ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s envoy to the United States, Ambassador Masood Khan, highlighted the need for small arms and other sophisticated equipment at an annual conference in Washington focusing on his country this week, as authorities in Islamabad announced plans to launch a comprehensive operation against militant outfits.
Pakistan’s top national security forum said last week it was going to launch Operation Azm-e-Istehkam, or Resolute Stability, amid growing concerns over militant violence and its negative implications for the government’s attempt to put the national economy back on track.
Pakistani officials have expressed concerns in the past over an armed network, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), using American military equipment which was left behind in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of international forces in 2021.
These concerns specifically mentioned advanced items like automatic assault rifles and night vision devices, which significantly enhance the capabilities of these groups and pose security challenges to civilians and security forces in Pakistan.
The government asserts TTP leaders have taken sanctuary in neighboring Afghanistan, which facilitates the network’s attacks inside Pakistan, although Afghan authorities have denied this.
“We have launched a news operation — Azm-e-Istehkam or Resolute Stability — to opposed and dismantle terrorist networks,” Khan said while addressing Annual Pakistan Conference at the Wilson Center on Wednesday. “For that, we need sophisticated small arms and communication equipment.”
He noted it was also important for regional security while pointing out that militant violence was also a threat to US interests.
Pakistan’s defense minister Khawaja Asif hinted at the possibility of launching cross-border attacks against TTP militants in Afghanistan in a recent interview with Voice of America.
Khan emphasized the US and Pakistan could collaborate in Afghanistan once again.
“The US should make Pakistan a partner for a diplomatic comeback in Kabul, if that is what is being planned, and work with Pakistan in an inclusive setting, on counterterrorism and the rights of women and girls in Afghanistan,” he said.
“We should continue to invest in the reset of our relationship, maintain strong security links, enhance intelligence cooperation, resume sales of advanced military platforms and sustainment of Pakistan’s US-origin defense equipment,” he added.
The Pakistani ambassador also spoke about his country’s efforts to generate foreign investment, saying that Pakistan had remained a lucratic and attractive market for American companies.
Pakistan’s envoy to US says country needs small arms amid government’s plan for anti-militant operation
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Pakistan’s envoy to US says country needs small arms amid government’s plan for anti-militant operation
- Pakistani officials have expressed concerns in the past over TTP using US military equipment left behind in Afghanistan
- Masood Khan tells Washington conference ‘US should make Pakistan a partner for a diplomatic comeback in Kabul’
Pakistan says repaid over $13.06 billion domestic debt early in last 14 months
- Finance adviser says repayment shows “decisive shift” toward fiscal discipline, responsible economic management
- Says Pakistan’s total public debt has declined from over $286.6 billion in June 2025 to $284.7 billion in November 2025
KARACHI: Pakistan has repaid Rs3,650 billion [$13.06 billion] in domestic debt before time during the last 14 months, Adviser to the Finance Minister Khurram Schehzad said on Thursday, adding that the achievement reflected a shift in the country’s approach toward fiscal discipline.
Schehzad said Pakistan has been repaying its debt before maturity, owed to the market as well as the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), since December 2024. He said the government had repaid the central bank Rs300 billion [$1.08 billion] in its latest repayment on Thursday.
“This landmark achievement reflects a decisive shift toward fiscal discipline, credibility, and responsible economic management,” Schehzad wrote on social media platform X.
Giving a breakdown of what he said was Pakistan’s “early debt retirement journey,” the finance official said Pakistan retired Rs1,000 billion [$3.576 billion] in December 2024, Rs500 billion [$1.78 billion] in June 2025, Rs1,160 billion [$4.150 billion] in August 2025, Rs200 billion [$715 million] in October 2025, Rs494 billion [$1.76 billion] in December 2025 and $1.08 billion in January 2026.
He said with the latest debt repaid today, the July to January period of fiscal year 2026 alone recorded Rs2,150 billion [$7.69 billion] in early retirement, which was 44 percent higher than the debt retired in FY25.
He said of the total early repayments, the government has repaid 65 percent of the central bank’s debt, 30 percent of the treasury bills debt and five percent of the Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs) debt.
The official said Pakistan’s total public debt has declined from over Rs 80.5 trillion [$286.6 billion] in June 2025 to Rs80 trillion [$284.7 billion] in November 2025.
“Crucially, Pakistan’s debt-to-GDP ratio, around 74 percent in FY22, has declined to around 70 percent, reflecting a broader strengthening of fiscal fundamentals alongside disciplined debt management,” Schehzad wrote.
Pakistan’s government has said the country’s fragile economy is on an upward trajectory. The South Asian country has been trying to navigate a tricky path to economic recovery under a $7 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund.
