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Sunday, 2 August, 2026 | 18 Safar, 1448
Rs 20.00 | Vol XVII No 128 | 8 Pages | Islamabad Edition
FIELD MARSHAL ASIM MUNIR REAFFIRMS PAKISTAN, CHINA STRATEGIC BOND AT PLA ANNIVERSARY g
ARMY CHIEF HAILS ENDURING MILITARY PARTNERSHIP AS CHINESE ENVOY REITERATES UNWAVERING SUPPORT FOR PAKISTAN
CDF MUNIR PAYS TRIBUTE TO PLA FOR ITS SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO CHINA'S NATIONAL DEFENCE, INTERNATIONAL PEACE AND SECURITY
JIANG ZAIDONG REITERATES CHINA'S COMMITMENT TO FURTHER STRENGTHENING ALL-WEATHER STRATEGIC COOPERATIVE PARTNERSHIP
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RAWALPINDI
MIAN ABRAR
HIEF of Defence Forces (CDF) and Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Field Marshal Asim Munir on Saturday reaffirmed the enduring strength of Pakistan-China relations, describing the friendship between the two countries as "unique, time-tested and steadfast" despite evolving regional and global challenges. Addressing a ceremony at the General Headquarters (GHQ) to mark the 99th anniversary of the founding of the People's Liberation Army (PLA), the field marshal said the armed forces of Pakistan and China remained trusted partners united by mutual confidence, unwavering support and a shared commitment to regional peace, stability and the protection of common strategic interests. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Field Marshal Munir paid tribute to the PLA for its significant contributions to China's national defence, socioeconomic development and international peace and security.
The ceremony was attended by Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong as the chief guest, along with China's Defence Attaché to Pakistan,
July becomes deadliest month of 2026 as 205 killed, 401 terrorists eliminated: PICSS ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
July emerged as the deadliest month of 2026 as Pakistan witnessed a sharp escalation in terrorist violence and an equally intensified counterterrorism campaign, leaving 205 people, including 112 security personnel, dead while security forces eliminated 401 terrorists — the highest monthly militant death toll recorded in more than a decade, according to a security assessment released on Saturday. The monthly report by the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), an Islamabad-based think tank, said fatalities among both security personnel and terrorists rose significantly during July as militant attacks intensified and security forces responded with expanded counterterrorism operations across the country. “Fatalities among security personnel and terrorists rose substantially during the month as terrorist violence increased and security forces intensified counterterrorism operations,” the institute said in its latest security assessment.b According to the report, at least 112 security personnel embraced martyrdom during July, marking the highest monthly toll since January 2023 and the second-highest recorded in more than a decade. The report recalled that 114 security personnel were martyred in January 2023, including around 102 in the suicide bombing at the Peshawar Police Lines, while noting that the 401 terrorists killed in July represented the highest number eliminated in a single month in over a decade.
Major General Wang Zhong, officials of the Chinese Embassy and senior officers from Pakistan's tri-services. Speaking on the occasion, Ambassa-
dor Jiang thanked the Pakistan Army chief for hosting the commemorative event and praised the Pakistan Armed Forces for their sacrifices and achievements in the fight against terrorism. The Chinese envoy reaffirmed Beijing's unwavering support for Pakistan and reiterated China's commitment to further strengthening the All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership, underscoring the deep strategic trust between the two countries. The ceremony reflected the growing momentum in Pakistan-China relations, particularly in defence, diplomacy and economic cooperation. During Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's visit to China in May, both countries agreed to further deepen their strategic partnership by expanding defence and security cooperation, accelerating work under CPEC 2.0, and enhancing coordination on regional and global issues. They also reaffirmed support for each other's core interests and pledged closer collaboration in counterterrorism efforts, including enhanced security for Chinese nationals and projects in Pakistan.
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Bilawal says JAAC responds positively to reconciliation proposal ISLAMABAD
STAFF CORRESPONDENT
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Saturday said the proscribed Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) had responded to his proposal for establishing a Truth and Reconciliation Commission, expressing willingness to engage with the initiative aimed at resolving the ongoing crisis in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK). In a post on X, Bilawal welcomed what he described as the committee's positive response, saying the proposed commission could serve as an institutional mechanism to address the prevailing tensions. He noted that the proposal had already received the backing of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. "The loss of every precious life is a national tragedy," Bilawal said, reiterating that his foremost priority was to help end the crisis, provide relief to the people of AJK and restore normalcy as quickly as possible. The PPP chairman said he would now consult AJK Prime Minister Faisal Mumtaz Rathore,
who, in turn, would seek input from the federal government and other relevant stakeholders to assess whether sufficient consensus existed to move forward with a mutually acceptable framework. Bilawal has consistently advocated the formation of a Truth and Reconciliation Commission over the past month as a means of investigating recent violence and facilitating dialogue between the government and protesters. Addressing a public gathering in Muzaffarabad earlier this week, he said lasting peace in the region required fairness, transparency and
political reconciliation, stressing that the proposed commission was neither about the victory of the state nor that of the protesters, but about safeguarding Kashmir's future. His remarks came as tensions continue between the regional administration and the JAAC over a range of issues, particularly the committee's demand for the abolition of the 12 seats in the AJK Legislative Assembly reserved for refugees from Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir who settled in Pakistan after 1947. The dispute has triggered weeks of demonstrations across the region.
Major martyred, 12 terrorists killed in North Waziristan, Nushki IBOs: ISPR RAWALPINDI/NORTH WAZIRISTAN STAFF REPORT
A Pakistan Army major embraced martyrdom while leading his troops from the front and 12 terrorists were killed in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, the military’s media wing said on Saturday, as security forces intensified their nationwide counterterrorism campaign against foreign-sponsored terrorist networks. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), Major Hafiz Ihsan Elahi was martyred during an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan’s Razmak area, where security forces successfully neutralised five Indian-sponsored khwarij. In a separate operation conducted in Balochistan’s Nushki district on the night of July 30/31, security forces eliminated seven Indian-sponsored terrorists, including a would-be suicide bomber. In a statement, the ISPR said Major Hafiz Ihsan Elahi embraced martyrdom during the Razmak operation in which security forces killed five terrorists affiliated with Fitna al-Khawarij. Fitna al-Khawarij is the term used by the state for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The military identified the martyred officer as Major Hafiz Ihsan Elahi, 34, a resident of Mianwali district, describing him as “a brave officer who was leading his troops from the front, fought gallantly, paid the ultimate sacrifice” and embraced martyrdom in the line of duty. Weapons and ammunition were recovered from the slain terrorists, who, according to the ISPR, had remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces and law enforcement agencies, besides being responsible for the killing of innocent civilians. “Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other India-sponsored terrorist found in the area. Relentless counter-terrorism campaign under the vision ‘Azm-i-Istehkam’ (as approved by Federal Apex Committee on National Action Plan) by security forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan will continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country,” the ISPR statement said. “Such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further reinforce our unwavering commitment of safeguarding our nation at all costs,” it added. The latest operations come amid an intensified national counterterrorism drive. Earlier this week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the government was implementing a comprehensive and effective strategy to “completely eliminate” the menace posed by the proscribed Fitna al-Hindustan, Fitna alKhawarij and other terrorist outfits operating against the country. Pakistan has witnessed a sharp rise in terrorist violence since the banned TTP ended its ceasefire agreement with the government in November 2022 and announced the resumption of attacks across the country. Seven terrorists killed in Nushki operation In a separate statement, the ISPR said security forces killed seven Indian-sponsored terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in Balochistan’s Nushki district on the night of July 30/31.