TRUMP, FIELD MARSHAL TALK COUNTERTERRORISM, TRADE AT ‘WHITE HOUSE LUNCH’: ISPR
g DISCUSSIONS ENCOMPA SSED AVENUES FOR EXPANDING BILATERAL COOPERATION IN MULTIPLE DOMAINS, INCLUDING TRADE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND CRYPTOCURRENCY: ISPR
g PRESIDENT TRUMP EXPRESSED KEEN INTEREST IN FORGING A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL TRADE PARTNERSHIP WITH PAKISTAN: ISPR
t
US President Donald Trump and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir discussed joint counterterrorism efforts and expanding bilateral trade during their cordial meeting in Washington the military s media wing said on Thursday
Although initially scheduled for one hour, the meeting extended for over two hours, underscoring the depth and cordiality of the dialogue ” the ISPR said in a press release on Thursday
During the meeting Trump lauded Pakistan s ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability, and appreciated the robust counterterrorism cooperation between the two states”, the statement said The press release noted that both
sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration in the field of counterterrorism Field Marshal Munir met with Trump at the White House yesterday becoming the first serving chief of army staff to have a face-to-face meeting with a sitting US president The occasion also marked the
time a serving Pakistani army chief had been formally received at this level without holding political office or governing under martial law The high-level engagement was scheduled at the Cabinet Room over luncheon, followed by a visit to the Oval Office Secretary of State Senator Marco Rubio and Special Representative for Middle
The Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday announced its verdict in the case of seniority and transfer of Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges, declaring that their transfers were not unconstitutional In the short order, the SC noted that “the transfer of a judge by the president of Pakistan by means of Article 200 of the Constitution (permanently or temporarily) cannot be construed as a fresh appointment The five-member bench headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and comprising Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan, Shahid Bilal Hassan, Salahuddin Panhwar and Shakeel Ahmed heard the petitions filed by five IHC judges, the Karachi Bar Association (KBA), and the IHC Bar Association among others The 3-2 majority judgment explained that the exercise of powers of transfer by the president under Article 200 of the Constitution was not unregulated or unfettered Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Shakeel Ahmed wrote their dissenting notes It added, “The decision was structured on a “four-tier formula” that expounds that no judge shall be transferred except with his consent and after consultation by the president with the chief justice of Pakistan and the chief justices of both high courts In February, Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar from the Lahore High Court (LHC), Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro from the Sindh High Court (SHC), and Justice Muhammad Asif from the Balochistan High Court (BHC) were transferred to the IHC
g ARMY CHIEF INVITED TRUMP TO UNDERTAKE AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO PAKISTAN AT A MUTUALLY CONVENIENT DATE: ISPR
g COA S MUNIR CONVEYED THE DEEP APPRECIATION OF PAKISTANI GOVT AND PEOPLE FOR TRUMP ’S ROLE IN FACILITATING A CEA SEFIRE BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND INDIA
s ta f f r e p o r t
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday linked Pakistan’s achievements on global, regional, and economic fronts to the “current hybrid model of governance terming the meeting between President Trump and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir a significant milestone
There has never before been an example of a US president inviting and meeting a Pakistani army chief ” Kh Asif said in an X post on Thursday The defense czar said that this is the most significant turning point in the 78year history of Pakistan-US relations Commenting on the meeting, Asif said how discussion on international and regional matters during the meeting between Trump and Field Marshal Munir highlighted the importance of Pakistan He added that Pakistan s role was acknowledged and its significance was
recognized for resolving the issues He added that the revival of the national economy and India s defeat became possible due to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Munir The defence czar said that the developments helped regain international attention on the Pakistan-India conflicts According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Field Marshal Munir lauded Trump for his constructive and result-oriented role in facilitating a ceasefire with India following last month s armed conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours The development came as the two leaders met over lunch at the White House Cabinet Room a day ago with the US president being accompanied by Secretary of State Senator Marco Rubio and US Special Representative for Middle Eastern Affairs Steve Witkoff whereas Field Marshal Munir was joined by Islamabad’s national security advisor and interior minister
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed the deployment of advanced technology to eliminate the illegal trade of medicines amid a zero-tolerance policy and called for stringent oversight mechanisms
The prime minister chaired a high-level meeting on national health affairs, where he lauded the Ministry of National Health Services for its proactive approach under the leadership of Federal Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal a
Prime Minister s Office news release said The prime minister reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to delivering quality healthcare to citizens across Pakistan In the meeting PM Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that providing the best possible healthcare facilities to the people remains the government’s top priority He directed the formulation of a collaborative roadmap involving welfare organizations and the private sector to improve health services in Islamabad
Highlighting the importance of international standards, PM Shehbaz encouraged Pakistani pharmaceutical companies to seek accreditation from the World Health Organization (WHO) stating it would not only enhance the quality of local medicines but also open doors to export opportunities
PM Shehbaz also underscored that there can be no compromise on the quality of medical education and directed third-party validation of all medical colleges in Pakistan He further instructed for a comprehensive review of the
nursing sector to strengthen its capacity and service delivery He firmly stated that no political interference would be tolerated in the implementation of health reforms ensuring a merit-based and transparent approach across the board During the briefing, officials informed the Prime Minister that the entire process for registering medicines and medical devices is being fully digitized and will be completed by the end of next month Moreover, the registration timeline is being reduced from one year to just three months
ISLAMABAD
consultations with all stakeholders including the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and it has been decided that the matter will be clearly addressed in the finance minister ’s budget winding-up speech ” he said Dar further clarified that the earlier
proposal of imposing 18% General Sales Tax
ter Ahsan Iqbal approved the project on Wednesday with the plan to present it to the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) for final approval The federal government has allocated Rs15 billion for the first year of construction which falls short of the estimated Rs78 billion required The project is expected to improve regional connectivity supporting economic growth in the areas along the motorway The first two sections of the project are being considered for financing under the Public-Private Partnership model while the remaining sections will be evaluated for commercial viability Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has emphasised the need for a
high-level committee to be formed to explore viable funding options and ensure timely completion In addition, the CDWP recommended the Eastbay Expressway Phase-II project for further consideration, to be financed with a 95% Chinese grant The 13 8 km-long expressway will connect the New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) with the Eastbay Expressway enhancing cargo traffic to Gwadar Port
Furthermore, the CDWP also approved the construction of the ZhobMakhter road and the road connecting to the Iran border reflecting the government s continued focus on improving transportation infrastructure across the country
led by Planning Minis-
The
reported The companies involved were allocated
sums,
5 million for OT drapes, Rs36 3 million for gowns, and over Rs55 million for gauze cloth rolls none of which were supplied Other payments including Rs80 34 million for tablets and Rs858 79 million for nitrile gloves also resulted in non-delivery
An inquiry committee, formed after the issue was highlighted on July 28, 2024, has recommended immediate recovery of the funds blacklisting of the companies and criminal action against the involved parties It also suggested that the officials who failed to act be held accountable Despite the findings, the Health Department has not taken any action against the companies nor initiated any recovery efforts Instead the government has shifted the blame solely onto former officials including the former director general involved in the procurement process
The companies, however, have denied the allegations They claim that the supplies were delivered as per the contract with documentary evidence to support their position The companies
further asserted that these documents, including delivery challans, were presented to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) during the investigation A Health Department spokesperson confirmed that criminal proceedings would be initiated against the non-compliant companies, and penalties would be imposed on them after reviewing showcause notices Efficiency and Discipline (E&D) proceedings are ongoing for the officials involved with penalties including dismissal and recovery of the Rs1 71 billion being considered Officials who have retired will also face criminal proceedings The inquiry has raised serious concerns over the misuse of funds in the health procurement sector, and the KP government is under increasing pressure to take action and ensure accountability
Dar calls for
Deput
Trump, Field Marshal talk counter terrorism, trade at ‘ White House lunch’: ISPR
CONTONUED FROM PAGE 01
The army chief extended an invitation to Trump on behalf of the government, to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date, the ISPR said, calling it a “gesture reflecting the warmth of bilateral ties”
On his part, COAS Munir conveyed the deep appreciation of the government and people of Pakistan for Trump s constructive and result-oriented role in facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in the recent regional crisis
He acknowledged President Trump s statesmanship and his ability to comprehend and address the multifaceted challenges faced by the global community”, the ISPR press release said “A detailed exchange of views also took place on the prevailing tensions between Iran and Israel with both leaders emphasising the importance of resolution of the conflict it added referring to the ongoing missile exchange between the two regional arch foes that marks a week today The military noted that the engagement marks a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to reinforce the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and the United States built upon shared objectives of peace stability and prosperity TRUMP HONOURED TO HOST PAKISTAN S ARMY CHIEF FOR TALKS
Yesterday after the meeting, when questioned about the meeting in an interaction with the media, Trump said, I was honoured to meet him (Field Marshal Munir) today
“He (Field Marshal Munir) agreed with me The reason
I had him here was that I wanted to thank him for not going
into the war with India And I want to thank PM Modi as well, who just left a few days ago,” he added
“We’re working on a trade deal with India and Pakistan These two very smart people decided not to keep going with a war that could have been a nuclear war Pakistan and India are two big nuclear powers
Asked whether the talks included the current Iran-Israel conflict, Trump said: They (Pakistan) know Iran very well, better than most, and they’re not happy about anything It’s not that they’re bad with Israel They know them both actually but they know Iran better ”
Questioned by reporters about the meeting prior to it Trump remarked This man (COAS Munir) was extremely influential in stopping it (India-Pakistan fighting) from the Pakistan side White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said Trump was hosting Field Marshal Munir after he called for the president to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for preventing a nuclear war between India and Pakistan Reuters reported On other hand sources privy to the development suggested that the meeting was not arranged through routine diplomatic channels, rather it was the outcome of unorthodox efforts by a group of advisers, businessmen, and other influential figures Diplomatic sources in Washington said this initiative had been cooking for months and kept under wraps until the White House released Trump s official schedule on Tuesday Sources said that deepened counter-terrorism cooperation engagement with crypto-linked influence networks, and targeted lobbying via Republican-aligned firms in Washington helped Pakistan secure the meeting
Pak Datacom signs MoU with Asia-Pacific satellite broadband operator
Move follows successful trials as company eyes expansion in digital connec tivit
04
COMMENT
Chinese dumping?
ON E of the main claims that US President Donald Trump has made while slapping China with massive tariffs has been that Chinese exporters engage in dumping which is charging a lower price of their product in that foreign market than prevails either there, in their own country, or in a third country The idea is to win market share by undercutting local production Trump critics have pointed out that the undercutting was achieved simply because Chinese labour was more productive and cost less than American Unexpected support for Trump s position has come from Pakistan s Central Tariff Commission, which has delivered a finding that Drawn Textured Yarn imported from China is being dumped by Chinese manufacturers to cause injury to Pakistani manufacturers The CTC made this determination on a complaint filed by two Pakistani companies Gatron Industries and Rupali Polyester who make and sell DTY on May 26 last year In just over a year the NTC made a finding that dumping was occurring and that the companies were suffering injury, and has imposed penalties in the shape of anti-dumping duties It made its decision effective November 15 last year, It should be noted that DTY is a crucial component in the textile industry, which uses it as a substitute for cotton, of which the natural production is not enough to mTY when it faced shortages of natural yarn, and finally began manufacture as an import substitution measure However the injury caused by the dumping according to the NTC investigation included loss of market share and reduced profitability At the same time it made no finding of the kind of guidance from the Chinese government Mr Trump alleges In this case it appears the dumping is a bit of sharp practice by Chinese minds rather than a sinister conspiracy Mr Trump might be hard to convince, but he must be told that the law-abiding response to Chinese dumping, would be to activate the US International Trade Commission, which was the US Tariff Commission until 1974, as it could deal with individual dumping cases He just need fill the Commission s vacancies, and get affected companies to file cases But that would not suit his rabble-rousing style of politics, in which making claims without proof is basic Mr Trump must dread evidence that the Chinese government is too busy running the country to engage in commercial dirty work at the crossroads
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)
Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
of deja vu
the Israel-Iran conflict, which harks back to the recent Indo-Pakistan clash, which seemed about to bring the world to the brink of nuclear war
As with the Pakistan-India conflict this writer did not know whether if these lines would appear in print they had been overtaken by a nuclearization of the conflict or if they would appear at all because of just that conflict There are certain similarities, or rather congruence, between the two clashes One of the most counter-intuitive is the USA’s readiness to get involved in making peace In the case of India and Pakistan the USA had India which it is now trying to co-opt as the regional bully while it sort of had Pakistan, for old times sake, and because its establishment was tilted towards the USA anyhow The USA may be closely allied to Israel, but it cannot be certain that Israel will obey it even though it owes its continued existence to US support Another congruence was nuclearity The congruence was not exact for while both Pakistan and India are declared nuclear states which have tested weapons Israel is an undeclared nuclear power, in that it has nuclear weapons since 1966, though it has never tested them, and did not use them during the 1967 or 1973 Wars presumably because Israel itself was never under threat and conventional military means were sufficient for it to achieve its ends Iran on the other hand is not a nuclear power though it is attempting to enrich uranium to the point where it becomes weapons-grade Israel justified its attacks by claiming that Iran was close to achieving a nuclear weapon Iranian nuclear ambitions are very old, and predate the Revolution Indeed a 1976 thriller The Crash of 79 is predicated on Iran under the Shah obtaining a nuclear weapon He then uses it on Saudi Arabia rendering its oilfields unusable because they are in the midst of a nuclear wasteland Israel is not in the equation, because the Shah was pro-US enough to have established diplomatic relations with it The author Paul Erdman a banker who had turned to writing after his bank collapsed following unfortunate speculations in cocoa got somethings badly wrong He had no inkling of the fall of the Shah and his title The Crash of 79, refers to what happens to world stock markets, not to the Shah However, he was the one who showed that Iran’s nuclear ambitions were pre-Revolution and indicated the direction it was thought they would take The Shah had no pretensions to leadership of the Shias so his animus against Saudi Arabia would be geostrategic rather than sectarian Still it existed It must be remembered that nuclear weapons do not recognise ideologies There is no way that Iran can
have a nuclear weapon directed against Israel alone
The relative positions within the region between the Sunni Arab monarchies and Shia Iran will change dramatically, and while Iran will be strengthened, the Arabs will be weakened And they are all US allies
Though China has arranged a reconciliation between Saudi Arabia and Iran, there is still enough rivalry between them for Iran to justify the need to dominate by nuclear means a region peppered with US allies Then there is the sectarian issue which goes back to the Ottoman-Qajar struggles which saw Iraq and the Caucasus as battlegrounds
Then there is the presence of the Israeli weapon It may well not be the primary factor, but it is certainly there as the Arab states have either out-andout recognized Israel or are moving towards it Now the Arab states having avoided the threat of the Israeli weapon find themselves menaced by an Iranian one (which has not been built)
While China has intervened positively with one US ally, it has also intervened by stitching together a peace agreement between Hamas and the PLO, thereby intervening in what the USA regards as its bailiwick
The danger of the nuclearization of the battlefield is low because as Erdman s book pointed out no one would like oilfields rendered unusable However there has been an idea floating around that Israeli war aims would not be achieved until Iranian nuclear facilities were nuked To that end, there have been reports of the mobilization of US B1 bombers which carry a nuclear payload Somehow
H o w C h i n a O u t s m a r t e d t h e U S A
hydroelectric capacity in the world along with growing nuclear and coal infrastructure The USA meanwhile has suffered from energy bottlenecks and aging grids, with nearly 70 percent of transmission lines more than 25 years old Then came China’s most brilliant geopolitical stroke the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Launched in 2013 BRI is a multitrillion-dollar infrastructure trade and development strategy connecting Asia Africa Europe and Latin America China built highways ports railroads and energy grids in 153 countries, creating a global trade and political network The result? China no longer relied solely on exports to the USA Today US demand accounts for just 12 percent of China’s exports down from over 20 percent two decades ago The Trump Administration attempted to reverse this trend by imposing tariffs on Chinese goods, hoping to hurt China economically and financially But it underestimated China’s re-
silience Instead of collapsing China retaliated with its own tariffs and expanded trade with other partners particularly in the Global South Worse still as China invested its trade surpluses into infrastructure and defense, the U S was caught off guard China now boasts the world’s largest navy, cutting-edge hypersonic missiles, space-based sensors, and cyberwarfare capabilities Its military is indigenous highly disciplined and rapidly modernizing Even the once-unquestioned dominance of the US dollar is under threat BRICS nations like Brazil, Russia, India, and Saudi Arabia along with others are exploring non-dollar trade settlements If this trend continues, and the dollar loses its reserve currency status the USA’s economic supremacy could be fatally undermined What hurts more is the realization that the USA lacks any meaningful leverage left both economic and military China has become selfreliant in industrial inputs, diversified its markets through BRI, and built independent platforms
Democracy on autopilot
Qamar Bashir
ALT H O U G H hostilities between Pakistan and India have temporarily ceased strategic analysts widely anticipate the possibility of another Indian false-flag operation– this time executed with greater precision and clearer objectives Indian likely intent would be to avenge the setback of Operation Sindoor and to reclaim lost military prestige Before drawing any conclusions it is essential to carefully assess the prevailing stability-instability dynamics that define the relationship between the two nuclear-armed states Ever since India and Pakistan became overt nuclear powers in 1974 and 1998 respectively they have been caught in a Security-Insecurity Paradox which suggests that though they have not fought any full-scale war but have been engaged in numerous conflicts– like border skirmishes, proxy wars, or limited engagements– besides arms buildup and strategic posturing It challenges the realists’ assumption that nuclear weapons automatically create total peace Furthermore India s doctrinal pursuit of strategic dominance and Pakistan s quest for deterrence have both ensured that peace remains elusive
At the heart of their perpetual rivalry lies a fundamental doctrinal divergence Indian warmongers believe that they can wage a limited conventional war below Pakistan s nuclear threshold Indians perceived this hypothesis through their experience of the Kargil crisis where they achieved their objectives without triggering the nuclear redline Moreover, the bases of their war doctrines, especially Cold Start Doctrine (CSD) rest on this very assumption Pakistan on the other hand maintains that there is no space for conventional war between two nuclear-armed states, believing that any escalation could spiral into a full-scale nuclear conflict This view has been endorsed by all the theorists of international relations including the hardcore realists who see no incentives for any nuclear state to opt for war
T h e U S s h o u l d
i m m e d i a t e l y s t o p
The historic accounts since 1998 suggest a pattern of India s tendency to mobilize militarily or orchestrate high-stake provocations for limited conventional war The important thing to note is that New Delhi has constantly been escalating the intensity of conflict – always taking a step up on the escalation ladder It has been done with specific aim: firstly to test and enhance Islamabad s nuclear patience; and secondly to compel Pakistan to accept its actions as a neo-normal– a transformed norm based upon so-called changed geopolitical realities A few glimpses of their post-1998 history are unfolded in next paragraphs
India gave the first signal of initiating a conventional war in 2001-2002 in the postParliament Attack drama India conducted massive mobilization of forces to the Line of Control and international borders under Operation Parakram, and so did Pakistan The forces returned to barracks after remaining deployed for about one year
The episode was repeated in 2008 (PostMumbai Attacks) Tensions heightened but the result was the same In 2016, India claimed surgical strikes inside Pakistan It was, though, a fabricated claim– as considered by both Pakistani and international experts– but was not purposeless Where it signalled New Delhi’s policy shift to self-claimed proactive retaliation it was aimed at assessing Islamabad s response and measuring its nuclear threshold
Later in 2019, using Pulwama s– arguably another false-flag event– as a pretext, IAF violated Pakistan’s air space and conducted a failed effort at a surgical strike
Though it caused no damage to men and material and Pakistan was able to down IAF MiG-21 and capture its pilot no political scientist can ignore that India took a step up on the escalation ladder
But it was not the last episode In 2022, a BrahMos supersonic missile crashed near Mian Channu Pakistan New Delhi described it as an accidental firing due to a technical malfunction during routine maintenance Was it really so? Many analysts suspect it as a deliberate attempt to test Pakistan s air defence mechanism and alertness level
The most recent– though not the last–
episode occurred in May this year The rep-
etition of the old false-flag strategy at Pahalgam– where 26 innocent people became victims– and launching missile attacks on multiple targets in Pakistan, including critical installations, has further intensified strategic instability in South Asia
While Pahalgam may be over the underlying tensions and root causes of conflict between the two remain unresolved
Hypothesizing that India is the regional hegemon and a rising global power, its leadership confronts an exceptionally difficult security dilemma: how to make Islamabad a subservient capital of New Delhi While analyzing a wide range of options against Pakistan the Indian policymaking community uses the theoretical lens of Thomas Schelling s Compellence Theory –a distant form of Deterrence – connoting a threat to keep the enemy from starting something The real challenge that the India’s political leadership and security management struggle today is in calibrating a response that could satisfy public opinion punish Pakistan but avoid a large scale nuclear or military escalation
To accomplish above goals the Modi-led Indian elite has long been working on following options:First pro-active limited military offensive along LOC and Pakistan’s mainland short of crossing the nuclear redline The aim of this option is to capture sizable territory before the international community intervenes in effecting a ceasefire, and to be at an advantageous position on the negotiating table The Cold Start Doctrine (CSD) and Operation Kabaddi were conceived in line with the same doctrinal thought An unlikely proposition due to various reasons like: failure of Operation Kabaddi in 1999 and 2019 and CSD in 2001 and 2008; unlikely air superiority during war; risk of escalation into full scale war; danger of stepping over nuclear redline; strong response from Pakistan Army including threat of employing tactical nuclear weapons (TNW)
Second limited air and missile strikes in AJK and against selected targets inside Pakistan The option bears mixed probabilities Missiles strikes alone, or in support of other operations, are most likely Whereas, a repeat Balakot failed attempt by IAF is most unlikely
The strategic competition between India and Pakistan is far from concluded. The region sits precariously on a tinderbox any miscalculation, deliberate or accidental, could push South Asia to the brink of yet another crisis.
f u e l i n g t h e w a r m a c h i n e
i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t
macy, but a military adventure The Iranian nuclear issue has dragged on for over 20 years The most important lesson learned is that political and diplomatic efforts are the only correct way to properly resolve the issue The most profound historical lesson is that relentless confrontation, pressure, and undermining international agreements only serve to further complicate the situation The US bears responsibility for the Iranian nuclear issue If Washington had not unilaterally withdrawn from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and if the agreement had been smoothly and effectively implemented, the issue very likely would not have deteriorated to its current state
eignty security and territorial integrity should not be violated, and the Iranian
tional community is still seeking
contemplating involvement is itself a very dangerous signal Diplomatic means regarding the Iranian nuclear issue have not been exhausted and a peaceful resolution is still possible The common consensus in the international community is that military force cannot bring peace to the regiononly by upholding the vision of common security can the legitimate concerns of all parties be thoroughly addressed Before the current Iran-Israel conflict the US and Iran had already held five rounds of talks on the nuclear issue While significant differences remained and no substantial breakthroughs were achieved, the negotiations were ongoing Had it not been for Israel’s sudden military strike on
reckless use of force against Iran is unacceptable and constitutes a blatant violation of international law
From Afghanistan to Iraq, history has long proven that US military interventions have never brought peace Instead they have left devastation and sown the seeds of hatred even deeply harming American society According to the Costs of War project by Brown University, since 2001, the so-called US war on terror has claimed over 800,000 lives, displaced more than 38 million people and cost over $8 trillion These painful lessons are far from forgotten CNN has warned that the US may be headed into another Middle East war, describing Washington as being on the brink of a huge gamble, while emphasizing that “Iran is not Libya,
India conducted massive mobilization of forces to the Line of Control and international borders under Operation Parakram, and so did Pakistan The forces returned to barracks after remaining deployed for about one year
as compared to its capabilities with Pakistan s response options which already earned IAF an immense humiliation in 2019 and 2025 Three, exercising nuclear option either in support of a military campaign or precision strikes on selected strategic installations/assets in Pakistan The most dangerous but most unlikely course of action once analyzed viz-a-viz Pakistan s second strike capability and Mutually Ensured Destruction (MAD) phenomenon Fourth, non-violent compellence strategy to isolate Pakistan internationally and punish it economically, politically and morally Most unlikely if exercised as an independent choice India has however long been propagating against Pakistan in all international fora without achieving its end objectives
Fifth though not the last symmetrical covert strategy by fomenting insurgency and disorder in Pakistan The most likely out of all available alternatives when evaluated for gains and risks India also has a history of its involvement in sabotage activities inside Pakistan and is likely to select it as a rational choice in meeting its long term goals in Pakistan The mission of covert war can be operationalized through RAW network and its proxies– BLA and TTP– against: key leaders, military commanders and personnel; high value strategic organizations and their infrastructure; and financial economic and logistic setups including industrial units It s not a new strategy as there are inerasable traces of RAW s connections with
every terrorist activity that occurs in Pak-
Now
Where
Iraq, or Afghanistan, and history does not have to repeat itself ” A recent Economist poll shows that 60 percent of Americans oppose US military involvement in the conflict with only 16 percent supporting military action This indicates that deeper entanglement in the Iran-Israel conflict is not reflective of the true will of the American people The US military presence in the Middle East is already substantial and tensions in the region are high enough Even if Washington is merely posturing to scare Iran such maximum pressure tactics is undermining efforts to achieve regional peace and is contrary to international fairness and justice The current urgent priority is not to continue reallocating troops or deploying more aircraft carriers and fighter jets but to promote peace and stop the war Effective measures should be taken to prevent the escalation of conflicts and to avoid greater turmoil in the region Returning to a political solution of dialogue and negotiations is a common expectation of the international community The escalation of the situation in the Middle East does not serve the interests of any party As a country with special influence over Israel, the US should particularly adopt an objective and impartial stance, take due responsibility and play a positive and constructive role in de-escalating tensions and preventing the conflict from further expanding Blood is still flowing in Gaza Syrian refugees continue to wander, and the Middle East cannot withstand another imposed war ” If the US truly seeks to “resolve conflicts peacefully ” it needs to send clearer and more proactive signals regarding Middle Eastern issues stop fueling the war machine and take on the responsibility of promoting peace and stopping the war, rather than complicating the issues further or becoming part of the problem
IS R A E L I Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu s unilateral military strike on Iran is predicated on the idea that either the Islamic Republic can be forced to give up its nuclear programme, or it can be replaced with a regime that will comply with the demands of Israel and the US to abandon its nuclear aspirations The reality is that no Iranian regime past present or future will surrender Iran s nuclear ambitions If anything by attacking Iran s nuclear sites while Iran was negotiating with the US, Israel has reinforced the incentive for the Islamic republic to rush to acquire a nuclear deterrent Iran’s nuclear dreams and the west’s nuclear nightmares were not born with the Islamic republic in 1979 It was the shah of Iran Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who dramatically accelerated the country s civilian nuclear programme in 1974 after the global energy crisis sent oil prices soaring Then, as now, there was deep concern in Washington that a nuclear Iran would set off a cascade of nuclear proliferation in the Middle East endangering Israel When the shah turned to the US to supply Iran with nuclear reactors, secretary of state Henry Kissinger tried to maintain US veto rights” over Iran’s spent nuclear fuel His fear was that Iran like India or Pakistan would use its civilian programme to stockpile fissile material that could eventually be used for a bomb Today Iran has mastered the nuclear fuel cycle and is, by most estimates, weeks away from having enough enriched uranium for a nuclear weapon The shah balked at the idea that Iran should be treated any differently to other signatories to the 1968 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Not even Kissinger the master diplomat could con-
GLOBAL TIMES
Zakharova a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said Israeli attacks on peaceful nuclear facilities were unacceptable and illegal
We are especially concerned about the safety of the Bushehr nuclear power plant, in whose operation Russian specialists are involved,” she told reporters “We would like to especially warn Washington against military intervention in the situation which would be an extremely dangerous step with truly unpredictable negative consequences, Zakharova added, un-
women and children In response to these actions the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former Defence Minister Yoav Gallant on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity related to the ongoing conflict Israel also faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice over its military actions in Gaza In addition to displacement attacks on aid sites have continued Gaza s civil defence agency reported that at least 33 people, including 11 civilians waiting for humanitarian aid, were killed on June 18 due to Israeli fire Over 100 others were injured in the attack at a food distribution point in central Gaza The Israeli military claimed its forces fired warning shots after spotting a group of suspicious individuals but were unaware of the injuries The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate with severe shortages of food, water, and fuel due to Israel s ongoing blockade, which has remained largely in place since March On the same day as the food distribution attack 19 more people were killed in three Israeli airstrikes targeting homes and a tent sheltering displaced persons The military stated these airstrikes were aimed at dismantling Hamas military capabilities The death toll from an Israeli airstrike northeast of Gaza City later that day rose by three more victims, bringing the number of casualties to a staggering level Due to media restrictions and security concerns, AFP was unable to independently verify the exact figures
derlining a warning that Moscow first issued on Wednesday Putin in his comments early on Thursday was defensive when asked what more Moscow would do to help Tehran He said it had not asked for military assistance that ties were strong, and that the continued presence of Russian workers building more nuclear facilities at Bushehr showed Russia’s support for Iran
But Putin also stressed the importance of Russia s ties with Israel – even though he later condemned its
C ambridge Confirms Par tial Exam Paper Leak in June 2025, A ssures Fair Grading
NEWS DESK
Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) has confirmed a partial leak of three exam papers ahead of the June 2025 exams following a thorough internal investigation In a statement released Thursday the board reassured students and parents that all candidates would receive fair and just results, emphasizing its commitment to academic integrity The investigation revealed that parts of three exam papers were compromised: one question from AS & A Level Mathematics Paper 12, segments of two questions from Paper 42, and parts of one question from AS & A Level Com-
puter Science Paper 22 However Cambridge clarified that no complete exam paper was leaked The board also revealed that an organized effort was made to sell these leaked or fake papers to students for money Despite false reports circulating online, only these three papers were confirmed to be affected Uzma Yousuf Cambridge s country director for Pakistan expressed sympathy for students who faced unnecessary anxiety during this period, describing the incident as a theft of valuable resources that caused distress to young people at a critical time in their academic journey Uzma Yousuf Pakistan Country Director For Cambridge International Ed-
ucation speaking at a panel on #InternationalWomensDay event hosted by the Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dr Anthony Dawson, Director of Assessment Standards, stressed that the remedial actions taken were aimed at ensuring fairness for all students “Our priority is fairness for students who did not have access to the leaked papers which is the vast majority and we have applied remedies accordingly he stated Cambridge is actively pursuing those responsible for the leak, including both candidates and external parties involved in the buying and selling of the papers The board has confirmed that it identified the sources of the leaks and will take strict action against those involved To mitigate any impact on affected students, Cambridge stated that some students might see a slight increase in their marks However no student will be required to resit the exams and the overall result timelines will not be affected
The organization emphasized that these measures were taken to protect the value of its
ag e N C i e s Greenpeace on Thursday warned that an oil spill resulting from a tanker collision off the coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)
ronmental consequences after
On Tuesday the Emirati coastguard
24 crew members of the Adalynn
after
collided with the Front Eagle vessel in
Gulf of Oman, off the coast of the Khor Fakan area of the UAE “Greenpeace Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has warned of a potential environmental disaster after two crude oil tankers collided the group said in a statement The environmental campaign group said satellite imagery indicated a large plume of oil stretching up to around 1,500 hectares from the site of the crash
The group said the Adalynn was part of a Russian “shadow fleet”, which it described as “a collection of partially obsolete tankers that operate below basic security standards and carry Russian oil” Security analysts say Russia uses the fleet of ageing vessels to circumvent international sanctions that ban it from selling oil Greenpeace stated that the Adalynn could be carrying approximately 70,000 tonnes of crude oil, despite being officially listed in ballast condition, and therefore should not have been carrying cargo The Front Eagle is owned by the shipping company Frontline
Farah Al Hattab of Greenpeace urged authorities to “act swiftly to contain the spill and assess its ecological impact Oil spills endanger marine life disrupt delicate ecological balances and possibly the entire food web and carry the potential to spark widespread environmental damage, she said On Wednesday, the Emirati Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure said the accident was “caused by a navigational misjudgment by one of the vessels” The accident caused “minor surface damage to the outer hulls of both ships a small oil spill and a fire that broke out in the fuel tank of one of the ships according to the statement The incident took place close to the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a waterway between the Arabian Peninsula and Iran that carries one-fifth of global oil output
When asked on Thursday to comment on recent attempts by some self-media outlets to link China’s export controls on rare earths with challenges faced by specific manufacturing industries Ministry of Commerce spokesperson He Yadong said China has always placed high importance on maintaining
Marshal Asim Munir and US President Donald Trump as a great success, she said though the meeting has rattled Modi’s government and the “Fitna group ” it has brought pride and joy to the people of Pakistan She added that world leaders are accorded respect on the global stage based on their national contributions, integrity, and service as was clearly demonstrated by the warm reception given to Field Marshal Asim Munir in the United States Speaking on Punjab s rapid development, Azma Bokhari noted that under Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s leadership, the province is experiencing an unprecedented era of progress
PC Hospitalit y
Highlighting the recently announced provincial budget Bokhari said it is a balanced taxfree and people-friendly financial plan that truly
As part of recent initiatives 911 vehicles have been inducted into the Clinic on Wheels fleet to ensure timely medical assistance for the public
Appoints
Abbas Kamal as Hotel Manager to Lead
PC Muzaffarabad
ISLAMABAD
s ta f
t Pearl-Continental (PC) Hospitality the hospitality division of Hashoo Group and one of Asia s leading hospitality conglomerates is proud to announce the appointment of Abbas Kamal as the new Hotel Manager of Pearl-Continental Hotel Muzaffarabad This strategic leadership move reinforces Hashoo Group’s commitment to cultivating exceptional talent and delivering elevated guest experiences across its portfolio Set against the dramatic backdrop of the Himalayan foothills where the Neelum and Jhelum rivers converge Pearl-Continental Hotel Muzaffarabad offers a breathtaking sanctuary of serenity and natural splendor With its panoramic views, premium accommodations, lush gardens, elegant event spaces, and curated Kashmiri cuisine the property is a sought-after destination for weddings family retreats and nature-infused luxury getaways Abbas Kamal joins this iconic property with over 16 years of global hospitality experience, including 13 years with leading international brands in Dubai He brings deep operational expertise and a sharp focus on service excellence Most recently he served as Director of Rooms at Pearl-Continental Bhurban
PM DIRECTS FINALIZ ATION OF INDUSTRIAL
POLICY AT EARLIEST TO BOOST PRODUCTION
Pakistani sisters drown in UK’s Nor th Wales; calls for investigation
Two Pakistani sisters, Hajra Zahid, 29, and Haleema Zahid 25 tragically drowned at Eryri National Park in North Wales on June 11 while visiting the Watkin Pools
Dar to represent Pak istan
at OIC ’s 51st CFM
r t
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, will visit Türkiye to participate in the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on June 21-22 2025
During the plenary session, the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister will present Pakistan’s perspective on developments in South Asia particularly following the ceasefire agreement between Pakistan and India He will also ad-
dress the situation in the Middle East particularly the recent Israeli aggression against Iran and other regional states
Reaffirming Pakistan s steadfast commitment to the Palestinian cause, the Deputy Prime Minister will emphasize the urgent need for peace in the Middle East and the necessity of providing humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza In addition the Deputy Prime Minister will urge the international community to take decisive action to address rising Islamophobia, as well as other global challenges such as extremism, terrorism, and climate change
Senator Dar will also reiterate Pakistan’s commitment to the objectives and principles of the OIC and its ongoing efforts to address issues affecting the Muslim Ummah On the sidelines of the event, the Deputy Prime Minister will hold bilateral meetings with his counterparts from other OIC member states Before the CFM the Deputy Prime Minister will participate in the award ceremony for the OIC Youth Forum Grand Youth Award,” which will be presented to the President of Türkiye, Recep Tayyip Erdogan
Israeli former minister threatens Pakistan
and other peace-loving nations to play a more assertive and proactive role in breaking the evil nexus and countering the dangerous alliance between the supremacist Indian regime and the Zionist Israeli government PTI CIS, in a strongly worded statement on Thursday, warned that these notorious states
Peace committee, police and admin c alibrate plan for tranquility in Muharram
