ISLAMABAD: Hundreds of men, women, and children marched in Pakistan’s capital city on Wednesday to express solidarity with Palestine, as civilian casualties mount in the besieged Gaza following Israel’s ruthless bombing of civilian targets in the area.
A full-scale military operation launched by Hamas on Saturday took Israel by surprise, killing at least 1,200 and injuring over 2,700, according to the Israeli military. Following the attack, which was the deadliest one launched against Israel in 50 years, Israel pounded civilian targets in Gaza, killing at least 1,055 people and wounding 5,184 others, according to Palestinian officials.
A large number of protesters carried Palestinian and Pakistani flags at the rally and held up placards that read “Free Palestine.”
“We have come here to save Gaza, to express our emotions,” Raja Fazil Hussain, a politician, said. “We stand with the Muslims of Gaza and until they are victorious, we will continue to stand with them.”
Ayesha Noor, a student, said participants of the rally knew what Palestinians were going through as they suffered Israeli brutalities.
“And we have the heart to accept that and to support that [the Palestinians’ cause], that is why we all support that. A cause that we stand by.”
Pakistan, which does not have diplomatic relations with Israel, has consistently called for an independent homeland for the people of Palestine based on the pre-1967 borders with Al Quds Al Sharif/Jerusalem as its capital.
Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other Muslim nations have called for an end to hostilities in the region as the Israeli military announced a “full siege” of Gaza, including a ban on incoming food, water and fuel.
Hundreds march in Pakistan’s capital to express solidarity with Palestine
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Hundreds march in Pakistan’s capital to express solidarity with Palestine
- Participants carry Pakistan, Palestine’s flags, demand end to Israeli brutality
- At least 1,055 Palestinians have been killed, over 5,000 injured since Saturday
US says trade with Pakistan could top $8 billion in 2025
- US chargé d’affaires links rising trade to deeper economic engagement with Pakistan
- Visit comes amid broader effort by Islamabad and Washington to improve bilateral ties
ISLAMABAD: Trade between the United States and Pakistan is projected to exceed $8 billion in 2025, the US Embassy said on Tuesday, as Washington signaled confidence in Pakistan’s export base and economic potential during a high-profile visit to the industrial city of Sialkot.
The projection was highlighted by US Chargé d’Affaires Natalie A. Baker during meetings with Pakistani exporters and business leaders, underlining the importance Washington places on trade, investment and supply-chain cooperation as the two countries seek to stabilize and expand their economic relationship.
“Highlighting the growth in trade between the United States and Pakistan, which was projected to reach over $8 billion in 2025, Baker said, ‘Expanding trade reflects a strong foundation that highlights the positive impact of US economic engagement in Pakistan and globally. The United States and Pakistan are pursuing a fair and balanced trade relationship that creates prosperity for both our nations’,” the US embassy said in a statement.
The envoy said the United States had been Pakistan’s largest export market and a leading investor, presenting significant opportunities for expanded trade and shared prosperity.
“The United States remains deeply invested in Pakistan and its people,” Baker said, “building on a partnership that dates back to Pakistan’s independence and continues to grow through trade, innovation, education, and cultural exchange.”
The visit comes amid a broader effort by Islamabad and Washington to improve bilateral ties under US President Donald Trump’s second term, after years of uneven engagement. Since mid-2025, the two sides have stepped up diplomatic contacts, including meetings between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s military leadership and US officials, alongside discussions on trade, minerals, security cooperation and regional stability.
Pakistan has also sought to re-energize economic diplomacy with Washington as it works to boost exports, attract foreign investment and stabilize its economy under an IMF-backed reform program.
In July 2025, the two countries agreed to a bilateral trade deal that included reciprocal tariff reductions and frameworks for US investment in Pakistan’s energy and mineral sectors, a step Islamabad has hailed as opening new avenues for economic collaboration.
During her visit, Baker toured leading exporters including Forward Sports, First American Corporation (FAC) and CA Sports, companies that are deeply embedded in global supply chains. The embassy said nearly 70 percent of FAC’s exports go to the United States, illustrating sustained US consumer demand for Pakistani-made goods.
Baker also visited Sialkot International Airport and met with the leadership of AirSial, highlighting private-sector-led infrastructure and logistics as key to Pakistan’s export growth.
