ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that Islamabad will respond “in kind” to any Indian incursion on the pretext of a militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed over two dozen tourists this week.
India has said there were Pakistani elements in Tuesday’s attack, when militants shot dead 26 men in a meadow in the Pahalgam area. Islamabad has denied any involvement and described Indian allegations as “frivolous.”
The nuclear-armed nations have unleashed a raft of measures against each other, with India keeping a critical river water-sharing treaty in abeyance and Pakistan closing its airspace to Indian airlines, among other steps.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday vowed to chase the perpetrators of the Pahalgam attack to “the ends of the earth” after Indian police identified two of the three fugitive gunmen as Pakistani. India has not shared any proof to support its claims.
“If there is incursion from Indian side, Pakistan will meet that incursion in kind and [with] full force,” Asif said in an international media interview shared on Friday.
“We cannot allow this incursion of our soil, of our country. This is something which is very fundamental for the Pakistanis.”
Both Pakistan and India claim Muslim-majority Kashmir in full but rule it in part and have fought two of their three wars over the disputed region. India has long accused Pakistan of aiding separatists who have battled security forces in the part of the territory it controls, accusations Islamabad denies.
Since Tuesday’s attack, there have been calls for and fears that India could conduct a military strike in Pakistani territory as it did in 2019 in retaliation for a suicide bombing in Pulwama in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed at least 40 Indian paramilitary police. Several leaders of Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party have called for military action against Pakistan.
Last week, Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir also voiced his support for the Kashmiri people, reiterating that Kashmir is the "jugular vein" of Pakistan.
“Our stance on Kashmir is absolutely clear. It was our jugular vein and it is our jugular vein,” he said at a convention of Overseas Pakistanis. "We will not forget it and we will not leave our Kashmiri brethren in their heroic struggle against the Indian occupation."
Indian officials and media have also criticized recent comments by the Pakistan army chief in support of Kashmiris’ right to self-determination, and linked it with the Pahalgam attack.
Asif said there was “absolutely no linkage” between Gen. Munir’s remarks and what happened in Pahalgam, adding that they suspected Tuesday’s attack to be a “false-flag operation.”
“There is absolutely no linkage. We make these speeches and, sort of, reiterate our commitment to Kashmir, which is a very fundamental commitment. It is something which goes with our existence as a state,” he said.
“We suspect, very strongly suspect, this was a false-flag operation and Pulwama, the last time, you are talking about 2019, ultimately proved to be a hoax. It was admitted by the India media that it was a hoax created or orchestrated to, you know, blame Pakistan for something which was never connected to Pakistan, and ultimately they were humiliated.”
As both India and Pakistan teeter on the brink of another conflict, there have been calls by the United Nations (UN) for both nuclear-armed rivals to show “maximum restraint,” while the United States (US) has said it is “closely” monitoring the situation.
Pakistan to respond to any Indian incursion ‘in kind,’ defense minister says
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Pakistan to respond to any Indian incursion ‘in kind,’ defense minister says

- The statement comes after an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir’s Pahalgam which has brought India, Pakistan to the brink of another war
- Pakistan Defense Minister Khawaja Asif says they strongly suspect the Pahalgam attack, which killed 26 tourists, to be a ‘false-flag operation’
Pakistan’s deputy PM, US state secretary hold first in-person talks amid diplomatic reset

- Ishaq Dar and Marco Rubio discuss economic, counterterrorism and investment cooperation
- The engagement follows Trump’s White House lunch with Pakistan’s army chief last month
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar held his first face-to-face meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Friday in what is widely viewed as a significant diplomatic engagement amid renewed efforts by both countries to reshape their bilateral relationship.
The meeting at the State Department came just a few days after a US official hinted at a bilateral meeting between the two countries without elaborating on the schedule or the agenda earlier this week.
Dar is currently on an eight-day visit to the United States where he kept a busy schedule in New York where he chaired several high-profile United Nations Security Council meetings under Pakistan’s rotating presidency this month.
He highlighted the need for multilateralism, peaceful dispute resolution and his country’s own strategic concerns after an intense, four-day-long military standoff with India earlier this year amid Indian accusations of terrorism and its decision to cut off river water flows to Pakistan.
“This is the first face-to-face meeting between the foreign ministers of Pakistan and the United States,” the foreign office said in a statement. “The two leaders exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in economic, trade, counterterrorism and investment matters.”
Last month, US President Donald Trump hosted Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, for a rare one-on-one lunch at the White House in a visit that followed the India-Pakistan standoff, which ended with a US-brokered ceasefire on May 10.
Trump also discussed Iran with Munir, saying Islamabad understood Tehran “better than most.”
The recent interactions between Pakistani and American officials are widely viewed as a reset of their ties after years of estrangement that all but eliminated such high level meetings between both sides.
The revival of military and political dialogue between the two countries come as Pakistan is also holding trade talks with Washington after the Trump administration imposed 29 percent “reciprocal tariffs” on Pakistani exports in April.
Pakistan’s finance chief, Muhammad Aurangzeb, who also visited Washington this month, said the two countries were now working to shift their economic ties “from one focused on trade to one anchored in long-term investment.”
After meeting US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, Aurangzeb said priority sectors had been identified, including minerals, mining, artificial intelligence and cryptocurrency regulation.
He also hinted at “leadership-level” announcements in the days ahead.
Friday’s meeting between Dar and Rubio was described by the Foreign Office as reflecting the “longstanding partnership” between Pakistan and the US.
Rubio welcomed Dar on his arrival at the State Department for what officials on both sides described as an “important” meeting.
Pakistan president invites Saudi investment, praises Riyadh’s support in critical times

- Ali Ali Zardari highlights the historic ties between the two countries in a meeting with the Saudi envoy
- The meeting came as Pakistan tries to attract foreign investment to accelerate its economic recovery
KARACHI: President Asif Ali Zardari on Friday invited Saudi businesses to explore investment opportunities in Pakistan, underscoring the historic relationship between the two countries and Riyadh’s critical role in helping Islamabad through difficult times.
Zardari’s remarks come as Pakistan looks to attract foreign investment to strengthen its economy. Saudi Arabia played a key role in stabilizing Pakistan’s finances in recent years, depositing $2 billion into Pakistan’s central bank in June 2023 to bolster foreign reserves.
The Kingdom also helped unlock a $3 billion loan from the International Monetary Fund later in the same year.
“Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoy deep-rooted and historic relations based on shared faith and mutual trust,” the president said during a meeting with Saudi Ambassador Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki in Islamabad according to a statement circulated by the presidency. “We invite Saudi investors to explore investment opportunities in various sectors of the Pakistani economy.”
The Saudi financial assistance to Pakistan two years ago came as the South Asian nation’s reserves had dropped to a level where it could barely cover a few weeks of imports, bringing the country to the brink of sovereign default.
Zardari expressed appreciation for Riyadh’s continued support during the meeting and called for deeper engagement between the two nations on regional and international forums.
Pakistan has been trying to further strengthen its economic relations with the Gulf countries amid improving macroeconomic indicators.
It also signed 34 memorandums of understanding worth $2.8 billion with Saudi Arabia in October 2024, part of Islamabad’s broader push to accelerate its economic recovery through export-led growth and foreign investment.
Pakistan urges global action against banned militant groups exploiting social media

- Minister Talal Chauhdry asks social media platforms to use AI to block militant-linked accounts
- Pakistan’s 2016 PECA law criminalizes online recruitment and funding linked to militant groups
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has requested cooperation from social media platforms to block and remove accounts linked to militant groups, State Minister for Interior Talal Chaudhry said on Friday, urging global action and the use of artificial intelligence to support these efforts.
Chaudhry’s statement comes amid growing concerns in Islamabad over the online presence and influence of militant networks, including the Pakistani Taliban, also known as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), and Daesh, which are increasingly using digital platforms to recruit, fundraise and spread propaganda.
Pakistan has intensified efforts to curb militancy on social media by strengthening digital surveillance, enforcing cybercrime laws and engaging with major tech platforms.
The country’s primary legislation in the area is the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), 2016, which explicitly criminalizes online recruitment, funding and planning by militant groups.
“I want to once again request for the social media operators and social media platforms to cooperate with us on the blockage and removal of accounts, taking AI measures to stop mirroring accounts and to share info of account holders who are operating these accounts,” the minister said while addressing a news conference.
He highlighted how Pakistan was fighting a war against militancy for two decades.
“And Pakistan is a wall between terrorists and the world,” he added. “If this wall becomes weak the fire will not stop on our borders.”
Chaudhry lamented that around 40 international militant groups were operating out of Afghanistan, adding they had access to weapons and ammunition worth millions of dollars left behind by US forces following their withdrawal in 2021.
He said all of these militant organizations had been sanctioned by the US, the United Kingdom and Pakistan.
“We want to block and remove the account,” Chaudhry added. “Second is to use AI measures to stop mirror accounts and thirdly and most importantly is to share information of these account holders because they are also part of terrorist organizations and are terrorists.”
The government has also urged platforms such as Facebook, X and YouTube to comply with local regulations and promptly remove flagged content promoting militancy.
In May 2024, Pakistan established the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) under the mandate of PECA, tasked with probing offenses such as terrorism-related cyber activities, misinformation, hacking and other forms of digital crime.
Pakistan’s top judge pushes for AI integration in courts, stresses need for ethical safeguards

- Chief Justice Yahya Afridi says AI can boost efficiency but must not compromise fairness, transparency
- National Judicial Automation Committee has been tasked with drafting ethical framework for AI use
ISLAMABAD: Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi on Friday highlighted his plan to integrate artificial intelligence into the country’s judicial system, saying it could significantly improve the performance of courts while stressing that its adoption must be guided by an ethical framework to ensure responsible use.
Globally, countries are experimenting with AI to improve legal efficiency, with Chinese courts using the technology for evidence analysis and verdict drafting, while the US judiciary deploying it for legal research and risk assessments.
Speaking at a symposium to mark the International Day for Judicial Wellbeing, the chief justice said the judiciary was committed to embracing innovation but not at the cost of fairness or transparency.
Justice Afridi said the National Judicial Automation Committee, chaired by Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and comprising judges from the high courts, had been tasked with preparing and recommending ethical guidelines for the use of AI in Pakistan’s judiciary.
“We hope that this initiative, along with the willingness of our judiciary to use AI, will enable us to integrate AI into our processes safely and allow us to make our justice delivery system more efficient, transparent and, above all, citizen-centric,” he said.
While acknowledging the immense potential of AI to improve judicial efficiency, Justice Afridi warned its integration must not be “blind or uncritical,” stressing the need for thoughtful deliberation on the complex ethical concerns it raises.
International experts have also warned that opaque algorithms, AI-generated recommendations and the replacement of human judgment in nuanced cases could undermine judicial impartiality and public trust.
The chief justice’s address also outlined a broader judicial reform agenda focused on improving institutional support, promoting fairness and enhancing the wellbeing of judges, particularly at the district level.
He expressed pride in the district judiciary and pledged to continue reforms that protect their dignity, provide necessary resources and help them deliver justice more effectively.
“It is my firm resolve as the Chief Justice of Pakistan to support you through reforms that protect your wellbeing, affirm your dignity and provide the resources you need to perform your best,” he told the gathering.
He added that a judge who is institutionally supported is better equipped to be “fair, focused and effectively responsive.”
Rizwan to lead Pakistan in three one-day internationals against West Indies

- The series will be played at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad & Tobago on August 8, 10 and 12
- Salman Ali Agha will captain the T20I side for the three-match series from July 31 till August 3 in US
LAHORE: Pakistan on Friday announced a 16-member one-day international squad for the upcoming three-match series against the West Indies, with Mohammad Rizwan named as skipper.
The series will be played at the Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Trinidad & Tobago on August 8, 10 and 12, according to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
“Right-handed batter Hasan Nawaz is the only uncapped player in the ODI squad, while Babar Azam and Shaheen Shah Afridi are part of the ODI squad,” the board said.
Pakistan will also play three Twenty20 internationals (T20Is) against the West Indies on July 31, August 2 and August 3 at the Central Broward Park & Broward County Stadium in Lauderhill, the United States.
“Salman Ali Agha will captain the T20I side, while fast bowlers Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali and Shaheen Shah Afridi return to the squad in this format,” the PCB said.
Pakistan will arrive in the US on July 27, following the conclusion of their three-match T20 series in Bangladesh.
Bangladesh won the series 2-1.
SQUADS
16-member ODI team: Mohammad Rizwan (captain), Salman Ali Agha (vice-captain), Abdullah Shafique, Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Naseem Shah, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim
15-member T20 team: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (wicket-keeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Sahibzada Farhan (wicket-keeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Sufyan Moqim