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PAKISTAN, MALAYSIA CALL FOR GAZA CEASEFIRE, COMMEND EFFORTS FOR PALESTINIAN STATEHOOD Wednesday, 8 October, 2025 | 14 Rabius Sani, 1447
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SHEHBAZ, ANWAR AGREE TO EXPLORE COLLABORATION IN HEALTHCARE, PHARMACEUTICALS, AND MEDICAL DEVICES
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 91 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
BOTH LEADERS AGREE TO FURTHER DEEPEN BILATERAL DEFENCE COOPERATION, SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND INDUSTRY
THE TWO LEADERS VOW COOPERATION IN EDUCATION, TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL TRAINING, AND ENHANCEMENT OF INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
PM Shehbaz says building sustainable startup ecosystem govt's priority ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
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KUALA LUMPUR Mian abRaR
AKISTAN and Malaysia have called for an immediate, unconditional and permanent ceasefire, an end to the blockade on Gaza, the protection of all civilians and for unimpeded flow of humanitarian assistance to those affected immediately. The two sides also commended the international community’s efforts to find pragmatic measures in resolving the question of granting a Palestinian statehood. According to a joint statement issued on Tuesday at the conclusion of the threeday official visit of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to Malaysia from 5–7 October 2025, the two leaders of the two countries held a bilateral meet-
ing on 6 October 2025 to discuss bilateral ties and exchange views on regional and international issues of mutual interest. During the meeting, they also discussed geopolitical issues, particularly the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and the humanitarian situation in Rakhine State, Myanmar, which affects the Rohingya Muslim community. In this context, both leaders strongly condemned the ongoing genocide in Gaza and reiterated their unwavering support for the Palestinian people’s right to self-determination and the establishment of a sovereign, viable, contiguous, and independent Palestinian state, based on pre-June 1967 borders with Al-Quds AlSharif as its capital. The leaders also agreed to reconvene, at a mutually convenient time, the Joint Commission Meeting at the level
Supreme Court permits live broadcast of 26th Amendment hearings ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also reiterating his government’s commitment to creating a business-friendly environment and ease of doing business, said that efforts were under way for reforms to support startups and early-stage investors through investment facilitation and better infrastructure access. In a meeting with a delegation from the Malaysian business group Gobi Partners, led by Co-Founder and Chair Thomas G. Tsao in Kuala Lumpur, PM Shehbaz Sharif said that the Special Investment Facilitation Council was striving to provide all possible facilities to foreign investors. Citing immense potential for enhancing economic and trade cooperation, the prime minister said that Pakistan and Malaysia were working
of the Foreign Ministers. They reaffirmed their commitment to promoting balanced and sustainable economic ties through enhanced market access, business facilitation, and the effective utilisation of the Malaysia–Pakistan Closer Economic Partnership Agreement (MPCEPA). Malaysia expressed its intention to
diligently towards that goal. He commended the PakistanMalaysia Business and Investment Conference held on Monday to strengthen business-to-business ties which was addressed by both Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his Malaysian counterpart Anwar Ibrahim. Appreciating Gobi Partners’ confidence in Pakistan’s startup ecosystem, Prime Minister Shehbaz said that mobilizing international and domestic investment to build a sustainable startup ecosystem was his government’s priority. He said that the digital economy, particularly fintech, e-commerce, and IT services, was a vital component of the national development strategy and that the country welcomed relevant international business groups and investors, keeping in view its vast potential in IT, tech, and AI sectors.
expand palm oil exports to Pakistan and also agreed to ensure a stable and sustainable supply chain, while upholding environmentally responsible practices. They also acknowledged the growing global demand for halal products and services, and agreed to strengthen cooperation in the field of halal.
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US approves sale of advanced AMRAAM missiles to Pakistan through Raytheon contract ISLAMABAD
The United States has approved the sale of Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) to Pakistan following a modification in Raytheon’s existing contract with the US Air Force, which added Pakistan to the list of buyers. According to a September 30 press release from the US Department of War, Raytheon was awarded a $41.6 million firmfixed-price modification to a previously awarded contract for the production of the enhanced C8 and D3 variants of the AMRAAM missiles. The adjustment raises the total contract value from $2.47 billion to $2.5 billion. The work will be carried out in Tucson, Arizona, and is expected to be completed by May 30, 2030. The contract covers foreign military sales to multiple countries, including Pakistan, the United Kingdom, Poland, Germany, Finland, Australia, Romania, Qatar, Oman, Korea, Greece, Switzerland, Portugal, Singapore, Japan, and others. The AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, compatible with the Pakistan Air Force’s F-16 fighter jets, were previously excluded from the
RAWALPINDI
Staff RepoRt
Pakistan Army spokesperson Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry has said that Pakistan is not engaged in any arms race with India, stressing that the country’s defense strategy focuses instead on technological efficiency, indigenous innovation, and cost-effective preparedness. In an interview with the American magazine Bloomberg, the Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) explained that Pakistan’s approach to military modernization is built on balance and necessity rather than competition. “Our military strategy has always been to include effective and efficient platforms and indigenous Pakistani technology,” he said. He underscored that Pakistan remains open to acquiring advanced military technology from any global partner, “whether from the East or the West”, but with a clear understanding of its limited fiscal capacity. “Pakistan is not engaging in an arms race with India. Our defense budget is much smaller compared with India’s; we do not have unlimited resources,” General Chaudhry noted. The DG ISPR also dismissed any suggestion that Pakistan had attempted to manipulate or conceal facts related to recent military engagements. “Pakistan has never attempted to manipulate or hide figures and facts,” he asserted, while clarifying that during the Maarka-eHaq in May, India was unable to shoot down any Pakistani aircraft. General Chaudhry emphasized the strong performance and reliability of Pakistan’s weapons systems, particularly those of Chinese origin, stating that they had proven “highly effective” in recent conflicts. He pointed to the operational success of Chinese-made J-10C fighter jets, which have strengthened Pakistan’s defensive capabilities. The interviewer also referenced a statement made a week earlier by former U.S. President Donald Trump, who claimed that seven Indian aircraft were shot down during the confrontation. According to the Bloomberg interview, Trump had said that Pakistan’s Chinese-made J-10C jets downed several Indian Air Force aircraft, including Rafales, during the Maarka-e-Haq. General Chaudhry reiterated that Pakistan’s defense philosophy is rooted in strategic restraint and operational efficiency rather than military escalation. “Our priority is not numerical superiority but readiness, balance, and credible deterrence,” he concluded.
Saudi business delegation arrives in Pakistan to help boost trade, investment ties
Staff RepoRt
An eight-member constitutional bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Ameenuddin Khan, heard petitions challenging the 26th Constitutional Amendment and approved a request for live streaming. The proceedings will now be broadcast live. At the outset, lawyer Shahid Jameel, representing Mustafa Nawaz Khokhar, said objections had been raised against their request for a full-court bench and that an appeal had already been filed. He asked that the chamber appeal be decided first. Jameel added that objections had also been raised to the formation of the current bench and requested that their petition be heard with related cases. After consultation, the bench directed that the petition be numbered. Later, Khawaja Hussain Ahmad, representing Justice Jawad S Khawaja, requested live streaming of the proceedings. Justice Ameenuddin Khan noted that notices had been issued for both petitions and said that if objections were raised against the bench, another bench would hear them; otherwise, the same bench would proceed with the live-streaming request. He said the question of full-court formation would be decided first, followed by the live-streaming matter. Justice Jamal Mandokhail remarked that live streaming had been intended to educate the public but had also exposed the court. Additional Attorney General Aamir Rehman appeared before the bench as Justice Ayesha Malik sought the government’s stance on live streaming. He replied that live streaming falls under the administrative side, and Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar observed that the government would accept the bench’s decision.
Pakistan not in arms race with India, says DG ISPR
ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
list of buyers in a May 7 contract for the same program. Pakistan had earlier purchased 700 AMRAAM missiles in January 2007, which was then the largest international order for the weapon. The same missile type was used in February 2019 during Operation Swift
Retort, when the Pakistan Air Force downed two Indian aircraft over Kashmir. The inclusion of Pakistan in the latest Raytheon contract marks a renewal of defense cooperation between Islamabad and Washington, reflecting strengthening ties between the two nations.
A high-level business delegation from Saudi Arabia has arrived in Islamabad on Tuesday for an official visit aimed at strengthening bilateral economic cooperation, the Foreign Office said. According to the statement, Prince Mansour bin Mohammad Al Saud, Chairman of the Saudi-Pakistan Joint Business Council, is heading the high-level business delegation. During their stay, Prince Mansour and the accompanying delegation "will hold meetings with Pakistan’s leadership, senior government officials, chambers of commerce, and leading business groups to explore new avenues for enhanced trade and investment collaboration between the two brotherly countries." It added that the visit underscored the deep-rooted and brotherly ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, reflecting their shared commitment to expanding economic and investment partnerships under the framework of the Saudi-Pakistan Joint Business Council.
Pakistan, China, Russia, Iran vow coordinated action for stable, terror-free Afghanistan MOSCOW
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Pakistan, along with China, Russia, and Iran, reaffirmed its commitment to a “stable, sovereign, and peaceful” Afghanistan during a quadrilateral meeting held in Moscow on Tuesday, voicing collective concern over the “presence of terrorist groups” operating within Afghan territory. The high-level engagement took place ahead of the 7th meeting of the Moscow Format Consultations on Afghanistan, where regional countries — including India, Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, China, Russia, and Pakistan — are convening to discuss political and security developments in Afghanistan. Pakistan’s special envoy to Afghanistan, Mohammad Sadiq Khan, who is leading the Pakistani delegation, shared details of the quadrilateral discussions on X. “The participating states unanimously reaffirmed their steadfast commitment to a stable, sovereign, and peaceful Afghanistan, underscoring the
necessity of a country free from the scourge of terrorism and external intervention,” he said. Khan added that all four countries agreed to enhance coordination and adopt collaborative counterterrorism measures to prevent militant activity across regional borders. In separate meetings, the Pakistani envoy held bilateral talks with his Chinese, Iranian, and Russian counterparts to strengthen coordination on security and humanitarian matters. With Iranian envoy Muhammad Reza Bahrami, discussions focused on counterterrorism and the evolving security situation in Afghanistan. “Both sides emphasised the importance of continued dialogue and coordination to address common challenges,” Khan said. In talks with China’s special envoy Yue Xiaoyong, both sides reaffirmed the value of a “coordinated regional approach” for lasting peace and stability, highlighting the strong partnership between Islamabad and Beijing in addressing shared regional threats and promoting economic connectivity.
During his meeting with Russia’s special envoy Zamir Kabulov, the two discussed ways to deepen regional cooperation on Afghanistan’s integration into regional development frameworks and counter-extremism initiatives. For the first time, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is participating in the Moscow Format as an official member. The Afghan delegation arrived in Moscow on Monday to present Kabul’s position on strengthening regional ties and economic engagement. According to Afghan deputy spokesperson Hafiz Zia Takkal, the participation marks a milestone for the Taliban’s diplomatic outreach. Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova confirmed that a closed-door bilateral meeting between Muttaqi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov will also take place, focusing on political, economic, counterterrorism, and anti-narcotics cooperation. Russia, which formally recognised the Taliban government earlier this year, has been
pushing for a unified regional stance on Afghanistan, calling for “verifiable actions” from Kabul to combat terrorism and prevent the use of Afghan soil against neighbouring states. Pakistan has been an active member of
the Moscow Format since its inception in 2016, consistently advocating for regional solutions to the Afghan crisis through dialogue, counterterrorism cooperation, and inclusive political engagement.