Unyielding Resolve
The 270th Corps Commanders’ Conference, chaired by Army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, has vowed to counter terrorism in all its forms. The top military officials declared that security forces would dismantle and decimate hostile elements, trained and financed to incite chaos and fear, with full force of national will and institutional strength.
One Step Forward
Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar has linked an upgrade in Pakistan’s ties with Afghanistan to the Afghan government ensuring terrorists do not use its soil. He said all relevant stakeholders will consider the pros and cons of improving ties with Kabul before proceeding with any policy. He also confirmed that Pakistan, Afghanistan and China have pledged to collectively eliminate terrorism.
Austerity Drive
In a bid to save funds, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted several committees aimed at resolving pending issues pertaining to the upcoming budget for FY2025-26. The premier has directed ministries to identify redundant government organizations that can be abolished in the budget and has also sought clarity from the Finance and Power ministries on proposed power subsidies.
Emerging Differences
After Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman Gohar Ali Khan, on behalf of his party, felicitated Army chief Field Marshal Aim Munir on his recent promotion, incarcerated party founder Imran Khan criticized the move, saying Munir should have been declared “king” instead. The differing stances reflect internal divisions within the PTI that continue to hamper the party’s ability to form any unified front.
Water War
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on the campaign trail, continues to target Pakistan, particularly the Indus Water Treaty that Delhi announced was “in abeyance” after a terrorist attack in Pahalgam last month. Modi’s threats of denying Pakistan its rightful share of the Indus River waters has prompted backlash, with a Senate panel declaring the move “illegal.”
Mounting Casualties
A U.K.-based NGO has said Pakistan was the seventh—out of 15—most affected country for civilians harmed by explosive weapons in 2024, with 790 civilian casualties and 210 killings recorded across 248 incidents nationwide. The report said the casualties represented a 9% decrease from 2023, but noted there was an 11% increase in incidents.
Targeting Diversity
The U.S. government has revoked Harvard University’s right to enroll foreign students in a significant escalation of the Trump administration’s fight with the varsity over its refusal to submit to oversight on admissions. The move risks threatening the education prospects of more than a quarter of Harvard’s enrollment though further details are awaited.
Back to the Grid
In line with commitments to the IMF, the government has passed the Off the Grid (Captive Power Plants) Levy Bill, 2025, aimed at providing legal justification for the grid levy imposed on the supply of natural gas or imported liquefied natural gas to industrial captive power plants as of March. Defending the legislation, Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik has said it was long overdue.
Leadership Crisis
Bangladesh’s interim leader Muhammad Yunus has threatened to resign if political parties do not give him their backing. The country has been in political turmoil since a student-led revolt forced then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina into exile, but the situation has escalated into political crisis with rival parties protesting on the streets of capital Dhaka with a string of competing demands.
Nuclear Warning
Iran has warned it will hold the United States responsible for any Israeli attack on its atomic facilities as the two countries prepare to commence a new round of nuclear talks. The warning follows media reports alleging Israel is preparing to strike Iranian nuclear sites despite the ongoing U.S.-Iran talks. Tehran has said any adventurism by the Zionist regime will prompt a decisive response.