Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: The US Congress is expected to approve a $686 million upgrade package for Pakistan&#39;s F-16 fighter fleet, marking a significant step in ongoing defense cooperation between Washington and Islamabad. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the sale on Dec. 8, with Lockheed Martin, a US defense company that manufactures F-16s, selected as the primary contractor.&nbsp; Under US law, major foreign military sales are subject to a 30-day review period by Congress. If no objection is raised during this time, which is usually the case, the sale is considered to have received congressional approval. The comprehensive modernization aims to extend the operational life of Pakistan&#39;s F-16s through 2040 while addressing critical safety and capability gaps. Pakistan currently operates a mixed fleet of F-16 aircraft, including Block 52 and Mid-Life Update variants, which form a crucial component of its air defense and strike capability. The package includes advanced data-link capabilities such as Link-16, which allows aircraft to securely share real-time battlefield information, along with updated cryptographic systems to protect sensitive communications. This NATO-standard technology allows Pakistani pilots to coordinate effectively during complex missions and ensures interoperability with allied forces. The deal also encompasses advanced avionics upgrades, cryptographic equipment for secure communications, improved identification systems, mission planning software, and extensive maintenance support. Training programs for Pakistani technical personnel are also part of the deal, according to the DSCA notification. Washington justified the approval by citing Pakistan&#39;s role in regional counterterrorism operations and the strategic value of maintaining military interoperability. &nbsp;&quot;It will strengthen cooperation in ongoing counterterrorism efforts and help prepare for future contingency operations,&quot; DSCA stated. The State Department emphasized that the upgrades serve broader American foreign policy objectives in South Asia, reinforcing a defense partnership that has endured despite periodic tensions between the two countries.

A Pakistan Air Force F-16 flies over Karachi during a ceremony to commemorate ‘Operation Swift Retort’. (AFP/File)

Security

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a comprehensive modernization package that includes advanced Link-16 communications systems, avionics upgrades, and cryptographic equipment. The deal extends Pakistan's F-16 operational capability through 2040 while strengthening counterterrorism cooperation.

Pakistan’s F-16 fleet to get $686M US upgrade

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Army Chief and&nbsp;Chief of Defense Forces&nbsp;Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir on Tuesday praised Pakistan&rsquo;s Under-19 cricket team for its historic Asia Cup triumph, calling the success a source of national pride and a reflection of the country&rsquo;s youth potential, the military&#39;s media wing said. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, during a meeting with the victorious squad at GHQ, Rawalpindi, the field marshal congratulated the players, the team management, and officials on winning the Asia Cup Men&rsquo;s U19 tournament, lauding their discipline, teamwork, and fighting spirit. He said the team&rsquo;s achievement highlighted the immense talent present among Pakistan&rsquo;s youth and demonstrated what could be accomplished through dedication, professionalism, and unity. The field marshal encouraged the young cricketers to continue striving for excellence, uphold high standards of conduct, and represent Pakistan positively both on and off the field. He stressed that success in sports not only brings honor to the country but also strengthens its image globally. Underscoring the broader importance of youth empowerment, Field Marshal Asim Munir said Pakistan&rsquo;s young population is the cornerstone of the nation&rsquo;s future, whose energy, character, and talent will shape its progress and international standing. He reaffirmed his confidence in empowering young Pakistanis to excel across diverse fields and contribute meaningfully to national development through discipline, integrity, and hard work. Members of the Under-19 team expressed gratitude for the encouragement and support, saying the recognition from the country&rsquo;s top military leadership would serve as a strong source of motivation in their careers.

Cricket

The chief of defense forces and army chief praised Pakistan’s Under-19 cricket team for its historic Asia Cup triumph, calling the success a source of national pride and a reflection of the country’s youth potential.

Field Marshal Munir hails U19 Asia Cup victory, calls youth ‘Pakistan’s future’

ISLAMABAD: New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters has criticized the newly announced free trade agreement between India and New Zealand, calling it a &ldquo;bad deal&rdquo; that gives too much away while offering little in return for New Zealanders in a post on the social media platform X on Monday. <div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; line-height: 2;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2002976639710576703&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2F&sessionId=5dda0e75a2f941cecd1ebab31644f8edd5c31f26&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 393px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>In his statement, Peters said that as a coalition partner, his party was &ldquo;regrettably opposed&rdquo; to the agreement, arguing that it was &ldquo;neither free nor fair.&rdquo; &ldquo;Regrettably, this is a bad deal for New Zealand. It gives too much away, especially on immigration, and does not get enough in return for New Zealanders, including on dairy,&rdquo; the statement said. Peters said New Zealand First had urged its coalition partner not to rush into concluding what it described as a low-quality agreement, and instead to use the full parliamentary term to negotiate better outcomes. He added that the party had warned against signing the deal when a clear parliamentary majority was uncertain. According to the statement, those warnings were ignored, and a &quot;low-quality deal&quot; was struck over a fair one.&nbsp; A central concern raised by Peters was the exclusion of major dairy products from the agreement. He said New Zealand was fully opening its market to Indian goods, while India was not reducing tariff barriers on key dairy exports. &ldquo;This is not a good deal for New Zealand farmers and is impossible to defend to our rural communities,&rdquo; the statement said. The party noted that the agreement would be New Zealand&rsquo;s first trade deal to exclude major dairy products such as milk, cheese, and butter. It said exports of these products were worth about NZ$24 billion in the year to November 2025, accounting for roughly 30% of total goods exports. Apart from trade concerns, Peters also criticized what he described as significant concessions on immigration and labor mobility, including the creation of a new employment visa for Indian citizens, warning it could worsen domestic labor market pressures. He said New Zealand First was concerned the agreement could limit the ability of future governments to adjust migration and student work policies in response to changing economic conditions. Peters&rsquo; remarks come as India faces mounting pressure and criticism in global trade negotiations, including renewed talks with the United States. Washington imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods earlier this year over New Delhi&rsquo;s purchases of Russian oil, highlighting the tougher trade environment India is navigating with global partners.&nbsp;

New Zealand's Foreign Minister Winston Peters attends a meeting with Vietnam in Hanoi on November 26, 2025 (AFP)

Australasia

Winston Peters criticizes coalition partner for rushing into the newly announced free trade agreement between India and New Zealand, calling it a 'bad deal' that gives too much away while offering little in return for New Zealanders.

'Bad deal': New Zealand foreign minister slams India free trade agreement

COPENHAGEN: President Donald Trump on Monday reiterated that the United States needed Greenland for &ldquo;national security&rdquo; after his appointment of a special envoy to the Danish Arctic island triggered a new spat with Copenhagen. Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has repeatedly said the United States &ldquo;needs&rdquo; the resource-rich autonomous territory for security reasons and has refused to rule out using force to secure it. Trump on Sunday appointed Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry as special envoy to Greenland, prompting anger from Denmark, which summoned the US ambassador. &ldquo;We need Greenland for national security. Not for minerals,&rdquo; Trump told a news conference in Palm Beach, Florida, on Monday. &ldquo;If you take a look at Greenland, you look up and down the coast, you have Russian and Chinese ships all over the place,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We need it for national security. We have to have it,&rdquo; the president said, adding that Landry &ldquo;wanted to lead the charge.&rdquo; On his appointment, Landry immediately vowed to make the Danish territory &ldquo;a part of the US.&rdquo; Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and Greenland&rsquo;s Prime Minister Jens-Frederik Nielsen earlier Monday said in a joint statement that Greenland belongs to Greenlanders. &ldquo;You cannot annex another country,&rdquo; they said. &ldquo;We expect respect for our joint territorial integrity.&rdquo; Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen said he was &ldquo;deeply angered&rdquo; by the move and warned Washington to respect Denmark&rsquo;s sovereignty. The European Union later offered its &ldquo;full solidarity&rdquo; to Denmark. The Danish foreign minister earlier told TV2 television the appointment and statements were &ldquo;totally unacceptable&rdquo; and, several hours later, said the US ambassador had been called to the ministry for an explanation. &ldquo;We summoned the American ambassador to the foreign ministry today for a meeting, together with the Greenlandic representative, where we very clearly drew a red line and also asked for an explanation,&rdquo; Lokke Rasmussen told public broadcaster DR in an interview. &#39;Strategic location&#39; European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa stressed on social media that territorial integrity and sovereignty were &ldquo;fundamental principles of international law.&rdquo; Leaders of both Denmark and Greenland have repeatedly insisted that the vast island is not for sale and that it will decide its own future. Most of Greenland&rsquo;s 57,000 people want to become independent from Denmark but do not wish to become part of the United States, according to an opinion poll in January. Lokke Rasmussen said Trump&rsquo;s appointment of a special envoy confirmed continued US interest in Greenland. &ldquo;However, we insist that everyone &ndash; including the US &ndash; must show respect for the territorial integrity of the Kingdom of Denmark,&rdquo; he said in a statement emailed to AFP. Washington argues Greenland, located between North America and Europe, can give it an economic edge over its rivals in the Arctic region. The island has untapped rare earth minerals and could be a vital player as the polar ice melts and new shipping routes emerge. Greenland&rsquo;s location also puts it on the shortest route for missiles between Russia and the United States. The United States has its Pituffik military base in Greenland and opened a consulate on the island in June 2020. In August, Denmark summoned the US charg&eacute; d&rsquo;affaires after at least three US officials close to Trump were seen in Greenland&rsquo;s capital, Nuuk, trying to find out how people felt about deepening US ties. Trump&rsquo;s determination to take over Greenland has stunned Denmark, a fellow member of NATO that has fought alongside the US in its wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In January, Copenhagen announced a $2.0 billion plan to boost its military presence in the Arctic region.

US President Donald Trump at his Mar-a-Lago estate on Dec. 22, 2025 (AFP)

Americas

President Donald Trump on Monday reiterated that the United States needed Greenland for “national security” after his appointment of a special envoy to the Danish Arctic island triggered a new spat with Copenhagen.

Trump says US needs Greenland 'for national security'

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday moved closer to privatizing its national flag carrier as the bidding process for Pakistan International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL) entered its decisive stage, marking one of the government&rsquo;s most significant state-owned enterprise reform initiatives.&nbsp;Three consortia, led by AirBlue, Arif Habib Private Limited, and Lucky Cement, are competing to acquire a 75% stake in the airline. The process follows Fauji Fertilizer Company (FFC) withdrawing from the bidding race, though FFC retains the option to join the winning consortium at a later stage.&nbsp;According to privatization minister Muhammad Ali, the two unsuccessful bidders will be excluded from any future role in the airline&rsquo;s management. He explained that losing bidders would have no right to join the winning bidder, and only groups that were not parties to the auction would be able to enter the new management.&nbsp;To safeguard the integrity of the privatization, the government has introduced a key condition preventing unsuccessful bidders from participating in the airline&rsquo;s future management. Privatization minister Ali said this measure aims to ensure transparency and avoid post-auction arrangements that could undermine competition.&nbsp;Under the announced schedule, sealed bids were submitted to the Privatization Commission at 10:30 a.m., while the bids are set to be opened at 3:30 p.m. in a formal ceremony attended by the bidders. The reference price for the transaction will be approved by the Privatization Commission Board and the Cabinet Committee on Privatization only after bids are received.&nbsp;The entire bidding process is being broadcast live on television and digital platforms to reinforce transparency.&nbsp;Ahead of the auction, reports emerged of informal discussions between some bidding groups regarding a potential shared stake. However, Lucky Cement Chairman Muhammad Ali Tabba and government officials clarified that these interactions were private in nature and not facilitated by the government, and that they had no impact on the bidding process.&nbsp;Officials remain confident that the current auction will avoid the shortcomings of the previous privatization attempt, when a single bidder offered Rs10 billion for a 60% stake, far below the reference price of Rs85 billion, leading to the cancellation of the sale.&nbsp;The government views the privatization of PIA as a critical step towards improving operational efficiency, reducing fiscal burden, and attracting long-term private investment into Pakistan&rsquo;s aviation sector.

Economy

Three bidders, Lucky Cement, Arif Habib Pvt Ltd, and AirBlue, are in the race to acquire a 75% stake in the airline.

Privatization process of Pakistan International Airlines kicks off

PALM BEACH: US President Donald Trump said on Monday that people who &quot;innocently met&quot; Jeffrey Epstein in the past risked having their reputations ruined by the release of the investigative files on the convicted sex offender. Trump, in his first comments since the Justice Department began releasing the files on Friday, also dismissed the furor over Epstein as a distraction from his party&#39;s achievements. &quot;This whole thing with Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has,&quot; he told reporters at his Mar-a-Lago home. Former president Bill Clinton featured prominently in the first batch of photos from the Epstein files released by the Justice Department, and Trump was asked for his reaction. &quot;I like Bill Clinton. I&#39;ve always gotten along with Bill Clinton. I hate to see photos come out of him,&quot; he said. &quot;There&#39;s photos of me, too,&quot; Trump noted. &quot;Everybody was friendly with this guy (Epstein).&quot; Trump said he did not like the release of pictures of Clinton and others, calling it a &quot;terrible thing.&quot; &quot;Bill Clinton&rsquo;s a big boy; he can handle it,&quot; he said. &quot;But you probably have pictures being exposed of other people that innocently met Jeffrey Epstein years ago, many years ago, and they&rsquo;re highly respected bankers and lawyers and others.&quot; The Republican president said, &quot;A lot of people are very angry that pictures are being released of other people that really had nothing to do with Epstein. &quot;But they&#39;re in a picture with him because he was at a party, and you ruin a reputation of somebody,&quot; he said. Epstein, a wealthy and well-connected financier, died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges in what was ruled a suicide.

Says the whole thing with 'Epstein is a way of trying to deflect from the tremendous success that the Republican Party has'; adds he did not like the release of pictures of Clinton and others, calling it a 'terrible thing.'

Release of Epstein files risks ruining reputations: Trump

PALM BEACH: US President Donald Trump on Monday announced a new class of heavily armed warships that will be named after himself &mdash; an honor usually reserved for leaders who have left office. Two of the Trump-class ships will be built initially, but that number could grow substantially, according to the president, who said they will be &quot;some of the most lethal surface warfare ships&quot; and &quot;the largest battleship in the history of our country.&quot; Trump announced at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida alongside Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Navy Secretary John Phelan, with images of the planned high-tech vessels on stands nearby. Asked if the planned warships are a counter to Washington&#39;s rival Beijing, Trump declined to specify, instead saying: &quot;It&#39;s a counter to everybody, it&#39;s not China. We get along great with China.&quot; He said the ships will weigh between 30,000 and 40,000 tons and will be armed with missiles and guns as well as weaponry still in development, such as lasers and hypersonic missiles. They will also be capable of carrying atomic weapons in the form of the nuclear-armed sea-launched cruise missile, Trump said. The Trump-class ships will be substantially larger than existing US destroyers and cruisers, but the projected displacement cited by the president is somewhat smaller than that of the last American battleships &mdash; the Iowa class &mdash; which were retired in the 1990s. &#39;Most powerful fleet anywhere&#39;&nbsp;Trump &mdash; who has complained in the past about the appearance of US ships &mdash; said he would be involved in the design along with the Navy &quot;because I&#39;m a very aesthetic person.&quot; Trump&#39;s announcement came just days after the Navy publicized plans for another new class of ships &mdash; frigates dubbed the FF(X) that it said will &quot;complement the fleet&#39;s larger, multi-mission warships.&quot; Phelan has said the FF(X) will be based on an existing design from shipbuilder HII that is already in use by the United States Coast Guard, and that the aim is for the first of the new frigates to be in the water by 2028. The new frigate plans were announced after Phelan said in late November that four of six planned ships from the Constellation class of frigates would be canceled, while two that are already under construction are &quot;under review.&quot; Washington has fallen significantly behind Beijing in the number of ships in its Navy, and a report to Congress earlier this year noted that US military officials and other observers are concerned about the pace of China&#39;s shipbuilding efforts. &quot;We&#39;re going to restore America as a major shipbuilding power,&quot; Trump said on Monday, adding: &quot;We&#39;re going to ensure the USA has the most powerful fleet anywhere in the world, and long into the future, with battleships helping lead the way.&quot;

Asked if planned warships are a counter to Washington's rival Beijing, Trump says: 'It's a counter to everybody, it's not China. We get along great with China.'

Trump announces new US warship class named after himself

LAGOS: Gunmen ambushed a vehicle in central Nigeria with people travelling for a Muslim religious event and kidnapped 28 people, including women and children, a security report showed Monday. &quot;On the evening of 21 December, gunmen abducted 28 people, including women and children, while they were travelling to a Maulud gathering,&quot; near Zak village in Bashar district in Plateau state, according to a security report prepared for the United Nations and seen by AFP. It is the latest in a string of mass kidnappings in recent weeks, which has put an uncomfortable international spotlight on Nigeria&#39;s grim security situation. Some 130 Nigerian Catholic school pupils were handed over to state authorities on Dec. 22, a day after the government said it had secured their release, a month after one of the country&#39;s worst mass abductions. Kidnappings for ransom are a common way for armed groups to make quick cash in the conflict-hit West African nation of some 230 million.

Africa

Gunmen ambush a vehicle in central Nigeria with people travelling for a religious event and kidnapped 28 people, including women and children; it is the latest in a string of mass kidnappings in recent weeks, which has put an uncomfortable international spotlight on Nigeria's grim security situation.


Gunmen kidnap 28 people on a Muslim religious trip in Nigeria: Security report

LOS ANGELES:&nbsp;Vince Zampella, the acclaimed co-creator of the video gaming juggernaut &quot;Call of Duty,&quot; has died in a car crash, gaming giant Electronic Arts confirmed on Monday. According to local broadcaster NBC4, the developer and executive died on Sunday while driving his Ferrari on a scenic road north of Los Angeles. His studios created some of the world&#39;s best-selling video games. &quot;For unknown reasons, the vehicle veered off the roadway, struck a concrete barrier, and became fully engulfed,&quot; the California Highway Patrol said in a statement, without identifying the two victims in the crash. The CHP added that both the driver and a passenger who was ejected from the vehicle succumbed to their injuries. Zampella was best known for co-creating the &quot;Call of Duty&quot; franchise and founding Respawn Entertainment, the studio behind &quot;Titanfall,&quot; &quot;Apex Legends,&quot; and the &quot;Star Wars Jedi&quot; games. After starting out in the 1990s as a designer on shooter games, he co-founded Infinity Ward in 2002 and helped launch &quot;Call of Duty&quot; in 2003. Activision later acquired his studio. He left Activision under contentious circumstances and established Respawn in 2010, which Electronic Arts acquired in 2017. At EA, he eventually took charge of revitalizing the &quot;Battlefield&quot; franchise, cementing his reputation as one of the most influential figures in modern first-person shooter games. &quot;This is an unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with Vince&#39;s family, his loved ones, and all those touched by his work,&quot; Electronic Arts said in a statement.<div class="fr-embed"><div class="twitter-tweet twitter-tweet-rendered" style="display: flex; max-width: 550px; width: 100%; margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><iframe id="twitter-widget-0" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 1043px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-0&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=2003249476836966693&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Farticles%2Fnew%2F&sessionId=39058b010257e57dabf5c7a4075512c317396f52&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" data-tweet-id="2003249476836966693"></iframe></div></div>&quot;Vince&#39;s influence on the video game industry was profound and far-reaching,&quot; the company said, adding that &quot;his work helped shape modern interactive entertainment.&quot; A statement by Respawn, posted on the &quot;Battlefield&quot; X account, praised Zampella &quot;for how he showed up every day, trusting his teams, encouraging bold ideas, and believing in Battlefield and the people building it.&quot; Zampella &quot;championed what he believed was right for the people behind those studios and our players because it mattered.&quot;

Video Game

Vince Zampella died Sunday in a Ferrari crash on a scenic road north of Los Angeles, media reported Monday.

'Call of Duty' co-creator Vince Zampella killed in car crash

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Under-19 cricket team were rewarded at the highest level after their emphatic Asia Cup triumph, with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announcing a Rs10 million cash reward for the players following their title-winning campaign.&nbsp;&ldquo;We just met the prime minister, who appreciated the team and management and announced a one-crore reward for the players,&rdquo; mentor Sarfaraz Ahmed said at the post-final press conference in Islamabad. &ldquo;These children worked very hard, and the coaching staff did an outstanding job.&rdquo;&nbsp;The reward came after Pakistan delivered a dominant 191-run victory over India in the ACC Men&rsquo;s Under-19 Asia Cup final last week at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai, successfully defending 347 for 8 and bowling India out for 156 in 26.2 overs.&nbsp;Batting first on a true surface, Pakistan posted a formidable 347-8 in 50 overs, laying the foundation for a one-sided final. The total proved far beyond India&rsquo;s reach as Pakistan&rsquo;s pace-heavy attack dismantled the chase with relentless accuracy and discipline.&nbsp;The win ended a 13-year wait for a major U19 title, underlining the strength of Pakistan&rsquo;s youth system. Since 1989, Pakistan had not won an outright U19 Asia Cup, sharing the title with India in 2012. Their previous global successes came at the ICC U19 World Cups in 2004 and 2006.&nbsp;Reflecting on the team&rsquo;s mindset, head coach Shahid Anwar said the group followed a clear philosophy from the outset.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our motto was to play fearless but not careless cricket and to remain unified through faith and discipline,&rdquo; Anwar said. &ldquo;I had stated on record before leaving for Dubai that we would not only win hearts but also the trophy, and by the grace of Allah, the result is before you.&rdquo;&nbsp;Ahmed rejected suggestions that the final revolved around one individual performance.&nbsp;&ldquo;I don&rsquo;t believe it was a one-man show,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;Usman Khan and Ahmed Hussain played crucial innings and formed important partnerships. Even the lower order contributed to reaching 347 runs. It was a collective team performance.&rdquo;&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s bowlers made full use of grass and carry in the surface.&nbsp;Ali Raza finished with figures of 6-0-38-3, while Abdul Subhan delivered a standout spell of 2-13 from eight overs, including a maiden. Mohammad Sayyam and spinner Huzaifa Ahsan took two wickets apiece.&nbsp;Explaining his approach, Abdul Subhan said discipline was key.&nbsp;&ldquo;My strategy was to bowl dot balls,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;At the U19 level, when you bowl dot balls, the batsmen eventually make mistakes trying to score, and that is how I got my wickets.&rdquo;&nbsp;Captain Farhan admitted his own batting returns were modest but emphasized collective responsibility.&nbsp;&ldquo;Our plan was always to play as a team,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;I feel I did not perform as well as I should have individually, but I tried to chip in for the team. The management is backing us, and I will look to correct these mistakes in the upcoming World Cup and Tri-Series.&rdquo;&nbsp;Farhan also revealed there was no panic after losing the toss.&nbsp;&ldquo;We actually wanted to bat first because it was a used, true pitch,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;When the Indian captain won the toss and chose to bowl, my morale actually went up because it aligned with our plan.&rdquo;Anwar detailed the long preparation behind the title.&nbsp;&ldquo;We began a unique process on June 17, 2025,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We initially called 70 boys for trials, sent them to regional tournaments, and then held a 30-player camp for five months.&rdquo;&nbsp;Addressing questions about Pakistan&rsquo;s U19 success compared to senior-level struggles, Anwar pointed to fundamentals.&nbsp;&ldquo;At this age, we focus 99% on basics and mentality,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;The transition to senior cricket involves changes in lifestyle and environment. While some players filter out, around 80 percent of our stars have come through this same U19 system.&rdquo;&nbsp;Sarfaraz Ahmed also addressed a viral clip in which he urged players to maintain discipline against India.&nbsp;&ldquo;I told my boys that we must celebrate with sportsman spirit and dignity,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;We wanted to win the game the right way and back our own team rather than responding to their actions.&rdquo;&nbsp;Pakistan&rsquo;s commanding performance, built on preparation, fearless intent, and disciplined execution, not only secured a major youth title but reinforced confidence in the country&rsquo;s cricketing pipeline, capped fittingly by national recognition from the prime minister.

Culture

Pakistan dominated the Under-19 Asia Cup, combining fearless batting and disciplined bowling to crush India in the final and end a 13-year wait for a major youth title.

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