Military notes; Indo-Pak conflict: deterrence, pre-battle manoeuvres

We continue to discuss various aspects of the recent Indo-Pakistan military standoff. Third, deterrence per se. More than a billion lives escaped Modi’s madness in a closer than ever nuclear Armageddon. Besides the conventional side of warfare, the more dangerous ‘nuclear parity’ still overhangs South Asia perilously. With deterrence in ‘conventional terms re-established’, one hopes […]

India’s role in South Asia: time to honour Delhi Agreement

South Asia, with its intertwined histories and complex relationships, remains one of the most volatile regions in the world. The 1974 Delhi Agreement, signed between Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, was envisioned as a step towards lasting reconciliation, one that would help the nations move beyond historical grievances and forge a path toward cooperation. However, decades […]

Putin warns Trump of response to Ukrainian attacks on Russia

Russian President Vladimir Putin told US President Donald Trump on Wednesday that he would have to respond to high-profile Ukrainian drone attacks on Russia’s nuclear-capable bomber fleet and a deadly bridge bombing that Moscow blamed on Kyiv. The war in Ukraine is intensifying after nearly four months of cajoling and threats to both Moscow and Kyiv from Trump, who says […]

Govt allocates Rs600m to put man in space

The upcoming budget is likely to see allocation of billions of rupees for Pakistan’s strides in space exploration, including the country’s pride project of sending its first man into space, and a Multi-Mission Communication Satellite System. The federal government has proposed the allocation of Rs24 billion to the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco) […]

Iran’s Khamenei rejects US nuclear deal proposal to halt uranium enrichment

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Wednesday that abandoning uranium enrichment was “100%” against the country’s interests, rejecting a central US demand in talks to resolve a decades-long dispute over Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. The US proposal for a new nuclear deal was presented to Iran on Saturday by Oman, which has mediated talks between Iranian Foreign Minister […]

China hits back at Marco Rubio’s remarks on Tiananmen Square crackdown

Beijing hit back on Wednesday at US Secretary of State Marco Rubio for saying the world will “never forget” the deadly Tiananmen Square crackdown in 1989, describing his remarks as an “attack” on China. Troops and tanks forcibly cleared peaceful protesters from Beijing’s Tiananmen Square on June 4, 1989, after weeks-long demonstrations demanding greater political freedoms. The […]

Trump has undoubtedly proven he is a messenger of peace, says PM

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has extended greetings to the United States on its 249th Independence Day, stating that bilateral ties are entering a “new era” of cooperation and understanding. Speaking at a ceremony hosted by the US Embassy in Islamabad on Wednesday, he congratulated the American people and expressed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening relations […]