Infinity Social Updates

Security forces have neutralised an Afghan national linked to terrorism in the country during an operation in Balochistan’s Zhob district, the military’s media wing said on Tuesday. In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, “On January 11, 2025, an Afghan national, involved in terrorism inside Pakistan, was killed in the Sambaza area of Zhob district of Balochistan.” “The individual was identified as Muhammad Khan Ahmedkhel, Son of Haji Qasim Dawran Khan, resident of Village Bilorai, District Wazekhwa, Paktika Province, Afghanistan,” the statement added. The statement said Ahmedkhel’s body was handed over to Afghan officials on Monday after necessary procedural formalities. “Such incidents are irrefutable evidence of the involvement of Afghan nationals in terrorist activities in Pakistan,” the statement said. “Interim Afghan government is expected to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for perpetuating acts of terrorism again...

China said on Tuesday it hoped to cooperate with the United States to resolve trade issues, as President Donald Trump began his second term after threatening to impose biting tariffs on the Asian giant. Beijing is “willing to strengthen dialogue and communication with the United States, properly manage differences and expand mutually beneficial cooperation,” foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said in response to a question about potential new levies under Trump . “It is hoped that the United States will work with China to jointly promote the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-US economic and trade relations,” Guo said at a regular press briefing in Beijing. He acknowledged “differences and frictions” between Beijing and Washington but said “the common interests and space for cooperation between the two countries are huge”. “The two sides can strengthen dialogue and consultation in this regard,” he added. China and the US are the world’s two largest econo...

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar informed the Senate on Tuesday that a total of 7,208 Pakistani prisoners have been released from Saudi prisons between 2019 and 2024. This was revealed in a written response to a question from Senator Dr Zarqa Suharwardy Taimur regarding the announcement made for the release of 2,107 Pakistani prisoners in Saudi jails during the visit of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Pakistan in 2019. The two-day historic visit of the crown prince in February 2019 had concluded with a significant announcement that 2,100 Pakistani prisoners languishing in Saudi Arabia’s jails would be released soon. Dar’s response mentioned following breakdown provided by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Pakistani prisoners released from Saudi Arabia’s prisons since the crown prince’s visit. These included 545 prisoners in 2019, 892 in 2020, 916 in 2021, 1,331 in 2022, 1,394 in 2023, and 2,130 in 2024. “However, due to the continuous arrival o...

During the first six-week phase of the Gaza ceasefire agreed last week, Hamas is to release 33 hostages in total, with at least three hostages released each week. In turn, Israel will release 30 Palestinians from prison for each Israeli civilian Hamas releases, and 50 for each soldier. Hamas released the first three Israeli hostages from Gaza and Israel released 90 Palestinian prisoners on Sunday, day one of the ceasefire. Who was released on Sunday? The first three hostages released were all women: Romi Gonen, Doron Steinbrecher and Emily Damari. In exchange, 90 Palestinians were released from Israeli detention: 69 women and 21 teenage boys. Many of the prisoners released on the first day of the ceasefire were recently detained by Israel and had not been tried or convicted. This handout picture released by the Israeli Government Press OFfice shows family members welcoming Israeli hostage Doron Steinbracher at the Sheba medical centre in Ramat Gan near Tel Aviv, on January 1...

Donald Trump plans to issue a flurry of executive orders and directives after he is sworn in as US president on Monday to put his stamp on his new administration on matters ranging from energy to immigration. Two sources familiar with the planning said more than 100 such orders and directives could be released starting on Day One in what is known internally as a “shock and awe” effort. Transition advisers have been preparing drafts for Trump to choose from. Decisions have yet to be made on which will be released on Monday and which in the days that follow. Here is what we know about the executive orders so far: Immigration Many of the actions that Trump plans on his first day as president are aimed at ramping up immigration enforcement and following through on his pledge to deport record numbers of immigrants in the US illegally. Demonstrators gather at the border fence with a pinata depicting US President-elect Donald Trump during a protest against the anticipated immigratio...

Bulls maintained control of the trading floor as shares at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) climbed 800 points in intraday trade on Monday. The benchmark KSE-100 index climbed 817.68 points, or 0.71 per cent, to stand at 116,089.76 points from the previous close of 115,272.08 at 2:29pm. Mohammed Sohail, chief executive of Topline Securities, attributed the upward trajectory to “signs of political stability, along with expectations of another rate cut, helping sentiments”. Awais Ashraf, director research at AKD Securities, said, “The resolution of political uncertainty following the verdict in a graft case has boosted investor confidence. “Investors are optimistic about an improving economic outlook and are expecting a potential reduction in the policy rate during the upcoming Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting,” he added. Ashraf noted that a record number of accounts had opened at the PSX over the past three months, highlighting “the growing trust of individual Pakistanis in...

A journalist from Sindh’s Khairpur district “faked his own kidnapping,” police said on Sunday, after a video posted on his Facebook account showed him chained and pleading for release, claiming to have been abducted by dacoits for a ransom of Rs10 million. The video posted on Friday, which also showed the journalist, Fayyaz Solangi, being tortured by a masked armed man, sparked a strong outcry from the journalist community in the upper region of Sindh, leading to demonstrations in several towns on Saturday. Solangi’s colleague, Ghulam Hussain Chang, said at Hingorja Press Club that the journalist went missing on Jan 12, with his motorcycle found parked along a link road around 7:00 pm. Police and fellow journalists searched for him but failed to locate him. After the video confirmed his abduction, Solangi’s uncle claimed that he received a call from kidnappers demanding Rs10 million ransom. Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah later directed the Sindh inspector-general of polic...