ISLAMABAD: A 22-member business delegation from Oman, the first ever to visit Pakistan to explore business and investment opportunities, called on Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday.
The Omani delegation, which arrived in Pakistan on Tuesday, will visit a number of industrial areas and Pakistani companies related to the pharmaceutical and food sectors during a five-day trip to the country. The group is led by Eng Redha Jumma Al Salih, chairman of the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI).
“The 22-member Oman delegation informed the Prime Minister that for the first time in 20 years, the Omani delegation was visiting Pakistan for business and investment,” a statement from the PM house said.
“The business friendly policies of the present government are providing conducive environment for investment in tourism development, fisheries sector, storage and warehousing in port cities and development projects in Gwadar.”
Members of the delegation expressed interest in starting a ferry service between Oman and coastal cities of Pakistan, joining various China Pakistan Economic Corridor projects, especially in Gwadar's industrial and agricultural sector, and investment in a proposed corridor of land and sea routes between Oman and Pakistan. The businessmen told the prime minister Pakistan could play a central part in the corridor which will connect the Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and Southeast.
Khan directed concerned government agencies to ensure enhanced cooperation between Oman and Pakistan in the areas of trade and investment.
First ever Omani delegation in Pakistan to explore business opportunities, calls on PM
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First ever Omani delegation in Pakistan to explore business opportunities, calls on PM
- Members of delegation expressed interest in CPEC projects and starting ferry service between Oman and Pakistan
- Proposed a corridor of land and sea routes between Oman and Pakistan to connect Middle East, Central Asia, Africa and Southeast
Pakistan’s military chief Asim Munir in spotlight over Trump’s Gaza plan
- Sources say Munir is expected to visit Washington in the coming weeks for talks with the US president on Gaza
- Any Pakistani troop role in Gaza could trigger backlash from pro-Palestine, anti-US groups at home, analysts say
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s most powerful military chief in decades faces the toughest test of his newly amassed powers as Washington pushes Islamabad to contribute troops to the Gaza stabilization force, a move analysts say could spark domestic backlash.
Field Marshal Asim Munir is expected to fly to Washington to meet President Donald Trump in the coming weeks for a third meeting in six months that will likely focus on the Gaza force, two sources told Reuters, one of them a key player in the general’s economic diplomacy.
Trump’s 20-point Gaza plan calls for a force from Muslim nations to oversee a transition period for reconstruction and economic recovery in the war-torn Palestinian territory, decimated by over two years of Israeli military bombardment.
Many countries are wary of the mission to demilitarize Hamas in Gaza, which could drag them into the conflict and enrage their pro-Palestinian and anti-Israeli populations.
But Munir has built a close relationship with the mercurial Trump to repair years of mistrust between Washington and Islamabad. In June, he was rewarded with a White House lunch — the first time a US president hosted Pakistan’s army chief alone, without civilian officials.
“Not contributing (to the Gaza stabilization force) could annoy Trump, which is no small matter for a Pakistani state that appears quite keen to remain in his good graces — in great part to secure US investment and security aid,” said Michael Kugelman, Senior Fellow, South Asia at Washington-based Atlantic Council.
‘PRESSURE TO DELIVER’
Pakistan, the world’s only Muslim country with nuclear weapons, has a battle-hardened military having gone to war with arch-rival India three times and a brief conflict this summer. It has also tackled insurgencies in its far-flung regions and is currently embroiled in a bruising war with militants who it says are operating from Afghanistan.
Pakistan’s military strength means “there is a greater pressure on Munir to deliver his capacity,” said author and defense analyst Ayesha Siddiqa.
Pakistan’s military, foreign office and information ministry did not respond to questions from Reuters. The White House also did not respond to a request for a comment.
Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said last month that Islamabad could consider contributing troops for peacekeeping but disarming Hamas “is not our job.”
UNPRECEDENTED POWER
Munir was earlier this month anointed chief of the defense forces to head the air force and navy as well, with a job extension until 2030.
He will retain his field marshal title forever, as well as enjoy lifetime immunity from any criminal prosecution under the constitutional amendments that Pakistan’s civilian government pushed through parliament late last month.
“Few people in Pakistan enjoy the luxury of being able to take risks more than Munir. He has unbridled power, now constitutionally protected,” Kugelman added.
“Ultimately, it will be Munir’s rules, and his rules only.”
THE HOME FRONT RISK
Over the past few weeks, Munir has met military and civilian leaders from countries such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Jordan, Egypt and Qatar, according to the military’s statements, which Siddiqa said appeared to be consultations on the Gaza force.
But the big concern at home is that the involvement of Pakistan troops in Gaza under a US-backed plan could re-ignite protests from Pakistan’s religio-political parties that are deeply opposed to the US and Israel.
These parties have street power to mobilize thousands. A powerful and violent anti-Israel party that fights for upholding Pakistan’s ultra-strict blasphemy laws was banned in October.
Authorities arrested its leaders and over 1,500 supporters and seized its assets and bank accounts in an ongoing crackdown, officials said.
While Islamabad has outlawed the group, its ideology is still alive.
The party of former jailed premier, Imran Khan, whose supporters won the most seats in the 2024 national elections and has wide public support, also has an axe to grind against Munir.
Abdul Basit, Senior Associate Fellow, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, said if things escalated once the Gaza force was on the ground, it would cause problems quickly.
“People will say ‘Asim Munir is doing Israel’s bidding’ — it will be foolhardy of anyone not to see it coming.”
