Pakistan: A Homeland Born of Sacrifice and Still a Sanctuary

In a quiet home in Pakistan, a 75-year-old woman sits by the window, her memories drifting back to the narrow alleys of Lucknow where she spent her youth. As tears gather in her eyes, she recounts a painful memory—how during the recent Indo-Pak conflict, Indian police stormed her sister’s home in Lucknow without a warrant, based solely on a false claim that she had arrived from Pakistan.

The questioning was relentless: When did she come? Why did she come? Isn’t she here now? Despite being told that she hadn’t visited in a decade, the harassment didn’t stop. Her family was subjected to accusations of treason, threats, and verbal abuse—simply for having ties to Pakistan.

But this, she says, is not just her story. It is the lived reality of countless Muslims in India today—citizens by birth, yet made to feel like outsiders. Her brother, a highly educated professor and PhD graduate from the prestigious Aligarh Muslim University, spent a lifetime proving his loyalty. He was pressured to denounce Pakistan, glorify India, and erase parts of his identity. Eventually, at 52, broken in spirit, he left the country of his birth—a country that never truly accepted him.

This, say many in Pakistan, is the condition Indian Muslims are forced to endure daily. From neighborhoods to newsrooms, from film sets to classrooms, they are constantly reminded of their “difference.” Their ancestors once contributed to India’s heritage—ruling empires, shaping language, and enriching literature—yet today they must furnish loyalty certificates just to live in peace.

This painful reality, say observers, reaffirms the truth of the Two-Nation Theory—the foundational principle of Pakistan’s creation. The theory, often dismissed by critics as political opportunism, is seen by many as a recognition that Muslims are a distinct nation, with a unique religion, culture, and heritage. And when that identity is threatened, a nation must choose between erasure and emancipation. Pakistan, they argue, is the result of that choice.

Even prominent Indian Muslims—actors, scholars, and professionals—are not spared. Shah Rukh Khan, one of Bollywood’s biggest stars, has had to publicly justify his family’s religious practices. Aamir Khan was branded “anti-national” for merely expressing concern over growing intolerance. Islamic scholar Dr. Zakir Naik now lives in exile, banned from India. Their fame and contributions have not protected them from suspicion.

Meanwhile, ordinary Muslims face even harsher realities. Lynched on mere suspicion of eating beef. Killed without trial. Names like Akhlaq Ahmed, Pehlu Khan, and Tabrez Ansari haunt India’s collective conscience, their families left to grieve in silence.

The recent May 2025 Indo-Pak war only deepened the divide. In India, Muslims were branded traitors, Pakistani agents, and were told to “prove their loyalty—or leave.” Mosques were attacked, Muslim neighborhoods isolated, and mass arrests carried out—all in the name of democracy.

Against this backdrop, many in Pakistan are urging a renewed appreciation of their homeland. Pakistan, they say, is not just a piece of land—it is an identity, a freedom hard-won, a sanctuary built through immense sacrifice. They call on parents and educators to teach not just how Pakistan came into being, but why it had to be formed.

For the fearful Muslim families still living in the shadows across the border, there is a hope—that one day, they too will breathe the free air of a country where their identity is not a liability but a legacy.

“Pakistan is not a dream,” says one voice. “It is a priceless gift. It is ours—and will always be.”

This article is based on a column written by Mohammad Irfan Siddiqui, originally published in Daily Jang on June 1, 2025 click to read the original column in Urdu HERE. The content has been adapted for clarity and readability while preserving the original narrative.

India Accused of Orchestrating Balochistan Attacks Through Proxies, Media Campaigns

Quetta – June 1, 2025 — Pakistan has accused India of orchestrating a new wave of terrorist attacks in Balochistan through proxy elements, while simultaneously launching a coordinated media campaign to divert attention from its own failures. According to official sources, fresh evidence has emerged linking Indian-backed groups—referred to as "Fitna-ul-Hindustan"—to recent acts of violence targeting civilians in the province.

Security officials claim that the attacks, which have affected innocent women and children in Balochistan, are part of a larger, premeditated strategy by India to destabilize the region. “These incidents are not isolated. They are part of a systematic plan led by India to use sponsored terrorist networks to wage a covert war inside Pakistan,” the report stated.

Among the attacks cited are the targeted killings of laborers, assaults on the Jaffar Express train, an APS bus, Khasadar convoys, and the deadly incident in Saurabh. These, officials say, form a deliberate pattern of terror aimed at undermining peace and development efforts in Balochistan.

Authorities further allege that following such attacks, Indian media outlets launch an information warfare campaign to distort the narrative, deflect international scrutiny, and frame Pakistan as unstable. “After every such attack, a flurry of misinformation and propaganda floods Indian media platforms,” an intelligence source noted.

The renewed accusations come amid heightened tensions between the two countries, with Pakistan calling on international bodies to take notice of what it terms India’s "state-sponsored terrorism" and hybrid warfare tactics.

IMF, Pakistan Near Consensus on Tax Relief for Salaried Class Amid Budget Pressures

Islamabad – June 1, 2025 — Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are reportedly moving toward a consensus on reducing tax rates for the salaried class in the upcoming federal budget for the fiscal year 2025-26. The development comes amid growing fiscal challenges, as Islamabad prepares to meet an ambitious revenue target of Rs14.2 trillion.

Sources close to the negotiations revealed that intensive discussions were held late Friday night between IMF staff and officials from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR). During the talks, the IMF gave in-principle approval for lowering income tax rates across several slabs for salaried individuals. However, balancing this relief with the government's revenue requirements remains a complex task.

According to estimates provided by the IMF, the proposed tax relief will result in a revenue loss of Rs56 to Rs60 billion in the next fiscal year. To compensate for this shortfall, the FBR is expected to introduce alternative tax measures within the income tax regime.

A senior member of Pakistan’s negotiating team confirmed to The News on Saturday that several proposals have been shared with the IMF to secure relief for the salaried class, with the final budget scheduled for presentation on June 10. “We are working on striking a balance between tax relief and fiscal responsibility,” the official stated.

Under the proposed structure, the first income slab—covering annual earnings between Rs600,000 and Rs1.2 million—would be taxed at just 1%, a significant reduction from the current 5% rate. However, the IMF is advocating for a slightly higher 1.5% rate, which would result in a tax of Rs9,000 annually for individuals in this bracket.

For higher income brackets, a 2.5% reduction in each slab is being considered, with the highest tax rate dropping from 35% to 32.5%. Despite these proposals, officials cautioned that final figures are still under review, and full agreement between the IMF and FBR leadership has yet to be reached.

Meanwhile, concerns persist over the government’s ability to meet the Rs14.2 trillion revenue target amid mounting tax collection shortfalls. The current year’s target of Rs12.33 trillion is already proving difficult to achieve due to economic instability and structural inefficiencies.

The ongoing IMF-Pakistan budget talks are expected to continue in the lead-up to the budget announcement, as both sides seek to finalize a package that balances public relief with fiscal sustainability.

Political Storm Erupts in India After Admission of Fighter Jet Losses

New Delhi – June 1, 2025 — A political firestorm has erupted in India following the admission by Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan that Indian fighter jets were shot down during last month's clashes with Pakistan. The revelation has sparked fierce criticism from opposition parties, with the Indian National Congress accusing Prime Minister Narendra Modi of misleading the nation.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge led the charge, demanding a special session of Parliament to address what he called "serious questions of national importance." In a statement posted on X, Kharge called for the formation of a committee of independent experts to conduct a thorough review of India's defense preparedness, similar to the post-Kargil Review Committee established after the 1999 conflict.

“The Modi government has misled the country,” Kharge said. “We demand accountability and transparency. The truth must come out in Parliament.”

Adding to the chorus of demands for clarity, Telangana Irrigation Minister and former Indian Air Force pilot Captain N. Uttam Kumar Reddy on Saturday called on the central government to disclose full details about the losses, including reports of the downing of advanced Rafale fighter jets. “The nation has a right to know,” Reddy said, warning that transparency is critical for public trust and national security.

Reddy also raised alarms over the dwindling strength of the Indian Air Force, which currently operates with 31 squadrons—well below the sanctioned strength of 42. He emphasized the need for urgent action to rebuild and modernize India’s air defense capabilities.

Earlier, the Congress party had raised pressing questions following General Chauhan’s admission, arguing that the government must address the implications of the statement and reveal what steps have been taken to prevent such losses in the future.

With the political temperature rising, calls for an independent investigation and greater transparency are growing louder, placing the Modi government under increasing scrutiny as pressure mounts from both the opposition and defense experts.

Indian Military Admits Fighter Jet Losses in May Clashes with Pakistan

Singapore – June 1, 2025 — For the first time, the Indian military has publicly acknowledged the loss of fighter jets during a brief but intense military confrontation with Pakistan in May. The revelation was made by India’s Chief of Defense Staff, General Anil Chauhan, during an interview with Bloomberg TV on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore.

While General Chauhan did not disclose the exact number of aircraft lost, he attributed the setbacks to "technical errors" and emphasized that the four-day conflict never escalated to the brink of nuclear war. He confirmed that communication lines with Pakistan remained open throughout the standoff, a move he said helped prevent further escalation.

Chauhan declined to comment on U.S. President Donald Trump’s earlier assertion that American intervention had averted a potential nuclear confrontation. However, he downplayed the risk of nuclear exchange, describing it as "remote" and noting that there remains a “significant gap” between conventional military operations and the nuclear threshold.

The top Indian military official stressed the importance of learning from the incident. “The analysis of what went wrong and why the jets were lost was critical,” Chauhan said, adding that corrective measures were swiftly implemented. Flight operations resumed just two days later, with India reportedly conducting "precise" strikes on Pakistani air bases located up to 300 kilometers across the border.

Chauhan also pushed back against Pakistan’s claims of successfully using foreign-supplied weaponry, particularly from China, during the skirmish. He dismissed those assertions, suggesting they were exaggerated.

Both India and Pakistan have since dispatched diplomatic delegations to key world capitals, aiming to shape global perceptions of the conflict and secure international support.

The clash between the two nuclear-armed neighbors sparked global concern, but cooler heads appear to have prevailed. Still, the incident underscores the fragile nature of peace in South Asia and the risks posed by even limited military engagements between long-time adversaries.

Modi’s Absence from U.S. Raises Questions as Opposition Leader Shashi Tharoor Leads Indian Delegation

A recent Indian delegation to the United States has raised eyebrows, particularly because it was led not by Prime Minister Narendra Modi or External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, but by senior Congress leader and former diplomat Dr. Shashi Tharoor. This move has sparked debate in Indian political circles, with many questioning why Modi and Jaishankar stayed in India while delegating such an important international responsibility to a political opponent.

A Low-Key Briefing and Tharoor’s Distance from the UN

The visit included a closed-door briefing held at the Indian Consulate in the U.S., attended by a limited audience—sparking criticism for its lack of transparency and inclusivity. Interestingly, although Dr. Tharoor is widely respected for his long tenure at the United Nations and international diplomatic experience, he has notably kept a distance from the UN during this visit, leading to further speculation about the intent and effectiveness of the mission.

Modi's Strategic Silence After 138 Foreign Visits

Since taking office in 2014, Prime Minister Modi has made a record number of foreign trips—138 in total—including 9 visits to the United States, 5 to Russia, 6 to France, and 5 to China. Yet, during a period of heightened regional tension following a four-day conflict between India and Pakistan, Modi chose to remain in India. Instead of leading diplomatic outreach himself, he has turned his focus to delivering aggressive domestic speeches and holding rallies in various Indian states.

Shift in Diplomatic Strategy?

Observers point out that Modi has long touted his close relationships with world leaders such as former U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. However, during the recent conflict, no major international leader came forward to support Modi’s stance. This silence has raised doubts about the effectiveness of his personal diplomacy.

In response, the Indian government has formed a multi-party delegation—led by Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Congress Party leader Dr. Shashi Tharoor—to represent India’s position abroad. This approach has led critics to question whether Modi is attempting to share the burden of foreign diplomacy or distance himself from potential backlash.

Tharoor’s Role: Strategic or Symbolic?

Dr. Shashi Tharoor, with his extensive experience at the United Nations, is undeniably a credible representative on the global stage. However, his presence in a key diplomatic mission while being a vocal opposition leader suggests a complex political maneuver—perhaps aimed at demonstrating national unity, or perhaps as a strategic shift in how India presents its narrative to the world.

Pakistan and Azerbaijan Strengthen Defense Ties in High-Level Military Meeting

In a significant step towards deepening military collaboration, Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, met with Azerbaijani Defense Minister Colonel General Hasanov Zakir Asghar Oglu in Lachin, Azerbaijan. The meeting focused on expanding defense cooperation and increasing joint military exercises leveraging modern technology.

Focus on Regional Security and Bilateral Cooperation

According to an official statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Wednesday, the two military leaders engaged in detailed discussions on regional security challenges, mutual interests, and strategies to boost defense partnerships between Pakistan and Azerbaijan.

Commitment to Strengthening Bilateral Relations

Field Marshal Munir expressed appreciation for the longstanding strong relations between the two nations and reaffirmed Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to enhancing defense ties with Azerbaijan. Both sides agreed to prioritize collaboration and advance joint efforts to ensure regional peace and security.