Latest news with #OperationBunyanMarsoos
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Politics
- Express Tribune
New book analyses aftermath of Pak-India war
A highly anticipated new book, "The War That Changed Everything", co-authored by veteran journalist and former Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza Solangi and international affairs scholar Ahmed Hassan Al-Arabi, was officially launched on Monday. The book contains startling revelations about the recent Pakistan-India tensions and provides a historical perspective on Indian state terrorism. Speaking at the book launching ceremony, Murtaza Solangi welcomed dignitaries, including the Ambassador of Azerbaijan, Khazar Farhadov and expressed Pakistan's gratitude to Azerbaijan for its unwavering support during the crisis. Solangi described the publication not as a personal or professional achievement, but as a documentation of courage, sacrifice and national resilience. "This is not our story," he said, "It's a ledger of truth about 250 million brave people who stood firm in the face of deception. "The book traces the events beginning with the Pahalgam massacre on April 22, 2025, where 26 tourists were killed in Kashmir-a tragedy quickly weaponised in political narratives. Solangi and co-author Ahmed Hassan argue that this incident was exploited to justify a broader agenda: framing Pakistan as the aggressor, demonising Kashmiri dissent, and suspending the Indus Waters Treaty. They present detailed evidence, from digital forensics to leaked files, exposing inconsistencies in the official Indian account, suggesting the crisis was manufactured to rally domestic support and deflect attention from internal challenges. "This is not a counter-narrative," Solangi asserted, "it is the narrative." The book meticulously details the timeline, geopolitical consequences and Pakistan's strategic restraint, including the precision of Operation Bunyan Marsoos. He emphasised that the book is not a rebuttal to the Indian propaganda but an excavation of the truth.
Business Recorder
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Punjab minister steps up criticism of PTI
LAHORE: Punjab Minister for Information and Culture, Azma Bokhari, has said that the nation will celebrate Independence Day on August 14 with great fervour and will also mark the success of Operation Bunyan Marsoos; meanwhile, a disruptive faction is conspiring to create unrest on this national occasion, she said. Azma Bokhari expressed her dismay that certain political elements try to politicise every national event. 'Protesting on a national day is not the agenda of any patriotic political party,' she said, adding, 'This is the same group that emerged from the 2014 sit-ins and has since made agitation and protests their hobby.' She emphasised that PTI has no regard for national or religious events, as their politics revolves solely around creating division and chaos. Issuing a strong warning, Bokhari said that the law will take its course if anyone attempts to take the law into their own hands. 'Even on August 5, no significant protest was seen in Punjab — and the same will happen again,' she asserted. 'The people of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are now fed up with PTI's toxic politics, she said.' Advising the PTI leadership, she urged them to call off their planned protest on August 14, saying: Show patriotism for once — if there's any sense of Pakistani identity and humanity left. In a sharp critique, she remarked that the group blindly following Prisoner No. 420 has reached the pinnacle of ignorance. But the nation has seen through their agenda and has rejected their brand of politics, she added. Azma concluded by saying that no anarchist group will be allowed to sabotage the nation's celebrations. On August 14, the message of a peaceful and united Pakistan will echo across the country — and once again, those sowing discord will face failure. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
25-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Operation Bunyanum Marsoos to operation economy
Listen to article The Operation Bunyan Marsoos (OBM) concluded with a decisive victory for Pakistan. The armed forces' zeal and unwavering commitment to protecting the motherland thwarted all attempts by adversaries (India and Israel). Pakistan has once again demonstrated its ability to be a formidable power, possessing both the will and the capacity to safeguard its sovereignty and interests. This reinforces the fact that in challenging times, Pakistan achieves remarkable feats, and Pakistanis are a steadfast and resilient nation. The Pakistani nation has demonstrated this repeatedly, from the 1965 war to the 2022 flood. Thus, no one should doubt the ability or resolve of the people and the State of Pakistan to defend its sovereignty and interests. However, the zeal and commitment were not without wisdom. It is apparent from the decision-making, observance of merit, appointment of the right person for the right job, and establishment of the chain of command. for example, the army, air force, and navy are always led by professional and brilliant soldiers from their respective fields. it never happened that a navy sailor led the air force. the observance of merit and commitment to the right person for the right job has turned the armed forces into a formidable power and contributed to remarkable achievements. Pakistan needs to carry the same mentality, policy, strategy, and commitment to turn around the economy. Firstly, apply the policy of the right person for the right job. In pursuance of this policy, Pakistan needs to entrust economic planning and management to economic professionals with brains. They are trained to formulate and oversee economic strategies. A bird's-eye view of global economic institutions, as well as national ministries and departments, clearly indicates that economists lead the charge in driving economic progress. Unfortunately, in the case of Pakistan, the situation is quite different. Economists are often sidelined, while those outside of the field frequently manage economic affairs. The Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) serves as a prime example in this regard. SIFC is an excellent and timely initiative; it was much needed. However, its execution falls short. Policymakers have overlooked the importance of selecting the right people for the right jobs. SIFC has been staffed with bureaucrats and military personnel who possess little or no understanding of the economy or its dynamics. Consequently, after more than two years, aside from a few projects, SIFC has struggled to deliver on its perceived objectives. The finance ministry offers another prominent example. It is often led by chartered accountants and bankers who are not trained to plan or manage the economy. Second, indigenous wisdom and local experts, who are working within the system, should lead the development of economic policies and plans. They may not be good at speaking English or giving fancy presentations, but they know the economy better than anyone else. They have devoted their lives to understanding and operating the economic system during its most challenging times. They are aware of the strengths and weaknesses of Pakistan's economic system. Unfortunately, the Pakistani elite do not like them and discourage them. The elite enjoy listening to fancy presentations and fluent English and are impressed by international organisations' tags, such as the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Thus, they love to import expats and consultants. The expats and imported consultants do not fully understand the ground realities, weaknesses, and strengths of Pakistan's economic system. They only give fancy slogans or do marketing for foreign companies. They are selling false dreams of entering the tertiary economy by bypassing the secondary economy, which is not possible. Unfortunately, our elite is happy with such slogans. Third, before devising any policy or plan, policymakers and planners must have a strong understanding of the ground realities. It must be a prerequisite for policy development. For example, these days, every expat and imported consultant is talking about technology and urging Pakistan to venture into it and make it a leading area of work. There is no second opinion that Pakistan must venture into the technology field; however, it should have a place on the priority list, given its role in the economy and Pakistan's economic status. There is no harm in dreaming big, but we must also remember that the execution of policies and plans is done based on ground realities, not fancy slogans. The ground realities indicate that Pakistan is not a major producer of technology, especially as it lags in the production of hardware such as machines, laptops, satellites, or mobile phones. Pakistan is only a consumer of the technology, and expats and consultants advise them to buy technology from global companies. Furthermore, the analysis of ground realities suggests that, at present, the strength of our economy is based on agriculture, minerals, livestock, tourism, and defence products, among others. Thus, we need to focus on modernising agriculture, developing an agricultural and livestock value chain, and building markets for defence products. Simultaneously, Pakistan needs to work towards transitioning to a secondary economy by fast-tracking industrialisation. The transition will also give an impetus to technology development. Unfortunately, we are not doing it. We are blindly running after the fancy slogans raised by expats or imported consultants. Thus, if Pakistan wants to grow, Pakistan needs to change. If Pakistan successfully changes, then Pakistan can turn around its economy. Fortunately, we have an excellent opportunity to do so through the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The CPEC has all the ingredients that can help Pakistan revive its economy and pave the way for sustainable development. Following the successful completion of the first phase, CPEC has now entered its second phase. The long-term document of CPEC shows that industrialisation and agricultural cooperation would be driving forces during the second phase. Moreover, Pakistan and China have strengthened their science and technology cooperation to create and enhance Pakistan's technological base. These three areas of collaboration can fast-track the transition to the secondary economy and pave the way for the tertiary economy. However, to fully benefit from the CPEC and leverage our strengths, Pakistan must address the areas discussed above. Let's try to understand the importance of these areas or required interventions through an example. For instance, consider a scenario: can Pakistan appoint a skilled doctor to the post of air chief marshal instead of a professional soldier from the Pakistan Air Force? If Pakistan had appointed an engineer as air chief marshal, what would have been the status of Pakistan in the recent war? During the recent conflict, the air force was led by a career soldier who dedicated his life to the Pakistan Air Force. Now, imagine another scenario: was it appropriate to hire a foreign consultant, such as someone from the American Air Force, to lead the Pakistani Air Force by arguing that he leads the most advanced and largest air force in the world? No, not at all, because he does not understand the Pakistani Air Force and lacks the passion to serve the country. The same is true for the economy. In conclusion, based on the above discussion and examples, three suggestions can be listed: hiring the right person for the right job, stopping the import of expats and consultants, and making decisions based on ground realities. THE WRITER IS A POLITICAL ECONOMIST AND A VISITING RESEARCH FELLOW AT HEBEI UNIVERSITY, CHINA
Express Tribune
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Express Tribune
Kashmir, Rafale, & Modi: How Pakistan turned a crisis into diplomatic gain
Pakistan's military and diplomatic triumphs in Operation Bunyan Marsoos reshape narrative after Pak-Indo crisis. Pakistan's military response to Indian missile and drone strikes was swift and calculated. The Pakistan Air Force launched "Operation Bunyan Marsoos," demonstrating its advanced warfare capabilities. Pakistani forces reportedly downed multiple Indian aircraft, including at least one Rafale fighter jet, using a coordinated strategy enabled by Chinese-supplied J-10C jets, PL-15E beyond-visual-range missiles, and HQ-9P air defence systems. These systems, tested in real-time combat, proved effective and triggered a surge in Chinese defence stocks globally. The operational highlight was Pakistan's use of an integrated ABC model: targets were locked by ground radars (A), missiles were launched by fighter jets (B), and guided by airborne warning and control systems (C). This advanced, networked combat approach outperformed India's fragmented response and signalled a shift from traditional air combat to intelligent warfare. Kashmir issue internationalised While Indian authorities attempted to frame the ceasefire as a mutual decision, US President Donald Trump publicly contradicted that version. Speaking during his Saudi Arabia visit, Trump declared, "My administration successfully brokered a historic ceasefire to stop the escalating violence between India and Pakistan. I used trade to a large extent to do it." He went on to praise Senator Marco Rubio and his team for negotiating the agreement, adding that their intervention potentially prevented the deaths of millions. This direct contradiction exposed India's attempt to claim credit for de-escalation and underscored Pakistan's openness to global mediation a long-standing strategic goal. Trump's public remarks revived international focus on Kashmir and validated Pakistan's call for third-party intervention. Diplomatic wins and narrative control Pakistan's credibility was further boosted by its immediate and consistent denial of involvement in the Pahalgam attack that sparked the conflict. Islamabad called for an independent investigation, signalling transparency. This move garnered support from several global leaders who urged restraint and advised India against disproportionate retaliation. Additionally, Pakistan successfully exposed the weaknesses in Indian media and official messaging. Misinformation, exaggerated claims, and contradictory statements from Indian officials led to widespread skepticism among Indian citizens and observers abroad. The contrasting clarity and coherence in Pakistan's communication gave it a distinct edge in narrative control. Strengthened China-Pakistan Defence Ties The conflict also served as a real-time demonstration of Chinese defence technology, reinforcing the China-Pakistan strategic alliance. With Pakistan using Chinese-made combat platforms and air defence systems to effective results, military cooperation between the two countries is expected to deepen. China's global defence profile received a boost, with stocks of arms manufacturers surging post-conflict. From military performance to diplomatic positioning, Pakistan emerged from the four-day standoff with India in a stronger position. It successfully countered Indian aggression, forced a ceasefire mediated by the United States, and drew international attention back to the Kashmir dispute. By showcasing operational prowess and maintaining narrative clarity, Pakistan not only deterred further escalation but also elevated its standing on the global stage.
Business Recorder
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Business Recorder
Federal cabinet approves promotion of COAS Asim Munir to field marshal rank
In a landmark decision, federal cabinet has promoted Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir (NI, M) to the rank of Field Marshal – the highest military honor – in recognition of his 'exceptional leadership' during Operation Bunyan Marsoos, which repelled India's 'unprovoked aggression'. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired a federal cabinet meeting today, announcing pivotal decisions to honor Pakistan's armed forces following the recent military crisis with India. Operation 'Bunyan ul Marsoos': Pakistan destroys Udhampur airbase, Pathankot airfield in India, state media reports The cabinet unanimously endorsed the Prime minister's proposal to recognize General Munir's strategic brilliance and valiant defense of Pakistan's sovereignty,' stated the Prime Minister's Office. Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu's service term has been extended unanimously for his contributions during the conflict. Soldiers, martyrs, and civilians who served during the operation will be honored with state awards. The statement added that PM Shehbaz briefed President Asif Ali Zardari on the decisions, signaling cross-party unity. In his first statement after the promotion, the newly appointed Field Marshal Gen Asim Munir dedicated the honor to Pakistan's armed forces and martyrs. 'I dedicate this honor to the entire nation, the Armed Forces of Pakistan, and especially to our martyrs and wounded heroes—both civilian and military,' he said. He also thanked the country's leadership while emphasizing the collective nature of the achievement. 'This is not an individual achievement, but an honor for the entire Pakistan Armed Forces and the nation.'
