Latest news with #Pak
Economic Times
8 hours ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
In his exchanges in US, COAS Munir claims committed to regional peace: Pakistan army
AP Asim Munir, Pak army chief Pakistan's army chief Asim Munir, in his interactions with several interlocutors in the US, committed for regional peace and stability and a rule based international order, the army said on Friday. After his meeting with the US President Donald Trump, Munir held a comprehensive and candid exchange with senior scholars, analysts, policy experts, and representatives of leading international media outlets in Washington DC, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said in a statement. The interaction with prominent US think tanks and representatives of the strategic affairs institutions, provided an opportunity to articulate Pakistan's principled stance on key regional and global issues, and to deepen understanding of Pakistan's strategic outlook, it said. Munir met Trump at the White House on Wednesday, a meeting that came weeks after recent tension between India and Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people. In his remarks, the Chief of Army Staff "highlighted Pakistan's unwavering commitment to regional peace and stability, and its constructive role in fostering a rules-based international order." The Field Marshal alluded to the details and analysis of the Maarka e Haq, Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and elaborated on Pakistan's perspective on terrorism, noting the malign influence of certain regional actors in sponsoring and perpetuating terrorism as a tool of hybrid warfare. Munir, the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), emphasised that Pakistan has been on the front lines of the global war against terrorism, having rendered immense sacrifices-both human and economic-in pursuit of a safer and more secure world, the statement claimed. After the Pahalgam terror attack, India launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 that destroyed the terror infrastructure in Pakistan controlled areas. The Pakistan Army said it launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos as part of the 'Marka-e-Haq' (Battle of Truth) after the Indian strikes. Despite Trump's repeated claims of mediating, New Delhi has been maintaining that the Director Generals of Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan reached an understanding to stop all firings and military actions on land, air and sea with immediate effect on May 10. Munir also shed light on Pakistan's "untapped potential, particularly in the domains of information technology, agriculture, and its vast and underexploited reserves" in the mining and mineral sectors and invited international partners to explore collaborative opportunities. The discussion further included an evaluation of the long-standing Pakistan-US partnership. The COAS underlined the historical convergences between the two nations, particularly in areas such as counter-terrorism, regional security, and economic development. He underscored the immense potential for a broader, multidimensional relationship built upon "mutual respect, shared strategic interests, and economic interdependence," the statement added. Participants during the various exchanges noted the "openness and clarity" of Munir's perspectives and appreciated "Pakistan's consistent and principled policies," it said adding, the interaction was marked by a spirit of mutual understanding and was widely regarded as a positive step toward enhancing strategic dialogue between Pakistan and the United States. This engagement reflects Pakistan's commitment to "transparent diplomacy, international engagement, and the pursuit of peaceful coexistence" through principled and proactive dialogue, the army said.
NDTV
12 hours ago
- Business
- NDTV
Why India Should Be Worried About Pak Getting Chinese J-35 Stealth Jets
New Delhi: In November 2024 China unveiled the J-35 - its second 5th generation stealth fighter. A twin-engine, single-seater supersonic jet for multirole missions, the J-35 boasts advanced avionics, including an active electronically scanned array, an electro-optical targeting system, and infrared search-and-track. The Global Times, the Chinese government's mouthpiece, described the J-35 - compared to the United States' F-35, the world's most expensive fighter jet - as functioning within a stealth and counter-stealth combat framework to gain and maintain air superiority, while eliminating air defence forces". And Pakistan, which also has 20 Chinese J-10C and JF-17 fighters, will reportedly buy 40 J-35s, with the first units expected later this year, pushing it into an elite club operating stealth fighter jets. Pak will get the toned-down FC-31 but it will still be a stealth jet and India has none. Why should India worry? Because India does not have a stealth fighter. Because Islamabad's purchase of 5th generation aircraft might shift the balance of air power, at least till Delhi can catch up. The J-35 is considered a 'black box' because of the lack of data on its capabilities, but its performance is seen as similar to, and even better than, the US' F-35. But the J-35 has never seen combat. Now, first-look images of the J-35, as the FC-31, surfaced in August 2024. There were two variants - a Navy one and another for conventional ground-based operations and export. The Shenyang J-35A on show in Beijing (File). Pak will likely get the second, which reportedly has the infrared search-and-track in its nose. The jet, China Daily said, can also 'share targets' position with other weapon systems, like surface-to-air missiles, and use its radar to guide other weapons to bring the targets down'. But the big feature here, of course, is the stealth capability. The J-35 reportedly has a radar cross-section of 0.001 sq m, which is comparable to the F-35, and which will make Pak's new fighter jet very difficult to detect in combat scenarios with India. This means India will take longer to detect the jets as it approaches the border. A prototype of India's new 5th-gen stealth fighter, the AMCA (File). There is another point of concern. With China and Pak both operating stealth fighters, India's air defences could come under severe pressure in the event of multi-front hostilities. This means Delhi must address the gap, starting with upgrading existing air defence systems and bring in 5th generation jets of its own, homemade or otherwise. J-35 buy shows chink in India's Armour? India does not have a 5th generation stealth fighter. This is under development - an 'execution model', under the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft programme was cleared last month by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. NDTV Explains | Everything About India's New 5th-Generation Stealth Fighter But the AMCA jet will not patrol India's skies before 2035 at least. Between then and now India, aviation combat experts told NDTV, should be worried. The Indian Air Force has long had an edge over Pak when it comes to air superiority, an advantage emphasised by Delhi's recent acquisition of the French-made Rafales. By 2031 India will have 60+ Rafale fighter jets patroling skies above its land and seas (File). The J-35 deliveries (well, technically the FC-31) threaten to narrow that advantage. "It is worrying news," Group Captain Ajay Ahlawat (retd.), a former fighter pilot, told NDTV, "... any version of the J-35 in Pakistani colours is going to raise concerns for our side." India did consider the purchase option; the F-35 and the Su-57 were on the table. However, these are "bad choices", Group Captain Ahlawat said. "The only good choice is AMCA," he said and called for a "national mission-mode push" to get it in service ASAP.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business
- Business Recorder
THE RUPEE PKR: marginal decline
KARACHI: The Pakistani rupee posted marginal decline against the US dollar, depreciating 0.03% during trading in the interbank market on Thursday. At close, the local currency settled at 283.64, a loss of Re0.09 against the greenback. On Wednesday, the local unit closed at 283.55. Internationally, the US dollar firmed on Thursday, buoyed by safe-haven demand due to the looming threat of a broader conflict in the Middle East and possible US involvement, while investors weighed Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell's cautionary tone on inflation. After a muted start in Asia hours, the US dollar advanced across the board, weighing heavily on risk sensitive currencies after a report said US officials are preparing for the possibility of a strike on Iran in the coming days. The Australian dollar fell as much as 0.5% but was last down 0.3% at $0.6489, while the New Zealand dollar slipped 0.5% to $0.5998. Emerging market currencies also struggled, with the South Korean won 1% weaker. Rapidly rising geopolitical tensions have led to the dollar swiftly reclaiming its safe-haven status, making inroads against the yen, euro and the Swiss franc. Iran and Israel traded further air attacks on Thursday, with the conflict entering its seventh day. Concerns over potential U.S. involvement have also grown, as President Donald Trump kept the world guessing about whether the United States will join Israel's bombardment of Iranian nuclear sites. The conflict has heightened fears of broader regional instability, compounded by the spillover effects of the Gaza war. Oil prices, a key indicator of currency parity, rose on Thursday after Israel and Iran continued to exchange missile attacks overnight and US. President Donald Trump's stance on the conflict kept investors on edge. Brent crude futures rose $1.60, or 2.1%, to $78.29 a barrel by 1030 ET. U.S. West Texas Intermediate crude for Julywas up $1.64, or 2.1%, at $78.34. Brent had surged to its highest in nearly five months at $78.50 on June 13, when Israel began its attacks. Open-market movement In the open market, the PKR lost 27 paise for buying and 11 paise for selling against USD, closing at 284.13 and 285.69, respectively. Against Euro, the PKR gained 64 paise for buying and 88 paise for selling, closing at 324.57 and 327.45, respectively. Against UAE Dirham, the PKR lost 15 paise for buying and 10 paise for selling, closing at 77.28 and 78.02, respectively. Against Saudi Riyal, the PKR lost 15 paise for buying and 9 paise for selling, closing at 75.55 and 76.25, respectively. ======================== Open Bid Rs 284.13 Open Offer Rs 285.69 ======================== Interbank Closing Rates: Interbank Closing Rates For Dollar on Thursday ======================== Open Bid Rs 283.64 Open Offer Rs 283.84 ======================== RUPEE IN LAHORE: The Pak rupee stayed stable against the US while gaining impressively against the British pound. According to local market sources, the Pak rupee closed at Rs 285.25 and Rs 285.70 against the US dollar compared to the previous closing of Rs 284.50 and Rs 285.50, respectively. However, regarding the British pound, the Pak rupee witnessed a closing at Rs 379.75 and Rs 383.10 against the previous closing of Rs 382.50 and Rs 387.60 respectively. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
'Forgotten Osama Already?' Shashi Tharoor On Donald Trump-Asim Munir Lunch
Thiruvananthapuram: Remember Osama bin Laden - the Al-Qaeda terrorist boss behind the 2001 World Trade Center attack that killed nearly 3,000 people, and who was found hiding near a Pakistan Army camp. This was Congress MP Shashi Tharoor 's stark message to the American people amid disquiet over President Donald Trump 's lunch date Wednesday with Pak Army chief General Asim Munir. "Some Senators and Congressmen who met the Pak delegation did... but people in the US could not have forgotten the Osama episode so quickly. Pak's culpability in hiding this man until he was found... near an Army camp cannot be so easily forgiven by the Americans," he said. The warning was subtle but clear - do not trust a duplicitous Pak administration, given it had harboured the man responsible for the worst terror attack in US history, and also supports terrorist attacks on India Mr Tharoor said he hoped President Trump took the opportunity to warn the Army chief against 'financing, arming, training, and dispatching terrorists to our country (India) from their soil'. #WATCH | Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala | On US President Donald Trump's lunch meeting with Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, "I hope the food was good and he gets some food for thought in the process. I hope that in these interactions, the Americans… — ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2025 "I hope, while the General was being wined and dined, he got all these messages... because that would also be in America's interest," the Thiruvananthapuram MP said. The Trump-Munir lunch has been viewed with alarm in India, particularly because the Army chief's outrageous and incendiary comments - about Kashmir being Pak's "jugular" and the Pakistani people being a "superior culture" compared to Indians - came days before the Pahalgam terror attack. The remarks were condemned. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar told a Dutch broadcaster the terrorists, who killed 26 people based on their faith that day, had been driven by Munir's "extreme religious outlook". The Indian government, meanwhile, said it had ample evidence to indicate the Pahalgam attack, and several others, had been orchestrated by the Pak deep state. READ | Pak 'One Of World's Most Dangerous, Terror Trail In Moscow, London' India has frequently warned the world of Pak's links to terrorist activities. After Pahalgam sources told NDTV there is intel to suggest Pak-backed terrorists had also struck in London and Moscow recently. The Trump-Munir lunch has also raised eyebrows in India for its timing. General Munir's White House visit was scheduled for the day after Mr Trump spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the phone. Mr Modi - speaking from the G7 Summit in Canada - was asked to the White House too, but, for obvious reasons, declined the invitation. During their phone call the PM told President Trump, in no uncertain terms, that India will never ask for third-party mediation to resolve the issue of Pak's illegal occupation of Kashmir. The strong statement followed Mr Trump claiming, repeatedly, that he had negotiated the end to Operation Sindoor. This was despite India making it clear it was Pak that asked for the ceasefire. The PM's message, though, seemed to have no impact; hours later Mr Trump again claimed credit for the ceasefire, complaining also the media had sidelined his role in the process.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'A Fine Man': Trump Praises Asim Munir After Pakistan Army Chief Backs US President For Nobel Prize
US President Donald Trump sparked a diplomatic stir by hosting Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir for lunch at the White House—the first-ever solo visit by a Pakistani General. Trump claimed he 'stopped a war' between India and Pakistan, praising both PM Narendra Modi and Munir for de-escalation. Trump also declared, 'I love Pakistan' and said he had a call with PM Modi to discuss future trade deals. White House has also confirmed that the invite to Pak Army Chief was sent after General Munir backed the US President for the Nobel Peace Prize for reportedly brokering the ceasefire deal between India and Pakistan after Operation Sindoor. India has rejected Trump's narrative. PM Modi reportedly spoke to Trump just before the meeting to reaffirm that the recent ceasefire after the May 7–10 military standoff was entirely brokered through direct communication between the Indian and Pakistani militaries, with no external mediation.#donaldtrump #asimmunir #pakistan #pakistanarmy #trumpasimmunir #pakistanusrelations #whitehouse #nobelpeaceprize #pakarmywhitehouse #trumppakistan #geopolitics #india #terrorism #operationsindoor #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews Read More
