Pakistan

The initial incident unfolded in the Quetta district's Kuchlak area, where a devastating blast tore through a mosque during Maghrib prayers on Monday. Regrettably, the explosion claimed the life of a dedicated policeman and left 15 individuals wounded, recounted a police spokesperson.

A joint statement was released following an official meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi de facto ruler Prince Mohammed bin Salman on April 7 at Al-Safa Palace in Mecca.

While refraining from directly accusing anyone, the 71-year-old leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) hinted at knowing the perpetrators behind the alleged poisoning. He emphasized that if any harm befell Bushra, the responsibility should rest with the Pakistan Army chief, as he claimed that members of an intelligence agency were controlling affairs both at his residence in Bani Gala and Adiala jail.

Addressing a group of Chinese engineers and workers at the Dasu Hydropower Project site in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Sharif expressed solidarity with the affected individuals. He pledged unwavering efforts to guarantee the safety of Chinese citizens and their families, emphasizing the government's determination to leave no stone unturned in this regard.

According to a security analyst in Pakistan, there are reports suggesting that some Chinese nationals are contemplating leaving the country due to concerns about their safety. Despite the Pakistani government's assurances to apprehend the culprits responsible for the attack, the incident has significantly undermined trust, the analyst added.

This development adds to the challenges faced by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) as it deals with a shortage of crew members, compounded by recent incidents of flight attendants going missing.

Notably, since assuming office in January 2021, President Biden had not reached out to former Prime Minister Imran Khan following his electoral victory, nor did he engage in dialogue with Prime Minister Sharif upon his succession to Khan's position in April 2022, as reported by The Express Tribune.