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Business Recorder
28-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Challenging India on the world stage
EDITORIAL: Following its battlefield success, Pakistan is now all set to counter India's diplomatic manoeuvres through strategic engagement in world capitals and international forums. A top-level Pakistani delegation, led by PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and including former foreign minister Hina Rabbani Khar, ex-ambassadors to Washington Sherry Rehman and Jalil Abbas Jilani along with other key figures, will arrive in New York on June 1 to present Islamabad's stance with respect to the ongoing dispute with India. Similar missions are expected to follow in Canada and European capitals. Meanwhile, an Indian delegation is already actively lobbying in the US, while additional Indian teams are touring key global destinations, including Russia and the UAE to advocate New Delhi's position. It is imperative that Pakistan capitalises on its recent battlefield achievements and the diplomatic momentum gained through its effective communications strategy during the four-day conflict by countering hostile narratives. First and foremost, Islamabad must systematically expose the dangerous precedent of using baseless accusations to legitimise military adventurism. Pakistan must again clearly reiterate — as it has consistently since the Pahalgam terror attack — its non-involvement in that reprehensible act. There is a need to underscore how India's persistent attempts to connect Pakistan with the Pahalgam incident reflect a disturbing pattern: the automatic, completely evidence-free attribution of terror attacks in India to Pakistan, followed by the cynical exploitation of these fabricated allegations to justify territorial violations. Our diplomatic missions must highlight how India's unwarranted aggression led to the killings of innocent civilians, including children, and stress that the international community cannot permit such violent border incursions under false pretences to become the norm. Second, there is an urgent need to expose India's dangerous obstructionism, where it has blocked conflict resolution by rejecting both bilateral engagement and third-party mediation. This stubborn refusal to engage in a meaningful dialogue isn't principled policy; it boils down to raw coercion where India, in effect, demands that all issues be resolved strictly on its own terms or not at all. Such contradictory posturing — wanting to maintain maximalist positions while avoiding meaningful engagement — reveals a government that wants to have its cake and eat it too. This approach becomes downright dangerous in a highly nuclearised region, home to one-fifth of humanity. When a major power refuses clear conflict-resolution mechanisms while simultaneously escalating tensions, it actively undermines global peace. The international community must recognise that such erratic, hubristic behaviour in South Asia risks consequences far beyond our region. Even after suffering military and diplomatic setbacks that exposed the futility of its aggression, India has persisted in vindictive measures rather than pursuing diplomatic off-ramps. Apart from sponsoring terrorism in Balochistan and backing TTP operations, it has persisted in its unlawful suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty, openly threatening to weaponise Pakistan's water supply by choking off vital rivers. Simultaneously, it has vowed to have Pakistan relisted on FATF's grey list and has opposed our IMF programme. This reflects a broader strategy: to target Pakistan's economic and agricultural lifelines when military confrontation fails. Our diplomatic response here must be swift, strategic and vigorous in exposing these actions for what they truly are: economic warfare masquerading as legitimate policy. Complacency here is not an option when India is seeking to cripple our financial stability through coercive means. There is a need to communicate to the international community that at its core, this is about Kashmir — the unresolved dispute from which all other tensions flow. India must realise that no amount of military posturing or economic coercion will change this reality or end the unrest in the territory. Its refusal to engage in meaningful dialogue only sustains instability. Pakistan, for its part — despite India's provocations — must stand ready for diplomatic engagement if and when our neighbour abandons its failed approach. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Khar condemns India's actions, praises role of Pakistan armed forces
ISLAMABAD: Hina Rabbani Khar, the former foreign minister on Tuesday said that recent incidents between the two nuclear-armed neighbours should not be a cause for celebration, noting that 'celebrating how one nuclear power challenges another without regard for capability or consequence is deeply irresponsible.' Speaking over the recent tension between India and Pakistan, she condemned India's actions in recent regional military tensions and warning against what she described as a growing disregard for international law and norms. She recalled the 2019 crisis following India's air strikes inside Pakistani territory, a move she described as 'reckless escalation.' She accused India of repeatedly crossing red lines during that episode, while Pakistan, she said, 'demonstrated restraint' despite what she called a 'fever of extremism' gripping Indian leadership at the time. 'All of Pakistan stood united in the face of that aggression,' Khar said, stressing that India misread Pakistan's restraint as weakness – a miscalculation, she warned, that could have led to catastrophic consequences. Turning to more recent developments, Khar took aim at the global community's response to Indian actions, challenging narratives that framed India's behaviour as self-defence. 'What new metrics are being applied,' she asked. 'Have we abandoned the UN Charter and the rule of law? Are we no longer signatories to Article 25, which obliges all nations to follow UN Security Council resolutions,' she questioned. She criticised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unilateral declarations regarding Kashmir, asking whether the world was expected to 'pay homage' to such claims while turning a blind eye to long-standing international resolutions on the disputed region. Citing US President Donald Trump's acknowledgement of Kashmir as a disputed territory, Khar argued that the Indian narrative had begun to unravel. 'The illusion of India's conventional and military supremacy has been broken – not by Pakistan, but by Modi's own extremist policies,' she declared. According to Khar, the belief that India could serve as a regional security provider has been undermined by its inability to secure its own borders during confrontations with Pakistan. 'Pakistan proved its capabilities through both defensive and calibrated offensive responses,' she asserted. Khar argued that Pakistan's military professionalism and operational competence had been underestimated. 'We don't just possess technologically advanced weapons – we train to use them better,' she said, claiming that Pakistan had altered global perceptions of power in South Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific strategy. On the broader issue of terrorism, Khar accused India of weaponising the narrative. 'If terrorism takes place in India, it invokes self-defence. If it happens in Pakistan, what are we expected to do? Remain silent?' she asked, warning of the dangerous precedents being set. She questioned whether Pakistan would have been justified in retaliating militarily when it traced Indian involvement in past terror incidents like the Jaffar Express attack. Khar argued that India's attempts to detach itself diplomatically from Pakistan – a strategy pursued over the last 15 years – had failed. 'By provoking Pakistan into conflict, they re-hyphenated themselves with us in the eyes of the world,' she said. 'India has shown itself to be the irresponsible nuclear actor in the region, not Pakistan.' Criticising India's perceived attempts to reshape regional realities through rhetoric and force, she said, 'Calling a dispute resolved does not resolve it.' She welcomed President Trump's offer to mediate on Kashmir and noted that when he and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio advocated for a ceasefire, they were quickly accused of dishonesty by Indian voices. 'The real theatrics,' she said, 'have been visible in broad daylight – from Indian political rhetoric to the implosion of its media and societal narratives.' Khar concluded by stating that Pakistan would remain unapologetic in defending its sovereignty and would continue to celebrate the restoration of peace, including the role played by international partners in achieving a ceasefire. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Abdul Qadir Patel and other lawmakers belonging to all political parties hailed national unity in recent tensions with India, claiming military success, including the downing of five Indian aircraft. At the onset of the session, the lawmakers clashed over proposed legislation aimed at enhancing oversight of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and budgetary processes. PPP's Agha Rafiullah introduced the PSDP Oversight Bill, seeking transparent fund allocation and timely project completion, which was opposed by the government, terming it unnecessary. Naveed Qamar, another PPP MNA, insisted that PDSP must be discussed in the standing committee like the finance bill, and warned, 'If this attitude persists, the tables could turn.' Minister Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain dismissed the bill, insisting the planning minister could be summoned as needed and existing committees were sufficient. A separate proposal by Rana Iradat Sharif Khan to establish a Parliamentary Budget Office met similar resistance. The parliamentary secretary for finance, Saad Waseem Chaudhry, argued it would duplicate existing parliamentary functions. The House also passed two private members' bills—the International Examination Board Bill, 2024 and the Ghurki Institute of Science and Technology Bill, 2024—with majority support. Both bills had previously been reviewed and cleared by the relevant parliamentary committees. The legislation was approved clause by clause during the session. The day, reserved for private members' business, also saw a flurry of new legislative bills introduced across diverse sectors. These included the Elections Amendment Bill, 2025, the Trade Organizations Amendment Bill, 2025, the Parliamentary Budget Office Bill, and the Islamabad Capital Territory Senior Citizens Amendment Bill, 2025. Other proposed amendments addressed narcotics control, labour laws, civil service regulations, and trade development, including the Control of Narcotic Substances Amendment Bill, 2015, the Industrial Relations Amendment Bill, 2025, and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Amendment Bill. Multiple bills focused on higher education, including the Al Musaddiq Institute of Higher Education Bill, Rawal International University Islamabad Bill, and the Wah Institute of Modern Sciences, Wah Cantt Bill. Additionally, the Pakistan General Cosmetics (Repeal) Bill was introduced, signalling a possible regulatory shift in the cosmetics sector. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Khar condemns India's actions, praises role of Pak armed forces
ISLAMABAD: Hina Rabbani Khar, the former foreign minister on Tuesday said that recent incidents between the two nuclear-armed neighbours should not be a cause for celebration, noting that 'celebrating how one nuclear power challenges another without regard for capability or consequence is deeply irresponsible.' Speaking over the recent tension between India and Pakistan, she condemned India's actions in recent regional military tensions and warning against what she described as a growing disregard for international law and norms. She recalled the 2019 crisis following India's air strikes inside Pakistani territory, a move she described as 'reckless escalation.' She accused India of repeatedly crossing red lines during that episode, while Pakistan, she said, 'demonstrated restraint' despite what she called a 'fever of extremism' gripping Indian leadership at the time. 'All of Pakistan stood united in the face of that aggression,' Khar said, stressing that India misread Pakistan's restraint as weakness – a miscalculation, she warned, that could have led to catastrophic consequences. Turning to more recent developments, Khar took aim at the global community's response to Indian actions, challenging narratives that framed India's behaviour as self-defence. 'What new metrics are being applied,' she asked. 'Have we abandoned the UN Charter and the rule of law? Are we no longer signatories to Article 25, which obliges all nations to follow UN Security Council resolutions,' she questioned. She criticised Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's unilateral declarations regarding Kashmir, asking whether the world was expected to 'pay homage' to such claims while turning a blind eye to long-standing international resolutions on the disputed region. Citing US President Donald Trump's acknowledgement of Kashmir as a disputed territory, Khar argued that the Indian narrative had begun to unravel. 'The illusion of India's conventional and military supremacy has been broken – not by Pakistan, but by Modi's own extremist policies,' she declared. According to Khar, the belief that India could serve as a regional security provider has been undermined by its inability to secure its own borders during confrontations with Pakistan. 'Pakistan proved its capabilities through both defensive and calibrated offensive responses,' she asserted. Khar argued that Pakistan's military professionalism and operational competence had been underestimated. 'We don't just possess technologically advanced weapons – we train to use them better,' she said, claiming that Pakistan had altered global perceptions of power in South Asia and the broader Indo-Pacific strategy. On the broader issue of terrorism, Khar accused India of weaponising the narrative. 'If terrorism takes place in India, it invokes self-defence. If it happens in Pakistan, what are we expected to do? Remain silent?' she asked, warning of the dangerous precedents being set. She questioned whether Pakistan would have been justified in retaliating militarily when it traced Indian involvement in past terror incidents like the Jaffar Express attack. Khar argued that India's attempts to detach itself diplomatically from Pakistan – a strategy pursued over the last 15 years – had failed. 'By provoking Pakistan into conflict, they re-hyphenated themselves with us in the eyes of the world,' she said. 'India has shown itself to be the irresponsible nuclear actor in the region, not Pakistan.' Criticising India's perceived attempts to reshape regional realities through rhetoric and force, she said, 'Calling a dispute resolved does not resolve it.' She welcomed President Trump's offer to mediate on Kashmir and noted that when he and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio advocated for a ceasefire, they were quickly accused of dishonesty by Indian voices. 'The real theatrics,' she said, 'have been visible in broad daylight – from Indian political rhetoric to the implosion of its media and societal narratives.' Khar concluded by stating that Pakistan would remain unapologetic in defending its sovereignty and would continue to celebrate the restoration of peace, including the role played by international partners in achieving a ceasefire. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Tariq Fazal Chaudhry, Abdul Qadir Patel and other lawmakers belonging to all political parties hailed national unity in recent tensions with India, claiming military success, including the downing of five Indian aircraft. At the onset of the session, the lawmakers clashed over proposed legislation aimed at enhancing oversight of the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) and budgetary processes. PPP's Agha Rafiullah introduced the PSDP Oversight Bill, seeking transparent fund allocation and timely project completion, which was opposed by the government, terming it unnecessary. Naveed Qamar, another PPP MNA, insisted that PDSP must be discussed in the standing committee like the finance bill, and warned, 'If this attitude persists, the tables could turn.' Minister Food Security Rana Tanveer Hussain dismissed the bill, insisting the planning minister could be summoned as needed and existing committees were sufficient. A separate proposal by Rana Iradat Sharif Khan to establish a Parliamentary Budget Office met similar resistance. The parliamentary secretary for finance, Saad Waseem Chaudhry, argued it would duplicate existing parliamentary functions. The House also passed two private members' bills—the International Examination Board Bill, 2024 and the Ghurki Institute of Science and Technology Bill, 2024—with majority support. Both bills had previously been reviewed and cleared by the relevant parliamentary committees. The legislation was approved clause by clause during the session. The day, reserved for private members' business, also saw a flurry of new legislative bills introduced across diverse sectors. These included the Elections Amendment Bill, 2025, the Trade Organizations Amendment Bill, 2025, the Parliamentary Budget Office Bill, and the Islamabad Capital Territory Senior Citizens Amendment Bill, 2025. Other proposed amendments addressed narcotics control, labour laws, civil service regulations, and trade development, including the Control of Narcotic Substances Amendment Bill, 2015, the Industrial Relations Amendment Bill, 2025, and the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan Amendment Bill. Multiple bills focused on higher education, including the Al Musaddiq Institute of Higher Education Bill, Rawal International University Islamabad Bill, and the Wah Institute of Modern Sciences, Wah Cantt Bill. Additionally, the Pakistan General Cosmetics (Repeal) Bill was introduced, signalling a possible regulatory shift in the cosmetics sector. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
13-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Pakistan-India: Viewers Slam Piers Morgan's India-Pakistan Special as Chaotic and Lacking Substance
Piers Morgan host of Piers Morgan Uncensored has once again garnered attention on social media over his handling of a high-stakes debate between Indian and Pakistani guests on the ongoing military standoff and ceasefire between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. The episode, which featured Pakistan's former Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar, Pakistani podcaster Shehzad Ghias Shaikh, Indian journalist Barkha Dutt, and Indian influencer Ranveer Allahbadia (aka BeerBiceps), was billed as a balanced discussion on regional tensions. However, critics across platforms accused the show of poor moderation, nationalist bias, and devolving into theatrics. Talk show-turned-shouting Match? Commenters on YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and Reddit were quick to criticise the episode's chaotic format. Indeed quite poorly moderated and missing struture. More sort of chitchat like desi talk shows. Didn't understand what this @BeerBicepsGuy was doing here! Has nothing to do with this sort of discussion and in presence of serious and sober ppl. — Sheroff Shafi (@Sheroff_Shafi) May 13, 2025 That debate was a mess Ranveer sounded drunk, Barkha acted like a soap star, and Piers thought he was Churchill. Pakistan didn't even need to try. 😂 — Stealth Falconer (@Stealthfalconer) May 13, 2025 Morgan, known for combative hosting, was criticised for failing to challenge inflammatory claims made by the Indian guests. Allahbadia accused Pakistan of exporting terrorism and used visual props during his remarks, drawing online criticism for lacking evidence or diplomatic nuance. Dutt, previously viewed as a critic of India's ruling establishment, also adopted a confrontational tone. Pakistani guests Khar and Shaikh attempted to focus on international law and the risks of escalation, but were repeatedly interrupted or sidelined. The episode's chaotic structure drew comparisons to regional talk shows, with many viewers describing it as a missed opportunity for constructive dialogue. Social media reactions also noted the absence of meaningful moderation or accountability for unsubstantiated claims. Despite the panel's intention to analyse the ceasefire and diplomatic fallout, the conversation quickly descended into a loud exchange of accusations and political messaging. Analysts said the format reinforced nationalist narratives and failed to provide clarity on the conflict's core issues. The segment has prompted renewed scrutiny of Western media's approach to South Asian conflicts and the risks of platforming divisive voices without adequate editorial control.
News18
13-05-2025
- Politics
- News18
Former Pak Minister Hina Khar Storms Out Of Live Debate When Grilled On Terrorism, Army
Last Updated: Former Pakistan minister Hina Rabbani Khar left a live TV debate when asked about terrorism and the Army's role. Indian journalist Barkha Dutt criticized Pakistan's instability. Former Pakistan minister Hina Rabbani Khar walked out of a live television news debate when she was asked to respond to questions on terrorism and the Army's supremacy in so-called democratic Pakistan. Indian journalist Barkha Dutt appeared on UK journalist Piers Morgan's 'Uncensored" talk show where Khar was also present. Khar's screen on the live-streaming feed turned black while Dutt was grilling Pakistan on terrorism and its Army's interference in governments. In a video shared on X, Dutt was heard saying: 'Modi is an elected prime minister of India in his third term unlike Prime ministers of Pakistan who are appointed by the Army, jailed or exiled. Your country is in turmoil because Imran Khan has been jailed. Shehbaz Sharif an Army-appointed PM. Did you know what your defence minister Khwaja Asif said in an interview that Pakistan used terrorism? Pakistan is doing a dirty job of other countries by using terrorism…" Khar was appointed as the Foreign Minister of Pakistan in July 2011, the first woman to have held the position. First Published:
