AJK: Health minister Kamal vows all-out cooperation
ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for National Health Services and Regulations Mustafa Kamal Monday has assured the people and the authorities of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) of Pakistan's every possible cooperation to serve the masses especially with regard to health services.
The minister, during his brief visit to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) Kotli, said that in-line with the directives of the Prime Minister (PM) of Pakistan, Shehbaz Sharif, he is visiting the AJK region to express solidarity with the people of Kashmir and to extend all out cooperation. The minister also condemned Indian aggression and highlighted the nation's unprecedented unity on the occasion.
Kamal told the media that his visit comes in the light of special directives of the prime minister of Pakistan and the chief of army staff. He met with Deputy Commissioner of District Kotli Major Nasir Rafiq (retired) who warmly received the minister. Also present at the meeting was Brigade Commander Brigadier Samiullah.
The minister visited the District Headquarters Hospital Kotli, where he inquired about the health of civilians injured due to unprovoked Indian shelling. Among the injured was a child whose brother was martyred in the attack. 'May God grant the bereaved family patience and strength,' he said. Minister Kamal assured that all victims would receive the best possible medical care, completely free of charge. 'The government stands shoulder to shoulder with its wounded citizens,' he emphasised.
'India, which dreamt of Pakistan's internal collapse, is now grappling with chaos within its own borders,' the minister stated. He criticised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying, 'Modi believed he could become the 'Israel' of this region. Instead, his actions have only unified Pakistan.'
Kamal acknowledged that the recent hostilities and provocations from India had led to a remarkable transformation within the Pakistani nation. 'Thank you, India — your aggression has brought us together,' he said. 'Pakistan today is entirely different from what it was 20 days ago. Our people stand shoulder to shoulder with their Armed Forces, like a wall of steel.'
He emphasised that ethnic, linguistic, and sectarian differences had been set aside as the nation united to defend its sovereignty. 'Allah has granted us the strength to shatter the arrogance of our enemy,' Kamal added, noting that even the global community has recognised Pakistan's strength and resolve.
Despite India's military and economic advantages both estimated to be eight times greater, Kamal stated that India had suffered a humiliating defeat, saying armed forces of Pakistan including Air Force, Navy, and land forces delivered a befitting response to the enemy.
He urged the Pakistani nation to preserve this spirit of unity at all costs, stating that India did not target terrorists; they attacked children, women, and the elderly.
Referring to victims of cross-border shelling, he said he himself has witnessed the screaming of a mother at DHQ Kotli who lost her child.
Drawing a powerful comparison, he said, 'Even global superpowers have failed to break the spirit of children in Gaza. India cannot expect to break the will of 240 million Pakistanis.'
Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
US says Trump keen to resolve Kashmir issue
US President Donald Trump speaks during a swearing-in ceremony for the new US ambassador to China, former US Senator David Perdue, at the White House in Washington, DC, US on May 7, 2025. Photo: REUTERS Listen to article Pakistan's recent diplomatic outreach in Washington appears to be making headway, as the US Department of State on Wednesday reaffirmed President Donald Trump's stated willingness to engage on the Kashmir dispute. During a White House press briefing, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce responded to a query regarding Trump's potential course of action following his earlier offer to mediate on Kashmir. "So, while I can't speak to his plans, the world knows his nature, and I can't speak to any details of what he might have in that regard," she said, noting that further comment would come from the White House. Bruce stressed the president's track record of initiating unexpected diplomatic dialogues, expressing optimism that progress on Kashmir was not beyond reach. "[Trump] has been the only one to bring certain people to the table to have conversations that nobody thought was possible," she said. "It shouldn't surprise anyone that he'd want to manage something like that," she added. The remarks coincided with a recent high-level Pakistani delegation visit to Washington, led by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. Responding to a related question, Bruce confirmed that the delegation met with senior State Department officials, including Under Secretary for Political Affairs Allison Hooker. According to Bruce, the discussions centred on bilateral ties, with emphasis on counterterrorism cooperation. "We also know that Deputy Secretary Landau met with the Indian parliamentary delegation last week, and he also reaffirmed the United States strong support of India in the fight against terrorism," she noted. Pakistan has launched a comprehensive diplomatic campaign in the United States to present its viewpoint on the recent escalation with India and to counter New Delhi's expanding lobbying footprint in Washington. The campaign includes outreach to US lawmakers, think tanks, and the media. Foreign Minister Bilawal, who led a nine-member team, visited New York and Washington from May 31 to June 6 before heading to London and Brussels. During the US leg of the trip, he held meetings with over a dozen members of Congress, including both the House of Representatives and the Senate. He also engaged with senior officials at the State Department, where he outlined Islamabad's concerns over India's aggressive posture, threats to the Indus Waters Treaty and incendiary rhetoric from the Modi-led government. Meanwhile, President Trump, speaking to reporters in the Oval Office last week, doubled down on his claim of playing a key role in easing tensions between India and Pakistan during earlier flare-ups. "They don't give me credit for anything, but nobody else could have stopped it," he said.
Express Tribune
3 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Top US general praises 'phenomenal partner' Pakistan
Lieutenant General Michael Kurilla testifies before the Senate Armed Services Committee on his nomination to become Commander of Central Command during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, US, February 8, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE Listen to article In a stunning rebuke to the Indian attempts seeking Pakistan's international isolation, a top US general on Tuesday publicly praised Pakistan as a "phenomenal partner" in the global fight against terrorism and insisted Washington must not ignore Pakistan while pursuing strategic ties with India. The testimony of General Michael Kurilla, Commander Central Command (CENTCOM), was seen as a major diplomatic win for Pakistan at a time when India was trying to build a narrative that Islamabad was sponsoring terrorism. The testimony stands in sharp contrast to persistent efforts, particularly from Indian lobbying groups, to paint Pakistan as an unreliable partner in the fight against terrorism. Gen Kurilla's candid remarks not only validate Pakistan's ongoing sacrifices but may also recalibrate the tone of future US policy in South Asia. Gen Kurilla's statement before the House Arms Services Committee led to a meltdown in India where the media and commentators questioned the US loyalty. The CENTCOM chief terming ISIS-Khorasan the most active terrorist groups, said the Afghan Taliban went after them and pushed "a lot of them into the trial areas on the Afghan-Pakistan border". "Through a phenomenal partnership with Pakistanthey (Pakistan) have gone after ISIS Khorasan, killing dozens of them," he told lawmakers. "Through our relationship we have with them, and providing intelligence, they have captured at least five ISIS Khorasan high-value individuals. They extradited back Jafar, who is one of the key individuals behind the Abbey Gate bombing," he added. "And the first person [ ] the [Pakistani] chief of the army staff Munir [called] me and said, "I've caught him, ready to extradite him back to United States, please tell the Secretary of Defense and the President." "So, we are seeing Pakistan, with limited intelligence that we provide, and go after them using their means to do that, and we're seeing an effect on ISIS Khorasan," General Kurila said. "And I would also tell you that since 2024the beginningPakistan has had over 1,000 terrorist attacks in the western area, killing about 700 security and [2,500] civilians. They have an active counterterrorism fight right now, and they have been a phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world." Gen Kurilla highlighted the staggering toll terrorism continues to take on Pakistan itself, citing over 1,000 terrorist attacks in 2024 alonekilling approximately 700 security personnel and 2,500 civilians. "They have an active counterterrorism fight right now," he stated. "And they've been a phenomenal partner in the counterterrorism world." The CENTCOM chief emphasized that Pakistan's efforts over the last several months have severely degraded ISIS-K's capabilities. According to intelligence gained through interrogations and exploitation of captured militants, the terrorist group is currently at a "low point", though it still poses a transnational threat. "These are the same individuals that carried out the Crocus City Hall attack in Moscow and the bombing in Kerman, Iran," Kurilla said. "There are even ties to plots against the U.S. homeland, which I can discuss in a classified setting." In a significant diplomatic note, Gen Kurilla rejected the idea that US relations in South Asia must be zero-sum between India and Pakistan. "It's not a binary switch," he asserted. "We can't have one with Pakistan if we have a relationship with India. We should look at the merits of the relationship for the positives that it has." Paul Kapur Paul Kapur, US President Donald Trump's nominee for Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Tuesday that he would prioritise security cooperation with Pakistan where it aligns with US interests. He also expressed intent to explore opportunities for enhancing bilateral collaboration in trade and investment, He previously served on the State Department's Policy Planning Staff during Trump's first term, where he played a role in shaping US strategy in South Asia. Kapur, an academic of Indian origin, acknowledged the region's volatility, referring to the recent escalation between India and Pakistan. He said the crisis was narrowly averted due to "intense engagement" by US Vice President J.D. Vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. "If confirmed, I will pursue security cooperation with Pakistan where it is in America's interest," says Paul Kapur who is set to become Trump's top diplomat on South Asia. On Pakistan, he said that if confirmed, he would "pursue security cooperation where it is beneficial to US interests while seeking opportunities for bilateral collaboration in trade and investment." He noted that "South Asia recently avoided a costly conflict with Vice President Vance and Secretary Rubio intensely engaged on the issue." He added, "If confirmed, I will continue to promote long-standing US security interests with India and Pakistan through the pursuit of peace and stability and the fight against terrorism."
Express Tribune
4 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Pakistani who plotted US attack extradited from Canada
A Pakistani man was extradited from Canada to the United States on Tuesday to face charges of plotting to carry out an attack on Jews in New York City, the Justice Department said. Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, 20, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, was arrested in Canada in September. According to a criminal complaint, Khan planned to travel to New York and carry out a mass shooting in support of the Islamic State (IS) at a Jewish center in Brooklyn on the October 7 anniversary of the deadly 2023 Hamas attack on Israel. "He planned to use automatic weapons to kill as many members of our Jewish community as possible, all in support of IS," US Attorney Jay Clayton said in a statement. Khan allegedly revealed his plans in conversations with conspirators who were actually undercover law enforcement officers, the Justice Department said. He was taken into custody by Canadian authorities in the municipality of Ormstown some 12 miles (19 kilometers) from the US-Canada border.
