SHEHBAZ A SSURES TRANSPARENT DISBURSEMENT THROUGH DIGITAL WALLETS AND SUFFICIENT NATIONAL FUEL RESERVES
37 militants killed as sec urity forces foil Taliban attack in Ghulam Khan sec tor
ISLAMABAD S ta f f r e p o r t Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar on Sunday said Pakistan s security forces successfully foiled an attempted attack by the Afghan Taliban and by the Fitna al-Khawarij on a border post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Ghulam Khan Sector killing 37 attackers and injuring more than 80 state broadcaster PTV News reported The incident occurred on the night of April 2–3 during the ongoing Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq,” the minister said Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq was launched on Feb 26 following cross-border firing by the Afghan Taliban in various KP sectors After a temporary pause on March 18 at the request of broth-
erly Islamic countries Pakistan resumed the operation on March 26 vowing to continue until its objectives are achieved ” In a post on X, Tarar said, “During the night of April 2–3 an attempt to physically attack a border post in Ghulam Khan Sector by Afghan Taliban/Fitna al Khawarij was comprehensively foiled, resulting in heavy casualties, including up to 37 sent to hell and 80+ injured ” 796 terrorists linked to Fitna alKhawarij and Afghan Taliban killed in Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq
Providing a broader update on Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq, the minister stated that as of 5pm on April 5, 796 militants linked to Fitna alKhawarij and the Afghan Taliban had been killed while over 1 043 were injured Security forces have destroyed 286 militant check posts and captured 44 others significantly weakening militant infrastructure
He added that 249 tanks, armoured vehicles, artillery guns, and drones have been destroyed during the operation Additionally 81 terrorist and support infrastructure locations across Afghanistan were effectively targeted through air strikes “The operation continues to decisively target militants, ensuring border security and stability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa the minister said highlighting the operation s success in neutralising threats and degrading terrorist capabilities Operation Ghazab Lil-Haq, now in its fourth month, underscores Pakistan’s commitment to counter-terrorism and safeguarding citizens against cross-border attacks and militant threats along the western frontier
FPCCI URGES URGENT EXPORT SAFETY NET AS DIESEL COSTS THREATEN COMPETITIVENESS
Cotton
cess hike stalled for 14 years,
cotton sec tor revival at risk
tion of most cess proceeds to R&D Yet the Ministry of National Food Security & Research (MNFS&R) has failed to act on repeated reminders An inter-ministerial meeting on Dec 5, 2025, approved a Cotton Revival Plan However, the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (Aptma) later proposed capping the cess at Rs100 per bale while committee members insisted the rate follow the legal formula Analysts warn that continued delays threaten research funding, industrial growth, and the broader cotton economy
TGov
dead, 105 injured in rain-related incidents in KP since M ar 25
S indh CM sec ures transpor ters ’ nod to freeze fares, shield commuters from soaring
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
“Despite rising operational costs, they have shown responsibility by agreeing to pass on relief to the public Transporters representatives including Karachi Transport Ittehad leader Haji Tawab and inter-city operator Shabar Malik, reaffirmed their commitment, stating that maintaining fares was a collective decision to support citizens during difficult economic conditions CM Murad said the Sindh government will provide financial support to transporters based on route permits to offset increased fuel costs The subsidies combining federal and provincial support will allow operators to continue running services without passing extra costs to passengers
Over 11 000 buses operate in Sindh the CM said Maintaining fares through subsidies is expected to cost the provincial government approximately Rs3–4 billion The package also extends to goods transport vehicles school vans and public transport operators Murad noted that while Punjab and Islamabad had opted to make public buses free, Sindh chose a broader fare freeze to benefit a larger segment of society He said the initiative is part of a coordinated national response with provinces sharing the burden of fuel subsidies for a limited period The Sindh government will contribute around Rs14 billion towards the overall subsidy framework, while implementing additional targeted interventions for transporters farmers and consumers estimated
despite challenging circumstances, f
Energy C runch, C itizen Relief : Balochistan, KP enforce market, event timings to conser ve energy
for immediate consumption, and public transport terminals (limited lighting) Medical stores and pharmacies are also exempt subject to strict conditions ensuring the exemption applies only to licensed premises primarily engaged in selling medicines Mixed-use outlets are not eligible Industrial and production activities are exempt if operations are genuine production activity, while commercial or retail components of industrial units must comply with closure timings The notice further restricted decorative and non-essential lighting including floodlights spotlights billboards digital displays and LED screens Air-conditioning, escalators, and lifts in commercial
buildings must not operate beyond business hours except for essential services Generators cannot be used for nonessential commercial activities after closure hours For public sector compliance, all government offices must conserve energy by switching off lights, air-conditioning, and equipment immediately after office hours Deputy commissioners are tasked with monitoring enforcement and verification of compliance in their districts These measures are temporary and aimed at reducing pressure on electricity avoiding extra financial burden on citizens, and contributing to a national energy conservation effort, the notice stated The new timings will take effect from April 6 Traders Oppose Balochistan Restrictions The Central Anjuman-i-Tajiran Balochistan led by President Abdul Rahim Kakar rejected the government s closure timings calling them anti-trader and warning of protests if enforced
At a press conference in Quetta Press Club, Kakar demanded that markets remain open until 10pm and wedding halls hotels and restaurants operate until midnight He likened the move to lockdown-style restrictions that had previously harmed businesses during the Covid-19 period Kakar highlighted that Balochistan s economy largely depends on trade, with few major industries, and that businesses are already under strain from inflation, unemployment, insecurity, border closures, and trade restrictions He added that rising fuel prices, utility bills, and taxes have further impacted commercial activity leaving millions of people jobless
at the Supreme Court of Pakistan on April 6 (Monday) the press release said It added that the signing would be witnessed by judges from the SC and Federal Constitutional Court, the chief justices of the high courts, Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar and others officials It added that the agreement was expected to establish a structured and forward-looking framework for collaboration focusing on judicial exchange capacity building and sharing of best practices in adjudication The initiative reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan and Turkiye to strengthening constitutional governance, upholding the rule of law, and reinforcing judicial independence, as well as to fostering closer institutional linkages between their superior courts ” it said It said that a central feature of the proposed cooperation was the professional development of the judiciary particularly at the district level through joint training programmes academic exchanges and exposure to comparative judicial practices The collaboration is
COMMENT
Trump’s threat
US President Donald Trump presented Iran on Saturday a reminder to Iran that his 10-day break was about to expire and that if it did not cave in all hell will rain down He did not deliver any fresh ultimatum, but the reminder was couched in terms which also made clear what his main priority was: the reopening of the Hormuz Strait Because of its closure, oil prices have climbed, with no end in sight That in turn has caused economies to sputter, as transport and energy costs spiral upwards Facing a midterm election later in the year, Mr Trump seems to be getting cold feet Iran did not take kindly to Mr Trump’s remarks, which it called ‘an old man’s rant ’ The problem seems to be that Mr Trump has now got to make good on his threat The USA and Israel have bombed all the targets they intended and have now been doing some re-bombing There has been some bombing of infrastructure, but the task ahead is daunting, that of attacking the civilian infrastructure so badly that the Iranian leadership itself decides that the country has had enough One option is to use conventional means against one particular city, as was done against Dresden in World War II It did not work, and the German leadership did not give up They only gave up when the capital was actually captured by ground troops Japan also lost two cities, but to atom bombs The Japanese leadership gave up rather than risk any further cities being destroyed The US justification for its use of such a horrible weapon is that it saved a huge number of American lives that would have been lost in a ground invasion not to mention the time it would take How far can Mr Trump go? How far does Israel want him to go? Before Mr Trump commits to a course of action that would cause much needless suffering, he should pause He has already painted himself into a corner, with no way out except a humiliating climbdown His war machine is already showing vulnerability, and the shooting down by the Iranians of US planes should give him pause The USA clearly does not enjoy the command of the air it assumes before every ground campaign Iran is still much less stronger but it is not totally powerless
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Tnal legal correction, yet it fundamentally altered the political character of a disputed territory without the consent of its people The similarity is striking: law is not used to protect rights but to re-engineer reality while international concern gradually fades into fatigue What links the West Bank, Gaza, and Kashmir
WI N T E R has just passed but most likely not the seriously negative impact on human health of smog, which has become a serious health hazard over the last two decades Bloomberg in its March 26 published article Global air quality worsened in 2025 and poses threat to growth highlighted a recently released report by IQAir Group and pointed out Global air quality declined in 2025, with more cities reporting standards below international health guidelines on the impact of severe wildfires and pollution from sectors including fossil fuels and agriculture Data from almost 9 500 cities showed 14% met World Health Organization standards for annual average concentrations of harmful fine-particle matter, or PM2 5, according to a report released Tuesday by IQAir Group That compared to a total of 17% a year earlier when nearly 9,000 cities were surveyed ’ As per the report the highest level of air pollution in terms of concentration of PM2 5 particles was recorded in Pakistan and Bangladesh in 2025 whereas according to the article PM2 5 is regarded as a greater risk to human health than larger particulates because the matter can embed deep into the lungs and cause inflammation, heightening the risk of cardiovascular and respiratory disease and cancers Children exposed to air pollution can suffer permanent respiratory damage Moreover in terms of most polluted cities the report, as highlighted in the article, indicated that the top most polluted city in 2025 was Loni (India) with 112 5 PM2 5 concentration, followed by Hotan (China) at 109 6, Byrnihat (India) at 101 1, Delhi (India) at 99 6 Faisalabad (Pakistan) at 98 8 Rahim Yar Khan (Pakistan) at 92 6 Ghaziabad (Pakistan) at 89 2 and Lahore (Pakistan) at 88 9 Hence half of the top eight most polluted cities globally were from Pakistan Yet, there does not seem to be any mission-oriented nature of approach to deal with this situation, which has been produced
lide directly with the Fourth Geneva Convention which prohibits an occupying power from confiscating land or transferring its civilian population into occupied territory The United Nations Security Council has reaffirmed this position repeatedly, most clearly in Resolution 2334, which declares Israeli settlements to have no legal validity and to constitute a flagrant violation of international law Yet the absence of enforcement has emboldened those who understand that condemnation when unaccompanied by consequences is easily absorbed and ultimately ignored This erosion of law becomes even more troubling when viewed alongside current diplomatic initiatives President Donald Trump, now in his second term has promoted the creation of a Board of Peace following the Gaza ceasefire presenting it as a mechanism to stabilise and rebuild Gaza and address the long-standing Palestinian question On paper, the idea sounds hopeful After immense destruction, any promise of peace and reconstruction is bound to attract attention But peace mechanisms that bypass justice are fragile by design It is difficult to see how any body can credibly promote peace while Israel simultaneously deepens its grip on the West Bank through land seizures and legal absorption When diplomatic frameworks focus on managing conflict rather than ending occupation, they risk becoming tools that freeze injustice instead of resolving it Peace cannot be compartmentalised it cannot be pursued in Gaza while being systematically undermined in the West Bank
over the last number of years On the contrary, the country has overall gone through acute level of austerity– or aggregate demand squeeze policies– which means that there is both high cost of capital (monetary austerity) and lack of public investment especially due to sharp fiscal consolidation or fiscal austerity conditionalities being implemented under the two IMF programmes– the previous standby arrangement (SBA), and the ongoing extended fund facility (EFF) programme– since most time during the last four years or so This otherwise wrongly overboard austerity policies when inflation is at least equally a fiscal phenomenon in general for developing countries like Pakistan, and is all the more supply-side phenomenon in the wake of the covid-19 pandemic, the Ukraine war, two major floods caused apparently climate change crisis and more recently the Middle East conflict This approach has also likely diluted the impact of an otherwise quite limited programme to start with, in the shape of resilience and sustainability facility (RSF) programme, to overall enhance country’s resilience, in terms of ambition, and financing envelope– as compared to EFF programme for instance– by overboard austerity policies of the EFF programme reducing the investment potential to enhance resilience and put the economy on more sustainable footing On the contrary, unlike Pakistan, which has not adopted much purpose-driven, mission-oriented strategy to deal with air pollution, China has been much more focused both in terms of policy intervention; not to mention the much more mission-oriented approach being adopted by China to deal with the climate change crisis for instance by being a leader in tapping solar energy, along with being a huge producer of solar panels For instance, a February 25, Bloomberg published article ‘China to tighten air quality rules that have helped slash smog’ pointed out ‘China is planning its first major tightening of national air quality standards since 2012 as it seeks to extend a largely successful anti-pollution campaign that s reshaped parts of its economy New limits on a range of pollutants will be phased in from March and strengthened further in 2031, according to documents posted online by the country’s Ministry of Ecology and Environment The stricter rules are intended to reduce health risks support the ambition of building a beautiful China and align the nation with international best practice, the ministry said in a Tuesday statement New standards to be fully implemented from Jan 1, 2031 will limit average annual levels of PM2 5 per cubic meter to 25 micrograms in most locations That compares with a current annual limit of 35 micrograms Interim standards from March will set an annual limit of 30
The deeper problem is that international law is being reduced to a language of protest rather than a system of restraint Powerful states have learned that they can redraw realities through administrative acts constitutional changes and legal technicalities, confident that the global response will stop short of meaningful action Over time, this normalises the exceptional and turns violations into precedents
What is happening in the West Bank today is therefore not a side issue or a temporary deviation It is a warning If land can be quietly absorbed rights diluted and futures rewritten through legal manoeuvres alone, then international law becomes symbolic rather than binding And when peace is discussed in conference rooms while occupation deepens on the ground peace itself becomes an empty word If this course continues unchecked the lesson it teaches the world is a bleak one: that power can quietly rewrite law, and that occupation, once wrapped in legal procedure, can be made to look normal What is unfolding in the West Bank is not merely a Palestinian tragedy; it is a test of whether international law still has meaning when confronted by political will If the world allows land to be absorbed through registries and rights to vanish through paperwork, then future conflicts will not be fought only with weapons, but with statutes, files, and silence And that silence, more than any declaration will be what history remembers The writer is a freelance columnist
Addiction fuels crime
Ramazan market ethics
Majid Nabi burfat
Physicists discover ‘Time Cr ystal’ that ticks like a clock
lectively go beyond simplified models
Tthat it reshapes both understanding and possibility
The concept of time crystals is one such idea First proposed theoretically by Nobel laureate Frank Wilczek in 2012, time crystals were long a speculative curiosity a phase of matter that could oscillate indefinitely without energy loss Only recently has this notion moved from theory to experiment and simulation with remarkable precision
The latest milestone, highlighted in a Popular Mechanics article titled Scientists Just Created a Time Crystal with Unprecedented Detail”, reports researchers using advanced quantum simulations and hardware to realize time-crystalline behaviour at a scale and fidelity never before seen ¹
At first glance the phrase time crystal sounds like science fiction Yet its essence is deeply rooted in modern physics While ordinary crystals diamonds, salt, quartz repeat patterns in space time crystals exhibit “repeating structure in time” When driven periodically they oscillate rhythmically at a subharmonic frequency responding every second cycle instead of every first effectively setting up their own internal beat
This perpetual, stable oscillation occurs without traditional energy input and without fading defying the expectation that systems inevitably settle into equilibrium It is this defiance of conventional thermodynamics that grants time crystals their theoretical allure and experimental challenge The Popular Mechanics article reports that scientists at institutions such as IBM Quantum and the Donostia International Physics Center have designed and simulated a discrete time crystal using sophisticated quantum computing platforms and simulation techniques that col-
The team applied precisely calibrated pulses across interacting qubits in a quantum processor, with results captured using advanced simulation frameworks that track the dynamics of many quantum particles in ‘unprecedented detail ¹ According to the report, previous demonstrations were limited in scale and coherence; this latest achievement represents a detailed and stable view into how time crystals behave with real hardware constraints and complex interactions
This is not theory calling to theory It is theory calling to reality
To appreciate why this matters consider the central challenge of quantum computing: fragile states Qubits the building blocks of quantum processors are extraordinarily sensitive Noise, thermal fluctuations, tiny environmental disturbances all conspire to collapse quantum information before it can be used Contemporary superconducting quantum processors face error rates typically on the order of 0 1 percent to 1 percent per gate operation
That might seem small but in complex algorithms involving thousands of operations, errors compound rapidly As a result, huge overheads of error-correcting qubits are required sometimes numbering “hundreds of physical qubits for a single logical qubit”
A system that is inherently more stable reduces that overhead dramatically
That is precisely where time crystals could contribute Because time crystals maintain periodic motion without dissipating energy, they may hold the key to “more robust quantum memory” systems that preserve quantum information for longer durations and resist environmental noise Even modest improvements in coherence times can translate into orders of magnitude higher reliability for practical quantum calculations In
effect, a time crystal could serve as a natural stabilizer a built-in clock that keeps quantum states in a rhythm that resists decay If realized at scale this property could reshape how quantum processors are designed lowering cost and engineering complexity For the ordinary citizen, these esoteric developments may sound detached from daily life Yet beneath the surface, everyday technologies are constantly pushed forward by advances once seen as purely theoretical Precise timing powers financial networks navigation systems telecommunications and data encryption
Modern GPS systems rely on atomic clocks that measure time with incredible accuracy Quantum clocks and sensors could amplify that precision even further A timecrystal-based quantum clock might one day enhance satellite navigation accuracy leading to safer self-driving cars improved delivery systems, and even more reliable mobile networks
Consider medical diagnostics MRI machines already benefit from quantum phenomena Enhanced quantum sensors could detect magnetic fields with extraordinary sensitivity improving early detection of neurological disorders or subtle physiological changes Industries such as mineral exploration and earthquake prediction fields that rely on detecting fine variations in gravitational or magnetic fields could transform with quantum technologies built on stable phases like time crystals
In the energy sector simulation of advanced materials using quantum processors promises catalysts that accelerate reactions with reduced waste, better battery materials for energy storage and superconductors that operate closer to room temperature These are global challenges with real consequences: sustainable energy affordable healthcare and food security Time crystals, while not a solution in themselves, are a potential gateway to the robust quantum platforms required to
solve these large-scale problems For a nation like Pakistan the emerging quantum era represents both challenge and opportunity To harness this wave, universities must expand beyond traditional offerings into interdisciplinary programs that span “quantum physics information science computer engineering and applied mathematics An undergraduate familiar with qubits and tensor networks will be far more competitive in 2030 than one versed solely in classical circuits Collaborative research laboratories where students and faculty engage with international projects can anchor Pakistan within the global quantum community Industries too must prepare Telecommunications firms semiconductor manufacturers and cybersecurity enterprises will all encounter quantum impacts Secure communication protocols that resist future quantum attacks are already being developed in Asia and Europe If time crystals contribute to more stable quantum hardware Pakistan could cultivate its own niche suppliers developing tailored quantum devices for regional markets rather than importing all technologies Yet caution is warranted Time crystals
THE social media outfit TrackAIPAC’s signature anti-endorsement cards have become a fixture of the 2026 midterms The ubiquitous graphics show a disapproved candidate s face in grayscale over a smoky red backdrop To the right a number denoting their pro-Israel funding glows Controversially, not all of that money comes from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee
“It’s as broad as possible, and that’s by design,” TrackAIPAC co-founder Casey Kennedy told The Intercept Instead of just AIPAC the group tracks spending from across the pro-Israel lobby We want to provide the most encapsulating picture that we can of who s giving to the lobby and where they re giving to, Kennedy said TrackAIPAC started in 2024 as a scrappy bulwark to the powerful, conservative pro-Israel lobbying group for which it is named Amid TrackAIPAC’s rise, U S voters’ support for Israel plummeted to historic lows as horrified Americans watched their government support genocide in Gaza and AIPAC once an indispensable ally for most federal politicians transformed into an electoral liability Depending on whom you ask, TrackAIPAC is a hero for pushing pro-Israel spending into the forefront of voters’ minds a scourge peddling antisemitic tropes or a well-intentioned activist group with an imperfect everevolving model An advocacy group called Citizens Against AIPAC Corruption launched in May 2024 and soon merged with TrackAIPAC, giving the lobby watchers the power to endorse and fund candidates TrackAIPAC’s graphics are easily digestible and often go viral, lending the group political weight in an era when online audiences want to consume information in as little time and with as little brainpower as possible and turning its signature red card into a political scarlet letter TrackAIPAC s growing influence has set off a debate over its messaging and methodology, part of a broader conversation about outside spending in politics refracted through the lens of Israel This was especially felt in Illinois’ recent primary elections where AIPAC funneled its financial contributions through front PACs or its major donors gave as individuals AIPAC s more elusive strategy proves the necessity of lumping several kinds of pro-Israel money together, TrackAIPAC allies say, giving the group the responsibility of acting as an analyst rather than a conduit of information
“The work tracker accounts do is important because AIPAC and other dark money lobbies are intentionally very difficult to track said Morriah Kaplan executive director of the progressive Jewish-led Palestinian solidarity organization IfNotNow Calling AIPAC s tactics extremely antidemocratic, she noted that major donors can have a range of political aims, favoring tech giants, weapons manufacturers, and fossil fuels in tandem with supporting Israel “Without
approach drew controversy when it deployed a red graphic not just for state Sen Laura Fine the congressional candidate AIPAC s funders and front groups supported, but also for Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who campaigned and won as a progressive, said he would support the Block the Bombs Act, and was a main target of AIPAC-funded attack ads When TrackAIPAC posted a red graphic for Biss the group pointed to his refusal to call Israel s actions a genocide his opposition to the Boycott Divestment and Sanctions movement his support for U S funding for Israel s Iron Dome, and $460,357 spent by the pro-Israel lobby groups and their donors Without understanding how TrackAIPAC defines ‘pro-Israel,’ it’s not as valuable a tool for transparency as it could be ” That money mostly came from J Street which bills itself as a liberal alternative for Zionist American Jews who want to counter AIPAC s hardline influence In recent years, the group has supported halting some weapons transfers to Israel and opposed Israeli settler violence against Palestinians in the West Bank But J Street was slow to label Israel’s assault on Gaza a genocide its president Jeremy Ben-Ami came around to the term in August and it opposed initial calls for a ceasefire Tali deGroot J Street s vice president of political and digital strategy was frustrated by her group s conflation with AIPAC, calling TrackAIPAC intellectually dishonest for the distance between its name and its methodology
TrackAIPAC does label the specific sources of pro-Israel funding that make up its sums on its website along with a list of organizations it tracks in addition to AIPAC but they seldom appear on the red cards that circulate on social media Some critics have labeled this blurring of lines sloppy or confusing, while others on the left and right have accused the group of antisemitism over its generalized “pro-Israel” language
TrackAIPAC is planning to modify its anti-endorsement cards in response to recent controversies They’ll still be red but the graphics will now spell out how much a candidate has received from specific pro-Israel groups or individual major pro-Israel lobby donors as well as additional information about their policy positions on Palestine and Israel
As the founders tell it, the “AIPAC” in TrackAIPAC’s name was always meant as a synecdoche with the lobbying giant serving as an eye-catching stand-in for the entire Israel lobby The broad approach is intentional said TrackAIPAC founders Kennedy and Cory Archibald, and their project is a work in progress It s as broad as possible, and that s by design
The group has made several changes to its methodology since its launch Some of them are spelled out online but others such as how the group tracks individual donors are not At the beginning TrackAIPAC relied on Federal Election Commission data compiled by the transparency organization OpenSecrets which also groups the pro-Israel lobby as a whole Last year, TrackAIPAC began to analyze the FEC data for itself and started adding individual expenditures, or money spent on campaign ads which triggered jumps in some members’ totals That was the case for Reps Wesley Bell DMo and George Latimer D-N Y who toppled progressive incumbents last cycle with massive amounts of AIPAC support This year, the group began including bundlers and major donors ($200 or more) who have given to pro-Israel lobby groups and are donating directly to candidates, especially as AIPAC shields some of its spending They re going underground so we re going to have
to go underground too ” said Archibald
The approach still seems to rile candidates who find themselves on TrackAIPAC s bad side like Rep Jasmine Crockett, D-Texas, who accused the group on Instagram of being MAGA plants who are meant to disrupt and confuse” for giving her a red card listing more than $100,000 from “Israel Lobby” donors TrackAIPAC told The Intercept that it stands by Crockett’s rating and that it used FEC data to identify major donors who have given to pro-Israel lobby groups and gave directly to Crockett
The founders also said they have received a number of requests from members who want their red graphics taken down TrackAIPAC is working on a new questionnaire that would give members a chance to get their cards changed if they make specific policy commitments like committing to an arms embargo and opposing laws that would restrict BDS or promote a controversial definition of antisemitism that conflates the term with criticism of Israel
Some politicians have already had their cards changed Rep Ro Khanna, D-Calif , who has received J Street funding, used to have a red card, but his photo now appears on TrackAIPAC’s website in its original coloring earning neither the damning red backdrop nor the smooth green ring that indicates endorsement Khanna who last year exchanged kind words with TrackAIPAC on social media is among the members of Congress who receive the label: We encourage this representative to continue improving their legislative record on IsraelPalestine issues ” Kennedy said those lawmakers exist in the “squishy middle ” calling it “the most ambiguous part of what we do He said they removed their red graphics to avoid the members getting harangued as an AIPAC supporter, while nudging them toward continuing to vote in favor of Palestinian rights
One of the group’s enduring questions is “how do we still apply the pressure without kind of souring our relationship?” Kennedy said “So it’s definitely you know there s some politicking that goes on there Archibald interjected with more precise terms But it s still very much rooted in their record we re not ever picking winners or losers, she said It s all based on the scorecard on the facts that are present
To round out its rating system, TrackAIPAC relies heavily on the Congressional Democrat Palestine Tracker a spreadsheet run by five volunteers who are members of Democratic Socialists of America The spreadsheet uses a scorecard system the volunteers helped devise with the U S Campaign for Palestinian Rights Action (It has a separate tracking system for Republicans ) For candidates who do not have a federal voting record, TrackAIPAC looks to public statements, public policy positions or associations with pro-Israel lobby groups If a candidate has pro-Israel positions but campaign finance data is not yet available TrackAIPAC issues a red graphic with a warning label
In some cases, J Street and TrackAIPAC have backed the same candidate Progressive Rep Delia Ramirez, D-Ill , for example, is J Street-supported but has TrackAIPAC’s endorsement because of her policy positions on the genocide in Gaza BDS and blocking weapons to Israel The money alone is not enough to get you a red graphic Archibald said The question of how TrackAIPAC assesses its more subjective measures and whether its targeting is evenhanded has spurred controversy, too Last week, TrackAIPAC drew criticism for deploying a red card for Mallory McMorrow a Michigan state senator running
dr MuhaMMad Bilal Tahir
US FORCES RESCUE 2 AIRMEN DOWNED IN IRAN; TRUMP SAYS CREW MEMBER INJURED BUT ‘SAFE’
US military’s most dangerous scenarios in the region The F-15 pilot was rescued several hours after ejecting while a US Blackhawk helicopter involved in that operation was struck by Iranian fire, wounding crew members but returning to base
that the US operation to rescue the airman had been completely foiled without suggesting he had been captured The statement came after Trump said the officer had been rescued in a search and res-
operations inside Iran highlighting a daring military response to one of the
tential
attack The KMT leader, who has railed against the government’s New Taiwan $1 25 trillion ($39 billion) plan faces deepening divisions inside her party over how to counter China s military threats Cheng backed a KMT proposal to allocate NT$380bn for US weapons with the option for more acquisitions, but more moderate senior figures in the party are pushing for a much higher budget Beijing sees “a need to rescue Cheng Li-wun” from a “power crisis”, Albert Tzeng a former KMT adviser told AFP Xi’s endorsement of Cheng will make her critics wary of attacking her Tzeng said And Xi who has tied taking Taiwan to his vision of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation , can show Beijing is not losing Taiwan altogether to the United States , he said Taiwan’s top China policy body warned Beijing had “summoned” Cheng for the purpose of cutting off “Taiwan’s military purchases from the US and cooperation with other countries Beijing s intention in short is to internalise the cross-strait issue treating it as a domestic matter for China, with foreign intervention prohibited, Mainland Affairs Council spokesman Liang Wen-chieh said on Thursday Cheng hit back, saying: “This trip is entirely for cross-strait peace and stability so it has nothing to do with arms procurement or other issues
The second rescue operation conducted on Saturday involved a specialised commando unit with heavy air support and all forces were extracted safely Reports claim US Air Force jets also struck Iranian positions to prevent the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) from intercepting the operation Iran also downed an A-10 attack aircraft on Friday challenging claims from US officials of unchallenged air dominance over Iranian skies That pilot was able to fly to friendly territory and eject safely According to these reports, Trump and senior administration officials monitored the rescue operations from the White House Situation Room underscoring the high stakes of the incident Iran military says US rescue operation completely foiled On the other hand, Iran s military said
China has moved ahead of the United States in global leadership approval ratings according to a new Gallup survey that showed a shift in international perceptions as US President Donald Trump faces falling support at home amid economic pressure and a controversial conflict with Iran
The survey found China’s global approval rating rose to 36% in 2025 while the US fell to 31% It is the first time in nearly two decades that Beijing has surpassed Washington in Gallup s worldwide leadership perception data, and the largest gap in China’s favour in recent years
The figures indicate that the change was driven more by declining confidence in the US than by a major rise in support for China Gallup s findings showed global approval of the US dropped from 39% in 2024, while disapproval climbed to 48% the highest level recorded by the polling organisation
China s ratings were comparatively steady Its approval increased from 32% to 36%, while disapproval remained around 37%
Analysts said the data suggests Beijing is benefiting from Washington’s weakening image rather than undergoing a dramatic expansion in its own global appeal
The results come at a time
when many countries including longstanding US allies, are reassessing their positions in what the report described as an increasingly fragmented and multipolar world Perceptions of US leadership have been affected by foreign policy choices economic uncertainty and political polarisation within the country
Former senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed commented on the development in a post on X saying: Global public opinion has now shifted decisively against USA & overwhelmingly in favour of China, with Pakistan emerging as among five top countries most friendly towards the People’s Republic of China! New World Order spearheaded by China is now backed by the World s majority!
The decline in international confidence has coincided with growing domestic dissatisfaction with Trump A Reuters/Ipsos survey cited in the report found the US president’s approval rating had fallen to 36% the lowest level of his current term
That poll pointed to broad concern over the administration s handling of the economy, especially as fuel prices rise following escalating tensions with Iran The conflict has also prompted concern among American voters with a majority expressing unease over the human and economic costs of continued
military involvement On cost-of-living issues, only about a quarter of respondents in t
the
by persistent
The report said the confrontation with Iran has further complicated matters for the White House, straining US resources and drawing criticism from international observers which has added to perceptions of an increasingly unilateral and unpredictable American approach to world affairs
For China, the changing global mood presents an opening to project itself as a steadier and more dependable partner internationally
The report noted that Beijing has worked to widen its diplomatic and economic reach through infrastructure investment, trade ties and multilateral engagement, particularly across the Global South
At the same time experts cautioned against overstating China s gains Despite moving ahead of the US, China s 36% approval rating still points to sharply divided global opinion Concerns remain in many regions over transparency human rights and strategic influence limiting Beijing s ability to convert improved perceptions into broad-based support
party would act against the so-called Love Jihad and Land Jihad if voted to power Bhattacharya, in an interview, framed the upcoming West Bengal elections as a civilisational battle, linking political discourse to identity, demography, and religion while claiming that BJP would take decisive action against Muslims under the pretext of curbing alleged conspiracies His remarks are being viewed by analysts as part of a broader pattern within the BJP, led by Narendra Modi, to stigmatize Muslims and consolidate votes through divisive rhetoric Bhattacharya asserted that the BJP would “end ‘Love Jihad’ and ‘Land Jihad’,” even if it faces accusations of communal politics signaling an unapologetic stance on policies that critics say disproportionately target Muslims
Bangladesh says suspec ted measles outbreak k ills about 100 children
DHAKA
A G E N C I E S
Bangladesh said it suspected measles killed at least 98 children in the past three weeks, official data showed on Sunday, with Dhaka ramping up vaccination efforts in the worst-affected areas Last week Prime Minister Tarique Rahman directed two senior ministers to travel across the South Asian nation of 170 million people in an effort to assess the scale of the crisis to help coordinate a response Health ministry data released on Sunday showed that children aged between six months and five years old with suspected measles symptoms soared to 6 476
Compared with past years the number of affected children is higher, and the
death toll is higher too,” Halimur Rashid, director at the Communicable Disease Control told AFP referring to the number in suspected cases
The largest number of suspected cases on record was in 2005 at 25,934, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) data, though that number had significantly declined until this year Rashid attributed the potential outbreak to multifactorial causes including a shortage of vaccines Confirmed numbers of measles cases among the demographic stand at 826, with only 16 deaths, with experts saying in many cases, testing is either not done or patients die before testing can be done Measles is one of the world s most contagious diseases according to the WHO, and is transmitted when a person
coughs or sneezes
While the disease can affect a person of any age it is most common among children and can cause complications including brain swelling and severe breathing problems
Bangladesh has made significant advancements in vaccinations to tackle infectious diseases but a measles drive due in June 2024 was delayed by a deadly uprising that same year that toppled the autocratic government of Sheikh Hasina
Most Bangladeshi children receive a vaccine at nine months, although many infected in the recent outbreak had been six months old, officials added Mahmudur Rahman chief of the National Verification Committee of Measles and Rubella said that we committed to reducing the number to zero by December 2025 but failed to achieve the target
Austerit y with Compassion
i f p a i d a w a r m t r i b u t e t o t h e p r i m e m i n i st e r f o r m a i n t a i n i n g p e t r o l e u m p r i c e s a n d s u p p l y s t a b i l i t y f o r a f u l l m o n t h u n d e r e x t r a o r d i n a r y g l o b a l p r e
due to poor vaccination programmes” Dhaka has identified 30 of the most affected areas in the region and has started a vaccination programme Health Minister Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bakul said the vaccination drive will cover the worst affected areas before being expanded to other regions Tajul Islam A Bari a former official at the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) and a public health expert told AFP that although funds had been allocated for vaccine purchases, authorities had failed to procure them
“Now we see the result the situation is scary,” Bari added
The WHO estimates as many as 95 000 measles deaths globally every year mostly among unvaccinated or under-vaccinated children under the age of five, according to its latest statistics
‘EXPENSIVE FUEL , AFFORDABLE
removed “This would make domestic petrol pricing closer to countries like India Bangladesh and Vietnam where governments have absorbed global oil price fluctuations through subsidies or minimal taxation, protecting both industry and exports, Saigol said He noted that Pakistan’s industries are facing an extraordinary cost burden due to the cumulative fuel price increase of nearly 70% in recent months far exceeding regional adjustments which have ranged between 2% and 10% Even after the Rs80 reduction, Pakistan s effective tax on petrol remains significantly higher than in regional competitors,” he added PIAF Senior Vice Chairman Nasrullah Mughal highlighted the cascading impact of high petrol prices on the industrial and trade sectors Fuel is a critical input for manufacturing logistics and supply chains LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari on Sunday met with the Honorary Consul General of Sri Lanka Yaseen Joyia Secretary Information Punjab Tahir Raza Hamdani social figure Zulfiqar Hussain, and Syed Mohsin were also present on the occasion During the meeting, both sides held detailed discussions on enhancing bilateral cooperation between Punjab and Sri Lanka across various sectors as well as promoting peopleto-people contacts
The Information Minister also appreciated the role of the Drug Advisory Training Hub in combating narcotics stating that the Punjab government will continue to work closely with the institution to eradicate drugs and raise public awareness
Special focus was given to eliminating the menace of drugs and strengthening rehabilitation programs for drug addicts Speaking on the occasion Azma Bokhari stated that the Punjab government s stance against drug traffickers is firm and uncompromising She emphasized that Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has made a drug-free province her top priority, and there is no longer any safe space for those involved in the drug trade She further added that protecting the younger generation from the destructive impact of narcotics is a key mission of the Punjab government To achieve this, extensive awareness campaigns have been launched in educational institutions to prevent drug abuse
of Pakistan (VU) has successfully conducted the National Skill Competency Test (NSCT) for IT students across the country organized on the directives of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) The initiative undertaken in line with the vision of the Prime Minister, was executed in collaboration with the Ministry of Information Technology & Telecommunication (MoITT) Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) The standardized computer-based test aims to enhance the employability and market readiness of Pakistan s IT graduates by assessing their skills on a national scale and aligning academic outcomes with industry requirements The test was conducted on April 4 and 5 2026 in four sessions per day starting from 9:00 AM to 6:30 PM with each session having a duration of 120 minutes
A total of 40 784 students from 199 universities participated in the test Demonstrating its strong operational capacity, the Virtual University organized the examination across 112 cities at 165 test centers nationwide To ensure transparency and smooth conduct 592 invigilation staff were deputed across all centers During the examination the Honorable State Minister for IT & Telecommunication, Ms Shaza Fatima Khawaja, visited the central control and monitoring room in Islamabad along with senior officials of the Ministry of IT She was briefed on the real-time monitoring mechanisms established to ensure transparency and effective oversight of examination centers nationwide The Minister appreciated the arrangements and termed the initiative a significant step towards strengthening Pakistan s digital workforce Meanwhile, Chairman HEC, Prof Dr Niaz Ahmad Akhtar (Sitara-i-Imtiaz) visited the Lahore Regional Office and control room of the Virtual University
their “admirable services” and invaluable contributions to national development, as the country joined global celebrations of the Easter symbolising hope renewal and the triumph of good over evil
In separate messages both leaders described Easter as a day embodying compassion, rebirth and spiritual renewal, while reaffirming the Christian community’s integral role in Pakistan’s social fabric They emphasised that the community s contributions across sectors deserve recognition and respect Christian community celebrates Easter with devotion and joy
Across Pakistan, the Christian community marked Easter with deep religious devotion and festivity
AS EASTER CELEBRATED NATIONWIDE
remains a key priority He stressed that religious harmony and multiculturalism reflect Pakistan’s diversity adding that collective efforts are essential for national unity and the pursuit of a welfare state Let us renew our pledge that with unity, dedication and sincerity, we will continue to work tirelessly for the progress and prosperity of our beloved country he said
Pakistan condemns attacks on UN Peacekeepers in Lebanon, calls for impar tial probe
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
Pakistan on Sunday strongly condemned recent attacks on UN peacekeepers in Lebanon amid Israel s ongoing invasion calling for a prompt, impartial, and transparent investigation into the incidents
“While strongly condemning these attacks, Pakistan calls for a thorough probe to ensure accountability and prevent future attacks against UN personnel Iftikhar Ahmed Pakistan s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, wrote on X He emphasized that strict accountability is the only way to uphold justice and protect UN peacekeepers Israeli forces have been carrying out airstrikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon since Mar 2, following Hezbollah s crossborder retaliatory attack in the US–Israeli conflict with Iran, triggered by the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei
The UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) reported that on Apr 3, three peacekeepers were wounded in a blast at a UN facility near Adeisse and were hospital-
ized Separately, three Indonesian UN peacekeepers were killed in separate attacks near the villages of Adshit Al-Qusayr and Bani Haiyyan on Mar 29–30 amid exchanges of fire between Israeli forces and local armed groups Ahmed underlined that attacks against UN personnel constitute serious violations of UN Security Council resolutions and international humanitarian law Pakistan expresses its unwavering solidarity with the Government and brotherly people of Indonesia, and with the families of the injured
peacekeepers, he said According to the Lebanese Health Ministry Israeli airstrikes and ground offensives have so far killed 1 345 people and wounded 4 040 including 1 129 men 91 women, and 125 children Pakistan, which does not recognize Israel, has consistently criticized its military operations targeting Iran Palestine and Lebanon and has repeatedly called on the international community to intervene and hold Israel accountable for civilian casualties in the Middle East
ISLAMABAD
s ta f f r e p o r t
Pakistan has questioned the position taken by United Nations human rights experts who said there was no credible evidence showing that attacks by the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) inside Pakistan were directed or controlled from Afghan territory
According to the report the UN experts had last month urged Pakistan and Afghanistan to commit to a permanent ceasefire They also said Pakistan had not made public credible evidence linking TTP attacks within its borders to the de facto Afghan authorities The experts further called on both sides to comply with international human rights law and international humanitarian law including the protection of civilians and civilian objects They also urged prompt, inde-
pendent and transparent investigations into all alleged violations accountability for those responsible, and remedies for victims in line with international standards Pakistan, however, said this position was at odds with findings contained in several United Nations and international assessments that it said had repeatedly documented the presence, safe havens and operational activities of militant groups in Afghanistan Pakistan referred to the 35th, 36th 16th and 37th reports of the UN Security Council monitoring team It also cited the SIGAR 66th and 68th reports of January 2025 Additional references mentioned by Pakistan included the Russian MFA Military-Political Assessment of February 2026 the CSTO Security Assessment of 2026 the SCO deliberations of September 2025 and the quadri-
lateral assessment by Russia China and Iran in September 2025
Pakistan also pointed to statements made by the Danish ambassador at the UN Security Council in November 2025, Russia’s Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu in 2025 Russia’s UN Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia in 2025 and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in August 2025
According to Pakistan s account of these reports and assessments, Afghanistan has been identified as a hub for more than 20 international terrorist organisations with 13 000 to 23 000 foreign militants present there Pakistan said these figures included more than 6,000 TTP fighters who were enjoying safe havens and freedom to operate The same assessments Pakistan said also recorded the continued presence of Al-Qaeda and a regrouping of its leadership along with the expansion of ISIL-K
