Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will lead Pakistan delegation at the 17th Summit of the ECO which is being held in Baku on July 3-4.
“During the Summit, the Prime Minister will share Pakistan’s perspective on key regional and global challenges, reaffirm Pakistan’s commitment to the ECO Vision 2025, and advocate for enhanced intra-regional trade, transport connectivity, energy cooperation, and sustainable development,” the Foreign Office said in a statement.
The prime minister will also hold bilateral meetings with other ECO leaders on the sidelines of the summit to discuss matters of mutual interest.
KARACHI: In a major achievement on the economic front, the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) foreign reserves jumped by $5 billion to reach $14.51 billion end of the last fiscal year (FY25), surpassing the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) target of $13.9 billion. Economists noted that this milestone was made possible through the joint efforts of the SBP and the federal government as they successfully stabilized the external sector by implementing prudent macroeconomic policies and securing timely external inflows.
According to provisional data released on Wednesday, SBPs foreign reserves rose by $5.12 billion during the last fiscal year. With the current increase, the foreign exchange reserves held by the SBP reached the $14.51 billion mark on 30 June 2025 increased from $9.39 billion as on June 30, 2024.
This surge is attributed to substantial foreign inflows received last week from international financial institutions and lenders. The State Bank received $3.1 billion in commercial loans on behalf of the Government of Pakistan, along with over $500 million in multilateral funding, significantly boosting the country’s foreign exchange reserves.
SBP’s reserves drop over $2bn in a week on major debt repayments
Governor SBP Jameel Ahmed in January this year projected that despite massive external debt servicing, State Bank of Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves will cross the $14 billion mark at the end of FY25.
Economists said that this significant surge reflects strengthening macroeconomic fundamentals, driven by an improved current account balance, higher home remittances inflows, and disciplined fiscal management. “The recent inflows are expected to further boost confidence in Pakistan’s economic recovery and support ongoing efforts to ensure external stability and sustainable growth”, they added.
Muhammad Sohail, CEO of Topline Securities, said that thanks to the strong performance of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) and the government, the country’s foreign exchange reserves have exceeded the IMF’s target of $13.9 billion-a major achievement.
He described this as a positive signal for Pakistan’s macroeconomic stability, adding that the milestone reflects improved external account management, rising remittances, stronger exports, and disciplined policy implementation under IMF guidance.
It may be mentioned here that during the week ended on Jun 20, 2025, SBP foreign reserves decreased by $ 2.657 billion to $ 9.064 billion due to government of Pakistan’s external debt repayments, mainly repayment of commercial borrowing. However, SBP has successfully maintained the reserves by bringing over $5 billion inflows in a week.
LAHORE: The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Punjab has begun finalising its protest strategy in the light of directives issued by PTI’s Patron-in-Chief Imran Khan, which is expected to be launched after Ashura “to resist the ongoing human rights violations in the country and to restore constitutional and legal order”.
According to the PTI Punjab, meetings are underway across different regions of the party under the supervision of Chief Organiser Punjab Aliya Hamza. Regional leadership is being consulted, and practical, on-the-ground strategies are being devised. To mobilise party workers, organisational office-bearers at the district, tehsil, and regional levels have been assigned responsibilities.
“In the face of this oppression and injustice, protest is now our only remaining option. The inhumane treatment and cruelty being inflicted upon PTI founder Imran Khan is condemnable and intolerable; detaining a political leader under such severe restrictions and in clear violation of human rights is the worst form of state oppression and political revenge,” it added.
According to the party, Khan is kept confined for 22 hours a day in a small, dark cell with no sunlight or fresh air. This is not merely imprisonment, but it is systematic mental and physical torture. As a result of this inhumane treatment, he is rapidly losing weight, and his health is deteriorating. Yet the extent of state oppression is such that he is not even allowed to meet his physician. To make matters worse, Khan has been completely isolated from his family, legal team, and party leadership. This represents a grim image of authoritarianism in Pakistan.
“This treatment of Pakistan’s greatest national hero is not only a clear violation of the Constitution of Pakistan and the Pakistan Prison Rules 1978 but also of the United Nations’ Nelson Mandela Rules. According to these regulations, every prisoner has an inalienable right to natural light and air, a balanced diet, daily exercise and walking, regular medical checkups, and meetings with family, lawyers, and associates. If a globally renowned leader, a former Prime Minister, and a national hero can be deprived of these basic rights, it raises a painful question for the entire world: is Pakistan truly a democracy or has it become a political torture chamber,” it said.
During last weeks, we discussed perceptual aspects of the recent Indo-Pak standoff, India’s doctrinal collapse, deterrence, ‘Exterior/ Interior Maneuvers’ by both sides, and brief rundown.
We continue, but first a brief recap. Ceasefire violations started by India in late April; escalation and military preparations took place between May 1-6. In military operations phase, India on May 7, launched “Operation Sindoor”; and on May 10, IAF attacked eight major Pakistani air bases, including Nur Khan base in Rawalpindi. The same day Pakistan retaliated across India, launching a complex air, missile, drone, space and cyber operation “Bunyan-un-Marsoos”.
First the missile war. India used ‘cruise’ missiles, both the BrahMos version (PJ-10 co-developed with Russia) as well as the European SCALP-EG (Storm Shadow) missiles. The French made SCALP is integrated with IAF’s French Rafael jets. In BVR (beyond visual range) mode, this missile, without crossing into Pakistan’s air space, can reach upto 560 km, and was used in 7th May attack on the ‘purported’ militant infrastructure, Muridke, etc.
Indian military also employed solid-propellant rockets like the Israeli-origin medium-range (250 km) ballistic missile, Crystal Maze (also called Rocks), from Su (Sukhoi)-30 MKI fighter jets in BVR mode. IAF also fired the supersonic air-to-surface Rampage missiles, co-developed with Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI), from Su-30 MKI, Jaguar and MiG-29K (Indian Navy-IN) fighter jets. This missile can target up to 250 km.
Pakistan retaliated with conventionally-armed short-range Fatah-I and Fatah-II ‘ballistic’ missiles. A ballistic missile goes up, travels in space and renters the atmosphere heading towards the intended target with great speed, compared to the earth-hugging, relatively low flying and slow speed ‘cruise’ missile.
A standard BrahMos ranges upto 290 km, whereas its extended versions can target upto 450 km, and some up to 800 km. Future hypersonic variants would reach up to 1,500 km. Range is affected by the launchpad i.e ground, air, sea or underwater. Pakistan’s Fatah-I, test fired in 2021, ranges upto 140 km, whereas, Fatah-II can reach up to 400 km. India, without evidence, claimed intercepting these.
In both countries, the use of missiles with the given ranges can be dangerously escalatory, as most population centres on either side lie within the missiles’ arc. The shorter warning because of less flying time can also lead to wrong interpretation of the intentions.
Second, the RPV or drone war. For the first time, nuclear-armed neighbours used drones, and used armed drones, in addition to reconnaissance and intelligence-collection roles. In the drone war, Pakistan demonstrated ability to shoot down up to 100 Indian drones. IAF used a mix of decoy drones and Israel-made anti-radiation drones (Harop), Harpy and Heron drones.
India employed the Israeli (IAI) made Harop RPVs, earlier combat-tested by Azerbaijan, in Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), as well as ‘loitering munition (LM)’ mode. Harop can fly for over 6 hours reaching upto 1,000 km. India also used IAI-made Harpy drone with a range of 200 km, as LM. It also employed the long-range IAI Heron (Machatz-1) drone, capable of flying for 52 hours at up to 10.5 km height, depending upon the payload.
Pakistani drone offensive comprised some 300-400 Turkish-made Asisguard Songar armed drones, attacking 36 Indian sites, including New Delhi. Pakistan also employed the larger kamikaze drones, the Turkish-origin Yiha-III. Pakistan’s repeated drone attacks, especially on night May 7/8, targeted smaller cities in western and northern India.
Third, the aerial war. Under Sindoor on 7 May, some 125 Indian and Pakistani fighter jets engaged in aerial dogfight, firing long range missiles in BVR mode. IAF used Su-30 MKI and MiG-29 jets with the cited missile packages, whereas PAF responded with J-10C (Vigorous Dragon) using PL-15E (Thunderbolt-15) missile combos in a confrontation that lasted over an hour.
Both air forces remained on respective side of the international border to avoid AD responses, which were already being tested and saturated through drone attacks by both sides. Pakistan downed five Indian aircraft including three Rafaels, one MiG-29, one Su-30MKI and a Heron UAV during this phase, later adding a Mirage-2000, as the sixth IAF loss.
PAF’s No 15 Squadron (Cobras) flying from Minhas Base, downed the Mirage, that is basically an IN maritime patrol aircraft. The multi-role J-10Cs, flying out of Kamra Base were responsible for Rafael, Su-30 and MiG-29 shooting, using PL-15E in BVR mode.
Cobras employed 18 fighter jets during defensive interceptions on May 7. The long-range PL-15 is active radar-guided BVR missile, jointly developed by Pakistan and China, that can reach speeds of up to Mach 5 and range of about 300 km.
Fourth, Cyber and Electronic Warfare (EW) and employment of some niche capabilities. Erieye radars connected every J-10C shooter to a single but complex and deadly nervous system. Rafaels were actually ambushed by PL-15s through their AI-guided range, lethality and stealth.
Chinese targeting satellites and Saab Erieye AWACS, ensured the ‘sensor-fusion kill’ never allowing the Rafaels to ever get a lock on J-10Cs. Rafaels fell prey to PAF’s electronic chafe or noise. Simply put, Rafaels could not see and when they did, it was already over.
PAF, after silencing the sophisticated S-400 AD radar at Adampur in audacious incursions, achieved spectrum supremacy and literally dominated the Indian skies. Yet Pakistan kept attacks limited to military targets and voluntarily restrained from causing more damage to avoid escalation, as the Rafael fleet was grounded, and moved over 300 km away from the J-10C ambushes.
Pakistan’s May 10 mutli-domain offensive, including cyber, space and AI tools, crippled Indian electricity grids, jammed drones, induced errors in Indian missiles, shot its most modern aircraft and achieved psychological ascendancy. Employment of niche response and hypersonic capability surprised India.
It was around May 9, that the US, based upon some unspecified yet ‘alarming intelligence’ pointing to dangerous escalation, got seriously involved into the peace overtures. But Islamabad on May 9, declined calls for de-escalation due to its planned riposte under Pakistan’s ‘quid-pro-quo plus’ strategy.
India’s escalatory attacks on civilian population, airbases and some military infrastructure provided more lethality to Pakistan’s riposte, deemed equally escalatory by Washington. After Pakistan’s offensive response on May 10, both DGMOs established direct military-level communications, effecting ceasefire on May 11. Friendly countries played a role, as Delhi could not stabilise the situation.
Pakistan Air Force (PAF) Chief Air Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu held a series of high-level meetings with senior military and political leadership of the United States in a landmark visit to the country, it emerged on Wednesday.
Last month, Field Marshal Asim Munir became the first serving chief of army staff to have a face-to-face meeting with a sitting US president when he met Donald Trump for talks at the White House. The occasion also marked the first time a serving Pakistani army chief had been formally received at this level, without holding political office or governing under martial law. The two had discussed joint counter-terrorism efforts and expanding bilateral trade during their “cordial” meeting in Washington.
Today, PAF’s Directorate General of Public Relations (DGPR) said that in a “significant development” aimed at strengthening bilateral defence cooperation and advancing mutual interests, the air chief undertook an official visit to the US, adding that it was the “first by a serving PAF air chief in over a decade”.
It said the high-profile visit marked a “strategic milestone” in Pakistan-US defence cooperation and “proved instrumental in deepening institutional ties” in addition to addressing key regional and global security issues.
The DGPR said that at the Pentagon, the air chief called on US Air Force (International Affairs) Secretary Kelli L Seybolt and Chief of Staff of the US Air Force General David W Allvin.
“The discussions centred around advancing bilateral military cooperation, enhancing interoperability and exploring avenues of joint training and technology exchange. Chief of the air staff highlighted the historic and multifaceted relationship between Pakistan and US, particularly in the domains of defence and security cooperation.
“He reiterated his resolve to further enhance the existing ties in the realms of military-to-military cooperation and training between the air forces of the two countries. The two sides also agreed upon the continuation of high-level military engagements in future through senior-level interactions,” the DGPR said.
It said these interactions were deemed crucial for maintaining momentum in ongoing cooperative endeavours in the areas of joint training, operational exercises and military exchange programmes between the two nations.
At the US State Department, the air chief met Brown L Stanley from the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs and Eric Meyer from the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. The DGPR said the meetings served as a forum to “underscore Pakistan’s constructive role in promoting regional stability, its firm commitment to counter-terrorism efforts and its nuanced perspective on the evolving geopolitical dynamics of South and Central Asia”.
As part of his engagements at Capitol Hill, the air chief held “substantive dialogues with prominent members” of the US Congress, including Mike Turner, Rich McCormick and Bill Huizenga.
“These interactions reinforced the importance of robust engagement in strengthening bilateral relations and provided a valuable opportunity to share Pakistan’s views on strategic challenges, regional security frameworks and the impact of emerging technologies on defence cooperation.
“Emphasising Pakistan’s status as a peace-loving nation, the air chief reaffirmed the country’s enduring sacrifices and notable operational achievements in the global war on terror, while also outlining Pakistan’s evolving security calculus in response to the rapidly shifting regional geopolitical landscape.”
The DGPR said the “landmark visit” not only reaffirmed PAF’s commitment to promoting regional and global peace, but also laid the groundwork for renewed institutional collaboration, strategic dialogue and enhanced interoperability between it and the US Air Force.
ISLAMABAD, Jul 02 (APP): Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Senator Rubina Khalid has strongly condemned the recent terrorist attack in Bajaur district, expressing deep sorrow over the loss of precious lives in the tragic incident.
In a statement, Senator Rubina Khalid said, “I strongly condemn the terrorist attack in Bajaur. It is heartbreaking to learn about the martyrdom of Assistant Commissioner Nawagai, Tehsildar, and other officials in this heinous act.”
She asserted that terrorists are the enemies of peace and stability and are determined to tarnish Pakistan’s image. “These elements do not want to see Pakistan prosper. But the people of Pakistan have always raised their voices against terrorism,” she added.
Senator Rubina Khalid paid rich tribute to the Pakistan Army, stating that the armed forces have always bravely confronted terrorism and safeguarded the nation with unmatched courage.
“I stand in solidarity with the families of the martyrs in this hour of grief and pray for their strength and patience. The sacrifices of our martyrs will always be remembered,” she emphasized.
Senator Rubina Khalid also prayed for the elevation of the ranks of the martyrs and extended heartfelt condolences to their bereaved families.
All kinds of travel and public movement will be completely restricted
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UPPER SOUTH WAZIRISTAN (Dunya News) – Authorities have imposed a one-day curfew across Upper South Waziristan, strictly banning all forms of movement within the district.
According to an official notification, the curfew will be in place from 6 AM to 7 PM on Thursday, covering all tehsils (subdivisions) of the district.
During this period, markets and shops will remain shut, and residents have been advised to stay indoors and follow the rules.
All kinds of travel and public movement will be completely restricted.
Read also: Curfew imposed in Upper South Waziristan
Officials say the curfew has been enforced for security and administrative reasons, and any violation will be dealt with according to the law.
Locals are urged to cooperate with the authorities to avoid any inconvenience and help maintain peace and order.
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Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) activist Sanam Javed was released from Kot Lakhpat Jail on Wednesday, two days after the Lahore High Court ordered her release in a case registered under charges of inciting unrest and raising anti-state slogans.
According to Express News, Javed was released in the presence of party workers and supporters, who showered her with rose petals as she exited the prison. She later returned home.
Javed had been taken into custody along with her husband, Professor Atiq, by police near Kot Lakhpat Jail on April 27. The arrest occurred shortly after she appeared for a court hearing related to the May 9 cases.
Read More: PTI to take loyalty oaths from lawmakers amid defection fears
The PTI activist has been arrested multiple times over the past year in connection with protests and alleged involvement in May 9 incidents, following the arrest of PTI founder Imran Khan.
Her latest arrest was made in connection with an FIR registered at Islampura police station. Police accused her of blocking a road, chanting provocative slogans, and inciting unrest against the state.
The case, registered under FIR No 486, also names PTI leaders Alia Hamza, Nazia Baloch, and Intizar Hussain Panjotha, along with 35 unidentified individuals. The FIR was lodged on February 8.
