Staff Report

GILGIT: At least four independent winners from Gilgit-Baltistan Assembly elections on Tuesday joined Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party, announcing the decision during a meeting with Federal Minister for Communications and IPP President Abdul Aleem Khan.

The newly-joined members include Anwar Ali from GBA-23 Ghanche-2, Asad Shafiq from GBA-24 Ghanche-3, Muhammad Dilpazeer from GBA-15 Diamer-1, and Aman Ali from GBA-21 Ghizer-3.

Speaking on the occasion, Dilpazeer said that the four candidates formed a group and joined the IPP, adding that they were also in contact with other independent candidates as well as Majlis Wahdat-e-Muslimeen (MWM) nominees.

According to Dilpazeer, the group would extend invitations to other independents to join the party, claiming that IPP would emerge as the second-largest party in the GB Assembly.

The general elections for 24 seats of the GB Assembly were held on June 7, with the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) emerging as the single largest party by securing 10 seats, according to unofficial and preliminary results.

According to unofficial and unconfirmed results, the PPP won constituencies including GBA-1, GBA-4, GBA-5, GBA-7, GBA-9, GBA-10, GBA-11, GBA-12, GBA-17 and GBA-19.

Later, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited the PPP to form the government in GB, saying that the PPP has emerged as the majority party in the polls.

In a statement on June 12, he assured full support to the Bilawal-led party in the formation of the government.

PM Shehbaz said that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) has decided to sit on the opposition benches in the GB Assembly, but its elected members will vote in favour of the PPP to form the government.

He added that the decision had been taken in line with the democratic traditions and values.

Security officials warn some elements still seeking to spoil US-Iran peace deal

Staff Report/DNA

ISLAMABAD: Field Marshal Asim Munir’s sole interest in a US-Iran deal was achieving “peace and stability” in the region, sources cited top security officials as saying on Tuesday, emphasising Pakistan was not interested in “headline diplomacy”.

Islamabad achieved a historic diplomatic victory on Monday when US President Donald Trump announced that Washington has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran to end the war in the Middle East.

Pakistan has been acting as a key mediator between Tehran and Washington since the Middle East conflict erupted on February 28, following US-Israel strikes on Iran.

During a briefing to journalists, senior security officials said that Pakistan has been handling the Iran-US issue as a “highly complex matter” and has fulfilled all requirements of being a mediator in the conflict.

“We are not interested in headline diplomacy,” security sources said, adding that the world was gradually recognising the role Islamabad had played.

According to security sources, Field Marshal Munir’s sole interest in the matter was “peace and stability” in the region.

The security officials warned that there were still actors seeking to spoil the understandings, saying that Israel dominated international media, they added.

They also noted that Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt and the UAE also deserved credit for efforts aimed at de-escalation.

According to security sources, Pakistan maintained separate relationships with Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States, which enabled it to engage with all sides.

On regional security, the security officials said that Pakistan wanted good relations with Afghanistan.

They stated that 862 militants were killed in Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in Afghanistan, while 999 others were eliminated inside Pakistan.

Discussing the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), security officials the government had asked shopkeepers to reopen businesses.

However, members of the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) blocked roads and threatened those reopening shops.

“Every moment [banned] JAAC is becoming more exposed,” they said, adding that the matter would be dealt with according to the Constitution.

On defence spending, security officials said that Rs300 billion had been allocated in the budget, representing a 17% increase.

They noted that most of the allocation would go towards mandatory expenditures, leaving limited funds for development projects.

Referring to broader security challenges, security sources said that terrorism remained an internal challenge and that modern warfare was increasingly dependent on advanced technology.

“In this context, the budget is low, and both military and political leadership are aware of this,” they said.

ISLAMABAD, 16  JUN (DNA) —    The federal government has earmarked more than Rs14.2 billion in the Public Sector Development Programme 2026-27 for Gwadar and related connectivity projects, with road, airport and port-linked schemes receiving the bulk of the allocations.

The spending pattern shows that Islamabad is still prioritising links between Gwadar and the rest of the country, alongside basic urban services in the port city. The largest allocation is Rs6.5 billion for the Hoshab-Awaran-Khuzdar sections of the M-8 corridor, followed by Rs2.55 billion for the New Gwadar International Airport and Rs1 billion for the Gwadar-Ratodero Road Project, Gwadar Pro reported on Tuesday.

PSDP also provides Rs400 million for land acquisition for rail connectivity from Gwadar via Besima to Jacobabad, indicating continued work on long-term plans to connect the port city with Pakistan’s rail network.

Port and maritime-related schemes include allocations for land acquisition under the Gwadar Master Plan, the Off-Dock Terminal, East Bay Expressway Phase-II and the Project Management Cell for the proposed Gwadar Shipyard.

The programme also covers civic and municipal schemes, including sanitation, landfill development, rehabilitation of Old Town Gwadar, the Gwadar Development Authority Business Plan, water supply and treatment, and the Gwadar Safe City Project.

Other allocations have been made for Shehzanik Dam, the Model Customs Collectorate Gwadar, the Oceanographic Research Sub-Station, the University of Gwadar and scholarships for students from Gwadar under the Higher Education Commission. — DNA

ISLAMABAD, JUN 16: Field Marshal Asim Munir’s sole interest in a US-Iran deal was achieving “peace and stability” in the region, sources cited top security officials as saying on Tuesday, emphasising Pakistan was not interested in “headline diplomacy”.

Islamabad achieved a historic diplomatic victory on Monday when US President Donald Trump announced that Washington has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Iran to end the war in the Middle East.

Pakistan has been acting as a key mediator between Tehran and Washington since the Middle East conflict erupted on February 28, following US-Israel strikes on Iran.

During a briefing to journalists, senior security officials said that Pakistan has been handling the Iran-US issue as a “highly complex matter” and has fulfilled all requirements of being a mediator in the conflict.

“We are not interested in headline diplomacy,” security sources said, adding that the world was gradually recognising the role Islamabad had played.

According to security sources, Field Marshal Munir’s sole interest in the matter was “peace and stability” in the region.

The security officials warned that there were still actors seeking to spoil the understandings, saying that Israel dominated international media, they added.

They also noted that Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt and the UAE also deserved credit for efforts aimed at de-escalation.

According to security sources, Pakistan maintained separate relationships with Iran, Saudi Arabia and the United States, which enabled it to engage with all sides.

JAAC stands ‘exposed’
On regional security, the security officials said that Pakistan wanted good relations with Afghanistan.

They stated that 862 militants were killed in Operation Ghazab lil-Haq in Afghanistan, while 999 others were eliminated inside Pakistan.

Discussing the situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), security officials the government had asked shopkeepers to reopen businesses.

However, members of the banned Jammu Kashmir Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) blocked roads and threatened those reopening shops.

“Every moment [banned] JAAC is becoming more exposed,” they said, adding that the matter would be dealt with according to the Constitution.

On defence spending, security officials said that Rs300 billion had been allocated in the budget, representing a 17% increase.

They noted that most of the allocation would go towards mandatory expenditures, leaving limited funds for development projects.

Referring to broader security challenges, security sources said that terrorism remained an internal challenge and that modern warfare was increasingly dependent on advanced technology.

“In this context, the budget is low, and both military and political leadership are aware of this,” they said.

ISLAMABAD, JUN 16 /DNA/ – The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad on Tuesday hosted a seminar titled “Decoding the Future Trajectory of Pakistan–India Relations,” bringing together diplomats, academics, and policy experts to discuss the challenges and prospects of bilateral ties between the two neighboring countries.

Former Foreign Minister Khurram Dastgir Khan attended the event as the chief guest, while speakers included Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman ISSI; Ambassador Abdul Basit, Pakistan’s Former High Commissioner to India; Dr Manzoor Ahmed, Former Ambassador to the WTO; Dr Mujeeb Afzal, Assistant Professor, School of Politics and IR, Quaid-e-Azam University; and Dr. Khurram Abbas, Director ISC at ISSI, said a press release.

In his welcome remarks, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood noted that the history of Pakistan-India relations has remained a mix of conciliatory and confrontational approaches. Citing several key figures from among the Indian policy elite, he observed that New Delhi’s ambition to globally ‘isolate’ Pakistan had actually backfired and voices are emerging to revisit their Pakistan-strategy.

He, however, warned that India’s military leadership still maintains threatening and rhetorical tone towards Pakistan. Islamabad must remain cautious, tread carefully without reading too much into the recent calls for engagement. He suggested that Pakistan should go for a structured dialogue instead of hasty engagements.

The Chief Guest, Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan (HI), indicated three strengths that Pakistan has carved out of recent US-Iran conflict in recent months, including a goodwill from the United States; an international legitimacy; and ability to conduct complex diplomacy at international fronts. He emphasized the need to use these as a leverage in ties with India.

He expressed concern that several key obstacles such as the unresolved Jammu and Kashmir dispute; the reciprocal allegations of cross-border terrorism; deep-seated domestic nationalism in India; nuclear dilemma; and friction over Indus Water Treaty could again lock the two neighbours in a military confrontation. He specifically pointed towards mounting tensions over water-sharing mechanisms as the potential source of conflict.

Earlier, in his opening remarks, Dr Khurram Abbas labelled the India-Pakistan ties as the most-observed bilateral ties globally, trajectory of which impacts the course of security and stability in South Asia and beyond. He argued that while marred with historic tensions and occasional confrontations, the recent period is the worst era of bilateral ties given the fact that decades-old settled issues such as water-sharing are now prone to mutual hostilities.

Dr Abbas emphasized that academics, policy-practitioners, and civil society were duty-bound to build on the natural appetite for peace and guide the two countries to exit the existing stalemate.

Ambassador Abdul Basit, in his address, indicated that unlike history, the two countries seemed short of ideas to break stalemate and initiate a constructive engagement. Expressing suspicion over the recent calls for engagement from India, Ambassador Basit pointed out that, from an Indian perspective, this was not a suitable time for a breakthrough with Pakistan.

He stressed that Pakistan must prioritise its interests and long-term objectives instead of an open-ended structured dialogue. Ambassador Basit argued that Confidence Building Measures (CBMs) were only useful when a proper mechanism is drawn to discuss the central issues including Jammu and Kashmir.

Dr Manzoor Ahmed was of the view that the most haunting casualty of the ongoing crisis between the two countries was that of trade. After banning direct trade with India, Pakistan is forced to rely on indirect routes for Indian products, which consequently exponentially affects Pakistan’s import bill. Citing a World Bank study, Dr Manzoor Ahmed argued that Pakistan could earn US$38 billion from its exports to India, after which its overall exports would rise by 80 percent. He called for decoupling trade relations from longstanding contentious issues with New Delhi.

Dr Mujeeb Afzal presented a historical overview of competing narratives and claims of India and Pakistan over Jammu and Kashmir dispute.

He opined that the standoff between the two countries over the territory was structurally engrained in their respective national identities, which makes it very costly for anyone to back-off. India’s unilateral step to put the Indus Waters Treaty ‘in abeyance’ adds further layer to the complex web of India-Pakistan relations. Dr Mujeeb opined that the two countries are trapped in a situation where constructive engagement and long-term peace seem very unlikely.

A rigorous Q&A session followed the formal proceedings of the seminar.

Key security matters were discussed during an important session between a senior security official and the media.
Islamabad Peace Deal

ISLAMABAD, JUN 16 /DNA/ – Pakistan’s civil and military leadership motives for mediating are not narrow rather stability in the region and peace amongst Muslim Ummah.

Through consultation and cooperation with all key stakeholders, Pakistan especially FM Asim Munir saved the region from a major war that was planned to be imposed with serious consequences.

This was a war won by FM Asim Munir through sincerity, competence, brilliance and Allahs Blessings for the greater good of humanity without actually being fought,” which is pinnacle of strategy; stated security sources.

This sensitive diplomatic process requires utmost confidentiality, responsibility and caution.

As a responsible mediator, Pakistan cannot afford any form of speculation and therefore will not go into contents and substance of any talks and what’s next.

Spoilers and multiple detractors will continue to try to subvert peace efforts however Pakistan will continue with partners in utmost sincerity to pursue peace.

Great credit goes to Muslim countries especially KSA who showed masterly leadeship, restraint and strategic patience and concerned with FM wisdom to avoid a war that could have engulfed region and pitched Muslim against Muslim.

Military diplomacy and relations with any friendly country cannot be viewed through a single, narrow lens; rather, these relations fall under the ambit of both countries’ broader diplomacy based on national interests.