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TRUMP, FIELD MARSHAL TALK COUNTERTERRORISM, TRADE AT ‘WHITE HOUSE LUNCH’: ISPR Friday, 20 June, 2025 | 23 Zilhaj, 1446
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DISCUSSIONS ENCOMPASSED AVENUES FOR EXPANDING BILATERAL COOPERATION IN MULTIPLE DOMAINS, INCLUDING TRADE, ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, AND CRYPTOCURRENCY: ISPR
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PRESIDENT TRUMP EXPRESSED KEEN INTEREST IN FORGING A MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL TRADE PARTNERSHIP WITH PAKISTAN: ISPR
Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 342 | 8 Pages | Karachi Edition
ARMY CHIEF INVITED TRUMP TO UNDERTAKE AN OFFICIAL VISIT TO PAKISTAN AT A MUTUALLY CONVENIENT DATE: ISPR COAS MUNIR CONVEYED THE DEEP APPRECIATION OF PAKISTANI GOVT AND PEOPLE FOR TRUMP’S ROLE IN FACILITATING A CEASEFIRE BETWEEN PAKISTAN AND INDIA
Trump-COAS meeting ‘most significant turning point’ in Pak-US ties: Kh Asif ISLAMABAD
staff report
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WASHINGTON
staff report
S President Donald Trump and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir discussed joint counterterrorism efforts and expanding bilateral trade during their “cordial meeting” in Washington, the military’s media wing said on Thursday. “Although initially scheduled for one hour, the meeting extended for over two hours, underscoring the depth and cordiality of the dialogue,” the ISPR said in a press release on Thursday. During the meeting, Trump “lauded Pakistan’s ongoing efforts for regional peace and stability, and appreciated the robust counterterrorism cooperation between the two states”, the statement said. The press release noted that both
sides reaffirmed their commitment to continued collaboration in the field of counterterrorism. Field Marshal Munir met with Trump at the White House yesterday, becoming the first serving chief of army staff to have a face-to-face meeting with a sitting US president. The occasion also marked the first time a serving Pakistani army chief had been formally received at this level, without holding political office or governing under martial law. The high-level engagement was scheduled at the Cabinet Room over luncheon, followed by a visit to the Oval Office. Secretary of State Senator Marco Rubio and Special Representative for Middle Eastern Affairs Steve Witkoff were present during the meeting from the US side, while National Security Advisor Lt Gen Muhammad Asim Malik — also the intelligence chief — accompanied the COAS.
SC rules transfer of IHC judges not ‘unconstitutional’
“Discussions also encompassed avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation in multiple domains, including trade, economic development, mines and minerals, artificial intelligence, energy, cryptocurrency, and emerging technologies,” the ISPR stated. “President Trump expressed keen interest in forging a mutually beneficial
trade partnership with Pakistan based on long-term strategic convergence and shared interests,” it highlighted. The US president also commended Field Marshal Munir’s “leadership and decisiveness during a period of complex regional dynamics”.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 03
PM calls stringent mechanisms to eliminate counterfeit medicines’ trade ISLAMABAD
ISLAMABAD
staff report
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Thursday linked Pakistan’s achievements on global, regional, and economic fronts to the “current hybrid model of governance,” terming the meeting between President Trump and Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir a “significant milestone.” “There has never before been an example of a US president inviting and meeting a Pakistani army chief,” Kh Asif said in an X post on Thursday. The defense czar said that this is the most significant turning point in the 78year history of Pakistan-US relations. Commenting on the meeting, Asif said how discussion on international and regional matters during the meeting between Trump and Field Marshal Munir highlighted the importance of Pakistan. He added that Pakistan’s role was acknowledged and its significance was
recognized for resolving the issues. He added that the revival of the national economy and India’s defeat became possible due to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Field Marshal Munir. The defence czar said that the developments helped regain international attention on the Pakistan-India conflicts. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Field Marshal Munir lauded Trump for his “constructive and result-oriented role” in facilitating a ceasefire with India following last month’s armed conflict between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. The development came as the two leaders met over lunch at the White House Cabinet Room a day ago, with the US president being accompanied by Secretary of State Senator Marco Rubio and US Special Representative for Middle Eastern Affairs Steve Witkoff whereas Field Marshal Munir was joined by Islamabad’s national security advisor and interior minister.
staff report
The Constitutional Bench of the Supreme Court on Thursday announced its verdict in the case of seniority and transfer of Islamabad High Court (IHC) judges, declaring that their transfers were not unconstitutional. In the short order, the SC noted that “the transfer of a judge by the president of Pakistan by means of Article 200 of the Constitution (permanently or temporarily) cannot be construed as a fresh appointment.” The five-member bench—headed by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and comprising Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan, Shahid Bilal Hassan, Salahuddin Panhwar and Shakeel Ahmed — heard the petitions filed by five IHC judges, the Karachi Bar Association (KBA), and the IHC Bar Association, among others. The 3-2 majority judgment explained that the exercise of powers of transfer by the president under Article 200 of the Constitution was not unregulated or unfettered. Justices Naeem Akhtar Afghan and Shakeel Ahmed wrote their dissenting notes. It added, “The decision was structured on a “four-tier formula” that expounds that no judge shall be transferred except with his consent and after consultation by the president with the chief justice of Pakistan and the chief justices of both high courts.” In February, Justice Sardar Mohammad Sarfraz Dogar from the Lahore High Court (LHC), Justice Khadim Hussain Soomro from the Sindh High Court (SHC), and Justice Muhammad Asif from the Balochistan High Court (BHC) were transferred to the IHC.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday directed the deployment of advanced technology to eliminate the illegal trade of medicines amid a zero-tolerance policy and called for stringent oversight mechanisms. The prime minister chaired a high-level meeting on national health affairs, where he lauded the Ministry of National Health Services for its proactive approach under the leadership of Federal Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal, a Prime Minister’s Office news release said. The prime minister reiterated the government’s unwavering commitment to delivering quality healthcare to citizens across Pakistan. In the meeting, PM Shehbaz Sharif emphasized that providing the best possible healthcare facilities to the people remains the government’s top priority. He directed the formulation of a collaborative roadmap involving welfare organizations and the private sector to improve health services in Islamabad.
Highlighting the importance of international standards, PM Shehbaz encouraged Pakistani pharmaceutical companies to seek accreditation from the World Health Organization (WHO), stating it would not only enhance the quality of local medicines but also open doors to export opportunities. PM Shehbaz also underscored that there can be no compromise on the quality of medical education” and directed third-party validation of all medical colleges in Pakistan. He further instructed for a comprehensive review of the
nursing sector to strengthen its capacity and service delivery. He firmly stated that no political interference would be tolerated in the implementation of health reforms, ensuring a merit-based and transparent approach across the board. During the briefing, officials informed the Prime Minister that the entire process for registering medicines and medical devices is being fully digitized and will be completed by the end of next month. Moreover, the registration timeline is being reduced from one year to just three months.
DG ISPR lauds students’ critical role as ‘frontline force’ in ‘information war’ KARACHI
staff report
Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR), Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif lauded the critical role the students played as the “frontline force” in Pakistan’s “information war,” during the recent Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and Marka-e-Haq. Speaking at a special session at the Saylani IT programme in Karachi, the DG ISPR praised the students for their engagement and responsiveness to the nation’s security challenges. Highlighted the recent success of Operation Bunyanum Marsoos as a significant victory for peace, Lt-Gen Chaudhry reaffirmed Pakistan’s long-standing commitment to prioritizing peace over conflict. During the session, students asked insightful questions about Pakistan’s internal and external security environment. The DG ISPR emphasised that the country’s armed forces remain disciplined and professional, steadfastly fulfilling their constitutional duties and orders from the state. The military spokesperson stated that Pakistan will continue to act as a net stabiliser in the region. Students expressed their readiness to sacrifice everything for the protection of their homeland, affirming that no matter the front, they stand firmly behind the Pakistan Army, which they regard as the nation’s identity and strength. The session concluded with students appreciating the interaction and expressing hope for more such engagements in the future. Pakistan “always lives on,” they declared. Yesterday, DG ISPR, addressed students at Jinnah University for Women in Karachi, praising their role in Operation Bunyanum Marsoos during the recent conflict with India.
Pakistan condemns Israel’s attacks on Iran, urges immediate action from UN and global community ISLAMABAD
staff report
Pakistan has strongly condemned Israel’s recent aggression against Iran on Thursday, urging the United Nations and the international community to act immediately to halt the military strikes and hold Israel accountable. The Foreign Office spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, called the Israeli strikes a violation of Iran’s sovereignty, stressing that they contravene international law and the UN Charter, particularly Article 51, which grants countries the right to self-defense. In his weekly press briefing, Khan reaffirmed Pakistan’s firm support for Iran, denouncing the actions as a serious threat to regional peace, security, and stability. “These blatant provocations are not only a grave danger to the Middle East but also have far-reaching consequences for global security,” he said. He emphasized that Israel’s actions are a direct violation of international law and urged the international community to take action against the aggressor. Khan also highlighted the solidarity of 19 Muslim-majority nations, including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, who jointly condemned Israel’s recent attacks on Iran. These countries stressed the importance of respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all states and emphasized peaceful dispute resolution in line with the UN Charter. Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, held telephone conversations with several foreign ministers, including those from Iran, Turkey, Egypt, the UAE, and the UK, to discuss the rapidly deteriorating situation. The leaders expressed their deep concerns and reiterated their commitment to working together to prevent further escalation and maintain stability in the region.
Trump says to mull ‘US attack’ as Netanyahu seeks support amid escalated week-old air war TEL AVIV/TEHRAN staff report
US President Donald Trump has said he will decide whether to join Israel's strikes on Iran within the next two weeks as there is still a "substantial" chance of negotiations to end the conflict. US President’s remarks come as Israel bombed nuclear targets in Iran on Thursday and Iran fired missiles and drones at Israel after hitting an Israeli hospital overnight, as a week-old air war escalated with no sign yet of an exit strategy from either side. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt read out a message from Trump on Thursday, saying there had been "a lot of speculation" about whether the United States would be "directly involved" in the conflict. "Based on the fact that there's a substantial chance of negotiations that may or may
not take place with Iran in the near future, I will make my decision whether or not to go within the next two weeks," Trump said in the statement. The announcement could lower the temperature and give space for diplomacy, after a fevered few days in which Trump said Iran's leader was an "easy target" and vowed that Tehran could never have a nuclear weapon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that he welcomed "all help" with destroying Iran's nuclear sites, nearly a week into major Israeli air raids on the Islamic republic. Israel is "capable of striking all of Iran's nuclear facilities" but "all help is welcome", Netanyahu told public broadcaster Kan on Thursday, also saying that US President Donald Trump "will do what is good for the United States, and I will do what is good for the State of Israel".
But Leavitt also told reporters that Iran could produce a nuclear weapon in the space of a "couple of weeks." "Iran has all that it needs to achieve a nuclear weapon. All they need is a decision from the supreme leader to do that, and it would take a couple of weeks to complete the production of that weapon," she said. Trump said on Wednesday that Iran had asked to send officials to the White House to negotiate a deal on its nuclear program and end the conflict with Israel. Iran denied it would do so. Leavitt would not give details of what had led Trump to believe that negotiations with Iran were possible, but denied he was putting off a decision. "If there's a chance for diplomacy the president's always going to grab it, but he's not afraid to use strength as well," she said. The spokeswoman said "correspondence
has continued" between Washington and Tehran when asked about reports that Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff had been in touch with Iran's foreign minister. Trump held his third meeting in three days in the White House's highly secured Situation Room on Thursday as he continued to mull whether to join Israel's bombing campaign. The US president had said on Wednesday that "I may do it, I may not do it" when asked if he would take military action against Iran. Trump had spent weeks pursuing a diplomatic path towards a deal to replace the nuclear deal with Iran that he tore up in his first term in 2018. But he has since backed Israel's attacks on Iran's nuclear facilities and military top brass, while mulling whether to join in. A key issue is that the United States is the only country with the huge "bunker buster" bombs that could destroy Iran's cru-
cial Fordo Iranian nuclear enrichment plant. The White House, meanwhile, urged Trump supporters to "trust" the president as he decides whether to act. A number of key figures in his "Make America Great Again" movement, including commentator Tucker Carlson and former aide Steve Bannon, have vocally opposed US strikes on Iran. Trump's promise to extract the United States from its "forever wars" in the Middle East played a role in his 2016 and 2024 election wins. "Trust in President Trump. President Trump has incredible instincts," Leavitt said. Following the strike that damaged the Soroka medical centre in Israel's southern city of Beersheba, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tehran's "tyrants" would pay the "full price". "Are we targeting the downfall of the regime? That may be a result, but it's up to the Iranian people to rise for their freedom," Netanyahu said.