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‘IMPLAUSIBLE, ILL-TIMED:’ ASIF DEBUNKS IAF CHIEF’S CLAIMS OF DOWNING PAKISTANI JETS
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Sunday, 10 August, 2025 | 15 Safar, 1447
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DEFENCE MINISTER DESCRIBES AMAR PREET SINGH’S BELATED ASSERTIONS FALSE, RIDICULOUS AND FAR FROM TRUTH
SAYS THE LOSSES ON THE LINE OF CONTROL FOR INDIAN ARMED FORCES WERE ‘DISPROPORTIONATELY HEAVIER’ AS WELL
PAKISTAN TOOK OUT SIX INDIAN JETS, S400 AIR DEFENCE BATTERIES AND UNMANNED AIRCRAFT OF INDIA WHILE SWIFTLY PUTTING SEVERAL INDIAN AIRBASES OUT OF ACTION: ASIF
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Rs 20.00 | Vol XVI No 33 | 8 Pages | Lahore Edition
ISLAMABAD
staff report
EFENCE Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Saturday termed Indian Air Chief’s “comical claims” of downing Pakistani aircrafts during Operation Sindoor as false, ridiculous and far from truth, describing the belated assertions made by Air Chief Marshal Singh as “implausible as they are ill-timed.” Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday rubbished what he said were “implausible” and “comical” claims by the Indian Air Force chief that the country had shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one other military aircraft during clashes in May. The comments are the first such statement by the Indian side three months after its worst military conflict in decades with its neighbour. During the conflict, Pakistan said it downed five Indian planes in air-to-air combat on May 7, later stating that figure as six. India’s highest-ranking general has also acknowledged that its forces suffered losses in the air, but denied losing six aircraft. Speaking at an event in the southern city of Bengaluru, Indian Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh claimed: “We have at least five fighters confirmed killed, and one large aircraft,” adding that the large
aircraft, which could be a surveillance plane, was shot down at a distance of 300 kilometres. He alleged that most of the Pakistani aircraft were downed by India’s Russian-made S-400 surface-to-air missile system. He cited electronic tracking data as confirmation of the strikes. Singh did not mention the type of fighter jets that were downed, but claimed that airstrikes also hit an additional surveillance plane and “a few F16” fighters that were parked in hangars at two air bases in Sindh and Punjab. “This is actually the largest ever recorded surface-to-air kill,” he insisted.
PTI’s Zartaj Gul, Ejaz Ch move LHC against ATC convictions in May 9 riots cases LAHORE
staff report
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders Zartaj Gul and Ejaz Chaudhry on Saturday filed separate petitions in the Lahore High Court (LHC) against their convictions by anti-terrorism courts (ATC) in May 9 riots cases. Zartaj Gul filed an appeal in the LHC against her conviction and sentencing, and an LHC division bench will hear the case on Monday. In the appeal filed through Barrister Ali Zafar and Muhammad Hussain, Gul pleaded the court to set aside her conviction and acquit her in the case. On July 31 this year, the Faisalabad ATC sentenced PTI leaders, including Gul, to 10 years jail for their involvement in the riots, and subsequently, the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified her and other PTI lawmakers. Ejaz Chaudhry was convicted in another May 9 case by the Lahore ATC on July 22 and sentenced to 10 years in prison. Gul in her appeal, pleaded that she had neither been nominated in the case nor “found physically participant in the occurrence.” She asserted that no justification was provided by the prosecution for her being included through the supplementary statement, which she claimed cast doubt on the authenticity of the occurrence, which had not been considered at the trial stage. The petition stated that the ATC passed the “impugned judgment … in a hasty and slipshod manner,” based on three witnesses who had admitted in cross-examination that they had not nominated her, but she was nevertheless convicted on their statements with a hefty punishment. “The prosecution has failed to make out a case for such a punishment,” the petition argued, adding that the witnesses themselves had many times misstated and “cheated” the trial court with additions and deletions in their statements, making their testimonies unreliable, but ultimately all exonerated the appellant.
Responding to the claims in a post on X, the defence minister said: “The belated assertions made by the Indian Air Force chief regarding alleged destruction of Pakistani aircraft during Operation Sindoor are as implausible as they are ill-timed. “It is also ironic how senior Indian military officers are being used as the faces of monumental failure caused by strategic shortsightedness of Indian politicians. For three months, no such claims were voiced — while Pakistan, in the immediate aftermath, presented detailed technical briefings to the international media, and independent observers
recorded widespread acknowledgment of the loss of multiple Indian aircraft, including Rafales, by sources ranging from world leaders, senior Indian politicians to foreign intelligence assessments.” Asif said that “not a single Pakistani aircraft was hit or destroyed” by India, adding that Pakistan took out six Indian jets, S400 air defence batteries and unmanned aircraft of India while “swiftly putting several Indian airbases out of action”. He added that the losses on the Line of Control for Indian armed forces were “disproportionately heavier” as well. “If the truth is in question, let both sides open their aircraft inventories to independent verification — though we suspect this would lay bare the reality India seeks to obscure. Wars are not won by falsehoods but by moral authority, national resolve and professional competence. “Such comical narratives, crafted for domestic political expediency, increase the grave risks of strategic miscalculation in a nuclearised environment,” he warned. The defence minister iterated that every violation of Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity would invite “swift, surefire and proportionate response, and responsibility for any ensuing escalation will rest entirely with strategically blind leaders who gamble with South Asia’s peace for fleeting political gains”.
NAB recovers $1.6b in looted national wealth during Q2-2025: Report KARACHI
staff report
Pakistan’s National Accountability Bureau (NAB) said on Saturday said it had recovered Rs456.3 billion ($1.6 billion) worth of looted national wealth and compensated government departments, institutions and more than 12,000 individuals. In its quarterly report, the primary anti-corruption watchdog said the Rs456.3 billion recovery in the second quarter of 2025 marked a substantial increase of Rs91.01 billion, compared to Rs365.29 billion recovered during the first quarter of this year.
“Out of said recoveries of Rs547.31 billion for the first two quarters of 2025, movable and immovable properties worth Rs532.33 billion have been disbursed/handed over to different Ministries & Departments of Federal and Provincial Governments as well as Financial Institutions,” it said. “Whereas, 12,611 affectees of different cheating public at large cases have also been compensated.” Pakistan is ranked 135 out of 180 countries on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index for 2024, after falling two spots below its ranking in
2023. In its quarterly report issued on Saturday, NAB said it remains committed to safeguarding state assets and interests of the general public and recovering funds belonging to the national exchequer. “In the past two years, NAB has recovered a staggering total of Rs5,854.73 billion, which is 700 percent more that of Rs839.08 billion recovered since the Bureau’s inception in 1999,” it said. “Currently, NAB is actively coordinating with the revenue departments of all provinces to recover state assets and properties unlawfully held by corrupt elements.
Saudi Crown Prince invites PM Shehbaz to attend 9th FII Forum ISLAMABAD
staff Correspondent
Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Nawaf bin Said Al-Malky Saturday called on Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and handed over a signed invitation letter from Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud to participate in the ninth Future Investment Initiatives (FII) Forum to be held in Riyadh from 27-30 October. While accepting the gracious invitation extended to him, the prime minister conveyed his warm greetings and respectful regards for Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud as well as to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release. Recent developments in the region were also discussed during the warm and cordial meeting. Earlier, in a high-level meeting between Federal IT Minister Shaza Fatima Khawaja and Saudi Minister for Communications and IT Eng. Abdullah Al-Swaha, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia reiterated their commitment to proceeding with Pakistan-Saudi tech collaboration.
Deputy PM orders fast track visa processing for overseas Pakistanis, investors ISLAMABAD
staff report
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Saturday ordered to further step up streamlining visa procedures, enhance transparency and speed up processing—especially for overseas Pakistanis, investors, and business travellers, according a statement issued by the Foreign Office. Chairing a meeting to review the visa facilitation initiatives introduced in 2024 under his guidance, Senator Dar emphasized the need for sustained institutional reform in consular services to better serve overseas Pakistanis and promote economic engagement. According to the FO statement, the meeting assessed progress on procedural reforms implemented across various missions. Officials briefed the Deputy Prime Minister on efforts to simplify application processes, reduce delays, and introduce digital tools to enhance service delivery. The foreign minister emphasized the need to cut red tape and improve access for the Pakistani diaspora and economic stakeholders overseas. Dar noted that timely visa issuance is vital not only for strengthening ties with the diaspora but also for attracting investment and promoting international business engagement.
14 more ‘Indian-sponsored’ terrorists killed along Pak-Afghan border in Zhob: ISPR RAWALPINDI
staff report
Security forces killed 14 more terrorists of “Indian proxy Fitna al-Khwarij” during a ‘sanitisation’ operation near the Pak-Afghan border in the Sambaza area of Zhob district, Balochistan, the military’s media wing said in a statement, bringing the total number of terrorists eliminated in two days to 47. A day earlier, security forces thwarted a major infiltration attempt from Afghanistan, killing at least 33 terrorists in the Zhob district of Balochistan. According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), a “sanitization operation” was ongoing to clear residual terrorist elements
in the area. “On the night 8/9 August 2025, a deliberate sanitization operation was conducted in surrounding areas of Sambaza along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border,” the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) said in a press release. “During the conduct of the operation, 14 more Indiansponsored Khwarij were hunted down and successfully neutralized. Weapons, ammunition, and explosives were also recovered from the killed Khwarij,” the ISPR noted. This followed the “successful engagements by the security forces in the general area of Sambaza, Zhob District, on 7-8 August 2025, during which 33 khwarij were sent to hell.” “The number of Khwarij killed in the two-day anti-infiltration operation has risen to 47,” the military highlighted.
“The security forces remain committed to securing the nation’s frontiers and thwarting attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Pakistan,” the statement asserted. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the security forces for killing 47 militants of Fitna al-Khawarij who attempted to infiltrate Pakistan from Afghanistan through the Zhob district over the past two days. In a statement, the prime minister said, “The brave personnel of our security forces risked their lives to thwart the terrorists’ infiltration and crushed their evil designs.” He said the entire nation stood united with the armed forces in the fight against terrorism. Sharif reaffirmed his government’s “unwavering resolve to eliminate terrorism from the country.”
Pakistan welcomes Azerbaijan, Armenia peace agreement: PM ISLAMABAD
staff report
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday said that Pakistan welcomed the historic peace agreement signed between the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Armenia at the White House Summit under the auspices of US President Donald Trump. “This landmark development marks the dawn of a new era of peace, stability, and cooperation in the South Caucasus, a region that has endured decades of conflict and human suffering. We congratulate President Ilham Aliyev and the people of Azerbaijan on this historic agreement, that reflects wisdom, foresight, and sagacity in charting a course for a peaceful future for their region,” the prime minister posted on X account. He further said that Pakistan had always stood by the brotherly nation of Azerbaijan and stood with them at this proud moment of their history. “We also appreciate the facilitation role of the United States, under President Donald
Trump, in bringing the two sides together and securing an agreement that will open up new avenues for trade, connectivity, and regional integration. It is our hope that this spirit of dialogue will serve as an example for other regions facing protracted conflicts,” he added. Meanwhile, the Foreign Office Spokesperson said, “This historic moment reflects the wisdom and sagacity of Azerbaijan’s leadership in bringing a prolonged conflict to a peaceful resolution.” “Pakistan acknowledges and appreciates the efforts of President Trump in fostering conflict resolution and promoting peace across various regions of the world,” he said in a statement issued on Saturday. “As a steadfast advocate for peace and stability in the Caucasus and beyond, Pakistan hopes this agreement will mark the beginning of a new era of prosperity and enduring peace—not only for Azerbaijan and Armenia but for the entire region,” he added. Earlier, Azerbaijan and Armenia signed a US-brokered peace agreement on Friday
during a meeting with US President Donald Trump that would boost bilateral economic ties after decades of conflict and move them toward a full normalization of their relations. The deal between the South Caucasus rivals—assuming it holds—would be a significant accomplishment for the Trump administration that is sure to rattle Moscow, which sees the region as within its sphere of influence. “It’s a long time—35 years—they fought, and now they’re friends, and they’re going to be friends for a long time,” Trump said at a signing ceremony at the White House, where he was flanked by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. Trump said the two countries had committed to stop fighting, open up diplomatic relations, and respect each other’s territorial integrity. US President Donald Trump holds the hands of Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev and Armenia’s Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan as they shake hands with each other during a trilateral signing event at the
White House in Washington, D.C., August 8, 2025. The agreement includes exclusive US development rights to a strategic transit corridor through the South Caucasus that the White House said would facilitate greater
exports of energy and other resources. Trump said the United States signed separate deals with each country to expand cooperation on energy, trade and technology, including artificial intelligence. Details were not released.