Latest news with #Pak-India
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
COAS' meeting with US president a 'success'
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday hailed the meeting between Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and US President in White House the other day, as a significant diplomatic success of Pakistan. Talking to reporters outside the Parliament House, the minister highlighted that this was the first time an army chief had been invited for lunch with the US president, underscoring the importance of the meeting. Khawaja Asif emphasised that the discussions on international and regional issues showcased Pakistan's potential in resolving key problems, particularly in the context of Pak-India tensions.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
12 hours ago
- Business
- Business Standard
Trump expressed keen interest in trade partnership with Pakistan: Pak Army
US President Donald Trump has expressed "keen interest" in developing a "mutually beneficial" trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests, the army here said on Thursday. In a statement after a meeting between Trump and Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir at the White House Wednesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the Pakistan Army - said they also discussed joint counterterrorism efforts. During the high-level engagement, the discussions also encompassed avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation in multiple domains, including trade, economic development, mines and minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, cryptocurrency, and emerging technologies, the ISPR said. "President Trump expressed keen interest in forging a mutually beneficial trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests," said the statement. In the first formal reaction by the Pakistan government, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday said the meeting between Army Chief Munir and President Trump helped to highlight the Pak-India conflict. In a post on X, Asif said the meeting is a milestone in Pak-US relations because this is the first time that a US President has invited and met a Pakistani Army Chief. Describing the Trump-Munir meeting as the most important turning point in the 78-year history of relations, Asif said the development is the success of the current hybrid model of governance, involving the elected government and the army. His comments seem to be a departure from the past when political parties demanded non-interference of the army in political affairs. The Chief of Army Staff conveyed the deep appreciation of the Government and people of Pakistan for President Trump's constructive and result-oriented role in facilitating a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in the recent regional crisis, the ISPR said. He acknowledged President Trump's statesmanship and his ability to comprehend and address the multifaceted challenges faced by the global community, the statement added. President Trump, in turn, lauded Pakistan's ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability, and appreciated the robust counter-terrorism cooperation between the two states, the ISPR said. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration in the field of counter-terrorism, it added. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US Special Representative for the Middle East Steve Witkoff accompanied Trump. Munir was joined by National Security Advisor Lt Gen Asim Malik, who is also the head of the intelligence agency ISI. No senior civilian official from Pakistan was present. A detailed exchange of views also took place on the prevailing tensions between Iran and Israel, with both leaders emphasising the importance of resolution of the conflict, the ISPR said. President Trump commended Munir's leadership and decisiveness during a period of complex regional dynamics, it said. In a "gesture reflecting the warmth of bilateral ties", Munir extended an invitation to President Trump, on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at a mutually convenient date, the statement said. Although initially scheduled for one hour, the meeting was extended for over two hours, underscoring the depth and cordiality of the dialogue, it added. The engagement marks a significant moment in the ongoing efforts to reinforce the longstanding partnership between Pakistan and the United States, built upon shared objectives of peace, stability, and prosperity, according to the statement. Separately, President Trump said it was an honour for him to meet the Chief of Army Staff during a luncheon held at the Cabinet Room in the White House, the first-ever such honour for any Pakistani army chief. It is rare for the US president to host a lunch for an army chief of a foreign country. There have been precedents of Pakistan army chiefs, including Ayub Khan, Zia ul-Haq and Pervez Musharraf, receiving such invites. But they were holding the post of president as well. Speaking to the media after the event, Trump extended his gratitude to Pakistan's military chief for visiting and acknowledged his role in helping stop war with India. I was honoured to meet him (Field Marshal Munir) today, Trump said. I invited him to thank him for not going to war. He deserves appreciation for helping secure the ceasefire. When asked if the talks included the Iran-Israel conflict, Trump said: They (Pakistan) know Iran very well, better than most, and they're not happy about anything. It's not that they're bad with Israel. They know them both, actually, but they know Iran better." According to experts, the meeting was a significant boost for relations between the two countries, which had been under strain for years due to suspicion in the US that Pakistan failed to help it stabilize Afghanistan, which resulted in a hasty withdrawal from the country in 2021. The meeting comes after the recent tension with India and Trump umpteen times took credit for stopping the war for which Pakistan thanked him for his role.
New Indian Express
16 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Trump shows ‘keen interest' in trade ties with Pakistan, says Army after rare White House meeting
ISLAMABAD: US President Donald Trump has expressed "keen interest" in developing a "mutually beneficial" trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests, the army here said on Thursday. In a statement after a meeting between Trump and Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir at the White House Wednesday, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) - the media wing of the Pakistan Army - said they also discussed joint counterterrorism efforts. During the high-level engagement, the discussions also encompassed avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation in multiple domains, including trade, economic development, mines and minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, cryptocurrency, and emerging technologies, the ISPR said. "President Trump expressed keen interest in forging a mutually beneficial trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests," said the statement. In the first formal reaction by the Pakistan government, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday said the meeting between Army Chief Munir and President Trump helped to highlight the Pak-India conflict. In a post on X, Asif said the meeting is a milestone in Pak-US relations because 'this is the first time that a US President has invited and met a Pakistani Army Chief.' Describing the Trump-Munir meeting as 'the most important turning point in the 78-year history of relations', Asif said the development is the success of the 'current hybrid model of governance', involving the elected government and the army. His comments seem to be a departure from the past when political parties demanded non-interference of the army in political affairs.
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Absurd claims
EDITORIAL: Disinformation campaigns are a well-established tool used by various state and non-state actors to manipulate perceptions regarding sensitive political/security issues. The idea that Pakistan would threaten Israel with nuclear weapons in the midst of an ongoing military conflict between the two countries is absolutely absurd. Yet two AI-generated reports claimed that Pakistan had threatened a nuclear response against Israel, generating a wave of disinformation on social media, which would have remained ignored but for the fact that a mainstream British tabloid Daily Mail also chose to publish it, putting at stake Islamabad's nuclear credibility as well as relations with other states in the Gulf region. The devious disinformation scheme therefore was immediately debunked by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar in Monday's session of the Senate. 'Pakistan', he said, 'is a responsible nuclear state, and our nuclear and missile programme is solely for national defence and security purposes. Pakistan has not issued any statement regarding a nuclear strike on Israel.' Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also took to X to reaffirm the same stance. Like most other Muslim countries, including Saudi Arabia, Pakistan has extended moral and diplomatic support to Iran against Israeli aggression. It has been extra-cautious in position taking, nevertheless, in certain situations at a time of heightened tensions. For instance, when on June 12 IAEA's board of governors voted on a resolution, submitted by the US, Britain, France and Germany declaring Iran in breach of its nuclear obligations, 19 countries voted in favour, three — Russia, China and Burkina Faso — against the resolution, while Pakistan elected to abstain along with ten other states, raising many eyebrows back at home as to why could it not stand by the side of its strategic ally, China. The answer is obvious from the present campaign to raise concerns about Pakistan's own nuclear programme. As a matter of fact, some sections of the Western media have often portrayed the relationship between the two nations in an exaggerated and misleading light. By framing Pakistan as an enabler of Iran's nuclear programme they try and create a narrative that could justify sanctions or even military action. It is worth noting that Pakistan and Iran, the two brotherly neighbours, share a history of both cooperation and mistrust. In the present context, the reports and claims circulating in social media used anonymous sources or unverified information to fuel a false narrative. Coming in the aftermath of the recent Pak-India military standoff, the accusation seems to be aimed at creating fear about Pakistan's nuclear capability in the wider world. That made it necessary for Ishaq Dar to dispel the disinformation surrounding Pakistan's nuclear stance. Islamabad's nuclear policy is designed to maintain a balance of power with its much bigger traditional rival. Our nuclear deterrence is, and has always been, focused on the security threat posed by India; it has nothing to do with Israel or any other country. Hence claims to the contrary should be carefully scrutinised by responsible media organisations and other interested parties, paying attention to geopolitical games at play in the Middle East and South Asia. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
4 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
PTI stares down mounting pressure
Protestors throw stones after police fire tear gas to disperse them in Lahore on May 9, 2023. PHOTO: REUTERS As anti-terrorism courts begin to hand down verdicts in the May 9 riot cases, the political stakes for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and its founding chairman, Imran Khan, are not only intensifying but also entering a new phase of vulnerability. The reported conviction of a sitting PTI Member of the National Assembly, among others, marks more than just a legal precedent as it signals the beginning of a mounting pressure campaign on the party, just as it readies itself for yet another attempt to reclaim the streets. But before PTI can reignite its street power, it must first grapple with three compounding challenges: tightening legal nooses, growing internal disarray exacerbated by Imran Khan's incarceration and isolation, and a widening gulf between the party and the powerful quarters. Taken together, these dynamics have left the party politically disoriented, legally cornered and strategically adrift. The May 9 violence, sparked by the arrest of PTI's newly-designated patron-in-chief in a corruption case, unleashed unrest across the country, including unprecedented attacks on military installations. The state's response was swift and sweeping, with a crackdown leading to the arrest of dozens of leaders and supporters, many now facing anti-terrorism charges. As convictions begin to roll in, political analysts believe the cost of staging fresh agitation is growing by the day. Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, president of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (PILDAT), sees this as a pivotal moment. "The government and the establishment have emerged stronger and more confident, especially after the recent [Pak-India] four-day war," he said, adding "the support for agitation against government & establishment by PTI and its allies has also suffered further setback". Commenting on the convictions' aftermath, the PILDAT chief noted that there was a greater likelihood for harsher punishment for 9 May accused persons, adding, "This judgment is indicative of the future trend of tougher actions". Mehboob felt that the vacuum at the top was another factor compounding the legal challenges for both Khan and the party. Regarding the question of whether PTI's call for protest would gain traction, especially after the patron-in-chief first called for talks with the establishment and then announced a protest movement from jail, Mehboob felt that Imran Khan suffers from a lack of clarity in communication because he is unable to communicate directly from behind bars. He noted that the visitors narrate Khan's point of view with a slant reflecting their personal views, which are often contradictory. "Apparently, there is no clear and well-considered policy which the party has decided to follow," he said while listing down the reasons for constantly getting confused signals from PTI. Mehboob said it shows a confused state of mind, which is quite natural in a situation where "the supreme leader is behind the bar and isolated; and the rest of the party officials lack the trust and authority to take a decision as Khan can embarrass and snub them any time". Meanwhile, PTI's relationship with powerful stakeholders has hit a new low. One example of it was witnessed when the party was excluded from a high-level field marshal's dinner to celebrate victory in the recent war, which the experts believe was a symbolic but telling snub. The only invitation extended to PTI was sent to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur. Still, he skipped the event to attend a party meeting discussing Khan's release - an act that was seen by some as defiance, but by others as a missed opportunity. "PTI should decide to either act as a "revolutionary" party by opting for the path of street agitation (which, in my opinion, may be a suicidal path) or act as a responsible political party which rules a province and may rule the country again," Mehboob said. He said that PTI should not miss its official duties as a large political party and as the government of the province, and participate in all such state ceremonies and meetings as the dinner hosted by the field marshal. "Trying to ride in two boats may land the party in mud," he concluded. While sharing his views on the challenges being faced by PTI, Professor Tahir Naeem Malik of NUML University said that the verdict in the May 9 cases made it absolutely clear that the state was not going to go easy on PTI. "The May 9 verdicts are not just legal judgments," the professor noted, "they're part of a broader message that the state intends to draw a hard line." Commenting on Khan's desire to hold direct talks with the establishment, which was swiftly followed by his announcement to begin a new protest movement, Professor Malik said that it was a result of a lack of coordination among the party leadership, as they do not get frequent opportunities to devise political strategies amid changing circumstances. "The top leadership is in jail and unable to take stock of the rapidly changing situation while those outside can't make decisions on their own," Professor Malik said, "this has created confusion whether to negotiate or resist; hence, facing paralysis." Nonetheless, Malik said that the support from voters is still there for PTI, but it seems the party's ability to turn that into action has reduced, adding that slogans alone won't be enough without proper coordination and a clear plan. On rifts, he said, with some form of reconciliation or reset, it's hard to see how PTI regains political space through traditional channels.
