'We got him'
US Colonel rescued from Iran after fierce firefighting
Hello all, it’s Sunday April 5.
Yesterday, my 9-year-old and I spent an hour looking for kid newsletters that she could get in her email inbox and we literally found nothing that she could sign up for (except for one on kid’s gardening and public libraries in the US since others were limited by region). And it really got me thinking that since most schools now have online learning, and emails assigned to each student, wouldn’t it be a great idea to do a kid’s newsletter? I’m definitely not doing it but throwing out the idea and maybe one of you might! Young World was our newspaper of choice as kids so maybe a digital newsletter version would really work.
The war goes on and this weekend was super dramatic with a US Colonel rescue from Iran, Trump is stuck on his 48 hour ultimatum and Iran isn’t having it. All the updates are below.
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PM Shehbaz has launched a digital relief program to help public and freight transporters cope with skyrocketing fuel prices. Under this system, subsidies are being disbursed directly into digital wallets for bus, wagon, and truck operators to prevent a total transport collapse.
The Supreme Court of Pakistan is set to hear a review appeal from Zahir Jaffer on April 8, following his conviction for the 2021 torture and murder of Noor Mukadam. The high-profile case, which sparked nationwide outrage over gender-based violence, has already seen the death penalty upheld by both the Islamabad High Court and the Supreme Court in May 2025. A three-member bench will now revisit the appeal in a final legal attempt by the convict to challenge the death sentence and life imprisonment rulings.
King Edward Medical University has taken disciplinary action against two trainee doctors following a viral video scandal at Lahore’s Lady Willingdon Hospital. Based on an inquiry committee’s findings, Dr. Aqsa Khan has been repatriated to the Specialized Healthcare Department, while Dr. Nadia Saleem has been transferred to Lady Aitchison Hospital. The scandal, which involved filming a medical procedure, joking about who could perform the procedure faster and posting it online, has already led to the termination of training programs for five post-graduate residents.
A joint study by the World Bank and the ILO warns that Generative AI is creating a “double-edged sword” for countries like Pakistan. While high-income nations have more jobs exposed to AI (about 30%), developing nations face a much riskier “white-collar bypass.” The study highlights a “small buffer, big bottlenecks” problem: the office-based, clerical, and administrative jobs that usually help women and young people move into the middle class are the ones most likely to be automated. Meanwhile, the rest of the workforce can’t use AI to get ahead because they lack the fast, reliable internet needed to actually benefit from the tech. Essentially, AI might delete the best available office jobs in developing countries before the digital infrastructure is ready to create new ones.
DAY 37
•The following information has been taken from Al-Jazeera, Dawn and The Guardian.
Late Friday afternoon, Pakistan time, a F‑15E Strike Eagle was shot down over Iran’s rugged southwestern area, and an A‑10 attack jet crashed in the Gulf region after being hit during combat operations. One US crew member was rescued, and two helicopters involved in the search‑and‑rescue mission were struck by fire. One pilot was missing, later revealed to be a ‘highly respected U.S. Colonel’, who is also a weapons officer, according to Trump, and was being actively looked for by Iranian forces.
Iranian media posted images of the wreckage, asking locals to help find the ‘enemy pilot’ for a reward.
President Trump declared war on a news channel and said that the US military was actively looking for the colonel.
After evading Iranian authorities for two days, and after a fierce firefight between Iranian military and the US rescue mission, the officer was recovered by what are presumed to be US Special Operations forces.
‘We got him’, Trump confirmed and said the mission as one of the most daring search-and-rescue operations in American history, confirming the Colonel was “safe and sound,” and out of Iranian territory.
Escalation and Regional Fallout
According to analysts, the shooting down of two US jets marks a significant turning point in the six-week conflict, with US lawmakers questioning the lack of a formal war declaration and warning against a “forever war.” It also is not clear at all that who is actually ‘winning’ the. war.
During and even after the rescue of the airman, the broader conflict was still at a boiling point. Trump gave a 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran, warning that “all hell” will break loose if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t opened or a deal isn’t made.
“Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them,” he wrote on the social media site Truth Social.
Iran’s central military command rejected the ultimatum, with Gen Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi saying Trump’s threat was a “helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action”.
Echoing Trump’s language, he warned that “the gates of hell will open for you”.
Trump later posted a video showing explosions lighting up a night sky along with text that said: “Many of Iran’s Military Leaders … are terminated, along with much else, with this massive strike in Tehran,” without specifying when it took place.
Tehran denies snubbing Islamabad: Peace talks depend on terms, not location
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has hit back at US media reports claiming Tehran refused to participate in the Pakistan-led peace negotiations. In a direct clarification, Araghchi stated that Iran “never refused to go to Islamabad” and expressed deep gratitude for Pakistan’s role as a facilitator. He accused American outlets of misrepresenting Iran’s stance, emphasizing that the primary hurdle is not the venue, but the requirement for a “conclusive and lasting end” to what he termed an illegal war. To underscore the bilateral bond, Araghchi shared footage of Iranians waving Pakistani flags and closed his statement with the phrase “Pakistan Zindabad.”
The clarification follows a Wall Street Journal report suggesting that regional ceasefire efforts led by Islamabad had reached a “dead end.” Pakistani officials were quick to welcome the Iranian correction. Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar thanked his “dear brother” Araghchi for setting the record straight.
While open to Islamabad as a host, Iranian officials remain highly skeptical of the diplomatic process due to American conduct. Tehran cited a “zero confidence” policy toward the US, pointing to recent military deployments that contradict Washington’s stated desire for peace.
Furthermore, an Iranian official described a US 15-point proposal as “too difficult to accept” and expressed a chilling security concern: given the recent targeting of leaders involved in de-escalation initiatives, there are fears that anyone sitting at the negotiating table could become a target.
Despite the friction, Islamabad continues to leverage its unique position, maintaining ties with the US, a working relationship with Iran, and a strategic partnership with China. Pakistan has already hosted a quadrilateral meeting of foreign ministers and issued a joint five-point peace initiative with China. While the “war of narratives” continues, Islamabad remains committed to providing a neutral ground for dialogue, provided the warring parties can agree on the underlying terms.
Elsewhere: Information Control and Economic Strain
As the military campaign enters a new phase potentially targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure, the flow of information is being tightly restricted. Satellite firm Planet Labs has implemented an indefinite blackout on imagery of the conflict zone, after Trump Administration requested them to do so, a move designed to deny adversaries tactical data. This information gap coincides with mounting economic pressure across the Middle East and Europe; Egypt has implemented steep hikes in electricity prices due to the fuel crisis, and several major Italian airports have introduced refuelling restrictions.
Kuwait has reported “serious material damage” to its power and water plants, while the UAE and Bahrain have been forced to activate air raid sirens to deal with incoming missile threats. Experts continue to warn of a potential “nuclear tide” in the Persian Gulf if strikes continue near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear facility, which could permanently cripple the region’s desalination capabilities.
Today feels like a reset day. Not dramatic, but quietly powerful if you let yourself start again without overthinking it.
In the top ten movies trending in Pakistani the three Mardaani movies are all in the list. Based on a true story (at least the first movie), the series exposes India’s rampant child trafficking cartels. Starring Rani Mukherjee, the movie is a thrilling, speedy watch, a little too positive in the end but very important for people to know - and feel - how terrible the situation is.
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