Category: 1. Pakistan

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has issued a high alert as heavy monsoon rains continue to batter large parts of the country, warning of further intense downpours through July 10 that may trigger flash floods, urban flooding, and landslides in vulnerable areas.

According to PMD forecasts, northern and northeastern regions, including Murree, Galliyat, Swat, Kohistan, Chitral, Abbottabad, and Manshera, face a heightened risk of flash flooding due to rising water levels in local streams.

In southern Balochistan, districts such as Barkhan, Kohlu, Dera Bugti, Kalat, and Turbat could experience dangerous runoff conditions and flooding due to persistent rainfall.

Urban centres including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Nowshera, and Peshawar are on alert for urban flooding, particularly in low-lying zones.

Commuters and residents are being advised to limit non-essential travel and ensure the availability of emergency supplies.

The PMD also raised concerns about landslides and mudslides in the hilly and mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Kashmir, which may lead to road closures and travel disruptions.

Local authorities across affected regions have been urged to remain on high alert and to activate rapid response and evacuation plans where necessary.

The current weather system is part of the ongoing monsoon season, which has already resulted in significant rainfall over the last 24 hours.

Sheikhupura and Balakot recorded 48 mm and 40 mm of rain, respectively, while multiple districts in Punjab, KP, and Kashmir received moderate to heavy showers.

With more rainfall expected over the next 48 hours, PMD reiterated that conditions remain critical and urged the public to remain vigilant, follow official guidance, and take preventive measures to ensure safety.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday appointed Qatari mountaineer and royal family member Sheikha Asma Al Thani as the brand ambassador for Pakistan’s mountains and tourism after she recently successfully summited Nanga Parbat, the ninth-highest mountain on Earth located in Gilgit-Baltistan region.

Known as the “Killer Mountain,” the 8,126-metre-high peak is considered one of the world’s most dangerous climbs due to its severe weather conditions and rough terrain.

In a post on X, the premier felicitated Sheikha Asma on the achievement.

“I am pleased to appoint Her Highness Sheikha Asma Al Thani as the Brand Ambassador for Pakistan’s mountains and tourism.

“My heartfelt felicitations to Her Highness on her recent feat of scaling Nanga Parbat. It is truly inspiring,” he wrote.

“Her achievement sends a powerful message of courage and determination, and stands as a testament to the enduring friendship between Pakistan and Qatar,” he added.

In a post on Instagram, Sheikha Asma described the relentless challenges she faced on her route to the summit and the emotional toll of the ascent.

“My ninth 8000er and one of the toughest climbs I’ve faced. This mountain tested me in ways I didn’t expect, from black ice beneath my feet to rockfall every few seconds. A constant reminder of how fragile life truly is,” she wrote.

“But even in that danger, there was growth. There was surrender and there was strength I didn’t know I still had. I climb not just to reach summits but to return to what matters, to strip away the noise and reconnect with myself,” she added.

“This mountain will stay with me forever.”

Sheikha Asma hoisted Qatar’s national flag at the summit and becomes the first Qatari woman to do so. Her earlier summits include Mount Everest, K2 and Makalu.

Last Updated:July 08, 2025, 16:50 IST

The Indian response comes in the wake of a controversial report titled “Doval Doctrine: India’s Trail of Terror” published by Pakistan’s The Express Tribune on July 6, 2025.

Indian intelligence sources have dismissed the “Doval Doctrine” document recently circulated by Pakistani media as baseless propaganda, allegedly authored by Pakistan’s military media wing, the ISPR. They assert that the document lacks any credible evidence or independent verification and is being used to strategically distract from Pakistan’s internal failures.

The Indian response comes in the wake of a controversial report titled “Doval Doctrine: India’s Trail of Terror” published by Pakistan’s The Express Tribune on July 6, 2025. The article, allegedly based on a classified document prepared by Pakistan’s military media wing Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), accuses India’s intelligence agency RAW of orchestrating a network of destabilising operations across Pakistan, especially in Balochistan and along the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). It links Indian agencies to attacks on Chinese interests and frames India’s strategic doctrine — attributed to NSA Ajit Doval — as one of “offensive defence.”

According to intelligence officials, the narrative being promoted leans heavily on China-funded disinformation campaigns designed to garner international sympathy by portraying Pakistan as a victim of foreign conspiracies. “This is a classic case of using internal security lapses and unrest, especially in Balochistan, to project external aggression,” one top source said.

Sources further note that Pakistan has misused allegations from EU DisinfoLab — originally aimed at highlighting lobbying tactics — to falsely validate its narrative. “What is ignored is Pakistan’s own manipulation of media through state-controlled outlets and suppression of dissenting voices,” sources added.

On the Kulbhushan Jadhav case, intelligence sources reaffirm India’s position that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran and that all charges were denied. They cite the International Court of Justice’s 2019 ruling which found Pakistan in violation of the Vienna Convention and ordered consular access, casting doubt on the legality of Jadhav’s trial.

Confessions made by Jadhav and others like Ghulzar Imam Shambay are seen by officials as coerced and lacking legal or moral legitimacy. “These are statements taken under duress, not valid in any international court,” an intelligence source stressed.

Furthermore, intelligence inputs suggest that the portrayal of Indian attacks on Chinese targets is a calculated move by Pakistan to align with Beijing, seeking protection for CPEC assets. Blaming India for attacks in regions like Quetta or Khuzdar — historically neglected and unstable — is viewed as an attempt to cover up Pakistan’s internal security lapses.

India, meanwhile, points to Operation Sindoor, its past precision strikes on terror sites deep inside Pakistani territory, including Bahawalpur and Muridke, as a response to terror hubs — not unfounded aggression.

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

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