No handshake, gate opening at Attari-Wagah border during flag-lowering ceremony
2:14
Pakistani journalist Mona Alam faced strong criticism from former ambassador Veena Sikri after calling for an investigation into the Pahalgam attack to examine Pakistan's involvement.
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News18
an hour ago
- News18
Pakistan COAS Asim Munir Invited To US Army Day Celebrations On June 14: Sources
Last Updated: During this visit, the US is likely to urge Pakistan to take action against terrorist groups targeting Afghanistan and India Pakistan's chief of army staff General Syed Asim Munir Ahmed Shah is scheduled to visit Washington DC, for the US Army Day celebrations on June 14, top intelligence sources have told CNN-News18. He will join other military leaders to commemorate the US Army's 250th anniversary. According to sources at the Pakistani Embassy in Washington DC, Munir is expected to arrive on June 12. During this visit, the US is likely to urge Pakistan to take action against terrorist groups targeting Afghanistan and India. The invitation appears to be linked more to the ongoing US-China rivalry and Pakistan's strategic importance than any stance against India. Due to Pakistan's close ties with China through initiatives like the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the US harbours concerns about Pakistan's neutrality. Given the current geopolitical climate, the US is unlikely to view Pakistan as a credible or neutral mediator, said sources. This visit has also provoked political reactions within Pakistan, with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) planning protests against Munir's visit and labelling him a criminal. Pakistan is expected to seek assurances from the US regarding the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating from Afghanistan. Historically, Pakistan has sought US mediation on various issues, while India firmly rejects third-party involvement. The US prefers bilateral dialogue and is unlikely to alter its stance in favour of mediation, sources said. Pakistan recognises the potential debt trap associated with China and is eager to attract investment from other global powers. The country possesses valuable resources such as lithium, copper, gold, and rare earth minerals, for which it urgently requires investment. However, Pakistan is wary of potential colonisation similar to China's approach. The visit aims to manage the strained security relationship between the US and Pakistan. Pakistan will likely pursue its agenda on mediation in Kashmir and seek investments in its mineral resources. However, tangible outcomes may be limited, as India is unlikely to accede to any external demands regarding Kashmir. First Published: June 11, 2025, 02:37 IST
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
Zero tolerance for terror, essential to never yield to nuclear blackmail: S Jaishankar
Delivering a strong message to Europe on India's zero tolerance policy on terrorism, external affairs minister S Jaishankar said that it was essential to never yield to nuclear blackmail and vowed that India would strike deep into Pakistan to target terrorists if provoked again. The minister is on a week-long visit to Europe and is meeting top leadership, including European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. Jaishankar welcomed her strong condemnation of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and solidarity in combating terrorism. On the issue of nuclear blackmail, Jaishankar said in a press interaction with EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas: "We strongly believe that there must be zero tolerance for terrorism in all its forms and manifestations. In that context, it is also essential that we never yield to nuclear blackmail." Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Prachear Thoam: Unsold Furniture Liquidation 2024 (Prices May Surprise You) Unsold Furniture | Search Ads Learn More Undo Jaishankar made it clear that the recent military strikes should be seen as Indian action against terrorism, and not an India-Pakistan conflict. In an interview with Politico, Jaishankar said that the Indian message is clear that barbaric acts of terrorism will not be tolerated and that India is prepared to strike deep inside Pakistan if the need be to take on terror outfits. "Our message to them is that if you continue to do the kind of barbaric acts which they did in April, then there is going to be retribution, and that retribution will be against the terrorist organizations and the terrorist we don't care where they are. If they are deep in Pakistan, we will go deep into Pakistan." Live Events In the same interview, the minister also said that India inflicted extensive damage to the Pakistani Air Force during Operation Sindoor and that the fighting stopped on May 10 for one reason only - India hitting and disabling eight main Pakistani airfields. In another interview to French publication Le Figaro, the minister warned that India will continue to hunt down terrorists wherever they are, including Pakistan, if there is any attempt to orchestrate attacks on its citizens. "We have been very clear: as long as cross-border terrorism continues, we will retaliate and take all measures necessary for our self-defense. It's a basic duty to our people," he said. On the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Jaishankar said that India believes that an urgent solution to the war must be found and that it will only come through direct negotiations between the two parties. He added that Global South wants the conflict to stop.
Indian Express
4 hours ago
- Indian Express
Pakistan boosts defence budget by 20% but slashes overall spending in 2025-26
Pakistan will raise defence spending by a steep 20% after a military clash with its old enemy India last month, but will slash overall federal expenditure for fiscal 2025-26 by a hefty 7% to 17.57 trillion rupees ($62 billion). The budget presented on Tuesday by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif's government allocated 2.55 trillion rupees ($9 billion) to defence in July-June 2025-26, up from 2.12 trillion. It projected a deficit of 3.9% of GDP against the 5.9% targeted for 2024-25. Inflation was projected at 7.5% and growth at 4.2%. The South Asian nation wants to kickstart growth while boosting its defences after the worst fighting with its neighbour in nearly three decades – which it has cast as a victory – and meeting the strictures of an International Monetary Fund finance programme. 'After defeating India in a conventional war, now we have to surpass it in the economic field,' Sharif said in a statement. Pakistan must also contend with the uncertainty of new import tariffs being imposed by the United States, its biggest export market. The clash with India was sparked in April by Islamists who killed 26 men in an attack on Hindu tourists in Indian Kashmir. Islamabad denied New Delhi's allegation that the militants were backed by Pakistan. Four days of fighting featured jets, missiles, drones and artillery. For the coming year, Pakistan's government allocated 742 billion Pakistani rupees ($2.63 billion) to military pensions, taking the entire defence budget to 3.292 trillion Pakistani rupees ($11.67 billion). That included 704 billion Pakistani rupees ($2.5 billion) in spending on equipment and other physical assets. India's defence spending in its 2025–26 (April-March) fiscal year was set at $78.7 billion, up 9.5%, including pensions and $21 billion earmarked for equipment. It has indicated that it too will boost defence spending further. Sharif's government has projected 4.2% economic growth in 2025-26, saying it has steadied the economy, which looked at risk of defaulting on its debts as recently as 2023. Growth this fiscal year is likely to be 2.7%, against the budgeted target of 3.6%. Pakistan's growth lags far behind the region. In 2024, South Asian countries grew by an average of 5.8% and the Asian Development Bank expects 6.0% in 2025. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the government intended to complete the privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines, a request of the IMF. Growth should be aided by a sharp drop in the cost of borrowing, the government says, after a succession of interest rate cuts. But economists warn that monetary policy alone may not be enough, with fiscal constraints and IMF-mandated reforms still weighing on investment. Aurangzeb said that the budget was the start of a strategy to boost exports, increase foreign currency reserves to avoid the balance of payments crises of the past, and create a more competitive economy. 'In short, our budget strategy is to change the economy's DNA by bringing basic changes,' he said.
