NO MILITARY OPERATION IN TIRAH, MIGRATION ROUTINE AND SEASONAL: MINISTERS
g DEFENCE MINISTER KH A SIF DENIES ANY PLANNED MILITARY ACTION IN TIRAH, CITING CLIMATE, TOPOGRAPHY, AND CHANGING SNOWFALL PATTERNS A S REA SONS FOR MIGRATION
g STRESSES SEA SONAL MIGRATION OF AFRIDI AND AKAKHEL TRIBES PART OF DECADES-OLD PRACTICE
g FEDERAL MINISTERS EMPHASIZE VOLUNTARY MOVEMENT, REJECT PTI ALLEGATIONS OF FORCED EVACUATION, SAYING KP APPROVED RS4B PACKAGE FOR RELOCATING RESIDENTS
g KP CM AFRIDI ACCUSES CENTRE OF PUSHING REGION TOWARD INSTABILITY, DISPLACEMENT
g HIGHLIGHTS IBOS, RATHER THAN LARGESCALE MILITARY CAMPAIGNS, PREFERRED METHOD TO COUNTER MILITANCY IN VALLEY DUE TO REDUCED COLLATERAL DAMAGE
action against terrorists The displacement left many residents stranded in cold weather, with inadequate arrangements exacerbating the situation H I S TO R I C A L C O N T E X T A N D GOVERNMENT STANCE: Khawaja Asif explained that Tirah has been home to approximately 400-500 members of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) along with their families “They are around 400-500 in number ” he said He emphasised that the provincial government had approved a Rs4 billion package to assist the migrating population, and that the federal armed forces were not involved in the relocation “This is an arrangement between the jirga and the provincial government and as a result of that this notification was issued the defence minister added
Asif clarified that the funds released via the KP Relief Rehabilitation and Resettlement Department were intended for relief-related arrangements for those temporarily relocating from areas such as Bagh in Tirah He stressed that neither the armed forces nor the federal government had issued any order for the “depopulation of Tirah The defence minister highlighted that intelligence-based operations (IBOs), rather than large-scale military campaigns, had long been the preferred method to counter militancy in the valley due to reduced collateral damage “This is why this practice has been ongoing there for many years and that is why there is no question of any operation in Tirah, Asif said
PAKISTAN’S RICE EXPORTS SLUMP NEARLY 50% IN H1
AS TRADE DEFICIT WIDENS PAST $19B
Pakistan lifts anti-dumping duties on sulphonic acid imports from six countries
Pakistan’s National Tariff Commission (NTC) has withdrawn antidumping duties on imports of sulphonic acid originating from China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Korea and Chinese Taipei, with immediate effect, following the completion of a sunset review The decision was taken under Section 58 of the Anti-Dumping Duties Act 2015 read with Chapter VI of the Anti-Dumping Duties Rules, 2022 The review examined imports
of Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulphonic Acid and was initiated on May 23, 2025, after applications were filed by domestic producers Tufail Chemical Industries Limited and Ittehad Chemical Limited According to the NTC the review assessed market data over a three-year period from January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024 Based on the investigation, the Commission concluded that there was no likelihood of continuation or recurrence of dumping from the subject countries if the duties were removed The Commission also deter-
mined that the domestic industry was unlikely to face material injury in the absence of the anti-dumping measures As a result, it ruled that maintaining the duties was no longer justified Sulphonic acid classified under Pakistan Customs Tariff Heading 3402 3100 is a key raw material used in the production of detergent powders, dishwashing liquids and other
In light of these findings, the NTC ordered the termination of antidumping duties on sulphonic acid imports from the subject countries with immediate effect
BANK MAKRAMAH APPROVES SPONSOR SHARE
India, EU slash tariffs
India's
PM reaffirms commitment to strengthen longstanding
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
PAKISTAN–MYANMAR RELATIONS
“He conveyed the greetings and good wishes from Myanmar ’s leadership and expressed Myanmar ’s desire to expand its ties with Pakistan in areas of mutual interest the statement added The Burmese foreign minister also expressed gratitude for Pakistan s support following an earthquake that struck Myanmar and neighbouring Thailand last March Earlier, on Monday, Pakistan and Myanmar agreed to renew and strengthen bilateral relations through expanded trade enhanced people-to-people contacts and increased academic exchanges signalling a diplomatic reset after years of limited engagement The understanding emerged during delegation-level talks between Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Than Swe, followed by a joint press conference in Islamabad Terming the discussions “productive and comprehensive” Dar underscored the need for sustained structured and result-oriented initiatives particularly in the area of capacity-building He said the Myanmar foreign minister s visit reflected the importance both sides attached to revitalising ties and emphasised resolving all contentious issues through dialogue and diplomacy Relations between Pakistan and Myanmar have witnessed a period of relative silence in recent years largely due to the Rohingya crisis Pakistan has consistently condemned Myanmar s treatment of the Rohingya Muslim minority at international forums, including the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and the United Nations, while also extending humanitarian assistance and hosting refugees Despite
Parliamentar y panel backs ban on dual citizenship for bureaucrats
A proposal to end dual citizenship for members of the bureaucracy advanced on Monday after the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on the Cabinet Secretariat voted in favour of barring civil servants from holding multiple nationalities and called for the restriction to be extended to judges As per reports, the committee, chaired by Ibrar Ahmed, agreed that the same constitutional standard applied to parliamentarians should also apply to senior state functionaries Members argued that elected representatives are prohibited from holding dual citizenship and that similar limits should govern the civil service
why bureaucrats continued to enjoy a privilege denied to lawmakers, arguing that the rule should be uniform
rangzeb cited
personal example during the discussion
No
noting that her daughter had renounced Australian citizenship to enter parliament Responding to the debate Cabinet Secretary Kamran Ali Afzal said that if parliament chose to legislate on the issue, the government was prepared to proceed with the required lawmaking The Establishment Division told the committee that while dual citizenship is permitted in 21 countries some individuals still go on to acquire additional nationalities The committee chairman said a final decision would be taken on February 16 Separately, the committee reviewed a proposal to grant a Rs90,000 travel allowance to federal secretaries Noor Alam Khan questioned the move, noting that officers provided with official vehicles are not entitled to travel allowances under existing rules yet many receive both The committee chairman directed the Cabinet Secretary to ensure effective checks and balances to enforce the policy However the Cabinet Division secretary opposed removing the requirement for officers to submit compliance certificates confirming adherence to the rules
operation in Tirah, migration routine and seasonal: ministers
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
There is a complete absence of civilian law enforcement agencies There is no police station there, he said The defence minister pointed out that hemp cultivation over 12,000 acres in Tirah generated profits of approximately Rs3–3 5 million per acre contributing to the economic significance of the region Hemp is harvested there, and dividends earned either go to people involved in politics or to the TTP We have initiated measures to ensure that the people of Tirah benefit from this harvest and schools and hospitals are constructed Asif said alleging that the interests of the provincial government aligned with those of the TTP in exploiting this resource He recalled meetings of the Tirah jirga on December 11 21 and 31 stating that these discussions involved civilian government representatives and that the military was not a participant He insisted that the KP government was using the controversy to deflect attention from its own administrative failures
FEDERAL MINISTERS REJECT CLAIMS OF FORCED EVACUATION
Information Minister Atta Tarar highlighted historical evidence of seasonal migration among the Afridi and Akakhel tribes noting that this practice was documented in official gazetteers as far back as the 1880s
“This is an established fact,” he said Tarar also attributed shifts in migration patterns to climate change explaining that snowfall now occurs later than historically observed Ikhtiar Wali Khan, special assistant to the PM, questioned whether the full Rs4 billion package approved by the KP government had actually reached the displaced residents He alleged that previous PTI administrations in the province had used similar programmes for political campaigns including street protests Wali stressed that the movement of people from Tirah was voluntary, according to official notifications, and that the armed forces had no involvement He further suggested that the relocation may have been timed to benefit opposition political activity including protests planned for February 8
On the matter of reported numbers, Asif confirmed that approximately 65 percent of the population migrates annually from Tirah to avoid harsh winter conditions People escape the snowfall in the area and relocate More or less 65pc of the people migrate There is historical evidence of this, and this will continue in the future as well,” he said, rejecting suggestions of forced displacement He stressed that military involvement in Tirah remained limited to IBOs targeting around 500 TTP members underscoring that no large-scale operations were being conducted KP CM AFRIDI CONDEMNS FEDERAL CLAIMS, WARNS OF INSTABILITY In a separate video statement KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi condemned what he termed a planned military operation in Tirah and accused the federal government of pushing the region toward instability and distrust Afridi reiterated that decisions were being taken “behind closed doors” without public consent forcing residents to leave their homes during harsh winter conditions
The CM recalled that following the removal of PTI founder Imran Khan in
2022, warnings about potential terrorism and instability across Khyber, Hazara, Malakand Dera Ismail Khan and Waziristan were ignored by successive governments He emphasised that areas where public warnings were heeded remained peaceful, while those ignored experienced a resurgence of militancy Afridi questioned the rationale of launching another operation in Tirah, citing 22 major IBOs and over 14 000 smaller operations that had failed to eliminate terrorism in the region He described a jirga held at the KP Assembly that finalised a 15-point
COMMENT
TH E State Bank of Pakistan s Monetary Price Committee was facing pressure to lower the interest rate but the IMF review mission which visited between September and October had said that interest rates should not be brought down That might be the reason the MPC kept the present rate of 10 5 percent even though inflation has been running at well below that figure for more than a year Apparently the SBP has estimated that the growth of 3 75 percent to 4 75 percent which it forecast, is sufficient to satisfy the business community, which has been demanding further rate cuts However, the decision to cut the banks’ cash reserve requirement shows that the SBP does not want to end up damping the economy too far with the interest rate It should be noted that the CRR is in the nature of an atomic bomb, and changing it is a tool of last resort It was last changed at the height of the bout of inflation over a year ago, when it was raised to six percent It has now been brought back to five percent, which in itself should act as a stimulus for the economy The government must also not jump into the money market and increase its borrowing just because there has been a credit expansion and should wait for a rate reduction so that it can lower its debt servicing cost Governor Jameel Ahmad struck a cautionary note by saying that all of these measures would depend on external factors The biggest threat to price stability is the international price of oil With Iran’s volatility threatening to infect international oil markets, the government has no real room for complacency The government may want an expansive rate policy, not just to reduce its own debt servicing costs, but because a growing economy is politically beneficial
Perhaps the biggest dilemma for the government is that whereas it badly needs to increase exports, that depends on two major factors over which the government has no control: the regulatory environment and demand An example of the latter came from the recent tariffs introduced on US goods The result of the
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan
Remembering Mar tin Luther King
IT should not have been surprising that President Donald Trump had to be goaded by civil rights leaders into issuing a statement acknowledging Martin Luther King Day 2026
Nor was it surprising that the statement was only begrudgingly released when the day was almost over, said little about Dr King, and only appeared on the White House website, without the usual social media amplification This is because Mr Trump and the movement he leads have sought to whitewash American history through the issuance of Executive Orders that tell schools and federal programmes to remove mention of the troubling aspects of our history and focus instead on glorious battles Americans have won, heroic leaders who fought them, and values they represented I disagree with this approach which is akin to behaving like ostriches and burying our heads in the sand to ignore both the troubling aspects of our past and present Years ago I was honored to serve as an appointed member of Washington DC s Martin Luther King s Holiday Commission My mission was to ensure that the day serve to remind future generations of the struggles led by Dr King and so many others against the injustices that have defined our history as a nation That movement secured voting rights for disenfranchised African Americans who 100 years after the official end of slavery in the USA were still the victims of severe discrimination This same civil rights movement also led to abolition of segregation, a system of law and practice that had divided the USA into two distinct worlds one black and one white Generations of Americans do not realize that just 60 years ago in many parts of our country African Americans could not buy property do business reside, attend school, among other things, in whiteonly neighborhoods The struggle, led by Dr King, to break down these barriers of racial separation in housing, employment, education and public accommodations was a difficult one Though non-violent it was met with violence Thousands of protesters were arrested or beaten Many lost their lives In the end it was this movement that won and forever changed the face of the
USA Still the work was not done While legal segregation ended, the legacy of racial division continued to haunt the USA For example, as late as 1964, property deeds in my neighborhood in northwest Washington included a “covenant” that prohibited the sale of that property to African Americans Black families who were living in this white- only section were ordered evicted and their properties were taken and razed to make way for the construction of all-white schools Even after those covenants were declared null and void, by legislation passed in response to the Kingled civil rights movement Washington D C the United States capital city remained an extraordinarily divided city And accompanying that physical division were significant differences in income infrastructure, services and opportunities that continue to plague this city This was not only the story of Washington It was replicated across the USA and was much worse in the deep South where African Americans lived under an apartheid-like
The way to honor King Day should be to remember the world into which he came , the injustices against which he fought, and the lessons he taught, and to apply these lessons to the challeng es we face today: defending immigrants, defending voting rights, and challenging indiscriminate violence by local and federal law enforcement In other words, doing what Dr King would be doing
the door to further opportunities in other regions with similar requirements and budget profiles In this context independent observers and economists have uniformly described the development as very positive news for Pakistan as it reflects growing international confidence in its defence products and reinforces the country s broader national ambition to establish itself as a competitive reliable and innovative player in the global defence equipment market
For the citizens of Pakistan it is deeply encouraging and a profound source of collective national pride to witness the steady, deliberate building of indigenous strength and the visible rise of Pakistan as a recognized defence equipment exporter, a transformation that reflects years, indeed decades of sustained institutional effort deliberate institutional learning patient strategic planning and considerable national investment In recent times the Pakistan Army as the vanguard institution, has demonstrably shown a consistently high level of professionalism, operational preparedness, and tactical capability, which many within the country interpret as clear and unambiguous evidence of its growing excellence and combat readiness particularly in the tense context of regional challenges and ongoing tensions along its frontiers Events such as Marka-e-Haq are widely viewed by the patriotic public as defining moments that reinforced national confidence in the country’s defensive posture and vividly highlighted the effectiveness of Pakistan s military leadership its rigorous training standards and its improving technological readiness As a cumulative result, Pakistan has increasingly been perceived, both domestically and abroad, as a strong and resilient state underpinned by a disciplined, professional and capable army that is adept at safeguarding core national interests while maintaining a credible stance of deterrence
This growing reservoir of national confidence is, importantly, not limited to domestic perceptions and patriotic sentiment alone, as Pakistan’s armed forces and the equipment they operate and now produce have been receiving notable and increasing attention and appreciation in international defense forums and publications
Defence analysts, military observers, and partner countries have taken a marked interest in Pakistan’s demonstrated ability to develop, manufacture field and now export reliable military hardware particularly in niche areas such as aviation training platforms armored vehicles and multi-role combat systems The operational credibility earned through actual performance in national service and in multinational exercises has played an indispensable role in enhancing external trust in Pakistan’s defense products making them more attractive to pragmatic countries seeking effective yet cost-efficient military solutions without restrictive political strings This shift is historically significant because it marks a decisive departure from Pakistan s earlier and long-held status as a country largely dependent on foreign suppliers for its defence needs, toward an empowered position where it can confidently offer its own battle-tested equipment to international markets
The growing interest shown by a diverse set of countries such as Libya Australia and others is therefore seen by Pakistanis as a natural and justifiable outcome of the nation s demonstrated military capability and its expanding, sophisticated defense industrial base
For the people of Pakistan this development symbolizes tangible national progress hard-won self-reliance and the successful integration of hard-earned military experience with growing domestic production capacity and design ingenuity It also carries broader and more hopeful implications for sustainable economic growth indigenous technological advancement and elevated international standing as serious defense exports contribute not only to financial stability and job creation but also to long-term industrial and scientific development through research and development imperatives
The profound sense of pride felt by the public is intimately and inextricably tied to the widespread belief that these achievements are the direct result of the Pakistan Army s unwavering dedication relentless professionalism and steadfast commitment to national defense and sovereignty, qualities which have collectively enabled the nation to enter what many people now hopefully describe as a promising and indeed golden phase in its strategic industrial and national evolution
The writer is a freelance columnist
Selective strictness
potential to stimulate domestic production to unprecedented levels, create thousands of direct and indirect employment opportunities across the engineering and manufacturing sectors and support the accelerated development of advanced technological metallurgical, and systems integration skills within the country s defence sector It also strengthens Pakistan’s hard-earned credibility as a defence supplier capable of delivering complete and integrated combat and training solutions which may powerfully open
The profound sense of pride felt by the public is intimately and inextricably tied to the widespread belief that these achievements are the direct result of the Pakistan ArmyÊs unwavering dedication, relentless professionalism, and steadfast commitment to national defense and sovereignty, qualities which have collectively enabled the nation to enter what many people now hopefully describe as a promising and indeed golden phase in its strategic, industrial, and national evolution
Retired and betrayed
A tale of two protests
They
and, in the capital, toward the White House itself In New York, protesters gathered near Trump Tower chanting against what they called “state violence against citizens ” One tearful demonstrator when asked why he was crying said he had never imagined living to see a day when the federal government would openly kill its own people and face no immediate accountability State and city governments responded with alarm Governors and mayors in Illinois California and New York openly challenged the federal deployment of ICE and National Guard units pledging to use legal and administrative means to block further operations Legal scholars noted that ICE actions appeared to violate long-established requirements for warrants identification and probable cause The image of masked agents operating without visible authority evoked comparisons to authoritarian regimes the United States has historically condemned It did not help that ICE agents killed another person, again in Minneapolis Yet this domestic unrest is not occurring in isolation The same assertive coercive posture has been projected outward The world watched in disbelief as the USA escalated its confrontation with Venezuela culminating in what many international observers described as the effective seizure of a sovereign state’s leadership and economic arteries By detaining President Nicolás Maduro and asserting control over Venezuelan oil exports Washington did not merely target an individual but placed an entire nation under de facto custody Senior US officials publicly stated that Venezuela’s oil sector would be reorganized under US oversight, with proceeds used to compensate US companies nationalized during earlier Venezuelan reforms More than six oil tankers were reportedly intercepted or frozen and oil valued in
straint identification or judicial oversight The reaction was swift and unprecedented Demonstrations spread from Minnesota to Chicago Los Angeles New York and Washington, D C , with tens of thousands marching toward federal buildings
Peace will not come from dismantling international institutions or bending them to the will of the powerful. It will come from strengthening international law, respecting sovereignty, and allowing peoples, everywhere, to determine their own futures. Until that lesson is learned, the streets of Minnesota and Tehran will continue to echo each other, separated by continents but bound by the same unanswered question: who guards the people when power runs unchecked?
A jaw-dropping exposé of money laundering
CRICKET LOSES AS POLITICS TAKES THE FIELD
Qamar BaShir
UAE will not allow attacks on Iran from its soil: foreign ministr y
Xi urges Finnish firms to ‘dive into’ Chinese market, seeks deeper bilateral cooperation
tinued to advance Xi said
global competitiveness, as he held talks with visiting Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo in Beijing
During the meeting Xi called for strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Finland in key areas including energy transition, circular economy agriculture and forestry industries and scientific and technological innovation
Recalling that Finland was among the first countries to establish diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China Xi noted that bilateral ties had shown steady growth over the past 76 years, regardless of shifts in the global political landscape
“China-Finland relations characterized by mutual respect equality future orientation and winwin cooperation, have con-
Noting that 2026 marks the beginning of China s 15th Five-Year Plan, Xi said China would continue to pursue highquality development and expand high-standard opening-up to the world creating broader opportunities for foreign businesses
Highlighting shared strengths in winter sports Xi said both countries should expand cooperation and people-to-people exchanges in the sector to further strengthen bilateral ties He also welcomed more Finnish citizens to visit China and experience its ancient heritage and modern vitality
GLOBAL COOPERATION, CHINA-EUROPE TIES
Addressing global challenges Xi said the international community must respond collectively to mounting risks, stressing that major countries should set an example by promoting equality rule of law cooperation and integrity
He reaffirmed China s
commitment to upholding the United Nations-centered international system and the international order based on international law, and expressed readiness to work with Finland to promote a more equitable multipolar world and inclusive economic globalization Turning to Europe-China relations, Xi emphasized that China and Europe are partners not rivals noting that cooperation outweighs competition and shared interests exceed differences He said China hoped Finland would play a constructive role in promoting stable and healthy ChinaEurope relations
welcomed the Nepali Ambassador, H E Rita Dhital, at the CDA Headquarters The meeting was also attended by CDA Board Member Admin Talat Mahmood and other senior officers Matters of mutual interest including further strengthening bilateral relations were discussed during the meeting Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa
spaces and large number of parks makes the environment of the Capital City extremely peaceful Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa said that the Master Plan is being followed to maintain the
BISP Chief explores skill development par tnership with Pak-Austria Institute, Haripur HIRPUR ( s ta f f r e p o r t ) : Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Senator Rubina Khalid visited the Pak-Austria Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology (PAF-IAST)
PRESIDENT Z ARDARI MEETS UAE COUNTERPART, PLEDGES TO DEEPEN BIL ATERAL STRATEGIC, ECONOMIC TIES
f f R e p o R t
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said the government was working on a priority basis to leverage new and emerging technologies to drive national and economic development He expressed these views during a meeting with a high-level delegation of leading experts in artificial intelligence, who called on him during his recent private visit to London, United Kingdom last week according to a press release issued by the Prime Minister s Office Media Wing
The prime minister said the govern-
ment was prioritising efforts to utilise cutting-edge technologies to strengthen economic growth improve governance and enhance public service delivery
The delegation comprised senior leaders from global institutions and organisations, including BlackRock, the University of Cambridge, the University of Oxford, Deloitte, as well as some of the world’s leading artificial intelligence and technology companies Chairman of the Pakistan Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (PVARA) Bilal bin Saqib was also present at the meeting
During the interaction, Prime Minister Shehbaz underscored the importance of tapping global expertise particularly the involvement of over-
seas Pakistanis to accelerate Pakistan s digital and economic transformation He stressed that emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence must be aligned with national priorities, institutional capacities and inclusive development objectives
The prime minister further noted that the government was actively working on strengthening partnerships with the private sector to improve the efficiency and delivery of public services
Members of the delegation discussed the practical application of artificial intelligence to address key developmental challenges and enhance policy outcomes On the occasion Minister of State Bilal bin Saqib said artificial intelligence was no longer a concept of the future for Pakistan, but a present-day opportunity, adding that the government was taking concrete steps to harness its potential
and
Facilitation
committee
The meeting the press release said reflected Pakistan s broader strategy to promote digital transformation, foster innovation and pursue a long-term vision for technology-driven public policy through engagement with institutional partners with an international outlook
the Petroleum Division Finance Division Law and Justice Division SIFC PSO and the National Task Force has been formed to renegotiate relevant agreements determine fuel ownership in the pipeline and submit recommendations to the ECC by the end of January The ECC also directed the ministers for petroleum and power to jointly engage with stakeholders and propose a commercially viable plan for the pipeline s future use Asia Petroleum Limited, established in 1994 with assistance from the World Bank, owns and operates an 82-kilometre, 14-inch diameter pipeline with an annual throughput capacity of 3 2 million metric tons ISLAMABAD S
