Latest news with #Pakistani-made
India Today
05-08-2025
- Business
- India Today
To the Moon, on China's back: Pakistan eyes lunar landing by 2035
Rattled by terrorism, an economy drowning in debt, and relentless political unrest, Pakistan is now setting its sights sky-high with an ambitious goal: landing on the Moon by 2035. But behind the lunar dream lies a familiar reality: a heavy reliance on its all-weather friend Minister Ahsan Iqbal, who is currently in Beijing seeking deeper scientific and strategic cooperation, made the announcement during a meeting with top Chinese officials on Monday. He said the responsibility has been given to Pakistan's space agency, SUPARCO, which has never independently launched a satellite, let alone a space meetings with senior Chinese officials, including Shan Zhongde, head of China's Atomic Energy Authority and Space Agency, Iqbal made a strong pitch for intensified collaboration. The aim: to plug the gaping holes in Pakistan's space and nuclear capabilities. The discussion between the two sides, framed as strategic cooperation, underscored a starker truth: Pakistan's space ambitions are increasingly "made in China". From satellite launches to nuclear tech, Beijing continues to be the engine behind Islamabad's scientific MADE IN CHINA SPACE DREAMSWhen it comes to space, Pakistan has a recurring launch partner, and it's not hard to guess who. Every single one of Pakistan's space missions has been powered by Chinese support. From satellites to lunar dreams, Beijing is the Minister Ahsan Iqbal recently revealed that three "Pakistani-made" satellites were launched with substantial help from China, of course. Islamabad also hopes to send its first astronaut to space by 2026 by hitching a ride on China's space station, not via any independent platform of its last month, a new Pakistani remote-sensing satellite was launched from China's Xichang Satellite Launch Centre, aimed at tackling climate change threats. But while it carried a Pakistani flag, the technical muscle came courtesy of China and a helping hand from also championed the "Uraan Pakistan" initiative, claiming Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has breathed new life into the country's space ambitions. Uraan, led by SUPARCO, is Pakistan's national space program, though much of the lift still comes from outside its dependency continues to deepen. Earlier this year, Pakistan signed on to participate in China's Chang'e 8 mission, part of the International Lunar Research Station (ILRS), scheduled for 2028. SUPARCO is expected to contribute a 35-kilogram indigenous rover to explore the Moon's elusive South to NASA, Chang'e 8 is meant to test critical technologies for building a permanent lunar science base. For Pakistan, it's a rare opportunity to be part of a cutting-edge global HOLDING BACK PAK'S SPACE AGENCYPakistan launched its official space program on September 16, 1961, under the leadership of Nobel laureate Dr Abdus Salam, who served as scientific advisor to then-President Ayub Khan. He established the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO), which at the time positioned Pakistan as one of the early entrants into space SUPARCO has since struggled to make significant advancements with chronic underfunding being one of the primary reasons. With an annual budget of just $36 million (approximately PKR 290 crore), the agency operates on a fraction of what leading space programs challenges have further compounded the stagnation. Over the past decade, SUPARCO has been headed by retired military generals rather than seasoned scientists, leading to criticism about the lack of scientific vision and technical expertise at the very few universities in Pakistan offer specialised programs in space science or engineering, resulting in a shortage of skilled professionals who can contribute to long-term innovation and self-reliance in the terms of capability, Pakistan remains heavily reliant on China for satellite launches, technical support, and infrastructure development. This dependency has curbed the growth of indigenous aerospace technology. Meanwhile, broader economic strains have also impacted Pakistan's ability to sustain scientific collaboration. The government has repeatedly failed to meet its financial commitments under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), with overdue payments to Chinese power producers reaching PKR 423 billion by June 2025, according to The Express Tribune. advertisementIn response, senior Chinese official Shan Zhongde reiterated Beijing's commitment to the partnership and lauded Pakistan's alignment with the country's strategic goals. However, his remarks subtly reinforced the perception that Pakistan's scientific or economic progress is increasingly driven by Chinese support.- Ends
News18
04-08-2025
- Politics
- News18
Pakistan Sets Sights On Moon, Hopes China Can Give It A Lift By 2035
Last Updated: Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) will oversee the lunar exploration mission as Islamabad deepens its reliance on Chinese assistance. Pakistan is gearing up to land its first spacecraft on the Moon by 2035 with the help of its all-weather friend China, despite starting its space research programme almost a decade before India, which successfully accomplished the task in 2023. During a meeting with Chinese officials, Pakistan's Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, called for deeper reliance on China to fill gaps in Pakistan's space and nuclear programmes, according to Geo News. Pakistan's Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has been tasked with overseeing the lunar exploration mission. SUPARCO is yet to launch a satellite or space mission on its own to space. Pakistan's Dependence On China Iqbal said Pakistan would create and attach a 35-kg lunar rover to China's Chang'e-8 mission in 2028 to explore the Moon's South Pole. The rover will conduct scientific experiments, analyse terrain, and assess resource utilisation. The meeting also included Head of China's Atomic Energy Authority and Space Agency, Shan Zhongde. The discussion largely highlighted Pakistan's growing dependence on Chinese technology and expertise. Iqbal claimed that the country's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has reinvigorated the country's stagnant space science sector through the 'Uraan Pakistan" initiative. He also said three Pakistani-made satellites were launched recently with China's assistance, and Islamabad aims to send its first astronaut to space by 2026 by relying again on China's space station, clearly lacking independent capability. Pakistan's Problems Notably, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has made significant strides in space exploration compared to its neighbour, with notable success with its lunar mission, Chandrayaan, in 2023, and its Mars mission, Mangalyaan. India is now also on its way to its first manned mission in space, Gaganyaan, scheduled for the first quarter of early 2027. On the other hand, Pakistan has been struggling with the rise of terrorist attacks, basic infrastructure and economic instability. The SUPARCO has been impeded by limited government spending and leadership issues, with retired army generals heading the agency for the past 11 years. Pakistan relies heavily on China for satellite launches and development, limiting its indigenous capabilities. The battered country has sought more Chinese help in nuclear power and quantum computing amid a domestic resource crunch. Meanwhile, the Pakistani government once again failed to meet its financial obligations under CPEC, with overdue payments to Chinese power producers soaring to PKR 423 billion by June 2025, according to The Express Tribune. (with ANI inputs) Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
India.com
29-07-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Pakistani Voter ID, Chocolates: HM Amit Shah Says Forces Have Proofs Against Pahalgam Terrorists
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, while speaking in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, stated that all three terrorists killed in Monday's Operation Mahadev in Srinagar were Pakistani nationals. Furthermore, he also said that those who were involved in the brutal Pahalgam terror attack have been killed. Responding to Congress leader P Chidambaram's statement that the Pahalgam terrorists could have been "homegrown", Amit Shah told the Lower House that there is proof of the terrorists' Islamabad links, as Voter IDs and Pakistani-made chocolate wrappers were recovered from their possession. The Home Minister also confirmed that the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) top commander Suleiman Shah, who was amongst the terrorists involved in the Pahalgam attack, was among the three terrorists killed by security forces during the Operation Mahadev. Proof Of Terrorists' Identity? Amit Shah also claimed that the former Home Minister, P Chidambaram, is giving a clean chit to Pakistan and questioned what he would gain by defending the neighbouring nation. "Yesterday, former Home Minister Chidambaram raised a question about the proof of the terrorists coming from Pakistan... Whom does he want to save? What will he gain by defending Pakistan?... We have the proof that these three were Pakistanis. We have voter ID numbers for the two of them... The chocolates recovered from them are made in Pakistan…,' he said. 'The former Home Minister of this country is giving a clean chit to Pakistan. If they were not Pakistanis, then Chidambaram is also raising the question as to why Pakistan was attacked... 130 crore people are watching their conspiracy to save Pakistan…' Home Minister added. #WATCH | Delhi | On Congress leader P Chidambaram's statement, Union Home Minister Amit Shah says, "Yesterday, former Home Minister Chidambaram raised a question about the proof of the terrorists coming from Pakistan... Whom does he want to save? What will he gain by defending… — ANI (@ANI) July 29, 2025 According to the Minister, the three terrorists who were killed in Operation Mahadev were identified as Suleiman, Jibran, and Afghan. Suleiman was a commander in the LeT, while Afghan was also a part of the terrorist organisation. Amit Shah also said that Jibran was an A-grade terrorist. 'In Operation Mahadev, Suleiman, Afghan, and Jibran, these three terrorists were killed in a joint operation of the Indian Army, CRPF, and J&K Police... Suleiman was an A-category commander of the Lashkar-e-Taiba. Afghan was an A-category LeT terrorist. And Jibran was also an A-grade terrorist... All three terrorists who killed our citizens in the Baisaran valley have been eliminated...,' Shah said. The senior BJP leader further said, 'All three terrorists- Suleiman, Afghan, and Jibran were killed in yesterday's operation. The people who used to supply food to them were detained earlier. Once the bodies of these terrorists were brought to Srinagar, they were identified by those who were kept detained by our agencies.' Operation Mahadev On Monday, the three terrorists were killed in Operation Mahadev in an intense firefight with security forces in the Harwan area near Dachigam National Park of Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir. The anti-terror Operation Mahadev took place in the general area of Lidwas, the Chinar Corps of the Indian Army said.
India.com
21-06-2025
- Politics
- India.com
Stolen nuclear bomb's blueprints, smuggled parts: Here's how Pakistani scientist AQ Khan supported Iran's nuclear dreams
Stolen nuclear bomb's blueprints, smuggled parts: Here's how Pakistani scientist AQ Khan supported Iran's nuclear dreams The prime reason behind the Iran-Israel conflict is Tehran's nuclear program. It is the reason why Israel launched deadly airstrikes and missile barrages. Interestingly, the nuclear program, which is at the heart of the ongoing war, was not built by Iran. The Middle Eastern country acquired crucial information, technology, and expertise from another country, effectively buying it into existence. It all started before the world grew concerned about Tehran's uranium enrichment at Natanz. The country had already found a shortcut – thanks to a Pakistani nuclear scientist named Abdul Qadeer Khan, who is a hero in Pakistan but infamous worldwide for running a dangerous black-market nuclear network. Khan sold centrifuge designs, crucial parts and blueprints of the nuclear bomb to Iran which he stole from Europe. He sent Pakistani-made components to Iran through secret routes in Malaysia and Dubai. It is a fact that Iran's nuclear program grew from Khan's underground network. Abdul Qadeer Khan was a Pakistani metallurgist who stole nuclear bomb's blueprints from Europe and built Pakistan's atomic bomb. He later shared the knowledge, creating the world's most dangerous black market for nuclear technology — one that gave Iran much more than just ambition.
Express Tribune
18-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Trump hints at expanding trade with 'brilliant' Pakistan
Listen to article US President Donald Trump has claimed that his intervention prevented the recent India-Pakistan conflict from spiralling into a nuclear war by leveraging trade diplomacy. In an interview with Fox News, Trump said Pakistan and India were locked in a tit-for-tat cycle of escalating hostilities. He described the episode as a major foreign policy achievement, saying it was "a bigger success than I would be ever given credit for". "Those are major nuclear powers and they were angry. The next phase was probably ... you see where it was getting," he said, adding that the conflict could have turned "nasty" had he not stepped in to secure a ceasefire. Speaking on the potential for a nuclear showdown, Trump said both countries had come dangerously close to war. "And I said we're gonna talk about trade. We're gonna do a lot of trade don't forget Iran wants to trade with us," he noted. The US president said he had a productive conversation with Pakistan and expressed his desire to expand trade relations. He praised Pakistani-made products and said he would be more than happy to boost trade ties, which, in his view, remain underdeveloped. "Ohh they would love to trade they would love to trade, they are brilliant people they make brilliant products," he noted. Earlier, during a visit to a US military base in Qatar as part of his Gulf tour, Trump told American troops that both Pakistan and India were satisfied with the ceasefire. He said hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours had been defused after he encouraged them to shift their focus from war to economic cooperation. The decades-old rivals halted what was described as their worst fighting in nearly thirty years after agreeing to a ceasefire on May 10. The agreement followed a series of diplomatic efforts and mounting pressure from Washington. Pakistan welcomed Trump's mediation and maintained that it was India that approached the US seeking a ceasefire. Reiterating his claims in the Fox News interview, Trump said that his outreach to both India and Pakistan pulled the two countries back from the brink - a move he again described as "a bigger success than I'll ever be given credit for," pointing to the "great hatred" between the two nations. "Tensions got to a point where the next phase was probably 'nuclear'," Trump said. When asked about foreign policy successes prior to his Middle East trip, Trump confirmed, "I did, ya," referring to the phone calls he made to both India and Pakistan. The interviewer acknowledged this as a success. Trump described the conflict as a dangerous escalation: "It was tit for tat. It was getting deeper and more - I mean, more missiles, everyone was 'stronger, stronger' - so to a point where the next one's going to be, you know what? The N word. You know the N word is, right?" The interviewer responded, "nuclear". "It's the N word. That's a very nasty word, right? In a lot of ways. The N word used in a nuclear sense - that's the worst thing that can happen. And I think they were very close. The hatred was great. And I said, 'We're going to talk about trade. We're going to do a lot of trade'," Trump said. "I'm using trade to settle scores and to make peace," he added.
