Web Desk

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said on Monday that Pakistan remains committed to developing a broad and balanced partnership with the US. He was speaking at a seminar, &ldquo;Diplomatic successes of Pakistan,&rdquo; organized in the capital, Islamabad.&nbsp; The defense minister presented an overview of the country&rsquo;s foreign policy and its ties with Pakistan&rsquo;s major partners.&nbsp; &ldquo;With Saudi Arabia, our relations have entered a new era of mutual confidence and economic collaboration,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp; &ldquo;The prime minister&rsquo;s recent engagements with Saudi Arabia&rsquo;s leadership have reinvigorated strategic cooperation and opened pathways for multibillion-dollar investment in energy, mining, and infrastructure.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Our relationship with the UAE and Qatar has also deepened remarkably; both countries have expressed strong interest in expanding their economic footprint in Pakistan, for renewable energy, ports to information technology, and agriculture,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;These partnerships reflect a shared commitment to regional stability and economic interdependence.&rdquo;&nbsp; The defense minister said: &ldquo;With the US, Pakistan continues to build a broad-based and balanced partnership.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Our recent diplomatic engagements have emphasized cooperation in trade, technology, climate resilience, and counterterrorism ....&nbsp;Reaffirming Pakistan&rsquo;s constructive role as a bridge between regions and interests.&quot; Partnership with China&ldquo;Our all-weather strategic partnership with China remains an anchor of regional peace and prosperity,&rdquo; said Asif.&nbsp; &ldquo;The prime minister&rsquo;s interactions with Chinese leadership have reaffirmed both sides&#39; resolve to expand the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor into new domains, including agriculture, information technology, and renewable energy.&rdquo; &ldquo;This deepening cooperation symbolizes a shared vision for connectivity and inclusive growth,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp; Outreach to Central Asia&nbsp;&ldquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s outreach to central Asian republics, particularly, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, represents another milestone in our diplomacy.&rdquo; &ldquo;Through active engagement, the prime minister has advanced Pakistan&rsquo;s role as a gateway for trade and energy transit between central and south Asia.&rdquo; &ldquo;Projects like CASA-1000, TAPI, and the proposed Trans-Afghan Railway underscore our commitment to regional connectivity, economic integration, and shared prosperity,&rdquo; said Asif. Ties with the Muslim world&nbsp;&ldquo;In the broader Muslim world, Pakistan has actively sought to revitalize ties with Iran, Turkey, and Egypt,&rdquo; said the defense minister. &ldquo;These engagements are grounded in shared faith, mutual respect, and collective aspirations for peace and development.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Our deepening cooperation with the &nbsp;Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) further amplifies Pakistan&rsquo;s diplomatic voice on issues such as Islamophobia, Palestinian rights, and humanitarian relief in Gaza and Afghanistan,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp; &lsquo;Economic diplomacy&rsquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;At the heart of Pakistan&rsquo;s renewed diplomatic activism lies economic diplomacy, guided by the prime minister&rsquo;s vision of transforming foreign relations into economic opportunities,&rdquo; said the defense minister.&nbsp; &ldquo;Pakistan has sought to attract investments, enhance exports, and promote development-oriented partnerships.&rdquo;&nbsp; &ldquo;Recent high-level visits have now only revitalized traditional friendships but also restored global confidence in Pakistan&rsquo;s stability and economic potential,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp; &ldquo;Major partners now view Pakistan as a country focused on reform, growth, and responsible engagement in an interconnected world.&rdquo;&nbsp; &lsquo;Forward-looking Pakistan&rsquo;&nbsp;&ldquo;Our diplomacy today reflects a forward-looking Pakistan, one that engages constructively, builds bridges, and believes in the power of partnerships,&rdquo; said Asif.&nbsp; &ldquo;Through the prime minister&rsquo;s sustained diplomatic outreach, Pakistan has successfully reestablished itself as a respected voice in regional and international forums from the United Nations and SCO to OIC and World Economic Forum,&rdquo; he added.

Foreign Affairs

Says, ‘At the heart of Pakistan’s renewed diplomatic activism lies economic diplomacy guided by … a vision of transforming foreign relations into economic opportunities;’ ‘Pakistan has sought to attract investments, enhance exports, and promote development-oriented partnerships.’ 

Pakistan pursuing balanced, broad-based ties with US: defense minister

Mariam Ellahi

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will &ldquo;push deep into their territory in retaliation&rdquo; if evidence shows attacks are being staged from Afghan soil, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif told Pakistan TV Digital late Wednesday, a day after talks in Istanbul with Afghan delegates ended without an agreement. &ldquo;We will hunt them down. Very simple. If we have to cross the border, we will do that,&rdquo; Asif said, warning that Islamabad was prepared to follow up incursions with both air strikes and ground operations. &ldquo;Whether we have to carry out air strikes or use ground forces, as before, we&rsquo;ve done air strikes, and we&rsquo;ll do them again.&rdquo; &lsquo;Always be a response&rsquo;&nbsp;Asif stressed that any Pakistani action would be conditional. &ldquo;If in the coming days they don&rsquo;t send new formations and cross-border terrorism doesn&rsquo;t occur, then we will not do anything,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;It will always be a response, not an initiative; it will be a reaction to something committed by the Afghans.&rdquo; His remarks come amid a surge in militant attacks inside Pakistan that prompted the two warring sides to meet in Doha on October 19, leading to a 48-hour ceasefire after days of heavy cross-border clashes. Talks ongoingDelegations from Islamabad and Kabul later also met in Istanbul from October 25 to 29, where Pakistan sought a &ldquo;concrete and verifiable monitoring mechanism&rdquo; to prevent Afghan soil from being used to stage attacks on Pakistani forces and civilians. Officials said the Istanbul round, mediated by Qatar and T&uuml;rkiye, failed to produce a binding enforcement arrangement after Afghan representatives declined to accept that it would take verifiable measures against groups Islamabad blames for the violence. Negotiators exchanged near-final drafts, but according to Pakistani sources, the Afghan side repeatedly deferred to Kabul and would not sign off on mechanisms Pakistan described as necessary to guarantee the ceasefire. According to well-placed sources, Pakistan on Thursday agreed to extend the Istanbul dialogue process at T&uuml;rkiye&#39;s request. Sources said that the decision to resume the dialogue process was based on giving peace another chance. Talks are to begin at 2pm Pakistan standard time.&nbsp;Banned groups responsible for attacksIslamabad points to factions linked to the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and other local networks as responsible for recent assaults on security posts and convoys.&nbsp; Pakistan security officials say precision strikes and targeted operations have degraded some militant leadership, but they argue that cross-border sanctuaries remain the core problem. Asif framed Pakistan&rsquo;s posture as one of last resort: Willing to keep pressing for diplomacy and to exercise restraint, but ready to use force again if attacks from across the frontier resume.

Security

Pakistan on Thursday agreed to extend the Istanbul dialogue process at Türkiye's request; decision to resume dialogue process was based on giving peace another chance; talks are to begin at 2pm Pakistan standard time.

Pakistan will retaliate if Afghan-based militants continue attacks: defense minister

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) resumed direct flights to the United Kingdom on Saturday, marking the restoration of services that had remained on hold for the past five years.&nbsp;The development follows the UK&rsquo;s decision in July to allow the national carrier to operate once again, after assessing that Pakistan&rsquo;s aviation safety standards meet international requirements. Earlier this month, the UK Civil Aviation Authority issued a Foreign Aircraft Operating Permit to PIA, completing the final procedural step. <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-1" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-1&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1982017808142926068&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fsections%2F&sessionId=1955e616218c9bd2515cd73355e0e0aa6832ae8c&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 576px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="1982017808142926068"></iframe></div></div>&nbsp;Speaking at the ceremony held at Islamabad International Airport, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif said the restoration of flights reflected the commitment and coordinated efforts of Pakistani aviation authorities.&nbsp;&ldquo;After a long and difficult delay of five years, today the resumption of flights from Islamabad to Manchester is a feat we have achieved through our hard work and determination,&rdquo; he said. Asif noted that significant improvements had been made in pilot training, licensing processes and aircraft safety compliance during this period.&nbsp;PIA has started with a twice-weekly service between Islamabad and Manchester, with plans to expand operations to London and Birmingham in the coming months. A PIA spokesperson confirmed that the first flight, carrying 284 passengers, departed for Manchester on Saturday afternoon.&nbsp;The airline had also resumed flights to Paris earlier this year after receiving clearance from European aviation authorities in late 2024.&nbsp;The government continues efforts to strengthen the national carrier and has reiterated its commitment to restructuring and reforming the organization.

Economy

PIA resumed direct flights to Manchester on Saturday after a five-year hiatus, following safety and regulatory improvements. The airline plans to add London and Birmingham routes next.

Pakistan national carrier resumes direct flights to Britain after five-year hiatus

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan&rsquo;s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has criticized the Taliban-led government in Afghanistan, accusing it of acting as a proxy for India and allowing cross-border terror attacks in Pakistan. &ldquo;This war of terrorism has been imposed on Pakistan by India, Afghanistan and the TTP working together. The rulers in Kabul, who used to be under our protection and who once hid on our soil, are now sitting in India&rsquo;s lap and conspiring against Pakistan,&rdquo; Asif wrote on X, formerly Twitter. <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" 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=1979192853122420827&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Flogin%2F&sessionId=a3f53bc647d1e4e740203278c506b98829f51cc6&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 441px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;">&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</iframe></div></div> The minister outlined Pakistan&rsquo;s extensive efforts over the past four years to engage Kabul diplomatically and militarily, which, according to him, have been met with betrayal.&nbsp;These included four visits to Kabul by Pakistan&rsquo;s Foreign Minister, two joint visits by the defense minister and ISI leadership, and five trips each by the Special Envoy on Afghanistan and senior Foreign Office secretaries. Pakistan&rsquo;s National Security Adviser also visited Kabul once, and eight meetings of the Joint Coordination Committee were held.&nbsp;&ldquo;Along the border, 225 flag meetings took place, while Pakistan issued 836 formal protest notes and delivered 13 demarches to the Afghan authorities,&rdquo; he added. Despite these persistent efforts, Asif said, the situation has only worsened.&nbsp;From 2021 to date, Pakistan has suffered 10,347 acts of terrorism, resulting in the martyrdom of 3,844 individuals, including civilians, soldiers, and law enforcement personnel, he noted.&nbsp;Asif said Pakistan&rsquo;s sacrifices were met not with cooperation but with hostility from the very regime that once found refuge on Pakistani soil.&nbsp;He declared that Pakistan can no longer afford to maintain relations with Kabul as it has in the past. Asif emphasized that the country&rsquo;s patience has run out, and there will be no more appeals for peace or high-level visits to Afghanistan. Instead, Pakistan will respond decisively to any acts of terrorism or cross-border infiltration.&nbsp;&ldquo;Wherever the source of terrorism lies, it will now come at a heavy cost,&rdquo; he warned.&nbsp;Khawaja Asif also stated that all Afghans residing in Pakistan will need to return to their homeland. He pointed out that it has now been five years since what the Taliban calls its &ldquo;Islamic revolution,&rdquo; and that Afghanistan must now take responsibility for its citizens.&nbsp;&ldquo;The land and resources of Pakistan belong to its 250 million people,&rdquo; he said, adding that the time for forced hospitality has come to an end.&nbsp;The minister stressed that Pakistan desires peace with its neighbors, but it will not tolerate hostility or foreign-backed terrorism.&nbsp;&ldquo;Self-respecting nations do not live off the land and resources of others,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;If Afghanistan wants to be a neighbor, it must act like one.&rdquo;

Outlines Pakistan’s extensive efforts over the past four years to engage Kabul diplomatically and militarily, efforts that, according to him, have been met with betrayal.

Taliban now acting as India’s proxy, says Khawaja Asif​

ISLAMABAD: The rise of artificial intelligence took center stage at Wednesday&#39;s meeting of the UN Security Council, with world leaders and diplomats acknowledging AI&rsquo;s nearly immeasurable capabilities while urging caution about its potential harms in nefarious hands, as well as possible dangers involving military use of the technology, AP reported. &ldquo;The question is not whether AI will influence international peace and security, but how we will shape its influence used responsibly,&rdquo; U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said in opening remarks at Wednesday&rsquo;s meeting. &ldquo;AI can strengthen prevention and protection, anticipating food insecurity and displacement, supporting de-mining, helping identify potential outbreaks of violence, and so much more. But without guardrails, it can also be weaponized.&rdquo;<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-9" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allowfullscreen="true" title="X Post" src="https://platform.twitter.com/embed/Tweet.html?dnt=false&embedId=twitter-widget-9&features=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%3D%3D&frame=false&hideCard=false&hideThread=false&id=1970986611119939646&lang=en&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fmain.d1wrm1qseko1cp.amplifyapp.com%2Fdashboard%2F&sessionId=0694ba007bfe0945f9eda993896e78df390988cc&theme=light&widgetsVersion=2615f7e52b7e0%3A1702314776716&width=550px" style="position: static; visibility: visible; width: 550px; height: 369px; display: block; flex-grow: 1;" data-tweet-id="1970986611119939646">&nbsp;</iframe></div></div>The session at this week&rsquo;s annual high-level United Nations meetup showcased the global awareness of AI&rsquo;s power, with leaders addressing the possible benefits in areas like medical research and international, in equal measure with warnings for its ability to create and spread misinformation and other ills, AP reported. &lsquo;Most consequential dual-use technology&rsquo;Pakistan&rsquo;s Minister of Defense Khawaja Asif said AI &ldquo;is the most consequential dual-use technology of our times, capable of accelerating socioeconomic progress but equally capable of deepening inequalities and destabilising international order.&rdquo;<div class="fr-embed"><iframe width="1312" height="738" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YXstV0w7UNs" title="WATCH: Pakistan’s Khawaja Asif Speaks on AI & Global Security at UN High-Level Meeting | AC15" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" referrerpolicy="strict-origin-when-cross-origin" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div>Asif further said: Unregulated and irresponsible use of AI enables disinformation campaigns, offensive cyber operations, and development of new types of armaments. The accelerating weaponization of AI through autonomous weapon systems and AI-driven command and control systems pose a grave danger. The Pakistani defense minister said: In the recent conflict in the subcontinent between India and Pakistan, for the first time, autonomous loitering munitions and high-speed dual-capable cruise missiles were used by one nuclear-armed state against another during the military exchange, which manifests the dangers which AI can pose. These developments raise serious questions for the future of warfare. &ldquo;Three lessons are clear. One, AI lowers the threshold for use of force, making wars more politically and operationally feasible. Two, AI compresses decision time, narrowing the window for diplomacy and de-escalation. And three, AI blurs domain boundaries, merging cyber, kinetic, and informational effects in unpredictable ways,&rdquo; he added. Principle for collective approach&nbsp;Our collective approach to meet these challenges must rest on the following principle, he said, adding: &ldquo;First, the UN Charter and international law must fully govern the development and use of AI. Applications and without meaningful human control should be prohibited. Second, strategic communication on AI nuclear intersections is vital to reduce risk of miscalculation. Third, states must commit to measures that prevent destabilizing use and pre-emptive incentives. Fourth, developing countries must have the capacity, access, and voice to shape AI governance. Fifth, AI must not become a tool of coercion or technological monopoly. Sixth, AI governance must be anchored in the legitimacy of the United Nations system. Seventh, attempts to monopolise strategic advantage will fail. The only sustainable path is cooperation based on mutual respect.&rdquo; He said the adoption of General Assembly Resolutions 78-311 led by China last year was a landmark achievement that established the first multilateral agreed blueprint for AI capacity building.&ldquo;We must ensure that AI is harnessed to promote peace and development, not conflict and instability,&rdquo; Asif said. &lsquo;Promise for peace&rsquo;&ldquo;Deep AI analysis of situation data holds this promise for peace,&rdquo; said British Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, heralding AI&#39;s ability to keep &ldquo;ultra-accurate, real-time logistics, ultra-accurate real-time sentiment analysis, ultra-early warning systems.&rdquo; According to AP, Lammy warned of the &ldquo;challenges for armed conflict,&rdquo; such as &quot;the risk of miscalculation, the risk of unintended escalation, and the arrival of artificial intelligence-powered chat bots stirring conflict.&rdquo; Wednesday&#39;s open debate centered around how the Council can help ensure the responsible application of AI to comply with international law and support peace processes and conflict prevention. Human oversightSeveral, including Sierra Leone Minister of Foreign Affairs Timothy Kabba, stressed the need for the Council to lead the way on ensuring that AI is not used by militaries without human oversight, so as to avert potentially devastating escalations or misfires. &ldquo;The Council can encourage best practices in peace operations, promote safeguards to retain human agency in military uses, and ensure compliance with international law and international humanitarian law,&rdquo; Kabba said. Kyriakos Mitsotakis, prime minister of Greece, called on the Council to &ldquo;rise to the occasion; just as it once rose to meet the challenges of nuclear weapons or peacekeeping, so too now it must rise to govern the age of AI.&rdquo; &lsquo;Digital colonialism&rsquo;Somalian President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud warned of &ldquo;digital colonialism,&rdquo; which he said can be addressed through partnering with initiatives &ldquo;to help ensure AI is a tool for collective advancement rather than a social side of the division.&rdquo; Ahmed Attaf, Algeria&#39;s foreign minister, noted that &ldquo;only 10 states out of the 55 members of the African Union have adopted the necessary information technology regulations,&rdquo; for AI, something he said, &ldquo;reflects the weakness of our legislative and regulatory frameworks in most African states&rdquo; and &quot;poses the challenge of digital sovereignty for the African continent.&rdquo; More on AI coming up at UNOn Thursday, as part of the body&rsquo;s annual meeting, Guterres will hold a meeting to launch the forum, called the Global Dialogue on AI Governance. It&#39;s a venue for governments and &ldquo;stakeholders&rdquo; to discuss international cooperation and share ideas and solutions. It&#39;s scheduled to meet formally in Geneva next year and in New York in 2027, AP reported.&nbsp;

Artificial Intelligence

UN Security Council discussed AI’s vast potential and risks, emphasizing responsible use to prevent weaponization and conflict escalation. Leaders urged international law, human oversight, and global cooperation to harness AI for peace, development, and equitable governance.

Articles tagged with "Khawaja Asif"

Pakistan pursuing balanced, broad-based ties with US: defense minister

Pakistan will retaliate if Afghan-based militants continue attacks: defense minister

Pakistan national carrier resumes direct flights to Britain after five-year hiatus

Taliban now acting as India’s proxy, says Khawaja Asif

AI's double-edged sword: UN leaders weigh its promise and peril

Articles tagged with "Khawaja Asif"

Pakistan pursuing balanced, broad-based ties with US: defense minister

Pakistan will retaliate if Afghan-based militants continue attacks: defense minister

Pakistan national carrier resumes direct flights to Britain after five-year hiatus

Taliban now acting as India’s proxy, says Khawaja Asif​

AI's double-edged sword: UN leaders weigh its promise and peril

Taliban now acting as India’s proxy, says Khawaja Asif