ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday told United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres that Pakistan shall defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity with full force as Indian PM Modi gave the country’s military “operational freedom” to respond to last week’s attack in Kashmir, amid soaring tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.
Modi on Tuesday held a closed-door meeting with army and security chiefs a week after the deadliest attack in years that killed 26 civilians, and told the armed forces that they had the “complete operational freedom to decide on the mode, targets and timing of our response to the terror attack,” AFP reported, citing a government source.
Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors have plummeted after India accused Pakistan of backing the attack on April 22. Islamabad has rejected the charge and both countries have since exchanged gunfire in Kashmir, taken diplomatic measures against each other, expelled citizens and ordered the border shut. Modi last week vowed to pursue those who carried out the attack in Pahalgam and those who had supported it.
Amid heightened tensions, UN chief Guterres called PM Sharif and Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on Tuesday and underscored “the need to avoid a confrontation that could result in tragic consequences,” his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement. Gutterres offered his good offices to support the de-escalation efforts.
“While underscoring that Pakistan shall defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity with full force in case of any misadventure by India, the prime minister encouraged the UN Secretary-General to counsel India to act responsibly and exercise restraint,” Sharif’s office said.
“The prime minister categorically rejected any attempt to link Pakistan with the Pahalgam incident and reiterated his call for a transparent and neutral investigation into the incident.”
India on April 23 suspended the World Bank-mediated Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 that ensures water for 80 percent of Pakistani farms, saying it would last until “Pakistan credibly and irrevocably abjures its support for cross-border terrorism.” Islamabad described India’s move as an “act of war” and closed the Pakistani airspace for Indian airlines.
Guterres’ call came amid fears that India may conduct limited airstrikes or special forces raids near its border with Pakistan.
In his conversation with the UN chief, Sharif reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment toward fostering international peace and security as a responsible member of the international community and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
“He particularly highlighted India’s weaponization of the waters of the Indus Basin as unacceptable, while noting that water was the lifeline of 240 million people,” Sharif’s office said.
Also on Tuesday, Pakistani Deputy PM Ishaq Dar claimed India had been attempting to alter the 1960 Indus Water Treaty, which determines the river water-sharing mechanism between both countries, for the past two years.
“I have my doubt, much like other people, that this drama was staged to suspend this treaty,” he said, referring to the Pahalgam attack.
“We obviously don’t have evidence that they have staged this drama,” he continued. “What we do say with full confidence is that Pakistan has nothing to do with this [attack].”
Tensions have been boiling between the two nations since the attack in Kashmir, which has been divided between India and Pakistan since their independence from British rule in 1947. Both countries have fought two wars over the disputed region they rule in part but claim in full.
The worst attack in recent years in Indian-administered Kashmir took place in Pulwama in 2019, when an insurgent rammed a car packed with explosives into a security forces convoy, killing 40 and wounding 35.
Indian fighter jets carried out air strikes on Pakistani territory 12 days later. The strikes were followed by the downing of an Indian fighter jet by Pakistan and the capturing of an Indian Air Force (IAF), who was released as a result of diplomatic efforts later.
The UN has urged the arch-rivals to talk, while China, which shares its border with both India and Pakistan, on Tuesday repeated its call on both sides to “exercise restraint.” Saudi Arabia has said Riyadh was trying to “prevent an escalation,” while Iran has offered to mediate the crisis.
Pakistan says will defend itself as Modi gives Indian army ‘operational freedom’ over Kashmir
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Pakistan says will defend itself as Modi gives Indian army ‘operational freedom’ over Kashmir
- Relations between the nuclear-armed neighbors have plummeted after India accused Pakistan of backing an attack in Kashmir that killed 26 tourists
- PM Shehbaz Sharif rejects Indian allegations and calls for a neutral investigation in conversation with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres
Pakistan says open to water talks with India but insists Indus treaty remains binding
- Pakistan’s attorney general says India recently wrote to propose changes to the Indus Waters Treaty
- He says Islamabad considers the treaty fully operational as Modi threatens to block water flows
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan is willing to discuss water-sharing concerns with India, the country’s top legal official said on Thursday, though he maintained the decades-old Indus Waters Treaty remained legally binding on both countries and could not be unilaterally suspended.
Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan shared his country’s perspective with Reuters over the issue in an exclusive interview after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reiterated his threat to block water flows to Pakistan.
India has said it would suspend the treaty as part of a series of measures following a deadly militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir on April 22, which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad. Pakistan denies the allegation and says any attempt to disrupt water access would be a breach of international obligations with severe consequences.
“Pakistan is willing to talk about or to address anything, any concerns they [the Indians] may have,” Awan said during the interview.
He said India had written to Pakistan in recent weeks, citing population growth and clean energy needs as reasons to modify the treaty. But he said any discussions would have to take part under the terms of the treaty.
Islamabad maintains the treaty is legally binding and no party can unilaterally suspend it, Awan said.
“As far as Pakistan is concerned, the treaty is very much operational, functional, and anything which India does, it does at its own cost and peril as far as the building of any hydroelectric power projects are concerned,” he added.
Modi on Thursday ramped up pressure during a public event in Rajasthan, a state bordering Pakistan, saying: “Pakistan will not get water from rivers over which India has rights.”
“Pakistan will have to pay a heavy price for every terrorist attack … Pakistan’s army will pay it. Pakistan’s economy will pay it,” he added, referencing the April 22 attack that left 26 people dead.
The 1960 Indus Waters Treaty, brokered by the World Bank, allocates water from six rivers shared by the two countries. It guarantees Pakistan access to waters that irrigate nearly 80 percent of its farmland.
Awan said Pakistan would oppose any attempts to alter the treaty outside of its legal framework.
The nuclear-armed neighbors had earlier engaged in their most intense military confrontation in decades before agreeing to a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10.
India and Pakistan have fought three wars since gaining independence in 1947, two of them over Kashmir, which both claim in full but administer in part. India accuses Pakistan of supporting Kashmiri separatists in the disputed region, a charge Pakistan denies.
Tensions further escalated on Wednesday between the two countries when a suicide bombing targeted a school bus in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province, killing six people, including four children.
Pakistan’s government and military accused “Indian terror proxies” of orchestrating the attack, an allegation India rejected.
In the fallout from the April attack, both countries have halted trade, closed borders and suspended most visa processing, deepening diplomatic and economic strains.
Pakistan PM says Hong Kong conglomerate key to introducing advanced tech at Karachi Port
- Hutchison Ports announced in March to invest $1 billion to uplift Pakistan’s port infrastructure
- The top conglomerate official Eric Ip met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss future plans
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday applauded a Hong Kong-based conglomerate for playing an important role in modernizing Karachi Port by introducing advanced technologies like modern scanners for customs assessments, said an official statement.
The statement was issued after a Hutchison Ports delegation, led by Chief Executive Officer Eric Ip, met Sharif, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Maritime Affairs Minister Junaid Anwar Chaudhry and Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Cheema to discuss the company’s operations in Pakistan.
Hutchison Ports, a subsidiary of Hong Kong conglomerate CK Hutchison Holdings Limited, has been operating two terminals in Pakistan, contributing over $804 million in government revenues and providing employment to 5,000 individuals.
“Modern technology is being introduced at ports in Pakistan, with Hutchison Ports playing an important role,” the PM Office quoted Sharif as saying. “Hutchison Ports’ services will prove valuable in establishing modern scanners for customs assessment at domestic ports.”
Sharif said the investments made by Hutchison Ports in Pakistan for three decades were “a reflection of confidence in Pakistani economic policies.”
On the occasion, the CEO of Hutchison Ports said the company was taking steps to introduce modern technology at Karachi Port and expressed a desire to invest more in Pakistan in the future.
In March, Hutchison Ports said it planned to invest $1 billion in Pakistan to improve its port infrastructure. Later the same month, Pakistan’s maritime affairs minister and a Hutchison Ports official discussed the “swift execution” of the proposed investment.
Pakistan has been working to boost foreign trade while seeking international partnerships to expand maritime activities.
On Jan. 22, South Korean shipping company HMM launched the India North Europe Express (INX) weekly shipping service in Pakistan, providing the country with direct access to Europe.
Earlier, Dubai-based logistics giant DP World, in collaboration with Pakistan’s National Logistics Corporation, launched a feeder service to transport shipping containers from Dubai to Karachi.
Pakistani officials and DP World have also finalized terms for a freight corridor project from Karachi Port to the Pipri Marshalling Yard in southern Pakistan.
Pakistan presents baton of field marshal to its army chief after India standoff
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif applauds the top army commander for his ‘unflinching courage’
- He says Field Marshal Asim Munir led the armed forces to ‘outstanding victory’ against India
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top political leadership on Thursday conferred the baton of field marshal on army chief Syed Asim Munir at a ceremony in Islamabad, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praising him for his “unflinching courage” during the recent military standoff with India.
Munir was elevated to the five-star rank during a federal cabinet meeting earlier this week. The rank of field marshal is the highest military designation in Pakistan and has only been awarded once before to former President Ayub Khan.
“Today we have gathered here to pay our tribute to Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, Chief of Army Staff, for his admirable leadership, unflinching courage and outstanding service to our motherland as we have just conferred upon him the most prestigious and revered military title of Field Marshal,” the prime minister said during the ceremony.
“His command during Operation Bunyanum Marsoos and his resolute courage in safeguarding Pakistan’s sovereignty and territorial integrity not only thwarted the nefarious designs of the adversary but rewrote the history of warfare that shall continue to inspire generations to come,” he added.
Sharif credited Munir with leading Pakistan’s armed forces to what he described as an “outstanding victory” against an enemy “caught in its own web of arrogance and hubris.”
Referring to Pakistan’s military retaliation earlier this month after Indian strikes, Sharif said the army responded with speed and precision, pushing the conflict deep into enemy territory.
“In the annals of regional conflict and diplomacy, what transpired during those challenging days will not only be remembered as an outstanding military victory but also as a moral and diplomatic triumph,” Sharif said.
He also highlighted the close coordination between Pakistan’s political and military leadership in confronting the twin challenges of economic instability and foreign-backed terrorism, calling the synergy “unprecedented.”
“Today I join the entire nation in acknowledging the meritorious services of a son of the soil who embodies the finest traditions of the Pakistan Army and whose services shall remain etched in the annals of our national history,” he added.
Pakistan envoy attends event celebrating Guinness World Record for largest UAE flag
- Flag features 24,514 human handprints contributed by individuals from over 100 nationalities
- Pakistani expatriates took the lead and completed the project within a period of one month
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s envoy to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ambassador Faisal Niaz Tirmizi, attended an event to commemorate a new Guinness World Record set by the Pakistan Association Dubai (PAD) by creating the largest UAE flag using human handprints, his office said on Thursday.
PAD is a volunteer-run, non-profit organization established in the 1960s to serve the Pakistani expatriate community in the UAE by promoting social welfare, preserving cultural heritage, and supporting community development among the Pakistani diaspora.
“These are not merely handprints but heart prints, an expression of the community’s love, unity and dedication,” the Pakistan Embassy in the UAE quoted Tirmizi as saying.
“This initiative beautifully aligns with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and stands as a testament to the deep-rooted relationship between the Pakistani community and the UAE.”
The flag featured 24,514 human handprints contributed by people from over 100 nationalities and was unveiled in the presence of Pakistani and Emirati community members.
The record-breaking project, led by PAD, Emirates Loves Pakistan (ELP), and artist Rubab Zahra, was completed during a month-long campaign that began on Apr. 13 in Al Quoz, Dubai, the statement said.
On the occasion, PAD President Dr. Faisal Ikram expressed gratitude to all the contributors and volunteers.
“This record-breaking effort symbolizes the unity and spirit of cooperation that defines our community and perfectly embodies the essence of the Year of Community 2025,” the embassy quoted him as saying.
Pakistani expatriates in Dubai play a vital role in strengthening ties between Pakistan and the UAE, contributing significantly to the economies of both countries.
Pakistani generals vow to ‘decimate’ militants a day after school bus bombing kills four children
- The meeting terms the attack a ‘reprehensible violation’ of international norms due to the deliberate targeting of children
- Field Marshal Asim Munir describes the people of Pakistan as the military’s ‘greatest strength’ following the India standoff
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s top generals on Thursday vowed to “decimate” militant groups operating in its western provinces of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a day after a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device targeted a school bus in the Khuzdar district in the southwest, killing four children and two adults.
The military’s pledge follows a sharp escalation in militant violence across Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan, where separatist groups like the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) have launched increasingly coordinated attacks on civilians and security forces. Earlier this year, a BLA assault on a passenger train led to a hostage situation, reflecting the growing scale and sophistication of the insurgency.
Islamabad has repeatedly accused India of backing these groups to destabilize the country, an allegation New Delhi has denied, attributing Pakistan’s security troubles to internal failures.
Thursday’s statement followed a meeting of Pakistan’s top army leadership to review the country’s internal and external security environment. The huddle, chaired by Field Marshal Asim Munir, was the first since a recent military standoff with India, during which both sides exchanged missile and drone attacks.
“The Forum deliberated in depth on the threat posed by India-backed terrorist proxies operating in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the military’s media wing, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement.
“The Forum resolved that Pakistan will never allow its peace to be compromised by externally sponsored terrorism,” it continued. “The Armed Forces, in close synergy with intelligence and law enforcement agencies, will pursue all proxies and facilitators of terrorism with unrelenting resolve. These hostile elements, trained and financed to incite chaos and fear, will be dismantled and decimated with full force of national will and institutional strength.”
The generals condemned the Khuzdar attack as a “reprehensible violation” of international norms, particularly due to the deliberate targeting of children.
They also offered prayers for victims of both the Khuzdar bombing and recent casualties from Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, the military campaign launched in response to Indian strikes.
Field Marshal Munir reiterated Pakistan’s strategic stance on national defense, declaring that “no one can coerce Pakistan through the use or threat of force.”
He also praised the professionalism and readiness of the armed forces and lauded the resilience of Pakistani civilians, youth and political leadership during recent hostilities.
“The people of Pakistan are our greatest strength,” he said during the meeting. “We remain committed to their trust and expectations in our shared struggle against any foreign aggression, terrorism and extremism.”
