ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Army on Thursday blamed India of launching a supersonic flying object a day before, saying it violated the country’s airspace and endangered civilian lives.
Pakistan’s military spokesperson Major General Babar Iftikhar held a press briefing in Rawalpindi wherein he said the flying object was launched from Sirsa in Indian state of Haryana and fell in Mian Channu in Pakistan’s Khanewal district.
“Pakistan strongly protests this flagrant violation [of its airspace] and cautions against any similar future incident,” he said. “Whatever is the cause of this incident, it is for India to explain.”
Iftikhar said the object had deviated toward Pakistan from its initial course before falling into its territory. He added the incident did not result in any loss of life.
“It was a supersonic object, most probably a missile, but it was certainly unarmed,” he disclosed. “So, whatever has caused this, we will wait for an explanation from the Indian side.”
The military spokesperson explained the object was flying at an altitude of 40,000 meters and at a very high speed, indicating it was a missile. However, he said it reflected India’s poor technology.
“This incident reflects the questionable capabilities of the human resources working on these programs in India as well as this technology,” he said.
Iftikhar informed the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) had detected the high-speed projectile from its point of origin until its point of impact.
“Actions [and] response … everything was perfect,” he said.
The spokesperson said the tactical actions of the air force were put in place right from the moment the object was found headed toward Pakistan. He revealed it stayed in Pakistani airspace for a little more than three minutes before falling down.
Iftikhar maintained the incident endangered the lives of Indians and Pakistanis alike, adding it could also have caused a “major aviation disaster.”
Responding to a question, he said there were no sensitive installations near Mian Channu where the projectile crashed.
He also informed the military had provided relevant details of the recent violation of Pakistani airspace by India to the foreign office which would take up the issue at appropriate forums.
Army blames India for violating Pakistan’s airspace by launching supersonic flying object
https://arab.news/8v58t
Army blames India for violating Pakistan’s airspace by launching supersonic flying object
- Given the altitude and speed, the army believes the object was a supersonic missile
- The military spokesperson says the incident could have caused a ‘massive aviation disaster’
Pakistan seeks operationalization of World Bank’s $20 billion framework to advance reform priorities
Pakistan seeks operationalization of World Bank’s $20 billion framework to advance reform priorities
- Pakistan’s finance chief meets World Bank Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar in the capital
- The Bank’s 10-year Country Partnership Agreement for Pakistan was approved in January last year
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb on Wednesday called for the operationalization of the World Bank Country Partnership Framework (CPF) to advance the government’s key reform priorities during a meeting with the Bank’s country director, according to a statement.
The Bank’s Board of Directors approved a 10-year CPF deal with Pakistan, indicating $20 billion in financing for Pakistan under the framework. The amount will include public and private financing from the World Bank Group, with roughly half expected to come from private-sector operations led by the International Finance Corporation (IFC).
“The Finance Minister emphasized the importance of effective operationalization of the CPF, particularly in priority areas such as population management and climate change,” the finance ministry said in a statement after Aurangzeb’s meeting with the Bank’s Country Director Bolormaa Amgaabazar.
“He underscored the need for strong coordination between federal and provincial governments to ensure coherence in policy design and implementation.”
Discussions focused on population, human capital development, climate resilience, agricultural reform and energy sector sustainability, it added.
The ministry said both sides exchanged views on enhancing institutional coordination, improving transparency in project design and strengthening monitoring mechanisms to deliver intended outcomes. It highlighted that the World Bank expressed readiness to continue supporting agricultural transformation efforts in collaboration with the IFC.
“Both sides agreed to continue technical-level engagements to explore feasible solutions in line with Pakistan’s reform agenda and fiscal framework,” the finance ministry added.
Climate resilience and population control are major concerns for policymakers in Pakistan, a country whose population exceeds 241 million, making it the world’s sixth-most populous country. Limited infrastructure, health care, and educational opportunities place added strain on public services, contributing to unemployment and poverty.
The South Asian nation is also among the countries most affected by climate change. Unusually heavy monsoon rains in 2022 killed more than 1,700 people and caused over $30 billion in damages. Torrential rains and floods since late June last year have claimed more than 1,000 lives, as authorities continue surveys to assess the full extent of the destruction.
