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COAS MUNIR REAFFIRMS COMMITMENT TO JOINTLY REALISE PAK-JORDAN VISION OF STABLE AND PEACEFUL REGION
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Monday, 17 November, 2025 | 25 Jamadiul Awwal, 1447
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FIELD MARSHAL MUNIR UNDERSCORES ‘STRONG DEFENCE PARTNERSHIP’ BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND HASHEMITE KINGDOM, HIGHLIGHTING ROBUST MILITARY-TO-MILITARY COOPERATION
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JORDANIAN DELEGATION VISITS JOINT FIRE AND MANOEUVRE EXERCISES AT TILLA FIELD FIRING RANGES, WITNESSING PAKISTAN’S MULTI-DOMAIN DEFENCE CAPABILITIES
PRESIDENT ZARDARI CONFERS NISHAN-I-PAKISTAN ON KING ABDULLAH II, WHILE KING CONFERS ORDER OF THE BEJEWELLED GRAND CORDON OF AL-NAHDA ON PAKISTANI PRESIDENT
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ISLAMABAD
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prehensive briefing on the structure, capabilities, and product portfolio of the conglomerate. “The briefing showcased Pakistan’s progress in indigenous defence production, technological innovation, and potential avenues for bilateral defence cooperation between Pakistan and Jordan,” the statement added. Later, it said, King Abdullah visited Tilla Field Firing Ranges, where he was joined by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “Vugar Valeh oglu Mustafayev, minister of defence industry of the Republic of Azerbaijan, was
ISLAMABAD
Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir on Sunday issued a stern warning to India, asserting that Pakistan will respond decisively to any act of aggression just as it did during the brief but intense conflict in May this year. The army chief’s remarks came during a luncheon held in honour of Jordan’s King Abdullah II, who arrived in Islamabad on a two-day State visit. Speaking to the Urdu daily Daily Jang, Field Marshal Munir said, “During the war with India, Allah helped us raise our heads high. When a Muslim puts their trust in Allah, He turns the dirt thrown at the enemy into missiles.” He emphasized that Pakistan’s military actions are guided by divine command and that the nation’s soldiers fight in the name of Allah. “This army is an army of Allah, and our soldiers fight in His name,” the COAS stressed. The statements reference the escalation of tensions in early May 2025, when an attack in Indianoccupied Kashmir’s Pahalgam prompted New Delhi to launch Operation Sindoor on May 7, targeting sites inside Pakistan and causing civilian casualties. India accused Pakistan without presenting evidence, inflaming hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. In response, Pakistan launched Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, resulting in heavy artillery exchanges and drone strikes. A US-led mediation eventually brokered a ceasefire, ending the short-lived conflict.
also amongst the distinguished guests at the firing ranges.” At the firing ranges, the “distinguished guests witnessed a joint fire and manoeuvre exercise”, the ISPR statement said, adding that the “exercise demonstrated multi-domain operations, including conventional and air firepower, coordinated manoeuvres, spectrum warfare capabilities supported by multi-purpose drones employed in various configurations and roles”.
Jaffar express narrowly escapes another bomb and rocket attack QUETTA/LAHORE Staff report
The Jaffar Express—one of Pakistan’s most frequently targeted passenger trains—narrowly escaped yet another bomb and rocket attack in Balochistan’s Nasirabad district on Sunday, marking the latest strike in a months-long campaign of sabotage against the province’s railway infrastructure, police and railway officials confirmed. Police said an explosive device planted on the track was detonated moments after the Peshawar-bound train passed, while attackers also fired four rockets that fortunately missed their target. Police officials said the device had been installed on the railway track in the Shaheed Abdul Aziz Bullo area of Nasirabad to target the train travelling from Quetta, but the train crossed safely and no loss of life was reported. Nasirabad SSP Ghulam Sarwar said security forces immediately reached the blast site, cordoned off the area and launched a search operation. “Armed men targeted the passenger train with four rockets from a distance, but luckily none hit the train,” he said. Railway officials confirmed a section of track was damaged, suspending rail traffic between Quetta and the rest of the country. However, the Jaffar Express continued its journey after reaching Jacobabad, Sindh. Officials added the train had resumed service today after a four-day suspension due to security concerns.
pakistan welcomes iran’s mediation bid as islamabad–Kabul tension persists ISLAMABAD
Staff report
Pakistan on Sunday welcomed Iran’s offer to mediate between Islamabad and Kabul amid a prolonged deadlock in counterterrorism talks and a sharp rise in border hostilities, with the Foreign Office (FO) insisting that Islamabad “will not shy away” from any diplomatic initiative aimed at facilitating peace. The gesture comes as regional powers, including Turkiye, Qatar, Iran and Russia, push for renewed engagement between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban following several failed rounds of negotiations. Responding to media queries on Tehran’s reported efforts to convene a regional mediation meeting, FO spokesperson Tahir Hussain Andrabi on Sunday said Islamabad appreciated the gesture from a “brotherly, friendly country” and viewed Iran’s involvement as constructive. “Iran is a brotherly, friendly country. Pakistan is always in favour of finding peaceful resolutions of issues through dialogue and diplomacy,
BILATERAL TALKS EMPHASIZE ZERO-TOLERANCE FOR DISPLACEMENT OF PALESTINIANS AND SUPPORT FOR A TWO-STATE SOLUTION
Staff report
CoaS Munir vows May-like response to any aggression Staff report
KING ABDULLAH ALSO VISITS GIDS, BRIEFED ON INDIGENOUS DEFENCE PRODUCTION, TECH INNOVATION, AND FUTURE COLLABORATION AVENUES
Zardari, King abdullah reaffirm strategic ties
Staff report
HIEF of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir reiterated on Sunday Pakistan’s commitment to further enhancing military-to-military cooperation with Jordan and jointly realising the mutual vision of a stable and peaceful region, according to the military’s media affairs wing. The army chief also underscored the “strong defence partnership” between Pakistan and the Hashemite Kingdom — the royal family of Jordan — during a visit of Jordan’s King Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein at the Tilla Field Firing Ranges near Jhelum, a statement by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said. The Jordanian king, who arrived in Pakistan for a two-day official visit on Saturday, also visited Global Industrial and Defence Solutions, the state-owned conglomerate involved in the export and marketing of military, industrial and technological products and services. He was accompanied by Princess Salma bint Abdullah II ibn Al Hussein and a delegation of Jordanian civil and military officials and was received by Field Marshal Munir and other officials, according to the ISPR. The ISPR statement said that during his visit to GIDS, the Jordanian king was given a com-
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and we appreciate the offer of mediation of our brotherly country, Iran,” Andrabi said. He maintained that Islamabad had “a very strong case” on the matter of cross-border terrorism emanating from Afghanistan and therefore had no hesitation in accept-
ing any third-party facilitation. “Generally, mediations are resented by a country or a side which is on a weak legal or political case. Pakistan’s case on this issue, on terrorism emanating from Afghanistan, is very strong.
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Russia offers mediation to ease pakistan–afghanistan row
MOSCOW/ISLAMABAD: Russia has stepped into the diplomatic fray by offering to mediate between Pakistan and Afghanistan to help defuse escalating tensions along their shared border, becoming the second regional power—after Iran—to propose such a role. The move signals growing regional concern that prolonged friction between the two neighbours could destabilize wider Central and South Asia. According to a TV channel report, the Russian foreign ministry’s spokesperson described “Pakistan and Afghanistan as important partners” for Moscow and cautioned that “persistent border tensions posed a threat to regional security.” She said stability in the region remained a priority for Russia and the international community, adding that diplomatic engagement was essential to securing lasting peace. Calling dialogue the only sustainable path to resolving disputes, the spokesperson urged both Islamabad and Kabul to exercise restraint and settle their differences through talks. She appealed to both sides to avoid steps that could heighten tensions and to keep communication channels open. agencieS
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President Asif Ali Zardari on Sunday received His Majesty King Abdullah II ibn Al-Hussein of Jordan at Aiwan-e-Sadr, marking a significant reaffirmation of the deep, time-tested ties between Pakistan. The visit — accompanied by a highlevel delegation — saw both sides underscore their shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation and coordinating closely on key regional and global challenges, particularly the worsening situation in Gaza, according to a statement issued from the Presidency. His Majesty was accompanied by His Royal Highness Prince Ghazi bin Muhammad, Chief Advisor for Religious and Cultural Affairs and Personal Envoy; Mr Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates; and Major General Yousef Huneiti, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. First Lady Bibi Aseefa Bhutto Zardari, Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and Senator Sherry Rehman were also present,
the statement said. During the meeting, the two leaders reviewed the full spectrum of Pakistan-Jordan relations and reaffirmed the fraternal bond rooted in shared history, values and regional outlook. They emphasized building on the strength of the relationship by enhancing political, economic and cultural engagement, and encouraging greater people-to-people contact. The two sides also discussed regional and international developments, with a particular focus on the Middle East’s peace, stability and security. Both leaders agreed on the need for closer coordination in multilateral forums, as well as on expanding humanitarian and development cooperation. On Palestine, President Zardari and His Majesty noted a clear convergence of views, reiterating their principled position on post-war Gaza. They firmly rejected any displacement of Palestinians and called for progress toward a Two-State solution, stressing the creation of an independent, sovereign, viable and contiguous State of Palestine on pre-June 1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
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