Renowned Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari has refused to accept the 2024 Wolf Prize, citing Israel’s atrocities in Gaza. The award, established in 1978, honors outstanding contributions in science and arts. Lari, Pakistan’s first registered female architect, has gained global recognition for her innovative designs and humanitarian work. Speaking to Dawn, she stated she had no choice but to reject the award as a stance against injustice. She has previously received prestigious honors, including the 2023 Royal Gold Medal for Architecture.

India has declared two prominent Kashmiri organizations illegal under its laws: the Awami Action Committee (AAC), led by Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, and the Jammu and Kashmir Ittehadul Muslimeen (JKIM), previously led by the late Maulana Mohammad Abbas Ansari. With this decision, the number of banned political parties and organizations in Kashmir has risen to 16. Pakistan has strongly condemned India’s move, stating that the ban on these two well-known organizations for five years disregards democratic principles and international human rights standards.

The Pakistan military has successfully completed an operation against the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), which had attacked the Zafar Express train and taken passengers hostage in Balochistan. According to military spokesperson General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, all 33 militants involved in the attack were “eliminated.” However, 21 innocent hostages were killed before the operation commenced. Four members of the Frontier Corps were also martyred during the counterterrorism mission. The military stated that the attackers had links to Afghan criminal networks, highlighting the cross-border nature of the operation.

Pakistan’s permanent representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram, has accused Afghanistan-based militant groups of operating against Pakistan, posing a severe security threat. While further details were not disclosed, the statement underscores rising tensions between the two neighboring countries over cross-border militant activities.

Militants have attacked a train in Balochistan, Pakistan, taking 182 passengers hostage, including military personnel. The attackers, identified as members of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA), have threatened to kill all hostages unless security forces withdraw from the region. The train was carrying around 400 passengers at the time of the attack. The BLA, a separatist group, has been fighting for Balochistan’s independence for decades, accusing the government of exploiting the province’s gas and mineral resources. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has strongly condemned the attack, stating that the government will not back down.

The United States denied entry to Pakistan’s Ambassador to Turkmenistan, K.K. Ahsan Wagan, at the airport despite his valid visa and travel documents. He was detained by immigration officials in Los Angeles during a personal visit, with the authorities raising concerns over a ‘controversial visa reference’. Questions were also raised about his diplomatic protocols, though the exact details of the matter remain unclear. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Wagan was on a personal visit and stated that a thorough investigation is underway.

At least four Pakistani soldiers were killed in an attack by the Taliban in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, according to an AFP report. The region shares a border with Afghanistan and has witnessed increasing violence in recent years. A senior official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that seven others were injured. Since the Taliban regained power in Afghanistan, violent incidents in Pakistan have surged. The outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains highly active in the country’s northwest, frequently targeting security forces.

The U.S. Department of State has issued a travel advisory urging citizens to reconsider travel to Pakistan due to terrorism and security risks. The advisory specifically mentions Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as high-risk regions where militant groups remain active. It warns of potential attacks on transport hubs, shopping malls, military sites, airports, universities, and places of worship. Additionally, U.S. officials in Pakistan have been restricted from attending large public gatherings.

Pakistan’s Finance Minister Khurram Shehzad confirmed that China has extended a $2 billion loan to Pakistan to help stabilize its economy. According to a World Bank report published last December, China remains Pakistan's largest creditor, holding nearly $29 billion in loans. Reuters reported that after securing a $7 billion IMF bailout in September 2024, Pakistan has been striving to strengthen its financial position. If the initial phase of the loan review is successful, Pakistan is expected to receive an additional $1 billion.

Pakistan has instructed all Afghan nationals holding Afghan Citizen Cards to leave the country by March 31, 2025. Since November 2023, Pakistan has been sending Afghan nationals back to their homeland. Although plans to expel all Afghan nationals have been in place, this is the first time the Ministry of Interior has officially confirmed it. Over 800,000 Afghan nationals have already returned to Afghanistan, but an estimated 3 million Afghan nationals remain in Pakistan.

A devastating suicide bombing at the Bannu military cantonment in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province has left at least 11 people dead and 30 others injured. Among the deceased are three women and two children, according to local media reports. The attack occurred on Tuesday after Iftar, when two explosive-laden vehicles were driven into the military facility’s perimeter wall. Following the blasts, an exchange of gunfire ensued, resulting in the deaths of six attackers. The injured have been taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.

Former Pakistani Prime Minister and cricket World Cup-winning captain Imran Khan is being held in solitary confinement in Adiala Jail, reserved for death row inmates, according to his party, PTI. Party spokesperson Sheikh Waqas Akram alleged that authorities are preventing Khan from meeting anyone, in violation of court orders. Imran Khan has been in jail since August 5, 2023.

Pakistan has appointed a new local coach to lead their team. The announcement comes as the team gears up for important international matches. In the FIFA World Cup qualifiers this month, Argentina will face Brazil and Uruguay. Argentina’s coach, Lionel Scaloni, has already named a 33-player preliminary squad, which includes star forward Lionel Messi. The team will take on Uruguay in Montevideo on March 22, and will host Brazil in Buenos Aires on March 26. Lisandro Martinez has been excluded due to injury, but the squad remains largely intact, with Scaloni fielding a fully-strength team for the upcoming qualifiers.

Desperate for a better life, Pakistani youth like Amir Ali are risking perilous journeys to Europe. After being denied a visa seven times, Ali resorted to illegal migration. Moroccan authorities recently rescued him along with 21 other Pakistanis from a stranded boat near the Atlantic coast. Tragically, out of 50 men who perished from starvation and dehydration, 43 were Pakistani. Ali’s father cited financial hardship as the reason for the journey. Experts argue that migrants seek not only financial security but also a higher standard of living, as similar work in Pakistan pays only $3 compared to $20–$25 in Europe.

At the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Pakistan has condemned India’s “illegal occupation” of Jammu and Kashmir and its continued suppression of Kashmiri self-determination. Pakistani Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar highlighted his country’s commitment to human rights, citing over 70 new laws passed in the past decade. He also called for an update on the UN’s Kashmir report and condemned ongoing Israeli military actions in Gaza.