PAKISTAN, CANADA FORGE ‘BROAD PARTNERSHIP’ WITH FOCUS ON TRADE, SECURIT Y AND INVESTMENT
g PM SHEHBAZ, CANADIAN FM AGREE TO EXPAND COOPERATION IN AGRICULTURE, ENERGY, MINING AND AUTO SECTORS
g BOTH SIDES PLEDGE TO FA ST-TRACK FOREIGN INVESTMENT PROMOTION AND PROTECTION AGREEMENT
g FIELD MARSHAL A SIM MUNIR, ANITA ANAND REAFFIRM RESOLVE TO DEEPEN DEFENCE AND SECURITY COOPERATION
g CANADA TO INVEST OVER $2 2M IN NEW SECURITY INITIATIVES AND LAUNCH $45M DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE PACKAGE
g PROTOCOL SIGNED TO FACILITATE CANADIAN CANOLA IMPORTS AS LEADERS SEEK STRONGER TRADE AND INVESTMENT TIES
g ANITA LAUDS PAKISTAN'S REGIONAL PEACE EFFORTS, BACKS DIALOGUE TO EA SE MIDDLE EA ST TENSIONS
The
after the NCCIA on Saturday summoned Noreen Niazi for an inquiry following an interview in which she alleged that Operation Marka-eHaq was a collaboration between the Pakistan armed forces and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Speaking to reporters after appearing before the NCCIA, Noreen s counsel Faisal Malik said his client became aware of the notice through social media on Monday morning after which her legal team promptly submitted a preliminary written reply before the agency Malik said the defence had requested a copy of any complaint, report or application registered against Noreen Niazi and also sought details of the legal provisions under which the notice had been issued He said the NCCIA had directed Noreen Niazi to appear before the agency in person on Tuesday However her legal team had requested four weeks to submit a comprehensive response to the notice Quoting his client, Malik said Noreen maintained that, "as a Pakistani, she respects all state institutions" and "could never do anything that would bring disrepute to Pakistan " The lawyer added that Noreen Niazi would not be able to appear before the NCCIA on Tuesday According to the notice issued by the NCCIA Cyber Crime Reporting Centre on Saturday, Noreen Niazi had originally been directed to appear before the agency on Monday to record her statement in connection with the ongoing inquiry
Pakistan and Canada on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to broadening bilateral cooperation across a wide range of sectors, with a particular focus on trade, security, migration management and institutional collaboration, as Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand held high-level talks aimed at further strengthening relations between the two countries During the meeting at the Ministry of Interior, the two sides reviewed the overall state of Pakistan-Canada relations and explored new avenues for expanding cooperation in trade security and people-to-people exchanges Both ministers underscored their shared resolve to deepen engagement through enhanced institutional coordination and sustained bilateral dialogue said a statement issued by the
Interior Ministry The discussions also focused on strengthening joint efforts to combat illegal immigration human trafficking and cybercrime with both sides
closer coordination to effectively address evolving
Recognising the importance of institutional capacity building the two ministers exchanged views on launching training and exchange programmes for law enforcement personnel to enhance professional expertise, operational coordination and cooperation between relevant institutions the statement said Pakistan and Canada also agreed to expedite the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will provide a structured framework for broadening cooperation in areas of
and
pakistan, iran reaffirm $10b trade goal as regional tensions dominate high-level talks
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan and Iran on Monday reaffirmed their commitment to raising bilateral trade to $10 billion as Iranian Interior Minister Eskandar Momeni held highlevel talks with Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in Islamabad, with both sides also exchanging views on the evolving regional security situation amid renewed tensions between Tehran and Washington Momeni s visit comes at a critical juncture as renewed hostilities between the United States
and Iran, after more than a week of fighting, have threatened to derail Pakistan-led diplomatic efforts to end the conflict that began in February and have heightened concerns over the possibility of a wider regional escalation
The visit also underscores the growing momentum in PakistanIran relations, with the two neighbouring countries having signed several agreements and memorandums of understanding in recent months aimed at increasing bilateral trade from the existing around $3 billion to $10 billion
Speaking after his meeting with Interior Minister Mohsin
Naqvi, Momeni said achieving the ambitious trade target would require a significant increase in cross-border commercial activity and corresponding improvements in infrastructure on both sides of the border
"To achieve this goal [of $10 billion trade volume], in practice around 2,000 trucks or containers need to move between the two countries every day on average At present only about 20 percent of that target is being realized Momeni said, according to a statement issued by Pakistan's Interior Ministry
ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government on Monday moved the Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) filing a constitutional petition challenging the continued extension of the 7th National Finance Commission (NFC) Award after the merger of the erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) into the province The petition seeks a constitutional determination on whether KP's share under the NFC Award should be revised to reflect its expanded population territory and administrative responsibilities following the 25th Constitutional Amendment
The province contends that since the enactment of the 25th Constitutional Amendment in 2018, which
formally integrated FATA into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, it has consistently maintained at every NFC forum that the continuation of the 7th NFC Award beyond 2018 is ultra vires and requires constitutional correction According to the petition despite a landmark constitutional change that significantly increased the province s governance fiscal and development responsibilities KP's share under the NFC framework continues to be calculated on the basis of its pre-merger configuration
According to the petition, the province's population, geographical area and development requirements expanded substantially following the merger of the erstwhile tribal districts through the 25th Amendment However the province argues that the NFC distribution formula has never been updated to incorporate the Merged Districts, resulting in what it describes as a vi-
olation of the internationally recognised principle that "finance follows functions " It maintains that this has led to a persistent under-allocation
AfGhANiStAN-PAKiStAN tRANSit tRADe PLUNGeS
3% of global trade
According to the ministry more than 95% of the country's gemstone trade takes place through informal channels, limiting export earnings due to fragmented regulation weak certification and valuation systems high mining losses limited access to finance and international markets and foreign exchange leakages
To address these issues, the policy seeks to establish a transparent and regulated gemstone value chain promote domestic value addition and position Pakistan as a reliable supplier of ethically mined and certified gemstones
The strategy is built around three pillars: formalising the sector
PR OFIT
S H A H Z A D PA R A C H A
Pakistan and Uzbekistan have agreed in principle to route bilateral transit trade through China as the closure of trade corridors through Afghanistan and renewed fighting between Iran and the United States leave Islamabad with fewer reliable links to Central Asia officials familiar with the matter said The two countries are expected to sign a protocol incorporating additions and amendments into the Pakistan-Uzbekistan Transit Trade Agreement during the visit of Uzbekistan’s Deputy Prime Minister to Pakistan on July 21st (today)
The amendment will formally add the China corridor to the available routes under the agreement, allowing goods to move through the Sost Dry Port and western China before entering Central Asia
“The protocol is aimed at expanding transit options and ensuring uninterrupted movement of goods between the two countries despite evolving regional secu-
through registration, traceability and certification; increasing value addition through modern mining techniques and improved financing; and enhancing global competitiveness by complying with international standards
A key proposal is the creation of a statutory National Gemstone Authority through the merger of the Pakistan Gems and Jewellery Development Company including its staff and assets
The authority will regulate and coordinate the sector, maintain a national business registry, implement certification and traceability systems, facilitate trade and oversee implementation of the policy
The policy also proposes establishing a National Warranty Office to standardise gemstone inspection valuation, certification and sealing of export consignments
The office will work with Pakistan Customs Pakistan Single Window banks and courier companies to improve export documentation reduce disputes and strengthen logistics
To improve transparency, the policy introduces minimum export price benchmarks, Pakistan-specific HS codes and a National Gemstone Business Registry that will assign unique business identifiers linked to customs banking and certification systems
The government also plans to facilitate temporary exports, returns
and refunds, include gemstones in the business-to-consumer e-commerce export regime and promote digital payment systems in coordination with the State Bank of Pakistan
The policy includes measures to improve mining productivity through machinery rental pools, demonstration mines, controlled access to explosives, expanded cutting and polishing facilities skills development programmes and easier imports of rough stones and modern equipment
It also aims to strengthen Pakistan's presence in international markets through globally recognised certification systems, a unified "Pakistani Gemstone" brand and participation in international exhibitions Implementation will be overseen by a Steering Committee chaired by the Minister for Industries and Production, while the proposed National Gemstone Authority will serve as the central coordinating body
The ministry said initial federal funding would be required to establish the authority and implement priority initiatives, although it is expected to become largely self-sustaining through service charges and fees over time
Implementation will also require enabling legislation and amendments to relevant rules, statutory regulatory orders and State Bank regulations
rity challenges an official said on condition of anonymity Pakistan plans to use the corridor as an additional route for trade destined for the Central Asian Republics, including Uzbekistan Tashkent, meanwhile, will retain access to Pakistan’s seaports under the revised framework the official added The agreement reflects how quickly Pakistan s regional connectivity plans have been overtaken by security developments on both its western borders For years, the shortest and commercially most attractive route between Pakistan and Uzbekistan ran through Afghanistan The proposed UzbekistanAfghanistan-Pakistan corridor was also expected to become the foundation for a railway connecting Central Asia with the Arabian Sea
That route, however, has effectively been unavailable since relations between Islamabad and Kabul deteriorated sharply Pakistan closed its main border crossings including Torkham and Chaman, after cross-border clashes in October 2025 Trade through the main crossings has remained suspended amid continued fighting and disagreements over militant groups operating from Afghan territory
The closure has affected more than transit cargo Afghanistan itself has traditionally been an important market for Pak-
Trump warns Iran of devastating retaliation as Pakistan, Qatar push fresh peace roadmap
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
In none of the 14 clauses have we backed down from our rights, principles, national interests, revolutionary values, and beliefs,” he said “A major part of the achievements has been in favour of the Islamic Republic of Iran and practically no clause can be found that has created a unilateral benefit for the American side, he added Hostilities resumed in the Gulf region this month despite the memorandum signed in June
'ACTIONS MUST CONFIRM CLAIMS NOT CONTRADICT THEM': Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammed Bagher Ghalibaf said the United States continued deploying military assets to the region while publicly claiming it
sought to stop the war
“They ve bet on our intelligence being as brief as their own IQ Ghalibaf wrote on X accusing Washington of contradictory rhetoric and actions He said Iran fully understood what he described as "American games" and had prepared accordingly “Actions must confirm claims, not contradict them ” he added
PENTAGON IDENTIFIES US
TROOPS KILLED IN JORDAN: The
Pentagon identified Lieutenant Tyler James Feehan, 25, of Ewa Beach, Hawaii, and Private Isabella Gonzales, 19, of Carrollton Texas as the two American service members killed in Iranian strikes on Jordan on Friday according to Al Jazeera The US military said both soldiers had
been supporting operations against the armed group ISIL (ISIS) On Saturday US Central Command confirmed that two troops were killed while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks in Jordan The US military said the
cease hostilities and begin negotiations on broader bilateral disputes It was followed by talks in Bürgenstock Switzerland where officials established a High-Level Committee and adopted a 60-day roadmap covering negotiations on Iran's nuclear programme, sanctions relief and a dispute-resolution mechanism However, that diplomatic process has come under renewed strain following the latest round of fighting and competing accusations by Washington and Tehran that each side violated the agreement Despite the renewed tensions Pakistan has maintained that diplomatic channels remain open and reiterated its commitment to facilitating dialogue between the two countries
VISIT WOULD CONTRIBUTE POSITIVELY TO REGIONAL
DIPLOMACY:
FM DISCUSS EXPANDING ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP: Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, who arrived in Islamabad earlier in the day called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Prime Minister s House after holding one-on-one talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister s Office (PMO), Anita conveyed the good wishes of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and said her visit had been undertaken on the instructions of her prime minister to further strengthen Canada's relations with Pakistan She expressed Ottawa's desire to explore new opportunities for trade and bilateral cooperation particularly in the fields of agriculture mining energy automobile and auto parts while emphasizing Canada s interest in expanding economic engagement with Pakistan The Canadian foreign minister also said the proposed Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (FIPPA) would help strengthen the confidence of Canadian investors and encourage greater investment in Pakistan Welcoming the visiting dignitary, Prime Minister Shehbaz said Pakistan and Canada enjoyed longstanding friendly relations that should now be expanded into stronger economic and investment partnerships The two countries enjoyed friendly ties that needed to be further expanded, particularly in the areas of trade, investment, agriculture, including agri-foods and vaccine manufacturing renewable energy as well as the automobile and auto parts industry the prime minister said Prime Minister Shehbaz conveyed his greetings and best wishes to Prime Minister Mark Carney and expressed his desire to meet him in the near future He
also recalled his telephone conversation with the Canadian premier in April and thanked Canada for supporting Pakistan's efforts to promote regional peace The two sides agreed that the Pakistani-Canadian community continued to serve as an important bridge between the two countries and reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening people-to-people ties
According to the PMO statement both countries also agreed to exchange delegations in the fields of trade and minerals cooperation to explore mutually beneficial opportunities and further enhance bilateral trade and investment Prime Minister Shehbaz also witnessed the signing of a protocol on phytosanitary regulations governing the import of Canadian canola into Pakistan which was signed by Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand
PAKISTAN, CANADA PLEDGE
STRONGER DEFENCE, SECURITY TIES: The Canadian foreign minister also called on Chief of Defence Staff and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the meeting focused on matters of mutual interest regional security and bilateral relations between Pakistan and Canada Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir highlighted Pakistan's perspective on global peace and regional stability, underscoring the importance of cooperation and collaborative efforts to address common security challenges The visiting Canadian foreign minister appreciated Pakistan s continued sacrifices and contributions in the fight against terrorism and acknowledged the country's constructive role in promoting regional peace and stability Both sides reiterated their resolve to further strengthen bilateral relations and expand engagements in the fields of defence and security
CANADA ANNOUNCES NEW INVESTMENT IN SECURITY, DEVELOPMENT: Earlier addressing a joint media briefing with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar after their high-level talks Anita Anand announced that Canada would invest more than $2 2 million in three new security initiatives with Pakistan and launch $45 million in new development assistance programmes She described Pakistan as an important partner in Canada s strategy to diversify global trade noting that Ottawa intended to double its non-US trade over the next decade "Canada is pursuing a trade diversification strategy, and we will double non-US trade over the next 10 years she said Pakistan is an important country in terms of our trade diversification strategy Anita said the two countries, which this year marked 80 years of diplomatic relations, had agreed to strengthen cooperation in trade, investment and economic development
"We are committed to expanding trade and investment through a new Foreign Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement, known as a FIPA, to be completed at the earliest possible date," she said, adding that the agreement would provide businesses in both countries with greater predictability and confidence to invest and expand
On regional issues the Canadian foreign minister acknowledged Pakistan's diplomatic efforts in the Middle East, particularly its role in supporting dialogue aimed at achieving a peaceful and sustainable resolution of regional tensions including those involving Iran
She said Canada remained concerned over escalating tensions across the Middle East and Gulf region and expressed concern over attacks on civilian infrastructure, including power generation and water desalination facilities urging all parties to exercise restraint protect civilians and pursue dialogue
COMMENT
Trading for tomorrow
TRising terrorism in Pakistan
PAKISTAN is once again witnessing a surge in terrorism, particularly in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) In response the Pakistan Army has launched Operation Shaban to counter militant activities in Balochistan According to official reports security forces have killed at least 88 militants in joint operations across the province While the total number of terrorists neutralized in combined has reached 126 since July 5 These developments highlight the persistence of terrorism as a critical national security challenge From a political science perspective an important question arises: where did terrorism originate? Historically, the term terrorism was first used to describe the Reign of Terror during the French Revolution (1793-1794) This was the period marked by state-led violence against perceived enemies of the revolution Over time the concept has evolved to encompass non-state actors employing violence to achieve political ideological or religious objectives Pakistan, a South Asian state, has faced terrorism as a persistent challenge for decades According to the 2026 Global Terrorism Index, Pakistan ranked on 1st number which means it is most affected state by terrorism This is for the first time that Islamabad ranked as 1st country since the index s inception This alarming development reflects a sharp resurgence in militant activity, driven by shifting regional dynamics, including the Taliban s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021 Additionally, the growing activities of groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) have intensified security concerns Notably while terrorism declined between 2014 and 2019 Pakistan experienced a six fold increase in terrorist incidents in 2025 Several militant groups continue to operate within Pakistan, each driven by distinct motivations Tehreeke-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) remains one of the most prominent groups primarily active in KPK and tribal districts It seeks to challenge state authority and impose its interpretation of Islamic law In Balochistan separatist organizations such as the BLA and Balochistan Liberation Front (BLF) are engaged in insurgent activities, often targeting security forces In addition, sectarian groups and smaller militant factions contribute to sporadic violence across the country According to the detailed report by Global Terrorism Index Pakistan surpasses Burkina Faso as the country most impacted by terrorism The number of deaths from terrorist attacks rose by nearly six per cent over the past year to 1,139 Pakistan has experienced a significant increase in terrorist activity since the Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan in 2021 TTP remains the deadliest terrorist organisation in Pakistan for the fifth consecutive year The TTP continues to escalate and evolve carrying out attacks on security forces as well as civilians They have been utilising new technologies, like drones to carry out targeted bombings, resulting in more casualties
that once symbolized deterrence now also represent highly visible and potentially vulnerable targets In the event of a broader confrontation American bases across the Gulf would almost certainly feature among the first objectives for retaliation Consequently, the very facilities designed to provide security may simultaneously expose host countries to heightened risks This presents Gulf monarchies with a complex strategic dilemma While they continue to depend on American military partnerships for intelligence sharing missile defence maritime security and advanced defence technologies they are equally conscious that any direct military confrontation between Washington and Tehran is likely to unfold on or around their own territory Their security partnership with the United States thus carries an unavoidable element of strategic exposure It is therefore unsurprising that several Gulf states have consistently sought to preserve diplomatic channels with Iran, even while maintaining close defence ties with Washington Countries such as Oman and Qatar have repeatedly positioned themselves as facilitators of dialogue recognising that military deterrence alone cannot guarantee regional stability Their approach reflects an appreciation that diplomacy and security are increasingly complementary rather than competing instruments of statecraft
The prospect of a large-scale American ground invasion of Iran further illustrates these strategic complexities While air strikes and naval operations remain viable military options deploying substantial ground forces into Iran would present an entirely different challenge Iran s vast territory, mountainous geography, large population, entrenched military institutions, and decades of preparation for asymmetric warfare would impose enormous operational and political costs on any invading force The experiences of Iraq and Afghanistan continue to shape strategic thinking in Washington where opinions remain divided over the wisdom of another prolonged military commitment in the Middle East These realities resonate with the arguments advanced by prominent realist scholars such as Professor John Mearsheimer who has consistently cautioned against equating overwhelming military superiority with assured political suc-
The TTP was attributed to 56 per cent of terrorism-related deaths in Pakistan in 2025 They carried out 595 attacks, resulting in 637 deaths, an increase of 13 per cent from the 555 deaths in the preceding year
The BLA was responsible for Pakistan’s largest terror attack of 2025 when a group of armed terrorists seized control of a passenger train by bombing the tracks near Quetta railway station holding 442 people as hostages Reports indicate that 21 hostages, as well as four military members and 33 terrorists, were killed in the incident The Taliban’s rise to power in Afghanistan profoundly impacted Pakistan’s security and stability The impact of terrorism in Pakistan is multidimensional affecting national security economic development and international reputation Persistent violence has resulted in significant loss of life, destruction of infrastructure, and internal displacement Economically, terrorism discourages foreign investment, disrupts trade and development projects such as the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) It forces the government to allocate substantial resources to security rather than development Socially it fosters fear uncertainty and mistrust among citizens weakening societal unity and increas-
The Karachi squeeze
cess History offers repeated reminders that geography nationalism political resilience and strategic patience often outweigh conventional battlefield advantages From Vietnam to Afghanistan, technologically superior powers have frequently discovered that winning battles does not necessarily translate into achieving sustainable political objectives
None of this suggests that American military bases have lost their strategic relevance They continue to provide indispensable capabilities in intelligence collection force projection logistics, counterterrorism operations, and regional deterrence Yet their role is no longer as straightforward as it once appeared In an era defined by precision missiles drone warfare and hybrid conflict military installations increasingly embody both security and vulnerability
The Gulf s evolving security environment therefore demands a more nuanced understanding than the traditional binary of protection versus exposure For Gulf monarchies, the challenge is not choosing between alliance and neutrality but balancing robust security partnerships with sustained regional diplomacy Their long-term stability will depend not only on military deterrence but equally on preventing crises from escalating into wider regional conflicts Ultimately, the debate is no longer whether American military bases remain strategically important They undoubtedly do The more pertinent question is whether their continued presence can adapt to an evolving threat environment without simultaneously transforming these strategic assets into strategic liabilities In today s Middle East, true security may depend as much on successful diplomacy as on military strength alone
The writer is a freelance columnist
Privacy undone
Is Israel the biggest threat to the USA?
FOR decades the United States has viewed Israel as its most trusted ally in the Middle East a beacon of democracy, a strategic bulwark, and a partner in shared values Yet a growing body of evidence suggests this relationship has evolved into something far more complicated raising an uncomfortable question: could Israel actually be the biggest threat to American security and sovereignty?
When we examine cyber capabilities, espionage activities, influence operations, and legislative maneuvers Israel emerges as a uniquely dangerous actor one whose authorized access to American systems makes it more capable of doing harm than any traditional adversary Israel's cyber warfare capabilities are widely considered among the most sophisticated in the world with the Pentagon s Defense Intelligence Agency rating its espionage threat against the US as critical the highest designation available
The country has demonstrated this prowess through operations like the mass pager explosions in Lebanon and the Stuxnet virus, but what makes Israel uniquely threatening is that these capabilities were largely built with American assistance meaning they understand US systems from the inside out
This insider knowledge combined with their own innovations, arguably gives them an asymmetric advantage over other adversaries like China or Russia, who lack the same level of authorized access to American military and intelligence infrastructure The espionage is not hypothetical Israel has been caught numerous times planting spyware on the phones of American Iran negotiators, attempting to place listening devices inside US Secret Service vehicles, and running the infamous Jonathan Pollard spy ring
These incidents represent a pattern of behavior inconsistent with an ally relationship and more characteristic of an adversarial power operating against American interests While China and Russia certainly conduct espionage against the US, neither has the same level of institutionalized access to American systems making Israel s intelligence-gathering capabilities uniquely dangerous and harder to detect Perhaps the most alarming
development is the revelation that the Israeli government engaged Brad Parscale, Donald Trump's former campaign manager, to run a multimillion-dollar digital influence campaign targeting American conservatives to prevent them from turning against Israel The operation escalated to the point where Vice President JD Vance publicly accused elements within the Israeli government of funding a campaign "to try to derail the negotiation" of a US-Iran deal and attacking him personally to shift American foreign policy in Israel s favor When a sitting US Vice President must publicly call out a foreign government for attempting to undermine American foreign policy, the relationship has moved beyond normal ally dynamics into dangerous territory
The legislative threat is even more concrete Section 219 of the NDAA would have effectively merged the US and Israeli military industrial bases allowing joint weapons development and granting Israel co-ownership of American weapons systems While the Senate blocked this proposal by a narrow 50-46 vote the fact that nearly half of US senators supported such an unprecedented surrender of sovereignty demonstrates the depth of Israeli influence within the American legislative branch Prime Minister Netanyahu framed this as moving "from aid to partnership," but critics like Representative Thomas Massie called it an "unprecedented escalation of foreign involvement" that amounts to fully capitulating our nation s autonomy to foreign influence
The American Israel Public Affairs Committee functions as a powerful lobbying force that has effectively shaped US foreign policy to serve Israeli interests, sometimes against American interests with documented "revolving-door" relationships between AIPAC the US government and the Israeli government Unlike other countries seeking to influence US policy, Israel has legal and institutionalized access through these organizations, giving it a level of domestic influence that no other foreign power can match This access extends beyond lobbying to actual legislative drafting with critics charging that Netanyahu runs Congress through the legislation he writes and sends to American lawmakers The current crisis is exacerbated by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's personal
powerful as
legal troubles facing corruption charges that would likely end his political career, he has been described as taking aggressive actions to secure Israel s position while simultaneously fighting for his political survival This introduces an unstable element into US-Israel relations: a foreign leader willing to manipulate American politics and policy to serve his personal legal and political interests, with critics arguing his aggressive policies are driven more by self-preservation than Israeli national security The combination of capability access influence and personal motivation makes Israel a uniquely dangerous actor in the American political landscape
To determine if Israel is truly the biggest threat, we must compare it to other adversaries China remains America's primary strategic competitor with global ambitions to displace US dominance while Russia poses an immediate military threat through its war in Ukraine and proven willingness to interfere in American elections
However, neither China nor Russia has the same level of authorized access to US military technology, intelligence systems, and governmental processes that Israel enjoys nor do they have domestic lobbying networks as
Ultimately, whether Israel is the "biggest" threat depends on whether we define threat as "potential for conflict" or "capacity for harm from within." In the latter category, Israel may well be the single greatest danger to American sovereignty and security hidden in plain sight, protected by the very alliance that makes it so dangerous, and operating with capabilities that no other nation can match.
Z e r o h o u r i n B a g h d a d
resurfaces Barrack does not need to threaten him The threat is already filed
T W O M I S S I O N S , O N E I N S T R U M E N T:
Barrack’s brief is narrow on paper: dismantle the militias and sever Iraq from Iran In Washington’s reading these are one task Iraq has functioned for two decades as Iran s lung a channel for laundering money and slipping past sanctions Close that lung and Tehran suffocates a little more each month The instrument is the same dollar pipeline that put al-Zaidi in office
The Popular Mobilization Forces comprising some 238 000 fighters who draw $3 6 billion a year in state salaries were enshrined in Iraqi law in 2016 Their hardest factions Kataib Hezbollah and Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, remain Tehran s most reliable proxies in the region Cut their payroll, and fighters go home, even if the ideology does not Two smaller factions have already agreed to place their weapons under state control The Iran-loyal holdouts have not and Washington has signalled what awaits them
“TAKE THE OIL”: Nine years before he sat behind the Resolute Desk, Trump sat across from CNN’s Anderson Cooper and made a promise that would follow him into two campaigns and a presidency: I would bomb the hell out of those oil fields he said adding I would take away their wealth I would take away their oil Pressed on the cost, he doubled down He had told Wolf Blitzer the same thing, more bluntly, years earlier: “We weren’t smart enough to take the oil ” General Raymond Odierno warned at the time that this was a fantasy of easy power: There are limits to military power Thucydides said it without the euphemism, twentyfour centuries earlier: the strong do what they can, and the weak suffer what they must That 2015 bravado reads differently now that Trump
holds the office and his envoy holds the leverage Chevron is negotiating an expanded role in Iraq; other US firms are pursuing gas, power, and export contracts The green-room boast has become a policy file
THE IRON FIST, AND THE GREEN
ZONE S RECKONING: For militias that miss the deadline Washington has shown its hand Strikes killed dozens of PMF fighters this spring; the Treasury has sanctioned seven commanders by name Special operations units are expected to keep targeting irreconcilables directly Elsewhere Washington may draw down Erbil stays an anchor to watch Iran and keep the Kurdistan Regional Government in Washington s orbit rather than Baghdad s The pressure has a domestic mirror In early July, Counter-Terrorism Service sealed the Green Zone and moved through its compounds by morning light Forty-seven people were detained including twelve sitting MPs Corruption has drained an estimated $776 billion from Iraq s economy since 2003 More trials are coming, aimed at former premiers and militia commanders, with asset freezes to follow It is Barrack’s second lever in miniature: expose the ledger, then decide whether to use it
BREAKING THE CRESCENT: Step back and the wider design comes into focus In 2004 Jordan s King Abdullah II warned of a Shiite Crescent arcing from Tehran through Baghdad and Damascus to Beirut That arc is now being dismantled link by link Syria has already been pulled from the sectarian alliance in the middle Iran has absorbed military pressure; its own commanders privately call an attempt to reframe the confrontation as a civilisational not political, one Lebanon is next: President Joseph Aoun visits the White House on 21st July, pressing for an Israeli withdrawal while Hezbollah still refuses to disarm Iraq is the crescent’s last vertebra and Washington intends to remove it this year Whether what follows is a sovereign state or simply a different patron Washington instead of Tehran is a question the transition hasn t answered That is opinion, not fact Fact: the clock reads 30 September, and in Baghdad, the hand on it is not an Iraqi hand
The secret Trump administration battle to fight Chinese AI
Tis showing signs it could ban cutting-edge Chinese AI models a momentous move that could lock in dominance by OpenAI and Anthropic
Why it matters: Parts of the administration have tried to implement de facto bans on foreign open-source models before, knowledgeable sources tell Axios Last week’s rise of Chinese model Kimi is reigniting those efforts Pro-competition voices fear the implications
U S companies are increasingly using open-source models from China because they re cheaper and, as seen by the advent of Kimi, just about as good as the domestic technology Behind the scenes: The Commerce Department last year considered adding multiple Chinese AI labs to its Entity List which would effectively cut off U S access without a license, a source close to the administration told Axios The National Security Agency and White House Office of the National Cyber Director also considered putting out an advisory on Chinese AI lab threats last year
Qamar Bashir
ANDY BURNHAM BECOMES UK PM, SAYS BRITAIN NEEDS TO 'REGAIN STABILIT Y'
US strikes deepen hardship in southern Iran, residents say
asked that his family name not be published for fear of reprisals
This reaction helps explain why the war has not triggered fresh unrest even in provinces known for opposition activity despite expectations by US President Donald Trump at the start of the conflict that it might do so
DISCONTENT PERSISTS, BUT ANGER TURNS OUTWARD: Opposition to Iran’s government has long existed in the country’s impoverished south The region includes the provinces of Hormozgan Bushehr Khuzestan and Sistan-Baluchistan, stretching along the coast from Iraq to Pakistan It is home to several ethnic and religious minorities including a large Arab minority in Khuzestan Iran s Balochi ethnic minority in Sistan-Baluchistan and a Sunni Muslim religious minority in Hormozgan
water during extreme heat The US attacks have deepened our problems No electricity for hours means no water for hours in this heat”, he said adding "I love
economic strain "Trump has ruined our lives”, he said Amin also described the personal toll of the war I feel like I m suffocating he
Despite containing much of Iran s oil and gas wealth, residents have for years complained about weak investment limited economic opportunity and poor public services Iranian authorities deny any regional ethnic or religious discrimination Hadi, a grocery shop owner in Khuzestan, said the strikes had aggravated daily hardship, especially as electricity outages disrupted access to
it had exceeded the level seen by the same stage in 2022, which he described as an exceptional year for wildfires Nunez told the broadcaster that 111 people had been arrested in connection with fires across France He said many of those detained had acknowledged their involvement, and added that human actions whether deliberate or accidental were behind the vast majority of fires
FIREFIGHTING RESOURCES DEPLOYED: Hundreds of firefighters were mobilised on Monday to battle ongoing blazes, especially in the southern Var region and on the island of Corsica
Nunez said the wildfire danger would remain fairly high
facility to implement an effective hospital waste management system
He stressed that every healthcare institution must maintain complete records of medical waste generation, collection, transportation and final disposal, which should be regularly audited and inspected by the relevant authorities He emphasized that legislation alone is not enough unless it is enforced effectively Hospitals found violating hospital waste
PM PUSHES FASTER RAIL UPGRADES UNDER TRANSFORMATION PL AN
LJCP proposes constitutional amendment for international commercial cour
IFAD warns KP against replacing KPRETP chief, cites risk to Rs50b projec t progress
The commission said the proposed court is intended to ensure speedy and effective settlement of international commercial disputes improve enforcement of arbitral awards, promote consistency and predictability in commercial jurisprudence, boost investor confidence, and strengthen Pakistan’s standing as a destination for international trade and investment The statement said that given the constitutional nature of the proposal the commission resolved to recommend the amendment to the federal government for consideration and for the start of the required legislative process
The International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has urged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government and the federal Ministry of Economic Affairs not to replace the Project Director of the €157 55 million (approximately Rs50 billion) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Economic Transformation Project (KPRETP) warning that a change in leadership at this critical stage could slow implementation delay key decisions and undermine the significant progress achieved over the past two years In a letter addressed to both the provincial and federal governments IFAD stressed that the project has entered a decisive phase where continuity in leadership is vital to sustaining implementation momentum and ensuring that development targets are met within the agreed timeframe
The development finance agency noted that the KPRETP had initially been classified as an Actual Problem Project because of implementation delays and weak overall performance However, fol-
lowing sustained supervision, corrective measures and the efforts of the current project management, the initiative has now been upgraded to the status of a "Potential Problem Project reflecting marked improvements in implementation and operational performance
According to the letter, when Amjad Meraj assumed charge as Project Director, the project s loan disbursement rate stood at just eight percent Through enhanced project management and accelerated implementation the disbursement rate had risen to 24 percent by April 30, accompanied by substantial improvements in project execution and expenditure
IFAD observed that the project s implementation trajectory has continued to improve steadily and if the current pace is maintained, both loan utilization and expenditure are expected to exceed 40 percent by June 2027
The organization further pointed out that considerable financial and technical resources had been invested during the past two years to strengthen the Project Director's professional capacity through specialized training, technical assistance and institutional sup-
port Replacing the incumbent at this stage, the letter cautioned, could interrupt administrative continuity, weaken institutional memory, delay decision-making and adversely affect overall project coordination
The letter also reminded both the Government of Pakistan and the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that, under the financing agreement governing the project IFAD's prior concurrence is mandatory before the appointment or replacement of the Project Director or any other key project officials
Reaffirming the importance of stable leadership, IFAD requested both governments to retain Amjad Meraj as Project Director in order to safeguard the gains made so far maintain implementation momentum and facilitate the successful completion of the €157 55 million rural transformation project
The agency also urged the provincial and federal authorities to consult IFAD before taking any decision regarding appointments or changes to key project positions emphasizing that adherence to the agreed financing framework is essential for ensuring effective project governance and uninterrupted implementation
Around 40 medicines registered in Pakistan remain unavailable because the federal government has yet to approve their prices, restricting access to treatments for cancer, diabetes and other serious illnesses according to a news report
The pending list includes cancer medicines such as Pembrolizumab Nivolumab Irinotecan, Dasatinib and Leucovorin, along with Humador insulin, Adalimumab, recombinant Factor VIII and Carbidopa-Levodopa
It also covers blood thinners
Dabigatran and Heparin pregnancy hypertension medicine
Methyldopa antibiotics Meropenem and Fosfomycin, Ketamine, vaccines, radiology contrast agents and medicines used in emergency departments and intensive care units According to the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan the Drug Pricing Committee finalised price recommendations between December 2024 and June 2025
The DRAP Policy Board
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