Foreign affairs are not a series of disconnected episodes. They are a test of whether nations learn from history and act with foresight. The United States has often failed that test. It forgets that unchecked aggression leads to wider wars and that removing governments without building new authority invites chaos. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Iran’s destabilising role in the Middle East and the collapse of Libya and Afghanistan all testify to what happens when those lessons are ignored. China,...

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday that he thought the Ukraine war was coming to an end, remarks that came just hours after he had vowed victory in Ukraine at Moscow’s most scaled-back Victory Day parade in years. “I think that the matter is coming to an end,” Putin told reporters of the Russia-Ukraine war, Europe’s deadliest conflict since World War II. He also said he would be willing to negotiate new security arrangements for Europe ‌and that his preferred negotiating partner...

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, reeling from a crushing local election defeat, faced a new setback to his leadership on Saturday when a former minister said she would challenge him for the top job if no one else stepped forward. Starmer’s Labour Party recorded the worst losses of a governing party in municipal polls since 1995, prompting a growing number of his ‌own lawmakers to call on him to quit. To try to shore up his position in the party earlier on Saturday, he named two influential...

BANNU: At least two police personnel were martyred on Saturday night after law enforcers foiled a suicide attack on Fateh Khel police post in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Bannu.

According to initial reports, two police personnel were also injured in the attack along with two civilians.

According to sources, terrorists rammed an explosive-filled vehicle into the police post. Multiple explosions were heard afterwards, along with heavy gunfire. The attack spread fear and panic among the local population.

The explosion caused the roof of the police post to collapse.

Further reports indicated that nearby civilian areas also suffered severe damage due to the explosions.

Following the incident, additional contingents of Bannu police reached the site, while rescue teams were also dispatched. Bannu Regional Police Officer Sajjad Khan personally led the police operation, said police.

Security forces cordoned off the area and a rescue operation was commenced to search through the rubble of the police post.

According to police officials, Bannu police personnel “responded with bravery, courage and professional skill” while a search operation was launched. Meanwhile, an emergency was also declared in all three hospitals in the district.

Police checkpoints and snap-checking were intensified across the city, while residents came out in support of law enforcement personnel. Security agencies are closely monitoring the situation.

A day prior, an explosion, following the reported crash of a quadcopter drone, injured eight people, including women, in a residential area in Bannu.

According to police, the drone flew into the area from an unknown location and exploded shortly after falling near a residential area, leaving several people injured.

Bannu district has been the scene of repeated security incidents in recent months, with both civilians and local security forces coming under attack amid a broader surge in militant violence.

Violence in Bannu has included attacks on police and jirga members, prompting targeted operations by police and security forces in various localities to disrupt militant networks.

Police patrol escapes attack in Lakki Marwat

In KP’s Lakki Marwat district, a police team escaped a terrorist attack in the trans-river belt known as Kurrum Par on Saturday night.

The District Police Officer’s spokesman, Qudratullah Khan, said that personnel from Dadiwala police station were on routine patrol in the area when terrorists affiliated with Fitna al Khawarij — a term the state uses to designate the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan — attacked them with “advanced weapons”.

The police took up positions and responded to the attack, the spokesman said, adding that the gunfight lasted for some time as police repelled the attack.

“Luckily, the policemen remained unhurt in the exchange of fire“, he added.

“The police, backed by armoured personnel carriers, launched a search for the fleeing assailants.”

Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Muhammad Aurangzeb on Saturday said Pakistan’s economy continued to show signs of recovery despite ongoing regional tensions, citing strong growth in large-scale manufacturing, exports, remittances and foreign investment inflows.

Addressing a news conference alongside Minister for Petroleum Ali Pervaiz Malik, the finance minister said the country’s large-scale manufacturing (LSM) sector recorded 11 per cent year-on-year growth in April, while cumulative growth during the first nine months of the current fiscal year stood at 6.5pc.

He said the government expected the GDP growth rate to remain close to 4pc during the current fiscal year, compared to 3.1pc last year.

Exports have grown by 9pc month-on-month and 14pc year-on-year, driven by value-added textiles, IT and other sectors, he said, adding that the export growth was broad-based.

Highlighting overseas inflows, Aurangzeb said remittances reached $3.5 billion in April after touching $3.8bn in March during Ramazan, describing the sustained inflows as a strong vote of confidence from overseas Pakistanis.

The finance czar added that inflows under the Roshan Digital Account (RDA) also rose sharply to $320 million in April, the highest monthly volume in the scheme’s history.

“This is an investment-led discussion. Overseas Pakistanis are investing in New Pakistan Certificates, real estate and the stock market,” he remarked.

The minister further said Pakistan had re-entered international capital markets after four years and recently raised $750 million through a Eurobond issuance despite the ongoing regional conflict.

He added that Pakistan was set to access Chinese capital markets for the first time through a Panda Bond next week. “Next week you will hear good news that, for the first time, we will be accessing Chinese capital markets through a Panda Bond,” he said.

The finance minister further said the country’s foreign exchange reserves were projected to reach a level equivalent to around three months of import cover by the end of June.

He also said macroeconomic stability was intended to ensure industrial continuity, facilitate the opening of letters of credit and the repatriation of profits and dividends, and generate employment opportunities.

Commending the Petroleum Ministry for maintaining uninterrupted fuel supplies over the past two months, the finance minister said no shortages or supply chain disruptions had occurred in the country despite challenges across the region.

“There have been shortages and long queues in different countries, but nothing of that sort happened in Pakistan,” he said, appreciating the efforts of the petroleum minister and his team.

Referring to recent fuel price adjustments, Aurangzeb said the government had continued targeted subsidies for vulnerable segments, including motorcyclists, public transport users and small farmers, in consultation with provincial governments.

He said the subsidies had now been extended into the third month at the direction of the prime minister and chief ministers to provide relief to weaker sections of society.

The finance minister, however, cautioned that Pakistan’s oil import bill had increased by over $1 billion between March and April, urging the public to exercise restraint in energy consumption to protect the external account position.

“Our external account is equally important. We all need to be careful in our consumption patterns,” he said.

Aurangzeb said Pakistan remained committed to fulfilling all international financial obligations with bilateral and multilateral partners as a responsible country.

He also expressed hope that the regional conflict would end soon, warning that damage to regional energy infrastructure could take months to recover even after hostilities ceased.

“We are monitoring the possible impact on inflation, GDP growth, remittances and exports because hope alone is not a strategy,” he remarked.

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has significantly expanded its lobbying and strategic communications footprint in the United States, signing a new $1.2 million contract with a Washington-based advisory firm as it seeks deeper engagement on defence cooperation, critical minerals and broader economic diplomacy in an increasingly competitive policy environment.

According to filings submitted under the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), Ervin Graves Strategy Group LLC registered on May 1 as an official foreign agent of Pakistan’s embassy in Washington under a two-year contract valued at $1.2m, requiring payments of $50,000 per month for its services.

FARA requires the public listing of all lobbyists or lobbying firms working for a foreign entity, including governments and private corporations.

The agreement tasks the firm with a wide-ranging mandate that includes lobbying US policymakers, government-relations work, legislative monitoring, stakeholder engagement, media messaging, think tank outreach, and policy advisory support.

More notably, the contract explicitly extends into areas of strategic economic and security interest, including trade and investment promotion, critical minerals cooperation, and defence and security engagement — sectors that have gained renewed importance in US foreign policy thinking amid global supply-chain realignments and intensifying great-power competition.

The arrangement reflects Islamabad’s effort to reposition its Washington outreach beyond traditional diplomatic messaging, placing greater emphasis on sector-specific engagement and structured access to US policy networks.

In Washington, such contracts are increasingly viewed as part of a broader ecosystem of influence-building, where governments rely on specialised advisory firms, former officials and policy intermediaries to shape perceptions across Congress, the executive branch, think tanks and the media.

When asked why Pakistan needs to hire lobbyists in Washington despite having an embassy, a Pakistan Embassy official said: “Countries have been hiring lobbyists in Washington since 1938. This is how the American system works. They expect you to work with and within the system. Registering under FARA ensures transparency.”

Pakistan’s latest engagement comes as its lobbying strategy in the US capital has evolved into a more layered and diversified structure in recent years, combining embassy-driven diplomacy with external advisory networks.

Earlier FARA filings show that Islamabad and affiliated organisations have engaged multiple US-based firms to manage legislative outreach, public messaging and policy engagement efforts, particularly around bilateral relations and economic cooperation.

The latest contract also underscores a shift in emphasis toward economic security themes — particularly critical minerals — which have become central to US strategic policy as Washington seeks to diversify supply chains away from China and secure access to inputs essential for defence manufacturing, renewable energy technologies and semiconductor production.

Defence and security cooperation, another key component of the agreement, reflects Pakistan’s longstanding objective of maintaining institutional channels with US security and policy establishments, even during periods of political strain in bilateral relations.

Pakistan’s lobbying push is taking place in a broader and increasingly competitive foreign influence environment in Washington, where multiple countries have intensified their engagement strategies.

India, in particular, has maintained an active and highly structured lobbying presence in the US, often leveraging former political advisers and communications strategists to shape congressional and media narratives on South Asia and regional security.

Following the Pahalgam attack in India-occupied Kashmir in April 2025, both India and Pakistan further expanded their use of Washington-based consultants linked to the Trump administration’s political circles, underscoring the extent to which South Asian diplomacy in the US has become closely tied to political consulting networks.

In this evolving environment, Pakistan’s latest $1.2m engagement signals an effort to consolidate and professionalise its Washington strategy — moving toward a more targeted approach that integrates defence, economic diplomacy and policy messaging under a single advisory framework.

While FARA filings provide transparency into contractual relationships, they also reflect a deeper structural reality in Washington: that foreign policy influence is increasingly mediated through private consultancies, former officials and specialised lobbying networks, rather than traditional diplomatic channels alone.

For Pakistan, the challenge remains not only access to policymakers, but sustained narrative presence in a crowded and politically polarised Washington ecosystem where multiple regional conflicts and strategic priorities compete for attention.

Marka-i-Haq is a “defining landmark” in the nation’s journey, the military said on Saturday as Pakistan marked the first anniversary of the brief war with India.

In a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the military said that the brief conflict demonstrated Pakistan’s measured and resolute response and “exposed adversarial conspiracies, false flag narratives and disinformation campaigns, diminishing their credibility internationally”.

Last year’s confrontation with India, beginning with the April 22 Pahalgam attack and the subsequent military conflict — which resulted in a resounding victory for Pakistan — until the ceasefire on May 10, is now referred to by the state as Marka-i-Haq (Battle of Truth).

“Marka-i-Haq has become a defining landmark in the nation’s journey, reflecting national resolve, military excellence, and strategic maturity.”

“Despite facing conventional and hybrid challenges, including proxy terrorism, the Armed Forces demonstrated superior operational competence across land, air, sea, cyber, and information domains,” the statement added.

According to ISPR, Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu and Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf also congratulated the nation and all ranks of the armed forces on the day.

The statement added that the anniversary is being observed with “deep reverence, gratitude, and national fervour”, adding that the day stands as a testament to the “enduring spirit of courage, professionalism, and unity”.

In the aftermath of Marka-i-Haq, Pakistan bolstered its defence capabilities and reinforced full-spectrum deterrence despite a disparity in resources, ISPR stated, adding that the occasion is a testament to the military’s “preparedness, dedication, and professionalism, which decisively strengthened public confidence in their armed forces”.

“The anniversary also reaffirms Pakistan’s steadfast commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty while promoting peace and stability in the region,” the statement read.

“Pakistan believes that sustainable peace in South Asia can only be achieved through meaningful dialogue, mutual respect, and adherence to international law and principles of justice.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Saturday that Pakistan can neither be “intimidated nor subdued by any aggressor” as the nation marks the first anniversary of Marka-i-Haq.

Last year’s confrontation with India, beginning with the April 22 Pahalgam attack and the subsequent military conflict — which resulted in a resounding victory for Pakistan — until the ceasefire on May 10, is now referred to by the state as Marka-i-Haq (Battle of Truth).

“Marka-i-Haq bears testimony that Pakistanis are a peace-loving, yet courageous, resilient, and dignified nation who can neither be intimidated nor subdued by any aggressor,” said the premier in a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).

The prime minister, expressing his gratitude to the Almighty, said the day commemorates Pakistan’s “valiant stand in adversity” and the “crushing defeat” inflicted upon India.

“The nation pays tribute to its martyrs, their families and the ghazis who stood like a steel wall to defend their homeland,” said the statement.

The premier said the well-coordinated and synchronised response by Pakistan’s armed forces across land, sea, air and cyber domains established Pakistan as an “invincible nation”.

He said Marka-i-Haq is etched in history as an “epic feat of achieving overwhelming dominance over an enemy, bent on unprovoked aggression”.

PM Shehbaz maintained that India was administered a “heavy dose of reality serum to dispel its illusion of invincibility”.

He maintained that there should be no doubt that any aggression to undermine the country will be met with immediate, befitting and full-spectrum response, adding that the nation “stand determined and vigilant to ensure security” along its frontiers.

The premier also paid tribute to Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of the Army Staff Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir for his bold and courageous leadership and Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber and Navy Chief Admiral Naveed Ashraf for their strategic prudence, added the statement.

“We also salute officers and soldiers of the valiant Armed Forces, who, with unflinching support of the Pakistani nation, inscribed a new chapter in Pakistan-India context,” said the PMO statement.

He maintained that Pakistan clearly manifested its desire for peace during the conflict, while also re-establishing deterrence and safeguarding its security, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Referring to terrorism in Pakistan, the prime minister said the nation remains “steadfast in our efforts to root out ‘Fitna al Khawarij’ and ‘Fitna al Hindustan’ and take the fight against terrorism to its logical conclusion”.

Fitna al Khawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, while Fitna al Hindustan is a term designated by the state for terrorist organisations in Balo­chistan.

On occupied Kashmir, the premier maintained that it remains an unfinished agenda of Partition and strategic stability in the region would remain a distant dream without resolution of the Kashmir issue.

“Strategic stability in South Asia, without the resolution of Kashmir issue, would remain a distant dream which needs to be resolved in accordance with the United Nations resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people. Pakistan shall continue to stand by the fundamental right of freedom and self-determination of Kashmiri people,” said the statement.

Prime Minister Shehbaz elaborated that a year on, Pakistan is recognised as a responsible nation that “not only knows how to defend itself, but has also emerged as a guarantor of global peace and stability”.

Touching on recent efforts to end the Iran-US conflict, the premier said the country has earned worldwide acknowledgement for its role as a key mediator and its efforts to end the violence.

“Commemorating the sacrifices of our martyrs during Marka-i-Haq, let us pledge to face our adversaries like a ‘Steel Wall’ and work selflessly for the destined glory of this great homeland,” the statement concluded.

ISLAMABAD: The PTI has demanded the formation of an independent judicial commission to conduct a “transparent, impartial and credible probe” into the events of May 9, to bring the suspects to justice.

The party has termed May 9, 2023, “one of the darkest days in Pakistan’s political history”, when former prime minister and PTI founder Imran Khan was arrested from the premises of the Islamabad High Court. He is currently incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail, where he is regularly denied meetings with family members and party leaders.

In a strongly worded statement on Saturday, PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram asserted that the PTI founder’s arrest not only violated the sanctity of the judiciary but also set “a dangerous precedent of state repression and authoritarianism”.

“This action was an open violation of the Constitution, the law, and fundamental human rights,” Akram stressed, demanding the immediate release of Imran, his spouse Bushra Bibi and other party workers and members without further delay.

“[The] Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf has been demanding transparent, impartial, and independent investigations into the events of May 9 from the first day and remains steadfast in this demand,” he added.

“We have repeatedly made it clear that a judicial commission comprising serving senior judges of the Supreme Court should be established to bring all facts before the nation.”

He maintained that only a judicial probe can uncover the truth about the incident and ensure accountability for those responsible.

Akram recalled that Imran had repeatedly demanded the formation of an independent judicial commission to determine responsibility, but noted that no commission has been established to date despite those calls.

“We once again demand the immediate formation of a judicial commission comprising senior judges of the Supreme Court. All CCTV footage related to the events of May 9 must be made public without delay,” he demanded.

Akram also raised serious concerns over the disappearance of CCTV footage related to the May 9 incidents, questioning the transparency of the investigations and saying the absence of such key evidence raised significant doubts about the fairness of the process.

“Its unavailability raises serious questions about the justice system and strengthens the impression that facts are being deliberately concealed,” he asserted.

He further demanded that all detainees arrested in the aftermath of the riots, including women, be released immediately, arguing that many were detained without evidence or proper legal justification.

“These actions are not only violations of human rights but also reflect the illegitimate use of state power,” Akram stressed. “The nation awaits the truth. No matter how much [the] facts are suppressed, they eventually come to light one day or another.”

Meanwhile, the Tehreek Tahaffuz Ayeen-i-Pakistan (TTAP) has asserted in a statement that May 9, 2023, was “one of the darkest days in Pakistan’s political history”, when an attempt was made to alter the country’s political direction through unconstitutional and unlawful means.

TTAP spokesperson Hussain Ahmed Yousafzai claimed that the events of May 9 were used primarily as “justification for political actions against opponents, causing serious damage to constitutional freedoms, fundamental human rights, and the democratic political process in the country”.

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