Lhigh-level meeting of parliamentary parties leaders to discuss the evolving geopolitical situation in the region, during which participants were given an “in-camera briefing,” according to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO)
The PMO said the briefing began shortly after 11:30am at the Prime Minister s House and lasted for more than two hours The discussion primarily focused on the ongoing Oper-
ation Ghazab lil-Haq against terrorist hideouts as well as the conflict in the Middle East The meeting was given an in-camera briefing regarding the Pakistan-Afghanistan situation, the hostilities in Iran the Middle East and the Gulf and Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts ” the PMO statement said adding that leaders of the participating political parties freely expressed their views The participants underscored the need for national unity, consensus and unanimity in the “prevailing circumstances ” The PMO said Prime Minister Shehbaz had invited parliamentary leaders to sit together and develop a collective course of action to move forward
The statement added that the attendees appreciated Pakistan s diplomatic efforts aimed at peace, stressed the need to further intensify them, and offered “recommendations for a future plan of action ” All participants reiterated their firm commitment to the eradication of terrorism from the country and lauded the prime
Ishaq Dar on Wednesday held separate telephone conversations with his Turkish and Egyptian counterparts reaffirming Pakistan s solidarity with friendly nations and underscoring the urgent need for de-escalation amid the evolving regional situation In his conversation with Hakan Fidan Dar reiterated Pakistan’s firm solidarity with Turkiye in the wake of recent attacks The two leaders exchanged views on the escalating regional situation and expressed serious concern over ongoing attacks, including a recent attempt targeting Turkiye Both sides stressed the imperative of restraint and de-escalation to prevent further deterioration of the security environment The deputy prime minister reaffirmed Pakistan s commitment to
minister ’s move to take the entire political leadership into confidence
While the ruling Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz extended an olive branch to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf and invited it to join the meeting in view of internal and external security threats, the PTI opted not to attend, maintaining it would only participate if a meeting with its founder Imran Khan was arranged PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and Maulana Fazlur Rehman were among the prominent leaders who attended the briefing Other party leaders included Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui of the MQM-P, Abdul Aleem Khan of the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party Khalid Hussain Magsi of the Balochistan Awami Party
closely coordinate efforts with Turkiye in support of regional peace and stability
In a separate call, Dar spoke with Badr Abdelatty to discuss the evolving regional developments The two leaders expressed deep concern over the escalating situation and emphasized the importance of de-escalation restraint and adherence to international law to safeguard regional peace and stability
Reaffirming the strong ties between Pakistan and Egypt, both leaders agreed to maintain close coordination and continue consultations aimed at promoting constructive diplomatic engagement for lasting peace and security in the region
The back-to-back diplomatic engagements reflect Pakistan s active outreach and its emphasis on dialogue, international law, and collective efforts to address mounting regional tensions
and Chaudhry Salik Hussain of the Pakistan Muslim League-Q Senators present included PPP s Sherry Rehman BAP s Manzoor Ahmed Kakar PMLN s Pervaiz Rasheed, MQM-P s Faisal Subzwari, National Party’s Jan Muhammad, Anwarul Haq Kakar and Hafiz Abdul Kareem, the PMO statement said MNAs attending the meeting included PPP s Naveed Qamar MQM-P s Farooq Sattar and Aminul Haque and National Party s Pullain Baloch Senate Chairman Yousaf Raza Gilani, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Senate Deputy Chairman Syedal Khan Nasar and NA Deputy Speaker Ghulam Mustafa
DOHA/TEHRAN
s ta f f r e p o r t
Qatar s prime minister condemned Iran s attacks on Gulf states in a call with Tehran's foreign minister on Wednesday, the first high-level contact since the Islamic republic launched its missile and drone campaign as the number of people killed in five days of US-Israeli attacks against Iran has topped 1 000 state media says As the conflict engulfs the region,
Turkiye said a ballistic missile fired Iran was destroyed by NATO air and missile defence systems in the eastern Mediterranean
Sea The target of the missile was not immediately clear
Qatari premier Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani accused Iran of seeking to "harm its neighbours and drag them into a war that is not theirs", on the call with Iran's Abbas Araghchi according to a statement by Qatar s foreign ministry
Gulf countries have borne much of Tehran s response since the United States and Israel launched a massive air campaign against Iran over the weekend with an 11year-old girl killed in Kuwait on Wednesday by falling shrapnel
Thirteen people seven of them civilians have been killed in countries around
the Gulf since the war began The Pentagon has announced the deaths of six US servicemen since Saturday four of them in Kuwait
The Qatari prime minister urged an immediate halt to these attacks on the call and said Iran had struck civilian and residential areas" despite Araghchi s assertion "the Iranian missile attacks were directed at US interests and did not target the State of Qatar" "These attacks cannot pass without a response Sheikh Mohammed added Kuwait s health ministry said resuscitation was performed in the ambulance while the girl was being transported to the hospital", adding attempts continued for nearly half an hour at Al-Amiri Hospital but she "passed away due to her injuries" The United Arab Emirates and Qatar said they had intercepted Iranian drone and missile barrages, with the UAE reporting it engaged three ballistic missiles and intercepted 121 of 129 drones, while Qatar said it shot down 10 drones and two cruise missiles US troops told Iran war is 'God's plan' to trigger Armageddon
American service members across every branch of the military have been told by commanders that the US-Israeli war on Iran is intended to induce the biblical end times, or Armageddon, Turkey’s Anadolu
and TRT reported quoting multiple complaints lodged with a US watchdog
“This morning our commander opened up the combat readiness status briefing by urging us to not be afraid as to what is happening with our combat operations in Iran right now, a non-commissioned officer said in an emailed complaint lodged with the Military Religious Freedom Foundation (MRFF)
“He urged us to tell our troops that this was ‘all part of God's divine plan’ and he specifically referenced numerous citations out of the Book of Revelation referring to Armageddon and the imminent return of Jesus Christ
The MRFF is a non-profit dedicated to ensuring religious freedom for members of the US military The officer who wrote to the group said he penned the message on behalf of himself and 15 other members of his unit who were all stationed in the region in a ready-support function Anadolu obtained a copy of the complaint from the MRFF after independent journalist Jonathan Larsen first reported on the matter The
ISLAMABAD
IMF REVIEWS PAKISTAN’S EXTERNAL FINANCING OUTLOOK
QUESTIONS $2B UAE ROLLOVER AND REVENUE TARGET
Pakistan plans oil impor ts via Red Sea, mulls weekly fuel price review amid Hormuz disruption
February through additional imports
The disruption has already delayed shipments destined for Pakistan Two crude oil cargoes remain stranded after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz Energy experts warn that if the conflict continues global oil supply chains could face broader disruptions Officials said Pakistan is monitoring developments and coordinating with suppliers to ensure continued fuel availability
SAUDI ARABIA ASSURES PAKISTAN OF SECURE ENERGY SUPPLIES THROUGH RED SEA ROUTE
Political leadership rallies behind unity as par ties briefed
on regional, internal security
with political leaders including former foreign minister Bilawal BhuttoZardari offering recommendations He noted that engagement was ongoing to seek clarity on Iran’s concerns about Gulf territories potentially being used for strikes He said efforts were being made to resolve misunderstandings and prevent retaliatory attacks
had hosted Afghan refugees for four decades and remained willing to continue providing humanitarian support
television channel after the meeting Rana Sanaullah shared details of the briefing, saying Pakistan s diplomatic efforts were focused on ensuring that “this war imposed on Iran ends in some kind of agreement or understanding” Asked whether Saudi Arabia and Iran were in direct contact or Islamabad was acting as a mediator, he said Pakistan was facilitating communication He added that political and military leadership were engaged with relevant stakeholders and efforts were underway to persuade Iran against attacks on Gulf countries Sanaullah said if attacks on Gulf states stopped and those countries also exerted pressure for peace, prospects for an agreement would improve He said a broader strategy was being formulated,
Commenting on Iran and Israel, Sanaullah said Iran had the right to respond to aggression, adding that the same view was expressed by leaders in the meeting He said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Ishaq Dar were striving to ensure Iran s response did not target Muslim and Gulf countries, warning that such escalation would weaken Muslim unity ‘O
: Responding to a question on Operation Ghazab lil-Haq Sanaullah said Pakistan s strategic objectives and planned outcomes had almost been achieved and were now being consolidated He reiterated that Pakistan’s sole demand from the Afghan Taliban was that their soil should not be used for terrorism against Pakistan He said Pakistan sought a buffer zone that could be jointly monitored, adding that repeated refusals by Kabul and continued attacks necessitated the elimination of training centres and checkposts along the border He said Pakistan had no conflict with the Afghan Taliban if they refrained from such actions and recalled that Pakistan
Commenting on the PTI s absence Sanaullah expressed disappointment over what he termed the opposition s isolationist approach He recalled meeting NA Opposition Leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai and PTI Chairman Gohar Ali Khan to invite them to the briefing He said PTI leaders were told that while a meeting with Imran Khan was not possible immediately constructive engagement on national issues could create space for easing tensions He added that Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas had shown a positive attitude but the PTI’s political committee ultimately decided to boycott the meeting
Separately, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar spoke with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty to discuss evolving regional developments according to a Foreign Office statement The two leaders expressed deep concern over the escalating situation and stressed de-escalation, restraint and adherence to international law Reaffirming strong Pakistan-Egypt ties they agreed to maintain close coordination and consultations for regional peace and stability
Worries about the attack
DE F E N C E Minister Kh Asif took to X to express his fear that the escalating IranUSA-Israel conflict could lead to Pakistan being encircled The presence of Israel in Iran, the hostility of the Taliban in Afghanistan combined with the ever-brooding presence of India to the east make such fears valid It should especially be remembered that Israel’s involvement in the attack on Iran has led to India s BJP Modi government being subjected to severe criticism from senior Congress leader Sonia Gandhi, for its betrayal of Iran to curry favour with Israel This combination of Israel and India has been seen before, and is to be guarded against It will be no use looking to the USA, trading on the newly found goodwill of the notoriously unreliable US President Donald Trump The USA has a track record of leaving Pakistan in the lurch, and to the tender mercies of its enemies
One of the more problematic issues is that Pakistan does not have a strategic petroleum reserve This has been brought out starkly by the Iranian blockage of the Straits of Hormuz through which virtually all of Pakistan’s crude oil and diesel imports pass Not only do prices seem virtually certain to rise but there could be actual shortages Not only would there be long lines at petrol pumps, not only would the prices of perishable items rise, but there would be the return of loadshedding on a massive scale There are 25 days of commercial reserves maintained by refineries and imposters However, the government does not maintain a reserve This makes Pakistan vulnerable militarily as well It should not be forgotten that military operations consume vast amounts of fuel Tanks for instance are not particularly fuel efficient nor are fighter jets These are the sufferings Pakistan may suffer but there is a similar tale all across the Global South
It is perhaps too late to develop a strategic reserve in time for this crisis, but the import of crude from the USA should prove something of a relief, even though freight costs are high The present crisis must be resolved as quickly as possible, because the world is suffering while the USA and Israel do not seem to be moving their agenda forward Iran is badly battered, but it is seemingly not suffering further damage because there is nothing more left to damage
Dedicated to the legac y
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
TH E illusion has finally shattered For more than 70 years the world reassured itself with a comforting narrative that power had been tamed, that after the carnage of the 20th century force would submit to law that sovereignty would remain inviolable that human rights would apply across borders and that institutions such as the United Nations would possess the authority to restrain even the most powerful states It was an elegant story about moral progress and collective learning Yet history has a persistent way of intruding upon such fiction exposing how fragile those assurances were when tested against raw geopolitical will The killing of Iran s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei in a US-Israeli strike is more than a geopolitical shock It is a stark signal that the socalled rules-based order has yielded to something more elemental Whatever one’s judgment of his rule, the manner of his removal is decisive A sovereign leader eliminated by external force without declared war without tribunal without universal mandate Strip away the language of deterrence and what remains is unmistakable Power decides This is not new but a pattern Saddam Hussein was captured after an invasion justified by weapons that never materialized and later executed Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed during a NATO backed intervention The Shah of Iran died in exile after geopolitical tides turned Bashar al-Assad has faced years of isolation and indirect war Nicolás Maduro has been openly discussed in regime change terms Entire countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Syria, Lebanon, and now Iran have been invaded, bombed, sanctioned, or fractured in the name of stability In the Gaza Strip devastation continues while civilian deaths across Palestine Iraq Syria Lebanon Libya and Afghanistan have reached staggering levels over two decades Each case carries its own legal argument and strategic explanation, yet the human cost tells a more enduring story Beyond the Western strategic lens, the pattern appears unambiguous: sovereignty is conditional law bends to power and morality is applied selectively
The USA presents its actions as defensive and necessary Israel frames its strikes as existential survival European powers invoke collective security There are real threats in the world, including terror-
ON 2 March a senior Pakistani security official delivered a comprehensive and unambiguous briefing to media representatives outlining the doctrinal operational and strategic contours of Operation Ghazab lil Haq The address articulated Pakistan s calibrated yet resolute posture toward cross-border militancy emanating from Afghan territory and underscored the non-negotiable imperative of verifiable counterterrorism compliance by the Afghan Taliban regime At the heart of the briefing was a stark proposition: The Afghan Taliban must choose between Pakistan and the constellation of terrorist groups operating from their soil Islamabad s position, as articulated, is no longer framed in diplomatic euphemisms but in strategic clarity The continuation or cessation of Pakistan’s operations inside Afghanistan hinges exclusively on tangible verifiable assurances that Kabul will cease the facilitation harbouring and logistical enablement of entities such as Fitna al Khawarij and Fitna al Hindustan groups responsible for orchestrating terror attacks against Pakistani civilians, security personnel, mosques, and children
The official emphasized that Pakistan is “in no hurry This phrase repeated with deliberation signals a long-haul strategic commitment rather than a short-term punitive expedition The duration of Operation Ghazab lil Haq is conditional, not chronological It depends entirely on ground actions undertaken by the Afghan Taliban regime In essence the burden of de-escalation lies in Kabul’s court
A particularly forceful element of the briefing was the characterization of the Afghan Taliban regime as a proxy master harbouring multiple terrorist outfits with the explicit objective of destabilizing regional peace The official accused the regime of sustaining itself through a war economy cloaked in a perverted religious ideology According to this assessment the leadership s operative creed is not faith but financial opportunism leveraging militancy and instability as instruments of revenue and influence
Despite the gravity of the situation, Pakistan has sought to maintain transparency The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting the official noted has been consistently disseminating updates regarding the progress and scope of Operation Ghazab lil Haq This openness is intended to counter misinformation and reinforce public confidence in the state s counterterrorism doctrine Operationally Pakistan maintains that its actions are precise intelligence-driven and legally grounded in the right of self-defence under international law The targets are not random or indiscriminate; they are specific sanctuaries infrastructure nodes, and facilitation networks
used as launch pads for terrorist incursions into Pakistan To date more than 180 posts have been destroyed and over 30 captured those deemed to hold tactical relevance Each of these installations, according to the briefing, functioned as conduits for cross-border terrorism
The official also issued a cautionary note regarding information warfare Afghan Taliban official accounts alongside what were described as their Indian masters have allegedly engaged in concocted propaganda and disinformation campaigns The media and public were urged to rigorously fact-check claims emanating from these sources, whose credibility was categorically dismissed This dimension underscores the hybrid nature of the conflict wherein kinetic operations are paralleled by narrative battles in the digital domain
Importantly, the briefing differentiated between the Afghan regime and the Afghan people Pakistan, it was stressed, harbours no animus toward Afghan civilians On the contrary the operations have reportedly received a positive response from oppressed Afghan communities and minorities who view the targeting of militant strongholds as a challenge to entrenched warlords Islamabad has no interest in regime change in Afghanistan; that prerogative belongs exclusively to the Afghan populace The objective is counterterrorism not political engineering
The official s remarks also addressed domestic dimensions of security governance The Pakistan Army s involvement in internal security, he asserted, is not by design but by default Governance gaps, incomplete implementation of the National Action Plan (NAP) and the politicization of civilian institutions have necessitated military intervention in domains ideally managed by civilian authorities The appeal to political parties and governments was unequivocal: improve governance, depoliticize security institutions, and implement NAP in totality The military, he maintained, has no interest in politics and seeks only the restoration of functional institutional equilibrium Strategically Operation Ghazab lil Haq is
ism proliferation militias and repression Not every intervention is cynical But international order rests on consistency and consistency has eroded When some occupations are labelled illegal and others redefined as security operations, when certain civilian deaths are condemned as atrocities and others dismissed as collateral damage, the claim of universality weakens Law begins to look less like a shield for the weak and more like an instrument shaped by the strong Realism has long warned that the global system runs on power balances rather than ideals Institutions restrain states only when powerful states accept restraint or when rival powers impose it Without counterweight, morality becomes optional, and the cost of that erosion is profound At that point the language of a rules based order loses meaning What remains is managed anarchy a system in which dominance replaces consensus and fear does the work that law once claimed to do Advocates of hard power argue that deterrence demands visible resolve, that
The real question is whether those who wield power can restrain themselves, whether they understand that unchecked force erodes legitimacy, and that legitimacy is the only enduring currency of authority. If they cannot, then what we witness is not the defence of order.
framed as a defensive war imposed upon Pak-
istan The narrative positions the state as a victim of externally facilitated terrorism compelled to act to safeguard its sovereignty and citizens The destruction of terrorist infrastructure across the border is thus portrayed as a legitimate extension of self-defence, calibrated to neutralize imminent threats rather than to project expansionist ambitions
The declaration that it s time for the terror supporters and abettors to bleed and suffer encapsulates the hardened tone of the current phase It reflects accumulated frustration over unfulfilled commitments and escalating attacks attributed to sanctuaries in Afghanistan Yet, even within this stern rhetoric the conditionality remains clear: verifiable cessation of facilitation will bring operations to an end
In geopolitical terms the briefing signals a recalibration of Pakistan-Afghanistan relations from uneasy coexistence to conditional engagement Counterterrorism compliance has become the litmus test of bilateral interaction
The strategic patience professed by Islamabad suggests preparedness for protracted engagement should compliance not materialize For policymakers and analysts, the implications are manifold The operational metrics 180 posts destroyed, 30 captured indicate a sustained campaign rather than symbolic strikes The emphasis on transparency and fact-checking reflects awareness of the reputational stakes in an era of instantaneous global scrutiny The invocation of governance reform and NAP implementation signals recognition that external operations must be complemented by internal resilience
Ultimately Operation Ghazab lil Haq represents more than a military campaign; it is a doctrinal assertion that Pakistan will not tolerate cross-border sanctuaries that imperil its citizens The senior official s briefing crystallized this resolve with clarity and candour
The pathway to de-escalation is neither obscure nor unattainable: verifiable action against terrorist facilitation Until then Pakistan s strategic patience appears matched by operational persistence
The writer is a freelance columnist
Ultimately, Operation Ghazab lil Haq represents more than a militar y campaign; it is a doctrinal asser tion that Pakistan will not tolerate cross-border sanctuaries that imperil its citiz ens The senior officialÊs briefing cr ystalliz ed this resolve with clarity and candour The pathway to de-escalation is neither obscure nor unattainable: verifiable action against terrorist facilitation. Until then, PakistanÊs strategic patience appears matched by operational persistence
Balochistan demands peace
media and religious leaders have a role in reinforcing this collective stance
The state must take firm and decisive action against violent nonstate actors who challenge the writ of the state through armed violence and intimidation Dialogue cannot replace lawenforcement when weapons are used against civilians A clear distinction must be made between peaceful political dissent, which is a democratic right, and terrorism, which is a crime The state s response should be lawful intelligence-driven and sustained ensuring that perpetrators, facilitators and financiers of terrorism are identified and held accountable
However, firmness alone is not enough Lasting peace in Balochistan requires keen listening to voices from
Dr Zafar Khan SafDar
Ground realities
acquire Balochistan’s rare earth and critical elements fueled by a perceived phase of exceptionally warm Pakistan-US relations
AThis was followed by the US announcement of $1 25 billion in financing for mineral mining to boost Balochistan s economy
The EXIM Bank s funding would facilitate up to $2 billion worth of high-quality US mining equipment and services essential for constructing and running the Reko Diq mine This venture is expected to generate roughly 6 000 jobs within the USA and 7,500 positions in Balochistan
Simultaneously, various news reports captured global interest by suggesting Chinese firms are actively striving to acquire additional mining resources in Balochistan
The atmosphere became more charged with a quickly spreading rumour that foreign companies were secretly using advanced Chinese excavation machinery at local mining sites without authorization Shortly thereafter, China’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Liu Bin held a meeting with a delegation from Pakistan s Balochistan province The discussion touched upon the persistent threat to Chinese nationals from banned separatist militant organizations such as the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) These groups believe Beijing is assisting Pakistan in exploiting the resources of the underdeveloped province which hosts China s strategically important port and mining ventures
Unverified reports circulated that Beijing frustrated by repeated assaults on its citizens, has been urging Pakistan to permit the use of its own security personnel for protecting the thousands of Chinese workers stationed there Amidst this heightened attention the Balochistan mines and minerals sector received further recognition when the provincial Department of Industries and Commerce designated it as an official industry last December
If
considering For instance a few weeks prior certain international developments created a temporary surge of enthusiasm, fostering a misleading impression that the mineral wealth was primed for immediate extraction It was grossly overstated that the U S government had completed all arrangements to
The sector’s prominence grew even more with the Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum 2025 held in Islamabad This two-day conference attracted over 2000 participants including 300 international attendees from the USA, China, Saudi Arabia, the UK, and other nations During the forum, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif voiced confidence suggesting that Pakistan’s extensive mineral resources could enable the nation to reduce its reliance on the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Following this, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik extended a formal invitation to international investors for the next Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum, scheduled for April 2026
Discussions in various governmental meetings highlighted the perception that due to Pakistan s enormous potential global interest is mounting, with the world seemingly eager to partner with Pakistan to secure its minerals
Let’s examine the complete picture in a more accurate and comprehensive light As the saying goes there’s many a slip ‘twixt the cup and the lip and the matter of Balochistan s mining sector involves numerous unpredictable developments and fluctuations
Among the most critical challenges, the security environment is particularly hazardous and unpredictable Networks of separatist insurgents have a strong foothold in areas abundant with mineral deposits Despite a military presence multiple terrorist attacks have resulted in tragic loss of life Furthermore, local miners are often compelled to pay protection money to these separatist groups to ensure the safe passage of their transported materials
Another significant issue is the enactment of disputed legal frameworks The process of creating new legislation sparked conflict between the government, opposition factions, and other interested parties within Balochistan This political struggle has severely hampered advancement in the province’s mining industry
Last year the Balochistan government enacted the Mines and Mineral Act 2025
While all parliamentary groups initially supported the Act, opposition parties including the BNP, JI, JUI(F), and Pashtunkhawa Milli Awami Party later retracted their
between federal and provincial par ticipants
support arguing it infringed upon provincial autonomy and the fundamental entitlements of the Baloch people Specifically the Pakhtunkhawa Awami Milli Party declared its firm opposition to any federal involvement outlined in the new Act “The rightful portion of mineral owners must be safeguarded and enhanced at all costs ” the party insisted The Pakhtunkhawa Awami Milli Party leader revealed his belief that Balochistan s resources have historically been extracted against the wishes of its inhabitants He described this new law as a continuation of past federal policies He called for an entirely new legislative framework explicitly rejecting the current Mines and Mineral Act 2025 even with proposed amendments from CM Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti and the All Pakistan Mine Owner Association (APMOA)
The discord extends beyond the political arena and has moved into the legal domain
Apart from the BNP (Mengal) seven legal petitions have been submitted to the court contesting the Balochistan Mines and Mineral Act 2025
Meanwhile BNP(M) leaders alleged that provincial legislators who supported the Act were misinformed about its technical details They claimed the bill presented to them differed from the version ultimately passed by the Balochistan Assembly They further criticized the new Act for sidelining smaller local miners pointing to the drastic increase in mining lease fees from Rs 500,000 to Rs 10 million They argued that other provisions within the Act are structured to benefit only wealthy corporations or international firms
They stated that the opposition parties are unanimously against the current Act and are urging the government to develop fresh legislation through inclusive consultation with all affected parties
Certain political figures have voiced concerns, emphasizing that the rights of indigenous miners must be the foremost priority ensuring the matter isn t mishandled
This they suggest requires sensible action from both the federal and provincial administrations We worry that the mining sector could become a battleground for commercial rivalry between the USA and China Following China’s restrictions on critical mineral exports to the U S last year the USA is actively seeking partnerships with mineral-rich regions they commented Observing the situation closely, All Pakistan Mine Owners Association (APMOA) Secretary General Fateh Shah Arif shared his considered perspective He stated that Balochistan urgently requires modern regulations to replace outdated colonial-era laws specifically mentioning the 1923 Act and the Mineral Rules of 2002 When the provincial government introduced the new Mines and Minerals Act 2025, Arif noted that it faced sharp criticism for failing to incorporate essential input from stakeholders and for bypassing proper leg-
islative procedures Additional deficiencies identified in the Act include the ambiguous role assigned to the Federal Mineral Wing, which is perceived by some as a violation of the 18th Amendment
Stakeholders also objected to the establishment of the Mineral Investment Facilitation Authority citing the unclear representation of their interests This sparked anxieties
Recommendations
and dozens of other military and political leaders were wiped out From the first moments it became clear that this war was about regime change, not about Iran s uranium enrichment or its missiles Regime change was the very thing that Trump and the entire Maga movement campaigned against both before he was elected president for the second time and afterwards As a presidential candidate at a speech in Derry New Hampshire in 2023 Trump vowed: We will demolish the deep state We will expel the warmongers, those horrible warmongers, from our government - those stupid, stupid people They love seeing people die We will drive out the globalists ” Now that he has started a major war in the Gulf he is hard put to explain why He has cited Iran s nuclear programme ballistic missiles help for the protesters and regime change On Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio added a fifth reason, claiming that the US attack was pre-emptive The US attacked because it knew Israel was poised to attack, and if that happened, the US would bear the brunt of the retaliation Was Rubio thus admitting that his commander in chief was led by the nose by Israel into a full-blown Gulf war? Trump sought to dispel the notion on Tuesday telling reporters at the White House that if anything, I might have forced Israel s hand Regardless, Netanyahu has been much more consistent about his desire to deal Iran, which he has called Amalek a crippling blow
DISMANTLING IRAN: In his speech on Saturday Netanyahu was clear about Israel s strategy He pointedly addressed Iranians by their ethnicities, not their nationality: Persians, Kurds, Azeris, Balochs, Ahwazis, and all other citizens of this wonderful nation” The bombs that had already fallen by then spoke to the same strategy They targeted all currents of the Iranian political elite - reformists leftists past presidents as well as the principlists Neither Netanyahu s words nor his actions were aimed at building a new elite that could take over after the fall of the Islamic Republic Both were intended to permanently disable Iran by turning it into a weak confederation of ethnic cantons, just as Israel has tried, and so far failed to do in Syria “Take your destiny into your own hands Netanyahu said Hold your head high look to the skies; our forces are there the pilots of the free world
list There has been no postwar planning Minimal thought has been given to what sort of regime could replace the Islamic Republic if it falls, and what real popularity or following any Iranian political figure or movement in the diaspora has inside the country itself The destruction of Iran as a regional power is part of a bigger plan that would accommodate and sustain two words increasingly on the lips of Israeli leaders of all political shades: Greater Israel
ALLIANCE WITH INDIA: It is no coincidence that in the immediate run-up to this attack the US ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said to Tucker Carlson that it would be fine if Israel took all the land from the Nile to the Euphrates It is also no coincidence that shortly before launching this war, Netanyahu rolled out the red carpet for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
My colleague and author of Hostile Homelands, Azad Essa, says that Delhi has emerged as Israel’s strongest nonwestern ally “There is strategic cooperation and ideological convergence between the two which actually strengthened during the course of [the Gaza] genocide Essa said noting that on his recent visit Modi promised to allow 50,000 more Indian citizens to work in Israel in the coming years India would bring a combination of economic scale, market access, labour, and technological expertise to such an alliance In many ways it already has ” he added India is already co-producing weapons with Israel meaning that it is being primed to become a factory for Israel India will therefore back up Israeli shortfalls and become a form of labour replacement for Palestinians Trump s second term has already gifted Israel a prize of much higher value than the US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel or the annexation of the Golan Heights the gifts of his first term Trump has now gifted Israel Washington s blessing to expand its borders to any land it can control whether in Lebanon
Syria Iraq or Egypt This is the dream that Zionists of many hues have harboured for decades: that Israel will one day run from the Nile to the Euphrates
NEW REALITY: Iran as a regional power is the last and only obstacle to Netanyahu realising his dream of expanding Israel s borders and establishing a new international alliance - his so-called hexagon of states - with India as its eastern wing, and Somaliland as its southern tip
This alliance would underpin Israel s position as the regional military hegemon, with air bases all over the region The major Arab states whose support for Israel will never happen without a Palestinian state would be forced to accept a new reality: a diminution of their territory and sovereignty as in Syria today and Lebanon tomorrow
With support from India in place Israel would become less dependent on its umbilical cord of funding, arms and political support from Washington The future of this relationship is in any event far from guaranteed, if US opinion polls are any guide Israel knows that the Gaza genocide has destroyed its image as a noble project in the West The war against Iran is its insurance policy
FATAL MISTAKE: Iran s predicament goes all the way back to how it reacted to the events of 7 October 2023
Iran and Hezbollah’s immediate reaction was to reject the Qassam Brigades’ pleas to infiltrate Israel from the north and start a simultaneous second front October 7
was conceived not as a limited campaign to strike an army base in the south, but as the start of a war of liberation When both Hezbollah and Iran initially refused to get involved each allowed themselves to be picked off one by one by Israel Iran made the fatal mistake of listening to the messaging it and Hezbollah were getting from the Biden administration It took time for him to react, but when he did, the late Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah called the 7 October attacks by Hamas a “100 percent Palestinian operation” noting that neither his organisation nor Iran was aware of what was coming: It has no relation to any regional or international issues By the time he spoke, Hezbollah had already lost 57 men in border exchanges, so it was not doing nothing
But it allowed itself to be gradually sucked into a war of Israel’s timing Thus Hamas, Hezbollah and now Iran have all been picked off in turn None of them acted in conjunction with each other
Belatedly Iran has learned these lessons It is now waging a different campaign to the one it fought during 12 days last June Then, it concentrated all of its firepower in salvos of rockets towards Israel Today, Iran s main targets are the US and its allies in the Gulf
As the Iranian commentator Trita Parsi posted on X (formerly Twitter): “Tehran has concluded that Israel’s pain tolerance is very high - as long as the US stays in the war So the focus shifts to the US Iran understands that many in the American security establishment had been convinced that Iran s past restraint reflected
Utilizing Balochistan’s mineral wealth wisely
Yasir Habib KHan
EU BACKS SPAIN AFTER TRUMP THREATENS TO CUT TRADE OVER IRAN DISPUTE
Pakistan, China to Launch Talks to Expand
Clinton Testifies Trump Spoke of 'Great Times With Epstein' Before Fallout
Iran Criticizes US Attack During Negotiations, Denies Seeking Talks
public on Monday, revealed that Clinton recounted an encounter with Trump at a golf tournament in either 2002 or 2003 after Clinton had left office and well before Trump became president Somehow he knew I had flown in Jeffrey Epstein s aircraft," Clinton told the committee He added, "He said, ‘You know, we had some great times together over the years but we fell out all be-
cause of a real estate deal Details of Trump and Epstein's Relationship According to Clinton's testimony Trump indicated that his relationship with Epstein ended due to a disagreement over a real estate transaction Reports also note that Trump has previously stated their falling out was related to Epstein hiring young women who worked at the Mar-a-Lago club Clinton, during his deposition, also addressed questions about his own interactions with Epstein He stated that he never visited Epstein s island and claimed he was unaware of Epstein
L AHAR PUSH GAINS PACE AS
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari on Wednesday said that the distribution of the Punjab government s Ramazan
citizens, demonstrating the government’s prompt and effective response mechanism The Provincial Information Minister emphasized that development initiatives are underway across every corner of Punjab without discrimination and the journey of progress is no longer limited to Lahore She noted that the same standard
Pakistan sets up first Quran recycling plant to preser ve sacred pages
ISLAMABAD
Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sardar Muhammad Yousaf has directed authorities to make operational Pakistan s first stateof-the-art Quran recycling plant established in Islamabad to ensure the respectful disposal and preservation of worn-out sacred pages During a visit to the facility, the minister said the project aims to safely manage and recycle damaged or worn copies of the Holy Quran and other sacred pages in accordance with Islamic principles Sardar Yousaf said there had long been a shortage of appropriate facilities for the storage and respectful handling of worn-out or damaged sacred texts across the country, which sometimes raised concerns about possible desecration “The establishment of this plant was an important need of the time,” he said, adding that formal religious rulings had been obtained from leading scholars before launching the project to ensure that the entire recycling process complies with Sharia requirements The minister said sacred pages and worn-out copies of the Quran from across Pakistan would be brought to the facility, where modern scientific methods would be used to recycle the paper while preserving the sanctity of the text He described the initiative as the first major governmentrun project of its kind under the Ministry of Religious Affairs and said it would soon become fully operational Director General of Research and Reference at the ministry, Hafiz Abdul Quddus, said the project had been developed after extensive consultations with provincial Auqaf departments, Quran boards and the Council of Islamic Ideology
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Ahsan lauds long-term commitment of Chinese enterprise in Pakistan’s development
Federal Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Wednesday visited the newly established Regional Headquarters of China Energy Engineering Corporation (CEEC) Pakistan, accompanied by senior officials from the Ministry of Planning
The minister was received by CEEC’s Managing Director Wang Hui Hua Senior Advisor Dr Hassan Daud Butt and other senior representatives of CEEC
The visit coincided with celebrations of the Chinese Spring Festival, the Lantern Festival During the briefing, the Managing Director highlighted CEEC’s leading role in advancing the China–Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) including the development of the Suki Kinari Hydropower Project and continued work on the Azad Pattan Hydropower Project
He noted that CEEC has undertaken a significant share of CPEC power generation projects, contributing meaningfully to Pakistan s energy security and sustainable economic growth Wang emphasized that CEEC’s Pakistan Headquarters a fully invested and constructed by the company reflects its confidence in Pakistan s future and affirmed long-term commitment to local partnership and development
Ahsan Iqbal appreciated CEEC s sustained investment and strategic contributions, stating that the company’s presence demonstrates the depth of Pakistan–China friendship as both countries mark 75
years of diplomatic relations and 13 years of CPEC cooperation He commended Chinese support for Pakistan’s transition toward green and sustainable energy and reviewed the progress of ongoing hydro-power projects under CEEC
He informed that Pakistan is actively developing dynamic, multi-pronged strategies, including new policy instruments and structural reforms, aimed at fostering sustainable economic growth and ensuring win-win cooperation with our Chinese partners The government under its URAAN Pakistan program has set clear targets for economic development where energy sector growth is a key pillar
The visit concluded with the formal inauguration of CEEC Pakistan s Regional office, reaffirming the shared resolve to strengthen bilateral cooperation and advance Pakistan’s long-term development goals
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has announced the arrest of a suspect accused of committing a credit card fraud amounting to Rs9 6 million in Lahore According to sources the FIA's Commercial Banking Circle in Lahore detained the individual identified as Atiqur Rehman in the Cantonment area on Tuesday Officials stated that the suspect exploited a technical fault in the
system of a private bank to carry out repeated unauthorized transactions using a credit card The FIA reported that a case has been registered against Atiqur Rehman in connection with the alleged financial fraud In a separate development, a ceremony took place at the FIA Lahore Zone to honor the agency s martyrs During the event, participants paid tribute to the sacrifices made by the martyrs and special prayers were offered for their departed souls As part of a welfare
support initiative, motorcycles were distributed among the families of the martyrs FIA Lahore Director Captain Muhammad Ali Zia addressed the gathering emphasizing the agency s ongoing commitment to supporting the families of its martyrs He stated, "The FIA will continue to provide full support and patronage to the families of martyrs " The FIA has reiterated its resolve to pursue cases of financial crime and to uphold the welfare of its personnel and their families
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The chief minister stressed that digital monitoring of anti-social elements was essential and could not be relaxed She said that for the first time in Pakistan s history, a respectable monthly honorarium had been fixed for 74 000 mosque imams She observed that full compliance with the ban on unsafe bike practices during Basant reflected public respect for the law
