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ATTEMPTS TO DRIVE WEDGE BETWEEN ARMY, PEOPLE DOOMED TO FAIL: COAS Monday, 17 February, 2025 I 18 Shaban ul Moazzam, 1446
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ARMY CHIEF DECLARES EXTREMISTS WON'T BE ALLOWED TO IMPOSE THEIR IDEOLOGY ONTO COUNTRY
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HIGHLIGHTS BRAVE PEOPLE OF KP AND BALOCHISTAN STAND AS AN IRON WALL AGAINST TERRORISTS
COAS ADDRESSES UNIVERSITIES’ STUDENTS FROM ACROSS PAKISTAN RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
HIEF of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir said Khawarij or extremists would not be allowed imposed their “outdated ideology on the country”. “Pakistanis take pride in their religion and culture and will never allow the mischief of Khawarij to impose its outdated ideology on the country”, the army chief stated this during an interactive session with students of various universities. “We take pride in our religion, culture, and traditions,” the COAS emphasized, according to a statement issued by the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR). Gen Munir emphasized the strong bond between the Pakistani people, especially the youth, and the Pakistan Army, declaring that attempts by hostile elements to drive a wedge between the military and
the people are doomed to fail like the past. As long as the nation, particularly the youth, stands together, the Pakistan Army will never be defeated, he said. “We fight like comrades and that our most important identity is Pakistan,” he said. Hitting out at extremists, he said:
“What kind of Sharia or religion are these Khawarij talking about? We will never let them impose their outdated ideology on our country.” The army chief further remarked that Pakistanis take pride in their religion, civilisation, and traditions. He ques-
tioned, “Which Shariah and religion do these Khawarij talk about?” and stressed that their outdated ideology would never be allowed to take hold in the country. The COAS highlighted that the brave people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan stand as an iron wall against terrorists. He highlighted that armed forces are still fighting against terrorists on a daily basis. “Islam was the first religion to honour women whether they are mothers, wives, or sisters, he said and questioned: “Who gave the Khawarij authority to take away their (women) rights?” “No one can take that away. We will never allow such misguided groups to impose their values on our country,” he asserted. The Army Chief said armed forces are fighting the chaos caused by the Khawarij, who are misinterpreting Islam and violating its teachings. “Islam’s directives regarding such elements are very clear, and those who surrender to the state can expect mercy,” he remarked.
No one to be allow to challenge writ of state: Bilawal MUNICH
STAFF REPORT
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder remains in jail or not, it has nothing to do with Pakistan’s progress, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said in an informal chat on the sidelines of the Munich security conference. “The PTI’s founder has a role if today’s young generation is frustrated,” Chairman People’s Party Bilawal Bhutto said. He said that the military, parliament and judiciary
all belong to Pakistan. “We will not allow anyone to challenge the writ of the state,” PPP leader added. He said the democracy required generations to be strengthened and flourish, he said. “PTI’s founder has destroyed everything for his personal interest,” Bilawal alleged. “Now, he has pinned hopes with Sharifs and other political parties,” PPP chairman said. “We are tackling various challenges,” he said. He said the people from the whole world have gathered at the artificial intelligence moot ongoing in France. “We are not ready for the digital age, nor are we
FinMin highlights Pakistan’s potential to support Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation ALULA/ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT
Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Sunday highlighted the country’s potential to export skilled labour to Saudi Arabia in alignment with the Kingdom’s Vision 2030 development framework. Speaking on the sidelines of the Emerging Market Economies Conference in AlUla, Aurangzeb emphasized the growing opportunities for Pakistan to support Saudi Arabia’s economic transformation. “We do think there is big potential in terms of exports from Pakistan, especially with respect to skilled labour, in terms of everything that Saudi Arabia requires in terms of executing Vision 2030,” he said, adding, “So, there are a number of opportunities for the two countries to work together.” Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 aims to reduce the Kingdom’s reliance on oil and boost sectors such as health, education, infrastructure, recreation, and tourism. The initia-
tive has created an increasing demand for skilled workers, which Pakistan hopes to meet. With over two million Pakistanis already working in Saudi Arabia, the country remains a major source of remittances for Islamabad. While most Pakistani workers in the Kingdom are employed in blue-collar jobs, demand for skilled labour is expected to rise as Saudi Arabia modernises its economy. Pakistan’s Education and Professional Training Ministry has been
working on a new education policy to train at least a million young people annually with technical skills suited for employment in the Gulf region, including Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) has proposed a partnership with the Pakistani government to provide training programmes to equip Pakistani youth with “modern and relevant skills” required by the Saudi job market, according to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s office. Pakistan, KSA vow to further strengthen economic ties Earlier, FinMin Muhammad Aurangzeb and his Saudi Arabia vowed to further strengthen economic ties for a shared future. During a high-level meeting between Finance Minister Aurangzeb and his Saudi counterpart Mohammed bin Abdullah Al-Jadaan on the sidelines of the Emerging Markets Conference, they underscored the shared commitment to build bridges of economic cooperation and advance mutual prosperity.
Pakistani authorities, IAEA agree on nuclear technology use to mitigate climate woes ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
Pakistani authorities and International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) have agreed to expand cooperation on the use of nuclear technology to mitigate the impacts of climate change as Chief of the global nuclear watchdog wrapped up his weeklong visit, the Pakistani foreign office said on Sunday. IAEA DG Rafael Mariano Grossi had arrived in Pakistan this week to hold discussions with key officials, attend seminars and visit a nuclear power generation site. During his stay in Pakistan, Mr Grossi held meetings with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Deputy PM Ishaq Dar as well as heads of the Pakistan Atomic Energy Commission (PAEC) and the Pakistan Nuclear Regulatory Authority (PNRA). “Discussions focused on expanding cooperation between Pakistan and the IAEA, particularly on the peaceful uses of nuclear technology to mitigate climate change,” the foreign office said in a statement. The IAEA chief visited the under construction Chashma Power Plant Unit 5 (C-5) along the left embankment of the fast-flowing Indus River in Mianwali. “He termed Pakistan’s nuclear power generation program as one of the most successful programs in the world,” the foreign office said. “Mr. Grossi also inau-
gurated a radioactive waste incinerator at Chashma.” Pakistan — home to more than 240 million people — ranks among the nations that are most vulnerable to the effects of climate change. The South Asian country has seen erratic changes in its weather patterns which have led to frequent heat waves, untimely rains, cyclones and droughts in recent years. Scientists have blamed the events on human-driven climate change. In 2022, devastating floods, blamed on human-driven climate change, killed more than 1,700 Pakistanis, affected another 33 million and caused the country over $30 billion in economic losses.
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equipping our children and youth for this transformation,” he said. “We have to prepare our children, youth and the economy for the modern age”. “We have faced challenges before, and we have successfully tackled terrorism in the past. We will not allow anyone to challenge the authority of the state,” he asserted. Bilawal also emphasised the need for technological advancement and digital transformation, expressing concern that Pakistan is not adequately preparing its youth for the IT and digital era.
Levies official martyred, 2 injured in Kalat checkpost attack KALAT/QUETTA
STAFF REPORT
A levies official was martyred and two others were injured on Sunday while repulsing a terrorists attack on a checkpost in Balochistan’s Kalat district, officials said. Confirming the attack in a statement, Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said that one Levies personnel was martyred and two other injured in the attack on a Levies checkpost in Kalat. “The Levies force immediately retaliated, forcing the assailants to flee”, Rind informed, saying investigation into the attack has been ordered. The injured personnel have been shifted to Quetta for medical treatment, according to Rind. The spokesperson further said a search operation was being carried out to arrest the miscreants and that directives on that had been issued to the law enforcement agencies. Expressing the Balochistan government’s condolences on the incident, Rind paid tribute to the martyred security personnel and said he shared the grief of the bereaved family. “The sacrifices rendered by the security forces to restore peace will not go to waste,” Rind asserted. The attack on the checkpost comes just a day after four soldiers were martyred while 15 terrorists were killed in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) carried out in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. At the outset of this month, 18 soldiers were martyred while 23 terrorists were killed within 24 hours in various sanitisation operations across Balochistan with 12 of the eliminated militants had died in an overnight clash in Kalat. With at least 685 members of security forces losing their lives amid a total of 444 terror attacks, 2024 turned out to be the deadliest year for the civil and military security forces of Pakistan in a decade, according to a report issued by the Centre for Research and Security Studies (CRSS) think-tank. According to the ISPR Director General, security forces conducted a total of 59,775 operations last year during which 925 terrorists were killed and 383 officers and soldiers were martyred. PM Shehbaz, Interior Minister and CM Bugti condemn attack Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti denounced the attack in a statement on X, paying tribute martyred Levies official Ali Nawaz for fulfilling his duties and setting an “example of bravery by sacrificing his life”.