AC among five killed in Bajaur ’s ‘remote-controlled’ blast
Rashid the police officer informed He stated the blast was so intense that it destroyed the vehicle completely He added that 11 people were injured in the blast and immediately transported to Khar District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital for treatment
Ismail Tehsildar Abdul Wakil Subedar Noor Hakim and police constable
DPO Rafique said security was beefed up in the area with a search operation underway The incident report from the hospital’s medical superintendent to provincial health authorities said the bomb blast occurred at 2pm adding that four bodies and 18 injured were brought to the facility KP Health Adviser Ihtisham Ali contacted Khar DHQ s district health officer and the medical superintendent to inquire about the well-being of those injured in the attack
UNGA: Pakistan slams India over human rights abuses, state terrorism
UNITED NATIONS
s ta f f C o r r e s p o n d e n t
Pakistan in a strongly worded statement at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), accused India of widespread human rights abuses, religious persecution, and sponsoring terrorism within Pakistan Responding to remarks made earlier by the Indian representative, Second Secretary at Pakistan’s Permanent Mission to the UN Rabia Ijaz said she was compelled to reply to what she termed a misleading and hypocritical narrative presented by New Delhi This is a classic case of an oppressor masquerading as the victim, she said, adding that India had weaponised hate, normalised mob violence, and institutionalised discrimination” against its own citizens, particularly religious minorities as well as against the people of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) She rejected India s invocation of the principle of Responsibility to Protect (R2P) arguing that a state system built on exclusion and repression had no moral ground to invoke such doctrines The Pakistani diplomat stated that India, under the BJP-RSS nexus, had transformed into a “majoritarian autocracy ” where Muslims Christians and Dalits were living under constant fear She pointed to a spate of mob lynchings the use of bulldozers for collective punishment the demolition of mosques and discriminatory laws that strip citizenship on religious grounds as evidence of systematic state-sponsored oppression On the Kashmir dispute, Rabia rejected India’s claims that the region is an internal matter while reiterating Pakistan’s long-standing position that Jammu and Kashmir is an
An emergency has been imposed in Bajaur hospitals, and health department staff have been alerted for first aid, he said in a statement The health advisor strongly condemned the blast and expressed grief over the demise of AC Ismail and others in the incident He assured the public that medical assistance would be provided to the injured KP Inspector General of Police (IG) Zulfiqar Hameed sought a report on the blast from the Malakand regional police officer (RPO) He also ordered to speed up intelligence-based operations against TTP and directed the Counter-Terrorism Department s additional inspector general of police to send a special team to Bajaur “A special branch is obtaining intelligence related to the incident ” Hameed
said adding that according to initial information, the TTP targeted the assistant commissioner s vehicle Hameed said that teams were formed “to arrest the elements involved in the incident while all necessary evidence is being collected from the spot adding that bomb disposal teams were present on site
Those elements disturbing the country and province’s peace will be strictly dealt with, the KP police chief said KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur ordered an inquiry into the incident and directed that medical facilities be provided to the injured, according to KP government spokesperson Barrister Mohammad Ali Saif
ISLAMABAD
The ruling coalition ‘gained’ a two-thirds majority in the National Assembly on Wednesday after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) distributed the PTI s reserved seats to the PML-N PPP and the opposition Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) following the Supreme Court s verdict Last week, the Constitutional Bench overturned the Supreme Court’s earlier judgment in the reserved seats case effectively taking away reserved seats from the PTI and handing them to their rival parties in the national and provincial legislatures
The decision, handed down by a majority of seven judges, supersedes the July 12, 2024 majority judgment by eight judges, which had declared the PTI eligible for reserved seats for women and non-Muslims in the assemblies The Constitutional Bench s decision effectively meant the PTI was no longer a parliamentary party Acting on the court s verdict, the ECP issued an order today withdrawing its July 24 and 29 notifications from last year that had declared returned candidates against general seats of the National Assembly
and the Punjab Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies as returned candidates of the PTI
In another order today, the ECP notified the names of the returned candidates under various categories of reserved seats with immediate effect, distributing 13 seats to the PML-N in the National Assembly four to the PPP and two to the opposition JUI-F After this process the ruling coalition achieves a two-thirds majority; in a house of 336 the magic number required to attain a two-thirds majority is 224
The National Assembly Secretariat’s Legislation Branch later issued the National Assembly composition reflecting the actual party position after the apex court s verdict and ECP s distribution It showed the treasury benches as now having 235 seats to the opposition s 98 seats, for a total of 333 seats, with one MNA suspended and two reserved seats being vacant The ECP also distributed reserved seats in the provincial assemblies In the KP Assembly 10 seats were given to the JUI-F seven to the PML-N six to the PPP and one each to the PTI-Parliamentarians and Awami National Party K P C M d a r e s o p p o n e n t s t o t o p p l
Govt reduces regulator y duties on impor ted food, vehicles, and personal c are goods
Private sector borrowing rebounds to Rs7 10b in F Y25, marking a three-year high
In FY24, most
G ovt
slashes por t charges by 50% at Por t Qasim to boost expor ts
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs announced a 50% reduction in port charges for export-oriented cargo at Port Qasim aiming to support exporters and improve the port s competitiveness The reduced charges, which are effective immediately, will apply to wharfage and transshipment container charges for one year The decision also includes concessions for Marginal Wharf Berths 1 and 2 as well as for the Fotco and Fauji Akbar Portia terminals Minister for Maritime Affairs Junaid Anwar Chaudhry explained that this move is intended to boost exports and attract more traffic to Port Qasim We are working to draw cargo from
Central Asian countries to Pakistani ports and enhancing the competitiveness of our ports is key to this effort, he said Discussions are ongoing with Uzbekistan to route its seaborne trade through Pakistani ports, as most Central Asian countries currently rely on European or Iranian ports for international shipments
As part of the reforms handling charges for LNG cargoes have also been reduced Additionally charges for containerized cargo at the DP World terminal have been halved, though no discounts will apply to empty containers The Ministry of Maritime Affairs issued a formal notification on Tuesday with the new rates coming into effect immediately
AC among five killed in Bajaur ’s ‘remote - controlled ’ blast
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
Saif, in a statement, strongly condemned the incident and said the loss of lives was regrettable Those who are hostile elements to the country will not be allowed to succeed in their nefarious purposes and will be brought to justice ” KP Chief Secretary Shahab Ali Shah also condemned the incident He directed the district administration and health department to remain on full alert provide immediate medical assistance to the injured and utilise all available resources to deal with the emergency situation
Pakistan has been grappling with an alarming surge in terror activities, especially in KP and Balochistan, after the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022
The country ranked second in the Global Terrorism Index 2025 Later in the evening the funeral prayers of the martyrs were held at the Police Lines in Bajaur, which was attended by senior administrative and police officers local leaders the
victims families and members of the public
PM President strongly condemn Bajaur blast
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday strongly condemned the blast near Phatak Mela in district Bajaur expressing deep grief and sorrow over the deaths of innocent people in the explosion In a press statement, the prime minister offered his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family members and prayed for the elevation of ranks of the martyrs in Jannah
He said the terrorists were targeting the innocent people for which they will be given exemplary punishment
The prime minister while praying for the early recovery of those injured in the blast directed to provide all possible medical facilities to them
Meanwhile, President Asif
Ali Zardari strongly condemned the bomb blast and expressed his grief over the deaths
The president also extended his condolences and sympathies to the victims families and offered prayers for the deceased Terrorists are the enemies of
humanity who target people Zardari asserted reiterating Pakistan s resolve to take all possible measures to complete the eradication of the scourge of terrorism ” PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari strongly condemned the attack on X I am deeply saddened by the martyrdom of the Nawagai assistant commissioner, tehsildar and other officials in this blast,” he said in a statement
“Terrorists are staunch enemies of the nation and country [and] do not want peace and tranquillity
Extending his prayers to the families of the deceased, Bilawal wrote, “Every individual in Pakistan is united in the war against terrorism ” National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq also strongly condemned the incident
He expressed deep sorrow and regret over the loss of lives and expressed solidarity with the affected families
He denounced the targeting of AC Ismail s vehicle as a cowardly and shameful act urging that those responsible be brought to justice Ruling coalition
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
The PML-N was given 23 seats in the Punjab Assembly two for the PPP and one each to the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid and Istehkam-iPakistan Party In the Sindh Assembly two seats were given to the PPP and one to the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan RESERVED SEATS CASE Through its March 25, 2024 order, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) had deprived the Sunni Ittehad Council the party joined by PTI-backed independents after the Feb 8 2024 polls of reserved seats On the date of the first hearing of this case, Justices Ayesha A Malik and Aqeel Ahmed Abbasi had rejected outright the review petitions filed by the PML-N, ECP and PPP Subsequently, their names were excluded from the strength of the Constitutional Bench even though they were considered part of the bench Meanwhile Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail had partly allowed the review petitions and maintained his original order of giving 39 seats to PTI but reviewed the majority judgment to the extent of 41 seats In his July 12 dissenting order, Justice Mandokhail had declared PTI a parliamentary party consisting of 39 members and thus entitled to reserved seats Therefore, the ECP should recalculate and reallocate
order
KP CM dares opponents to topple gov t constitutionally as PTI reaffirms
COMMENT
TH E latest inflation figure shows that inflation is running at 3 2 percent, which bodes ill for growth Disinflation is simply the coming down of the inflation rate because the central bank has taken anti-inflationary measures such as raising the benchmark interest rate There was even one use of the State Bank s atomic bomb, the raising of the deposit ratio However, the rate has been managed down through the interest rates On the other hand, deflation would imply the coming down of prices This would harm investment, as entrepreneurs hold back from entering a market where prices were falling while entrepreneurs already there held back from any expansion or refurbishment,
One effect of the caution of the SBP Monetary Price Committee has been that banks are making money, with high real rates of return, which seems likely to continue However, this will be a short-term phenomenon if the economy does not pick up However industrialists will try to get the State Bank’s benchmark rate lowered so that they can get cheaper credit from the banks There is always delicate balance between inflation and growth, and while the SBP is trying to keep inflation in check it is not paying the sort of attention to growth as it should, certainly not enough for the government, which feels a little cheated because it expected the fall in inflation to make a positive impression on the electorate in two ways: by improving his standard of living directly, and to actually increase his income through higher growth This is apart from the increased fiscal space created through a lowering of the interest rate, via the lowering of the cost of borrowing (which would mean lower debt servicing costs It is perhaps unfortunate that lower costs during the fiscal year seemed to go towards meeting IMF targets, as the CBR failed to meet its revenue collection targets However, it seems there may well be a repetition in the coming fiscal year If the interest rate does come down, some of the debt servicing cost may be avoided, but there are already rumblings that the collection target has been set beyond the CBR’s ability
Instead of letting the CBR slack off on its target the government must ensure that it keeps its development spending at budgeted levels One of the first targets of the IMF is development spending, as it is easier to hold back on it, than to cut nondevelopment spending, which is already pared to the bone Development spending translates into growth which is what the government wants
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
in terrorist activities in Mastung, it is quite evident
that Quetta could be targeted at any time In fact, there have been two recent incidents in Quetta in which nearly a dozen people were injured and two lost their lives on the spot
TH E incidents of armed militants appearing in towns across Balochistan whether around Khuzdar somewhere in Kalat or more recently in Mastung or Surab are becoming increasingly frequent Small groups of militants emerge, block roads, check vehicles, burn government installations, and, in a newer trend, loot banks and seize weapons from police or Levies stations before disappearing In most cases the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) on the ground surrender without resistance and the forces dispatched to clear the area often arrive too late, resembling scenes from 1990s Bollywood films where the police never arrive on time Amid this new trend a religious extremist group the self-proclaimed Islamic State of Khorasan (IS-K) an offshoot of the so-called Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant/Syria (ISIL/ISIS) has threatened to target nationalist movements whether peaceful or violent, as their version of Islam considers nationalism to be un-Islamic However, it is quite evident that their decision stems from a recent violent clash with one of the Baloch separatist groups As usual Islam has become collateral damage in the pursuit of IS-K s motives
Is this the new normal for the people of Balochistan, for residents of towns like Surab, Khuzdar, Mastung, Kachhi, and Kalat, to live in constant fear of armed militants appearing at any time? Will the banks in these areas their staff and the money deposited in them continue to remain unsafe? Is it good news or bad that IS-K has added groups like the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) and the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), both nationalistic in nature, as well as violent separatist groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) to its target list? Above all, where do we go from here? Each of these questions deserves a full-length research paper and collectively they could fill an entire volume However this brief piece aims to offer a surface-level understanding of these questions and explore the answers that best align with logic The answer to the first question is yes, this does appear to be the new normal in Balochistan The distance between Mastung and Quetta is only about 50 kilometers roughly an hour ’s drive If both Baloch separatists and IS-K have been frequently involved
Strategic stabilit y in South Asia post-Pahalgam
Ever yone needs it fast
now
culation
and doctrinal confusion As
and
its arsenal, Pakistan and indeed the
must
company
with the
and obligations that
In May South Asia was on the brink of a nuclear catastrophe As India outstandingly violated the Line of Control (LoC) and Pakistan s territorial integrity and sovereignty, the world witnessed how quickly conventional conflict can be raised to the level of nuclear annihilation As both sides mobilized components of their nuclear command system there were reports of rising alert levels for missile units Pakistan was essentially able to deter India from escalation due to its nuclear capability Even though diplomacy ultimately averted catastrophe, the event highlighted the slim margin for error under which nuclear powers settle disputes under strict time pressures In recent years India and Pakistan have moved to develop their nuclear capabilities moves necessitated in no small measure For India, the post-crisis era has witnessed an increased emphasis on next-generation delivery systems, including MIRV-capable missiles and hypersonic glide vehicles Ballistic missile defense and early-warning satellite investments presented as a defensive stance have been interpreted in Islamabad as attempts to pursue nuclear hegemony and undermine Pakistani deterrence Concurrently, Indian controversies surrounding the applicability of its No First Use (NFU) policy, which has already been doubted in recent years have added to the complexity of the strategic environment When India’s senior leadership indicates NFU may not be operational in every situation it raises deep uncertainty about thresholds, prompting Pakistan to respond with countermeasures due to India’s growing strategic ambitions and changes in doctrine Pakistan in turn has remained committed to full-spectrum deterrence within the ambit of credible minimum deterrence as the pillar of its security posture a policy intended to offset India s increasing conventional and strategic capabilities The Nasr missile s modernization, command and control upgrades, and collaborations to upgrade defense technology are all manifestations of Islamabad’s determination to maintain stability within an increasingly asymmetrical atmosphere These serve to keep a
check on India s playing field However, it is precisely this dynamic- a cycle of retaliation- that threatens to destabilize the two countries’ quest for stability With increasingly advanced arsenals and India s doctrinal shift that fuses conventional and nuclear use the chances of inadvertent escalation become extremely high Tactical nuclear weapons, accelerated decision cycles, and dual-capable platforms raise the likelihood that a conflict, accidental or intentional could cross a threshold from which neither can easily retreat The decline of confidence-building measures and channels of dialogue has only added
environment Hotlines and crisis communica-
De-escalation agreements have stalled
the
cion This was demonstrated by the refusal of Indian authorities to communicate promptly with Pakistan in May In the absence of structured communication and mutual comprehension of red lines, the risk of misinterpretation
Therefore it appears to be a matter of chance as to when either of these groups might strike anywhere in Balochistan, including the provincial capital, Quetta Their presence can be expected at any time, particularly the separatists However IS-K is even more ferocious in nature often targeting large crowds even in places of worship such as mosques and churches
The answer to the second question also appears to be yes, for now, since looting banks has become a new strategy adopted by a separatist group, BLA
The irony lies in the fact that the bank robbery in Surab was celebrated as shown in a video clip where after armed men successfully broke into the bank bystanders were seen cheering them on This is deeply concerning as it suggests that some locals may have started viewing these militants as celebrities, whether out of admiration, desperation, or hatred toward others While the bank staff have remained unharmed during these lootings the money kept in these banks is understandably no longer safe The security systems in place are insufficient to prevent such robberies, and the inability of the security forces on the ground to respond effectively only creates a more favorable environment for these groups to operate
The answer to the third question is neither clearly good nor entirely bad it appears to contain elements of both On one hand the clash between the separatists and IS-K may keep them engaged in conflict with each other potentially weakening both groups It is likely that they will expose each other s operational information, which could help prevent future attacks Their rivalry is expected to intensify with each confrontation potentially transforming them into fierce adversaries There is even a possibility that IS-K may begin targeting separatist hideouts in Afghanistan while the separatists may try to outmaneuver IS-K in areas of Balochistan where they maintain stronger influence and are in greater command Nonetheless, the chances for reconciliation
tablishing and renewing CBMs, especially those aimed at reducing nuclear risk, must be given high priority Increased transparency regarding missile tests sharper crisis communication guidelines and cooperative efforts to contain accidents can contribute to reviving confidence and preclude accidents from escalating to disaster No less crucial is the renewed commitment to the transparency of nuclear doctrine For India, this translates into reaffirming or clarifying its NFU policy For Pakistan, it translates into continuing to play a responsible role and maintaining strategic stability in the region Pakistan has long stated that its nuclear weapons are weapons of peace means of securing national survival, and not instruments for coercion
The international community can also contribute Although the nuclear challenges of the region are emanating from the Indian government policies major international actors and cooperative frameworks can assist by promoting technical measures of risk reduction fostering dialogue, and promoting restraint The costs of failure are too large to let South Asia s nuclear future rest on unpredictable odds
The May 2025 crisis serves as a stark reminder that peace in South Asia cannot be taken for granted India and Pakistan now need to think not merely of deterrence but of how to make it more secure through talks openness and moderation It is now time for India to demystify its doctrine and rein in gestures that contribute to insecurity The fate of one-fifth of the world’s population cannot be left to chance
The writer is a freelance columnist
T h e M ay 2 0 2 5 c r i s i s s e r v e s a s a s t a r k r e m i n d e r t h a t p e a c e
i n S o u t h A s i a c a n n o t b e t a k e n fo r g r a n t e d . I n d i a a n d
Pa k i s t a n n ow n e e d t o t h i n k n o t m e r e ly o f d
c t o r y
Adapting to telecom
Highway of fear
hAmAyl FAisAl
AsAdullAh RAisAni
TH e gaza strip a sliver of land gripped by blockade and burdened by an enduring humanitarian crisis continues to haunt the conscience of the world in 2025 the tides of resistance found a bold new vessel: The Madleen Freedom Flotilla This daring mission, propelled by humanitarian urgency and led by high-profile youth activists such as greta Thunberg sought not only to deliver essential supplies but to reignite global awareness about gaza s plight its interception by israeli forces and the subsequent detention of its crew sent shockwaves through the international community, refocusing attention on gaza and sparking a powerful resurgence of global solidarity More than an isolated incident the Madleen became a symbol echoing historic maritime acts of resistance and ushering in a fresh era of cross-border conscience and civil defiance The Madleen did not sail alone; it followed the wake of previous courageous attempts to breach the gaza blockade most notably the Mavi Marmara in 2010 That mission ended in tragedy with ten civilian lives lost at the hands of israeli commandos However, it firmly etched the flotilla into the global consciousness as a powerful act of peaceful resistance The international condemnation and legal challenges that followed reinforced a precedent: that humanitarian defiance at sea could disrupt the narrative of impunity surrounding the blockade
On June 1 2025 the Madleen set sail from sicily, carrying twelve international activists, including: greta Thunberg (sweden) – Climate activist and prominent face of the mission rima Hassan (France) – Member
I
The imposition of Hindi on southern states strikes a raw national ner
of the european Parliament and jurist, Yasemin acar (germany) – Human-rights activist focused on refugee and anti-racism issues Thiago Ávila (Brazil) – socio-environmentalist and coordinator with Freedom Flotilla Brazil Baptiste andré (France) –Doctor and humanitarian volunteer Omar Faiad (France) – al Jazeera journalist reporting aboard, Pascal Maurieras (France) –French activist, iT worker, and CgT union member , Yanis Mhamdi (France) – Journalist and documentary filmmaker for Blast suayb Ordu (Turkey) – activist with longstanding support for Palestine reva seifert-Viard (France) – environmental activist , Marco van rennes (Netherlands) –sailor and member of Dutch Boat to gaza , sergio Toribio (spain) – spanish activist and sea shepherd member Their mission was as humble as it was radical: to deliver rice baby formula and hope to gaza Yet just days later on June 9 in international waters, the israeli Navy intercepted the vessel Using drones and special forces, the flotilla was boarded and redirected to ashdod all 12 activists were detained Four including Thunberg were swiftly deported; eight others who refused to comply were incarcerated at givon prison legal aid organization adalah soon reported grave concerns: activists, including rima Hassan, were allegedly pressured under duress threatened with solitary confinement and extended detention to sign deportation papers These details intensified scrutiny over israel s actions Thunberg s post-release statement hit headlines: We were kidnapped in international waters but what s happening in gaza is far worse
Her words laced with clarity and moral conviction, instantly reframed the issue not around the activists, but around the suffering in gaza Her call for “more angry women” galvanized a new generation of human rights defenders rima Hassan still defiant declared: Carrying baby milk to children should not be a crime
The response was swift The UN special rapporteur condemned the incident as a “blatant violation of international maritime law ” lawmakers in spain Turkey and France echoed the outrage demanding accountability Media around the globe framed the Madleen s interception not as a military manoeuvre but as a symbolic act of civil resistance Under the United Nations Convention on the law of the sea specifically article 87 freedom of navigation on the high seas is a foundational principle By intercepting the Madleen in international waters israel appears to have violated this principle Further, the geneva Conventions mandate protection for civilians and unhindered humanitarian assistance, both of which are
compromised under the current blockade and its enforcement mechanisms The reported coercion of activists to sign deportation papers under threat of mistreatment raises further alarms under international human rights law These actions are now being scrutinized as potential breaches of due process and the right to humane treatment
The Madleen s journey bears striking historical resemblance to that of the exodus 1947 a ship carrying over 4500 Jewish Holocaust survivors seeking refuge in Britishcontrolled Palestine like the Madleen it was intercepted in international waters like the Madleen it became a symbol far more powerful than its physical presence Yet the missions diverge in focus The Exodus carried people seeking safety and identity The Madleen carried aid and protesters challenging a confinement already imposed One was an escape from horror; the other a confrontation with its modern manifestation still both vessels by daring to sail, exposed the moral contradictions of dominant powers and forced the world to confront uncomfortable truths a Philosophical reckoning: Power resistance and Conscience The Madleen incident invites not just legal critique but philosophical reflection Noam Chomsky frames the israeli blockade as a modern colonial project, emphasizing systemic legal violations and asymmetrical power edward said once lamented that
s r a e l i Prime Minister Benjamin Ne-
THE FANTASY OF REPLICATING
he wrote on X siddaramaiah, who goes by one name, has been one of the most vocal defenders of linguistic identity in southern india His government mandated 60 per cent of Karnataka s signage be in Kannada and last year proposed reserving half of all private sector jobs for locals who count it as their mother tongue That measure met resistance from Bengaluru’s tech sector a magnet for workers from across india and was shelved
There is already a huge amount of tension and that s got to do with the distribution of political power, said ayesha Kidwai, professor of linguistics at Jawa-
harlal Nehru University she added that administratively there is a real problem that both the colonial and the post colonial state had when you have such linguistic diversity: how are you going to promise services to people?” With many languages spoken across its subcontinental sprawl india s central government after independence in 1947 initially sought to promote Hindi, something that was virulently opposed in the south This year, a new war over words has erupted as New Delhi pushes the southern state of Tamil Nadu to implement the national three-language policy under which students learn english and two indian languages at state-run schools Tamil Nadu has long refused to implement it, arguing such moves would impose Hindi by stealth The state has also accused the government of withholding education funds as pressure in april Modi mocked Tamil Nadu s politicians for writing to him in english The state s chief minister, MK stalin, snapped back, warning Modi s government not to throw stones at a beehive” such clashes are entwined in deeper political fears Modi’s administration has signalled plans to redraw parliamentary boundaries after the 2027 census a move that would further shift the balance of power to his party s northern heartland That prospect has caused alarm in the south, which boasts higher human development levels houses a large chunk of india’s industrial capacity and feels increasingly sidelined Tamil Nadu s stalin recently told the FT the BJP treats people in the south as second-class citizens Whatever the shape of india’s political landscape, language anxieties are likely to continue playing out across its increasingly multilingual cities s irudaya rajan chair of the international institute of Migration and Development in Kerala, estimates that close to half of all urban residents in india now speak a different first language to that of locals But rajan himself has muddled along without too much trouble “i studied four years in Mumbai still i can t speak Hindi i [have lived] in Kerala for 25 years, i can t speak good Malayalam, he said, referring to the state s main language “language doesn’t matter everybody is playing politics ”
tanyahu appeared belated and euphoric as he addressed a camera on June 13 claiming he had averted a “nuclear holocaust by attacking two of iran s nuclear sites assassinating its top military officials and nuclear scientists, and targeting the country s infrastructure 12 days later, when the war had ended, he made the same remarks with a less jaunty expression He said he had achieved a “great victory by dismantling iran s nuclear program and thanked U s President Donald Trump for joining his deadly campaign and dropping his own bombs on iranian facilities Trump, too, has been calling the war a victory based on the fact that iran’s nuclear program has been “obliterated”
But now more than a week after the fighting ceased on June 24th at the behest of Washington and Tel aviv the facts and justifications presented by the two leaders simply aren t holding up several american media outlets have cast doubt on the possibility of completely destroying iran’s nuclear sites, the most critical of which are located underground and shielded by mountains Most importantly the whereabouts of iran s hundreds of kilograms of enriched uranium remain unknown Furthermore, even if Trump and Netanyahu have succeeded in abolishing iran s nuclear program, this wouldn’t prevent the country from rebuilding it if anything iranians would face a far easier path should they decide to pursue nuclear weapons given their newfound distrust of the international atomic energy agency (iaea) and the significant increase in domestic calls for nuclear armament
The consequences the U s and israel had to face for launching a war on iran were not insignificant either large swathes of israeli cities in the occupied territories now lie in ruins marking the first time settlers have experienced life in a warzone despite having waged several wars against arabs in the past seven decades Moreover, iran pounded the United states’ most important military base in West asia the al Udeid airbase in Qatar one day after americans struck the country’s nuclear sites iran launched twelve missiles at the base six of which hit their target a fact Trump consistently tries to deny
Despite the surprising turn of events for international observers, the truth of the matter is that none of these results and consequences were really unforeseen for analysts and officials who have been warning for years that iran s nuclear program cannot be dismantled even if the U s and israel manage to physically damage it at some point also, Trump and Netanyahu most certainly knew that iran has a large arsenal of sophisticated missiles and that it has enough to consistently hit israel for several months This all begs a crucial question: Why did Trump and Netanyahu initiate a war they knew would not dismantle iran s nuclear program? The answer, quite simply, is that their true objectives lay elsewhere
SYRIA IN IRAN: in December of 2024 forces of the Hayat Tahrir al-sham (HTs) entered syria s capital Damascus essentially putting an end to the government of President Bashar al-assad, 24 years and five months after he rose to power
Before his fall, assad had weathered trials few rulers in the region have ever faced He spent over a decade battling Daesh terrorists successfully driving the majority of them from the country throughout the 2010s He managed to keep his government functioning despite crippling U s sanctions that decimated syria s economy and created widespread shortages
Most recently, he had been welcomed back into the fold by arab leaders slowly but surely returning to the international stage after being shunned by many arab countries in 2011
Yet this government which had endured so much, collapsed with surprising ease in December To everyone s astonishment, even the syrian arab army, the much-vaunted force built over the course of 70 years, could not contend with a group of terrorists imported from China and Central asia The syrian army wasn t less equipped than the HTs nor was it outnumbered; it simply did not receive orders to engage
Following the HTs s formation of a semigovernment in syria, and once the dust had settled, regional media outlets that had maintained contact with the previous state reported that a significant number of syrian army commanders as well as key ministers and associates of assad had been bought off by the U s and israel through arab and Turkish intermediaries
Those who remained loyal to assad ultimately fled when they realized that the president himself had no intention of staying assad now resides in russia many of his former commanders now work for the HTs and his ministers have either vanished or have turned against him a small number of those who stayed and fought are also believed to be dead as the war on iran began, many speculated that israel’s objective was to replicate its strategy with Hezbollah: decapitation The argument was that the regime believed that by assassinating iran s top military leaders it could indefinitely delay any retaliation and then seize the opportunity to devastate large swathes of iran, eliminating any remaining commanders and officials Ultimately, israel would be left with a mere shell of a government in iran devoid of any real control over the country Back then some of the information we possess today was unavailable We now know that after assassinating generals and scientists on June 13, israel contacted a large number of iranian political and military officials, telling them that they should announce they were no longer part of the islamic republic or face death for themselves and their families The Washington Post even published the audio of one such phone call in which the unnamed official was instructed to send a video to israel announcing his leave ali larijani, a senior advisor to the leader of the islamic revolution, has confirmed he
TEHRAN TIMES
attack The discord was a rare outcome for the 10-member Eurasian bloc that prides itself on consensus-based decision-making
Wang Yi calls on China and EU to be pillars of stability in a turbulent world
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday met with European Council President Antonio Costa in Brussels, where he called on China and the European Union (EU) to remain pillars of stability amid growing global uncertainty Wang also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, underlined that China sees Europe as an important pole in a multipolar world and will maintain consistency and
responsibility for the violence Her stateappointed defence lawyer said she has denied the multiple charges that amount to crimes against humanity under Bangladeshi law
Heatwave across Europe leaves 8 dead as early summer temperatures hit records
BARCELONA SPAIN Ag e n c i e s Four people died in Spain, two in France and two in Italy as an early summer heatwave continued to grip much of Europe on Wednesday triggering health alerts and forest fires and forcing the closure of a nuclear reactor at a Swiss power plant Spanish officials said a wildfire in Catalonia had killed two people a day earlier, and authorities reported heatwave-linked deaths also in Extremadura and Cordoba France s energy minister reported two deaths linked to the heat, with 300 others taken to the hospital Italy issued red alerts for 18 cities while in Germany temperatures were forecast to peak at 40 degrees Celsius in some areas making it the
Muslim workers publicly stripped, humiliated in vigilante religion checks in UP
MUZAFFARNAGAR
Ag e n c i e s
In a disgusting act of religious vigilantism Muslim workers in Uttar Pradesh India were stripped and humiliated to prove their religion by followers of a controversial Hindu seer, Swamy Yashveer Maharaj
The targeted raids led by saffronclad men linked to Swamy Yashveer Maharaj saw hotel and eatery staff along the Kanwar Yatra route forcibly undressed in public triggering outrage and condemnation over the rising climate of hate and impunity in India
people earlier in the week said its fires were largely contained Tuesday’s fire in the Catalonia region of Spain destroyed several farms and affected an area stretching about 40 kilometres before being contained officials said A man cools off with water at Piazza del Popolo during a heatwave in Rome, Italy, July 2
In the chilling echo of vigilante moral policing hotel and eatery workers along the pilgrimage route were allegedly subjected to degrading religion checks over the past week Multiple eyewitnesses and local media reports confirm that the staff primarily male were forced to take off their pants to “prove” their religion by followers of Swamy Yashveer Maharaj a controversial seer linked to earlier acts of public vigilantism
The incidents occurred along NH-58 a major artery for Kanwar pilgrims heading to Haridwar Several hotels and roadside dhabas catering to pilgrims were reportedly raided by saffron-clad men af-
sharing expertise and fostering bilateral cooperation to enhance agricultural productivity and sustainability The delegation also aimed to explore advanced agricultural technologies including smart irrigation integrated pest management and soil health solutions Dr Ghulam Muhammad Ali emphasized Pakistan’s commitment to modernizing its agricultural sector by integrating state-of-the-art technologies He highlighted the importance of establishing partnerships with international institutions like Fiji National University to exchange knowledge and promote long-term collaboration
An important meeting was held at CDA Headquarters which was chaired by Chairman CDA Chief Commissioner Islamabad and DG Civil Defense Muhammad Ali Randhawa The meeting focused on special arrangements for Muharram-ul-Haram monsoon preparations and further improving coordination and smooth communication among CDA s various formations, MCI/DMA, and the district Administration The meeting was attended by CDA board members, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Additional Deputy Commissioner all DGs of CDA formations Chief Officer MCI Deputy DG Enforcement, Director DMA and all Assistant Commissioners of Islamabad Chairman CDA directed that District Administration officers, particularly the relevant Assistant Commissioners will not only identify illegal constructions encroachments
lighting on all road, illegal housing societies smooth flow of water cleaning of drainage installation of CCTV cameras at all major underpasses and hotspots which will be linked with Safe City Cameras, broken roads, water shortages, tankers unavailability parks condition, water stagnation in low-lying areas, timely cleaning of drains but will have proper coordination with concerned CDA formations in order to address all such issues timely ensuring people s satisfaction The concerned officers of CDA
must take practical steps to resolve these matters and no negligence in this regard will be tolerated Chairman CDA instructed the relevant formations to chalked out a comprehensive, long-term plan to remove illegal constructions and encroachments, repair and maintenance of roads as well as address park and sanitation issues He also directed CDA officers as well as Assistant Commissioners to improve further coordination between focal persons of all CDA formations and field units
CCPO ’s complaint cell leads in public ser vice deliver y
from the national regulatory framework for Shari’ah-compliant finance
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
The Bank of Punjab (BOP), one of Pakistan’s fastest-growing and digitally forward commercial banks has entered into a strategic alliance with Surfin Meta Digital Technologies Pte Ltd a Singapore-based global leader in embedded finance, AI-driven credit scoring, and merchant payment systems The MoU outlines a framework to evaluate and potentially implement advanced digital banking solutions aimed at enhancing financial access and operational efficiency in Pakistan
The MoU was signed in Islamabad by Mr Li Jin, of Surfin Meta and Mr Nofel Daud, Chief Digital Officer of BOP The signing ceremony was also attended by Mr Zafar Masud President & CEO of BOP who reaffirmed the Bank s commitment to embracing innovation and customer-centric digital transformation
ZAFAR MASUD PRESIDENT & CEO OF THE BANK OF PUNJAB REMARKED: This partnership reflects our strategic intent to embed cutting-edge technologies into BOP’s digital ecosystem We are particularly excited by Surfin Meta’s capabilities in AI-based credit scoring onboarding and merchant services solutions that are directly aligned with our mission to serve underserved segments, particularly SMEs and youth entrepreneurs across Punjab and beyond ” MR WU YANAN EXECUTIVE
CHAIRMAN AND CEO OF SURFIN
META COMMENTED: We are honored to collaborate
with The Bank of Punjab a progressive institution driving financial inclusion in Pakistan Our AI-powered digital infrastructure is designed to enhance customer journeys, strengthen compliance, and accelerate loan decision making all of which we are excited to demonstrate through this evaluation partnership Under the MoU the two organizations will jointly explore a comprehensive suite of services including digital onboarding, AI-driven loan origination and data analytics The evaluation phase will also include live demonstrations and potential pilot deployment of Surfin Met s platform
NEPrA APPrOvES rEviSEd UNifOrM tAriff
fOr f Y 2025-26 AMid iNdUStrY CONCErNS
PM Shehbaz leaves for Baku to attend 17th ECO summit today
ISLAMABAD
between the two countries including the Kashmir issue and the water crisis Let us resolve
Kashmir in accordance with the aspirations of the people Let us end the weaponization of water And instead, let us build peace as mighty as the Himalayas,” he urged, adding, “Let us return to our shared traditions grounded not in hatred but the ancient soil of the Indus Valley civilization
The former foreign minister s comments come as part of his continued efforts to push for dialogue between Pakistan and India, particularly over the Kashmir issue “Terrorists have no religion or borders ” he said addressing the ongoing tension between the two countries India must come to the table, talk to us, and resolve Kashmir Peace in the region cannot be achieved without resolving core disputes ” Bilawal’s remarks also focused on the global nature of terrorism which he said must be defeated for a sustainable future He acknowledged the growing threat posed by digital propaganda, which complicates counter-extremism efforts Pakistan is not drifting through the storm of terrorism
We are steering the vessel ” he said “We are still fighting because the alternative is surrender And surrender is
not a word in Pakistan s dictionary
He underscored that Pakistan has paid a heavy price for its counterterrorism efforts, both in human and economic losses Citing the increasing violence Bilawal pointed out that 2024 had been the deadliest year in a decade with 685 service members martyred in 444 separate attacks Bilawal also praised Pakistan s armed forces for their role in combating terrorism, noting their success in dismantling terror networks over the past two decades He specifically mentioned military operations like Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ul-Fasaad which have successfully broken the back of Al-Qaeda networks and driven the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) from its strongholds “Over the past two decades, Pakistan’s armed forces backed by iron-willed citizens have broken the backs of AlQaeda networks dismantled so-called caliphates such as Daesh and driven the TTP from the fortress to the fox hills, Bilawal stated
Furthermore, he highlighted the situation in Afghanistan where the Taliban’s return to power has contributed to an increase in cross-border terrorism
