JETS
g
recorded
PTI’s Zar taj Gul, Ejaz Ch move LHC against ATC convictions in May 9 riots cases
movable properties worth Rs532 33 billion have been disbursed/handed over to different Ministries & Departments of Federal and Provincial Governments as well as Financial Institutions,” it said “Whereas 12 611 affectees of different cheating public at large cases have also been compensated Pakistan is ranked 135 out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2024 after falling two spots below its ranking in
2023 In its quarterly report issued on Saturday NAB said it remains committed to safeguarding state assets and interests of the general public and recovering funds belonging to the national exchequer “In the past two years, NAB has recovered a staggering total of Rs5 854 73 billion which is 700 percent more that of Rs839 08 billion recovered since the Bureau s inception in 1999, it said Currently, NAB is actively coordinating with the revenue departments of all provinces to recover state assets and properties unlawfully held by corrupt elements
RAWALPINDI
s ta f f r e p o r t
Security forces killed 14 more terrorists of “Indian proxy Fitna al-Khwarij” during a ‘sanitisation’ operation near the Pak-Afghan border in the Sambaza area of Zhob district Balochistan the military s media wing said in a statement bringing the total number of terrorists eliminated in two days to 47
A day earlier, security forces thwarted a major infiltration attempt from Afghanistan, killing at least 33 terrorists in the Zhob district of Balochistan According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) a “sanitization operation was ongoing to clear residual terrorist elements
in the area “On the night 8/9 August 2025 a deliberate sanitization operation was conducted in surrounding areas of Sambaza along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release
During the conduct of the operation, 14 more Indiansponsored Khwarij were hunted down and successfully neutralized Weapons, ammunition, and explosives were also recovered from the killed Khwarij ” the ISPR noted
This followed the successful engagements by the security forces in the general area of Sambaza Zhob District, on 7-8 August 2025, during which 33 khwarij were sent to hell
“The number of Khwarij killed in the two-day anti-infiltration operation has risen to 47,” the military highlighted
“The security forces remain committed to securing the nation s frontiers and thwarting attempts at sabotaging peace stability and progress of Pakistan the
CDA declares 99 housing, agro-farming schemes illegal in Islamabad, warns citizens against investment g CDA SURVE Y FINDS WIDESPREAD VIOL ATIONS AS UNAPPROVED DE VELOPERS BYPASS MASTER PL AN, SELL PLOTS WITHOUT NOC S Pakistan, Romania explore joint ventures in tech and innovation
Two countries discuss potential collaborations in soft ware development, research, and EU-funded programs for technology- driven growth PR OFIT
Pakistan and Romania are strengthening bilateral ties in science technology and innovation with discussions focused on joint ventures in software development aimed at the European Union (EU) and Gulf markets The development came during a meeting between Federal Minister for Science and Technology Khalid Hussain Magsi and Romania’s Ambassador to Pakistan Dan Stoenescu They explored avenues for expanding cooperation in IT education and digital transformation Stoenescu proposed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Pakistan s Ministry of Science and Technology and Romania’s National Authority for Digitalisation and Research He also suggested establishing a Romania-Pakistan Science and Technology Forum with a focus on the IT sector Romania offered to support Pakistan s involvement in key EU-funded programs such as Horizon Europe, Erasmus+, and the Digital Europe Programme These initiatives could provide collaborative opportunities in AI, cybersecurity renewable energy and space technology benefiting both countries Minister Magsi acknowledged Romania s success in producing globally recognized tech solutions and expressed Pakistan s interest in learning from Romania s experience in transitioning to a knowledge-based economy The meeting also explored joint ventures in tech capacity building in cybersecurity and academic exchanges
In a sweeping crackdown on unauthorized real estate projects the Capital Development Authority (CDA) has declared 99 housing societies and agro-farming schemes illegal across Islamabad urging the public to avoid investing in unapproved developments
The action follows an extensive survey, multiple site inspections, and close monitoring of marketing campaigns that revealed widespread violations of planning regulations unauthorized land use and complete disregard for the city s master plan The CDA s Planning Wing (Regional Planning Directorate) confirmed that sponsors of these projects had been aggressively advertising their ventures on social media and through other marketing channels without obtaining mandatory approvals Officials underscored that under SRO 886(1)23, no housing or farm scheme can be developed in contravention of the CDA Ordinance 1960, Islamabad Master Plan ICT Zoning Regulations 1992 and related planning standards Only private companies registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) are permitted to sponsor such developments, and even then, only after securing formal CDA approval for permissible sub-zones in Zone 4
The 99 projects declared illegal include: Royal City Housing Scheme, Japan Valley, Ghouri Gardens, Satti Town, Simly Valley, Dhanyal Town Ghakkar Town
Usama Town, Abdullah Gardens, Centerbury Enclave, Qurtbal Town, Commoners Sky Garden (Flower Valley) Muzafarabad Town Madina Enclave Phase-1 Star Villas Housing Scheme Sait Gardens Babar Enclave Doctors Enclave Green Avenue-II, Hammad Town, Marwa Town, Media City-1, Paradise Point HS, Government Officers Co-operative Housing Scheme Badar Farms Green Field Shaheen Farms Kohsar Enclave Ali Town Green Meadows (North Ridge) Al-Rayan Society, land subdivision by Mr Raja Farukh, Karsaz Villas, Major Makhdoom Society, Green Hills, Arcadia City Aryan Enclave Adil Valley Adil Farms Al-Syed Avenue Al-Rehman City View Al-Rehman Villas Al-Huda Town Ali Model Town, Abdullah Garden, Asian Ranches Villas, Arsalan Town, Abu Bakar Town, Ameer Khan Enclave, Blue Enclave/Star Home, Burma Town Bylee Town Bara Kahu Enclave Bani Gala Hill View City View near Nilore City Town Capital Gardens Dream Land City Faisal Town, Ghour Town, Green Avenue, Green View Villas, Green Valley (1 & 2), Gulberg Town (1 & 2) Gulf Residencia Green Residencia Green Valley near Quran Complex Hill View Houses Iqbal Town Deal Residencia Ittifaq Town Islamabad Saif Garden, J&K Farm Housing Scheme, Kiani Town, land subdivision by Mr Shahzad at Sanjania Road Madina Town Muslim Town Margalla Gardens Mufti Mehmood Enclave Makkah Town New University Town Olive Wood Farms, DGDCL Town, Park Lane Valley, PTV Colony, Rawal En-
clave, Rawal Enclave Phase-III, Royal Homes/Residencia, Spring Valley, Sama Town, Tricon AgroFarms The Enclave Housing Scheme Danyal Town Ghakar Town Usama Town in Nilore and Yar Muhammad Society According to sources, these schemes have no valid layout plan, No Objection Certificate (NOC), or other clearances required for lawful operation Many have been sold to unsuspecting buyers through glossy brochures billboards and online promotions falsely claiming government endorsement We have seen a dangerous trend where unapproved developers are selling dreams while violating every legal requirement ” a senior CDA spokesperson said As per sources the authority has warned that such illegal developments not only put citizens investments at risk but also disrupt the capital’s planned growth, overload its infrastructure and damage the environment Sources stressed that genuine housing societies and farm schemes must possess a valid NOC, an approved layout plan, and compliance with planning bylaws before selling or advertising plots The public has been advised to confirm a project’s legal status directly with the CDA s Directorate of Housing Societies at 051-9252467 before making any investment The list of these 99 schemes will be widely circulated so that no citizen can claim ignorance ” the sources added “We will not allow land grabbers and unapproved
company GAM ARAK using a committee currently working on an out-of-court settlement under the Iran-Pakistan Gas Project, Business Recorder reported National Grid Company submitted a report to the government on July 17 2025 following a meeting on the outstanding payments The dispute stems from an award issued by the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in Arbitration Case No 2272412F IAYZ dated April 21 2020, with an addendum issued on July 28, 2020 The total amount due, including interest, stands at approximately $3 658 million as of June 30, 2025
Despite
COMMENT
Israeli takeover
Breaking international law with a vengeance
THERE are, it seems, two reactions to the latest Israeli iniquity The first is a deathly silence, a pretence that the outrage committed just didn t happen, so as not to offend the USA
The second is loud squawking, making the right noises but doing nothing so that the national interest is not harmed Now that Israel has finally announced that it will use the Israeli Defense Force to take over the entire Gaza Strip, it seems that this was a step that provoked the second reaction with Pakistan joining the chorus of voices condemning it as a fresh war crime It is worth noting that even Saudi Arabia, which has been increasingly soft on Palestine as it moved towards recognition of Israel was moved to express immediate condemnation
The problem with what Israel wants to do is not just that it is reprehensible, but impractical as well It seeks to do what it has been unable to do since 7 October 2022, which is eliminate Hamas
This failure in turn reflects the failure of the Israel project The UN called for a two-state solution but Israel is not willing to accept that because it means putting a state on top of at least a portion of another, which is already in place Israel wants it all, which is why it occupied in 1967 the rest of the former mandate of Palestine which it had not captured in 1948, when it had come into being by imposing itself on as much of the mandate as it could grab The hope it has of expelling Hamas is actually a d desire that the Palestinian people should accept their servitude as some sort of second-class Israeli citizen, and give up all hope of freedom
This is a key moment in the Palestinian nightmare The Israelis are going to reverse the clock to 2004, when Hamas took power Indeed, the reversal is going to take Gaza back to 1967 when the IDF occupied the Strip after taking it from Egypt The concern of the Netanyahu government is to prolong the war, so that it may stay in office If this comes at the cost of dead and maimed Isareli children then so be it The paradox is that this step is being taken to stop the starvation that is threatening to kill off the Gazan population, even though the famine is being caused by the IDF stopping food going through
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
A
IN response to escalating internal security challenges particularly from militant groups like the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan the Government of Pakistan has made a decisive move to restructure the Frontier Constabulary The FC, which has historically been tasked with guarding the country’s borders, will now be transformed into a nationwide force known as the Federal Constabulary This restructuring is not just an administrative change but a significant shift in Pakistan s approach to internal security and counterterrorism efforts
The decision to overhaul the FC comes amid rising militancy, particularly after the breakdown of the ceasefire between Pakistan and the TTP in November 2022 Over the past few years, Pakistan has faced an increasing wave of attacks carried out by these militant groups many of whom are believed to be operating with impunity from Afghan soil This surge in violence has made it evident that Pakistan s security forces need to adapt to a new and more coordinated national security strategy Historically, the FC’s role was confined to maintaining law and order in the border areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where it worked alongside the Pakistan Army to secure the tribal regions However with the evolving threat landscape the government has recognized the need for a more centralized, nationwide force that can operate in all provinces, including Islamabad, Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK), and Gilgit-Baltistan By doing so, Pakistan aims to address the growing security challenges that transcend regional boundaries and require a coordinated national response
The restructuring of the FC into the Federal Con-
Te s t i n g P o i n t f o r I n d i a
stabulary will bring about significant changes in its operational scope The new force will be empowered to function across Pakistan with amendments to the Frontier Constabulary Act of 1915 being introduced to formalize the shift A presidential ordinance will be issued, extending the FC s jurisdiction nationwide, which will enhance coordination between various law enforcement agencies and facilitate a more unified approach to maintaining security
One of the most notable changes is that the new Federal Constabulary will be led by officers from the Police Service of Pakistan (PSP) as opposed to the military leadership that traditionally guided the FC This shift marks a significant departure from the past and signals a move toward professional law enforcement practices, with the focus being on civilian-led policing rather than military oversight The Federal Constabulary s leadership will be tasked with overseeing the force s operations ensuring that it functions effectively in both urban and rural areas across the country
The recruitment process for the new force will be open across Pakistan, with personnel being drawn from all provinces thereby ensuring that the Federal Constabulary reflects the diverse demography of the country Operational bases and offices will be established in key locations throughout Pakistan ensuring that the force can deploy rapidly to areas facing heightened security threats This decentralized structure will allow for a more agile and responsive force, capable of tackling security challenges in a variety of settings whether in bustling urban centers or more remote rural areas
Another key aspect of this transformation is the financial and administrative backing that the federal government has committed to providing This support will ensure that the Federal Constabulary is not only well-funded but also properly equipped with the necessary resources to carry out its duties effectively The government’s financial backing is crucial as it will enable the force to establish infrastructure maintain operational readiness and recruit skilled personnel
The decision to expand the FC s jurisdiction
Indian leadership to digest
While internally, the Pakistan military received huge support and admiration from the civil leadership and the general public the Modi administration is mainly concerned about the foreign policy of Pakistan At a time when Pakistan is enjoying strengthened relations with the two big powers, China and the USA,
by
and
tary
Historically, India perceives China as a threat to its
hegemonic
hence the unfriendliness between the
On the contrary in the
is
two and a
decades New Delhi has maintained a balanced foreign policy towards Russia and the USA The previous US administrations, particularly the Biden Administration ignored India’s military partnership with Russia despite the ongoing Ukraine war Moreover India is part of the QUAD agreement and at the same time an original member of the BRICS organisation, something which is contradictory in nature
Though India’s military cooperation with Russia dates back to the Cold War era, in 2021, New Delhi signed a deal with Moscow which aimed to strengthen military cooperation in research and development production and aftersales support of armaments and military equipment Likewise, the bilateral projects include the supply of the S-400 air defence system, MiG-29 aircraft, Kamov helicopters, the INS Vikramaditya aircraft carrier and produc-
tion of T-90 tanks, Su-30 multirole fighter aircraft, Ak-203 rifles, and BrahMos missiles in India Apart from that, India conducts joint exercises and annual meetings with Russia to review the ongoing projects As a consequence Trump is punishing India heavily first for buying Russia s military equipment as it decreases the effectiveness of the US economic sanctions against Russia Secondly, for keeping hypocritical behaviour towards the USA by actively participating in the BRICS meetings since BRICS is widely seen as a move towards de-dollarisation Trump is known for his transactional relationship under the notion Make America Great Again which means doing everything possible to benefit the USA, a characteristic which is apparently miscalculated by the Modi administration While India faces diplomatic isolation post-May conflict recently on the Truth Social platform Trump announced heavier tariffs (i e 25 platform) on Indian goods with unspecified additional penalty for buying Russian oil and weapons "at a time when everyone wants Russia to STOP THE KILLING IN UKRAINE," adding that the penalty will start from 1st August While India is fighting a desperate diplomatic war abroad its government is also facing a severe challenge at home; however it is losing both domestically and internationally The Indian National Congress, the opposition party in Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian parliament) is driving the incumbent government
crazy The opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi, is making strict demands of the Modi administration: proof of Pakistan’s involvement in the Pahalgam incident effectiveness of Operation Sindoor (which is continuing) and the role of the USA in mediation between India and Pakistan
Though Pakistan offered a hand for a joint investigation into the Pahalgam incident, the BJP leaders chose a hard path, and are still paying the price for it The same miscalculation was ade in 2019 in response to the Pulwama attack India faced huge humiliation in the face of the world but all in vain as the Modi administration did not learn lessons
In the past, India has partially maintained an independent foreign policy; however, in a parliamentary session when asked about the government’s stance on the US role in ending the May conflict the External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar responded by shedding light on historical events stating that in 1962 the Congress party leader Pandit Nehru wrote letters to the then US President John F Kennedy to intervene and help India against China
On China’s increased collaboration with Pakistan the EAM remarked that this closeness is not a recent phenomenon but rather dates back to the era between the 1960s and 2000s adding that the Congress leadership left this gap and we are aware of it and dealing with it
As India seeks a way out of this chaos, the fate of its economic and political stability is uncertain There is a concept called imperial overstretch which refers to a situation where a great power extends itself beyond its ability to maintain or sustain its military economic or political commitments As a result, it becomes vulnerable to decline or collapse India is facing a similar issue today The Modi administration is caught at a crossroads confused and puzzled; address criticism at home or fight the diplomatic war? It is indeed a testing point for India!
The writer is a Strategic Studies graduate National Defence University Islamabad; he can be reached at: muhtasimafridi166@gmail com
Marriage needs reform
AsAd Ali
The restruc turing of paramilitar y force
in the circus
He s not wrong Most countries are forced to swear allegiance to one superpower or another in a world that is becoming more and more divided due to the U S -
China rivalry However Pakistan defied the winds of pressure by walking the line between the two titans with its arms outstretched, something no one else dared to do The world watched in shock as it grasped China's billion-dollar Belt and Road with one hand and merely shook hands with Washington with the other
This was not a backdoor handshake or press release It was a worldwide flex Trump s remarks were theatrical as well as transactional While Delhi was being punished with a 25 percent tariff hike compared to 19 percent on Pakistani exports he also twisted the knife by suggesting that Pakistan s oil might one day power Indian engines in addition to promising US investment in Pakistan s unexplored oil reserves Then came the cherry on top: Trump referred to the Indian economy as "bankrupt " Bankrupt, indeed in the open from the USA India once praised a man as an ally
The media in India went crazy The Bombay Stock Exchange suffered One anxious question flooded Delhi s elite WhatsApp groups: What just happened? Behind the scenes, Pakistan was playing chess while India reveled in the appearance of being Washington's "natural ally "
Pakistan has been accused of playing a double game for years taking Western aid while strengthening its ties with Beijing In 2025, however, that double game appears more like genius than treachery
Because Pakistan made both sides choose Pakistan while India was preoccupied with trying to choose a side
This transaction took time to complete It was the outcome of years of backchannel talks tactful diplomacy and strategic patience Pakistan made use of its oil potential, geographic proximity, and readiness to provide both powers with regional stability In exchange it received international recogni-
tion US funding and Chinese infrastructure
Loyalty is not the goal of diplomacy It has to do with leverage And the cards are currently in Pakistan s favour Let's not mince words: India is in shock
Only a few months ago, New Delhi exuded the self-assurance of a well-liked child in Western society India assumed permanence in Washington s embrace through trade agreements defence pacts and G20 summits However, international politics does not deal with permanence It deals with usefulness And Pakistan was much more helpful this time
Once touted as the fastest-growing major economy in the world India was publicly ridiculed by its purported ally and told it would face higher taxes and less trade The consequences were immediate: The stock market fell Analysts of trade panicked Modi's quiet was more telling than his words This was a loss of face in addition to a diplomatic setback Additionally face is crucial in South Asia
Oil is at the center of this drama Legends of riches hidden beneath the Arabian Sea surrounded Pakistan's offshore reserves for many years However, the legend is now getting closer to reality thanks to US technology and funding According to local and international media Pakistan might have the world s fourth-largest offshore oil reserves This is groundbreaking if it s true
Instead of being a struggling importer, Pakistan might turn into an energy exporter, a regional power broker, and a vital supplier in the energy void left by Russia What's the best part? The tools to unlock it are coming from the West not China Consider the following headline: Pakistan Powers Up: From Load Shedding to Load Leader That is no longer fantasy It's a tactic And it's functioning Don't let anyone call this luck Years of purposeful work have led to this moment It is the outcome of a foreign policy apparatus that has come out stronger more resilient and more defiant than ever after enduring sanctions, betrayals, and international suspicion The world changed, so Pakistan lost this round Since it was the first to
l y p l a y i n g t h e g a m e b u t w a s b e g i n n i n g t o w i n i t D o n ' t l e t a n y o n e c a l l t h i s l u c k Y e a r s o f p u r p o s e f u l w o r k h a v e l e d t o t h i s m o m e n t I t i s t h e o u t c o m e o f a f o r e i g n p o l i c y a p p a r a t u s t h a t h a s c o m e o u t s t r o n g e r , m o r e r e s i l i e n t , a n d m o r e d e f i a n t t h a n e v e r a f t e r e n d u r i n g s a n c t i o n s , b e t r a y a l s , a n d i n t e r n a t i o
of international relations In his mind, might makes right As possessor of the world s largest military and its biggest economy, the United States should therefore prevail in any dispute The U S president the sole executor of those assets exercises that power as he sees fit The U S leader s understanding of economics is equally rudimentary Trade bal-
ances are his metric, leading him to conclude that any country that has a trade surplus with the U S is engaging in unfair practices He believes that access to the U S market is the ultimate prize and he can use tariffs to extract concessions from those partners and balance accounts As he explained in a headscratching comment earlier this year I m like somebody that has a very valuable store and everybody wants to shop in that store And I have to protect that store And I set the prices ” That simple logic has guided economic policy-making throughout his presidency It has inspired him to say that tariffs is his favorite word, that trade wars are easy to win and to claim that U S trade partners will rush to negotiate with him, yielding "90 deals in 90 days " Reality has intervened After repeated failures moving deadlines and the resulting charge that Trump always chickens out otherwise known as TACO the American president this week issued a series of letters in fact, posts on his Truth Social network that unilaterally imposed double-digit tariffs on countries he deemed unfair traders Eight countries received notice on the first day 14 more in a subsequent round When the initial threats to impose tariffs were issued this spring, it wasn t clear where the tariff rate came from It still isn t It looks like the administration took the trade deficit the U S had with a country and divided that figure
by the exports sent to the U S Trump then cut that figure in half to be kind No credible economist takes that formula seriously
Nor is it clear why the tariffs are being imposed Trump’s posts on Truth Social mentioned bilateral trade deficits that the U S has with those countries calling them unsustainable and a major threat to the nation s economic security The claim that economics guide these steps is belied by demands that countries change immigration or drug policies to win relief
Trump’s insistence that tariffs will remain in place until manufacturing is relocated to the U S or even permanently to allow him to rewrite the U S tax code suggests that there is no room for negotiation There is no deal to be had The absurdity of this entire effort was revealed in the letter Trump sent to Brazil warning that his government would impose 50% tariffs on its exports to the U S The economic rationale for this step does not exist: The U S has a trade surplus with Brazil Instead, that letter said that the threat was a response to the witch hunt against former President Jair Bolsonaro, a friend and ally of Trump’s, who is facing trial for launching a coup against the current government The tariffs are needed Trump added to rectify the grave injustices of the current regime and its insidious attacks on Free Elections, and the fundamental Free Speech Rights of Americans including the censorship of “US Social Media platforms ” It’s difficult to reconcile that charge with
Trump s message during his tour of the Middle East earlier this year when he informed audiences that his administration would no longer be telling countries how to live Of special significance to Japan is Trump s readiness to link trade and defense issues Trump this week said he would impose 25% tariffs on all Japanese exports to the U S , 1 percentage point higher than announced on April 2 As Jesse Johnson detailed this week in The Japan Times, Washington is demanding that its allies spend more to host U S troops and suggesting that the readiness to honor treaty defense commitments is contingent on increasing those outlays Japan has parried attempts to link trade and security by arguing that it is already shouldering more of the defense burden by increasing its own military budget and by paying more to support U S troops in the country Japan s persistent trade surplus with the U S $68 5 billion last year dominates Trump s calculations, however Tokyo must also worry that South Korea, another of Trump’s targets, might agree to a deal that includes defense-related issues That would Johnson explained set a troubling precedent Of course precedents have almost no meaning in Trump s mind Any deal that he strikes today could be torn up tomorrow After all, the U S -South Korea Free Trade Agreement went into effect in 2012 after years of negotiation Trump discarded it soon after taking office in his first term calling it a horrible deal so that he could conclude his own agreement in 2018 That pact
ON Wednesday, India Today and several other Indian media outlets, citing informed sources, reported that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi plans to visit China from August 31 to September 1 to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Tianjin If the visit materializes it will mark the Indian Prime Minister s first trip to China in seven years Although the news has not yet been confirmed by the official authorities of China and India it has drawn widespread attention from the international community as soon as it was released Just as US magazine The Diplomat commented, The trend in the past decade has seen the two neighbors embracing each
other and then falling out the time has come again for them to explore yet another round of engagement Together China and India account for over one-third of the world's population, and both economies and their global influence are on the rise At this crucial juncture, the trajectory of ChinaIndia relations carries even more reasons to capture global attention Observers have noted that despite lingering differences and disputes between China and India, there have been signs of warming in their bilateral relations Following the 2020 border clash, China-India relations went through a long period of low ebb severely impacting political trust economic ties and people-to-people exchanges In October 2024 the successful meeting between the Chinese and Indian leaders in Kazan set the tone for a fresh restart in bilateral relations At all levels, both countries have been upholding the important consensus reached by the two leaders - namely that "China and India are each other s development opportunity rather than threat and cooperation partner rather than competitor Anchoring on development as the greatest "common denominator," the two sides have continued to meet in half way and maintain the momentum of progress Since June this year India s National Security Advisor Ajit Doval Defense Minister Rajnath Singh and External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar have visited China respectively - a level of engagement rarely seen in recent years Currently, various previously suspended bilateral mechanisms are being resumed or are in the process of restarting Both sides have also vowed to not let the border issue become an obstacle to overall bilateral relations In the area of people-to-people exchanges, the resumption of Indian pilgrimages to Mount Gang Renpoche and Lake Mapam Yun Tso in Southwest China s Xizang Autonomous Region as well as the reinstatement of tourist visa issuance for Chinese citizens traveling to India have all sent out positive signals Both sides also hope to seize the opportunity of the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties to achieve greater progress in China-India relations If Modi visits China this time it will present another favorable opportunity to
consolidate the positive momentum in China-India relations However there are still many pressing issues between the two countries that need to be resolved From reviewing" and suppressing Chinese capital, restricting visas for Chinese technical personnel, to the long-delayed full resumption of direct flights between the two countries India has imposed numerous barriers which have become stumbling blocks that seriously hinder bilateral exchanges This not only limited the depth of China-India economic and trade cooperation, but also damaged mutual understanding and trust between the two peoples If India can take Modi's visit as an opportunity to promptly adjust its China policy and remove unnecessary barriers there will be much greater room for the development of China-India relations News of Modi s visit to China comes at a time when the US government has announced a significant hike in tariffs on Indian goods Some Western media outlets have interpreted Modi s visit as an attempt to hedge against the US However such a view is rather one-sided Defending free trade and
is also now in tatters Deadlines are equally meaningless For all the uproar over the letters released this week, they offer yet another delay before the imposition of tariffs The U S insists that during that time trade partners will submit to Trump s demands whatever they are but the costs of this strategy will also mount during this period With estimates of the total economic impact of global tariffs ranging from $763 billion to $1 4 trillion, it is equally likely that the U S president
A ZERBAIJAN, ARMENIA SIGN US-BROKERED PEACE DEAL
AG E N C I E S
For US President Donald Trump it’s up to Israel to decide what to do next in Gaza meaning Washington is offering quiet support for its ally s plans to expand the offensive in the war-wracked Palestinian territory While numerous European and Arab capitals urged Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday to reconsider his decision to “take control” of Gaza City, Trump this week has effectively given the Israeli prime minister free rein even if it
‘Ambassador of Culture’: D r S aad
S. K han’s Leadership at ECO Cultural Institute and Pakistan’s Positive Image
t i
n
i c t h o u g h t a n d c o m p a r a t i v e c i v i l i z a t i o n s i nforms every policy decision he t a k e s H e h a s a u t h o r e d b o o k s a n d r e s e a r c h p a p e r s o n d i p l om a c y, c o n s t i t u t i o n a l l a w, a n d c u l t u r a l c o o p e r a t i o n , a n d h a s taught or lectured in institutions across the Muslim world and the West
US envoy Steve Witkoff s visit last week Details of Witkoff ’s meeting with Netanyahu have not been made public but it is hard to imagine that Trump’s emissary was not briefed on Israel s plans While Washington has amped up the pressure on Israel to allow more aid into the Gaza Strip it has also insisted that all Israeli hostages dead or alive be freed from Hamas captivity and the complete annihilation of the militant group
Iran arrests 20 suspected Mossad operatives, vows harsh punishment
TEHRAN R E U T E R S Iran has arrested 20 people it alleges are operatives of Israel’s Mossad spy agency in recent months the judiciary said on Saturday warning that they will face no leniency and will be made an example of On Wednesday Iran executed a nuclear scientist named Rouzbeh Vadi who was convicted of spying for Israel and passing on information on another nuclear scientist killed in Israel s air strikes on Iran in June, state media reported Judiciary spokesperson Asghar Jahangiri told reporters in Tehran on Saturday that charges against some of the 20 suspects arrested had been dropped and they were released He did not give a number The judiciary will show no leniency toward spies and agents of the Zionist regime, and with firm rulings, will make an example of them all, Jahangiri was quoted as saying by Iranian media He said full details would be made public once investigations were complete Executions of Iranians convicted of spying for Israel have significantly increased this year with at least eight death sentences carried out in recent months Israel carried out 12 days
A t E C I h e i n t r o d u c e d t h e i d e a o f C u l t u r a l P o l i c y D i al o g u e s w h e r e s c h o l a r s a n d p r a c t i t i o n e r s e n g a g e d i n i nd e p t h d i s c u s s i o n s o n c u l t u r a l i d e n t i t y d i g i t a l h e r i t a g e a n d p e a c e b u i l d i n g t h r o u g h a r t s These programs elevated the institute s stature and provided a platform for Pakistan s thought leadership Inspiring the Next Generation D r K h a n ’s l e g a c y i s n o t only what he has done but what he has enabled During his presi d e n c y h e l a u n c h e d j o i n t c u lt u r a l p u b l i c a t i o n s , y o u t h exchange programs, and translat i o n i n i t i a t i v e s D o z e n s o f y o u n g P a k i s t a n i s w e r e i n t r oduced to international networks
o f s c h o l a r s a n d a r t i s t s t h r o u g h E C I H e w o r k e d t o e n s u r e t h a t P a k i s t a n i c u l t u r e i s n o t p r esented in isolation but as part of a larger, interconnected civilizational fabric
His message to youth has al-
w a y s b e e n c o n s i s t e n t : “ D o n ’t wait for the world to notice you
M a k e y o u r s e l f s o m e a n i n g f u l that you cannot be ignored
Conclus ion: A Q uiet Revolutionary in Cultural Diplomacy
D r S a a d S K h a n m a y n o t dominate the headlines or command large political rallies But
h i s w o r k i s r e v o l u t i o n a r y i n i t s o w n r i g h t A t a t i m e w h e n m a n y s e
and
and ATM machines have been installed at major stations
He said that in collaboration with Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz wifi services are being introduced at 40 railway stations across the province The initiative has started from Lahore and would soon extend to Faisalabad, Karachi Hyderabad and other cities he added He said that outsourcing process would be completed by September 30 covering nine to eleven passenger trains, freight trains, rest houses, special saloons, hospitals, schools and other facilities to improve service quality and increase revenue of Pakistan Railways
He said that special saloons previously reserved for government officials have now been opened for the general public for rent at reasonable rates
He said that the cleanliness system has been modernized while
the solid waste management companies have taken over responsibilities at Rawalpindi’s three stations, Khanewal Multan Raiwind Okara and Lahore’s three stations
The agreements for other cities are also being finalized he said adding that all provincial food authorities have been granted direct access to stations for monitoring and ensuring provision of quality food to the train passengers
He announced that modern Diesel Multiple Unit (DMU) trains would operate on various routes including Lahore to Faisalabad, Narowal, Kasur and others with a capacity of 650 passengers each and it would also be expandable as required
He said that the Punjab government is spending Rs 50 billion on railway uplift projects including upgradation of eight routes such as Lahore–Faisalabad, Lahore–Narowal, Lahore–Kot Addu and Lahore–Kasur Similarly Rs 250 billion has been allocated for a new double track and modern signalling system between Lahore and Rawalpindi which would reduce travel time up to 2-2 5 hours between the two cities, he added Hanif Abbasi said that work on a linear park from Shahdara to Raiwind has begun at a cost of Rs 2 35 billion Other projects include the uplift of Karachi Lahore Rawalpindi and Taxila stations and upgradation of 50-kilometer Sheikh Zayed to Kuchlak section in Balochistan Railways digitalization, upgradation, outsourcing projects to be completed this year: Abbasi
train tracking system is operational
Engineer Khalid Mehmood appointed CEO of IESCO
Shehbaz Sharif had announced the speedy approval of this project during his recent visit to GilgitBaltistan Work on the project will now officially begin, which is expected to help alleviate the energy crisis in the region
An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Saturday rejected the interim bail petitions filed by former leader of the opposition in the National Assembly and PTI stalwart Omar Ayub Khan in three cases of the May 9 violence
The court also rejected Omar ’s plea for an exemption from an appearance in court today
His lawyer told the court that since his client had already been awarded a 10-year prison term in a May 9 case by a court in Faisalabad he could not appear in the court without protective bail He further told the court that the former opposition leader had approached the Peshawar High Court (PHC) for protective bail The judge however in his remarks said that if the PTI leader
Sherr y Rehman condemns India’s ban on Kashmiri literature
Peoples Party (PPP) Vice President and Senator Sherry Rehman on Saturday condemned the Indian government s ban on Kashmiri historical and resistance literature terming it the worst example of fascism In a statement, Rehman said the move was a direct attack on the intellectual freedom of Kashmiris and reflected what she described as India’s undemocratic ambitions She remarked that suppressing history does not erase facts and that silencing free expression exposed fascist tendencies The PPP leader alleged that New Delhi s policies were pushing Kashmiri youth into intellectual slavery and that such bans were damaging India’s global reputation She added that every attempt to suppress the truth has failed in history and “India will fail too ” asserting that confiscating books was an
Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat on Saturday alleged that Aleema Khan, sister of PTI founder Imran Khan, has virtually taken control of the party within a year Speaking to a private TV channel MNA Sher Afzal Marwat made serious accusations against Aleema Khan, saying that especially after the arrest of Imran Khan s wife, Bushra Bibi, Aleema has been controlling all party affairs “She decides who will visit Adiala Jail to meet Imran Khan and when She decides when meet-
ings will be held at KP House and how protests will be organised All key decisions are made by Aleema Khan ” he claimed Marwat further alleged that PTI MNA Junaid Akbar had disclosed in a parliamentary meeting that Aleema Khan had threatened to create rifts between him and party workers “Today, the parliamentary meeting supported me and sent a message in my favour Marwat said I along with the entire PTI believe that Imran Khan never wanted Aleema Khan to assume the role she has taken on now, he added According to Marwat, Aleema Khan replaces people in party po-
and Shadman Police Station torching case Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)
sitions and uses harsh language against members My popularity is unpalatable to some people in the party I am the first member to be expelled from PTI three times yet the only one for whom workers still stand up he said Bushra Bibi never appeared to have any intention of controlling the party, but Aleema Khan is clearly trying to do so,” he remarked Marwat further stated that individuals like Shahbaz Gill are also part of Aleema Khan s group and that she even controls the party s social media If PTI wants to deliver and secure the release of its founder, it must first rid itself of Aleema Khan’s influence ” he concluded
Second phase of Hajj 2026 applications to begin on August 11
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
Ministry of Religious Affairs has completed the first phase of receiving applications under Government Hajj Scheme 2026 with more than 71 000 submissions while the second phase will be started from August 11, officials said on Saturday
The ministry said the first phase was open only to applicants who had already registered for the pilgrimage Each applicant submitted the first instalment of Rs500 000 along with their application
The second phase will begin on August 11 and run until August 16, during which both registered and unregistered pilgrims will be able to apply Applications in this
phase will be accepted on a first come first served basis
Officials said more than 116,000 Pakistanis will perform Hajj next year under the government quota Those who submit applications with the first instalment before the quota is filled will secure a spot while the process will be halted once the limit is reached Overseas Pakistanis can also apply through a close relative at designated banks, the ministry’s spokesperson said Medical fitness certificates for applicants abroad can be submitted upon arrival in Pakistan The ministry said it will announce the suspension of applications as soon as the quota is met
It is pertinent to mention here that Federal Minister for Religious
Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf said last week that Pakistan has been allocated a quota of 179,210 pilgrims 119,210 under the government scheme and 60,000 for private operators subject to final confirmation by Saudi authorities
The government scheme will include both the traditional 38-42 day package and a shorter 20-25 day option Estimated costs are expected to range between Rs1 15 million and Rs1 25 million, depending on final agreements with service providers Pilgrims will be required to deposit Hajj dues in two installments with the first installment Rs500 000 for the long package and
