Epaper_26-03-20 KHI

PAKISTAN, 11 ISL AMIC COUNTRIES URGE IRAN TO HALT ATTACKS, CALL FOR SWIFT MIDDLE

MINISTERS STRESSES DIPLOMACY, DE-ESCALATION

g JOINTS STATEMENT CITES UN RESOLUTION 2817, DEMANDING HALT TO PROVOCATIVE ACTS AND MILITIA SUPPORT

g C O M M I

EAST PEACE

g AFFIRMS ‘RIGHT OF STATES’ TO DEFEND THEMSELVES IN ACCORDANCE WITH ARTICLE 51 OF UN CHARTER, UNDERLINING MARITIME SECURITY OF STRAIT OF HORMUZ AND BAB AL-MANDAB

urges ‘swift end’ to Middle East conflict, calls for ‘unity of Muslim Ummah’

and

on

as well as

Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Thursday underscored the importance of preserving the unity of the Muslim Ummah and called for a swift end to the ongoing conflict in the region, reaffirming Pakistan s commitment to dialogue, diplomacy, and readiness to support de-escalation,” according to the Foreign Office (FO)

Addressing the consultative ministerial meeting of foreign ministers from Arab and Islamic countries in Riyadh Deputy Prime Minister Dar reiterated Pakistan s full support for the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and political independence of all brotherly nations” in the region He emphasised the urgent need to halt all attacks on their territories said a statement issued by the Foreign Office (FO)

Dar highlighted the importance of addressing the root causes of the ongoing crisis affecting the wider region and condemned, in the strongest terms, Israel’s continued aggression and provocations against regional countries

He also strongly denounced attacks on

s ta f f r e p o r t

awarded, the prime minister termed the acquisition of 5G spectrum a "milestone" for Pakistan in terms of industry, agriculture and technology PM Shehbaz emphasised that the entire programme had been conducted very transparently He noted that legal challenges had posed the largest obstacle to the auction process as had been the case in the past In this regard, the premier thanked Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar for making the "utmost effort to end these legal challenges" and for ensuring full transparency in the process Significance of the 5G rollout The successful auction and licence distribution mark a significant step in Pakistan s journey towards deploying next-generation 5G telecommunications services The three major telecom companies that secured spectrum in the auction are now positioned to begin rolling out 5G infrastructure across the country The $507 million generated from the sale of 480MHz of spectrum represents a substantial financial outcome for the government while the competitive bidding among the three operators for the

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday held a telephone call with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan during which they exchanged views on the ongoing situation in Afghanistan and underscored Turkiye s constructive role in promoting peace efforts between Pakistan and Afghanistan, according to state media

In a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) the call focused on regional stability and the recently announced temporary ceasefire over the Eid days

The prime minister acknowledged Turkiye s constructive role in promoting peace efforts between Pakistan and Afghanistan especially in the recently announced temporary ceasefire during Eid ” the statement said

The development comes a day after Pakistan decided on a temporary pause in Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq against the Afghan Taliban on the occasion of

Fitr at the request of brotherly Islamic countries including Turkiye

During the conversation, PM Shehbaz reiterated his strong condemnation of the ongoing escalation in the region, particularly the missile attacks on Turkiye

“The entire Pakistani nation stands in solidarity with their Turkish brothers and sisters in these challenging times the prime minister was quoted as saying

Both leaders urged the international community, particularly regional actors, to resolve their differences through dialogue and diplomacy

PM Shehbaz also recalled Erdogan s visit to Pakistan in February 2025 as well as his own visits to Turkiye in April and May 2025 He highlighted that both brotherly countries are working closely to strengthen bilateral ties across all spheres of mutual interest

The statement added that both leaders agreed to maintain close engagement to

promote peace prosperity and economic growth both bilaterally and regionally The prime minister also conveyed Eidul Fitr greetings to President Erdogan, his family, and the people of Turkiye

NTC ex tends up to 19.04% anti- dumping duty on Chinese steel, covers modified produc ts

ators, washing machines and ovens

The National Tariff Commission (NTC) has extended anti-dumping duties of up to 19 04% on imports of coldrolled (CR) coils and sheets from China expanding the scope to include modified products The move follows an anti-circumvention investigation that found exporters were altering product specifications to bypass existing duties, according to a news report

The original duties ranging from 13 17% to 19 04% were imposed in 2016 and extended in 2021 after a sunset review

Domestic manufacturers filed a complaint in May 2025 alleging that Chinese exporters were exporting products with widths exceeding 1 250mm to avoid duties

The Commission investigated imports of flat-rolled steel products within the same thickness range but with wider dimensions and concluded that circumvention had taken place

Based on these findings the duty has now been extended to CR coils and sheets exceeding 1,250mm in width to prevent further evasion

The products are used in sectors including automotive manufacturing and household appliances such as refriger-

The revised duty will apply from the date of notification and remain in effect subject to the outcome of an ongoing sunset review

However, certain products, including Tin Mill Black Plate and specific auto-grade materials for vehicle outer skins have been exempted

The duty will also not apply to imports used in export-oriented production or foreign-funded projects that are exempt from customs duties

Officials said the anti-dumping duty will be collected in addition to existing taxes and deposited in the Commission’s designated account

Global oil rally inflates Pakistan’s landed fuel impor t costs, complic ates bank financing g FM DIRECTS AUTHORITIES TO ENGAGE WITH SBP TO EXPLORE FACILITATION MEASURES, INCLUDING TEMPORARY ENHANCEMENTS IN LCS AND CONSORTIUM-BASED FINANCING

cost of imports, leading to larger transaction sizes and pressure on existing financing arrangements Officials said the increase in import costs has expanded the size of Letters of Credit (LCs) creating operational challenges for importers and banks, The News reported The Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb directed authorities to engage with

The committee, which met under the finance minister as part of ongoing monitoring of the energy sector was informed that domestic fuel supply remains stable despite volatility in international markets Diesel stocks currently provide around 24 days of cover, while petrol availability remains stable, supported by imports and refinery operations Officials said one

needs

global oil markets remain tight, with higher benchmark prices and cargo premiums linked to regional developments Members also reviewed domestic

demand trends and noted increased offtake in recent weeks, directing authorities to monitor the situation to prevent hoarding and ensure smooth distribution Provincial administrations and regulators have been asked to strengthen oversight, including inspections where necessary Ahead of Eid and the harvesting season, the committee reviewed supply arrangements and said oil marketing companies will maintain operations to meet demand with no disruption expected The meeting also reviewed efforts to improve monitoring through a digital dashboard for real-time tracking of stocks and supply conditions Officials said discussions with international suppliers are ongoing to diversify sources and strengthen supply security in the coming weeks The government reiterated its focus on maintaining uninterrupted fuel availability while managing the impact of global price volatility

OIL RISES 3% AFTER IRAN STRIKES MIDDLE EAST ENERGY FACILITIES

Pakistan, 11 Islamic countries urge Iran to halt attacks, c all for swif t Middle East peace

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operations

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Tel Aviv with missiles carrying cluster warheads, describing the attacks as retaliation for Israel s assassination of Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani ” The Islamic and Arab foreign ministers called on Iran to immediately halt its attacks and emphasised the necessity of respecting international law humanitarian law and principles of good neighbourliness as a first step toward de-escalation, regional security, and the promotion of diplomacy The statement highlighted that future relations with Iran will depend on respect for the sovereignty of states non-interference in their internal affairs and refraining from threatening or using military capabilities against neighbouring countries Ministers also urged Iran to comply with UN Security Council Resolution 2817 (2026) which demands an immediate cessation of provocative acts an end to support or arming of affiliated militias in Arab countries, and refraining from any actions that obstruct international naviga-

tion in the Strait of

expanding the

Key infrastructure

Gulf countries including airports ports hotels and oil and military facilities has been affected while disruptions in oil and gas shipments through the Strait of Hormuz a route carrying roughly one-fifth of global petroleum and LNG have heightened economic concerns

The joint declaration also reaffirmed support for the security, stability, and territorial integrity of Lebanon,” including enforcing state sovereignty over all territories and supporting the Lebanese government s decision to limit weapons to the state The ministers condemned Israel s aggression against Lebanon and its expansionist policy in the region

The statement concluded by pledging ongoing consultation and coordination among member states ensuring common positions and the adoption of necessary legitimate measures to protect

Earlier, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Riyadh on Wednesday to participate in the Consultative Ministerial Meeting He is set to advocate for a swift end to the ongoing conflict, the Foreign Office (FO) said According to the FO, FM Dar was received by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Ahmed Farooq, along with senior representatives of the Saudi Foreign Ministry

The Middle East conflict began on February 28 with US-Israeli strikes on Iran, prompting Iranian retaliation against US assets and Gulf bases The FO described Pakistan’s role as a “bridge builder ” promoting dialogue and regional stability Invited by Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud Dar will attend the meeting alongside regional foreign ministers from March 18–19

During the sessions, he will express Pakistan’s full support for the territorial integrity sovereignty and political independence of brotherly nations and call for an immediate cessation of attacks

PM, Turkiye President discuss Afghanistan, exchange Eid greetings in phone call

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Later, in a post on his X account, PM Shehbaz wrote about the call: “During our most cordial exchange we discussed the rapidly evolving situation in the Middle East I strongly condemned the attacks on our brotherly country Turkiye as well as other brotherly countries in the region I reaffirmed Pak-

istan s steadfast solidarity with Turkiye and other brotherly Gulf countries and conveyed our readiness to support efforts aimed at de-escalation and dialogue We also exchanged views on the situation in Afghanistan, and I acknowledged Turkiye’s constructive role in supporting peace efforts between Pakistan and Afghanistan, particularly its

The next level Israel’s attack on Iran’s gas field raises spec tre of war reaching oil facilities in entire theatre

TH E pattern has now become unmistakable Israel is the junior partner in the USA s war with Iran, and it is using its targetting to ensure that the war continues It started leading the assassination campaign which started the war the most prominent victim being Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, and then the air strikes which killed Basij commander Brig Gen Gholamreza Soleimani and National Security Adviser Ali Larijani, with intelligence chief Esmail Khatib the latest victim Not only was Iran being deprived of its leadership it was being deprived of the figures most likely to lead negotiations successfully The USA has apparently been left to engage more military targets, such as missile launchers As if to ensure that surviving leaders had no thought of dialling down the conflict it struck at the South Paras/North Dome gas field, marking a dangerous escalation inn the conflict While the loss of production from the field will have negative consequences for Iran they will not be immediate More immediately will come the desire to retaliate Iran has expressed the desire to do so If it follows its policy of targeting those countries which have US bases from which attacks are launched, it can cause a wealth of damage which it will take generations to repair Those states now have to balance the utility of US bases, with the consequences of continuing to host them on their primary source of income It is equally possible that they will not have any choice left in the matter, for the USA is likely to want to keep some bases by force The rest of the world was anxious enough at the closure of the Hormuz Strait and its worries about the rise in oil prices will increase manifold with the prospect of a permanent destruction of productive capacity It is thus probably appropriate for Pakistan to offer mediation as it has after a lot of more discreet contacts at various levels with Muslim countries It is noe time for Pakistan to combine with other Muslim states with ties to the USA, such as Egypt and Turkey, to use whatever good offices they have with the USA to oblige it to stop the war It should be clear that Iran took no agressive action, and thus it is up to the USA to stop fighting, which would end the conflict that threatens the prosperity of the entire world

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

Battling over the Strait

RARELY has the economic cost of a conflict been so prominent during the conflict itself, as during the Iran-USA-Israel conflict That is because of oil It not just reflects the fact that conflict has turned the world’s major oil-producing area into a war zone but also how crucial oil is to the world economy The impact of the conflict is global, because all oil exporters will be affected in one way, and importers in another The world, it turns out, depends on oil from the Persian Gulf, and in turn that depends on the Hormuz Strait The Strait has not been closed as such That would mean making it unnavigable by sinking vessels or by laying mines Iran has done none of the former and some of the latter making it thus possible to end the blockade immediately, and to impose it again simply by a statement As Iran depends on missiles and drones to enforce the blockade, it makes convoy escorts virtually useless Convoys in World War II were possible to the allies moving materiel from the USA to the UK or the USSR because the main weapon used against shipping were torpedoes fired by submarines Providing escorts of anti-submarine destroyers was thus viable While it is a truism that submarines themselves are the best anti-submarine weapon, a destroyer can be quite useful too Since World War II destroyers have developed increasing anti-submarine capabilities

Unfortunately for The US Navy Iran is not relying so far on its submarines of which it has at least four, and as many as six, either ex-Soviet Navy Kiloclass vessels, or locally built boats based on the Kiloclass So far, Iran has used missiles and drones In fact, its claim of having chased the USS Abraham Lincoln from the operating area is based on the success of a drone assault which is said to have caused sufficient damage for it to be removed from the scene Incidentally, aircraft carriers are escorted by a number of destroyers as escorts (four in the Lincoln s case), which are deployed in an anti-submarine role, while they themselves have formidable anti-submarine capabilities The US Navy in particular is unlikely to forget that in World War II no less than 18 carriers on both the US and Japanese sides were lost to submarines

Incidentally the Lincoln incident illustrates one of the downsides of deploying aircraft carriers, even if one is to accept the US version, in which the ship was not damaged If hit or (horror of horrors!) sunk, they provide a huge propaganda victory to the other side They absorb a large share of anti-submarine and anti-missile defences The use of drones means that both carriers and their escorts must have adequate air defences as well However, as World War II demonstrated, cargo ships, which are essentially defenceless, are also vulnerable to bombing During it, Germany was limited in air attacks on convoys by the range of its air force and there was a large part of the Atlantic where ships only faced the submarine threat However the whole of

the Hormuz Strait is within range for Iranian missiles and drones Therefore escorts would not only have themselves to defend against air attack but also the ships they are escorting and that too constantly Convoy escort is all the US Navy can do to keep the Strait open at this point, but it is also wary of doing so, because it does not want to expose its vessels Somewhere someone may also have an environmental concern: convoys under escort will inevitably suffer some losses but in this case it will not just be the ship that will be lost but the cargo will become an oil spill With Very Large Crude Carriers containing as much as two million barrels of crude oil, the Strait could become very messy indeed Apart from France and the UK, US President Donald Trump mentioned China, South Korea and Japan on a Truth Social post as likely to provide ships for escort duty It may be noted that the last two are entirely dependent on Middle East oil while China needs it as well as its own oil production is inadequate for its needs

One of the less stressed aspects of the Strait closure is the effect on the world s agriculture, because apart from oil, a large part of world fertilizer produc-

in December 2025 which for the first time allowed the private sector to participate in the country s nuclear energy sector India s credibility is already weakened by the lack of independent oversight in its nuclear governance, as New Delhi’s primary regulatory body Atomic Energy Regulatory Board is not independent It is under the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE) India has not made any progress in this regard despite the IAEA repeatedly recommending that it establish an independent implementing authority to manage nuclear safety and security Any action that increases India s weapons potential and proliferation risks cannot be separated from its ramifications for regional security at a time when the deterrence dynamics between India and Pakistan are still precarious and tensions between China and India have escalated as India desires to counter China, perceiving its increasing influence in the Indian Ocean India also maintains an active cycle of producing fissile materials has never signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty or Non-Proliferation Treaty and continues to obstruct Fissile Materia; Cut-Off Treaty talks In addition to threatening South Asian stability such agreements would jeopardise international efforts to revitalize arms-control accords at a time when nuclear politics are being reshaped by greatpower rivalry It is more challenging to implement export limits as India extends its participation in international nuclear markets while remaining a Non-NPT state Ironically, after 34 years, the USA paved the way for a special exemption to India, a nonNPT state, for the Nuclear Supplier Group in

2008 which was formed in response to the diversion of peaceful nuclear technology into nuclear weapons by India In accordance with NSG norms member states are not allowed to supply uranium to non-NPT states The core values of the NSG take priority over commercial interests and geopolitical alignments

When great powers prioritize strategic partnerships and financial benefits ahead of longstanding arms control obligations the legitimacy and universality of the international non-proliferation framework are also compromised This challenges the norms that have barred many developing nations from acquiring nuclear weapons and to other countries that are exporting fuel and nuclear technology no longer depends on obedience with the international nonproliferation framework

When demand for nuclear energy is steadily increasing in the region, this discriminatory treatment is contributing to regional instability The agreement also facilitates India’s expansion of both nuclear energy capacity and strategic capabilities with broader implications for global arms control regimes fissile material production balance of power and regional stability beyond South Asia By further weakening the already fragile foundation of global nuclear governance, the deal creates motives for vertical and horizontal proliferation

Ms Nazia Sheikh is a Research Officer at the Centre for International Strategic Studies AJK She holds an MPhil degree in International Relations from the International Islamic University Islamabad Pakistan Email: nsheikh536@gmail com

When demand for nuclear energy is steadily increasing in the region, this discriminator y treatment is contributing to regional instability. The agreement also facilitates IndiaÊs expansion of both nuclear energy capacity and strategic capabilities with broader implications for global arms control regimes, fissile material production, balance of power and regional stability beyond South Asia.

the value chain Rare earth magnets represent the point where strategic value becomes decisive Neodymium-iron-boron magnets are exponentially stronger and more efficient than conventional magnets enabling compact high-performance systems that modern technology depends upon Electric vehicles rely on them for efficient motors Wind turbines depend on them for power generation Smartphones, computers, robotics, and medical imaging equipment cannot function without them Most critically advanced weapons systems fighter aircraft submarines missile guidance platforms radar arrays satellites and space systems are built around rare earth magnet technology In modern warfare and high-tech industry alike, these magnets are more essential than oil, gas, or even nuclear fuel When China signaled restrictions on the free flow of these materials in response to trade pressure the impact on the USA was immediate Defence contractors warned of supply disruptions Electric vehicle manufacturers faced production uncertainty Semiconductor, robotics, and aerospace industries confronted bottlenecks that threatened to halt assembly lines The message was unmistakable: without access to Chinese-controlled supply chains large segments of the US economy could not function Manufacturing leaders rushed to Washington with stark warnings Defence suppliers and technology firms made clear that prolonged disruption would cripple production and weaken national security Temporary diplomatic adjustments followed easing immediate pressure but the strategic lesson could no longer be ignored The USA had allowed a single external power to dominate the most critical inputs of the modern economy It was this realization that culminated in the February 2026 decision to create a strate-

I n t h e m o d e r n wo r l d , p ow e r

b e l o n g s n o t t o t h o s e w h o

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and establishing industrial scale will take a decade or more Until then US industries remain exposed and defence stockpiles continue to thin Despite political rhetoric many firms will remain dependent on Chinese supply on Chinese terms

The rare-earth crisis also exposed a second, even more consequential failure: the hollowing out of the USA’s manufacturing base Over the past four decades production was systematically outsourced to Asia and other regions The USA retained innovation design finance and branding while physical manufacturing migrated abroad This model delivered profits during periods of stability, but under stress it proved dangerously fragile

By the mid-2020s manufacturing employment represented only a fraction of the US workforce compared to its historical peak

The tariff shock revealed a hard truth: innovation without manufacturing depth is not power; it is dependence Ideas alone cannot build vehicles, weapons, energy systems, or infrastructure when supply chains fracture

The domestic consequences are increasingly visible Job insecurity has risen real wage growth has lagged, and many households rely on savings or government support to maintain stability A nation that once projected industrial confidence now faces growing public anxiety about economic security and employment resilience

Geopolitically the tariff era produced an outcome few anticipated Rather than isolating China, it accelerated China s centrality

m i n e s , r e f i n e r i e s , s e p a r a t i o n p l a n t s , a l l oy f a c i l i t i e s , a n d m ag n e t f a c t o r i e s i s n o t a s h o r t - t e r m exe rc i s e

R e bu i l d i n g ex p e r t i s e , s e c u r i n g e nv i ro n m e n t

a p p rova l s , t r a i n i n g s k i l l e d l a b o u r, a n d e s t a bl i s h i n g i n d u s t r i a l s c a l e w i l l t a k e a d e c a d e o r m o r e

Allies and competitors alike were penalized prompting many to seek stability by deepening engagement with Beijing Across Europe, Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, countries moved pragmatically toward China not out of ideology, but necessity China’s strength at this moment lies not in coercion but in integration It controls critical processing chokepoints maintains manufacturing scale and sustains trade relationships across political systems While the USA pushed partners away through pressure, China welcomed them through industrial cooperation and long-term planning

The historical irony is profound In 1949 China emerged impoverished and marginalized Over the following decades it built the world s most comprehensive manufacturing ecosystem and lifted hundreds of millions out of poverty By mastering the unglamorous foundations of power mining, refining, processing, and manufactur-

ing it positioned itself at the centre of the global economy

The February strategic reserve initiative is therefore both a correction and a confession It corrects course by finally investing in material sovereignty It confesses how long those foundations were ignored True independence cannot be declared through tariffs alone; it must

The

be either put forever in a box or otherwise destroyed But for Tehran hopeful signs on the battlefields also pose a profound security dilemma

Of course losing this war would likely fragment the ancient nation over which it rules But winning against such insatiable enemies could provoke a cornered Israel to turn the war nuclear A Trump adviser recently warned that Israel might use a nuclear weapon against Iran Israel has a large nuclear arsenal officially undeclared of over one hundred warheads that it built with the help of the French and hid for a decade from the Americans It can be deployed by submarines as well as long range missiles and is considered by Israeli planners to be the “Samson option,” named after the last biblical judge of Israel who tore down the columns of the temple of an ancient fertility God to destroy the Philistines It may resort to using this weapon if it feels it is existentially threatened Tel Aviv is a city of only twenty square miles, and half of the population of Israel lives in its larger metropolitan area, so it is not difficult to imagine this threshold being passed in the mind of Benjamin Netanyahu

His government has shown no signs of restraint since the attacks by Hamas on October 7 2023 The logic of victimhood and revenge has deepened within Israel more broadly; most of the country s citizens believe that they can only deal with their enemies by eradicating them After all, Israel has so far succeeded in bringing its regional adversaries to their knees through genocide in Palestine and decapitation

claim seriously That said, the geopolitics of the Middle East would permanently shift if a bomb were to be launched by Tel Aviv It is difficult to know how regional actors would respond What will happen if Iran a country seventyfive times larger than Israel makes Israeli military planners decide the country itself is at risk? Tehran faces a profound security dilemma: lose to an enemy that wants Iran broken apart or win a conventional war and invite escalation, which could take the form of a nuclear attack The former supreme leader Ali Khamenei successfully pursued a policy perhaps foolish in retrospect of becoming a threshold state Threshold states such as Germany Japan and Brazil have the material and technical capacity to develop nuclear weapons in a matter of weeks if the political decision is made to weaponize It would be entirely unsurprising if Iran has made this decision This is the second war waged since last summer by the United States and Israel against Iran And the US and Israel have effectively removed the diplomatic breaks by nakedly using negotiations as a weapon of war

Though it is unclear how much of the stockpile it still has access to Iran had 440 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60 percent purity before the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) left the country following the US withdrawal from the nuclear deal, an exit lobbied for by Israel Nuclear scientists estimate Iran could create several bombs within weeks, even if it has access only to part of the stockpile US intelligence officials have briefed that Tehran has access to the stockpile even though part of it is entombed under the country s nuclear site at Isfahan

Experts say that Iran would not need to test a bomb to use it effectively, but it may choose to do so in an attempt to establish deterrence Even if Israel knows Iran has a bomb, it may not be deterred Both nations are rich in myths of heroic and suicidal battles: Masada for Israel and Karabala for the Islamic Republic Samson the namesake of Israel s nuclear option brought down the temple of Dagon But he did so at the cost of his own life

“My concern is that [Israel] will resort to using a nuclear weapon against Iran And if that happens Iran will respond whether or not they now have nuclear weapons says Postol It may take a few weeks [to develop] but they will have a nuclear weapon, and they will respond That s what we can have I hope the US has control over the Israelis like they say that they do ” Arron Reza Merat was a correspondent in Tehran He now lives in London

Aboard USS Gerald R Ford priced at roughly $13 billion and billed as the most advanced US aircraft carrier in existence, the crew has repeatedly endured some seriously awkward and uncomfortable conditions: dysfunctional toilets no clean laundry and no beds These repeated breakdowns have exposed the profound fatigue now gripping the US Navy, and perhaps the broader structure of American global dominance under sustained high-tempo and long-duration operations

According to a New York Times report it took more than 30 hours for sailors

NO 'DEFINITIVE TIME FRAME' FOR ENDING IRAN WAR: PENTAGON

Strait of Hormuz block age drives up Gulf food bills

a f p

In a supermarket in Bahrain Mahmoud Ali fills his cart as usual The shelves remain stocked despite the war in the Middle East, but the blockade of the main shipping routes into the Gulf is now being felt at checkout

the ports of Abu Dhabi, Jebel Ali in Dubai and Dammam in eastern Saudi Arabia almost inaccessible ships are turning to others located south of the strait in Oman and the Emirates Saudi Arabia has also positioned itself as a key supply hub at the heart of the Gulf region, as its airspace

and maritime traffic to its

(IRGC) If you give the IRGC a reason to take more control, and they get support from the people because again you kill off the Ayatollah they can say hey the last guy was too moderate Look at what it got us Like, give us more, more control And the Iranian people are gonna be like, well, actually, yeah, I don't like getting bombed by the Americans and Israelis Maybe we do need to listen to the IRGC Kent said Iranian authorities said Larijani was killed early on Tuesday in a US-Israeli strike that also claimed the lives of his son Morteza, his aide Alireza Bayat, several council staff members and bodyguards Kent told Carlson that Iran posed no imminent threat to the US and accused pro-Israel lobbyists and think tanks of undermining diplomatic efforts by shifting Washington’s red line on Tehran’s nuclear programme The US and Israel have continued a joint offensive on Iran since February 28 killing so far around 1,300 people, including thensupreme leader Ali Khamenei Iran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan Iraq and Gulf countries hosting US military assets causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation Notably, Kent also raised questions about the investigation into right-wing American activist and influencer Charlie Kirk’s death in September of last year suggesting that it was cut short He said the killing of Kirk, one of US President Donald Trump's closest advisers and a vocal opponent of war with Iran who had reportedly advocated for the US to at least rethink its relationship with Israel deserved further scrutiny He was suddenly publicly assassinated and we re not allowed to ask any questions about that," he said "There are unanswered questions," he said, adding the probe was stopped before his team could "run down" remaining leads

There s no shortage but over the past few days there has been a noticeable increase in the price of certain food products", the father of four said The price of meat in particular has almost doubled he added Like most of its neighbours in this arid region the small Gulf monarchy depends heavily on imports especially for its food supply But the war, triggered on February 28 by Israeli-US strikes against Iran, has severely disrupted the transport of goods through the strategic Strait of Hormuz which is effectively closed Most major ports in the UAE Qatar Kuwait and Bahrain have suspended or heavily reduced cargo processing," said economist Frederic Schneider, from the Middle East Council on Global Affairs Air transport another logistical pillar of the region is also running below capacity because of daily Iranian drone and missile attacks he added With the main gateways to the Gulf

C

continues To address the disruption of traffic

the ports along the Gulf coast

dom has launched a new

strengthen its transport networks by adding logistics routes and operational corridors to handle containers and cargo diverted from the country's eastern ports according to officials in the transport sector Other land-based alternatives exist including road corridors linking to the Mediterranean through Syria or Jordan But these overland routes are too congested, expensive and insufficient to make up for the paralysis of traditional routes Schneider said Fresh products most of which are imported from Asia and cannot be

Ramzan Nigehban Package successfully concluded as aid delivered to deser ving with dignity: Azma Bokhari

LAHORE

s ta f f r e p o r t

Provincial Minister for Information and Culture Punjab, Azma Bokhari, has said that the Punjab government has successfully completed the Ramzan Nigehban Package setting a new benchmark in public service delivery She stated that the government has effectively achieved all three major targets, including the distribution of relief cards establishment of “Maryam’s Dastarkhwans ” and Sahulat Bazaars Azma Bokhari said that relief cards were delivered to millions of deserving individuals at their doorsteps, ensuring convenience while fully preserving the dignity and self-respect of white-collar and underprivileged citizens She further stated that the distribution of this multi-billion-rupee Ramzan package was carried out with complete transparency She highlighted that thousands of citizens benefited daily from

Maryam s Dastarkhwans for iftar which reflects the pro-people approach of the government According to her, under the leadership of Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif, new traditions of service, facilitation and transparency are being established in the province The Provincial Minister added that in the past people had to struggle and face difficulties to get their issues resolved, whereas now the

standards, translating into higher peak speeds, faster and more stable data throughput, and the ability to serve a significantly larger number of concurrent users particularly in high-demand urban environments

LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t The Impact Hallmarks (IH) has announced the nomination of 20 distinguished icons from South Asia and China including Pakistan’s Dr Amjad Saqib Bangladesh s Prof M Yunus India s Kailash Satyarthi and Nepal s Pushpa Basnet for the international opinion poll of the Quarticentennial Merited Impacts Gazette, a global platform dedicated to identifying and documenting the most transformative contributions of the first quarter of the 21st century According to a press release issued here on Thursday, early signals from the nominations place three towering figures at the forefront: two giants of humanitarian transformation Prof M Yunus and Dr Amjad Saqib who appear to be shaping the Humanitarianism category alongside Prof Dr Aurangzeb Hafi and Prof Chandra Wickramasinghe, who are emerging as leading contenders in the Scientific Endeavours quadrant

During the 21st century’s megadisaster declared a ‘generationdefining upheaval’ the 2004 Asian tsunami Prof Hafi served as the principal investigatory head of the Child Retardation Risk Assessment (CRRA) and Child Retardation Risk Management’ (CRRM) programmes He maintained key liaisons with the United Nations and other international platforms in the hard-hit regions of Sri Lanka Unlike many contemporary researchers who relied on readily available data, he undertook field visits to high-risk zones to collect first-hand information rather than depend on duplicated statistics In recognition of these exceptional research contributions during the tsunami Prof A Z Hafi was knighted in the de jure supreme knighthood category and was subsequently nominated for the Nobel Prize in 2006, which he declined on principled grounds, citing objections to funding mechanisms linked to the manufacture of dynamite and other explosives

Beyond academia, Prof Hafi has advanced conservation initiatives and educational reform most recently introducing the Deca-Archic Phygital Literacy Model a framework aimed at redefining learning in an increasingly hybrid physical-digital world

In the Humanitarianism quadrant Dr Amjad Saqib stands out as a pioneering architect of social solidarity through the founding of the Akhuwat Foundation, widely regarded as the world s largest interestfree microfinance network Since 2001, the organisation has disbursed billions in Qardh-e-Hasna loans enabling millions to rise out of poverty with dignity

In the same category Prof M Yunus a Nobel Peace Prize laureate remains a defining force in reimagining economic inclusion By extending collateral-free microcredit to the poorest including marginalised communities such as beggars often excluded from formal banking Yunus catalysed a global movement in social business Now serving

PAKISTAN REJECTS US CL AIM OF MISSILE THREAT, REAFFIRMS 'INDIA-FOCUSED' DETERRENCE POLICY

PTI to launch movement for Imran Khan's release after Eid

The announcement comes at a time when the party has been engaged in various legal and political battles on multiple fronts Background Imran Khan has been behind bars facing multiple cases, and PTI has repeatedly demanded his release terming his imprisonment unjust and politically driven The party has previously organised protests and demonstrations calling for his freedom and the planned post-Eid movement appears to be an escalation of these efforts The announcement is likely to draw a strong response from the ruling coalition, which has previously dismissed PTI s protest movements The political landscape in Pakistan remains highly charged with PTI and the government locked in an ongoing confrontation over a range of issues with Khan s imprisonment remaining a central point of contention PTI s decision to time the movement after Eid suggests a calculated approach, allowing the party's workers and supporters to observe the religious holiday before mobilising for what the party is framing as a critical political campaign for the release of its incarcerated leader

Gov t appoints Ayaz

Shaukat as first SMPRA Chief amid concerns over digital curbs

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t

The federal government has appointed Ayaz Shaukat as the first chairman of the newly formed Social Media Protection and Regulatory Authority (SMPRA), marking a

increasingly

in

PTI leaders denied Imran meeting again, raise alarm over health and secrec y

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t

Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) were once again denied a meeting with incarcerated party founder Imran Khan at Adiala Jail on Thursday intensifying concerns over his health and lack of access Speaking to the media, Advocate Niazullah Niazi said that despite submitting a court-approved list of six individuals through PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja jail authorities failed to grant permission for

the meeting “We waited till after 3pm during Ramazan visiting hours but received no response from the jail administration, he said, adding that requests for Imran’s medical report were also denied, with officials directing them to approach the court Niazi revealed he had not been allowed to meet Imran since April 2025 demanding immediate access for family members and personal physicians He added that more than two months had passed since any meeting was permitted except for lawyer Salman Safdar

Former military officer Major (R) Latasub Satti, also on the meeting list, said the group was stopped outside the jail despite prior intimation calling the situation unfortunate Separately leaders of the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) accused the government of making Imran s health “controversial” and demanded his immediate transfer to hospital care At a press conference former KP finance minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra called for shifting Imran to Shifa International Hospital and ensuring transparency similar to that extended to Nawaz Sharif during his incarceration Other opposition figures including Hussain Ahmad Yousafzai criticised the government over economic mismanagement, regional policy failures, and lack of parliamentary transparency, while also expressing support for regional peace efforts involving China

The opposition maintained that continued denial of access to Imran and ambiguity over his health were deepening political tensions and public concern

Jemima accuses govt of 'Nicop Trap' to deny her sons British protection

LONDON s ta f f r e p o r t

Imran Khan's former wife, Jemima Goldsmith, on Thursday alleged that the Pakistani government was urging her sons to travel to Pakistan on NICOP cards to strip them of British consular protection amid delays in their visa issuance

Responding to Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, she said the suggestion for her sons to travel without visas was a deliberate move We all know that the reason you are refusing their visas

and recommending they travel on NICOP cards is because that way they will have no British protection if you choose to arrest them on arrival she wrote on X Tarar had stated a day earlier that the sons of Imran Khan were welcome to visit Pakistan using NICOPs which do not require visas provided they comply with local laws

Jemima s sons Kasim Khan and Suleiman Khan live in London and intend to visit their father, who is currently imprisoned at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail She had earlier appealed to

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, highlighting that the visa applications submitted in January have remained pending for over 60 days despite official timelines of 7–10 working days Jemima also pointed out that assurances had been given by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif and government spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi regarding safe travel for her sons Earlier Kasim had accused authorities of deliberately stalling their visas, while reports suggested continued reluctance to grant entry permits despite repeated applications

Zia Langove sworn in as Balochistan's home minister

QUETTA s ta f f

t

Balochistan Awami Party's Mir Ziaullah Langove took oath as the provincial home minister on Wednesday filling a post that had been vacant since August 2024

The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Governor House in Quetta, where Governor Sheikh Jaffar Khan Mandokhail administered the oath to the newly appointed minister

Senior officials attend ceremony The event was attended by Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti along with several provincial ministers including Asim Kurd Gello, Haji Ali Madad Jattak, Bakht Muhammad Kakar, and Raheela Hamid Khan Durrani Senator Dinesh Kumar Balochistan police chief Mohammad Tahir and senior officials and secretaries were also present at the ceremony Home and tribal affairs portfolio assigned

Chief Minister Bugti assigned the home and tribal affairs department to Langove under Rule 5 of the Balochistan Government Rules of Business An official notification confirming the portfolio assignment was also issued by the governor Langove who was elected from the PB-36 Kalat constituency had been de-notified on August 21 2024 Since his de-notification the home minister's post had remained vacant, with the department operating under the direct charge of the chief minister