, ‘ W O R L D W I L L S E E , H E A R ’ I T : D G I S P R
g DEPUTY PM REJECTS DELHI ’S CLAIMS OF PAKISTANI MILITARY STRUCK 15 LOCATIONS IN INDIA g PAKISTANI NATION IS UNITED IN FAITH AND RESOLUTE IN DEFENCE OF MOTHERLAND: LT-GEN CHAUDHRY
g ACCUSES INDIA OF TARGETING ITS OWN CITIZENS, PARTICULARLY SIKHS, TO CRAFT A DIVERSIONARY NARRATIVE FOLLOWING REPEATED MILITARY FAILURES
g DEFENCE MINISTER WARNS A SERIES OF DRONE INCURSIONS BY INDIA MAKE A PAKISTANI RESPONSE TO INDIA ‘INCREA SINGLY CERTAIN’
Tr ump offers to help reduce Pakistan-India tension
Pakistan’s armed forces shot down as many as 29 Israeli-made Harop drones flown by India over multiple cities of the country the military said on Thursday
Updating the media on the situation, Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Lt-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that the drones were neutralised in Lahore Gujranwala Rawalpindi Chakwal Bahawalpur Mianwali Karachi Chor Miano and Attock He pointed out that one of the UAV partially struck a military target near Lahore which caused a minimal damage to equipment
“Four Pakistan Army personnel were injured in a drone attack in La-
hore, while one civilian was martyred in Miano, Sindh, the military spokesperson said, terming the attempts as a continued pattern of aggression and reaffirming that Pakistan’s forces remain on high alert to defend the country s airspace and territorial integrity
The remotely-piloted aircraft were neutralised using both electronic countermeasures (soft-kill techniques) and conventional weaponry (hard-kill systems) after they were detected over several cities across Pakistan the military s media wing said in a statement Lt-Gen Chaudhry described the drone incursions as a desperate and panicked response” by India after Pakistan’s armed forces shot down its five jets – including three prized Rafale aircraft
US President Donald Trump has expressed his hope that India and Pakistan will cease their escalating conflict and work toward peace after a series of missile strikes and artillery exchanges between the two nations Trump, speaking to reporters at the White House offered his assistance to both sides emphasizing his willingness to help mediate the situation It s so terrible Trump said acknowledging the tense standoff between the two countries I get along with both, I know both very well, and I want to see them work it out I want to see them stop They’ve gone tit-for-tat so hopefully they can stop now Trump s comments came amidst
heavy fighting between India and Pakistan, particularly along their contested frontier India had launched missile strikes that led to at least 43 deaths, exacerbating already high tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations The strikes were reportedly in retaliation for an attack on Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir, which New Delhi blames on Pakistan a claim Islamabad denies The US president reiterated his strong relationships with both nations pointing out that he has good connections with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, whom he hosted at the White House earlier this year Trump’s administration had previously been more focused on building ties with India but the recent escalation has prompted immediate diplomatic action
WASHINGTON
A G E N C I E S US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce has said that Secretary of State Marco Rubio has urged de-escalation and expressed support for direct dialogue in separate calls with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Indian External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, according to agencies reports on Thursday “Rubio in both phone calls emphasised the need for immediate deescalation Bruce said in readouts of the calls He expressed US support for direct dialogue between India and Pakistan and encouraged continued efforts to improve communications,” Bruce said
Showing the delicate balancing act of Rubio s diplomacy the two State Department spokespersons readouts sent out within a minute of each other also included tailored messages for each side
He expressed sorrow to PM Shehbaz for the loss of civilian lives in the
current conflict To Jaishankar, Rubio reaffirmed his commitment to work with India in the fight against terrorism, Bruce said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif received a telephone call from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday according to a press release from the prime minister s office It said PM Shehbaz reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and stressed that Pakistan reserved the right to act in selfdefence under Article 51 of the UN Charter the statement read He also appreciated President Trump s concern over the current security situation in South Asia
According to the statement, the PM conveyed Pakistan’s strong condemnation of India s missile and drone strikes which had led to the loss of 31 lives and injured 57 others alongside damaging civilian infrastructure India s attacks had violated Pakistan s sovereignty and territorial integrity, while gravely jeopardising peace and stability in the South Asia region ” the
PM was quoted as saying According to the statement, Secretary Rubio noted that the United States was closely following the situation in the re-
gion as it was committed to promoting peace and stability” He emphasised the need for both Pakistan and India to work closely to de-escalate
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the DG ISPR told a press briefing on Thursday Only one managed to partially engage its target, some equipment was damaged, and four soldiers were injured,” he said “However since the enemy doesn’t distinguish between military or civilians [ ] three people were martyred while four were
injured,” he said The DG ISPR said that one Indian drone tried to target the holy place of the Sikh community at Nankana Sahib calling the act abhorrent and unacceptable
We saw it today, they directed one drone to Nankana Sahib, which we took
R I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif ’s speech to the nation showed that he too like the rest of the nation, was feeling encouraged by the PAF s shooting down of five Indian jets which had struck at Pakistani targets He was speaking for the entire nation when he said that India would have to pay heavily for its misadventure The follow-up wave of Indian attacks showed that the IAF is now wary about sending its own pilots into the air and 25 drones were hit across Pakistan while there was no claim even by the Indian side of any strikes The drones supplied by Israel are the Harop, which is a loitering munition, a bomb which can be operated remotely According to the ISPR one exploded in Lahore The drones are being used to attack Pakistani air defences, which have been crucial in ensuring that Pakistani airspace cannot be attacked safely India has clearly converted to a wartime mentality where the purpose of an attack may not be to bring down retribution for some wrong, but to achieve some strategic advantage for a future operation India has between 110 and 164 of these drones which are deployed with the Israeli Defense Forces and which are being used routinely in Gaza against the Palestinians, and thus more such dastardly attacks can be expected At the moment the whole world is waiting for the other shoe to drop Pakistan has vowed to exact retribution for the Indian attacks, which provides another justification for any attack, according to the UN Charter quite apart from the Indus Water Treaty violation which also does The two countries seem to be on an escalatory ladder, and while they are not at war, shots have been fired in anger The problem is that both countries have nuclear weapons and there is the strong possibility of a point coming where one country will think it has tried everything else, and might as well attempt a nuclear strike It seems that the two countries are at the moment following the American playbook, with a suggestion by US Secretary of State Marco
Indian Army may not move at all If the Indian armed forces had been faced with a weak adversary they would have had no objection Armed forces officers dislike fighting because they know how destructive war can be Officers of ThirdWorld armed forces are also concerned that the advanced equipment they have is irreplaceable, being more likely than not imported, or if locally manufactured including imported parts (The Rafales costing $200 million apiece That means $500 million gone ) But the real cost is human Members of all three services remember those killed in past battles more than the battles themselves Perhaps that closeness to death is what makes military men fear failure more than death itself Defeat is perhaps the worst thing that can happen to a military man, because while victory brings rewards promotions and the gratitude of society defeat brings disgrace and jolts to one s career Of course the lessons of the past once so important for military men are of no use now because the battlefield is nuclear The senior commanders have no experience of a nuclearized battlefield It is also a difficulty that a nuclearized battlefield is likelier than not to provide few opportunities for exhibition of the military virtues It also probably
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M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
aircraft would be limited to what was available in store Nothing could move upcountry from Karachi port Of course the IAF now cannot give the necessary air superiority which means that large Indian armoured formations will be sitting ducks for the PAF There is every sign that the IAF has now refused to put planes aloft for fear of the PAF That implies the Indian Army will simply refuse to move for offensive operations Otherwise, to prevent that, Pakistan might be
obliged to use nuclear weapons against that armoured concentration before it launched or at least developed its attack Once Indian armour was destroyed, it would want to stop Pakistan using its own armoured corps at Multan, and would probably also nuke it At this moment, Indian planners must be considering which Pakistani air bases could be targeted for nuclear attack There might then follow a series of exchanges where targets would be harder to find as time went on Nuclear facilities would be hit as could dams (like Tarbela and Mangla, with India showing in its attack on the Neelum-Jhelum dam that it has no compunction about violating the Geneva Conventions prohibiting attacking water storages or power generation sites)) train marshalling yards and only then would come counter-population strikes Even though attacking dams is against the Geneva Conventions (after the spectacular dambuster 1943 raid by Britain against Germany), India s attempt to suspend the IWT shows that it can be trusted to fight dirty
The result of an exchange might well be to precipitate a nuclear winter where sunlight is blocked over large areas of the planet by the dust thrown up by so many clasts leading at best to the death of mankind because crops cannot grown or at worst to the death of all life as the world experiences temperatures close to absolute zero It should also be noted that
As India has borrowed many ideas from Israel about how to deal with Kashmiris, it is possible that India will tr y to behave towards Pakistan the way Israel is behaving towards Gaza. It has already star ted, with its accusations about the Pahalgam attack mirroring what the Israelis said about the 7 October 2023 attacks by Hamas, but while Palestine only has irregular Hamas forces to fight for them
Heat , Hardship and Inequalit y
not only physical discomfort but also emotional strain, including anxiety, fatigue, and mental burnout Environmental stress, gendered labor roles, and inadequate infrastructure combine to place an outsized burden on women whose needs are often invisible in urban planning and climate resilience strategies
HEAT STRESS: A SILENT THREAT TO WOMEN’S HEALTH: Shazia, a 37-year-old mother of two, shares a two-room flat with her in-laws in the densely populated area of Lyari Karachi Expecting her third child she has been hospitalized twice in the past three months due to vomiting dehydration and high blood pressure According to Shazia the cramped living space and relentless household chores in this unbearable heat have made her pregnancy extremely difficult
Pregnant women are especially vulnerable Studies show that high temperatures are linked to premature births low birth weights and shorter gestation periods In already under-resourced health systems, these complications further strain maternal and child health services
Heatwaves also threaten the stability of temperature-sensitive vaccines such as those for polio jeopardizing immunization campaigns Meanwhile diseases like malaria and tuberculosis are rising their spread exacerbated by changing climate patterns
WHEN THE HEAT STEALS LIVELI-
HOODS: “When people are too hot to work they are too poor to rest ” This vicious cycle of rising temperatures reduced income and increased disease vulnerability is particularly cruel for the urban poor According to the International Labour Organization, heat stress could cost the global economy 80 million jobs by 2030, amounting to a 6 7 percent GDP loss in low-income regions In Pakistan sectors like construction and agriculture key employers of low-income laborers are among the worst affected When temperatures exceed 40 C productivity can drop by 50 percent, leaving families without income and pushing workers to their physical limits
WOMEN CARRY THE HEAVIEST BURDEN: Asia who works as a domestic worker in Karachi s affluent neighborhoods starts her day early and finishes around 3 PM cleaning cooking, and washing in several households But her responsibilities don’t end there After taking a bus home to her rented fourth-floor flat she must cook clean and care for her sick father-in-law and young son Women bear the brunt of this crisis not just as workers but also as unpaid caregivers In Pakistan, 90 percent of women
One of the key challenges is the lack of digital literacy among both service providers and recipients A significant portion of Pakistan’s rural population remains unfamiliar with basic smartphone functions, let alone navigating an online portal On the administrative side resistance to change persists Many functionaries, especially at the lower tiers, are more comfortable with
the freezing heights of Siachen, consistently display resilience loyalty and a high level of dedication The army’s emphasis on internal cohesion and spiritual strength fosters a uniquely committed fighting force
By comparison, the Indian Army faces ongoing morale challenges Reports of high suicide rates, internal dissent, dissatisfaction with pay and conditions, and unresolved grievances are widespread Moreover divisions based on caste and religion continue to undermine unit cohesion weakening longterm operational readiness and troop morale Strategically, Pakistan s geographic position bordering China, Iran, Afghanistan, and India places it at the center of key regional dynamics The Pakistan Army has effectively leveraged this position by fostering strong defense partnerships with countries such as China Turkey Saudi Arabia and Qatar These relationships, strengthened through joint exercises, weapons development, and military diplomacy, have bolstered Pakistan’s regional and global military standing In the realm of air power a defining factor in modern warfare South Asia is dominated by the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) and the Indian Air Force (IAF) While the IAF enjoys greater size and budgetary resources, the PAF frequently excels in key performance areas such as pilot training, operational readiness combat effectiveness and strategic flexibility
The underlying difference lies in doctrine and organizational philosophy The
PAF is built as a lean highly agile combatfocused force structured to respond rapidly to any threat This has instilled a continuous state of operational readiness across all levels Conversely, the IAF operates within a broader bureaucratic framework, often slowed by political considerations, logistical challenges and limited joint-force integration Issues such as interoperability and command structure inefficiencies have hampered its overall effectiveness
Ultimately, one of the most decisive indicators of an air force s strength is the skill and preparedness of its pilots and in this domain, the PAF maintains a formidable reputation In this regard the PAF maintains a clearly established advantage Pakistan has consistently prioritized intensive pilot training emphasizing realistic combat simulations, rapid decision-making, and mastery of air superiority tactics Pakistani pilots are regularly recognized for their exceptional skill During joint exercises the United States Air Force and several NATO allies have repeatedly ranked Pakistani fighter pilots among the finest they have trained or flown alongside The PAF has earned widespread recognition for its precision and professionalism during international exercises, including its participation in the US-based Red Flag and Green Flag drills In contrast the Indian Air Force has often been criticized for its relatively limited real-world combat experience and reliance on outdated Soviet-era doctrines Although India regularly conducts joint exercises with foreign forces, its pilot training programme has faced scrutiny due to a comparatively high rate of accidents and aircraft crashes PAF s long-standing culture of maintaining
n t r u s i o n s w i t h o u t p r o b a b l e c a u s e
Finance M inister Nirmala S itharaman has defended the provision by citing wins – Rs 200 crore in undeclared funds exposed via WhatsApp messages, hidden c ash traced through G oogle Maps data, and luxur y vehicles tracked through Instagram profiles
India’s Clause 247 lets tax officials, not judges, decide when and how your digital life can be searched
high operational readiness sets it apart Efficient aircraft maintenance systematic pilot rotation and rapid deployment capabilities are core strengths
The PAF has also modernized its air defence systems, incorporating advanced radar technology, electronic warfare capabilities, and mobile surface-to-air missile batteries to enable real-time threat tracking and response Despite India s heavy investment in modernization its military continues to struggle with logistical inefficiencies and interoperability issues, often delaying realtime operational coordination Although India boasts a larger and more diverse fleet including Rafale jets Su30MKIs and the indigenous Tejas the advantages of this arsenal are frequently undermined by procurement delays maintenance backlogs, and poor serviceability For example, the Su-30MKI, an IAF backbone, has faced persistent issues with upkeep and availability In contrast the PAF emphasizes quality and cost-effectiveness Its investment in the JF-17 Thunder programme developed in collaboration with China, has produced a lightweight, multi-role fighter that is affordable, easy to maintain, and combat-ready The latest JF-17 Block III variant features advanced capabilities such as Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar electronic warfare systems and beyond-visual-range (BVR) missiles placing it on par with many 4 5-generation fighters Additionally, Pakistan s integration of the F-16, a globally respected multirole aircraft has significantly strengthened its aerial capabilities The F-16 has consistently demonstrated its value in both simulated and
real-world combat including the 2019 skirmish In contrast India s indigenous Tejas programme has been hampered by delays budget overruns, and persistent performance issues Despite taking over three decades to reach full operational status, the Tejas still faces limited deployment due to ongoing technical refinements Pakistan s collaborative approach to military development particularly through its partnership with China has proven far more efficient By aligning defence objectives with economic feasibility, the PAF has modernized swiftly without overextending national resources Its procurement strategy remains focused on operational needs rather than political optics Central to Pakistan s naval doctrine is the concept of minimum credible deterrence, which seeks to establish strategic parity without fueling an arms race The PN emphasizes asymmetric warfare capabilities such as stealth operations submarine-based deterrence and missile systems to counterbalance India s numerical superiority On the other hand the Indian Navy pursues a bluewater strategy with ambitions of global maritime presence and force projection beyond the Indian Ocean While this vision appears impressive it often overextends the force diverting attention from immediate regional challenges particularly along India s western seaboard where Pakistan maintains a concentrated and purpose-driven presence India s fleet comprises over 150 vessels, including aircraft carriers, destroyers, frigates, submarines, and amphibious assault ships However a large fleet does not inherently guarantee combat effectiveness The Pakistan Navy though smaller with approximately 50–60 active ships has consistently focused on acquiring advanced, mission-specific platforms It operates modern Chinesebuilt Type 054A/P frigates and Agosta-90B submarines and is in the process of acquiring Hangor-class submarines all outfitted with sophisticated sonar systems low observability features and precision missile capabilities These assets are well-suited for stealth operations, anti-access/area denial (A2/AD) missions, and robust coastal defense
In contrast, India’s naval procurement has sometimes lacked coherence with delays in shipbuilding projects and complications in integrating new technologies INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier has faced recurrent maintenance and operational issues, while India s indigenous submarine programme has experienced significant setbacks Pakistan, by comparison has pursued a leaner and more agile approach investing in technologically advanced yet cost-effective platforms
dismissed politically motivated attempts to alter the name of the Persian Gulf He emphasized that the name is deeply rooted in human history and that while Iran accepts alternative geographical names like the Sea of Oman and the Indian Ocean, any effort to change the Persian Gulf ’s name is “an affront to all Iranians” and will “bring the wrath of all Iranians ” The Iranian top diplomat also pointed out that leaders and cartographers have recognized the term for centuries even until the 1960s and attached a historical image from the U S Library of Congress clearly marked Persian Gulf to underscore his point Araghchi s predecessor, Javad Zarif, warned that reports of using a fabricated name for the Persian Gulf outrage every patriotic Iranian, irrespective of political affiliation He asserted that Iran would demonstrate to the world and specifically to the occupants of the White House that united Iranians would not stand for shortsighted profiteering Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf Speaker of the Parliament took a pragmatic stance by releasing historical maps of the Persian Gulf from the parliamentary archives He remarked that there are so many of these maps that they could be freely distributed to every “delusional politician ” Ghalibaf pointed out that while money can buy material goods like shoes and clothes it cannot purchase history or geography dismissing the attempt to alter established historical facts as both futile and a needless disturbance
Sattar Hashemi Minister of Information and Communications Technology of Iran, wrote, The enduring name of the Persian Gulf will forever remain alive in the hearts and souls in this corner of the world,” adding that “history and authenticity cannot be changed through bullying and political deals ” Abdulkarim Hosseinzadeh another Iranian official added Any attempt to distort this reality is a disregard for historical rationality and the principles of international law The Persian Gulf is not just a name; it is a part of the shared memory of human civilization
The backlash transcended political divides Social media erupted with hashtags like #PersianGulf and #PersianGulf4ever, while users flooded platforms with ancient maps and historical records Reza Nasri an international law expert predicted: “This would provoke protests from millions of Iranians in the diaspora Nothing unites Iranians more than defending the Persian Gulf s true name Ali Ghamsari a renowned musician posted: Iran isn t Canada or Greenland Our people stand like mountains behind their history Persian Gulf is not a matter of debate it’s a historical fact For over 2,500 years, since the rise of the Achaemenid Empire in 550 BC, this body of water south of the Iranian Plateau has been known as the Persian Gulf ” wrote the account Iranian Plateau An Iranian user tweeted: If truth could be altered
This strategy has enabled quicker deployment cycles and a more combat-ready fleet Across all branches army, navy and air force the Pakistani military has consistently demonstrated tactical proficiency and operational superiority during various conflicts and engagements with India Pakistan s armed forces have consistently exceeded expectations, often defeating or outmaneuvering their Indian counterparts in critical tactical and strategic situations Whether through the Pakistan Army’s battlefield resilience the Navy’s audacious submarine operations or the PAF s unparalleled aerial precision Pakistan s military successes demonstrate that skill, strategy, and courage can overcome sheer numbers Each of great battles, whether or land, sea or in the air, in the 1965 war Chawinda, Dwarka, and Swift Retort represents more than just military victories; they embody a national doctrine of resilience strategic focus
US OFFICIALS CONFIRM PAKISTAN BROUGHT DOWN AT LEAST
FIGHTER JETS INCLUDING FRENCH RAFALE
Tarar rubbishes Indian claims on downing F-16, JF-17 jets as ‘absurd and false’
used AI to spread disinformation The Information Minister also declared reports of Pakistan pilot under Indian custody “totally false concocted ” In a response to Indian reports that a Pakistani pilot was in Indian custody Information Minister Attaullah Tarar strongly rejected them, saying that they were “totally false and concocted” “Get out of your Btier Bollywood mindset ” the information minister said in an interview with a TV channel Meanwhile the Information and Broadcasting Minister said that Pakistan has not targeted any location in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir or across international border so far nor has any loss been incurred by Pakistan Air Force
A zerbaijan expresses solidarity with Pakistan amid India tensions
ISLAMABAD
through
means In a formal letter addressed to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the Azerbaijani government conveyed solidarity with the Pakistani leadership and people The message was personally delivered by Azerbaijan’s Ambassador to Pakistan Khazar Farhadov
According to an official statement, Azerbaijan offered condolences to the families of those affected by the recent hostilities and wished a speedy recovery for
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Zartaj Gul was acquitted on Tuesday in two cases related to the party’s Azadi March following a verdict announced by a local court in Islamabad Judicial Magistrate Mubashir Hassan Chishti announced the reserved judgment on the acquittal pleas submitted by Gul Her legal counsel, including Sardar Muhammad Masroof Khan Advocate appeared in court for the proceedings
The cases had been registered at the Bara Kahu Police Station against Zartaj Gul and several others in con-
the injured The statement reaffirmed Azerbaijan s commitment to Pakistan’s sovereignty and stability during what it called a “critical time ” Ambassador Farhadov conveyed best wishes from his government, emphasizing that Azerbaijan stands with Pakistan and supports efforts to resolve regional conflicts peacefully
nection with the 2022 protest march The court has adjourned hearings for the remaining accused until May 27 Earlier, PTI founder Imran Khan and other party leaders had already been acquitted in the same cases
and that no losses were reported The Foreign Office (FO), in its statement, stated, “The Government of Pakistan categorically rejects the baseless and irresponsible allegations propagated by the Indian media, accusing Pakistan of launching attacks on Pathankot Jaisalmer and Srinagar bases These claims are entirely unfounded politically motivated and part of a reckless propaganda campaign aimed at maligning Pakistan ” The statement noted that India’s “repeated pattern of levelling accusations against Pakistan without any credible investigation reflects a deliberate strategy to manufacture a
