Addressing a passing out parade of Pakistan Military Academy (PMA) cadets, the prime minister said that water had been a vital national interest of Pakistan and lifeline for its 240 million people and “Let there be no doubt at all that its availability would be safeguarded at all costs and circumstances
In an apparent reference to India s announcement of suspending the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT), the prime minister said Any attempt to stop, reduce and divert the flow of water belonging to Pakistan under the Indus Waters Treaty will be responded to with full force and might and no one should remain under any kind of false impression and confusion
The prime minister said that their valiant armed forces were fully capable and prepared to defending country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty against any misadventure as clearly demonstrated by its measured and resolute response to the Indian reckless incursion in February 2019, therefore nobody should make any mistake about it
He said that this nation of 240 million people stood united by and behind their brave armed forces and committed to safeguarding every inch of their motherland Let this message be loud and clear for all and sundry
The ceremony was attended by Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asif Munir, military leadership, members of the diplomatic corps and parents of the cadets
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated Peace is our preference but it must not be
construed as our weakness We will and shall never compromise on the dignity and security of our beloved Pakistan ”
He said Pakistan would continue its unwavering commitment to playing a responsible and constructive role at the global stage for peace and security as it believed in the unity of the human race
The prime minister said founder Quaid e Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah had rightly declared Kashmir as a jugular vein of Pakistan
He said the globally recognized dispute remained unresolved despite multiple UN resolutions and reaffirmed Pakistan s continuing support to the Kashmiris’ right to selfdetermination till they achieved it after great struggle and sacrifices
The prime minister said Afghanistan was their neighbouring country and it is our earnest desire to live in peace with them in all times to come but unfortunately, despite their best and sincere efforts, terrorist activities continued to emanate from Afghan territory ’
The deputy prime minister had recently visited Kabul and shared their efforts for better relations and understanding with the brotherly and neighbourly country Afghanistan, he said, adding, however, they also delivered a clear and loud message to
Iran has offered to mediate between Pakistan and India to help ease growing tensions between the two South Asian neighbours Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Saturday In a post on his official social media account, Araghchi said, We are ready to play a mediating role to help reduce tensions between Pakistan and India ” Citing Iran s close ties with both countries he noted that Tehran could assist in promoting understanding during this period of heightened tensions Neither Pakistan nor India has yet publicly responded to the Iranian offer
The development comes after Araghchi held separate telephone conversations with his Pakistani and Indian counterparts following attack in Pahalgam located in Indian Illegal Occupied Kashmir (IIOK)
During the calls the Iranian foreign minister urged both sides to exercise restraint and emphasised the importance of de-escalating the situation The incident in Pahalgam, a popular tourist destination, left 26 tourists dead and more than a dozen injured after unidentified gunmen opened fire In response to the attack India accused Pakistan of involvement a claim Islamabad has denied and announced the suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, a long-standing water-sharing agreement between the two countries
Naqvi reiterates Pakistan’s call for impar tial probe into Pahalgam attack
ISLAMABADL S TA F F R E P O R T
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday reiterated Pakistan s call for an impartial inquiry into the Pahalgam attack, saying Pakistan is ready to fully cooperate with any neutral party investigating the incident “India’s efforts to link Pakistan with the Pahalgam attack are baseless and premature but Pakistan remains determined to reveal the truth to the world Interior Minister Naqvi de-
clared while addressing a press conference He made it clear that Pakistan had no involvement in the Pahalgam incident Pakistan has a clear stance we are a peaceful nation he said adding that Pakistan condemns terrorism wherever it occurs in the world
He said that Pakistan possesses concrete evidence of India’s involvement in acts of terrorism He stressed that if any attempt was made to suppress Pakistan s rights every citizen will fight to the last breath
Munir said, We Muslims are fundamentally different from Hindus in every aspect of life our re-
ligion, customs, traditions, thoughts, and aspirations are distinct He highlighted the immense sacrifices made by Pakistan’s forefathers to create a separate homeland and underlined that the Two-Nation Theory is based on the recognition that Muslims and Hindus are two separate nations Our ancestors rendered unmatched sacrifices for the creation of Pakistan Their unwavering struggle led to the establishment of a new homeland ” he said “The Two-Nation Theory has always been the bedrock of Pakistan s existence and no Pakistani harbors even the slightest doubt about it Gen Munir also criticized the Indian media and social media platforms, accusing them of distorting historical facts with false propaganda
Tseizes
goods
World Bank reviews, approves restruc turing
World Bank s Implementation Support Mission for the National Health Support Programme (NHSP) Punjab has concluded a special session endorsing a restructuring plan aimed at accelerating reforms in primary healthcare across the province Chaired by Dr Jahanzeb Hussain Labar Additional Secretary (Vertical Programs)/Project Director NHSP, the session brought together NHSP leadership and World Bank experts to assess progress on Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLIs 1–11), evaluate environmental and social safeguards review financial and procurement performance and finalize the programme s restructuring paper Dr Jahanzeb informed the mission that inputs for establishing Level-I Newborn Nursery Care units at 44 Rural Health Centers (RHCs) one in each district have been formally notified and will become operational this year The initiative aims to lower neonatal morbidity and mortality by enhancing timely care in underserved areas An integrated Referral Management System has also been developed to better connect primary healthcare centers with higher-level institutions, while a feedback mechanism for Emergency Medical Records (EMR) is being readied for rollout across Punjab In the fight against tuberculosis Dr Jahanzeb detailed the establishment of integrated TB screening
and
talks with the Foreign Minister of Azerbaijan, Jeyhun Bayramov and briefed him on recent developments in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK)
Ahmad pointed out that headline inflation had declined sharply over the past two years, reaching a multidecade low of 0 7% in March 2025 He added that core inflation had also fallen significantly from above 22% to single digits and was expected to moderate further, helping headline inflation stabilise within the target range of 5
Pakistan Cr ypto Council and World Liber ty Financial sign agreements to promote investment
“While rejecting India’s baseless allegations DPM/FM cautioned against India s false propaganda against Pakistan and thanked Azerbaijan for its consistent support to Pakistan s stance on the issue of disputed territory of Jammu & Kashmir, Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release Both leaders also discussed ongoing Pakistan-Azerbaijan bilateral cooperation particularly in trade and investment sectors BRITISH HC DAR DISCUSS RECENT REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT Meanwhile, British High Commissioner Jane Marriott Saturday called on Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar During the meeting they exchanged views on the recent regional developments Foreign Office Spokesperson said in a press release
The DPM/FM reaffirmed Pakistan s commitment to safeguarding its national interests while ensuring regional peace and security DPM, EGYPTIAN FM DISCUSS REGIONAL DEVELOPMENTS Furthermore Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar Saturday held a telephonic conversation with his Egyptian counterpart Dr Badr Abdelatty Discussing recent regional developments
Dar firmly rejected India s baseless allegations and condemned its unilateral actions and false propaganda against Pakistan
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to safeguarding its national interests while promoting regional peace and stability
Both leaders also discussed avenues to enhance Pakistan-Egypt bilateral cooperation DPM, IRANIAN FM DISCUSS REGIONAL SITUATION
Yesterday DPM and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar Friday held a telephone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi
The DPM briefed him on recent developments in Pakistan-India relations and rejected India’s baseless allegations He cautioned against any further escalatory move
The world tries to keep the peace
countr y is buying the Indian narrative
ONE of the main purposes behind a false-flag operation as India conducted at Phulgam is to convince world public opinion that it is acting rightly rather righteously That it has failed to do so has become evident from the reaction even of those it had thought of as its friends India would probably have wished for at least its friends to have rushed to join its accusations of Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism and for fomenting the attack It has not even been met by any expressions of doubt Indeed, its diplomats can probably congratulate themselves on India not having been called out, so obvious a farrago of falsehoods and tissue of lies it has tried to present
The FIR of the attack has shown how blatantly false the Indian narrative is
US President Donald Trump’s reaction perhaps shows that India might well have cried ‘wolf!’ once too often Though his comment did seems than the seriousness of the situation warranted his comment that India and Pakistan would figure out the rising tensions His comment that the two countries have been clashing over Kashmir for 1000 years shows how badly he garbles history , but it is of no help to India, which had been counting on his special rapport with Indian PM Narendra Modi, his use of India as a regional counterweight to China, and the fact that Trump’s Vice-President JD Vance, was on a family visit to India at the time of the attack The involvement of Iran and Saudi Arabia who have both offered to mediate also indicates that the world is aware that India has tried to blame Pakistan for its own failure in security as it has done frequently in the past
However just because Indian diplomats the world over are busy tripping over their own feet does not mean that Pakistan should not conduct a diplomatic offensive to convince the world that India should not be allowed to get away with launching a war scare every few years India should not be allowed to use its and Pakistan s being nuclear-armed to scare the whole world The assumption that India is a large market has allowed it to unjustly maintain its grip on Kashmir, and now it is being used to enable it to browbeat Pakistan directly It should not be forgotten meanwhile that the nation has to deal with an India which has elected since 2014 a party upholding the Hindutva doctrine which is inimically opposed to Pakistan
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
How Modi’s India turned a security failure into a political weapon?
BEFORE the smoke cleared in Pahalgam before a single investigator stepped onto the scene, and while the wounded were still being rushed to hospitals India had already decided who was guilty Official Indian accounts started accusing Pakistan of being responsible for the devastating attack in Pahalgam on April 22 just minutes after it occurred No forensic experts There are no intelligence briefings Nothing from satellites The story was instantly corrected with just a tweet It poses a risky query: Is timing or truth at play here? We need to go back decades, not days or months, to see why the finger-pointing is both lazy and deceptive The freedom movement in Kashmir is not a recent development The ISI wasn t the beginning There was no cross-border infiltration to begin with This conflict began in the 1990s when Indian troops suppressed peaceful demonstrations in Kashmir, setting off a chain reaction of uprising, persecution, and reprisal Since the start of the insurgency, more than 100 000 Kashmiris have lost their lives many at the hands of the Indian military operating under the AFSPA an act that provides almost complete impunity All forms of dissent are branded as terrorist Pakistan is held responsible for every explosion Every rebellion loses its historical foundation and is reframed as an act of foreign control History however remembers Furthermore one press conference won't change the course of history According to India Pahalgam is heavily guarded The Indian government had actually positioned more than 7,000 army personnel in and around the region prior to the attack Seven thousand boots on the ground let that sink in Still, a well-planned attack took place at a popular tourist destination that is frequently patrolled This is either a serious intelligence failure or worse a purposeful breach to set up a story How can a country assert its military might
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to Manipur However he flew back when something occurred in Kashmir What does that indicate? It indicates that Kashmir has greater stage value It has nothing to do with lives lost It has to do with political mileage Pakistan is the ideal antagonist for India This narrative is already being prepared for acceptance by the global media A narrative in which India is the victim and Pakistan is the constant aggressor has been constructed through decades of public relations Bollywood propaganda, and Western alliances The issue is that there isn't any proof No communications were intercepted No evidence of cross-border travel No fact-based assertion of responsibility
AS the world bears witness to the simmering tensions between two nucleararmed neighbours what emerges is not merely a geopolitical standoff but a troubling reflection of a deeper malaise, a cycle of accusation, retaliation, and entrenched mistrust that imperils not just the fragile peace of South Asia, but the moral conscience of the global order The unfortunate events of April 22 in Pahalgam where many lives were lost in the troubled valley of IndianOccupied Kashmir have not only deepened the wounds of a long-disputed land but have become a mirror of the region s unresolved past and an ominous signpost to what the future may hold if wisdom does not prevail The Indian government was swift to accuse Pakistan of having cross-border links to the attackers despite providing no verifiable evidence The newly emerged militant group Kashmir Resistance, took responsibility for the attack, yet India went ahead with retaliatory diplomatic actions Pakistani diplomats were expelled, Indian diplomats were recalled, the Indus Waters Treaty was suspended and even the vital Wagah border crossing was closed
These actions speak of calculated aggression They also underline a worrying trend India s
l e g i t i m a t e f r e e d o m m o v e m e n t s A d d i t i o n a l l y , w e j o i n t h e p r o p a g a n d a i f w e d o n ' t c h a l l e n g e t h e i m m e d i a t e b l a m e - g a m e , a s k t h e r i g h t q u e s t i o n s , o r l o o k f o r p a t t e r n s T h i s r e g i o n d o e s n o t n e e d m o r e b a t t l e s , i t n e e d s b e t t e r c h o i c e s , a n d P a k i s t a n i s m a k i n g t h e m B u t m a k e n o m i s t a k e , p e a c e i s P a k i s t a n ’ s o f f e r , n o t i t s o b l i g a t i o n I f p r o v o k e d b e y o n d r e a s o n , i t h a s t h e c a p a b i l i t y a n d t h e r e s o l v e t o d e f e n d i t s s o v e r e i g n t y w i t h f u l l f o r c e S o t h e m e s s a g e i s c l e a r , d o n o t m i s t a k e r e s t r a i n t f o r w e a k n e s s , n o r p a t i e n c e f o r p a s s i v i t y P a k i s t a n c h o o s e s p e a c e b u t p e a c e m u s t b e m u t u a l F o r i f p u s h e d , P a k i s t a n k n o w s h o w t o r e s p o n d A n d w h e n i t d o e s , i t w o n ’ t b e a q u e s t i o n o f c a p a b i l i t y
tendency to use tragic incidents to escalate tension, pursue aggressive nationalist policies, and galvanize domestic political support even if it comes at the cost of regional stability Pakistan by contrast responded with measured indignation At a meeting of the National Security Committee chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan not only rejected India’s politically motivated and legally baseless accusations but also reaffirmed its peaceful intentions In a dignified but firm tone Pakistan declared its right to protect its national interests especially regarding the water rights granted under the Indus Waters Treaty, which is now being unilaterally jeopardized by India The NSC’s statement was clear: any attempt to disrupt Pakistan’s water flow would be treated as an act of war not a declaration of one but a reminder of the seriousness of such provocation
Crucially this is not the only example of the volatility Pakistan has endured with remarkable restraint In March 2025, a deadly attack on Jafar-Express in Balochistan, killed dozens of innocent Pakistani citizens The intelligence and investigative authorities gathered credible verified evidence directly linking the attack to Indian-backed elements And yet in a demonstration of political maturity and diplomatic patience, Pakistan did not immediately rush to blame or seek retaliation The incident was not used to incite hatred or mobilize international outrage, instead, Pakistan chose to proceed silently focusing on the victims on justice and on regional peace
This contrast underscores the differing approaches of India and Pakistan in crisis management India, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi s leadership, often adopts a confrontational stance, exemplified by the 2019 revocation of Article 370 which intensified Kashmiri alienation While India claims development the reality is one of repression and economic hardship Pakistan in contrast upholds Kashmiris right to self-determination through diplomacy and moral support, despite provocation and state-sponsored terrorism, as evidenced by Commander Kulbhushan Jadhav’s confession Pakistan’s commitment to peace and justice
sharply contrasts with India’s escalation The Kashmir crisis originates from Partition’s unhealed wounds the denial of democratic rights to Kashmiri Muslims and rising exclusivist nationalism in India
Pakistan, a nuclear-armed state with one of the finest armies in the region, does not fear India But it also knows, as should India, that true strength lies in restraint and real victory is peace Pakistan despite facing security economic and diplomatic challenges continues to act as the responsible party It has shown restraint in Balochistan It has appealed to international law in Kashmir And it has remained committed to peace, even when provoked It is not Pakistan but the world that must now ask: who truly benefits from continued conflict? Who seeks to distract from domestic failures with cross-border chaos?
Let the tragedy of Pahalgam not be used to poison an already fragile environment Let the Jafar-Express incident serve as a quiet testament to Pakistan’s moral patience Let the Subcontinent not drift into another abyss of war Let wisdom prevail Pakistan s military strength is undeniable its people resilient and its will unshaken but power when not tempered by wisdom, becomes dangerous That is why Pakistan chooses peace, not because it lacks options, but because it values lives over leverage This region does not need more battles it needs better choices and Pakistan is making them But make no mistake peace is Pakistan s offer not its obligation If provoked beyond reason, it has the capability and the resolve to defend its sovereignty with full force So the message is clear, do not mistake restraint for weakness, nor patience for passivity Pakistan chooses peace but peace must be mutual For if pushed Pakistan knows how to respond And when it does it won t be a question of capability only of necessity In this game of borders blame, and balance, Pakistan stands firm, not to conquer, but to coexist It chooses peace, but it is prepared for every possibility Let the wiser path be taken Let this region prove that strength and peace can walk hand in hand The writer has a PhD in Political Science and is a visiting faculty member at QAU Islamabad He can be reached at zafarkhansafdar@yahoo com and tweets @zafarkhansafdar
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DR ZAFAR KhAN SAFDAR
FARZEEN NADEEM
RTaliban-controlled Afghanistan Russia’s decision to de-list the Afghan Taliban is at its core a response to mounting security threats within the region Moscow has been grappling with the increasing presence and activities of ISIS-Khorasan (ISISK) in Afghanistan, which represents a growing challenge to Russian interests, particularly in Central Asia The March 2024 attack on a Moscow concert hall attributed to ISIS-K underscores the vulnerability that Russia faces from these radical groups With Afghanistan s Taliban regime now entrenched as the de facto government, Russia's shift in stance can be seen as a strategic necessity, allowing Moscow to engage with the Taliban in an attempt to neutralize the growing threat posed by ISIS-K The Taliban despite its history of violence and extremism is seen by Russia as a stabilizing force in Afghanistan one that, in their view, is crucial to combating more radical factions The de-listing decision, while signaling a shift in Russia’s approach should not be mistaken for a moral endorsement of the Taliban s actions Moscow s priority as always is the protection of its own security interests, and in this context, the Taliban has become a necessary partner in managing the threat from ISIS-K Herein lies the paradox of this evolving Moscow-Kabul-Islamabad axis: stability for one may mean insecurity for another While Russia may view the Taliban as a stabilizing force in Afghanistan the reality on the ground is far more complicated The Taliban's ongoing support for groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, which has been wreaking havoc on Pakistan’s soil cannot be ignored The TTP a terrorist group aligned
with the Afghan Taliban continues to exploit Afghanistan s porous border with Pakistan to carry out attacks These cross-border incursions have caused immense loss of life and destabilized the region For Pakistan, Russia’s diplomatic overture to the Taliban is not just a shift in regional dynamics; it is a direct challenge to its national security The Taliban s dual-faced role Russia s partner Pakistan s peril is the central contradiction in this budding axis
What is particularly troubling about Russia s decision is the apparent disregard for the views and concerns of neighbouring countries most affected by the Taliban’s actions Pakistan Iran and the Central Asian republics have all voiced concerns about the Taliban s role in exacerbating regional instability Yet, Russia has chosen to proceed without significant consultation with these stakeholders Pakistan, in particular, has long called for stronger action against the Afghan Taliban for allowing groups like the TTP to operate freely In forging a unilateral path from Moscow to Kabul Russia risks deepening fault lines with Islamabad fault lines that could fracture the very axis it seeks to build
This emerging dynamic from Moscow to Kabul via Islamabad unfolds as a potential new geopolitical axis one shaped more by security compulsions than cohesive strategy In the absence of regional consensus, such alignments risk fostering unilateralism and fragmenting the already fragile South-Central Asian security architecture
The Taliban question sits at the heart of this axis demanding urgent answers from all three capitals
However this development may also present Pakistan with a unique opportunity While Russia s decision has undoubtedly complicated the situation, it has also opened the door for Pakistan to reassert itself diplomatically With Russia now engaging more directly with the Taliban Pakistan could push for more pressure on the Afghan regime to take action against the TTP and other terrorist factions If Pakistan can capitalize on this situation and forge a diplomatic channel with Russia, it could compel the Taliban to meet its counterterrorism obligations or face pressure from multiple fronts including Moscow Thus Islamabad must move from being a passive observer of this axis to becoming a decisive actor within it In this context, the timing of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar s visit to Kabul was particularly significant Dar was aiming to address Islamabad’s security concerns and potentially thaw relations after a protracted stalemate This visit
presented an opportune moment for Pakistan to engage with the Taliban directly pressing them to take concrete actions against the TTP To maximize the effectiveness of these talks Pakistan should coordinate with regional powers like Russia and China leveraging their influence over the Taliban to ensure that Pakistan's concerns are adequately addressed In parallel Russia and Pakistan have a
verse sectors including energy trade defence and connectivity suggesting that the corridor from Moscow to Kabul via Islamabad is no longer symbolic but rapidly materializing into a functional axis This budding relationship if carefully nurtured could allow Pakistan to elevate its strategic profile while ensuring its primary na-
vergent expectations Russia’s decision also highlights the fractured nature of the regional order and the growing complexity of international alliances Moscow s shift reflects a broader trend where national security priorities often trump ideological considerations The Taliban s role in Afghanistan, while stabilizing from Russia’s perspective in terms of countering ISIS-K continues to be a destabilizing force for Pakistan Russia’s decision is emblematic of a larger geopolitical realignment where short-term
What does India suspending the Indus Waters Treat y mean?
complete infrastructure on the Indian side WHICH OF THESE WILL GET AFFECTED BY THE SUSPENSION OF IWT?
AFTER the Pahalgam attack in which 26 were killed and several injured India announced that it would keep the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) of 1960 in abeyance with immediate effect HOW WILL INDIA ENFORCE THE SUSPENSION OF IWT?
India can do two things The first is to halt regulated water flow in the western rivers (Indus, Jhelum and Chenab) – stop releasing water from dams and hydroelectric projects on these rivers While natural flow through these rivers will continue, regulated releases which is critical for Pakistan’s irrigation and drinking water could stop For example the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab could retain water reducing downstream flow to Pakistan
The second is that India could accelerate infrastructure development by fast-
rivers such as the Pakal Dul (1 000 MW)
the Chenab This would allow India to increase control over water flow in Chenab in the future
In addition, technical meetings, data sharing, and dispute-resolution mechanisms
under the IWT can be frozen India will have to no longer notify Pakistan about water flow changes or project designs WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN REGULATED AND NATURAL FLOW?
The difference between natural flow and regulated flow in the context of the IWT lies in whether the water s movement is shaped by human intervention or left to follow its course as determined by nature The IWT is designed to ensure that India’s regulation of the rivers does not deprive Pakistan of its rightful share of the natural flow Natural flow refers to the quantity of water that would pass through a river at a given point during a specific period if there were no human-made diversions, impoundments or regulation upstream It includes direct runoff from precipitation glacial melt and groundwater seepage unaffected by human infrastructure This is the water that would reach Pakistan from the western rivers if India did not build dams, reservoirs or undertake any activity to alter the river ’s course or volume Regulated flow is the movement of water that is controlled or managed through human-made structures such as dams reservoirs weirs and gates It involves opening or closing valves, adjusting spillways, or releasing water from storage to control the tim-
ing and quantity of water downstream
Under the IWT, India is allowed to build certain hydroelectric and irrigation projects on the western rivers but these must be “runof-the-river” schemes This means they can temporarily hold or divert water for power generation but must not significantly alter or reduce the total flow that is reaching Pakistan WHAT IS THE ALLOCATION OF WATER TO PAKISTAN UNDER THE IWT?
In Indus Jhelum and Chenab rivers 135 million acre feet or MAF per year is allocated to Pakistan but India can use them for unlimited run-of-the-river hydropower projects such as Baglihar Dam, for irrigation of up to 701,000 acres, and storage limited to 3 6 MAF The treaty mandates real-time flow data exchange but disputes arise when Pakistan accuses India of withholding water during critical periods such as in the pre-sowing season
The IWT allows India the development of 13 4 lakh acres of irrigation in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh However, as of now, only 6 42 lakh acres are being irrigated in these Union Territories Moreover India only uses 90% of the 33 MAF it is allocated from the eastern rivers The unutilised flow of 2 MAF from the Ravi and 5 5 MAF from the Sutlej/Beas systems has historically flowed to Pakistan due to in-
The average annual flow of 135 MAF originates from glacial melt and monsoon rains, and will continue unaffected by treaty suspension Regulated releases from India’s dams and barrages of around 3 6 MAF of storage capacity supplement natural flow during dry seasons Suspending the treaty allows India to halt these releases but little to no such storage infrastructure currently exists in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir for India to exercise that control At best, only 1 5 MAF of this capacity can exist in the Baglihar Dam India can only withhold water up to its developed storage capacity from the western rivers This water can be temporarily held back during lean seasons but must eventually be released downstream Without additional storage infrastructure, India cannot retain more water Even if India builds out its full allowed storage (3 6 MAF) it could temporarily regulate and delay flows to Pakistan especially during critical agricultural periods but cannot permanently divert or consume this water
The challenge for Pakistan is limited water storage capacity Major dams such as Mangla and Tarbela have a combined live storage of just 14 4 MAF a mere 10% of the country s annual entitlement under the IWT In times of reduced water flow or seasonal variability this shortfall in storage leaves Pakistan acutely vulnerable CAN IT REALLY HURT PAKISTAN? The western rivers derive 60-70% of their flow from glacial melt and 30-40% from monsoon rains which India cannot control Even with suspended cooperation 131 4 MAF of
His corrupt reign led him to participate in all kinds of crimes and to damage the image of the Church to such an extent that the Catholic cardinals decided to force him to resign To convince him, they offered him a generous sum of money, which some historians estimate at 1,500 pounds of gold His successor Sylvester III lasted barely six months in office Benedict IX resorted to a powerful army assembled by his influential family to forcefully overthrow him and return to power A few days after
the white smoke which are used to elect each new pope Benedict IX was a medieval nepobaby who held the office up to three times during the 11th century The nephew of several popes he was a member of the most powerful family in Rome who bought the position for him Benedict IX took office in 1032 while practically a teenager At that time, the papacy was the legal center of the Western world, Weiss recalls on camera
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Authorities have launched an initial investigation into the cause of the blast Iranian state television quoted Mehrdad Hassanzadeh, head of Hormozgan’s crisis management agency as saying that safety officials had previously issued warnings over the storage of flammable materials at the site Social media footage showed thick black smoke and large flames rising from the affected area Other videos showed damage to nearby buildings and vehicles, with people attending to the wounded Esmaeil Malekizadeh, an official from the Hormozgan Ports and Maritime Administration said the explosion occurred near the Shahid Rajaei port dock a major hub for container traffic and petrochemical storage In 2020, Shahid Rajaei port was also the target of a suspected cyberattack attributed to Israel, which disrupted operations for several days VATICAN CITY A G E N C I E S Presidents royalty and simple mourners bade farewell to Pope Francis on Saturday at a solemn funeral ceremony where a cardinal appealed for the pontiff s legacy of caring for migrants, the downtrodden and the environment to be kept alive US President Donald Trump who had clashed with the pope on those issues sat with the rows of foreign dignitaries
Indus Waters Treaty not tea stall that Modi
sense of responsibility Azma Bokhari said that India adopted a dramatic approach in the Pahalgam incident and, without any investigation, repeated its old practice of blaming Pakistan The Indian army and intelligence agencies are addicted to blaming others and once again under a premeditated plan an attempt has been made to defame Pakistan
French artist’s hypnotic electro pop musical concert enthrals audience at Arts Council of Pakistan
PAKISTAN SHUTS DOWN IN NATIONWIDE STRIKE OVER PALESTINIAN SOLIDARIT Y
Malakand Division remains shut in solidarity with Palestinians
In a historic show of solidarity with the oppressed Palestinian brethren a complete shutter-down strike was observed across Malakand Division on Saturday Districts including Swat Buner Shangla, Upper Dir, Lower Dir, Upper Chitral, Lower Chitral, Malakand, and Bajaur witnessed the closure of all commercial activities Markets shopping centers
Indus Water Commission begins review of India’s suspension of agreement
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places In Swat s tehsils, including Barikot, Kabal, Khwazakhela, Charbagh, Matta, Madyan, Bahrain, Kalam, Kanju, and Manglawar also observed a complete shutdown and staged protest demonstrations Addressing the protesters speakers strongly condemned Israeli
Two s o l d i e r s m a r t
Two soldiers have been martyred and 15 terrorists killed in three separate engagements in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the military s media wing said on Saturday A statement from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the intelligence-based operations (IBO) were conducted on Friday and Saturday The ISPR said eight terrorists were sent to hell after troops effectively engaged them at their location during an IBO in Karak district based on the reported militant presence It said that four more were killed by the security forces in another IBO in North Waziristan district However during the intense fire exchange two brave sons of soil Lance Naik Usman Mohmand (age: 28 years, resident of Charsadda district) and Sepoy Imran Khan (age: 26 years, resident of Kurram district) having fought gallantly paid the ultimate sacrifice and embraced martyrdom the ISPR said It added that troops successfully neutralised three more terrorists in another encounter in South Waziristan district’s general area of Gomal Zam The ISPR said weapons and ammunition were re-
covered from the slain terrorists who were actively involved in numerous terror activities It added that sanitisation operations were being conducted to eliminate any other terrorists found in the areas Security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve,” the ISPR concluded
Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities over the past year, especially in KP and Balochistan, after the proscribed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022
Militant violence and security operations intensified in in March, with the number of militant attacks surpassing 100 for the first time since November 2014, according
QUETTA S TA F F R E P O R T
Nine terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan s Pishin district the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) said on Saturday According to a spokesperson for the CTD, the operation was conducted in Pishin’s Khanai Baba area on the reported presence of terrorists The operation was conducted in Khanoi Baba area following reports of terrorist presence A firefight broke out during the raid, resulting in the killing of nine terrorists”, he added
According to CTD official, the militants belonging to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were killed during the raid in Khanai Baba Security forces recovered a cache of weapons and explosives, including automatic firearms, grenades, and ammunition “The killed individuals were linked to several acts of terrorism and had been under surveillance by law enforcement agencies Shahid Rind a spokesperson of the provincial government, told Xinhua He said security had been tightened in the area and that investigations were ongoing
