Web Desk/AFP

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump alleged on Sunday that nuclear-armed countries, including Russia and China have conducted underground nuclear tests unknown to the public. &quot;Russia&#39;s testing, and China&#39;s testing, but they don&#39;t talk about it,&quot; he said in an interview with CBS&#39;s &quot;60 Minutes&quot; program, when asked about his surprise order on Thursday for the United States to test nuclear weapons. &quot;You don&#39;t necessarily know where they&#39;re testing... They test way underground where people don&#39;t know exactly what&#39;s happening with the test,&quot; he added. US President&rsquo;s announcement signaling a possible resumption of US nuclear testing after more than three decades has drawn mixed reactions from nuclear policy experts.&nbsp;Trump&rsquo;s decision came after Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow had successfully tested a nuclear-capable, nuclear-powered underwater drone, in defiance of Washington&#39;s warnings.&nbsp; In response to the US president&rsquo;s decision, the Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi last week said that the US announcement was a threat to international peace.&nbsp; Replying to Trump&#39;s claims about China, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Mao Ning denied testing any nuclear weapons.&nbsp; &quot;China has always adhered to the path of peaceful development, pursued a policy of no first use of nuclear weapons, upheld a self-defence nuclear strategy and abided by its commitment to suspend nuclear testing,&quot; she said in a press conference.

Americas

US president’s announcement signaling a possible resumption of US nuclear testing has drawn mixed reactions from nuclear policy experts. Trump’s decision comes after Russian President Putin said Moscow successfully tested a nuclear-capable, nuclear-powered underwater drone, in defiance of Washington's warnings. 



Trump says Russia, China conduct nuclear tests but 'don't talk about it'

ISTANBUL: Gaza&#39;s future must be Palestinian-led and avoid any new system of tutelage, Turkey and six of its top Muslim allies said Monday after talks in Istanbul. Turkey, which played a central role in forging the now shaky three-week-old ceasefire, is pushing for Muslim nations to bring their influence to bear on the reconstruction of the embattled territory. &quot;Our principle is that Palestinians should govern the Palestinians and ensure their own security, the international community should support this in the best possible way -- diplomatically, institutionally and economically,&quot; Turkey&#39;s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said after the talks. &quot;Nobody wants to see a new system of tutelage emerge,&quot; he told a news conference. Brokered by US President Donald Trump, the October 10 ceasefire -- which halted two years of continuous bloodshed -- has been tested by fresh Israeli strikes and claims of Palestinian attacks on Israeli soldiers. The talks involved top diplomats from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, Pakistan and Indonesia. All of them were called to a meeting with Trump in September on the margins of the United Nations General Assembly, just days before he unveiled his plan to end the Gaza war. &quot;We&#39;ve now reached an extremely critical stage: we do not want the genocide in Gaza to resume,&quot; Fidan added, saying all seven nations supported plans for the Palestinians to take control of Gaza&#39;s security and governance. Fidan, who held talks at the weekend with a Hamas delegation led by its chief negotiator Khalil al-Hayya, said the Islamist movement was &quot;ready to hand Gaza to a committee of Palestinians&quot;. He also expressed hope that reconciliation efforts between Hamas and the rival West Bank-based Palestinian Authority, &quot;will bear fruit as soon as possible,&quot; saying inter-Palestinian unity would &quot;strengthen Palestine&#39;s representation in the international community&quot;. Earlier, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Hamas was &quot;determined to adhere to the (truce) agreement&quot; and urged Muslim states to play &quot;a leading role&quot; in Gaza&#39;s recovery. &quot;We believe the reconstruction plan prepared by the Arab League and the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation)should be implemented immediately,&quot; he said of the plan unveiled in March. &#39;Task force needs UN mandate&#39; Turkey has been instrumental in backing Hamas, whose October 7, 2023 attack on Israel sparked the war in Gaza. Fidan said it was crucial that the emerging International Stabilisation Force that will monitor the Gaza ceasefire under Trump&#39;s plan, have a &quot;mandate defined by a UN Security Council resolution and a framework for legitimacy&quot;. Washington is currently working with Arab and international partners to decide on the composition of the force, with Turkey hoping to play a role, despite fierce opposition from Israel. &quot;The countries we&#39;ve spoken with say they will decide whether to send troops based on ... the ISF&#39;s mandate and authority,&quot; Fidan said. &quot;First, a general consensus needs to be reached on a draft, then it needs to be approved by the members of the Security Council. &quot;And it needs to be free from vetoes by any of the permanent (UNSC) members,&quot; he said of a blocking move frequently used by key Israel ally Washington. Israel has long viewed Turkey&#39;s diplomatic overtures with suspicion over Ankara&#39;s close ties with Hamas and adamantly opposes it joining the task force that is meant to take over after Israeli troops withdraw from Gaza. A Turkish disaster relief team, sent to help efforts to recover the remains of those trapped under the rubble -- including Israeli hostages seized by Hamas -- has been stuck at the border because of Israel&#39;s refusal to let them in, according to Ankara.

Middle East

"Our principle is that Palestinians should govern the Palestinians and ensure their own security, the international community should support this in the best possible way -- diplomatically, institutionally and economically," Turkey's Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said.

Turkey, Muslim allies say Palestinian self-rule key to Gaza future

Mariam Ellahi

RAWALPINDI: Director General Inter-Services Public Relations (DG ISPR) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry said that India is planning another &ldquo;false flag&rdquo; operation, emphasizing that this time the operation would be in the &ldquo;deep sea.&rdquo; The head of the military&rsquo;s media wing was speaking with journalists in Rawalpindi on Monday ahead of the Coordination Meeting of Arab-Islamic Foreign Ministers in Istanbul. During the discussions, he revealed that India is planning another false-flag operation in the deep sea, cautioning that Pakistan&rsquo;s response would be &ldquo;greater than before.&rdquo; &ldquo;If India wants to do something on sea, land, or air, they can do it. Pakistan will do whatever it takes to take care of it. We are very good at taking care [of things]. And when we take care [of things], the world will see,&rdquo; he remarked. He said the international community must recognize India&rsquo;s attempts to disturb regional peace through provocations and propaganda. On Trump&rsquo;s remarksResponding to a question about US President Donald Trump&rsquo;s recent remarks on nuclear weapons testing, he said that the strategy of any country is fluid, emphasizing that Pakistan will continue to carry out tests and trials as required for national security. &ldquo;The strategy of any country is fluid and always kept under abeyance, and we are not bound to make such moves public,&rdquo; he said. Counterterrorism operations figuresRegarding the ongoing operations against terrorists, the DG ISPR said that 62,113 intelligence-based operations (IBOs) have been conducted so far this year. This has resulted in the killing of 1,667 terrorists, including 128 identified Afghan nationals, he added. During these operations, 1,073 Pakistanis embraced martyrdom, including 584 army personnel, 133 law enforcement officers, and 356 civilians. The DG ISPR reiterated that Pakistan&rsquo;s counterterrorism actions are intelligence-based and aimed at eliminating terrorism in all its forms. Terror-crime nexus and narcotics fundingLt. Gen. Chaudhry warned of a growing &ldquo;terror-crime-political nexus&rdquo; that continues to obstruct counterterrorism efforts under the National Action Plan (NAP) -- a governmental strategy launched after the Army Public School attack in 2014 to combat terrorism across the country. He said that certain political elements and facilitators hinder operations against narcotics and terror-financing networks. The spokesperson disclosed that security forces destroyed over 12,000 acres of poppy fields in the northwestern district of Khyber, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and around 40 acres in southwestern Balochistan, adding that the profit per acre ranges between Rs1.8 million to Rs2.5 million ($6,000&ndash;$9,000). He explained that profits from these crops are used to finance terrorism, smuggling, and other cross-border crimes. At the same time, local populations are often co-opted into these activities in return for a share of the proceeds. He further revealed that &ldquo;khawarij&rdquo; (terrorists) collect &ldquo;usher&rdquo; &mdash; a form of tax &mdash; from locals on this illicit trade. &ldquo;When our law enforcement agencies intercept narcotics smuggling or attack these networks, they come under attack from terrorists and their facilitators,&rdquo; he said. Terror-criminal nexus in Khyber and Tirah districtsHighlighting the security situation in Khyber District and the Tirah Valley, the DG ISPR said there were 508 terrorist incidents reported in the area during 2025, resulting in 192 casualties among army, Frontier Constabulary (FC) personnel, and civilians. He said that political stakeholders and criminal networks have &ldquo;financial stakes in this illegal trade.&rdquo; Whenever operations are launched, &ldquo;they start campaigns against the security forces under the pretext of protecting civilian areas.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;When we check their logistical sustenance, they attack our convoys and check-posts. Our soldiers are laying down their lives to protect the motherland,&rdquo; he added. Afghan Taliban killed in Pakistan-Afghanistan standoffDiscussing the recent border clashes between Islamabad and Kabul, the DG ISPR said that intelligence estimates confirm 206 Afghan Taliban border forces and 112 militants were killed during Pakistan&rsquo;s operations. He said that Pakistan shared real-time evidence with the Afghan regime during the Doha and Istanbul talks held recently. He added that Islamabad shared Afghan identity cards and records of cross-border infiltration attempts. &ldquo;Our position is clear. Afghan soil must not be used against Pakistan,&rdquo; he stressed. &ldquo;Afghanistan needs a representative government. The people of Afghanistan are not terrorists,&rdquo; he said. The DG ISPR said that Islamabad&rsquo;s stance was well-received internationally, adding that &ldquo;Afghanistan&rsquo;s terrorism is now well internationalized, and the country has become an epicenter of terrorism.&rdquo; No negotiations with terroristsThe DG ISPR categorically ruled out any dialogue with terrorist outfits, saying: &ldquo;We will never talk to terrorists.&rdquo; He said the Afghan Taliban and Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) are &ldquo;closely linked,&rdquo; adding that the TTP itself claims to be a branch of the Afghan Taliban. He accused the Afghan authorities of providing human shields to terrorists and relocating them into civilian neighborhoods, which he termed &ldquo;criminal.&rdquo; &ldquo;If they are Pakistani, then hand them over to us. Why are Bashir Zeb (leader of the Baloch Nationalist Army), Noor Wali Mehsud, and Qari Amjad being protected? This must finish now,&rdquo; he warned.&nbsp;He clarified that Pakistan&rsquo;s dispute is not with the people of Afghanistan but with a non-representative regime patronizing terrorism and the narcotics trade. He also appreciated the constructive roles of Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye in promoting peace and dialogue. He said Pakistan remains open to verifiable and results-oriented mechanisms but will act decisively if terrorism persists. &ldquo;Our security is not to be guaranteed by Kabul. It is in our own hands. No appeasement policy with terrorists,&rdquo; he concluded. Gaza and regional peaceRegarding the Gaza International Stabilization Force, the DG ISPR said the decision lies with the Pakistan government and parliament, reiterating that national security and the protection of citizens remain the state&rsquo;s top priority.

Security

DG ISPR warns India planning deep-sea false-flag operation; Pakistan vows stronger response; reports counterterror successes; poppy cultivation funding militancy; rejects talks with terrorists; cites cross-border Taliban casualties and regional concerns


India planning false-flag operation in deep-sea: DG ISPR

WASHINGTON: ChatGPT-maker OpenAI signed a $38 billion deal Monday with Amazon&#39;s AWS cloud computing arm, as the artificial intelligence company continues on a major partnership spree that has also included Oracle, Broadcom, AMD and chip-making juggernaut Nvidia.&nbsp;Under the seven-year agreement, OpenAI, which is partly owned by AWS&#39;s archrival Microsoft, will gain access to computing resources including hundreds of thousands of state-of-the-art Nvidia GPUs, the crucial component of the generative artificial intelligence revolution.&nbsp;The deal, which will grow over its multi-year term, will also give access to tens of millions of more conventional CPUs that will be used for the everyday deployment of so-called agentic AI.&nbsp;&quot;Scaling frontier AI requires massive, reliable compute,&quot; said OpenAI co-founder and CEO Sam Altman in a joint statement. &quot;Our partnership with AWS strengthens the broad compute ecosystem that will power this next era and bring advanced AI to everyone.&quot;&nbsp;OpenAI will immediately begin utilizing AWS computing, with all capacity targeted to be used before the end of 2026, and the ability to expand further in the coming years.&nbsp;By some estimates, OpenAI has inked approximately $1 trillion worth of infrastructure deals in 2025, including a $300 billion Oracle deal and a $500 billion Stargate project with Oracle and SoftBank.&nbsp;The massive infrastructure spending comes as revenues in 2025 are expected to be in the tens of billions this year, a very high figure for a startup, but far from the amount needed to recoup the costs of computing needed to power OpenAI&#39;s powerful chatbots.&nbsp;The deal was the first one since OpenAI formalized its new structure, in which the company has a freer hand to move away from its non-profit origins and deliver profits for its investors.&nbsp;The partnership with AWS builds on existing collaboration between the companies, with OpenAI&#39;s more open-source models already available on Amazon servers.

Artificial Intelligence

OpenAI signed a $38 billion, seven-year deal with AWS, gaining access to Nvidia GPUs and CPUs to scale AI. The partnership expands OpenAI’s infrastructure, supporting advanced AI deployment amid record multi-billion-dollar tech deals in 2025.

OpenAI signs $38 bn infrastructure deal with cloud giant AWS

Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Federal Minister for Health Mustafa Kamal announced the launch of a modern healthcare management system at the National Institute of Health (NIH) aimed at strengthening service delivery and monitoring mechanisms across the country. At a pharmacovigilance workshop in Islamabad, the health minister said Pakistan&rsquo;s healthcare system must shift from treatment to prevention, awareness and healthier lifestyles. &nbsp;&ldquo;The healthcare system in Pakistan is far from ideal,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Globally, healthcare now focuses on preventing illness rather than treating it after it occurs.&rdquo; Kamal said countries are shifting to lifestyle medicine, focusing on wellness without heavy drug use. Meanwhile, Pakistan&rsquo;s medical system was outdated and struggling. He pointed to overcrowded hospitals and cited that about 70% of diseases in the country stem from contaminated water. &ldquo;If clean drinking water were available, hospital loads would reduce by at least 70%,&rdquo; he said. Kamal said Pakistan urgently needs a comprehensive sewage treatment system. &ldquo;From Gilgit-Baltistan to Karachi, our water sources are spreading disease. Local sewage treatment is essential for public health,&rdquo; he said. The health minister called for a national prevention plan. &ldquo;Prevention is better than cure. We must improve our lifestyle. Lifestyle medicine is closely aligned with nature&rsquo;s system.&rdquo; Kamal predicted that cancer could be overcome globally within ten years but expressed concerns about ongoing vaccine debates. He noted Pakistan has high rates of hepatitis, diabetes and heart disease, among the highest in the world. The health minister called for healthcare professionals to work with integrity and responsibility to achieve true reform in Pakistan&rsquo;s health system. &ldquo;Only then can we build a healthier Pakistan,&rdquo; he said.

Health

Pakistan's Health Minister announced a new healthcare system focused on prevention, tackling water contamination, and promoting lifestyle medicine to improve public health nationwide.

Pakistan to launch modern healthcare system to improve health services

ABUJA, Nigeria: Nigerians across the religious spectrum pushed back Monday on US President Donald Trump&#39;s threats of military intervention over the killing of Christians in the country. Africa&#39;s most populous country, which is roughly evenly split between a mostly Christian south and Muslim-majority north, is home to myriad conflicts, which experts say kill both Christians and Muslims, often without distinction. But claims of Christian &quot;persecution&quot; in Nigeria have found traction online among the US and European right in recent weeks. &quot;Christians are being killed, we can&#39;t deny the fact that Muslims are (also) being killed,&quot; Danjuma Dickson Auta, a Christian and community leader, told AFP. Trump said on social media over the weekend that he had asked the Pentagon to map out a possible plan of attack. Asked by an AFP reporter aboard Air Force One if he was considering putting US troops on the ground or using air strikes, Trump replied: &quot;Could be, I mean, a lot of things -- I envisage a lot of things.&quot; &quot;They&#39;re killing the Christians and killing them in very large numbers,&quot; he said Sunday. &quot;We&#39;re not going to allow that to happen.&quot; Pushing back on the accusations, President Bola Tinubu said over the weekend that &quot;religious freedom and tolerance have been a core tenet of our collective identity&quot;. Ethnic violenceAuta, 56, hails from Plateau state, where Christians and Muslims have long lived side by side. The state has also seen explosions of violence -- including deadly sectarian riots in the capital Jos in 2001 and 2008. In recent years, Plateau and other states in Nigeria&#39;s &quot;Middle Belt&quot; have suffered deadly clashes between mostly Christian farmers and Fulani Muslim herders over dwindling land and resources. The conflict has often resulted in massive death tolls on the side of the farmers, with entire villages razed. Smaller-scale attacks on herders -- including retaliatory killings of random ethnic Fulanis or their cattle -- often generate fewer headlines in both the local and international press. Though the violence appears on the surface to fall across ethnic and religious lines, experts say the root causes lie in poor land management and policing in rural areas. Words like &quot;genocide&quot; have been thrown around by those in Plateau frustrated by the escalating violence, though typically in ethnic, not religious terms. Claims of a &quot;Christian genocide&quot; meanwhile have been pushed in recent years by separatist groups in the southeast. US-based firm Moran Global Strategies has been lobbying on behalf of separatists this year, advising congressional staff on what it said was Christian &quot;persecution&quot;, according to disclosure forms. Nigeria suggests Trump-Tinubu meetingNigeria also faces a long-running jihadist conflict in its northeast, and &quot;bandit&quot; gangs in the northwest who conduct kidnappings and village raids. The north&#39;s population is mostly Muslim -- meaning most of the victims are, too. &quot;Even those who sold this narrative of Christian genocide know it is not true,&quot; said Abubakar Gamandi, a Muslim who heads a fishermen&#39;s union in Borno state, the epicentre of the Boko Haram conflict. Chukwuma Soludo, the Christian governor of Anambra state, also pushed back against US intervention, saying Washington &quot;must act within the realm of international law&quot;. But Trump&#39;s rhetoric has resonated with some in Nigeria. Reverend Joseph Hayab, chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria for the country&#39;s north, said he rejected the framing of &quot;farmer-herder violence&quot; and called Trump&#39;s comments a &quot;wake-up call&quot;. &quot;People are twisting the story as if Trump said he is coming to fight Nigeria. No, he is coming to deal with terrorists,&quot; he told AFP. The Nigerian presidency suggested a meeting between the two leaders. Daniel Bwala, a spokesman for Tinubu, said &quot;Donald Trump has his own style of communication&quot;. Bwala suggested to AFP Sunday that Trump&#39;s post was a way to &quot;force a sit-down between the two leaders so they can iron out a common front to fight their insecurity&quot;. Trump previously attacked South Africa over what he called a &quot;genocide&quot; against its Dutch-descended Afrikaner community, and has offered them refugee status. Critics of the president said the rhetoric was part of Trump&#39;s hardline diplomatic strategy.

Africa

Nigerians of all faiths rejected Donald Trump’s threat to launch US strikes over alleged Christian persecution, stressing that violence in the country affects both Christians and Muslims and stems from ethnic, land, and resource conflicts.

Christian, Muslim Nigerians push back on threatened US strikes

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s President, Asif Ali Zardari, will undertake an official visit to Qatar from Nov. 3 to Nov. 6&nbsp;to participate in the World Summit for Social Development, organized under the auspices of the United Nations. According to a statement from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the meeting brings together world leaders to reinforce global efforts to achieve the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. The president will address the summit on Nov. 4 and stress the importance of international cooperation to advance social justice, equality, and human dignity. He will call for a reformed and inclusive global financial framework that strengthens social development, with a focus on supporting countries in the Global South. &ldquo;He will highlight Pakistan&rsquo;s achievements in the areas of poverty eradication, health, education and sustainable development,&rdquo; the statement added. On the sidelines of the summit, the president will hold a series of bilateral meetings with world leaders, offering an opportunity to discuss issues of mutual interest. The summit serves as a key platform for dialogue, cooperation, and joint solutions, bringing together governments and international organizations. It seeks to address persistent gaps, reaffirm global commitment to social development, and boost progress toward the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.

Foreign Affairs

President Zardari will visit Qatar from Nov. 3 to Nov. 6 to attend the UN-backed World Summit for Social Development, highlighting Pakistan’s achievements, advocating global cooperation and financial reforms, and engaging in bilateral meetings with world leaders.

President Zardari to advocate for global cooperation at Qatar social development summit

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb and his economic team outlined a comprehensive set of structural reforms during a press conference on Thursday, aiming to pave the way for sustainable economic growth. The reforms are designed to address long-standing economic challenges and take advantage of both domestic and international opportunities. The government stated it aimed transform the country&rsquo;s economic landscape, with a special focus on improving the taxation system and addressing fiscal and energy sector inefficiencies. Structural reforms The goal of the government&#39;s reform agenda is clear: to ensure Pakistan&#39;s long-term economic stability and avoid the cyclical boom-and-bust scenarios that have plagued the economy in the past. Key to this vision is a series of structural reforms that will address fundamental issues in taxation, energy, state-owned enterprises (SOEs), and government rightsizing. The Finance Minister said that these reforms are already underway and will be institutionalized as part of a &ldquo;whole-of-government&rdquo; approach. He stated that this was not just about planning or discussing what needs to be done, but rather ensuring these reforms were actively implemented and embedded in Pakistan&rsquo;s institutional framework. Leveraging geopolitical opportunities The government is also positioning Pakistan to capitalize on its favorable geopolitical environment. With strong relationships with global economic powers such as China, the United States, and GCC countries, the Finance Minister said it was importance to leverage trade and investment flows to support the nation&rsquo;s growth. Diplomatic and economic engagements, particularly in Washington and Riyadh, are seen as essential to securing funding and long-term partnerships that will benefit Pakistan&rsquo;s economy. Taxation reform One of the key highlights of the press conference was the government&#39;s ambitious plan for taxation reform. FBR Chairman Rashid Mahmood Langrial provided an update on the tax-to-GDP ratio, which saw a 1.49% increase in just one year.&nbsp;The improvement comes on the back of measures introduced in the June 2024 budget and is expected to form the foundation of future fiscal policies. However, the government acknowledged that substantial progress is still needed to reach its long-term target of an 18% tax-to-GDP ratio over the next 3-4 years. This target includes contributions from both federal and provincial governments. The federal government is expected to contribute 15%, including FBR&rsquo;s target of around 13.85%, while the provincial governments are tasked with contributing 3%. &ldquo;The reform of Pakistan&rsquo;s tax system is a long-term commitment. While significant progress has been made, the ultimate goal is to expand and deepen the tax base by broadening the number of tax filers and ensuring the top earners contribute a fair share.&rdquo; The FBR chairman also revealed that the number of tax filers significantly increased this year compared to last year. However, the government remains committed to addressing key criticisms that the tax system is deepening but not broadening. The focus will be on increasing the number of tax filers and ensuring that a broader portion of the population participates in the tax system. Road ahead for FBR The FBR acknowledged challenges in meeting revenue targets, particularly in the months of July to September 2025, where a shortfall of around Rs275 billion was recorded. While the chairman admitted the setback, he reassured that some of the shortfall would be recovered in subsequent months. &ldquo;Reforms within the FBR will be bottom-up, focusing on data-driven strategies and improved compliance. We are rethinking how taxes can be broadened and deepened, and we will ensure that the top 1% of earners pay their fair share,&rdquo; he said. Energy sector reforms The government announced energy sector reforms, including a Rs1,200 billion debt agreement to cut circular debt by Rs700 billion within a year. Power tariffs has been reduced, with industrial users seeing a Rs16 per unit cut. The EV tax also dropped from 71% to 39% to encourage new sectors while maintaining fair taxation. The Competitive Trading Bilateral Contract Market (CTBCM) is set to launch by early 2026 to improve electricity trading and reduce reliance on government power purchases. Energy Minister Awais Leghari said these steps aim to lower costs, improve service, and make the sector more sustainable. Privatization and SOE reforms The government is also focusing on the privatization and restructuring of state-owned enterprises (SOEs). Privatization Advisor discussed the ongoing sales of banks and the planned privatization of PIA and DISCOs. Meanwhile, Prime Minister&rsquo;s Coordinator for Rightsizing announced that 20 ministries have been restructured, 54,000 vacant positions abolished, and loss-making entities like PASSCO shut down to ease the fiscal burden. The broader vision The government&rsquo;s reform agenda includes&nbsp;addressing taxation, energy, debt management, SOE restructuring, rightsizing of government institutions, pension reforms, and digital transformation. The reforms are aimed at ensuring sustainable economic growth and addressing the challenges of macroeconomic instability. &ldquo;The goal is to create a system where all sectors of the economy are working together towards a single vision of sustainable growth. This isn&rsquo;t about isolated changes &mdash; it&rsquo;s about making structural adjustments that will last for decades,&rdquo; the finance minister said.

Economy

The government’s reform agenda includes addressing taxation, energy, debt management, SOE restructuring, rightsizing of government institutions, pension reforms, and digital transformation.

Pakistan sets ambitious 18% tax-to-GDP target to stabilize economy

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday that Pakistan remains committed to developing a broad and balanced partnership with the US. He was speaking at a seminar, &ldquo;Diplomatic successes of Pakistan,&rdquo; organized in the capital, Islamabad.&nbsp; The defense minister presented an overview of the country&rsquo;s foreign policy and its ties with Pakistan&rsquo;s major partners.&nbsp; &ldquo;With Saudi Arabia, our relations have entered a new era of mutual confidence and economic collaboration,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; &ldquo;The prime minister&rsquo;s recent engagements with Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s leadership have reinvigorated strategic cooperation and opened pathways for multibillion-dollar investment in energy, mining, and infrastructure.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Our relationship with the UAE and Qatar has also deepened remarkably; both countries have expressed strong interest in expanding their economic footprint in Pakistan, for renewable energy, ports to information technology, and agriculture,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;These partnerships reflect a shared commitment to regional stability and economic interdependence.&rdquo;&nbsp; The defense minister said: &ldquo;With the US, Pakistan continues to build a broad-based and balanced partnership.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Our recent diplomatic engagements have emphasized cooperation in trade, technology, climate resilience, and counterterrorism ....&nbsp;Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s constructive role as a bridge between regions and interests.&quot; Partnership with China&ldquo;Our all-weather strategic partnership with China remains an anchor of regional peace and prosperity,&rdquo; said Asif.&nbsp; &ldquo;The prime minister&rsquo;s interactions with Chinese leadership have reaffirmed both sides&#39; resolve to expand the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor into new domains, including agriculture, information technology, and renewable energy.&rdquo; &ldquo;This deepening cooperation symbolizes a shared vision for connectivity and inclusive growth,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp; Outreach to Central Asia&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s outreach to central Asian republics, particularly, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, represents another milestone in our diplomacy.&rdquo; &ldquo;Through active engagement, the prime minister has advanced Pakistan&rsquo;s role as a gateway for trade and energy transit between central and south Asia.&rdquo; &ldquo;Projects like CASA-1000, TAPI, and the proposed Trans-Afghan Railway underscore our commitment to regional connectivity, economic integration, and shared prosperity,&rdquo; said Asif. Ties with the Muslim world&nbsp;&ldquo;In the broader Muslim world, Pakistan has actively sought to revitalize ties with Iran, Turkey, and Egypt,&rdquo; said the defense minister. &ldquo;These engagements are grounded in shared faith, mutual respect, and collective aspirations for peace and development.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Our deepening cooperation with the &nbsp;Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) further amplifies Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic voice on issues such as Islamophobia, Palestinian rights, and humanitarian relief in Gaza and Afghanistan,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp; &lsquo;Economic diplomacy&rsquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;At the heart of Pakistan&rsquo;s renewed diplomatic activism lies economic diplomacy, guided by the prime minister&rsquo;s vision of transforming foreign relations into economic opportunities,&rdquo; said the defense minister.&nbsp; &ldquo;Pakistan has sought to attract investments, enhance exports, and promote development-oriented partnerships.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Recent high-level visits have now only revitalized traditional friendships but also restored global confidence in Pakistan&rsquo;s stability and economic potential,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp; &ldquo;Major partners now view Pakistan as a country focused on reform, growth, and responsible engagement in an interconnected world.&rdquo;&nbsp; &lsquo;Forward-looking Pakistan&rsquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Our diplomacy today reflects a forward-looking Pakistan, one that engages constructively, builds bridges, and believes in the power of partnerships,&rdquo; said Asif.&nbsp; &ldquo;Through the prime minister&rsquo;s sustained diplomatic outreach, Pakistan has successfully reestablished itself as a respected voice in regional and international forums from the United Nations and SCO to OIC and World Economic Forum,&rdquo; he added.

Says, ‘At the heart of Pakistan’s renewed diplomatic activism lies economic diplomacy guided by … a vision of transforming foreign relations into economic opportunities;’ ‘Pakistan has sought to attract investments, enhance exports, and promote development-oriented partnerships.’ 

Pakistan pursuing balanced, broad-based ties with US: defense minister

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&#39;s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar arrived in Istanbul on Monday to attend the Coordination Meeting of Arab-Islamic Foreign Ministers, convened to discuss the Gaza ceasefire agreement and the latest developments in the region, the Foreign Office said. The foreign minister met his Turkish counterpart, Minister of Foreign Affairs Hakan Fidan, on the sidelines of the Coordination Meeting.&nbsp; According to a post on X by Pakistan&#39;s Ministry of Foreign Affairs: &ldquo;...the ministers expressed satisfaction over the positive trajectory of Pakistan-T&uuml;rkiye bilateral relations and reaffirmed their shared commitment to further deepening cooperation across political, economic, and defence spheres.&quot; &quot;Both leaders reaffirmed the strong bonds of brotherhood and mutual support that continue to underpin Pakistan&ndash;T&uuml;rkiye relations and agreed to maintain close coordination on regional and international issues.&quot; The talks, which began at around 4 p.m. Pakistan time, will be followed by a news conference, AFP reported. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=eyJ0ZndfdGltZWxpbmVfbGlzdCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOltdLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2ZvbGxvd2VyX2NvdW50X3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9iYWNrZW5kIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19yZWZzcmNfc2Vzc2lvbiI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZm9zbnJfc29mdF9pbnRlcnZlbnRpb25zX2VuYWJsZWQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib24iLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X21peGVkX21lZGlhXzE1ODk3Ijp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRyZWF0bWVudCIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3Nob3dfYmlyZHdhdGNoX3Bpdm90c19lbmFibGVkIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6Im9uIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH0sInRmd19kdXBsaWNhdGVfc2NyaWJlc190b19zZXR0aW5ncyI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdXNlX3Byb2ZpbGVfaW1hZ2Vfc2hhcGVfZW5hYmxlZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdmlkZW9faGxzX2R5bmFtaWNfbWFuaWZlc3RzXzE1MDgyIjp7ImJ1Y2tldCI6InRydWVfYml0cmF0ZSIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfbGVnYWN5X3RpbWVsaW5lX3N1bnNldCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOnRydWUsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9LCJ0ZndfdHdlZXRfZWRpdF9mcm9udGVuZCI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJvbiIsInZlcnNpb24iOm51bGx9fQ%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1985265992746844404&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=49bdb60b115106e376e5f4079c3e8c9945d24a8a&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 672px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>Gaza ceasefire agreementThe ceasefire agreement, which was signed between Hamas and Israel on Oct. 9, included provisions for the exchange of captives and prisoners as part of the first phase of a peace initiative led by US President Donald Trump. However, despite the agreement, Israel has reportedly resumed its military operations in Gaza. Pakistan, along with seven other Arab-Islamic countries, has remained engaged in the peace efforts that culminated in the Gaza Peace Agreement, signed in Sharm el-Sheikh, which reaffirms Pakistan&#39;s support for peace, justice, and the dignity of the Palestinian people.

Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar meets Turkish counterpart on the sidelines of the Co-ordination Meeting; reiterates commitment to further deepening cooperation across political, economic, and defence spheres with Turkiye; urges implementation of a complete ceasefire in Gaza

Pakistan to reiterate demand for full Gaza ceasefire at Istanbul meeting

Syed Ahmed Raza

ISLAMABAD: In a strategic move to bolster its self-reliance in space and defense technologies, India on Sunday launched a communications satellite from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre in&nbsp;Sriharikota. The CMS-03 communications satellite, also known as GSAT-7R, was launched aboard India&#39;s indigenous Launch Vehicle Mark-3 rocket.&nbsp;According to the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), the satellite will operate in geostationary orbit, providing secure, multi-band communications for the Indian Navy. Indian media described it as a military communications satellite designed to strengthen the Navy&rsquo;s command, control, and surveillance network across the Indian Ocean.&nbsp;The CMS-03 replaces the ageing GSAT-7 and marks a major upgrade in India&rsquo;s military communications capability. ISRO said the launch also tested, for the first time in orbit, an indigenously developed cryogenic upper-stage engine, improving payload precision and fuel efficiency.&nbsp;Expansion of India&rsquo;s orbital ambitionsThe launch continues a series of recent Indian space milestones. In January, ISRO&rsquo;s GSLV-F15 successfully placed the NVS-02 navigation satellite into orbit, while in July, the joint NASA-ISRO radar mission, NISAR, was launched &mdash; a $1.5 billion project aimed at global environmental monitoring.&nbsp;In September, ISRO transferred its Small Satellite Launch Vehicle (SSLV) technology to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) to enable commercial production by 2027. The agency has also declared 2025 as &ldquo;Gaganyaan Year,&rdquo; with an uncrewed human spaceflight test featuring the humanoid robot Vyommitra scheduled for December.&nbsp;Together, these steps reflect India&rsquo;s push toward self-reliance in strategic space technology and defense applications.&nbsp;Strategic recalibration post-May 2025 air engagementsIndia&rsquo;s latest satellite focus highlights its efforts to restore strategic confidence following its setback in the May 2025 air engagements with Pakistan. During those encounters, the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had demonstrated superior coordination and situational awareness against advanced Indian aircraft, downing at least six Indian aircraft, including the top-of-the-shelf Rafale.&nbsp;PAF Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed, in a post-engagement briefing earlier this year, credited Pakistan&rsquo;s performance to its multi-domain operational capability and to the integration of real-time intelligence, cyber defense, and space-based data into air operations. That experience underscored a key shift in modern warfare: information dominance &mdash; not firepower alone &mdash; now determines superiority. India&rsquo;s new satellite is therefore widely seen as an attempt to close that gap and strengthen its command-and-control resilience through space-enabled systems.&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s growing space cooperationPakistan has also accelerated its own space program through its space agency, the Space &amp; Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), in partnership with China. In January this year, SUPARCO launched the Electro-Optical Satellite (EO-1) to support agriculture, resource mapping, and disaster management. In October, it launched its first hyperspectral imaging satellite (HS-1) aboard a Chinese rocket, enhancing capabilities in environmental monitoring and precision agriculture.&nbsp;Pakistan has also joined China&rsquo;s astronaut training program, with two candidates preparing for a future mission aboard the Tiangong space station in 2026. Additionally, the PAKSAT-MM1 communications satellite completed its first operational year, expanding national connectivity, e-learning, and telemedicine networks.&nbsp;Budgetary gap and road to autonomyOfficial documents reveal a stark contrast in space program funding between the two countries. SUPARCO operates on an annual budget of roughly $36 million, while India&rsquo;s ISRO receives around $1.6 billion, a 50-fold difference that underscores the scale of Pakistan&rsquo;s resource constraints.&nbsp;&nbsp;This financial disparity largely explains Pakistan&rsquo;s reliance on external partnerships, particularly with China, to advance its space capabilities. While such collaborations provide access to cutting-edge technology and help bridge immediate gaps, they also highlight the challenges Pakistan faces in achieving long-term self-reliance and fostering indigenous innovation in its space sector.&nbsp;Under the National Space Policy 2024 and Space Vision 2047, Pakistan aims to build self-reliant capacity by developing domestic satellites, indigenous launch vehicles, and a sovereign data network. Experts say achieving that goal will require greater investment, local manufacturing, and a skilled technical workforce.&nbsp;Space: the new strategic frontierThe growing focus on orbital infrastructure reflects the changing nature of South Asia&rsquo;s defense landscape. As India expands its military communications network through space, Pakistan is deepening cooperative development to ensure access and capability.&nbsp;Both countries now view the space domain not merely as a scientific frontier but as a core element of national security, a shift that places information dominance and satellite communications at the center of regional deterrence and defense planning.

India’s launch of the CMS-03 satellite underscores its push for space-based military dominance, while Pakistan accelerates its own space program through China partnerships, aiming for long-term self-reliance and strategic capability

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