Twin-city to Islamabad and a historic garrison town
England has named a 16-player ODI squad for the Pakistan tour with Jos Buttler injured, Adil Rashid returning, and Mason Crane earning a debut chance. Jofra Archer is rested. The tri-series in Pakistan runs from Oct. 18 to Oct. 31, with a Lahore final.
The Joint Awami Action Committee has intensified protests in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, demanding electoral reform and abolition of 12 refugee seats. Authorities report clashes, casualties, and a security crackdown, while rights groups cite a broader crackdown and communications blackout complicating reporting.
Former captains from around the world have urged Pakistan’s government to permit an independent health assessment of Imran Khan, reinstate weekly family visits, and ensure timely medical treatment following a Supreme Court order transferring him to a private hospital. The move follows concerns over his health and treatment since his imprisonment.
Twenty-one former international cricket captains have appealed to Pakistan’s leadership to ensure an independent medical assessment for Imran Khan, allow weekly family visits, and provide treatment as ordered by the Supreme Court. The calls come after Khan’s brief hospital visit and ongoing questions about his health while in custody.
A fire has killed 14 newborns in the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences’ mother-and-child unit in Islamabad. An interim inquiry has found poor fire safety, delayed emergency calls and absent supervisory staff. The prime minister has suspended officials, ordered criminal proceedings and approved compensation for the bereaved families.
Pakistan's former prime minister Imran Khan remains in prison on corruption charges. His sons Suleiman and Kasim Khan have voiced concerns about his treatment and security in prison during media interviews broadcast during a Pakistan-England Test, while officials weigh potential tensions over the tour.
Imran Khan remains in solitary confinement as health concerns escalate; his UK-based sons say authorities have denied visas and that a court-ordered medical evaluation was bypassed. Khan has been in prison since 2023, with international observers calling for humane treatment while the government maintains health improvements.
The Mecca Joint Defence Agreement among Turkiye, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia is being translated into an operational framework. Ministers and chiefs of staff are meeting in Istanbul to discuss interoperability, defence cooperation and potential expansion, including a possible role for Egypt. Observers say the pact aims to deter aggression and coordinate military planning in a volatile region.
Two naval vessels from India and Pakistan have collided in international waters in the Arabian Sea. Both sides have summoned diplomats and framed the incident as a breach of existing agreements. The event marks renewed direct military tension between the nuclear-armed rivals since last year’s escalation.
Pakistan’s medical regulator has ordered Afghan students in Pakistani medical and dental colleges to return home, barring new admissions for the current year. Courts are hearing petitions from students and rights groups. The move follows deteriorating Pakistan–Afghanistan relations since the Taliban seized Kabul in 2021, with Amnesty International calling the policy discriminatory.
Pakistan has sealed Islamabad with thousands of security personnel, more than 1,000 shipping containers and roadblocks as the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) presses for a nationwide march demanding the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan. Authorities have detained Khan’s three sisters and dozens of PTI leaders; the party has delayed but kept pressure on the government.
Islamabad remains a high-security zone as PTI plans a march for Imran Khan’s release. Authorities have sealed roads with shipping containers and detained several PTI leaders and family members, while opposition figures vow to push ahead.