FBI chief discusses specialised training to combat counterterrorism financing with Naqvi, hails 'critical' Pak-US partnership

 Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi met United States Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Kash Patel on Monday and discussed specialised training to combat counterterrorism financing as the latter hailed the "critical" partnership between their two countries.  Naqvi has been in the US since Thursday and his recent engagement with regional and international officials has increased interest in this particular visit as Pakistan seeks to keep open the lines of communication between Tehran and Washington. In a post on X today, Patel said he hosted Naqvi at the FBI's headquarters in Washington for a meeting in which they held an "important discussion surrounding facilitating resources and specialised training to combat counterterrorism financing and cyber investigations both at home and abroad." Patel said the FBI "deeply appreciates" Pakistan's support as it protected US interests in the region. Hailing the bilateral relationship between both countries, he added: "Our partnership is critical and we look forward to more success ahead." An honor to host the Pakistan Ministry of Interior, Mohsin Naqvi, here at Headquarters – the @FBI deeply appreciates their support as we protect US interests in the region. Important discussion surrounding facilitating resources and specialized training to combat counterterrorism… pic.twitter.com/cFEuigwiZM — FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) July 13, 2026 Before arriving at Capitol Hill, he represented Pakistan at the Fifth United Nations Chiefs of Pol­ice Summit (UNCOPS 2026) in New York from July 7-8. The gathering brought together interior ministers, police chiefs and senior law enforcement officials from around the world to discuss peace, security and enha­nced cooperation against transnational crime. Pakistan and the US have maintained an active counterterrorism partnership focused on combatting regional terrorist groups such as the Balochistan Liberation Army, ISIS-Khorasan, and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. As part of this effort, both countries hold regular CT dialogues to coordinate responses to transnational terrorism and deter violent extremism. Counterterrorism collaboration includes efforts towards capacity building, exchange of technical expertise and best practices, investigative and prosecutorial assistance and provision of border security infrastructure and training.

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'Grandfather' unmasked as bank robbery gang's spotter

A 60-year-old man allegedly posing as an unsuspecting bank visitor turned out to be the eyes and ears of a robbery gang, according to police, who arrested him for allegedly tracking citizens withdrawing large sums of money and alerting his accomplices. Ferozabad police arrested Muhammad Mangi during an operation against a gang involved in robbing citizens after they withdrew cash from banks. According to SSP East Zubair Nazir Sheikh, the suspect was a key member of an organised gang and would visit banks to identify people carrying large amounts of cash before informing his accomplices. Police officials said investigations into repeated robberies targeting citizens travelling from banks to their destinations revealed that an elderly man was suspiciously conducting reconnaissance. To avoid raising suspicion, the gang allegedly used the senior citizen as a spotter. During interrogation, police said it emerged that the suspect was part of a four-member gang which would chase and rob citizens after receiving information from Mangi. Police said CCTV footage of several alleged robberies had also been obtained, showing the suspect inside different banks and other motorcycle-riding suspects at robbery locations. According to police, Mangi confessed during questioning to involvement in dozens of criminal incidents. Investigators also found that two years ago, he allegedly conducted surveillance on a DSP, leading to a robbery of Rs800,000 carried out with the help of the same gang. Police said the suspect's criminal record had also surfaced, showing his alleged involvement in a murder case committed during a robbery. A case has been registered against him, while raids are being conducted to arrest his absconding accomplices. Two fake intelligence officers held Bahadurabad police arrested two men allegedly impersonating officers of a sensitive institution and using fake identities to deceive citizens and influence government officials. The suspects, identified as Talha Yousufzai and Ali Haqani, were taken into custody and shifted to the police station for investigation. A case was registered against them on behalf of the state under charges including document forgery and misuse of a false official identity. According to police, the suspects were travelling in a black vehicle while posing as officers of a sensitive institution. Acting on a tip-off, police stopped them and sought their identification documents. The suspects allegedly produced fake identity cards of the institution, which were found to be forged. Police said preliminary investigations revealed that the suspects allegedly used the name of a sensitive institution to extract millions of rupees from citizens and were also involved in pressuring government officials for bribes. Sources said the suspects allegedly acquired a bungalow in Bahadurabad through blackmail, while fake institutional identity cards were recovered from their possession. Investigators said the suspects allegedly used their fake influence in various institutions, including the Sindh Building Control Authority and the University of Karachi, to get different tasks carried out. They were also allegedly involved in matters related to illegal constructions and land encroachments. Police said investigations into the suspects' possible links with government and private institutions were under way, with further arrests expected.

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Fresh controversy clouds Ring Road's inauguration

The Rawalpindi Ring Road project, which has faced prolonged delays and repeated controversies, is again shrouded in uncertainty over whether it will be inaugurated on August 14, despite completion of the main route, following a fresh controversy over the no-objection certificate (NOC) for its service area. The Ring Road controversy has, for a second time, led to the removal of the commissioner, deputy commissioner and other officials from their posts. According to details, the project was suspended during former prime minister Imran Khan's tenure after changes to its design and route expansion triggered a controversy that also resulted in the removal of several administrative officers. Since then, the Punjab government has set six deadlines to complete the project. Following Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz's visit, the first deadline was December 30, 2025, followed by March 30, 2026, May 30, June 15, and a target to inaugurate and make the route functional between June 18 and June 22. None of these deadlines was met. The sixth deadline of August 14 was set after construction of the route from Banth Interchange to a direct motorway link, excluding Thalian Interchange, was completed, while work on eight toll plazas and 16 toll booths continues. However, a fresh controversy over the NOC for a 102-kanal, 14-marla service area being developed on both sides of the Ring Road has once again created uncertainty over the planned inauguration. Meanwhile, a division bench of the Lahore High Court has suspended a single bench's order upholding the NOC and fixed July 16 for the next hearing. It is pertinent to mention that following the controversy, former Commissioner Engineer Abdul Aamer Khattak, Deputy Commissioner Waqar Hassan Cheema, former RDA DG and incumbent Abad Department Director General Kunza Murtaza, along with two other officers, were removed from their positions and transferred to the S&GAD. Newly appointed Commissioner Salman Ghani, Deputy Commissioner Nadeem Nasir and Abad Department Director General Rao Atif Raza have assumed charge.

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Focus on navigation glitch in cargo plane crash

Investigators probing the K2 Airways cargo aircraft crash are examining the possibility of a malfunction in the aircraft's Inertial Reference System (IRS) as well as spatial disorientation as potential causes of the accident, while the aircraft's black box, engines, fuselage and crew have yet to be recovered. According to sources, preliminary investigations are focusing on a possible technical fault in the aircraft's Inertial Reference System (IRS), along with the possibility that the pilots may have experienced spatial disorientation before the crash. Sources said the IRS is a critical navigation system that provides pilots with information about the aircraft's position, direction of travel, flight attitude and speed. The system is capable of operating independently without relying on external navigation signals. Investigators are also examining the possibility of spatial disorientation, a highly dangerous aviation condition in which a pilot loses accurate awareness of the aircraft's actual position, direction or movement and perceives a false sense of orientation. According to sources, a fault in the aircraft's navigation system had emerged as an area of focus during the preliminary inquiry. They added that shortly before the crash, the flight crew had requested heading guidance from air traffic control. Meanwhile, on the fifth day of the salvage and rescue operation on Saturday, recovery teams were still unable to locate the aircraft's black box. Sources said the aircraft's engines and flight data recorder are critical pieces of evidence for determining the cause of the accident. Investigators believe that once the black box is recovered and its data decoded, a clearer picture of the events leading up to the crash is expected to emerge.

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Gwadar Port completes first international bunkering operation

Gwadar Port has completed its first international bunkering operation, marking a significant development for Pakistan's maritime sector, sources said on Saturday. According to sources, the operation was carried out by the National Logistics Corporation (NLC) in collaboration with global energy trader Vitol and involved supplying 2,500 metric tonnes of International Maritime Organization (IMO)-compliant Very Low Sulphur Fuel Oil (VLSFO) to the UAE-owned LNG vessel ENUGU. Sources said the marine fuel supplied during the operation was produced locally by Cnergyico PK Limited at its refinery, highlighting Pakistan's capacity to produce fuel that meets international marine standards. Read: Gwadar: a key for rapid development They said the successful bunkering operation was viewed within the industry as an important step towards developing a domestic bunkering and marine fuel supply ecosystem. It further added that the operation also strengthens Gwadar Port's position as a potential alternative bunkering hub for international sea-going vessels. The sources said that, as geopolitical tensions continue to affect traditional shipping routes and refuelling hubs in the region, Gwadar could emerge as a secure, efficient and reliable option for international maritime traffic. They added that the development could unlock new economic opportunities for Pakistan's maritime sector and contribute to the growth of the country's blue economy.

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Chair in hand, woman stands up to mob in Karachi

CCTV and mobile phone videos have emerged showing a woman being harassed by a large crowd outside a music academy in Nazimabad No 3, prompting police to register a criminal case and launch an investigation into the incident. The videos, which surfaced days after the July 9 incident, show the woman attempting to protect herself from an aggressive mob by holding a chair in front of her as dozens of people surround and confront her near a chai dhaba. According to police, the woman, identified as Ishrat Malik, was stopped and harassed while returning home after attending classes at the music academy. Read: Karachi sees massive spike in street crime The incident allegedly began when residents stormed the academy, accusing it of hosting "immoral activities." The allegations have not been independently verified. An FIR has been registered on the complaint of Shakir Ali, who runs the academy. In his complaint, Ali said he operates an arts academy where students receive training in singing and qawwali. He alleged that on July 9, a man identified as Azmat Shah, whom he claimed appeared to be under the influence of intoxicants, arrived at the academy with two companions and attempted to force his way inside. According to the FIR, Ali refused them entry because of their condition, after which the suspects allegedly entered the premises by force. He claimed one of the men produced a firearm, while around 10 more individuals later joined them, vandalising the academy, assaulting staff and issuing threats that the institution would not be allowed to operate. The complainant further alleged that the attackers physically assaulted him, causing injuries, and also harassed his wife, Huma, by pulling at her clothes. He accused the group of similarly harassing female students and outraging their modesty. The FIR states that one female student, later identified as Ishrat Malik, fled the academy in panic. According to the complaint, the main suspect allegedly gathered more people from the neighbourhood, after which a crowd of nearly 200 individuals chased the woman through the streets, allegedly attempting to assault and harass her before she managed to take refuge in a nearby apartment building. Police were called to the scene via the emergency helpline. The Nazimabad SHO said the academy conducts classes in qawwali and singing and that no prior complaints had been lodged with the police regarding its activities before the incident. He confirmed that police have registered a case over the harassment of the woman and the attack on the academy. No arrests have yet been announced.

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Rain, windstorms likely in upper parts

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Friday forecast rain-windstorms and thundershowers in the upper parts of the country during the weekend as moist currents from the Arabian Sea and a westerly wave are expected to influence weather conditions from Saturday. Also, the Emergency Response Committee (ERC), convened by the Prime Minister, reviewed and reinforced provincial and district level preparedness for Monsoon 2026 at a meeting held on Friday at NDMA headquarters in Islamabad with participation via video link. Chaired remotely by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal, the meeting heard detailed briefings from provincial chief secretaries and disaster management officials on contingency planning, resource deployment and public awareness campaigns. According to the PMD, rain-windstorms and thundershowers, with isolated heavy falls, are likely in Kashmir from the night of July 10 to July 13 with occasional gaps.

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