During a press conference, Pakistan’s Air Vice Marshal Aurangzeb Ahmed publicly acknowledged the Pakistani military’s role in the 2019 Pulwama attack, referring to it as a display of “tactical brilliance.” This admission contradicts years of official denials and follows a similar statement by a former Pakistani minister. The statement, made alongside other high-ranking military officials, effectively dismantles Pakistan’s previous claims of innocence and its requests for evidence from India. The admission highlights the military’s significant influence over Pakistan’s government and its willingness to openly claim responsibility for the attack.
Read More
Following a report revealing that Maxar Technologies received high-resolution satellite imagery orders for Pahalgam, Pakistan, Maxar removed Business Systems International (BSI) from its partner list. Although Maxar denies BSI placed the Pahalgam orders, the timing of the removal—shortly after the report’s publication—is noteworthy. BSI’s owner, Obaidullah Syed, has a criminal record involving illegal exports to Pakistan. Maxar has yet to address concerns regarding BSI’s initial onboarding and the lack of background checks.
Read More
Pakistan alleged that India’s retaliatory missile strikes against Pakistan also impacted Afghan territory; however, both Afghanistan and India vehemently denied this claim. Afghanistan’s Ministry of Defense spokesperson explicitly rejected the allegation, citing its lack of truth. India’s Ministry of External Affairs similarly dismissed the claim, highlighting Pakistan’s history of Afghan territorial violations. The Indian foreign secretary further underscored Afghanistan’s awareness of its true friends and foes.
Read More
Pakistan says the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a loan review, releasing a crucial $1 billion. This development, however, is far from straightforward and sparks intense debate regarding its implications.
The release of this funding raises significant concerns, particularly given Pakistan’s history and its alleged support for terrorist organizations. Many see this as a direct contribution to instability in the region, fueling arguments that the IMF is inadvertently, or perhaps even intentionally, funding terrorism.
The argument is compelling: Pakistan’s past behavior casts a long shadow over the intended use of these funds. Claims of past diversions of international aid to bolster militant groups are frequently cited, fueling the suspicion that this latest disbursement will follow a similar path.… Continue reading
Amidst escalating tensions with India, Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif declared that madrassa students constitute the country’s secondary defense force. This announcement followed India’s drone strikes on Pakistani soil. Asif also offered a controversial explanation for the lack of Pakistani interception, contradicting earlier military claims. The minister’s statement has sparked international concern and criticism.
Read More
A senior French intelligence official confirmed to CNN that at least one Indian Air Force Rafale fighter jet was shot down by Pakistan, potentially marking the first combat loss of the aircraft. This occurred during retaliatory strikes by Pakistan following Indian airstrikes. While Pakistan claimed to have downed several Indian jets, including multiple Rafales, French authorities are investigating whether additional Rafales were lost and the confirmation of wreckage requires further analysis. The incident caused a drop in Dassault Aviation’s stock price, highlighting market concerns about the Rafale’s performance.
Read More
Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar confirmed the removal of The Resistance Front (TRF) from a UN Security Council statement condemning the Pahalgam attack, citing a lack of supporting evidence for TRF’s alleged involvement and contesting its classification as a terrorist group. He defended Pakistan’s actions, emphasizing the need for mentioning Jammu and Kashmir alongside Pahalgam and rejecting claims of TRF responsibility for the attack as false. Dar stated that Pakistan’s objections delayed the statement’s finalization, despite international pressure to reach a consensus. He characterized TRF as a local forum, a byproduct of the 2019 revocation of Article 370.
Read More
Pakistan’s interior ministry finally admitted to temporarily blocking access to X (formerly Twitter) in February, citing national security concerns and the platform’s alleged failure to comply with government directives regarding misuse. The ban, implemented around the time of general elections, followed claims of vote rigging and subsequent protests. The government asserted that X was being used to spread destabilizing content, a claim disputed by activists who viewed the block as an attempt to suppress dissent. A court subsequently ordered the platform’s restoration within a week.
Read More
Anwar ul-Haq, a U.S. citizen who recently returned to Pakistan with his family, confessed to murdering his 15-year-old daughter. Police believe the killing stemmed from his disapproval of her TikTok videos, which he deemed objectionable. The suspect’s brother-in-law was also arrested, and authorities are investigating the possibility of an honor killing. The family had lived in the United States for 25 years before returning to Balochistan province, where conservative social norms prevail.
Read More
Afghan Taliban forces retaliated against Pakistan following Pakistani airstrikes, prompting a significant escalation of tensions between the two nations. Kabul’s announcement of these retaliatory strikes highlights a dramatic shift in the regional dynamics, a stark contrast to the celebratory tone in Pakistan just a few years ago when the US withdrew from Afghanistan.
The situation is undeniably complex. For decades, Pakistan’s military utilized Afghanistan as a training ground and recruitment hub for various terrorist organizations. This long history of support, however unintentional the consequences may have seemed at the time, has now come back to haunt Pakistan. The current conflict feels, to some, like a case of reaping what you sow, with Pakistan now facing the repercussions of its past actions.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood