US Adds Thailand to Currency Watchlist, Finds No Currency Manipulators

ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar met a US Congressional delegation in Islamabad on Tuesday. The two sides discussed ways to strengthen relations between Pakistan and the United States. The delegation included US Representatives Ryan Zinke and Michael Baumgartner. Dar welcomed the lawmakers and said Pakistan-US relations were gaining positive momentum. The meeting focused on several areas of mutual interest. These included trade, investment, information technology and energy. Both sides discussed opportunities to expand cooperation in these sectors. They also explored ways to increase economic and commercial engagement between the two countries. Dar stressed the importance of regular parliamentary exchanges. He said continued contact between lawmakers could help build mutual trust and improve understanding between Pakistan and the US. The foreign minister also highlighted the importance of stronger institutional links. He said regular engagement could help both countries develop closer and more productive relations. The visiting US lawmakers praised the role of the Pakistani community in the United States. They acknowledged the diaspora’s contributions to the US economy and society. The Pakistani community was also described as an important bridge between the two countries. Its role can help promote stronger people-to-people and economic ties. Regional and international issues were also discussed during the meeting. The two sides exchanged views on developments affecting regional peace and security. The US delegation appreciated Pakistan’s efforts to promote regional peace and stability. Pakistani officials said Islamabad remained committed to dialogue and peaceful solutions to regional challenges. The meeting comes as Pakistan seeks to expand its economic engagement with the United States. Islamabad has been encouraging greater investment and cooperation in emerging sectors. Trade and investment remain key areas of focus in the evolving relationship. Pakistan is particularly interested in attracting US investment in technology, energy and other high-growth sectors.

QUETTA: A wave of violence and tragic accidents swept across Balochistan on Tuesday, as authorities recovered six bullet-riddled bodies from four districts while eight more people, including two women, lost their lives in separate incidents of gunfire, a roadside explosion, a fuel tanker fire and a deadly road crash. According to police officials, the bodies of six unidentified men were recovered from Kalat, Mastung, Panjgur and Kharan, prompting multiple investigations into the killings. Three of the bodies were discovered in different areas of Kalat district. Two were found dumped in the Rej locality after local authorities received information from residents, while another body was recovered from the Chhapar area. All three were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital for identification, but officials said their identities had not yet been established. In Mastung, police recovered another unidentified man’s body from the Jungle area after receiving reports from local residents. Preliminary investigations suggest the deceased may have been a drug addict, though authorities said the exact cause and circumstances of his death are still being examined. The fifth body was found in Nowan Kur, Panjgur, where police believe the victim was shot dead by unidentified attackers before his body was abandoned. In Kharan, authorities recovered the body of a man who had reportedly been abducted by armed men two days earlier after they stormed his home. His body was later found on the outskirts of the city with bullet wounds. Separate incidents elsewhere in the province added to the death toll. In Kalat’s Mangochar area, unidentified gunmen opened fire on a family travelling from Zhob to Karachi after their driver allegedly failed to stop at a signal. Two women were killed in the attack, while a child sustained injuries and was taken to hospital. Meanwhile, an improvised explosive device (IED) detonated near the N-65 National Highway in Mastung, killing a driver and injuring five others. The explosion severely damaged an LPG tanker and two trailers. In Quetta, two people were burned to death after an oil tanker caught fire at a petrol pump near Sariab Customs. In another tragedy, three people were killed in a head-on collision between two vehicles on the Quetta-Karachi National Highway in the Surab area. Police have launched investigations into the shootings and explosions, while authorities continue efforts to identify the unidentified victims and determine those responsible for the attacks.