NAB RECOVERS RS20B IN KOHISTAN SCANDAL , KP PAC ORDERS SUSPENSIONS
‘Pivotal
step for regional stabilit y’: Pakistan welcomes US decision to lift sanctions on Syria
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t Pakistan on Thursday welcomed the United States’ decision to lift all sanctions on Syria terming the move a “pivotal step towards regional stability according to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa on Wednesday called on US President Donald Trump during his Saudi visit Despite concerns within sectors of
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday issued notices to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) and other respondents on the petitions filed by PTI founder Imran Khan and his spouse Bushra Bibi, seeking suspension of their sentences in the £190 million reference A two-member IHC bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Sardar Sarfraz Dogar and Justice Muhammad Asif heard the petitions During the proceedings senior lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa the counsel for the petitioner, requested the court that the case be scheduled for hearing next Wednesday The court, while acknowledging the request, directed that the case be fixed for hearing next week and formally issued notices to all respondents
On January 27 former prime minister Imran Khan and spouse Bushra Bibi challenged their conviction in the £190 million corruption case in the Islamabad High Court (IHC)
The appellants asked the court to set aside their conviction and 14-year and seven-year sentences respectively awarded by an accountability court ear-
lier this month emphasising the ruling lacked credible evidence and suffered from procedural lapses
The identical appeals pointed to the UK Court of Appeal s judgement dated Nov 26, 2021 and clarified that the funds at the centre of the controversy were neither proceeds of crime nor linked to any illegal activity
The National Crime Agency (NCA) of the UK had agreed to a £190m settlement with property tycoon Malik Riaz Hussain, specifying that the funds would be transferred to Pakistan Supreme Court’s account as part of a legal framework they stated
Mr Khan s appeal accuses NAB of withholding critical evidence and failing to present witnesses from the NCA or relevant documents to substantiate its claims His legal team pointed to the NAB’s earlier closure of the case in 2020 following the NCA s settlement agreement and argued that the reopening of investigation in 2023 was done in bad faith and for political reasons
The appeal also contested the validity of a purported confidentiality deed presented by the prosecution Mr Khan’s lawyers argued that the document was unverified with no forensic analysis
conducted to determine its authenticity
They added that the document was merely procedural with no evidence linking it to any criminal activity
Mr Khan s lawyers emphasised that no personal financial gain had been established They said that the funds deposited in the account of Al-Qadir University Trust a legally registered trust promoting education for furniture had been wrongly connected to the case
On November 14, The Islamabad High Court (IHC) nullified the trial court verdict on acquittal pleas of PTI founder Imran Khan and his wife Bushra Bibi in the £190 million case
As per details Chief Justice Amir Farooq and Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb issued a nine-page verdict on a petition filed by the PTI founder and Bushra Bibi The court declared the trail court verdict null and void and directed the concerned court to decide on both pleas again Earlier the Accountability Court rejected PTI founder Imran Khan s plea seeking acquittal in a £190 million settlement reference Accountability Court’s Judge Nasir Javed Rana heard the arguments in Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail from both sides before dismissing the plea
Syria under the al-Assad regime (1971–2024) It labelled Syria a State Sponsor of Terrorism in 1979, triggering arms and financial restrictions
At least 94 killed in Gaza as Israeli airstrikes intensif y ahead of planned aid rollout
GAZA ag e n c i e s Palestinian rescuers reported 94 people killed Thursday in Israeli strikes on blockaded Gaza where a US-backed organisation said it intends to begin distributing aid by the end of the month In the occupied West Bank, raids were ongoing and roads blocked after Israel’s military chief vowed to find the perpetrators of an attack that killed a pregnant Israeli woman Ninety-four martyrs have been killed in Israeli air strikes on the Gaza Strip since dawn today, civil defence agency spokesman Mahmud Basal told AFP The agency had given an earlier toll of 50 dead Amir Selha, a 43-year-old Palestinian from north Gaza, reported “intense Israeli shelling all
estimate of under Rs17 8 trillion However, the fund has emphasized strict expenditure controls to ensure the sustainability of debt servicing After three days of technical talks via video link, formal policy-level negotiations are scheduled to begin on Monday (May 19) and continue through Friday (May 23) An agreement on budgetary measures and the macroeconomic framework is expected to pave the way for
the federal budget announcement on June 2
The IMF has already presented projections for key economic indicators forecasting a growth rate of 3 6 percent alongside an average inflation rate of 7 7 percent significantly higher than this year ’s 5 1 percent average This combination is expected to boost revenue collection by over Rs1 4 trillion from the current year s estimated Rs12 4 trillion
Beyond the Federal Board of Revenue s collections, provincial governments are expected to contribute to broadening the revenue base with agriculture income tax identified as a critical area for increased focus Overall revenues for the next fiscal year are targeted to exceed Rs19 9 trillion, approximately 15 2% of GDP, compared to this year ’s Rs17 8 trillion estimate or 15 9 percent of GDP
The IMF calls for continued ex-
penditure restraint, urging a reduction from 21 6 percent of GDP this year to 20 3 percent next year Even with these cuts expenditures are projected to reach Rs26 57 trillion up from the current budget estimate of around Rs18 9 trillion Final figures on revenue and revised expenditures particularly those influenced by the recent security situation are still under negotiation P
pected to narrow from 5 6 percent of GDP in the current year to 5 1 percent next year, equating to roughly Rs6 67 trillion Additionally the Ministry of Finance has instructed all ministries and divisions to submit detailed reports capturing the climate-related components of subsidies This climate tagging” is a requirement under Pakistan’s Extended Fund Facility (EFF) agreement with the IMF
OFIT
M o n i to r n g D e s k Pakistan s external debt repayments are set to increase in the upcoming fiscal year due to significant obligations, including the maturity of Eurobonds worth $1 5 billion The country will face a heightened debt servicing burden as
and Burhan areas
Controversy over TRG buyback deepens as Greentree revises disclosure
setting case of subsidiary-funded self-acquisition
with yet another twist when AKD Securities Limited issued a Corrigendum Notice on behalf of Greentree Holdings Limited today, significantly altering key statements in its Public Announcement of Offer (PAO) initially published on January 15, 2025 The correction notice comes despite mounting legal pressure and ongoing proceedings in the Sindh High Court where the legality of the deal is already under judicial review The corrigendum addresses what Greentree now describes as a disclosure error under Schedule-VII of the Securities Act 2015, clarifying that the shares acquired through the offer will not be transferred to TRG Pakistan Limited reversing its earlier claim This adjustment raises questions over whether the original structure which suggested TRG was effectively financing a buyback of its own shares through a wholly owned subsidiary was a clerical mistake or a complete strategic misrepresentation
Despite the revision, Greentree has not altered the underlying funding structure TRG remains the ultimate beneficiary of the acquired shares through its control of Greentree creating a potentially precedent-
It is pertinent to note here that the Sindh High Court is currently hearing JCM No 12 of 2025, where shareholder petitioners have challenged the legality of the acquisition under Section 86(2) of the Companies Act 2017 which governs buybacks and prohibits companies from indirectly funding the purchase of their own shares without meeting specific legal conditions to prevent any instance of wash transactions During the hearings, it had previously been revealed that Greentree Holdings had informed the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) via email that its previous disclosure in the PAO was inaccurate and no transfer of shares to TRG Pakistan was intended
The SECP however has yet to issue a formal response or take regulatory action a silence that has prompted speculation about potential pressure on the watchdog in a deal that could test the limits of corporate law in Pakistan
The case could
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
PM Shehbaz lauded the bravery and skill of the Shaheens (falcons) of the PAF whose swift and decisive action shattered the enemy s illusion of aerial dominance during the high-stakes confrontation
Speaking to the PAF pilots, he said, The entire nation stands proud of your courage You have not only defended our skies, but also upheld Pakistan’s honour on the global stage ” He pointed out that from May 6 to May 10 during the war with India the whole world was astounded by the professional capabilities of the armed forces and the enemy was taken aback with the response of Pakistan The confidence of the world especially of our friends enhanced in Pakistan after the way it responded to the Indian aggression,” he noted, dubbing it the most magnificent victory which changed thinking of the world and altered the balance of power in the region PM Shehbaz said that a clear message was sent to the enemy that it should refrain from casting an evil eye towards Pakistan He congratulated the chief of army staff, air chief and naval chief over the brilliant performance of the armed forces
“The whole world acknowledged that Pakistan won the war with the home grown technology and professional expertise of the armed forces ” he added
Shehbaz Sharif said the eagles of the armed forces shot down six planes of the enemy adding Our armed forces defeated an enemy which was bigger in terms of population and it had in recent years bought hundreds of billions of dollars worth of military equipment ” He said Pakistan crushed the false vanity of the enemy
“During the short war in just few hours the armed forces with the courage bravery and valour changed the course of history for all times to come he asserted
He said the whole world was looking at the flag of Pakistan with respect The whole nation was united and praying for the success of the armed forces and the country, he said adding the way the air forces shot down enemy’s Rafale planes the world would remember the
spectacle for eternity While quoting Quranic verses he said the JF Thunder plane shot down India s Rafale plane which brought back memories of the legends of Pakistan air force like MM Alam, Cecil Chaudhry and Sarfraz Rafiqui, who demonstrated exceptional brilliance in a previous war against India
“In the wake of unprovoked aggression Pakistan’s Armed Forces exhibited exemplary restraint strategic foresight and operational precision Their swift and calibrated response not only neutralized the threat but also delivered a decisive blow to hostile military infrastructure unequivocally reaffirming Pakistan’s unwavering resolve to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity ” he continued
He said Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir led the armed forces from the front
The entire nation takes immense pride in the valour and vigilance of its armed forces Under the capable stewardship of the Chief of Army Staff, our defenders have once again underscored that Pakistan’s security is inviolable and any act of belligerence will be met with a forceful resolute and unforgiving response he added
Highlighting the Pakistan Air Force s operational success, the Prime Minister added: Confirmation of successful downing of a sixth Indian aircraft on the night of 6/ 7 May, a Mirage-2000 near Pampore east of Srinagar, is further testament to the PAF’s combat excellence and the unflinching resolve of our Armed Forces to protect the motherland at all costs
He lauded the visionary leadership of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu acknowledging his pivotal role in modernizing the PAF and spearheading the seamless integration of advanced technologies that have significantly enhanced the Force’s operational capabilities
In a tribute to the airmen the Prime Minister observed: To our fearless pilots and dedicated air personnel your courage and precision embody the indomitable spirit of Pakistan s Armed Forces
Its President’s statement shows there can’t be any IW T suspension
AT the heart of the recent war scare between Pakistan and India is not merely the Pehelgam massacre India merely used that as an excuse for announcing a suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty The whole world failed to see the connection between seeking retribution for an act of terror and holding an entire nation’s water supply hostage At last the head of the World Bank which is a party to the IWT Ajay Banga has spoken on the issue saying that there is no provision for the treaty to be suspended unless Pakistan and India agree on a treaty Mr Banga’s statement is especially important because the World Bank is a party to the IWT in the sense that it has a role to play in arbitration proceedings if the two countries disagree
Mr Banga is President till 2028, and could have been expected to take the Indian view, being the son of an Indian Army lieutenant-general However, the IWT is seen as one of the World Bank s successes, and he had to stick with the corporate view, which coincides with Pakistan s Actually, the IWT did not really break any new ground, and merely put into words the international customary law on the sharing of the waters between an upper riparian state and a lower riparian It is symptomatic of the relationship between the two neighbours that it not only had to be put into a treaty but that an arbitration process had to be made explicit with a party acting as facilitator It is interesting to note that there is dissatisfaction on both sides of the border with the IWT If there are those Pakistanis who feel that Pakistan should not have given up the three Eastern rivers there are Indians who want to scrap the IWT entirely That would leave international customary law in place, a customary law which the IWT itself has helped shape of late Mr Banga s statement was particularly significant for having been made in an Indian TV interview, and should serve as a salutary wake-up call to an Indian public which had been continually fed a diet of jingoistic rhetoric, and which must be brought from cloud-cuckooland into the real world The Pakistan government has formally said that it intends to hold India to its treaty commitments, and India would do well to remember that this is not a piece of literalism not Pakistan angling for diplomatic advantage but Pakistan hanging on to something that is matter of life and death
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
THE ceasefire between India and Pakistan was hogged by US President Donald Trump, who seems to have been only too pleased to gain brownie points as a peacemaker after signal failures to broker peace in Gaza and Ukraine It seemed a reversal in some sort of the ceasefire brokered by US President Bill Clinton in 1999 over Kargil, which had involved Pakistani PM Nawaz Sharif going to Washington to get Clinton to intervene Then India seemed to have the upper hand, this time it did not Its much-vaunted Rafale fighters have been destroyed and its S400 air defence system has been breached and hit More than anything else this was an air war There was firing along the Line of Control in Kashmir, but along the international border, the land forces were limited to remaining watchful Neither air force crossed the international border but their missiles and drones did The use by India of the ‘loitering munition Israel-made Harap drone was the first use of drones in the region after the USA used them against both terrorists and insurgents in Pakistan s tribal areas The complete failure of the Harap replicated the dubious performance it had for Azerbaijan against Armenia, not in the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War, but in the skirmishes preceding it It was more successful during the war itself when it played a pivotal role in suppressing Armenian air defence systems and allowed free rein for the Azeri Air Force to support the ground forces The taking out by a Pakistani J10 squadron of an S400 launcher is also worrying for the IAF, for it means the air defence system is rendered dubious
The S400 is the Russian equivalent to the USA’s Patriot or the Israeli Iron Dome systems which are a combination of radars and missile launchers operating in combination against any intruder If it becomes unreliable; because it is seen as vulnerable, then the air force operating it may decide not to fly Field Marshal Erwin Rommel perhaps put it best: “Anyone who has to fight even with the most modern weapons against an enemy in complete command of the air fights like a savage against modern European troops under the same handicaps and with the same chances of success This is the stake: whichever side obtains command of the air will be able to develop its own ground offensive, and prevent the opposing side from developing its own Even the two navies which had no major confrontation were destined for an air war because the Indian Navy had deployed its aircraft carrier in the Arabian Sea, but there was no intrusion, and both sides kept their shipping lanes open The PAF may have grounds for celebration, but it also needs to get back to the drawingboard Since the Phulwama incident when the IAF had a plane shot down and a pilot captured it went ahead with the Rafale acquisition and with the S400 which en-
tered service in 2021 It should also see the attacks by the IAF particularly the launch of the drones, as probes, meant more to assess PAF capabilities Similarly, the PAF s attacks would be assessed by the IAF to see how it should respond Indian PM Narendra Modi has now got to decide where he wants to lead India If it is on the path he has adopted so far it will only lead to greater expense, and the country is still poor If he was to consult the many businessmen who hang around him, he would understand that it would only be to throw good money after bad He will have to face the reality that the IAF is simply not up to it Because it is unable to integrate any of the systems it has obtained into its operational doctrine it has simply not been able to do more than provide targets The problem is, Modi has to answer to a constituency, that of extremist, caste-ist Hindus Pakistanis should never forget that Modi has now won three consecutive elections and though his majority has fallen after the peak of 2021 he clearly represents something Those are caste-ist Hindus It is not as if there is an either/or situation as if the opposition is any better It is led by the Congress, which has actually fought all three of India s wars There is some criticism being made of Modi that he asked for US help in reaching a ceasefire, but it should not be forgotten by the Congress that its then leader Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had asked the USA to help when it seemed that India was on the verge of being overwhelmed by China in the NorthEast Frontier Area
WouldnÊt it now be easier for the world to ensure that
no further repetition? That would involve the solution of the Kashmir issue in line with the UN resolutions on the subject, and that would have the
benefit of ensuring that international law would be followed
Pro-Palestine protester crackdown exposes US authoritarian core
its geopolitical interests is democracy Any dissent that may go against Israel or stand in favor of Palestine is labeled as illegal or supporting terrorism’ This giving a tag to the believers of opposite ideologies is not a component of an ideal democracy Such an attitude is the complete opposite of democracy This is a manifestation of a kind of racist and one-sided politics, which is a major obstacle to peace and justice worldwide
What the USA says and does proves one thing clearly: it talks about democracy but it is completely unsuccessful in implementing it Rather it is distorting the ideal of democracy to protect its own interests
Standing up for Palestine is not a crime, but rather a human duty By suppressing those who are fulfilling that duty the USA is proving that its democracy is actually a kind of hypocrisy and a foreign policy to maximize its own interests At this moment, it is necessary to protest this two-faced policy of the US globally, and to rethink the meaning of true democracy If freedom of expression, humanity, and the verdict of the majority are neglected then that state is no longer democratic it is a modern form of dictatorship
The writers belong to the Department of International Relations University of Rajshahi, Bangladesh
Words win wars
USA means the policy that protects
At this moment, it is necessar y to protest this two-faced policy of the US globally, and to rethink the meaning of true democracy. If freedom of expression, humanity, and the verdict of the majority are neglected, then that state is no long er democratic it is a modern form of dictatorship
Embracing diversit y
IN the often volatile and militarized geopolitical landscape of South Asia where history, animosity, and strategic miscalculations are intertwined Pakistan’s recent military and diplomatic manoeuvres have done more than just push back against Indian provocation They have redefined the strategic calculus of the region With a single decisive act of retaliation deliberate yet restrained Pakistan broke free from the straitjacket of passive diplomacy and ambiguous signalling The response to India’s aggression wasn’t simply tit-for-tat; it was a strategic message encoded with clarity: Pakistan will not tolerate adventurism nor be reduced to a silent spectator in the face of encroachments It marked not just a rebuttal of Indian assertions but a re-establishment of regional deterrence, rooted in capability resolve and a long-overdue recalibration of power dynamics
India s recent cross-border strikes carried out under flimsy pretexts and unfounded allegations targeted multiple areas across Pakistan, not limited to Azad Jammu and Kashmir These strikes, using advanced Rafale jets and Israeli-origin drones, were swiftly intercepted and neutralized by Pakistan s robust technologically adept air defence systems Pakistan not only shot down these drones within moments but also detected and outmanoeuvred Indian aircraft with calculated precision an act that drew both global acknowledgment and left India diplomatically cornered
This brazen aggression widely perceived as a diversion from India s internal political crises and international criticism over democratic erosion, backfired spectacularly Several international military analysts and think tanks, including the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the International Crisis Group noted that India’s actions amounted to reckless brinkmanship Yet Pakistan s disciplined and strategic counter Operation Bunyan Um Marsoos delivered a calibrated response, targeting critical Indian assets while intentionally avoiding wider escalation This operation did not merely defend territorial integrity; it showcased Pakistan’s doctrinal discipline strategic foresight and professional military conduct restoring regional balance and re-
shaping the diplomatic discourse This assertive posture drew widespread international attention Publications like The New York Times described the Pakistani response as surprisingly swift and devastating in its precision, underscoring the shock it sent through Indian strategic circles Al Jazeera went further calling it “a well-calibrated and effective message of resolve ” while The Washington Post remarked that India misjudged Pakistan s threshold triggering a backlash that exposed its own operational overreach The BBC, typically reserved in its geopolitical assessments, noted a visible shift in the international community’s perception of Pakistan from a reactive state to one displaying initiative professionalism and rationality This shift was not just limited to newsrooms but extended to diplomatic circles where policymakers acknowledged the maturity and composure exhibited by Islamabad under immense pressure The aftermath saw a flurry of diplomatic engagement The USA UK China and Türkiye rushed to defuse tensions but this time there was no ambiguity about the origin of the escalation Leaked cables published by Politico revealed that US officials, in their closed-door assessments, considered Pakistan’s response as “measured, justified, and grounded in international law ” British and Chinese envoys echoed similar sentiments recognizing Islamabad s right to self-defence In a significant diplomatic gesture Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated that peace in South Asia can no longer bypass the Kashmir question,” reaffirming Beijing’s support for dialogue rooted in justice This was a piv-
otal moment that placed Pakistan not just at the receiving end of sympathy but as an actor shaping the diplomatic contours of the region Perhaps most notably, Kashmir an issue that had been buried under India s 2019 constitutional maneuvers and brutal militarization returned to global discourse Pakistan’s strategic response inadvertently forced the world to confront its silence Respected publications and rights organizations renewed calls for the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 47, emphasizing the need for a free and impartial plebiscite Deutsche Welle editorialized that “Kashmir remains a powder keg ” while The Guardian argued that “Pakistan’s recent reassertion of red lines has made it clear that Kashmir cannot be sidelined indefinitely International forums from the OIC to the European Parliament began debating the situation afresh, signaling a re-legitimization of Pakistan’s narrative India, on the other hand, found itself diplomatically cornered What was meant to be a display of strategic strength turned into a self-inflicted diplomatic wound Analysts from Le Monde and The Economist highlighted the internal contradictions of India s military doctrine and the lack of coherence in its foreign policy The Modi government’s reliance on aggressive nationalism for domestic consolidation met global rebuke Even France and Germany historically closer to New Delhi issued unusually frank statements emphasizing restraint and international law subtly but unmistakably, questioning India s provocation In essence, New Delhi’s attempt at regional intimidation ended up exposing the hollowness of its strategic assertions In the wake of the Pahalgam attack on April 22 which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians India launched a series of missile
strikes on Pakistani territory targeting multiple locations including areas near the Neelum–Jhelum Hydropower Plant These strikes which India claimed were aimed at terrorist infrastructure, were met with strong condemnation from Pakistan, citing violations of international law and civilian casualties In response Pakistan’s Foreign Office supported by its diplomatic corps and international law experts framed India s actions
Pa k i s t a n Ês r i g h t f u l p o s i t i o n i s n o l o n g e r v i a b l e . T h e bu rd e n n o w l i e s o n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m mu n i t y t o m ov e b e yo n d r h e t o r i c a l p l a t i t u d e s a n d wo r k t o w a rd a s u s t a i n a b l e r e s o l u t i o n . I f t h i s c o n f l i c t h a s t a u g h t u s a ny t h i n g , i t i s t h a t s i l e n c e o n l y e m b o l d e n s a g g r e s s i o n , bu t f i r m r e s o l v e , b a ck e d by p r i n c i p l e , c a n r e a l i g n e v e n t h e m o s t b ro k e n o f r e g i o n a l e q u a t i o n s .
How America can keep the peace between India and Pakistan
India rejec ted the notion that it had committed to bilateral dialogue on a broad array of issues, which Rubio had asser ted in his statement about the cease -fire and Pakistan had affirmed
Washington has an interest in maintaining good ties with Pakistan, par tly to compete with China’s influence in the region U S officials c annot wean Pakistan off China entirely, and USPakistani relations will never return to the heights reached following the S eptember 11 attacks
WH E N U S President Donald Trump tweeted on May 10 that India and Pakistan had agreed to a cease-fire the world breathed a sigh of relief The two nucleararmed neighbors had teetered perilously close to all-out war as they fired missiles and drone strikes at each other s military installations and religious sites over the previous three days The stakes grew especially high after the Indian military hit Pakistan’s Nur Khan air base close to the country’s nuclear command forces It was an attack that could have provoked uncontrolled escalation and that pushed Washington to intervene even after senior officials had insisted the administration was disinclined to do so But although the guns have now fallen silent, the danger remains high The two sides continued to fire at each other for hours after the cease-fire had taken effect and no one should be under any illusion that these adversaries will resolve their fundamental clash over Kashmir anytime soon The dispute over this divided mountainous territory goes back to the 1947 partition of the subcontinent; since then, Kashmir has held symbolic resonance for both countries and shaped how they perceive their national identity As a country created to be a homeland for Muslims in South Asia Pakistan believes it is justified in claiming the Muslim-majority region Indian officials reject this argument and view it as an integral part of their state especially since the original leader of pre-partition Jammu and Kashmir (a Hindu) acceded to India India and Pakistan have fought two wars, battled in a border conflict, and experienced multiple military crises over the status of Kashmir New Delhi’s response to terrorist provocations on its side of the line of control the de facto boundary between the two countries has grown increasingly intense since Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi s Hindu nationalist government came to power in 2014 The current Pakistani army chief, Syed Asim Munir, has a reputation as a hard-liner, evident in his vitriolic, mid-April remarks about Kashmir and Hindu-Muslim differences Each country then has a domestic incentive not to back down from its maximalist positions Trump a self-styled dealmaker may be tempted to try to permanently resolve the status of Kashmir But he should
to fulfill It should not try to fix an unfixable issue India and Pakistan s dispute over Kashmir is a clear example of the kind of foreign policy challenge that can be neither solved nor neglected and thus requires ongoing work to prevent it from spiraling out of control THE TIES THAT DIVIDE: The spark for the current Indian-Pakistani conflict was all too familiar mimicking a pattern that has prompted military crises between the two countries over the last 25 years On April 22, terrorists killed 26 civilians, mostly Indian tourists, in Indianoccupied Kashmir New Delhi claimed that the attackers were operating at the behest of the Pakistan-based U Sdesignated terrorist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba and then retaliated on May 7 by striking the group s headquarters in Muridke along with eight other sites in Pakistani Azad Kashmir and Pakistan s Punjab Province India said its targets were “terrorist infrastructure,” and whether all those sites fit that bill remains unclear But one of the dead is Abdul Rauf Azhar a U S Specially Designated Terrorist Leader involved in the 1999 hijacking of India Airlines Flight 814 (To end the hijacking and secure the safe release of the passengers India was forced to release terrorist leaders, including Omar Sheikh, who in 2002 kidnapped the Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl; Pearl was then brutally murdered ) What transpired after India’s May 7 military response was the most serious incident between India and Pakistan since the 1999 Kargil border conflict In that brief war Pakistani regular army units disguised as militants, took over portions of territory on India s side of the line of control, precipitating a two-month battle that resulted in at least 1,000 deaths of Indian and Pakistani soldiers But even the Kargil conflict was limited to one specific area of Kashmir Last week’s fighting occurred along the line of control across the two countries international boundary and deep into each side s territory outside Kashmir The countries used drones and missiles against both military and civilian religious sites, adding unpredictability and risking uncontrolled escalation At first, Trump and U S Vice President JD Vance demonstrated little interest in getting involved in the fight between India and Pakistan even though U S Secretary of State Marco Rubio had been working the phones with Indian and Pakistani officials They ll get it figured out one way or the other, Trump said on April 25 It s fundamentally none of our business, Vance said on May 8 But after India struck Nur Khan on May 9, Washington began to seriously worry that the two sides might entertain nuclear war Pakistani Defense Minister Khawaja Asif had said earlier that Pakistan would exercise the nuclear option if there is a direct threat to our existence and U S officials worried that India s Nur Khan strike signaled that New Delhi could decapitate Pakistan s nuclear command structure, a step that would likely cross Pakistan’s nuclear redlines The Trump administration then finally brokered a cease-fire surprising and relieving everyone A few hours later Trump said he would increase trade with both nations and help them permanently resolve the vexed Kashmir dispute But the differing Indian and Pakistani reactions to the cease-fire announcement
suggest this will be a quixotic task Both sides have been jockeying to control the narrative about the cease-fire: India denied that Washington had a substantial role in the negotiations, while Pakistan’s prime minister thanked Trump for his involvement India also rejected the notion that it had committed to bilateral dialogue on a broad array of issues which Rubio had asserted in his statement about the cease-fire and Pakistan had affirmed It is no surprise that India downplayed U S involvement in brokering the cease-fire New Delhi has long shunned the idea of third parties mediating its disputes with Pakistan and it is particularly sensitive to any hint of international involvement when it comes to Kashmir Islamabad on the other hand wants to bring international attention to the issue and convince Washington that resolving the dispute is essential to avoid an IndianPakistani war that could potentially go nuclear India is the status quo power, and Pakistan is responsible for sparking most of their crises as it did during the Kargil conflict Following that war U S President Bill Clinton declared that the two countries should respect the line of control and that neither country s land could change hands through bloodshed a statement India endorsed
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT” Given the fraught history of the Kashmir dispute and Indian sensitivities to outside involvement the Trump administration must exercise caution if it wants to keep building a strategic partnership with India and discourage Pakistan from supporting terrorists There is a tremendous difference between getting the two countries to step back from the brink of war and facilitating a permanent solution to an 80-year dispute The former is something Washington has, historically, done well But the latter is something only India and Pakistan can accomplish Trump should know this He has fallen into the Kashmir mediation trap before In July 2019 standing next to then Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan at a press conference, Trump said that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to mediate over Kashmir It was a tremendous confabulation that anyone who follows South Asian politics knew was untrue At the time I was the deputy assistant to the president and the National Security Council s senior director for South and Central Asia and it marked one of the worst days of my stint at the NSC
Two weeks after Trump s statement, India revoked the autonomy afforded the state of Jammu and Kashmir and divided it into two territories in what may have been an attempt by New Delhi to signal that it would not discuss changing Kashmir ’s territorial status Following subsequent briefings Trump never broached the issue of Kashmir mediation
Majid Nabi burfat
The End of Indian Hegemony?
Pakistan’s Rise Reshapes South Asia
PAF history is replete with stories of ace PAF pilots who demonstrated their mettle in all conflicts from the 1967-73 Arab Israel wars to the glorious history of downing 5 aircraft by MM Alam in the Indo-Pak 1965 war to the recent Operation Swift Retort in 2019
Such feats were achieved primarily due to superb training standards maintained throughout the history of PAF The one-hour air battle has been added as another glorious chapter to the PAF history which will be studied analyzed and taken as a benchmark for the world s air forces to emulate Pakistan Army on its part played along hand in hand to give a befitting response to the Indians at LoC and through effective missile attacks on India's military targets like air bases and military infrastructure along the international border that ultimately broke the will of the Indian leadership and public The tracking of Indian Navy Long Range Maritime Aircraft Poseidon P-8I on the night of 4/5 May and earlier in the recent past multiple Indian Navy submarines localization in the Arabian Sea are a clear manifestation of Pakistan Navy s resolve to remain vigilant at all times Although the size of Pakistan Navy (PN) is much smaller when number of platforms are compared but like PAF and Pakistan Army the weapons, equipment and above all the level of training of both officers and sailors of Pakistan Navy far exceeds the Indian Navy According to India Today since 1990 on an average Indian Navy has lost one warship every five years during peacetime Collisions, groundings and major fires due to negligence are very common in the Indian Navy No other Navy of this size carries such a dubious record Much before breaking out of the hostilities post Pahalgam incident, PN fleet was tasked to proceed to allocated areas to take on any threat whenever the situation demanded From the onset, Pakistan Navy kept
an all-out offensive posture in the Arabian Sea, initially through missile firing to show the resolve and capability of the Navy Later, Pakistan Navy deterred the Indian Navy from even closing in through extensive patrols by LRMP aircraft and wartime deployment of submarines The overt posturing of Pakistan Navy s Surface Fleet comprising Destroyers, Frigates, Corvettes and Missile Boats armed with long range Surface to Air, Surface to Surface missiles and torpedoes with state of the art full spectrum Electronic Warfare capabilities kept Sea Lines of Communication open throughout the confrontation
India’s boast of a $4 trillion economy contrasts starkly with its poverty one in four households lacks toilets, and 17 million urban Indians live in slums India’s media, a5G propaganda tool, fed the public lies of victory, making the eventual humiliation harder to digest In-
China to offer visa-free polic y to 5 L AC countries star ting from June 1
BEIJING
s ta f f c o r r e s p o n d e n t
China will offer a visa-free policy to ordinary passport holders from five Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries –Brazil Argentina Chile Peru and Uruguay – between June 1 2025 and May 31, 2026 in order to facilitate people-to-people exchanges, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said at a regular press conference on Thursday
Ordinary passport holders from these five countries can enjoy visa exemptions when coming to China for business, tourism, visits to relatives and friends, or exchanges and transit for no more than 30 days Lin said The five countries are important economies in LAC and the visa-free policy underscores the importance China attaches to cooperation with these countries ” Sun Yanfeng director of Latin American research at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations told the Global Times on Thursday The new visa-free policy will facilitate people-to-people exchanges and greatly boost economic and trade cooperation Sun said noting that this will especially benefit small and medium-sized enterprises in
LAC by making it more convenient for them to expand into the market in China Trade between China and LAC countries exceeded $500 billion for the first time in 2024, which was more than 40 times that of the beginning of this century the Xinhua News Agency reported in May During the fourth ministerial meeting of the ChinaCELAC (Community of Latin American and Caribbean States) Forum in Beijing, China announced that it had decided to offer a visa-free policy to five countries in LAC and would expand the policy to cover more regional countries in due course, according to
Xinhua Wang Xiaoyu a specially appointed expert from the World Tourism Cities Federation told the Global Times that China s latest expansion of the visa-free policy sends a very positive signal Although it will be difficult for LAC countries to become major sources for inbound tourism to China the new policy plays a bigger role in boosting commercial and cultural exchanges, Wang said, noting that the policy further showcases China’s openness policy inclusiveness and cultural diversity to the world
Qunar sent to the Global Times on Thursday, bookings for air tickets by travelers from these five countries on the platform
A zma questions PTI founder ’s silence during war with India
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari has said that no statement came from the founder of PTI during the war while Aleema Khan called the war a mutual understanding During this time, PTI s entire social media remained busy in campaigning against its own country and army Ali Amin Gandapur, during the days of war kept making rounds of Adiala Jail and continued misbehaving She said that Maryam Nawaz played the most active role as Chief Minister during the days of war When drones were falling, Maryam Nawaz kept Punjab’s civil administration active She expressed these views in response to the statement of Barrister Saif She said that although Barrister Saif is called the Information Minister, he neither has information nor knowledge Azma Bokhari said that Barrister Saif is handed over pre-written statements and he circulates them in the media without any verifica-
tion, which is an extremely irresponsible act
While paying tribute to the role of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif during the war situation, she said that Maryam Nawaz not only played the role of an active Chief Minister but also raised the morale of the Pakistan Army through her speeches and evoked a spirit of patriotism among the people of Punjab She further said that the entire PTI remained absent from the
mobilink Bank, Fatima Fer tilizer par tner to empower agri- community through access to finance
drive social mobility As part of this collaboration farmers will be able to access a wide range of Mobilink Bank s financial products and services, including agri tubewell financing input lending passbook financing as well as digital banking through the seamless integration of the Dost App with the Sarsabz Pakistan platform
Value Added Tax (VAT) on infant milk powder Similarly, in Australia and New Zealand, infant formula is considered a basic nutritional necessity and is therefore exempt from taxes Referring to the policies of these countries he emphasized the need for Pakistan to adopt a similar approach so that every family can easily access quality milk for their children
ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf visited Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawalpindi to inquire about the well-being of soldiers and civilians injured during Operation Bunyanum-Marsoos
During the visit, the Naval Chief personally interacted with each injured individual and paid tribute to their unwavering bravery indomitable spirit and steadfast commitment to duty
While speaking with the injured, Admiral Naveed Ashraf emphasized the unified resolve of the nation and the armed forces, affirming that any future misadventure by the adversary will be met with the same determination and vigour
Naval Chief visits Cm h, pays tribute to injured troops of operation Bunyanum marsoos KARACHI
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday informed the Senate that the ceasefire between Pakistan and India was extended until May 18, saying the matter will go to the civilian leadership of the two nations for “ultimately dialogue ”
Speaking in the Upper House of the Parliament the Deputy PM said that a military-to-military conversation took place between the two countries today, where they decided to extend the ceasefire until May 18 “Ultimately the matter will go to dialogue between the civilian leadership of the two countries FM Dar said pointing out the right now there are military-tomilitary communications only The India resorted to unprovoked military confrontation with after accusing the Islamabad of in-
volvement in the attack on tourists in Pahalgam, a town in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir on April 22 On the night of May 6-7 New Delhi launched a series of air strikes on Pakistan resulting in civilian casualties Both sides then exchanged missiles, which stretched over the week It drew intervention by the United States President Trump finally leading to a ceasefire between the nuclear warring rivals
On May 10 when tensions between the two countries peaked, US President Donald Trump announced that a ceasefire had been reached between India and Pakistan According to the government 40 civilians including seven women and 15 children and 13 armed forces personnel lost their lives in the Indian aggression, and 121 others sustained injuries
The military confrontation between India and Pakistan came as the former blamed Islamabad for
the Pahalgam attack On the night of May 6-7, New Delhi launched a series of air strikes on Pakistan resulting in civilian casualties Both sides then exchanged missiles which stretched over the week It took American intervention for both sides to finally drop their guns
On Monday, the director general of military operations for both sides held the first round of talks via hotline after the ceasefire He said that a political dialogue would take place between the two countries and that a resolution for all the problems will be discussed
“We have told the world that we will carry out a composite dialogue ” Dar said According to the Associated Press of Pakistan (APP) Dar said that Pakistan did not request a ceasefire during the recent escalation with India Instead, ceasefire was initiated following a call from the US Secretary of State who conveyed that India was willing to halt hostilities Dar said
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
The National Assembly was informed on Thursday that negotiations are currently in progress over potential Saudi investment in Pakistan’s multi-billion-dollar Reko Diq mining project Parliamentary Secretary Mian Khan Bugti told lawmakers during the Question Hour that two rounds of meetings have taken place between stakeholders from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia but no final agree-
peated theft and illicit trafficking incidents involving nuclear and radioactive material in India These incidents also suggest the existence of a black market for sensitive, dual-use materials inside India," he said Pakistan, Ambassador Shafqat s a
upon India to ensure the safety and
ment has been reached as yet Responding to a query raised by MNA Mirza Ikhtiar Baig, Bugti said, “Talks are ongoing between both sides and we are moving forward in the right direction Once the negotiations are finalised the House will be informed accordingly He emphasized that while no fixed timeline has been established for the investment deal, the government remains committed to facilitating the process due to the project’s strategic importance
Replying to a supplementary question by Shagufta Jumani, Bugti said the Reko Diq project holds national significance and that authorities are working diligently to accelerate the investment phase The Reko Diq gold and copper mine located in Balochistan s Chagai district is considered one of the largest undeveloped mining projects in the world Pakistan has been actively seeking foreign partners to harness its full economic potential
The fighting began last Wednesday when India launched strikes against what it described as terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan Pakistan immediately responded with heavy artillery fire and a four-day standoff ensued between the South Asian rivals Just last year the spokesperson reminded the world that five individuals with a radioactive device reportedly stolen from the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) were found in Dehradun, India Later a gang of individuals was found with illegal possession of a highly radioactive and toxic substance Californium worth $100 million Three incidents of theft in Californium were also reported in 2021 These recurring incidents call into question the measures taken by New Delhi for the safety and security of nuclear and other radioactive materials the spokesperson said