Latest news with #Youm-e-Takbeer
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Pak's Punjab Speaker backs Saifullah Kasuri, a key Lashkar terrorist involved in Pahalgam attack
Malik Ahmed Khan, the Speaker of Pakistan's Punjab Assembly, has come under scrutiny after publicly defending Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) deputy chief Saifullah Kasuri — a key terrorist allegedly involved in the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that killed 26 people. In a video circulating on social media, Malik Ahmed Khan defended Kasuri during a rally, dismissing allegations against him by insisting he should not be treated as an accused "without an investigation." Earlier, on May 28, Khan was seen seated in the front row at a public programme in Kasur, Punjab, alongside Saifullah Khalid — considered a mastermind of the Pahalgam attack — and Talha Saeed, son of UN-sanctioned terrorist Hafiz Saeed and de facto head of LeT. Both Khalid and Talha are listed as global terrorists, with Khalid being officially designated by the US. The rally, organised by the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML) to mark Youm-e-Takbeer, also featured senior leaders, including food minister Malik Rasheed Ahmad Khan and close associates of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and PML-N leader Maryam Nawaz. The LeT-linked figures, including Saeed, Kasuri, and Amir Hamza, were seen prominently seated and interacting with political leaders. In the video shared on X, Malik Ahmed Khan also mentioned his personal ties to Kasur — the town where the rally took place — further deepening the controversy. The presence of top LeT operatives at the rally attracted attention from foreign policy observers, especially after some of them boasted publicly about having avenged Pakistan's 1971 defeat to India. US-designated terrorists Saifullah Kasuri and Muzammil Hashmi claimed credit for their involvement in a so-called "coup" in Bangladesh while addressing supporters at rallies held last week. "We emerged victorious against you in Bangladesh last year," they declared. Prime Minister Narendra Modi became the target of their vitriol during a rally organised by the Lashkar-e-Taiba's political front, the Pakistan Markazi Muslim League (PMML), in Gujranwala on May 28. Hashmi was heard proclaiming: 'Tum hamein apni goli se darate ho, Modi hum tujhe paigham dete hain, humare bachche teri missailon se nahi dare, hum teri goli se kya darenge.' (You try to scare us with your bullets, Modi, but we send you a message — our children are not afraid of your missiles, why would we fear your bullets?) At another rally in Rahim Yar Khan, Kasuri drew historical parallels with the 1971 Bangladesh war, claiming that his outfit had avenged Pakistan's defeat. "I was four years old when Pakistan was dismembered in 1971. The then Indian PM Indira Gandhi had declared that she had drowned the two-nation theory in the khaleej (Bay of Bengal). On May 10, we took the revenge of 1971," he told supporters. Kasuri also spoke of the Indian airstrikes on Muridke that killed fellow terrorist Mudassar, expressing emotional pain over being prevented from attending his funeral. "I was not allowed to attend his funeral. On the day of his funeral, I cried a lot," he said. Several Pakistani ministers were seen at the same events, where they shared the stage with LeT operatives. They were seen greeting and interacting with them at the rally in Kasur. Kasuri, believed to be the key planner behind the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, made a surprise appearance at the PMML gathering. The Indian government has linked the attack to LeT's proxy outfit, The Resistance Front (TRF). While addressing the crowd, Kasuri not only raised anti-India slogans but also referred to slain terrorists killed in India's Operation Sindoor as 'martyrs.' "India labelled me the mastermind of the Pahalgam terror attack while I was busy taking part in events and people's happiness took the name 'Kasur', 'Kasuri', so many times that now the entire world knows me as famous," he said at the rally. could not independently verify the authenticity of these videos. Reports suggest Kasuri has been given refuge by Pakistan's intelligence agency, the ISI, in Bahawalpur.
Express Tribune
01-06-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
PSX rises modestly amid delay in budget
Listen to article The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a volatile trading week as investors remained cautious ahead of the FY26 budget announcement, now rescheduled for June 10, 2025, amid ongoing IMF negotiations. Despite initial uncertainty, the KSE-100 index managed to post a modest weekly gain of 0.49%, closing at 119,691 points, supported by positive developments on the economic front including China's pledge to refinance $3.7 billion in commercial loans and a successful T-bill auction that raised Rs772 billion. However, foreign investors continued to offload their positions, with net outflows of $5.65 million, while local participants stepped in to absorb the selling pressure. On a day-on-day basis, the PSX started the week on a bearish note on Monday as the KSE-100 index fell 882 points, or 0.74%, settling at 118,221 over investor caution ahead of the federal budget and the delay in IMF's approval of circular debt settlement plan. On Tuesday, the market closed modestly higher with a gain of 112 points as the index oscillated in a narrow band throughout the day. Investors were wary ahead of the budget presentation, although cement stocks rose, driven by hopes for announcement of a real estate package. The bourse opened with renewed vigour on Thursday following a day's closure to mark Youm-e-Takbeer, which reflected the nation's nuclear achievements. The KSE-100 posted a notable rise of 638 points. Finally, the PSX closed the week on a bullish note on Friday, lifted by strong gains in blue-chip oil, banking and fertiliser stocks amid growing optimism about the upcoming budget measures. The index surged 720 points and settled at 119,691. Arif Habib Limited (AHL) wrote that the KSE-100 index displayed mixed trends throughout the week, beginning on a negative note due to uncertainties surrounding the budget rollout. On the economic front, China committed to refinancing $3.7 billion of commercial loans for Pakistan. Moreover, Nepra approved K-Electric's multi-year tariff at Rs39.9/unit and a 14% USD-based return on equity. The government successfully raised Rs772 billion through a T-bill auction, exceeding its target of Rs650 billion. Cut-off yields declined across all tenors, falling by 9 to 15 basis points (bps). The State Bank's reserves climbed up by $70 million to $11.5 billion. The market closed at 119,691, depicting a rise of 588 points, or 0.49% week-on-week (WoW), AHL said. Sector-wise, the positive contribution came from cement (317 points), fertiliser (249 points), power generation and distribution (148 points), commercial banks (84 points) and refinery (80 points). Meanwhile, the sectors that contributed negatively were automobile assembler (105 points), oil and gas exploration companies (97 points), technology and communication (53 points), food and personal care (46 points) and oil and gas marketing companies (43 points). Scrip-wise, the positive contributors were Meezan Bank (230 points), Fauji Fertiliser Company (210 points), Lucky Cement (159 points), Pakgen Power (80 points) and DG Khan Cement (70 points). Average volumes arrived at 662 million shares (up 34.6% WoW) while average traded value settled at $78.9 million (down 6.5%), AHL added. "The KSE-100 index recovered during the week, closing at 119,691 points (up 0.5% WoW)," said Syed Danyal Hussain of JS Research. Foreign investors remained net sellers during the week, with an outflow of $5.57 billion, which was offset by local buying. The week commenced with the IMF concluding its visit to Pakistan without reaching an agreement on certain budget items, leading the government to reschedule the budget presentation to June 10, 2025, he said. Virtual negotiations were continuing, with both sides focusing on measures to enhance tax revenues and curtail expenditures. Meanwhile, Hussain added, China reaffirmed its commitment to refinancing $3.7 billion in commercial loans denominated in renminbi before the end of June. In other news, the State Bank's net buying from currency markets reached $223 million in February 2025 to further strengthen foreign exchange reserves, bringing the cumulative purchases to $5.9 billion during 8MFY25.
Business Recorder
31-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Nuclear weapons plan remains ‘sole guarantor of peace in SA': Adviser
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's nuclear weapons programme remains the 'sole guarantor of peace and stability in South Asia,' said Lt Gen Khalid Ahmed Kidwai (retired), Adviser to the National Command Authority, on Friday. He made these remarks at a seminar hosted by the Center for International Strategic Studies (CISS) to mark the 27th anniversary of Pakistan's 1998 nuclear tests, widely commemorated as Youm-e-Takbeer. This year's observance assumed added significance in the aftermath of heightened tensions between India and Pakistan. Indian military actions, including Operation Sindoor, were widely criticised by speakers at the event as reckless provocations designed to test Pakistan's thresholds in a nuclearised environment. Pakistan responded with a series of precise retaliatory measures under Operation Bunyan un Marsoos, part of the broader Marka-e-Haq campaign. Experts at the seminar said the response reasserted deterrence, restored strategic balance, and marked what they described as a 'decisive paradigm shift' in the regional balance. 'It showcased Pakistan's credible nuclear capability and reaffirmed that this deterrent —operationalised through Full Spectrum Deterrence (FSD) — serves as the cornerstone of peace and strategic stability in South Asia,' said one speaker, adding that the mini-war underscored the deterrent's enduring role in preserving peace. The seminar featured senior officials and strategic thinkers, including Ambassador SohailMahmood, Director General of the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI); Muhammad Naeem, former Chairman of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC); Dr Adil Sultan, Dean of Air University; and Brig Dr Zahirul Haider Kazmi (retired), Adviser on Arms Control at the Strategic Plans Division (SPD). Speakers observed a pattern in India's behaviour — using false flag operations as a casus belli to justify limited strikes against Pakistan while disregarding the prevailing nuclear environment. They warned that such actions risk dangerous miscalculations. They emphasised that Pakistan's nuclear capability is a strategic necessity that has effectively deterred full-scale war, even as threats have evolved in complexity and domain. The panel stressed that Pakistan now possesses a comprehensive toolkit of both kinetic and non-kinetic options to respond to any future Indian provocations, and that its response will follow a Quid Pro Quo Plus (QPQ+) approach — swift, proportionate, and precise — designed to neutralize aggression and compel de-escalation. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
NDTV
30-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
Pakistani Actor Hina Bayat Slams Karachi Airport Over No Water In Washrooms
Pakistani actor Hina Bayat has slammed the Karachi airport authorities over the unavailability of water in the washrooms. In a video posted to social media, Ms Bayat expressed her frustration about the inconvenience caused to travellers at the Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, especially when the nation was celebrating Youm-e-Takbeer. The day is observed on May 28 to commemorate the nuclear tests that Pakistan conducted on May 28, 1998. Ms Bayat said that if important places like Karachi Airport didn't have water in the washrooms even on special days, there was no point in feeling proud about the country. "Today is Youm-e-Takbeer and I'm standing at the Karachi International Airport. On a day when we are supposed to celebrate Pakistan's achievements, what I see is that there is no water in any of the washrooms here. People want to pray (namaaz) or take their kids to washrooms, but there is no water," she said. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hina Bayat (@hinakhwajabayatofficial) Many on Instagram reacted to her video and appreciated her honest assessment of the situation. "Appreciate her honest comments, some prompt action must be taken by concerned authorities!" said a user. "Absolutely, very well said," said another user. "First woman who has kept her thoughts clear clean and accurate. Kudos to u ma'am," read a comment. Ms Bayat further questioned how countries could focus on building big projects, including new trains while ignoring the basic fundamental concerns such as the lack of water at airport washrooms. She asked, "Why have our airports, our institutions, and our systems come to such a state, and no one is willing to admit that these mistakes need to be fixed as well? Big projects are being built, and there are discussions of new trains, but at the same time, the washrooms of international airports don't even have water. It's really unfortunate". Ms Bayat's statement came weeks after India suspended the Indus Water Treaty following the terror attack which claimed the lives of 26 people in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, on April 22. "As far as the Indus Water Treaty is concerned, it will remain suspended until Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures terrorism," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at the time.
News18
30-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Pakistan-Backed TRF-LeT-PMML Nexus Sums Up 21st-Century Hybrid Warfare: Sources
Last Updated: This situation mirrors LeT's 2008 Mumbai attacks, executed under pseudonyms like Deccan Mujahideen, the sources said The thin line between Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and The Resistance Front (TRF) was shattered following rallies in Pakistan on May 28, Indian intelligence sources have told CNN-News18. The world must take note of these global jihadists backed by the state of Pakistan and its military leadership, they added. 'The TRF-LeT-PMML nexus epitomises 21st-century hybrid warfare, where TRF masks violence, Pakistan Markazi Muslim League spreads ideology, and the Pakistani state ensures deniability. This ecosystem is evidenced by the increasing frequency of attacks from Pahalgam to Reasi, carried out with complete deniability," said a source. This situation mirrors LeT's 2008 Mumbai attacks, executed under pseudonyms like Deccan Mujahideen, the sources said. LeT and TRF employ grey zone tactics, such as disinformation and proxy attacks, similar to Russia's hybrid warfare in Crimea, they added. 'The merging of operational roles between Lashkar and TRF marks their foray into hybrid warfare, blending kinetic terrorism with political legitimisation and state-backed impunity," a source said. 'The TRF-LeT-PMML alliance operates a successful hybrid mechanism." According to the sources, TRF functions as LeT's operational front, claiming attacks like the Pahalgam massacre, where 26 people, mostly Indian Hindus, were killed, providing LeT with deniability. Saifullah Khalid later boasted about the Pahalgam attack at a Pakistan Markazi Muslim League rally, claiming global recognition. PMML rallies are attended by LeT leaders, such as Saifullah Khalid (PMML president) and Talha Saeed (son of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed), said sources. This illustrates the merging of terrorist ideology with mainstream politics, with even the Punjab assembly speaker present on stage, they added. 'They have state approval to celebrate events like Youm-e-Takbeer, Pakistan's nuclear test day, which grants LeT legitimacy while laundering recruitment and funding through activities like blood donation camps," a source told CNN-News18. 'LeT finances TRF operations via PMML front companies and charities like Jamaat-ud-Dawa (JuD). Earlier US treasury designations confirm PMML as an LeT alias. Gulf donations often reach Pakistan, where ISI allocates significant funds to TRF and LeT for operations in Kashmir. TRF and LeT operate in phases, as seen in the Pahalgam attack. Phase 1: TRF claimed responsibility, framing the attack as indigenous resistance. Phase 2: LeT validation, with Khalid admitting the role at a PMML rally, and Indian intelligence tracing attackers to LeT safe houses." In June 2024, TRF claimed a bus attack on Hindu pilgrims in Reasi, but forensic analysis linked the weapons to LeT smuggling networks. This tactic of targeting minorities to incite communal conflict is similar to LeT's 2008 Mumbai strategy, said sources. Post-2019, when India abrogated Article 370 sections in Jammu and Kashmir, LeT created TRF as a secular front, sources said. Despite the branding, 80% of TRF cadres are trained in LeT's Pakistani camps, they added.
