PAKISTAN, SAUDI ARABIA PUSH DIPLOMACY AS CHINA BACKS ISL AMABAD’S MEDIATION ON
g DAR, PRINCE FAISAL REAFFIRM ‘ CLOSE BILATERAL TIES,’ STRESS DIALOGUE TO EA SE ESCALATING REGIONAL TENSIONS
g WANG YI URGES RETURN TO NEGOTIATIONS A S CONFLICT WIDENS ACROSS GULF AND RED SEA
PA K I S TA N and Saudi Arabia on Saturday reaffirmed their close and brotherly ties and stressed the importance of sustained diplomacy and constructive engagement to defuse escalating tensions in the Middle East as China reiterated its firm support for Pakistan s mediation efforts following the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the United States and Iran amid the widening regional conflict
According to a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO) Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar held a telephone
conversation with Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud
The two leaders exchanged views on the latest regional developments and reaffirmed the close and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia,” the statement said
The FO added that both leaders underscored the importance of continued diplomacy and reaffirmed their shared commitment to promoting constructive engagement, peace and stability across the region
The Middle East crisis, which has continued for nearly six months has affected regional stability and disrupted energy supplies with its repercussions extending well beyond the region
MIDDLE EAST CRISIS
g CHINA PLEDGES FIRM SUPPORT FOR PAKISTAN ’S EFFORTS TO ADVANCE USIRAN CEA SEFIRE AND LA STING PEACE
g HOUTHI ATTACKS ON SAUDI OIL FACILITIES HEIGHTEN FEARS OF BROADER REGIONAL WAR AND ENERGY DISRUPTIONS
The development came as Yemen s Houthis launched attacks on Saudi oil installations at two Red Sea ports on Saturday raising fresh concerns
QUETTA
On 25 July 2026, a cowardly terrorist attack was attempted on Security Forces Check Post in South Waziristan District, Pakistan, by Indian-sponsored, Fitna Al Khwarij The attack was successfully foiled killing all four khwarij including a suicide bomber and destroying an explosive laden vehicle The statement said the khwarij sought to breach the checkpost s security; however, their nefarious designs were checked and decisively foiled by the vigilant” and “resolute response” of security forces “The attackers explosive-laden vehicle was successfully engaged and destroyed outside the perimeters of post killing one suicide bomber in it which failed to cause any damage the ISPR added Displaying unwavering courage and professional excellence, security personnel engaged the remaining intruders, forcing three khwarij into a nearby compound, where they were later neutralized in a deliberate and precision-based clearance operation without any casualties on the security forces’ side the ISPR said
Federal and provincial authorities agreed on Saturday to strengthen counter-terrorism arrangements in Balochistan during a high-level meeting in Quetta led by Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, according to a statement issued by the Ministry of Interior
The statement said Bugti briefed participants on the province s overall law and order situation steps already under way and the provincial government s future approach The meeting decided to improve the professional capacity of the Counter-Terrorism Force and the Balochistan Police while speeding up measures intended to reinforce the provincial police setup
The interior ministry told the
provincial government it would provide full cooperation in meeting resource requirements for that effort Naqvi also called for immediate and effective execution of Balochistan’s peace restoration plan and said the experience of former Balochistan police chiefs should be fully utilised while shaping the law and order strategy He said the campaign against terrorism required modern technology better intelligence and coordinated action According to the statement Naqvi said the federal government would continue backing efforts aimed at lasting peace in the province
The statement also quoted Naqvi as saying that the federation and the Balochistan government were moving ahead in full unity and coordination to restore peace
on Kyrgyz President Sadyr Nurgozhoevich Zhaparov alongside other SCO foreign ministers Conveying the greetings of Pakistan's leadership Dar reaffirmed Islamabad s desire to further strengthen bilateral cooperation with Kyrgyzstan across diverse sectors Leading Pakistan's delegation at the SCO-CFM meeting, Dar reiterated the country's unwavering commitment to the SCO Charter and the "Shanghai Spirit" of mutual trust respect shared prosperity and development He cautioned against confrontational geopolitics and the use of aggression as an instrument of state policy, stressing that dialogue and cooperation remained the only sustainable path to regional peace Highlighting Pakistan's diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, Dar referred to the Islamabad Memorandum of Understanding describing it as a significant initiative aimed at promoting peace and stability in the region He also underscored the importance of expanding regional connectivity, transport networks, poverty alleviation and practical cooperation among SCO member states In this context, he described the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as a flagship project that complements the SCO s broader vision of regional connectivity and economic integration The deputy prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan s readiness to assume the chairmanship of the SCO Council of Heads of State (CHS) in September and formally invited all member states to attend the SCO Heads of State Summit which Pakistan will host in 2027 Dar also attended the official reception hosted by Kyrgyz Foreign Minister Kulubaev in honour of the participating foreign ministers, concluding a visit that the Foreign Office described as an important step in strengthening Pakistan's engagement with the SCO and advancing its regional diplomatic agenda Dar, Tajik FM reaffirm longstanding brotherly ties between two countries Meanwhile Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Tajikistan coungterpart Sirojiddin Muhriddin, Saturday, reaffirmed the longstanding, brotherly and close ties between Pakistan and Tajikistan They also expressed their shared commitment to further expanding cooperation in trade investment connectivity energy culture and people-to-people exchanges The DPM/FM met with the Tajik foreign minister on the sidelines of the SCO Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Cholpon-Ata,
development loans to provincial governments; loans extended to local bodies, financial and non-financial institutions and other corporations; and capital outlays of the federal government in commercial departments
The ministry also said the same
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) benchmark KSE100 Index fell 4 782 points or 2 7% week-on-week to close at 171 021 20 points on Friday while the trajectory of the US-Iran conflict and international oil prices, along with the Monetary Policy Committee's July 27, 2026 announcement on the policy rate, are expected to remain the key focus for the market in the coming week, according to two research firms
The benchmark Index remained under pressure amid persistent geopolitical uncertainty and the average daily traded volume (ADTV) declined 3 2% week-onweek to 881 4 million shares
11 89% annual mark-up rate will apply to government advances for the purchase of conveyance and house building during FY2025-26
The decision was conveyed through an official communication addressed to the Controller General of Accounts (CGA) Islamabad
The lower mark-up rate is expected to ease the debt-servicing burden on provincial governments and public sector organisations that depend on federal development financing while also reducing the financing cost for government employees availing house-building and vehicle purchase advances
Other PSX indices also ended lower: the KSE-30 fell 2 9% to 50,952 points, the KMI-30 dropped 2 7% to 240 634 points and the KSE-All Share Index declined 2 6% to 103 836 points Market capitalisation fell to Rs19,278 billion (US$69 38 billion) from Rs19,790 billion (US$71 20 billion) a week earlier The weekly sell-off was driven by a widening USIran conflict that threatened a second global energy chokepoint Yemen s Houthis declared a naval blockade on Saudi Arabia They claimed strikes on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, raising the risk of disruption to Bab el-Mandeb flows in addition to existing
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
Pakistan relies on Saudi financial support and has strongly condemned recent Houthi attacks on Saudi oil installations At the same time, Islamabad must balance its close ties with Beijing, another key strategic and economic partner that has a strong interest in restoring stability to critical Middle Eastern trade corridors
Pakistan s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also discussed the evolving Middle East situation with Chinese officials during his recent visit to China, all three Pakistani sources said They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to discuss the matter publicly The Chinese are unhappy because Iran s attacks on other Gulf states and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz are hitting their interests one Pakistani government official said, noting that disruptions in the Red Sea would also affect another major trade route critical to Beijing Dar and the Pakistan military’s media wing did not respond to requests for comment In a statement China’s Foreign Ministry said “China supports the mediation efforts made by Pakistan and other parties
It added that Beijing would continue to play an active role in restoring peace and tranquility in the Middle East Gulf region as soon as possible C H I N A U R G E S D I P L O M A C Y China remains Iran s largest trading partner and the principal buyer of its crude oil exports despite international sanctions, benefiting from discounted energy supplies Over the years, Beijing has also expanded support for Iran’s security capabilities through dual-use components semiconductor equipment and satellite navigation systems although it has not publicly provided direct military assistance since the conflict began
China has consistently backed Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts and in March dispatched its special envoy on a shuttle diplomacy mission across the Middle East
The United States and Iran signed a memorandum of understanding in June following mediation by Pakistan and Qatar, creating a 60-day framework for negotiations on a permanent settlement However, indirect talks failed to produce a breakthrough, with both sides accusing each other of violating the agreement before hostilities resumed The situation deteriorated further after the Houthis claimed on Thursday to have attacked two Saudi oil tankers as part of their declared naval blockade threatening to create another major chokepoint for global energy supplies alongside the near-closure of the Strait of Hormuz The escalation has increased both the urgency and complexity of Pakistan’s latest diplomatic initiative
A Pakistani official said a halt to attacks on Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries had now become a pre-requisite for any talks to resume
The official added that Pakistan had conveyed this message directly to Iran
Earlier Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri
Moghadam called for enhanced bilateral cooperation to address mounting security challenges in West Asia, while praising Islamabad’s diplomatic role as renewed fighting between the United States and Iran complicates efforts to restore negotiations
Taking American money
Pa K I S Ta N has asked the USa formally to accord it a $10 billion stabilization fund but it seems to be agreed by most economists that this will not act as a substitute for the IMF programme at present and will not presumably allow it to avoid having recourse to the IMF after its current programme ends It is perhaps no coincidence that another country with a stabilization fund is argentina, with a $20 billion stabilization fund argentina is often pointed to as a country which has been unable to wean itself away from the IMFafter its December 2001 default, and which in 2022 obtained an extended Fund Facility of $44 billion a programme on which it still is The credit line does not contribute to its liquidity, but shows the IMF that its money is safe It seems that Pakistan is to get another IMF programme, for which the stabilization fund will be used to bolster its case
It is not even clear that the USa will grant this request argentina is very important to it, mainly because it has been a major supporter of the USa in its own part of the world, and the US banks took a big hit when it defaulted because od the exposure they had If argentina defaults again so might the USa also, what the stabilization fund does is offer support to bilateral trade with the country concerned: in short the facility would be aimed at the IS development and import of rare-earth metal ores and other such mining products
The government may also like to consider the political cost The USa is not particularly known for being anything but transactional in its relationships with other countries, especially under President Donald Trump What would be the political cost extracted for this concession? It would not be merely a reward for its hard work on the Iran deal, especially after that deal has collapsed Joining the abraham accords? That is very much a possibility However the government should realise that it must not sell you a vital interest merely for money What has been done with such sales under Zia and Musharraf? Debt traps are not designed to be escaped and this stabilisation fund will prove no different
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Gtwo countries bound by centuries of shared history, religion, culture, and ethnic ties Yet what was once described as a brotherly relationship has gradually transformed into one defined by mistrust accusations and strategic competition Today India has emerged as the third player in this evolving regional triangle What exactly went wrong? How did decades of goodwill give way to blame games and border tensions? and why is India now finding greater strategic space in afghanistan? These questions have become even more relevant following amnesty International s allegations regarding Pakistan's reported airstrikes on the Omeed rehabilitation Centre near Kabul on 14 March The organisation questioned Pakistan's justification for the operation while Islamabad firmly rejected the allegations and maintained that its forces targeted legitimate security threats The competing narratives deserve careful examination
The first perspective is that of afghanistan Following the withdrawal of US forces in 2021, Pakistan welcomed the Taliban's return to power lt gen Faiz Hameed then ISI chief was closely associated with the Doha process while the government of Imran Khan projected Pakistan as a key mediator in afghanistan s political transition relations initially appeared warmer than they had been for years
However, the atmosphere soon changed One of the major turning points was the case of Sharifullah an alleged ISIS-K commander Pakistan argued that his arrest strengthened its claims regarding cross-border terrorism and militant networks operating from afghan territory The Taliban leadership rejected these accusations, insisting that afghanistan should not be blamed for Pakistan's internal security challenges Instead of responding through military escalation Kabul gradually diversified its diplomatic and economic partnerships Trade with India expanded while commerce with Pakistan declined afghanistan increasingly relied on Iran s Chabahar Port and the India-built Zaranj–Delaram Highway to reduce dependence on Pakistani transit routes although these alternatives are longer and more expensive Kabul appears willing to pay that price in pursuit of greater strategic autonomy For the Taliban government, sovereignty has become closely linked with economic independence
The controversy surrounding the reported strike on the Omeed rehabilitation Centre further widened the trust deficit Human rights organisations questioned Pakistan s account of the
From Files to Foundations
SYED HASSAN ZAKRIA
e a l estate has long been one of Pak-
Ristan s most important economic sectors
Beyond providing homes and commercial spaces, it supports construction, engineering manufacturing financial services and dozens of allied industries that contribute significantly to economic growth and employment
For generations, real estate has also served as one of the preferred avenues for wealth preservation and investment Yet as Pakistan continues to urbanize, modernize its economy, and seek greater investment participation an important question deserves greater attention: How can Pakistan evolve from a largely transaction-driven real estate market toward a more transparent, development-led, and institutionally financed ecosystem?
For decades, a significant portion of Pakistan's real estate market has been driven by the buying and selling of "files" and undeveloped plots where paper claims on future development or land value appreciation often change hands multiple times before a single brick is laid While this model played a role in mobilizing capital and expanding housing schemes, it also contributed to speculation, information asymmetry, and a disconnect between financial transactions and actual development In many cases investors were asked to make decisions with limited visibility into project
Ultimately, capital follows confidence Whether the investor is a local family, a financial institution, or an overseas Pakistani, investment decisions are increasingly influenced by transparency, governance, and trust Investors want clarity around ownership, development plans, project timelines, risks, and execution capabilities Developers, in turn, benefit from stronger investor confidence and access to a broader pool of capital The strongest real estate markets are built on this foundation of trust between developers, investors, lenders, regulators, and end users
operation while Islamabad maintained that the target was linked to militant activity and defended its actions as part of its counterterrorism campaign The differing claims remain disputed and continue to shape international perceptions Pakistan's narrative is considerably different Islamabad maintains that the resurgence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan attacks represents one of its greatest national security challenges Successive governments have argued that militant groups continue to exploit afghan territory to launch attacks inside Pakistan From Islamabad's perspective, stronger military action became unavoidable because diplomatic engagement failed to produce sufficient cooperation The arrest of Sharifullah also carried broader geopolitical significance Pakistan s intelligence cooperation with the USa strengthened Islamabad's engagement with Washington at the same time, the government accelerated the repatriation of undocumented afghan migrants, arguing that national security required stricter border management Critics viewed these measures as increasing pressure on the Taliban government while Pakistan defended them as sovereign decisions taken in the national interest Perhaps the greatest strategic miscalculation, however, was underestimating how quickly a trusted partner could seek new alliances History shows that when friends become rivals they often understand each
other's vulnerabilities better than long-standing adversaries India forms the third side of this regional triangle Over the past two decades New Delhi has invested billions of dollars in afghanistan through reconstruction projects, infrastructure, education, and trade as relations between Islamabad and Kabul have deteriorated India has found greater diplomatic space to strengthen its presence Development assistance expanding trade and improved connectivity have gradually transformed India into an increasingly influential partner for afghanistan
The result is a new regional reality Pakistan views afghanistan primarily through the lens of security afghanistan seeks strategic independence and diversified economic partnerships India has capitalised on the growing mistrust by expanding its diplomatic and commercial footprint geography cannot be changed, but policies can Pakistan and afghanistan will remain neighbours regardless of political differences
Continued confrontation will benefit neither country while diplomacy intelligence cooperation and mutual respect remain the only sustainable path forward The future of South asia will depend not on military victories but on whether Islamabad, Kabul, and New Delhi choose cooperation over confrontation
The writer is a freelance columnist
Geography cannot be changed, but policies can Pakistan and Afghanistan will remain neighbours regardless of political differences Continued confrontation will benefit neither country, while diplomacy, intelligence cooperation, and mutual respect remain the only sustainable path forward
Lessons in smoke
A perilous presidency
ENGR SAQLAIN ABID
TH E somewhat unusual statements coming out of the Pakistani Foreign Office, the much talked about media reporting advisory for the Pakistani journalist community, the escalation along all the fronts with chances of talks diminishing and even the moderates in the Iranian corridors of power talking like radicals all point out to the ominous development; that of an escalation, which might not be the controlled like the last one, but can spiral into a decisive mode, where both the warring parties might be as the war finally winds down faced with the new realities
The last one year has been a prelude to what is being felt by geopolitical observers in the last one week The line-up of the forces has been generally felt to be the USA and Israel, with participation of the Gulf found to be cosmetic It was what happened during the 12-day war in June 2025 when much of the strikes were joint efforts by the CENTCOM and the IDF
However the 40-day war in March 2026, completely altered the battleline It was generally felt that the Udaid airbase in Qatar would be used for the sorties Instead, the Bahraini electronic guidance and surveillance centres and the UAE infrastructure coupled with the array of the Royal Saudi Air Force bases in the Najd area proved to
be the infrastructure from which the USAF managed much of its aerial campaign
Any aeroplane watcher especially exposed to the Flight Radar app can testify that many of the refueling tankers from the USAF, not able to park on the Qatar, UAE , Bahrain and even in the Saudi AFB, where in one instance five refuelling aircraft were damaged by an Iranian onslaught mostly would take off from the Ben Gurion international airport now a vast parking lot of the USAF refueling tankers, later loiter around Saudi Arabian air space; standby for refuelling any combat sorties , and if there were no plans for the day, return to Ben Gurion finally
During that time the calls for peace from the feeble-minded Iranian reformists as well as the pro-US band of negotiators prominent among them the Pakistanis, caused Qatar to join Pakistan in advocating what the international observers can cite as a US wishlist which was even tactically approved by the reformists; old as well as new-born
The mishandling of the negotiations processes jointly by the pro-negotiation people in Iran; who started throwing their weight around; stifling even from the democratic standard dissenting voices within Iran; to the loose talk now and then by US President Donald Trump the environment of peace talks soon dissipated to the extent that in no time the escalation from both sides went up to the point that for many it looked
A lot depends upon the leadership, the IRGC and the parliament to make their presence felt in a manner that a national strategy for defence is formulated, which has the street backing of bypassing the reformist indecision. The next few days or weeks can be decisive as to which directions the geo strategic developments take their logical or guided route. The region can head for another Camp David and consequent total victory for the Abraham Accords or can escalate an attrition, about whom no one can predict, when it will settle down sooner or later
like a return to war Two factors The radicalization of the Iranian street after the week-long funeral of slain Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei followed by again the loud thinking by Trump precipitated enough ill will that the reformists in Iran even have to join hands with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps even while pleading lack of control over the IRGC in the selection of the targets to creating an impression that the reformist government was not dead leaking stories in the international media that it was Iran in the week ending July 19 that wanted the 10 days truce; giving long planned interviews to compliant anchors, creating an impression that the government was not in cahoots with the USA rather it was the victim itself The coordinated plans of the departure of the Western diplomats, the radical talk by the Pakistani Foreign Office, making hard worded threats to the Iran-backed Houthi Yemeni faction while the other faction is supported by the Saudis; in a way issuing statements on behalf of the Saudi faction besides encouraging the Twitter handles and affiliated handles to take on what can be diplomatically called guilt shaming Iran The latter stance is in deep contrast to the harsh fact that only a month ago there was an air of cordiality between Iran and Pakistan to such an extent that the Iranian state broadcaster even created a song in praise of Pakistan praising the political and specifically the Pakistani military leadership The stories, which were even authenticated by the Iranians for the sake of goodwill with Pakistan that the IDF had their eyes even on the moderate Iranian negotiators were created or planted; the jargons familiar with journalists; to sway or guide an opinion towards a goal motive or an impression Here it may be pointed out that as if it is part of a concerted campaign, the Jerusalem Post and Reuters seem to be competing with each other to either frame the Iranian state or at least the IRGC for literally all the ills of this world For an objective analyst the participation of Qatar and Pakistan was faulty on that single count that the two nations were cozy with Washington, and their objectivity and impartiality was open to question As the events turned towards escalation gradually the battle lines seem to be getting clearer with the passage of time; and the perceived role of the countries like Turkey and Pakistan in the precipitating conflict With defence pacts being formalized at the shortest possible time; it strongly suggests that the pace is not accidental rather it is a strategic lining up of the forces in the region in general and Middle East in particular
Compared to the 1980 to 1988 conflict between Saddam-led Iraq and Khomeini-led Iran when the diplomatic niceties were taken into consideration the current conflict has been characterized by an utter disregard of them strongly suggesting a greater depreciation in the leadership standards all along If one complains about Trump, the Arab states have proven to be at best rent seekers controlled by the USA, rather than having any gray matter of their own Similarly the tale of South Asia has been no different whether it is New Delhi or Islamabad The emerging scenario is more of an Iran on one side with rag tag resistance on its side; while the already armed to teeth states from the Arabian Sea to the Suez Canal are supposed to heed to the call from Trump Here what is of concern is that so far the Iranian response is much muted than coordinated If there are news flashes of the perceived ground offensive orchestrated by the US, the US forces are regularly pounding the southern Iran belt, the Arab-majority Khuzestan province, the Sunni-majority Hormozgan and Baluchistan provinces in a manner which can be called a scorched earth policy aimed at creating a desperate uprising against Tehran On the other hand, while the IRGC might be allowed by the reformists to issue inflammatory
The line-up of the forces has been generally felt to be the USA and Israel, with participation of the Gulf found to be cosmetic. It was what happened during the 12day war in June 2025, when much of the strikes were joint efforts by the CENTCOM and the IDF
Trump will declare a ‘national emergency’ before midterms
“ You will have enough evidence by mid-August to show that we have a massive problem” of elec tion fraud, he tells me in an inter view
ber of listeners and for its volume of mis-
many
ST E V E Bannon, the barnstorming godfather of the MAGA movement follows Australian affairs more closely than almost any other American politico He has some surprising praise for Anthony Albanese and some awkward advice for Pauline Hanson But his confident prediction of America’s near future is shocking Donald Trump’s campaign strategist for his 2016 election win says: I believe we will have a national emergency declared by late August ahead of the Congressional midterm elections due on November 3 You will have enough evidence by mid-August to show that we have a massive problem” of election fraud he tells me in an interview Trump’s televised address to the nation on Thursday last week was the beginning of the process he says The president declassified documents, which he claimed show shocking vulnerabilities in our election infrastructure” revealed by the 2020 election These had been hidden, even from him, by a “deep state” conspiracy of US intelligence services he posited Trump demanded that the Congress pass a bill called the Safeguard American Voter Eligibility, or SAVE, Act The bill stipulates that all voters produce a
Biden won by fraud in 2020 Almost one in three Americans believes him We are facing a national security emergency, and we will need real teeth to deal with it,” Bannon says “You put ICE agents around polling booths to stop illegal immigrants from voting or any playing with voting machines Maybe the National Guard; we need to clean up mail-in ballots Trump wants them outlawed, even though 29 per cent of Americans used mail-in ballots to vote in 2024 Could Bannon’s vision actually materialise? “Yes ” says a Democrat strategist Steve Elmendorf who s advised many of the most prominent leaders of his party over many years It s believable, but Bannon says a lot that is out there Nevertheless, the Democrats are taking the scenario seriously “The Dems are aware of all the crazy and are making contingencies ” Elmendorf tells me Trump would be accused of an authoritarian grab for power The documents he released last week did not stand up to scrutiny as proof that fraud influenced election outcomes The Republicans control both houses of Congress Bannon had hoped against history that the Republicans could hold both chambers in November if we maintain a maniacal focus on the the basics of the economy including getting the budget deficit under control, not this massive deficit that s pushing up interest rates” The US annual budget deficit last year was 5 7 per cent of GDP For comparison Australia’s was 1 per cent Like many MAGA leaders Bannon is frustrated with Trump s war on Iran: Because of the war we ve taken our eye off these issues The longer the war goes on, the worse it gets If we lose the House [of Representatives], the White House becomes Fort Apache ” a 1948 western which has become a byword for a state of siege against impossible odds The House would assail Trump with subpoenas and impeachment motions for the rest of his term, says Bannon, realistically enough After running Trump’s 2016 campaign, Bannon served briefly in his White House and since 2019 broadcasts the daily War Room podcast rated highly for both its num-
Mullin out
s orders to
non-citizens from rolls But Bannon tells me that he doesn’t think there’s time to pass the bill “There will be more Thursdays You have to lay the predicate first The administration would find more evidence of fraud he predicted They will find more things We cannot have another stolen election, he said, a reference to Trump’s fiction that Joe
In the new politics, Bannon says, „thereÊs no middle ground – thereÊs the right wing and the left wing. The right wing will win, or the left wing will win, and thatÊs it‰
information He still speaks with the president “Iran keeps sucking us into the Middle East,” Bannon complains “Obama told Trump a couple of days after we won in 2016 that he d tried to pivot to Asia but all he d managed to do was to redeploy one Marine brigade to Darwin Central Command [responsible for the Middle East] has such a powerful gravitational force that it doesn t allow us to focus on the Chinese Communist Party threat ” Unlike Anthony Albanese: “What your prime minister has done is nothing short of brilliant says Bannon in one of his less likely political appreciations I m not a fan of much of his economic or social policy, but, strategically, I don’t think there’s a government in the world that understands as well as this man Your government has focused on sea lanes on military alliances and diplomatic alliances in the South Pacific showing the Pacific Islands people the importance of Australia and showing that Australia is there for them, will support them I think you have taken the lead, and we are playing a little bit of catch-up ” On the US commitment to AUKUS Bannon says that nothing is a certainty but this is the closest you can get to one Australia is a central linchpin, if not the central linchpin in the Pacific If we had lost Australia in World War II, we would not have won the war against Japan for another decade or longer and China is many times more powerful than Japan in the 1940s says the former US Navy officer He accuses the Biden administration of allowing US Pacific priority to atrophy , yet concedes that Trump is distracted by his Iran war One of Bannon’s co-hosts of War Room is Trump’s ambassador-designate to Canberra former congressman David Brat He had all types of opportunities to work in the administration and when the State Department offered him Australia, he came to me and said, What do you think? I said it s one of the most important strategic posts in the world The US heartland is the Pacific World War II proved that ” Bannon said he’d helped find Brat for the Republicans and Brat went on to become the first person in US history to unseat a House majority leader in a primary David was a forerunner of populist nationalism, he has access to the highest levels of power and he has a big presence in MAGA media – he’ll be the perfect man for the job in Canberra once he s confirmed by the US Senate Pauline Hanson is an unabashed Trump fan The feeling is mutual Bannon says that we watch Pauline Hanson closely She s smart, she’s more nationalist than Trump was at the beginning she’s always talking about putting Australia first ” Except when as Liberal Party shadow minister Andrew Hastie puts it she s putting MAGA first Australia second Bannon s advice to her? The hardest thing is to make sure you re getting qual-
ity people You have to be able to leverage your message It has to be relentless Well, that s awkward Hanson never has managed to recruit and hold quality members and candidates Criminals, Nazis, nut jobs As she told my colleague Paul Sakkal last month I m being infiltrated by these extremists so it s all the time happening with One Nation
and pick on minorities, such as Muslims or Asians But Hanson called Australian
“lazy” during her outing at the
Bannon stresses that “there was never any criticism of workers in Trump s campaigns; on the contrary he
as the champion of workers against the villainous globalisation I would not say Australian workers are lazy, Bannon adds for emphasis More awkwardness Similarly, Hanson talks about revisiting the issue of abortion access Bannon says that abortion was not in Trump s wheelhouse in 2016 The Trump campaign deliberately chose Mike Pence as the running mate so that
NAQI AKBAR
Like
MAGA leaders, Bannon is frustrated with Trump’s war on Iran
MODI'S EDUCATION MINISTER RESIGNS IN WIN FOR INDIAN YOUTH PROTESTERS
INDIA'S education minister resigned on Saturday, handing a major victory to youth protesters who had demanded he quit to take responsibility for examination paper leaks and who erupted in celebration on news of his departure "We have done it," said Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) that led the protests to loud cheers at the Jantar Mantar protest site in New Delhi India s biggest street protests of recent years had become a political flashpoint, posing one of the biggest challenges to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as opposition politicians joined youngsters calls to demand action and disrupted parliament Considering the situation that has arisen at Jantar Mantar and across the country, so that anti-national forces do not take advantage of this situation I have sent my resignation letter to the Prime Minister " Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan wrote in his post I deeply respect the aspirations feelings, and legitimate expectations of the country's youth " The minister announced his resignation on X just as police fired tear gas to scatter young protesters in New Delhi hours before their leaders were set to hold another round of talks with ministers Pradhan, 57, is a senior leader of Modi's
Punjab C lean Water Program
Local residents are often forced to travel miles just to fulfill their basic water needs Even in Karachi, the country s economic hub, clean drinking water remains scarce Access to clean water is a fundamental necessity fully appreciated only by those who yearn for it or those who truly grasp its importance Among basic amenities, safe drinking water holds the utmost priority Clean water directly impacts not only human health but also education the economy the environment, and the overall quality of life In Punjab, several regions still lack access to safe drinking water Settlement clusters in Southern Punjab Cholistan Thal and the foothills of Koh-eSuleman have historically faced a severe water crisis For decades, millions of residents in these areas have been forced to consume groundwater that contains levels of salts arsenic, fluoride, and other hazardous contaminants far exceeding international safety limits Consequently gastrointestinal liver kidney skin and bone diseases are widespread, while children s physical development is severely compromised To ensure the public has access to safe highquality drinking water
Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz has launched the *"Chief Minister Clean Water Program "* The Punjab government has allocated PKR 8 billion for this initiative in the current fiscal year s budget Under this program, 5,600 water filtration plants are being installed across various regions of Punjab All these filtration plants will undergo digital geo-tagging to facilitate continuous performance evaluation and real-time monitoring This project is far more than a routine development scheme; it is a vital public health social welfare and human dignity initiative aimed at bringing clean water to regions that have lacked this basic facility for years
In several districts of Punjab poor groundwater quality has been a critical concern for decades High levels of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), arsenic, fluoride, and nitrates not only affect the taste of water but also inflict long-term adverse health effects
In the first phase of the Chief Minister Clean Water
Program, areas facing the most acute water shortages were selected, specifically in Khushab Dera Ghazi Khan Rahim Yar Khan and Bahawalnagar Stateof-the-art water bottling plants have been established in these districts, where water undergoes multi-stage purification in accordance with international standards This purified water is then filled into 19-liter bottles and distributed to citizens free of cost
This initiative is especially transformative for families who previously had to travel several kilometers daily to fetch water or were forced to consume contaminated water
The Punjab Saaf Pani Authority has deployed cutting-edge internationally imported machinery for the project Each plant features an advanced multi-stage purification system combined with rigorous laboratory testing to ensure that every drop delivered meets World Health Organization (WHO) standards A single plant has the capacity to fill approximately 150 bottles per hour Operating for just ten hours a day, one plant can cater to thousands of families daily Alongside this an advanced management system has been established to monitor plant efficiency, water quality, and the supply chain to ensure an uninterrupted supply of clean water to citizens A standout feature of
this program is that the water bottling plants are powered by *Solar Energy* This initiative will significantly reduce electricity costs while contributing to environmental conservation, carbon footprint reduction, and the realization of global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) Consequently experts regard this project not merely as a water delivery scheme, but as a comprehensive strategy integrating health, environmental protection, and sustainable development
Another key aspect of the initiative is its tailored design to accommodate elderly citizens, women, and persons with disabilities who cannot carry or fetch water from distant sources Large water bottles will be delivered to designated distribution points allowing residents to collect clean water easily Additional distribution centers will be established in proportion to population density in each district to maximize public benefit
The selection of the four initial districts Dera Ghazi Khan, Khushab, Rahim Yar Khan, and Bahawalnagar was not coincidental but based on scientific and technical assessments Groundwater in these regions has long been deemed unfit for human consumption In many areas, TDS levels far exceed global standards while the presence of hazardous elements
Installation Ceremony of Rotar y Club of Nexus President Iqbal Tahir Arain Held at DHA Club
The installation ceremony of Iqbal Tahir Arain as President of Rotary Club of Nexus twas held on 22nd July at DHA Club Shahzad
CEO CBD Punjab inspects mega projects, commends engineering excellence during monsoon
LAHORE STAFF REPORT
The Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA) also known as Central Business District Punjab (CBD Punjab) continues to advance its flagship development initiatives with a strong focus on quality infrastructure, timely execution and public safety In line with this commitment CEO
Makhdoom Mehboob uz Zaman, on Friday chaired a high-level meeting with a delegation of the Flour
to
and
and
availability of
across Sindh The meeting was attended by the Advisor to the Hon’ble Chief Minister Sindh on Rehabilitation Chairman Chief Minister ’s Inspection Team (CMIT) Commissioner Karachi Division Secretary Food and senior officials while the Flour Mills Association delegation included Chief Patron Haji Yousif, Chairman Junaid Aziz, Vice Chairman Abid Masood, and other office-bearers Addressing the meeting, Provincial Minister for Food Makhdoom Mehboob uz Zaman said that ensuring affordable flour for the people of Sindh remains the government s foremost priority The welfare of the common man is our top priority Flour prices must remain affordable, and every stakeholder must play a responsible role in providing relief to consumers ” the Minister said
New Look from New York Glam
MONSOON DEATH TOLL NEARS 100 AS FRESH RAINS TRIGGER FLOOD WARNINGS ACROSS COUNTRY
TThe
Depart-
several parts of the country Widespread rain-wind/thunderstorm with isolated heavy falls is expected over Islamabad and Kashmir, the PMD’s Flood Forecasting Division said in its daily bulletin adding
weather conditions were likely to
regions during the next 24 to 48 hours
The forecast covers large parts of Punjab, including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Hafizabad, Jhelum, Kasur, Sialkot, Sheikhupura, Sargodha and Chiniot, among other districts According to the National Disaster Management Authority s (NDMA) latest situation report the nationwide death toll since the onset of the monsoon season on June 26 has risen to 97, while 297 people have been injured Most of the latest fatalities in Punjab were caused by house collapses, with deaths reported in Lahore Kasur and Chiniot while
ravage Punjab as Chenab, Ravi rivers swell
Rising
Chenab and Ravi rivers have triggered flood-like conditions in several parts of Punjab inundating farmland breaching protective embankments and forcing residents to move to safer locations, while Lahore witnessed its sixth consecutive day of monsoon rainfall on Friday In Alipur Chatta s Kot Bela
against surety bonds of Rs500,000 The case stems from the sinking of a migrant boat off the Libyan coast on the night of April 5-6 2026 in which 73 migrants lost their lives including Ameer Hamza Shoukat According to the first information report (FIR) lodged by his brother, Kamran Shoukat, the victim had been persuaded in 2025 by an alleged human smuggler, Luqman Hakeem of Mandi Bahauddin, who promised to arrange his travel to Italy in exchange for Rs3 5 million The complainant alleged that payments were made in instalments into multiple bank accounts including one linked to Khurram Shahzad another to Zohaib Haider one operated by AK Air Travels and Rs900 000 deposited into the Madina Traders account associated with Tahir According to the FIR, the victim was allegedly taken to Libya via Saudi Arabia, where he was held captive and further ransom payments were demanded before he boarded the ill-fated vessel The case was registered by the FIA s Crime Circle Gujrat under the Emigration Ordinance 1979 and the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act 2018 During the hearing, Tahir's counsel argued that his client had no direct contact with either the complainant or the deceased and that the prosecution s case rested solely on a financial transaction that investigators themselves had attributed to another individual controlling the account
The defence further argued that investigators had failed to pursue the transnational dimensions of the case through international cooperation while relying instead on circumstantial financial evidence The prosecution contended that the transfer of funds into the petitioner's account created a presumption of involvement that required explanation The court however observed that investigators had failed to establish links with foreign authorities or present evidence connecting the accused
Key facilitator of foreign-funded digital propaganda network arrested
Law enforcement agencies have arrested a key suspect accused of facilitating a foreign-funded digital propaganda network that allegedly used online marketing services as a cover to promote hostile narratives targeting Pakistan, said highly placed government officials
Investigators said the suspect confessed during interrogation to providing digital marketing and online promotional services for a specific agenda in return for substantial financial payments
According to the investigation, the network allegedly routed foreign funds into Pakistan through international payment platforms including Stripe Payoneer and bank accounts based in the United Kingdom, while disguising the transactions as legitimate commercial activity Officials said the probe revealed
that the network received contracts worth more than Rs3 6 million to systematically amplify fabricated and misleading content across major social media platforms including TikTok X (formerly Twitter) Instagram and Facebook Authorities alleged that the campaign sought to create mistrust between the armed forces and the public, undermine confidence in state institutions and destabilise the country's law and order situation Investigators further claimed that the operation promoted what they described as misleading narratives relating to Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir and the banned Joint Awami Action Committee
During interrogation the suspect allegedly disclosed that dormant social media accounts bearing Pakistani identities were operated through virtual private networks (VPNs) and automation tools to conceal their actual locations
Officials said digital forensic analysis linked the network s de-
vices, digital footprints and IP addresses to India and several other foreign locations Investigators have secured email records, financial transactions and order histories which they said would help expand the investigation and identify additional facilitators
Digital media experts cited by the authorities cautioned that high numbers of views, likes or shares on social media should not be regarded as evidence of authenticity warning that repeated circulation of false information does not make it credible
They also stressed the need to improve digital literacy among citizens, particularly young people, to help them critically assess online content and recognise coordinated disinformation campaigns
The experts further called for stricter oversight of international financial transactions linked to digital platforms, along with enhanced monitoring mechanisms to counter foreign-funded online influence operations targeting Pakistan
Freedom Front downs t wo Taliban militar y drones in B adakhshan’s
The Afghanistan Freedom Front (AFF) has shot down two Taliban military drones in the Zebak district of Badakhshan province
According to a statement by the group the Taliban
