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INDIA TRYING TO KEEP PAKISTAN ENGAGED ON TWO FRONTS: KH ASIF
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Sunday, 2 November, 2025 | 10 Jamadiul Awwal, 1447
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WE HAVE EVIDENCE OF INDIA’S INVOLVEMENT IN TERRORISM AND HOW IT WANTS TO KEEP US BUSY ON EASTERN AND WESTERN FRONTS: DEFENSE CZAR
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 116 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition
SAYS ‘MODI SILENCED AFTER MAY DEFEAT,’ VOWING TO STOP CROSS-BORDER TERRORISM FROM AFGHAN SOIL
g INFORMATION MINISTRY SAYS PAKISTAN PREFERRED ‘A CIVILISED RELATIONSHIP’ REBUTS AFGHAN TALIBAN BETWEEN TWO NEIGHBOURS, EXPRESSING HOPE SPOKESMAN’S REMARKS ONGOING TALKS WOULD YIELD A REASONABLE OUTCOME
Pakistan foils india’s attempt to bribe fisherman for anti-state propaganda: talal Ch ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
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ISLAMABAD
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EFENSE Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday accused India of trying to keep Pakistan “engaged on both eastern and western fronts” amid renewed tensions with Kabul and New Delhi, warning that Indian involvement in terrorism inside Pakistan was “no secret.” “We have evidence of India’s involvement in terrorism in Pakistan and how it wants to keep us busy on two
fronts—the eastern and the western,” the defence minister said while speaking to a TV channel. He added that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had been “silenced” after India’s defeat in the May conflict, which ended under a United States-brokered ceasefire. His remarks came a day after Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed in Istanbul to extend the ceasefire reached last month, following a brief but intense border conflict that saw Pakistani airstrikes on Oct 9 against Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) sanctuaries in Afghanistan
Minister of State for Interior Talal Chaudhry on Saturday disclosed that India’s intelligence agency had attempted to recruit a Pakistani fisherman, Ijaz Mallah, for espionage by bribing him with Rs95,000—a plot Pakistan has termed yet another failed attempt in New Delhi’s “information war” against Islamabad. Addressing a joint press conference with Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar, Chaudhry said the foiled recruitment attempt was part of “India’s new prop-
and retaliatory clashes on Oct 11. The truce, first formalised in Doha on Oct 18– 19, was salvaged in Istanbul after days of deadlock that nearly collapsed the talks. The minister said Pakistan’s position on Afghanistan remained consistent: “Everyone—the politicians, the establish-
aganda operation, which has now been fully exposed.” He said Mallah, apprehended by the Indian Coast Guard in September, was coerced into anti-Pakistan propaganda after being offered money. “This is part of a continuous psychological and informational war being waged by Indian intelligence agencies against Pakistan,” he stated, adding that the country’s security institutions remain fully alert to such efforts. Chaudhry praised Pakistan’s media and security institutions for “ensuring the triumph of truth” and countering “yellow propaganda” with responsibility and professionalism.
ment, and the nation—agrees that terrorism from Afghan soil must be completely stopped.” Asif said Pakistan preferred “a civilized relationship” between the two neighbours and expressed hope that ongoing talks would yield a reasonable outcome.
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President eulogises GB’s sacrifices, calls for turning region into model of development GILGIT
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President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday paid rich tribute to the unwavering love, sacrifices and loyalty of the people of Gilgit-Baltistan for Pakistan, calling them the “guardians of the nation’s northern frontiers” who stood firm in every test of time. He urged that this deep bond of sacrifice and service be matched with a collective resolve to make Gilgit-Baltistan a model of development, justice and equality. Addressing a ceremony to
mark the 78th Independence Day of Gilgit-Baltistan from Dogra rule, the president said that for more than seven decades, the valiant people of the region had marched shoulder to shoulder with the rest of Pakistan—defending its borders, contributing to its progress, and carrying its flag to the world’s highest peaks. “This region is not only the crown of Pakistan but also our northern gateway—a symbol of lasting friendship with China,” he said, adding that the Karakoram Highway was a living testament to this part-
nership while the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had opened new doors of trade, connectivity, and livelihoods for the people of GB. He emphasized that it was their shared responsibility to ensure that the dividends of these development projects reached every valley and village, creating prosperity and opportunity for all. The president said that the freedom of Gilgit-Baltistan’s people also reminded the nation of the unfinished journey of their Kashmiri brothers and sisters in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).
PM hails GB’s valour
LAHORE: Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday extended heartfelt felicitations to the people of Gilgit-Baltistan and the entire nation on the 77th anniversary of the region’s historic liberation from Dogra rule, paying tribute to the courage and patriotism of those who chose to join Pakistan on November 1, 1947. In his message marking Gilgit-Baltistan’s Independence Day, the prime minister said the day commemorates the unparalleled bravery, unity, and love for Pakistan shown by the people of the region, whose sacrifices and resolve reshaped the course of history. Staff RepoRt
PM lauds record 5.9m tax returns as proof of public trust, reform success ISLAMABAD
Staff RepoRt
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday lauded the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for achieving a record 5.9 million income tax returns and adding nearly a million new taxpayers this year, describing it as a sign of growing public confidence in the system, according to a statement circulated by his office. The FBR, which is responsible for revenue generation and meeting tax targets, announced a “significant increase” in income tax return filings a day earlier, saying 5.9 million tax returns had been submitted by the end of October compared to five million in the same period last year, a 17.6 percent rise. Out of these, 3.6 million taxpayers filed returns with tax payments, reflecting an 18.6 percent increase over 2024. “The addition of 900,000 new tax filers to the network reflects citizens’ confidence in the government’s policies,” the statement quoted the prime minister as saying. “By the grace of God, the reforms in the tax system are yielding positive results.” Sharif said merit had been prioritized within the FBR, adding that capable officers were being encouraged while poor performers were discouraged under a new performance-based culture. He maintained that tax procedures had also been simplified, and automation at ports had helped curb corruption and improve efficiency. “I personally chaired weekly meetings to oversee the FBR’s digital transformation,” he said, adding that efforts to formalize the economy through an expansion in point-of-sale registrations had curbed sales tax evasion. The prime minister also pointed to a Rs9 billion ($31.8 million) year-on-year increase in tax revenues, calling it “clear proof” of the government’s reform agenda. In a string of social media posts a day earlier, the FBR said the rise in return filings marked “a new milestone in voluntary compliance and taxpayer awareness.” It added that individual taxpayers had paid nearly Rs69 billion ($244 million) in income tax this year, up from Rs60 billion ($212 million) in 2024, a 15 percent increase. The FBR attributed the surge to a nationwide outreach campaign involving robocalls, WhatsApp messages, and targeted reminders encouraging citizens to file on time. It also reiterated its commitment to creating a fair, transparent, and inclusive tax system.