormuz, where both nations have exchanged missile attacks. Andrabi noted that the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding, signed by the presidents of Iran and the United States in June, remains a viable framework for peace, mutual respect, and shared prosperity, though its implementation faces challenges. Pakistan and Qatar previously facilitated talks between U.S. and Iranian negotiators in Switzerland.

Pakistan expressed hope for a swift normalization of the situation in the Strait of Hormuz and stressed the importance of ensuring safe and unrestricted maritime navigation.

Pakistan has expressed deep concern over escalating tensions between Iran and the United States following a series of renewed retaliatory attacks in the Middle East, according to a report citing CNN. In an official statement, Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the recent developments are further aggravating regional instability and that Islamabad is closely monitoring the situation with serious concern.

The ministry noted that Pakistan, which has played an important mediating role in peace discussions between Washington and Tehran in recent months, has urged all parties to exercise restraint. It further called on all sides to take immediate steps to de-escalate the situation and to adhere to the commitments made under the memorandum of understanding signed between the United States and Iran last month.

The statement reflects Islamabad’s continuing diplomatic engagement in regional peace efforts amid growing instability in the Middle East.

Pakistan has called on the United States and Iran to settle their growing tensions through diplomatic means. The appeal was made by Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar during a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi on Sunday. Dar emphasized that dialogue and diplomacy are the only effective paths to resolve disputes and ensure lasting peace. He also reaffirmed Pakistan’s readiness to play a constructive role in maintaining regional stability.

According to a statement from Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, the two ministers exchanged views on the evolving regional situation. Dar urged all parties to exercise restraint and reduce tensions in line with the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding signed in June. The call came after Iran announced the closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz and launched missile and drone attacks on US facilities in the Gulf region following a series of assaults on commercial vessels.

Iran’s Revolutionary Guard stated that the strait would remain closed until US interference in the region ends, a move that has heightened global concern over energy supply routes.

At least 16 people were killed in Pakistan’s latest anti-terror operation in Balochistan, bringing the total death toll to 102 since the campaign began on July 5. The coordinated air and ground operations are being conducted by the Pakistan Army, Frontier Corps, and police targeting militant hideouts across the province. Security sources confirmed that 64 militants have been killed under the ongoing “Operation Shaban.”

Security officials stated that the operations would continue until all militant groups are eliminated. In a separate raid on the N-25 highway, two armed individuals were killed, and weapons, grenades, motorcycles, and mobile phones were seized. Earlier, Pakistan’s military spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry alleged that attackers in Ziarat had Indian support, noting that 15 militants and nine police officers were killed in that clash.

Pakistan maintains that terrorist attacks have increased in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in 2021. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti vowed to uphold state authority at any cost and warned that no militant would be allowed to escape.

Nine people were killed in an anti-terror operation in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, according to reports published on July 11, 2026. The operation, ongoing since July 5, has brought the total number of deaths to 88. Pakistan’s army, Frontier Corps, and police have intensified coordinated air and ground actions targeting militant hideouts across the region.

Security sources told Pakistan TV that nine militants were killed in the latest phase of the operation. Authorities stated that the campaign will continue until all militants are eliminated. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti affirmed that the state’s authority will be maintained at any cost and warned that no terrorist will be allowed to escape.

The continued operation underscores the government’s determination to assert control in Balochistan, where security forces are working jointly to dismantle militant networks.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called on Iran and the United States to adhere to their previously announced commitments and the memorandum of understanding signed between them. The appeal came during a recent phone conversation with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, where Sharif expressed deep concern over escalating tensions in the Middle East.

During the discussion, Sharif emphasized the urgent need to restore regional peace and stability, stressing that both Washington and Tehran must uphold the pledges made in last month’s memorandum. According to the report, Pakistan has long served as a key mediator in behind-the-scenes diplomacy between the two nations.

Islamabad has urged both sides to exercise restraint to maintain peace in the current volatile situation, reflecting Pakistan’s continued role in promoting dialogue and stability in the region.

A deadly suicide bombing struck the home of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader and Jhalawan Panel president Shafiqueur Rahman Mengal in Khuzdar, Balochistan, on Wednesday afternoon. At least 17 people were killed and around 30 others injured when an explosives-laden vehicle rammed into the main gate of Mengal’s residence in Shahzad Town. The blast destroyed parts of the building and nearby structures, followed by multiple explosions that shook the city.

Security forces engaged in over three hours of gunfire with the attackers, using heavy weapons including rocket launchers and grenades. Officials confirmed that among the dead were Mengal’s security personnel and five attackers, some of whom were suicide bombers. Mengal himself remained unharmed. The injured were taken to Khuzdar Teaching Hospital and the Combined Military Hospital, both of which declared emergencies.

Authorities launched a search operation and deployed additional security forces across Khuzdar. The banned separatist group Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) claimed responsibility for the attack.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres met with Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Nakvi, where he praised Pakistan’s ongoing efforts to promote peace. The meeting took place as part of discussions on regional and international issues, according to the report.

During the meeting, both sides discussed Pakistan’s mediation efforts in facilitating a potential agreement between the United States and Iran. The talks also highlighted Pakistan’s longstanding role in supporting regional and global peace initiatives.

Guterres recognized Pakistan’s continued contributions and mediation efforts in addressing regional challenges, reaffirming the UN’s appreciation for the country’s role in peacebuilding.

At least 96 people, including 42 members of Pakistan’s security forces, were killed in four days of armed clashes in the southwestern province of Balochistan, according to the country’s Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The military’s media wing reported that the violence began on July 6 and involved three major attacks by separatist militants. Security forces responded with operations that left 54 militants dead.

Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, ISPR’s Director General, said the attacks were carried out by India-backed groups, including one called Fitna al-Khawarij. The first assault occurred in Hanna Urak, where four civilians were killed. A second attack on July 6 targeted a police checkpoint near Mangi Dam, killing nine officers and 15 militants. Subsequent fighting in Ziarat’s mountainous area left 18 police officers and 11 militants dead.

Chaudhry vowed that Pakistan would continue operations against all militant groups in Balochistan, asserting that the army, police, and citizens remain united in combating terrorism.

A cargo aircraft from the United Arab Emirates bound for Pakistan has gone missing with five people on board. The plane, a Boeing 737-400 operated by K-2 Airways, lost contact on Tuesday night about 155 nautical miles west of Karachi. No wreckage or trace of the five crew members has been found so far.

According to Pakistan’s airport authorities, communication with the aircraft was lost shortly after takeoff. Flight tracking data showed the plane cruising normally at 35,000 feet and 790 kilometers per hour before making a sudden U-turn and descending rapidly. Within five minutes, it dropped nearly 34,000 feet and was last detected at 1,100 feet and 211 kilometers per hour before disappearing from radar over the Arabian Sea.

Pakistan’s Navy and Air Force have intensified search operations, deploying additional warships and surveillance aircraft. Commercial vessels of the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation are also assisting in the search effort.

Pakistan and Turkey are advancing toward a major defense agreement to jointly produce various technologies and components for Turkey’s ‘Kaan’ fighter jet. The initiative aims to deepen bilateral military cooperation and strengthen both countries’ defense capabilities. Under the proposed plan, advanced avionics and radar systems for the ‘Kaan-PK’ version of the aircraft will be developed collaboratively. The final agreement is expected to be concluded by 2026.

Defense officials from both nations have shown strong interest in accelerating the joint projects. The ‘Kaan’ fighter jet program is viewed as a strategic milestone for enhancing Pakistan’s defense industry. The collaboration will integrate advanced technologies and leverage Turkey’s long-standing experience and expertise in aviation and aircraft manufacturing.

According to related sources, both countries intend to utilize each other’s strengths and capabilities to advance defense technology development, marking a significant step in their growing defense partnership.

Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has questioned the credibility of a recent honor awarded to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Seychelles, describing it as an embarrassing event for India. In a statement posted on X, Asif raised doubts about the timing and authenticity of the award, claiming it was introduced only days before Modi’s visit. He alleged that the certificates were produced using low-quality artificial intelligence and contained spelling errors, though he provided no evidence.

Asif further claimed that Modi was the first and only recipient of the honor, suggesting it reflected either propaganda or political bias. He argued that the incident had embarrassed India and criticized the publicity surrounding the award. India condemned Asif’s remarks, with NDTV reporting that Seychelles’ government rejected his claims. The Seychelles president’s office clarified that the “Order of the Guardian of the Blue Horizon” was established under national honors law and formally approved before Modi’s arrival.

The exchange comes amid ongoing political and diplomatic tensions between Pakistan and India, reflecting continued friction between the two neighbors.