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Wednesday, 29 July, 2026 | 14 Safar, 1448
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 124 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition
PM, US CONGRESSMEN PLEDGE DEEPER POLITICAL, PARLIAMENTARY AND ECONOMIC ENGAGEMENT g
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PREMIER SHEHBAZ MEETS US CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, FELICITATES AMERICAN NATION ON 250TH ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE
RECALLS PRESIDENT TRUMP’S ROLE IN SECURING MAY 2025 PAKISTAN-INDIA CEASEFIRE, PRAISES REGIONAL PEACE EFFORTS
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US BUSINESS LEADERS INVITED TO EXPAND INVESTMENTS IN IT, ENERGY, MINING, MANUFACTURING, AGRICULTURE AND MINERALS g CABINET COMMITTEE ON ENERGY APPROVES AMENDMENTS TO PAKISTAN OIL REFINING POLICY 2023 TO MODERNIZE BROWNFIELD REFINERIES g
PM ORDERS OGRA REFORMS, GULF ROADSHOWS AND LARGER STRATEGIC PETROLEUM RESERVES TO ENHANCE ENERGY SECURITY ISLAMABAD
SALEEM JADOON
RIME Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to expanding its strategic partnership with the United States through enhanced political, parliamentary and economic engagement. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met a visiting bipartisan US Congressional delegation, comprising Rep. Ryan Zinke and Rep. Michael Baumgartener, at the Prime Minister House, where he congratulated the Congressmen and the American people on the 250th anniversary of US Independence and conveyed his warm regards and best wishes to President Donald Trump. Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch and US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie Baker were also present during the meeting, according to a Prime Minister’s Office news release. Welcoming the visiting lawmakers, the prime minister described their visit as an important step towards strengthening Pakistan-US relations and expanding cooperation across multiple sectors. The prime minister fondly recalled
President Trump’s bold and decisive intervention that led to the cessation of hostilities and a ceasefire between Pakistan and India in May 2025, saying the initiative helped save hundreds of millions of lives. Discussing bilateral relations, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan was keen to further deepen cooperation with the United States in trade, investment, agriculture, information technology, mines and minerals, and the energy sector.
Dar upbeat on doubling Pakistan-US trade to $20b in five years ISLAMABAD
NEWS DESK
The two US Congressmen thanked the prime minister for the warm hospitality extended to them during their visit and observed that President Trump enjoyed excellent relations with Pakistan’s leadership, which they said was also having a positive impact on bilateral ties. They also appreciated Pakistan’s leading role in promoting regional peace and stability. Both sides agreed to increase the number and frequency of visits by US Congressional delegations to
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pML-n sweeps first phase of aJK polls amid rigging claims, violence ISLAMABAD
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday that Pakistan believes its trade with the United States can reach $20 billion within the next five years, as Islamabad hosted a visiting American delegation of lawmakers and business representatives. Speaking at an event attended by US congressmen Ryan Zinke and Michael James Baumgartner, Dar said goods trade between the two countries stood at $9.4bn in the last fiscal year. He said the US remained Pakistan’s largest single-country export destination and added, "While encouraging this figure … we are confident that we can double bilateral trade to 20bn over the next five years by fully harnessing the complementarity of our economies." Dar described stronger economic links as central to the bilateral relationship, saying robust and mutually beneficial trade ties were “the true measure of a mature strategic partnership and friendship”. He said Pakistan remained among the largest importers of US cotton and was also emerging as an important market for US hydrocarbons. He added that Pakistan’s demand for advanced machinery, technology and capital goods offered “significant opportunity for American manufacturers”. Dar also pointed to the presence of more than 80 US companies in Pakistan, saying their operations reflected confidence in the country’s market, workforce and long-term economic potential. Referring to the investment climate, the foreign minister said Pakistan’s improving macroeconomic outlook, ongoing structural reforms and competitive US tariffs had positioned the market for a new phase of investment. He urged the visiting delegation to work closely with the Special Investment Facilitation Council, which he said had been created to provide a “one-window facility” for investors.
Pakistan, as well as exchanges of parliamentary delegations between the two countries, to further strengthen bilateral understanding and cooperation. Following the meeting, the prime minister hosted a reception in honour of a visiting delegation of US corporate sector executives representing a broad range of industries, including information technology, technology, energy, mining and manufacturing. Welcoming the business delegation, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening its longstanding partnership with the United States, emphasizing that economic cooperation remained a central pillar of bilateral relations. He invited more American companies to invest in Pakistan through mutually beneficial ventures across diverse sectors of the economy. During the interaction, the prime minister highlighted the important role of the Pakistani-American diaspora, noting that its strong representation within the visiting business delegation served as a vital bridge between Pakistan and the United States. The reception was also attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, federal ministers and senior government officials.
The Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) emerged as the clear frontrunner in the first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections, securing nine of the 13 seats contested across Mirpur Division, while the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) won the remaining four seats, according to unofficial and unconfirmed results released on Tuesday. Polling was held across 13 constituencies in Mirpur, Kotli and Bhimber districts from 8am to 6pm after the Election Commission extended voting by one hour. The elections are being conducted in three phases under a revised schedule announced by AJK Chief Election Commissioner Ghulam Mustafa Mughal. The first phase covered all constituencies in Mirpur Division, while polling in Muzaffarabad Division and the 12 refugee constituencies is scheduled for August 2, followed by Poonch (Rawalakot) Division on August 10. According to unofficial results, the PML-N won constituencies LA-1, LA-4, LA-5, LA-7, LA-9, LA-11, LA-12 and LA-13, while the PPP secured victories in
aJK polls ignite coalition rift as pML-n, ppp trade rigging charges ISLAMABAD
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
The first phase of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) Legislative Assembly elections triggered a sharp political confrontation on Tuesday, with coalition partners Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) accusing each other of electoral malpractice following the release of preliminary results. According to the Election Commission, the PML-N secured nine of the 13 seats contested in Mirpur Division during the opening phase of the threestage elections, held amid heightened security arrangements. The polling process was overshadowed by violence, clashes LA-2, LA-3, LA-8 and LA-10. Results for LA-6 Bhimber-II were still pending, with PML-N candidate Chaudhry Muhammad Razaq holding a comfortable lead after votes from more than half the polling stations were counted.
and allegations of rigging, prompting an exchange of accusations between the two coalition allies. Addressing a televised press conference, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz hailed the PML-N's performance as an "outstanding victory" and urged the PPP to accept the public mandate instead of questioning the election results. "The state does not decide election results; the people do," she said, rejecting allegations made by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. Recalling the Gilgit-Baltistan elections, Maryam noted that the PML-N had accepted the PPP's victory and facilitated the formation of its government, questioning why the PPP was now alleging rigging after suffering electoral defeat.
The results underscored the PML-N's strong showing in Mirpur Division, although voter turnout remained lower than in the previous AJK elections.
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Tarar says AJK violence driven by militants, not peaceful protesters ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
The federal government on Tuesday alleged that the recent violence in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) was orchestrated by militant elements pursuing a foreign-backed agenda rather than peaceful protesters, as authorities claimed armed terrorists had infiltrated demonstrations organised by the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC). Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said the unrest in parts of AJK could not be described as a peaceful protest, maintaining that armed militants, backed by hostile forces and foreign funding, were involved in attempts to destabilise the region. The remarks came as AJK Information Secretary Muhammad Rashid Hanif and senior police officials presented what they described as evidence linking the violence to militants affiliated with Fitna Al Khawarij, the term used by the state for members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Addressing a press conference, Hanif said the state possessed credible information indicating that a significant number of participants in the JAAC protests were linked to militant organisations and were attempting to sabotage the remaining phases of the AJK Legislative Assembly elections. "The state's foremost responsibility is to maintain law and order and ensure the democratic process continues uninterrupted," he said, adding that armed individuals had infiltrated the protests under the cover of civilian demonstrators. Hanif presented video footage purportedly showing masked gunmen positioned on rooftops, arguing that the presence of heavily armed individuals demonstrated the protests had evolved into militant activity rather than a civil movement. He alleged that anti-state elements had misled ordinary citizens into joining the demonstrations and were using women and children as human shields while spreading misleading narratives on social media portraying the agitation as a human rights movement. AJK Police spokesperson and Deputy Inspector General Irfan Kashfi said the armed participants possessed sophisticated weapons, including M-4 rifles, AK-47s, sub-machine guns and, according to preliminary information, sniper rifles. "These are not peaceful protesters but militants," Kashfi asserted. He said one police officer had embraced martyrdom during clashes while five others were injured. He further revealed that a suspect arrested in Rawalakot was carrying a military-grade weapon and, according to initial investigations, was a foreign national allegedly operating as a sniper. Kashfi said law enforcement agencies were responding in self-defence to protect civilians and that investigations were under way to identify facilitators supporting the armed groups. He also dismissed speculation that militants could seize control of any area in AJK, affirming that security forces would continue operations until the situation was fully brought under control. Earlier, AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore also accused armed agitators of deliberately engineering unrest during the election process. Sharing footage showing armed men, Rathore alleged the violence had been planned well in advance to trigger widespread instability. "The rioters not only possess sophisticated weapons but also occupy strategic positions from where they target security personnel, whose objective has been to prevent escalation and protect civilians," he said. He appealed to residents to stay away from the protesters, alleging that the organisers had a history of using civilians as human shields to provoke confrontations with security forces. The latest allegations come against the backdrop of escalating tensions between the AJK administration and the Joint Awami Action Committee over the past several weeks.
pakistan, Jordan rally islamic diplomacy as gaza war and al-aqsa tensions escalate ISLAMABAD
SALEEM JADOON
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Jordanian counterpart Ayman Safadi on Tuesday agreed to intensify diplomatic coordination among Arab and Islamic countries over the worsening humanitarian and security situation in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, with both leaders expressing grave concern over escalating violence at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque compound and continued Israeli military actions. According to the Foreign Office, the two foreign ministers held a telephone conversation during which they discussed the deteriorating situation, including intensified Israeli air strikes, ongoing ground operations in Gaza, rising settler violence and growing restrictions on Palestinian worshippers at Muslim holy sites in East Jerusalem.
“DPM/FM Ishaq Dar and Jordanian FM Ayman Safadi spoke by telephone and expressed [grave concern] over continued Israeli military actions, including intensified air strikes, ongoing ground operations and escalating settler violence,” the Foreign Ministry said in a post on X. The discussion between the two leaders took place amid mounting international concern over the continued Israeli military campaign in Gaza, escalating violence in the occupied West Bank and heightened tensions surrounding access to Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of Islam’s holiest sites. The Foreign Office said the two ministers also discussed Jordan’s proposal to convene a meeting of Arab and Islamic countries to assess the rapidly evolving situation and develop a coordinated diplomatic response to address the crisis. Reaffirming Pakistan’s longstanding and principled support for the
Palestinian cause, Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar reiterated Islamabad’s backing for a negotiated two-state solution as the basis for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in the region. “He reiterated Pakistan’s principled support for a just, lasting, and comprehensive peace through the implementation of the two-State solution, with the establishment of an independent, contiguous, and viable State of Palestine, based on the pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital,” the Foreign Ministry said. The two foreign ministers also condemned repeated incursions into the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound by Israeli settlers and far-right groups, as well as restrictions imposed on Palestinian worshippers. They said such actions violated the sanctity of the holy site, heightened tensions and undermined efforts for regional peace and stability.
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– steps up gulf diplomacy as Kuwaiti foreign minister arrives for high-level talks
ISLAMABAD: Kuwaiti Foreign Minister Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah on Tuesday arrived in Pakistan on an official visit for talks on “bilateral ties and regional developments,” according to the Foreign. “H.E. Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Kuwait, arrived in Islamabad today on an official visit at the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar. Upon arrival at Islamabad International Airport, the dignitary was received by Mr. Zahid Hussain, Additional Secretary (Middle East), Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” the Foreign Office said in a statement on X. SALEEM JADOON
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pakistan, Qatar deepen strategic security partnership, reaffirm commitment to regional stability
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and Qatar on Tuesday reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening bilateral security cooperation, strengthening institutional coordination between their interior ministries and expanding strategic collaboration to promote regional peace, stability and collective security. The commitment was reiterated during a high-level meeting in Doha between Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Qatar’s Interior Minister and Commander of the Internal Security Force (Lekhwiya), Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, according to an official statement. STAFF REPORT
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