© Loren Elliott for The New York Times
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday affirmed that Pakistan and Turkiye would continue to push for dialogue and diplomacy while strengthening their defences under the Makkah Defence Agreement.
He made the remarks while addressing an event in Islamabad marking the 103rd national day of Turkiye, with which Pakistan enjoys strong bilateral ties and maintains multi-sectoral cooperation.
The premier said the pact, signed on Aug 7 between Pakistan, Turkiye and Saudi Arabia, marked an “important milestone” in cooperation between Islamabad and Ankara.
“It strengthens our collective deterrence and reinforces our shared commitment to regional peace and stability,” PM Shehbaz noted.
“While we strengthen our defences, we shall continue to champion dialogue, diplomacy, respect for international law and the peaceful settlement of disputes.”
The prime minister hailed Turkiye’s diplomatic support during Marka-i-Haq last May, when India initiated unilateral aggression against Pakistan, triggering a four-day conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours.
“Turkiye stood firmly by our side with unwavering commitment and dedication. This sincere act of solidarity was a profound source of comfort and strength for the people of Pakistan, a gesture that will forever remain etched in our hearts and our memories,” he emphasised.
Additionally, the premier observed that Islamabad and Ankara’s relationship had evolved into a “multifaceted strategic partnership”, spanning political dialogue, defence, trade, culture and people-to-people ties, among other areas.
He stressed that the economic partnership between Pakistan and Turkiye needs to match the heights of the political and strategic bond between both nations.
“In July this year, at the Pakistan-Turkiye business conference in Istanbul, I announced the establishment of the President Tayyip Erdogan Special Economic Zone in Karachi,” PM Shehbaz said.
“Now I invite Turkish businessmen to look at Pakistan with its young population, strategic location and growing economic opportunities. Let us translate the goodwill between our two peoples into joint ventures, shared prosperity and meaningful jobs for our young people.”
During his speech, the prime minister highlighted the longstanding, historic ties that the two countries shared, recalling that during the Khilafat Movement — a campaign to protect the Ottoman Empire after World War I — people donated whatever they could from the subcontinent, including money and jewellery, to support their “Turkish brethren”.
“A century ago, our forefathers sent their love across the seas. Generations later, that love returned to our doorsteps during our darkest times,” he added, referring to humanitarian aid from Turkiye during the 2005 earthquake and the devastating floods of 2010.
PM Shehbaz also highlighted that under Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s instructions, Turkiye established a modern hospital, a school and modern villages for the people of Muzaffargarh after the floods.
“The 100 years between the Khilafat Movement and that moment seemed to close into a single circle,” the premier said, noting that when a massive earthquake rocked Turkiye in February 2023, “the people of Pakistan grieved as if the rubble lay upon our own homes”.
“We stood with our Turkish brothers and sisters, in their hour of sorrow, just as they had stood with us.”
Earlier this week, Pakistan, Turkiye, Saudi Arabia and Iran participated in a quadrilateral meeting where Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian called for “regional unity” and hoped that the presence of other Islamic powers would “further consolidate regional unity and cohesion”.
Earlier this month, both nations signed an agreement to enhance cooperation in combating terrorism, narcotics trafficking and organised crime and agreed to establish a joint working group to strengthen collaboration between their interior ministries.
The decisions were taken during a meeting between Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and his Turkish counterpart Mustafa Çiftçi in Istanbul.
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan rose to 95th place among the 139 economies of the world featured in the ‘Global Innovation Index 2026’ published by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO), it emerged on Thursday.
Advancing in rank from 99th place in 2025, Pakistan also reclaimed its “overperformer” status for the fourth time, a status given to economies identified as performing above expectations for their level of economic development. It also held the status in 2022 and 2024.
The global index report showed that Pakistan performed better in innovation outputs than innovation inputs in 2026. This year, Pakistan ranked 121st in innovation inputs and 72nd in innovation outputs — both higher than last year.
“Innovation overperformance shows that innovation does not follow a straight line from income to results,” the report said.
“The 2026 overperformers show that economies can generate more innovation than expected for their level of development when they build on focused strengths.”
WIPO highlighted that Pakistan’s strengths were concentrated in the digital economy, particularly mobile app creation, ICT services exports, high-tech imports, and software spending. It added that the country’s “relatively strong” scientific production and university quality supported a developing digital economy.
In the 2026 index, Pakistan ranked 15th among the 36 lower middle-income group economies and eighth among the 11 economies in central and southern Asia. It did not rank among the top innovation clusters in any specific innovation pillar of the index (including ‘human capital and research’, ‘infrastructure’, etc).
Pakistan’s GII ranking (2020-2026) showed a rise over the past seven years, ranking 107th in 2020; 99th in 2021; 87th in 2022; 88th in 2023; 91st in 2024; and 99th in 2025.
Meanwhile, Switzerland, Sweden and the United States remained the world’s top three innovation economies, with Switzerland ranking first for a 16th consecutive year. The organisation noted, “In a period of major geopolitical and economic turbulence, the most striking feature about the top of the ranking is its stability.”
According to the report, the leading economies broadly remain the same as in 2025, with no new economy in the top 15 since last year, and Europe once more accounting for the largest share of the group with 14 economies out of 25 innovation leaders. Additionally, the Netherlands moved up to seventh place and Austria to 18th.
“The main signal at the innovation frontier this year is continuity, rather than the emergence of any single new entrant,” the report said.
Five Asian economies were also among the top 25: South Korea and Singapore in fourth and fifth place respectively; China remaining 10th — as the only middle-income economy among the innovation leaders — Japan at 12th and Hong Kong, China in 14th place.
The report highlighted that the presence of Asian economies was now an “established feature of the top ranks, rather than a development unique to this year”.
According to the report, the GII 2026 Innovation Tracker pointed to “continued but slower progress across the innovation cycle”. Most indicators advanced, with notable gains in scientific output, corporate research and development (R&D), battery costs and technology adoption; however, about three-quarters remained below the decade average.
Research effort nonetheless remained at a historic high, it pointed out, with global R&D intensity close to two per cent of GDP.
The WIPO report identified that the near-term environment was more demanding than the previous year: “Global growth of about 3.4pc in 2025 is expected to ease to around 3pc in 2026, held back by higher energy prices and elevated uncertainty, before recovering modestly in 2027.”
It highlighted that AI-related investment remained “the main engine on the upside”, with the largest hyper-scalers set to spend over $1 trillion on AI infrastructure across 2025 and 2026.
“This will be increasingly financed through debt and private credit, meaning a downward revision of expected AI returns could tighten financing conditions well beyond the sector,” it added.
The report noted that emerging economies, including Pakistan, could build on their standout strengths to improve their overall innovation performance.
KARACHI – For Pakistani riders, owning premium bike has been difficult due to hefty import costs, and rider community is excited for Benelli’s planned move into local assembly that could bring that dream closer, with the prospect of lower prices giving enthusiasts something to watch.
The distributor of Benelli, QJMotor and Moto Morini motorcycles in Pakistan, is preparing to assemble selected motorcycles domestically under a programme scheduled to begin next year. The company announced Benelli’s inclusion, expanding a project that could give Pakistan’s premium motorcycle segment more competitively priced options.
The assembly facility was expected to be ready by December 2026, with the first locally assembled motorcycles rolling out in January 2027. Moto Morini’s Alltrhike 450 adventure motorcycle is expected to lead the programme, followed by a 300cc offering. Benelli’s first locally assembled model and its specific delivery schedule have yet to be clearly confirmed.
For Pakistan’s premium bike market, the price tag will be the decisive factor. Imported motorcycles carry substantial costs, placing many international models beyond the reach of buyers looking to upgrade from smaller commuter bikes.
The distributor is reportedly planning assembly through Completely Knocked Down kits to reduce costs and says it intends to pass the benefit on to customers.
Alltrhike 450 offers an early indication of the potential savings. Its reported imported price of Rs2.6 million could fall to a tentative Rs1.995 million after local assembly. That estimate applies to the Moto Morini model. Revised prices for locally assembled Benelli motorcycles have not been announced.
The imported Benelli range includes TNT 150i, 180S, 302S and TNT 600i. These motorcycles span different price and performance categories, although their inclusion in the local assembly lineup remains unconfirmed. More details are expected on November 2, including clarity on the first Benelli model selected for the programme.
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ISLAMABAD – Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has issued a notification regarding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Muhammad Sohail Afridi, stating that PTI leaders and office-bearers have been barred from presenting any agenda for changing the chief minister.
The notification says Afridi will remain KP chief minister with the trust and support of the PTI founder, and that he is, and will remain, the party’s chief minister in the province.
It says a ban has been imposed on calling any meeting regarding the nomination or replacement of the KP chief minister, and PTI leaders and office-bearers are prohibited from tabling any agenda on changing him.
The notification adds that no proposal or debate on nominating or replacing the chief minister will be permitted. No one other than PTI founder Imran Khan has the authority to nominate an alternative chief minister or alter the decision.
Barrister Gohar said the PTI founder’s decisions on the KP chief minister will be final and binding on all party members, and that a notification upholding Afridi’s status as chief minister has been issued.
The notification directs all PTI members and office-bearers to comply with it.
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ISLAMABAD: The PTI on Thursday reaffirmed its support for Sohail Afridi, the ex-chief minister who was rendered nonfunctional after the imposition of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, ruling out any move within the party to consider an alternative candidate for the office.
Afridi has not been seen since the Centre imposed governor’s rule and emergency in KP on Oct 11. The very next day, a federal minister confirmed that he and some of his cabinet members were in preventive custody.
In the notification issued by the party’s central secretariat for the “purpose of clarity and emphasis”, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan said that Afridi “remains and shall continue” to serve as the KP chief minister with the “confidence and support” of party founder and ex-premier Imran Khan.
“All PTI members, office-bearers, parliamentarians and party functionaries are hereby directed not to convene or participate in any meeting, introduce any agenda, initiate or entertain any proposal, or encourage or engage in any discussion concerning the nomination, replacement or consideration for the office of chief minister,” the notification said.
“It is categorically reiterated that no one other than the founding chairman has the authority to nominate an alternative candidate or alter this decision in any manner whatsoever. His decisions in this regard are final and binding upon all party members,” it said.
In a post on X, Barrister Gohar said that all party members part of the KP Assembly were a “source of pride for us” and that they had stayed loyal to Imran, complied with every decision and remained steadfast.
“However, in view of the unnecessary speculation and discussions circulating on social media and certain TV channels regarding the chief minister, this notification has been issued to provide further clarification and reassure party workers and supporters that decisions within our party are made solely in accordance with the directives of Imran Khan sahib,” he said.
The development comes after several PTI members expressed dissatisfaction with the party leadership’s handling of the prevailing challenges, questioning its decisions and overreliance on Afridi.
Heated arguments were witnessed during a joint parliamentary party meeting on Tuesday that lasted over seven hours, with some questioning why the top leadership had handed so much authority to Afridi, who, they said, held no position within the party hierarchy.
Some criticised the PTI chairman and Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, questioning why the party leadership appeared to be functioning under Afridi.
They alleged that the top leadership had left everything to Afridi, who had become non-functional after the imposition of governor’s rule in KP, because of its interest in transfers, postings and financial matters in the province.
Adviser to the prime minister on political affairs, Rana Sanaullah, on Thursday informed the Senate that Noreen Niazi, the sister of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan, was fine after being provided medical treatment in Lahore.
Imran’s three sisters — Noreen, Aleema Khan, and Uzma Khan — have been in detention since Sept 21 under the Punjab Maintenance of Public Order Ordinance, 1960 (MPO) on the Lahore deputy commissioner’s (DC) orders.
On Wednesday, Noreen’s lawyer said that she was moved from Lahore’s Kot Lakhpat jail to the Punjab Institute of Cardiology (PIC) due to high blood pressure. Her lawyer claimed that no family member had been informed about her deteriorating health condition.
Speaking on the floor of the Senate on Thursday, Sanaullah responded to the query by PTI parliamentary leader Barrister Ali Zafar, who sought information regarding Noreen’s health and her being taken to the hospital.
The PML-N senator said Noreen was “immediately provided with medical facilities”.
“As per the information available, she is fine and all her medical tests are normal,” he said.
On concerns about Noreen’s family allegedly not being allowed to meet her, the prime minister’s adviser said details would also be sought on the matter. He assured the PTI that if this was true, it would be addressed depending on the circumstances at the hospital.
During his address, PTI Senator Mashal Yousafzai continued to interrupt Sanaullah, questioning the need for Noreen’s detention.
The PML-N senator replied: “She is in jail because she wanted to spread turmoil in the country. She wanted to attack Islamabad by launching a long march and inciting the people.”
Addressing Zafar, Sanaullah said that as the PTI founder was in jail under judicial custody, any relief regarding his health and meeting should be sought from the courts.
Imran’s sisters are currently serving the second term of a 30-day detention under the MPO, which was extended on Oct 7. The detention came amid reports of a crackdown on the PTI ahead of its countrywide protest and march to Islamabad, which the party had called to demand Imran’s release from jail and mobilise people for the supremacy of the Constitution.
In his remarks on the Senate floor, Zafar contended that Noreen had been detained despite not having committed any crime.
While Noreen’s lawyer had said she had faced high blood pressure, Zafar said she suffered a heart attack and claimed that her family was not being allowed to meet her.
Quoting Shakespeare’s phrase “milk of human kindness”, Senator Zafar said if even a little human kindness remained, the government must immediately stop grave human rights violations.
“If there is even a minimum of human kindness left in you, release her. At least allow her family to meet her and ensure proper medical care,” he said while speaking on a point of order.
He also condemned the detention of Imran’s nephews, asking why family members should suffer for their relationship with a political leader.
He alleged Imran had been kept in solitary confinement for a year and was being subjected to torture, claiming that the PTI founder’s wife Bushra Bibi was also facing inhumane treatment.
He demanded an immediate end to their mistreatment, which the government denies, saying both are being provided with the facilities they are entitled to.
Zafar claimed that the government believes the Constitution can be broken and suspended, as witnessed in the imposition of governor’s rule and emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, which has rendered the elected provincial government non-functional.
“There is one thing that cannot be broken, suspended or compromised: the fundamental human rights of the people of Pakistan,” he asserted.
Senator Zafar stressed that even if governor’s rule was claimed to be justified, it could never be a licence to violate fundamental rights, detain the chief minister, speaker and elected representatives, or keep their whereabouts undisclosed.
He warned that violating the sanctity of home and family honour, which hold deepest importance in Pashtun society, would provoke strong resentment among people of KP.
He also referred to reports of attacks on homes of MNAs and alleged violence against their wives and sisters, calling for impartial investigation.
“These are not merely political issues. These are matters of human rights, human dignity, family honour and rule of law. Human rights stand above politics,” he said.
Concluding, he said: “The Constitution may be violated by those who wield power, democratic mandates may be undermined, and institutions may fail in their duty. But we must never allow our humanity to fail.”
Meanwhile, in a statement, the PTI condemned the transfer of 70-year-old Noreen to the PIC without informing her family, expressing grave concern over her health and the treatment of “political prisoners”.
PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram criticised the authorities for not informing Noreen’s family after she felt unwell while in custody at the Kot Lakhpat jail.
He described the handling of her medical emergency as “callous and inhumane”, arguing that denying family members timely information about the condition of an elderly heart patient raised serious questions about prisoners’ rights, legal safeguards and basic human dignity.
“Noreen Niazi’s transfer to the PIC without prior notification to her family is alarming,” Akram said, demanding an immediate explanation from the Punjab government and the relevant authorities.
He demanded that Noreen receive the best possible medical treatment under the supervision of senior cardiologists without any delay, that her necessary diagnostic tests be conducted, and that her family be allowed access in accordance with applicable law.
“The authorities must provide her family with complete, credible and timely information about her condition,” the PTI leader further stressed.
Warning the government against disregarding fundamental rights in the alleged pursuit of political objectives, he said the PTI would not compromise on the protection of human life, health or constitutional freedoms under any circumstances.
Additional input by Ikram Junaidi
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday approved the expansion of Allama Iqbal International Airport and Jinnah International Airport as outlined in their respective masterplans while seeking to turn Karachi into an “air cargo hub”.
According to a statement by the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the directives came during a meeting held in Islamabad under the premier’s chairmanship. It was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, federal ministers Khawaja Asif, Musadik Malik, Ahad Khan Cheema, Attaullah Tarar and other senior officials.
The statement said the meeting was briefed on a survey recently completed by an international firm assessing the quality of travel facilities at major airports.
During the meeting, the premier directed that no compromise be made on quality in the expansion projects, that they be aligned with international requirements and that third-party validation be ensured for reforms aimed at improving the expansion projects.
The meeting was informed that work on the installation of automated border management systems (e-gates) at major airports was underway. Furthermore, “work is also ongoing on the air cargo village to make Karachi an air cargo hub,” the statement said.
Per the statement, it was discussed that facilitating passengers at Pakistani airports should be made the “top priority”. PM Shehbaz directed that facilities be improved in line with international standards. To that effect, he directed to obtain the services of internationally renowned institutions.
He also emphasised the provision of regular training in high-quality service delivery to officers and staff facilitating passengers at airports, along with an improvement in the coordination among various entities present at airports.
“The services of the best caterers [should] be obtained for passengers at airports, and there will be no compromise on the quality of food and beverages,” the statement said.
The meeting was further briefed on the upgradation of various airports across the country and ongoing development work by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA).
Furthermore, the meeting was informed that the expansion of the runway at Jinnah International Airport had been completed. According to the PMO, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had also increased the number of staff and counters, keeping in view passenger convenience.
A meet-and-greet service had been launched at Islamabad airport, the statement added. Similarly, the FIA had established pre-departure desks at major airports in the country for timely guidance to passengers.
“The meeting was informed that the existing aviation institution in Hyderabad is being further improved to establish an international standard aviation university, with work to commence by February 2028,” PMO’s statement said.
Earlier this month, PM Shehbaz had also ordered the installation of “smart scanners” at all international airports to facilitate travellers.
WAZIRISTAN – Pakistani security forces again struck Afghan Taliban positions with heavy weapons after firing from across the border targeted residential areas in the Angoor Adda sector, triggering intense exchanges along the frontier.
Local residents called sustained gunfire and shelling, with both sides using light and heavy weapons. Journalists in the area reported that civilian settlements and houses on the Pakistani side were coming under fire.
Reports from the area said Pakistani retaliatory fire destroyed several Taliban checkpoints. Taliban fighters reportedly abandoned some positions, leaving behind the bodies of their comrades. These battlefield claims could not be independently verified.
The reported fighting follows a deadly confrontation in the same sector on October 27, when a mortar shell allegedly fired from Afghanistan struck a house. Security sources said one civilian was killed and five members of the same family were injured, deepening concern among border communities.
Pakistan’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting described the October 27 firing and mortar attacks as unprovoked, accusing Afghan Taliban forces of targeting unarmed civilians.
According to the ministry, Pakistani troops responded swiftly, destroying seven Taliban posts and inflicting heavy losses in personnel and equipment. Security sources separately said several Afghan positions were hit during the retaliatory action.
The ministry also rejected statements by Afghan Taliban spokespersons, accusing them of spreading misinformation about the confrontation.
It further alleged that the firing took place at India’s direction and linked it to what it called a pattern of attacks by Indian-backed proxies. No independent evidence supporting that allegation was provided in the supplied material.
Pakistan slams Afghan Taliban for targeting Civilians in Deadly Border Attack
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LAHORE – Vote counting for the presidential seat in the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) annual elections has been completed, and Syed Amjad Ali Shah, the candidate of the Ahsan Bhoon group, has been elected president, according to unofficial results.
According to unofficial results, Independent Group presidential candidate Syed Amjad Shah won with 644 votes from Lahore, while Professional Group candidate Sardar Aman Khan secured 400 votes.
Ahsan Bhoon congratulated the lawyers of the bar on the win and thanked all political parties. He also thanked Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi. Bhoon said they would support amendments made in accordance with the Constitution and the law.
The newly elected president, Syed Amjad Shah, expressed gratitude for the heavy mandate and thanked the legal community for its support. He said there would be no compromise on the supremacy of the Constitution and the law, adding that the welfare of lawyers is among his priorities.
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LAHORE – The University of Health Sciences (UHS) has announced the results of the postgraduate entry test. A total of 8,271 candidates took the test, of whom 2,131 passed.
In Medicine and Allied, 2,939 candidates appeared and 744 passed. Surgery and Allied Group One had 959 test-takers, of whom 248 passed, while Group Two had 1,031 candidates, with 274 passing. In Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 1,136 candidates sat the test and 287 qualified.
In Paediatric Medicine, 485 candidates appeared and 126 passed, while Radiology saw 411 candidates, with 108 passing. In Anaesthesia, 338 candidates took the test and 86 passed.
Among the smaller specialities, 197 candidates appeared in ENT and 51 passed, and 189 appeared in Ophthalmology, with 51 passing. In Psychiatry, 186 candidates took the test and 52 passed, while Pathology had 114 candidates, with 29 qualifying.
In the dental specialities, 120 candidates appeared in Oral Surgery and 30 passed. Operative Dentistry had 64 candidates, of whom 18 passed, while Orthodontics had 62 test-takers, with 16 passing. In Prosthodontics, 26 candidates appeared and 7 passed, and in Periodontology, 14 candidates took the test and 4 passed.
The postgraduate entry test was held on October 25.
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Several social media users, including PML-N supporters based on their past posts, shared a video on X on October 28 allegedly showing Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman asking for forgiveness in the National Assembly amid his tensions with the government.
However, the video is doctored using AI.
Fazl on Oct 28 accused the federal government of misusing the Constitution by imposing governor’s rule and an emergency in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Speaking in the National Assembly, he argued that the measures amounted to a forced transfer of power rather than change through public opinion. He also criticised Defence Minister Khawaja Asif for failing to protect the sanctity of Parliament and called for a new Charter of Democracy to prevent unconstitutional actions and political violence.
He also recounted his efforts to ease tensions between the federal government and the PTI, claiming that the government had abandoned attempts to reach a consensus. He rejected questions about his patriotism, highlighting his party’s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and condemning the ridicule of martyrs.
The JUI-F chief has recently been consistently criticised by government officials for his criticism of the state and support of the PTI.
On Oct 28, a pro-PML-N account, based on its past posts, shared a video on X, allegedly showing Fazl asking for forgiveness in the National Assembly, with the following caption: “See how Fazlu kept grovelling in the assembly today for forgiveness, but no one will share this part of the speech.”
The post garnered 20,277 views.
In the clip, Fazl can be heard saying: “What is my fault? Why are they after me? I have asked for forgiveness, but they are not accepting it. Is my sin greater than PTI? What did I do wrong? Why am I being treated unjustly? These are the questions you should ask the media. But you are not doing it.”
Another PML-N supporter, based on their bio and past posts, shared the same video with the following caption: “All the antics, today in the assembly, the ripples of apology. Fazlu’s politics is also masterful — where he needs to show off, his speeches go viral, and where he has to apologise, the camera, workers, and share button all vanish. Just spread this clip too; the public has the right to see the full film.”
The post garnered 12,785 views.
Jalal Sherazi, who identifies himself as a coordinator in the Prime Minister’s Office in his bio, shared the same video with the caption, “Look, even today, Fazlur Rehman kept talking about demanding an apology in the assembly, but this part of his speech is being avoided from being shared on social media.”
The post garnered 1,775 views.
Shahzad Younas Sheikh, who, according to his X bio, is a former spokesperson for Punjab, also shared the video with the caption: “See how Fazlu kept mumbling apologies in the assembly even today, but no one shares this bit of his speech.”
The post garnered 661 views.
Similarly, several other PML-N supporters, based on their past posts, shared the same video in a similar context on X, as can be seen here, here, and here.
A fact check was initiated to determine the veracity of the claim due to keen public interest in the tense relations between the JUI-F chief and the government amid his support for the PTI and criticism of the Centre’s actions in KP.
A keyword search conducted to determine whether credible mainstream media outlets had reported the alleged remarks yielded no results to corroborate them.
Investigating the clip showed discrepancies in the synchronisation between the audio and Fazl’s lip movements, suggesting that the video appeared to be dubbed.
The viral video was then analysed using AI detection tools. Diopter, an AI audio detection tool, flagged the audio as 100 per cent AI-generated.
Another audio detection tool, Deepfake Total, detected a 75.6pc likelihood of AI manipulation.
Hive also showed a 92pc likelihood of AI-generated speech.
Similarly, the SORA AI Video Detector flagged the video as 66.67pc AI-generated.
Meanwhile, Meta AI’s detector identified a digital watermark in the clip, suggesting that it had been generated using OpenAI.
A reverse image search conducted to trace the original clip yielded a video posted on the National Assembly of Pakistan’s official YouTube account, dated October 28, 2026, with the following title: ‘JUI F chief/MNA Maulana Fazal Ur Rehman expresses his views during National Assembly Session.’
The viral clip starts at the 3:25-minute mark and continues until 3:51.
In the original clip, Fazal said, “Gauhar Sahib was also there; Asad Qaisar Sahib was also there. And he said to me that if they are calling you and you wish to meet them and if there is any further discussion on this topic, then we are 100pc ready to accept your mandate.
“Although I have not met the prime minister for the past four to five months. And for the purpose that I can save the citizens of Pakistan from their blood, save the country from extremism, pave the way for the government and pave the way for the opposition, and that the country does not go towards bloodshed.”
At no point in his entire speech did he apologise or make such remarks as shown in the viral video.
The same was also corroborated by a keyword search that yielded a news report from the Express Tribune, dated October 29, 2026, with the following title, ‘Fazl calls for new Charter of Democracy.’
As per the report, the JUI-F chief urged political forces to resolve their differences through dialogue rather than resorting to unconstitutional measures or violence.
Further searches also yielded the original video shared by Jamiat Digital Media on X on October 28, 2026. The clip, too, contained no apology or any such remarks.
The claim that a viral video shows JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman asking for forgiveness in the National Assembly is false.
The clip is doctored and has been dubbed over using AI.
By Peiman Salehi | The Cradle | October 28, 2026
The presence of Saudi, Turkish, and Pakistani officials in Tehran on 26 October reflected a growing recognition that Iran cannot be excluded from any serious regional security arrangement. Despite the US–Israeli war against Iran, Tehran remains central to the region’s military and political balance.
For Riyadh and its partners, the meeting also exposed the limits of the Mecca defense pact, particularly as Saudi Arabia faces renewed confrontation with the Ansarallah-aligned Yemeni Armed Forces (YAF).
Much of the speculation surrounding the four-country meeting centered on what Iran might be expected to surrender, particularly its relationship with Sanaa. Such expectations rested on the assumption that Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan had established a regional security order into which Iran was now seeking admission, with Tehran potentially offering concessions over Yemen in return.
Yet the political and military circumstances that brought the participants to Tehran suggest a different calculation. Iran has withstood sustained American and Israeli attacks, while Saudi Arabia and its partners have struggled to contain the YAF’s military operations. Any agreement that disregards these realities risks reproducing the confrontations it seeks to resolve.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry had identified Israel’s expansionist policies, Lebanon, and the US war against Iran among the subjects for discussion. Yemen was absent from the announced agenda and the subsequent press statement.
Ali Bagheri, deputy secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, said the gathering also served to congratulate Mohsen Rezaei, the council’s newly appointed secretary, and discuss regional security, including opposition to foreign interference, particularly by Washington. According to information obtained by The Cradle, Yemen was not discussed during the meeting.
On the morning of 27 October, a day after the talks, Rezaei met Yemen’s ambassador, Ibrahim Mohammad al-Dailami, in Tehran. Rezaei praised Yemen’s defense of Gaza and its confrontation with Israel, while the ambassador thanked him and the Iranian government for their positions.
The encounter came amid speculation that Tehran’s diplomatic engagement with Riyadh might come at the expense of its relationship with Sanaa. By publicly reaffirming those ties immediately after the summit, Iran signaled its intention to pursue regional diplomacy while maintaining its existing alliances.
Hossein Shariatmadari, editor of Iran’s conservative daily Kayhan, wrote in a 27 October editorial that “Yemen’s revolutionaries are allies of Islamic Iran.” He warned that the visiting delegations might seek to create the impression that Tehran was distancing itself from Sanaa, offering Washington and its allies “breathing room, however brief” by encouraging expectations of an imminent settlement.
The Mecca pact’s limits
Iran has good reason to approach the Saudi–Turkish–Pakistani framework, commonly known as the Mecca pact, with caution. The agreement brings together three states with substantial military capabilities and extensive relations with Washington, raising questions about whether their security cooperation could eventually be directed against the Axis of Resistance.
For Riyadh, Yemen remains a central concern. Years of confrontation with the YAF have demonstrated Sanaa’s ability to impose high military and economic costs beyond Yemen’s borders. Saudi Arabia’s renewed campaign has again brought its energy infrastructure and military installations within range of Yemeni retaliation, exposing the limits of the kingdom’s reliance on foreign military protection.
In Tehran, closer military coordination among the pact’s members could be seen as an attempt to contain the Axis of Resistance at a time when American security guarantees are becoming increasingly uncertain.
Iran’s participation in talks with the pact’s members carries no commitment to join their alliance. Tehran has made no such announcement, while Rezaei’s explanation of the summit emphasized the establishment of security through regional cooperation, the withdrawal of foreign forces, and an end to outside interference.
These objectives leave considerable differences between the participants. Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan maintain security relationships with Washington, while Iran regards the American military presence as a principal source of regional instability. Their respective positions on armed resistance movements, Israeli aggression, and the obligations of any collective defense arrangement also remain unresolved.
The meeting produced a brief press statement confirming the participants’ intention to continue their dialogue, without setting out binding commitments. Rezaei indicated that further meetings would follow, suggesting that the four governments were exploring the foundations of a wider regional accommodation.
The initiative itself emerged from Pakistani army chief Asim Munir’s visit to Tehran the previous week, according to information obtained by The Cradle. Iranian officials also confirmed Pakistan’s proposal, describing the gathering as an opportunity to advance regional security arrangements based on shared interests and mutual trust.
Riyadh’s security dilemma
The Saudi–Turkish–Pakistani alliance combines considerable military resources, diplomatic influence, and strategic relationships. Its effectiveness, however, depends on the willingness of its members to confront threats that may carry very different consequences for each country.
The limited assistance Pakistan and Turkiye have provided during the renewed confrontation between Yemen and Saudi Arabia illustrates these constraints. Although both countries have pledged support for Riyadh, their involvement has fallen short of the decisive intervention that might alter the military balance with the YAF.
Kayhan was more scathing in its assessment, accusing Turkiye and Pakistan of having “milked Saudi Arabia and done nothing.”
Saudi Arabia’s own account of the visit was more restrained. In a statement following the meeting, Riyadh said the talks formed part of efforts to de-escalate tensions, encourage diplomatic solutions, and support mediation by Qatar and Pakistan. It also reaffirmed the Mecca pact’s role in promoting regional security and stability.
Islamabad and Ankara have also sought to limit their military involvement. Turkish officials have ruled out offensive operations against Yemen, while Pakistan has denied reports that its aircraft carried out strikes on Yemeni forces. These restrictions expose the distance between the pact’s collective defense commitments and its members’ willingness to enter a wider war.
The continuing Yemeni operations against Saudi targets have consequently strengthened the argument for direct engagement with Tehran. Riyadh must weigh the costs of further confrontation against the possibility of reaching an understanding with Iran, whose regional relationships and military capabilities remain central to the wider balance of power.
Despite the damage inflicted during the war, Tehran has retained the ability to influence the course and costs of regional confrontation. Its leverage over the Strait of Hormuz and its capacity to retaliate against military infrastructure have complicated Washington’s efforts to impose a settlement on its own terms.
These developments have strengthened Tehran’s negotiating position, although translating military endurance into a durable security arrangement will require more than the recognition of its regional weight. Tehran must also demonstrate that cooperation with its neighbors can reduce the likelihood of renewed war without undermining the relationships that have helped it withstand external pressure.
For Saudi Arabia, the lesson is equally significant. Its security cannot be guaranteed indefinitely through military partnerships that exclude one of the region’s principal powers, particularly when those partnerships have struggled to prevent attacks on Saudi territory.
Yemen cannot be traded
The suggestion that Tehran might trade its relationship with Ansarallah for concessions from Riyadh overlooks the movement’s independent political interests and roots in Yemen. Ansarallah’s resistance to Saudi intervention grew out of a prolonged struggle over the country’s political future, during which its ties with Iran deepened.
The two sides share important strategic interests, but Yemen’s military and political decisions cannot be reduced to directives from Tehran. The YAF’s intervention in support of Gaza, its confrontation with Israel, and its continuing war with Saudi Arabia reflect calculations shaped by Yemen’s own circumstances.
Iran’s regional relationships have also evolved through years of confrontation with Washington and Tel Aviv. The Islamic Republic’s resistance to American and Israeli pressure has become inseparable from its wider regional security calculations, particularly as the war has intensified the threats facing its allies.
Sanaa has paid a substantial price for its military and political positions, enduring years of bombardment, blockade, and attempts to dismantle its authority. Ansarallah’s survival has given it considerable influence over Yemen’s future, making any settlement negotiated without its participation unlikely to produce lasting results.
The assumption that Tehran could simply secure Yemeni compliance also underestimates the political consequences of such an arrangement. The Sanaa government would have little reason to accept an agreement that disregards its security interests or leaves Saudi military pressure intact.
Rezaei’s meeting with the Yemeni ambassador therefore served an important political purpose. As Tehran opened discussions with the Mecca pact’s members, it reaffirmed a relationship whose continuity remains important to the wider Resistance Axis.
Israel’s declining leverage
The summit’s joint statement made no reference to Israel, but Rezaei’s subsequent account of the talks placed Israeli military operations among the issues discussed. He said the participants had emphasized ending Israeli attacks and securing Israel’s withdrawal from occupied territories in Lebanon, Syria, and Palestine.
Before Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, Saudi–Israeli normalization was a serious diplomatic prospect. Washington sought to advance Israel’s integration into a regional security and economic framework that would strengthen its position while isolating Iran and its allies.
The wars that followed have disrupted those calculations. Israel’s military campaigns across West Asia, alongside the American war against Iran, have exposed the risks associated with a regional order built around Israeli military superiority and US security guarantees.
Rezaei’s public emphasis on Israeli aggression reflects the changing circumstances in which the talks took place. Riyadh has not formally adopted his characterization in the joint statement and maintains its longstanding relationship with Washington, but Saudi security concerns have increasingly brought it into direct contact with Tehran despite years of hostility.
The contrast with 2017 is especially revealing. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman (MbS) then threatened to take the confrontation inside Iran, reflecting Riyadh’s confidence in its ability to challenge Tehran through regional pressure and military alliances.
Nearly a decade later, Saudi officials are in Tehran discussing regional security with the same government Riyadh once threatened to attack. Years of confrontation have failed to break Iran’s regional influence, while Washington’s ability to shield its allies from another war is increasingly in doubt.
Yemen’s ability to remain a consequential military actor despite years of Saudi-led operations has also shaped this reassessment. Its continued resistance has demonstrated the limits of attempts to impose regional arrangements through military force.
Tehran’s next move
The summit’s lasting significance will depend on whether the participating governments can translate their discussions into practical security arrangements. Iran has an opportunity to advance its longstanding position that West Asia’s security must be determined by the countries of the region, without dependence on foreign military intervention.
Such an arrangement would require Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, and Pakistan to recognize Iran’s security concerns and its existing alliances. Tehran would also have to address its neighbors’ security concerns without compromising those relationships.
The presence of all four countries in Tehran suggests that these questions are now receiving serious attention. Rezaei’s subsequent meeting with Yemen’s ambassador also indicated the basis on which Iran intends to participate: regional cooperation alongside continued support for its established allies.
Any regional agreement must also account for Yemen and the other members of the Axis of Resistance. Their military and political weight cannot be ignored, nor can their futures be decided through negotiations between Tehran and its neighbors.
Iran has emerged from the war with its regional alliances intact and greater room to negotiate. The question now is whether Riyadh and its partners are prepared to reach an understanding with Tehran that recognizes those alliances rather than seeking to dismantle them.
Human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir and her husband, Hadi Ali Chattha, were convicted for the second time in less than a year on Thursday. This time, the couple was sentenced to 10 years in a security breach case following a jail trial.
The 2024 case pertained to the alleged disruption of an international cricket team’s security route and incitement to public unrest. The couple, accused of removing barriers from the route, was indicted on Oct 7.
After an anti-terrorism court pronounced them guilty, journalists and lawyers raised questions and expressed reservations.
Legal adviser for the International Commission of Jurists Reema Omer termed the convictions “cruel, vindictive and textbook examples of using law and the judicial process as weapons of persecution”.
“Imaan and Hadi are prisoners of conscience,” she posted on X.
Lawyer Rida Hosain said the convictions were “a stain on our judicial system”.
“Those entrusted with upholding the rule of law are weaponising it to persecute courageous human rights lawyers.
“This only further exposes a system that is functioning as an instrument of repression,” she said.
Op-ed editor at The News, Zebunnisa Burki, reacted to the development with “beyond ridiculous”.
Journalist Zarrar Khuhro also pointed out that the couple was sentenced to 10 years for “removing a barrier”.
“A decade in jail is what rapists usually get,” he said.
Journalist Asma Shirazi reacted to the news by calling it “reprehensible and regrettable”.
Journalist Maryam Nawaz Khan criticised the judgement saying: “A sham/ secret trial delivers a sham sentence. Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha, two human rights lawyers, sentenced to 10 years in prison over road barriers they maintain they never removed. First, their tweets; now, this. Criminalising dissent and persecuting lawyers is an assault on fundamental rights and constitutional freedoms. This sentence is outrageous and unlawful.”
Academic Nida Kirmani said the couple was “paying the price for standing up to a cruel and vindictive state run by petty men with fragile egos”.
“Absolutely absurd verdict,” she said.
Journalist Saqib Bashir said the couple was sentenced without a “transparent” trial.
“This is a mockery of the judiciary and the justice system; it is a judicial murder of dissenting voices,” former Jamaat-i-Islami senator Mushtaq Ahmed said.
“Imaan and Hadi are strong voices against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings and that is their only crime,” he said.
“Those who speak up for justice face jail. Those who justify the state’s dictatorial actions ascend to higher positions,” journalist Veengas said.
The National Commission for Human Rights also expressed serious concern, saying the right to a fair trial, due process and effective judicial remedies must be fully protected.
“The severity of the sentences raises concerns about proportionality and the protection of fundamental rights,” the commission said.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Thursday urged National Assembly Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai to use the “authority and power” delegated to him by jailed PTI founder Imran Khan to direct opposition members to participate in House committees and discuss pressing national issues.
He made the remarks while addressing the National Assembly during a session chaired by Deputy Speaker Syed Ghulam Mustafa.
Addressing the House, Bilawal called for strengthening Parliament by taking decisions on matters of national interest collectively on a single platform.
“If Parliament is powerful, we are all powerful; this is the power bestowed on us by the people of Pakistan,” he said.
Urging the speaker and the government to fulfil their responsibilities, the PPP chairman also called on the opposition to play its role in the House.
“Those who want this House to remain dysfunctional and do not want the people of Pakistan to benefit from it have succeeded,” he said, pointing towards the opposition benches. “Congratulations to you,” he added sarcastically.
“You have played a part in helping these people achieve their objective,” he said, criticising the opposition.
Bilawal also criticised the opposition’s decision to boycott committee proceedings, saying it had contributed to the “weakening” of Parliament.
“It is your responsibility to represent your party, the people and your constituencies in these committees. However, you are not raising their concerns on the relevant platforms,” he said.
Turning to Achakzai, Bilawal urged the opposition leader to use the “authority and power” delegated to him and the Senate opposition leader by Imran Khan to direct opposition members to participate in committee proceedings and discuss pressing national issues.
Bilawal said that since Parliament had decided, on a motion moved by the PPP, to constitute a committee on electoral reforms, the opposition leader should nominate a representative to the committee and submit the name to the speaker’s office.
He recalled that the opposition had described electoral rigging as its “fundamental issue”.
Urging the opposition leader to participate in the committee’s proceedings, Bilawal said the move was necessary if the opposition wanted the issue of alleged rigging to be addressed before the next general election, local government polls or by-elections.
The PPP chairman also described participation in the committee as a fundamental step towards restoring Parliament’s respect and authority.
“I request the opposition to at least exercise the power it has,” he said, questioning the purpose of an electoral reforms committee if the opposition did not participate in its proceedings.
“If we make efforts to bring all stakeholders together in a committee or arrange a briefing on terrorism, economic and security issues, and other concerns without the opposition’s participation, it will be pointless,” he said.
Against the backdrop of the evolving geopolitical situation, Bilawal called for the foreign, interior and defence ministers to brief the House on the challenges facing Pakistan.
“Tell this House about the potential threats facing Pakistan and the region, particularly as three key maritime routes are closed,” he said.
He also called for a briefing on developments related to the war in Iran and its implications for Pakistan. In addition, he sought a briefing from the government on the recent defence pacts signed by Pakistan.
“Every member of this House has the right to be informed about the challenges facing Pakistan, whether terrorism or other domestic issues, the steps being taken to address them and their potential consequences in the days ahead,” he said.
Addressing a rally in Karachi earlier this month, Bilawal had also extended an olive branch to the opposition parties, saying their positive engagement with the federal government could result in the reversal of governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The PPP chairman had invited the opposition to join the Parliamentary electoral reforms process and “engage with the federal government”.
The Centre imposed governor’s rule and emergency in KP on Oct 11, citing the provincial government’s “deliberate disengagement” from the fight against terrorism. The move had drawn criticism from the opposition.
Separately, a PPP delegation met Achakzai and invited the PTI to join the parliamentary committee on electoral reforms, according to a statement the party issued on X.
The PPP delegation comprised of Raja Pervez Ashraf and Syed Naveed Qamar. Senate Opposition Leader Raja Nasir Abbas was also present.
The delegation invited Achakzai to participate in the parliamentary committee to promote consultation and discussion among parliamentary representatives on electoral reforms, the statement said.
Later, in a press conference, Ashraf said the PPP delegation had a meeting with Achakzai on Bilawal’s instructions to invite him to join the committee.
“The PPP wants the PTI to participate in parliamentary standing committees as well as the electoral reforms committee,” he added.
Achakzai had sought time to consult before responding to the invitation, he said.
The PPP has consistently sought to improve the electoral process, Ashraf said, adding that PTI also wanted electoral reforms.
“The PTI will respond to the PPP after consultations,” he said.
Drones attacked Sterlitamak in Russia’s Bashkortostan on 29 October, and smoke rose over the Bashkir Soda Company, Russian Telegram channel Astra reported, citing its open-source analysis. The city’s mayor admitted debris fell on an unnamed plant.
Ukraine’s long-range drones keep reaching deeper into the industries that feed Russia’s war. In the past five days, a nitric acid maker in Tula Oblast, a rocket-fuel rubber plant in Samara Oblast, and a titanium plant in the Urals came under attack. The Sterlitamak plant lies about 1,310 km from the front line. Drones also attacked it on 27 August, Astra says. Ukraine has not commented.
The Bashkir Soda Company is Russia’s largest producer of soda ash and baking soda, and part of the Roskhim chemical holding. It is also Russia’s only maker of terephthaloyl chloride, The Insider reported, citing the company’s website. The website also mentions deliveries to the defense industry.
The compound goes into aramid fibers, Kevlar-type materials used for body armor, helmets, and armor for military vehicles and aircraft, Astra said. Astra also says the company sits on the Russian Industry and Trade Ministry’s closed register of defense enterprises.
The attack began around dawn. Ukrainian Telegram channel Exilenova+ posted footage of a drone over the city. Supernova+, another Ukrainian monitoring channel, posted the plant’s coordinates and photos of smoke. Russia’s aviation agency restricted flights at the airport of Ufa, the region’s capital. Pro-Ukrainian X account Maks 26 shared footage of the attacks on Sterlitamak and Luhansk. It also suggested that Sterlitamak’s Syntez-Kauchuk rubber plant may have been the target, and claimed a fire at the Marinovka air base in Volgograd Oblast.
— MAKS 26
Mayor Emil Shaimardanov claimed air defenses downed all seven drones over the city. An earlier version of his post, quoted by Russian state news agency TASS, said eight.
“Debris fell on the territory of one of the enterprises. Minor damage was caused, the plant is operating normally,” Shaimardanov claimed.
He did not name the plant.
The Insider said NASA’s FIRMS fire map confirmed a fire at the plant. But the map shows only the weak heat source its satellites record there almost every night, the last time hours before the drones came, and nothing new after the attack.
Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin claimed that 613 drones flew toward the Moscow region overnight, that most were downed on the far approaches, and that 231 were downed on approach to the capital. Russia’s aviation agency restricted flights at Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky airports. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it downed 1,214 drones over 19 regions overnight.
Ukraine’s General Staff said its forces hit a depot of Geran drones, Russia’s version of the Iranian Shahed, along with a drone launch site and a fuel depot near Navlya in Bryansk Oblast, about 70 km from the Ukrainian border. The Atesh partisan movement reported a loud explosion near Oryol’s airfield and a large fire in Lipetsk, about 285 km from the border.
Subscribers of Crimean monitoring channel Krymsky Veter reported drones and then a strong explosion with Russian air defenses firing in Krasnoperekopsk, in occupied Crimea, about 95 km from the front line.
In occupied Luhansk, about 105 km from the front line, residents reported another attack on Lugacom, the occupation’s mobile operator, and internet outages followed, Exilenova+ said. The channel named only Lugacom. The operator sits in the seized Ukrtelecom building. Exilenova+ also posted footage of a fire in the city.
— Exilenova+ (@Exilenova_plus) October 29, 2026
Leonid Pasechnik, the Russian-installed head of the occupied part of Luhansk Oblast, claimed that 150,000 customers in six municipalities lost power after attacks on energy facilities.
ISLAMABAD – JUI-F Senator Kamran Murtaza protested during Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s speech in the Senate session, triggering an uproar in the House.
Naqvi and Murtaza exchanged harsh words. Responding to the protest, Naqvi said Murtaza would have to listen to him, adding that those who criticise should also have the courage to hear the response.
In his address, the interior minister said that it was inappropriate to spit on the state when one is denied a share, after enjoying its benefits for as long as they last. Murtaza retorted that Naqvi should mind his language.
During the session, PML-N Senator Abid Sher Ali also lost his temper and, addressing Murtaza, said he should be ashamed of himself. Sher Ali and the JUI-F senator also traded bitter remarks, and Minister of State Talal Chaudhry made Sher Ali sit down to keep the situation under control.
Naqvi urged the protesting members to find the courage to listen to the reply. He said it was not acceptable for anyone to say whatever they please without hearing the other side’s position.
The interior minister added that there should be a distinction between remarks about state institutions and political differences, and that critics must also have the resolve to listen to the response.
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KARACHI – A woman in Karachi’s Gulistan-e-Johar Mor area flew into a rage after a rickshaw hit her car, damaging the rickshaw and other vehicles and blocking traffic on the road. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media.
According to police, the incident took place yesterday morning. Angered by the damage the rickshaw’s collision caused to her car, the woman sat in the rickshaw driver’s seat and kept demanding the keys to her vehicle. A large crowd gathered at the scene, bringing traffic to a halt on the road from Rashid Minhas Road towards Johar Mor.
In the viral video, the woman can be seen in an agitated state, trying to stop traffic. The footage shows that when a citizen tried to drive his car out, the woman climbed onto the bonnet of the moving vehicle, and the man pushed her off.
Police said a team arrived at the scene after being alerted and took the woman to the Shahrah-e-Faisal police station. Her family later came to the station and apologised, and assured that the losses of those affected would be compensated.
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The ball is entirely on West Asia’s court. The U.S. is not even on the table.
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The optics were sensational.
The Saudi Minister of Defense, Prince Khalid, brother of MbS; the Turkey head of intel, Ibrahim Kalin; and the military head of Pakistan, Field Marshal Asim Munir, all three full members of the Mecca Defense Alliance, enter a lavish room in the proverbial Persian palace to greet – or kiss the ring – of the potentate, sorry, secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), Moshen Rezaee, number two of the Iranian power structure right below Leader Mojtaba Khamenei.
This was not the Mecca Defense Alliance ostensibly on parade – representing neo-Ottomans, Arabs and South Asians. This was the Tehran Summit – as defined by the Persians.
Iran had only agreed to hold this ground-breaking summit – actually suggested by Asim Munir during his visit to Tehran last week – outside of the framework of the Mecca deal, and explicitly within the framework of discussing “endogenous regional security.”
So yes, they did discuss Palestine, Lebanon, Yemen, Gulf security and the Strait of Hormuz, in the spirit of reducing the proverbial “regional tensions” and ending the U.S. war against Iran and the Axis of Resistance.
The Tehran Summit may eventually signify the – reluctant or otherwise – acceptance of Iran’s security demands and the final status of the Strait of Hormuz, being elaborated via the Iran-Oman agreement.
It all depends, of course, on what the House of Saud will finally decide. And this decision is directly linked to how Riyadh will solve its deadly clash against Yemen.
Tehran was explicit: we are prepared to mediate and assist in resolving the Yemen dossier; however, it’s up to Riyadh to address – and accept – Ansarallah’s conditions. Otherwise, the – pre-existing – war will keep going on.
Deconstructing the “seven conditions”
It was Dr. Ali Bagheri Kani, the immensely competent Deputy Secretary of the SNSC, who offered the best inside view of what was being discussed at the table.
1.The four nations identified Israel as the main source of regional instability, with Iran as its immediate target and other countries potentially next (italics mine). The other source is the United States. Imagine Prince Khalid agreeing to all of the above.
Now add to this already stunning framework a Mohsen Rezaee Unplugged special: he was definitely in a much more cheerful mood than usual.
Take this highlight:
“I feel the presence of a new atmosphere in the region. It has formed thanks to the resistance of the Iranian people and the capability of the armed forces. I have sensed an extremely positive atmosphere in the discussions with these gentlemen.”
Even as he praised “the success of this rhetorical discussion and statements”, Rezaee was cautious: “We preferred not to issue any statement at the present time, but we will issue a single joint statement in which we agree on these points and reach an understanding, and the implementation of these matters will be practical and real, and we will move forward with them.”
Meanwhile, a Sisyphean task remains: how to force the Empire of Piracy to understand diplomacy in West Asia.
Bagheri-Kani: “The United States must fulfill Iran’s seven conditions.” He then added, “Rezaee mentioned today that the seven-day plan could be shortened to five days or even four.”
Let’s deconstruct these numbers.
The seven conditions remain the same: they are the abridged version of that serially dead cat, the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which Trump himself tore up and insists it means nothing.
Recap: lifting sanctions; ceasing military threats; recognizing Iran’s right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy; ending support for Israel; acknowledging Iran’s sovereign rights over the Strait of Hormuz; halting interference in Iran’s internal affairs; and providing credible guarantees against future aggression.
Even camels in the middle of the Nejd know the Exceptionals will never fulfill any of these commitments.
What changes now is the timeline. According to the original plan, in the unlikely event the U.S. would fulfill the conditions, on the sixth day the Strait of Hormuz would be opened; and on the seventh day, like in an act of divine will, negotiations would begin.
Rezaee’s new proposal can only be interpreted as a joyful tease: everything can be done in five days or even four days, why not?
Rezaee is essentially saying that all the seven conditions remain; but if Trump is really interested in negotiations (he’s not: he wants a capitulation), Iran doesn’t need to wait for seven days. Four will do.
Whatever happens next – and after the U.S. mid-terms might well be a Trumpian military attack – it’s Tehran that still runs the clock. Plus the seven conditions – which are the prerequisites for any negotiation. Plus the timeframe. Plus the fact that if there’s no movement, the Strait of Hormuz will remain closed.
What Bagheri-Kani and Rezaee – the top two security guys – are emphasizing is that Iran has presented an invoice to the Empire of Piracy. By the way, every single item on the invoice has already been signed off on by POTUS himself, however he tries to extricate himself.
It’s “endogenous” security or bust
At first sight the Mecca Defense Alliance was supposed to be seen as a powerful Sunni-led collective security/defense alignment.
Yet the last thing the strategically deprived Empire of Piracy would expect is that the trio would start exploring avenues of cooperation with the nation they were being forced to treat as an existential threat.
Never underestimate the Persians. Displaying their usual finesse, what they have just done is to strategically turn containment of Iran on its head.
In the near future Iran might even contemplate joining the Mecca Defense Alliance – which quite a few serious Muslim scholars actually describe as a blasphemy on Mecca.
Before that, the petro-sheikhs – those Persian Gulf counterparts of the Baltic chihuahuas – may have met their doom, in case they are helpless to defuse the relentless Anglo-Salafi incitement of sectarian wars.
Iranians are as much worshippers of sacred Mecca and Medina as Yemenis – as both were directly praised by the Prophet (Iranians were singled out as unparalleled in the discernment of knowledge and the pursuit of wisdom).
And that ultimately explains why this meeting was defined as the Tehran Summit – with nothing to do with the notion of a “Mecca” pact.
As for Yemenis, Mohammad Ali al-Houthi, a key member of Ansarallah’s Supreme Political Council, laid down the law: he blasted Saudi Arabia’s claims of seeking regional de-escalation through Prince Khalid’s visit to Tehran, emphasizing that Riyadh’s diplomatic rhetoric contradicts the continued war, blockade, and occupation of Yemen.
After the Tehran Summit, Leader Mojtaba Khamenei met Mohsen Rezaee in person. Number One talking to Number Two.
Khamenei explicitly called for ending the current state of “neither war nor peace” by ensuring that the seven conditions are met, and by “maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz.”
Rezaee actually briefed Khamenei on the idea of “endogenous” security across West Asia. Talk about a direct counterpart to the Russian drive for “indivisibility of security” in late 2021, which was then met by a non-response response by the U.S. and NATO.
Yet now, the ball is entirely on West Asia’s court. The U.S. is not even on the table. It’s up to Turkey, Saudi, Pakistan and Iran to make it happen.
LAHORE – Nestlé Pakistan, LUMS Rausing Executive Development Centre (REDC) and the Syed Babar Ali Foundation have launched Regenerative Agriculture: Leading the Nestlé Way, a multi-year Executive Training and Certification Program aimed at developing knowledge and leadership in regenerative agriculture and contributing towards more resilient and sustainable food systems in Pakistan.
The initiative is designed to deepen understanding of regenerative agriculture among stakeholders from government, the private sector, financial institutions, academia and media, while helping develop a wider network of advocates who can support the adoption of regenerative farming practices in Pakistan.
The program was launched as a tribute to Syed Babar Ali’s 100 Years of Impact and was formalised through a charter-signing ceremony between Nestlé Pakistan, LUMS and the Syed Babar Ali Foundation, celebrating his enduring legacy of leadership, service and excellence.
The program comes at a critical time for Pakistan’s agriculture sector, which contributes around 24% to national GDP and employs nearly 37% of the country’s labour force. Against a backdrop of increasing pressures from water scarcity, climate change and rising production costs, Nestlé recognises the need to build institutional capability to keep Pakistan competitive with other leading agricultural economies around the world.
Speaking at the occasion, Jason Avanceña, CEO and Managing Director, Nestlé Pakistan, said: “At Nestlé, we believe in bringing global best practices closer to our local realities and strengthening capabilities across the value chain. This program is an opportunity to build shared understanding and develop a network of informed advocates who can champion regenerative agriculture and keep Pakistan competitive with other leading agricultural economies around the world. For Nestlé, it is ultimately about creating shared value across our agricultural value chain,” said Jason Avanceña, CEO and Managing Director, Nestlé Pakistan.
Syed Babar Ali said: “I have always believed that the true value of education lies in what we are able to pass on to the generations that follow us. Agriculture remains central to the country, and the challenges facing it require us to equip a new generation of leaders. Regenerative agriculture plays an important role in that transition. I am pleased that this program focuses on an area highly important to Pakistan’s future, by investing in people who can contribute to a more resilient and sustainable agriculture sector.”
Dr. Tariq M. Jadoon, Provost at LUMS, said: “This program has been designed to move beyond theory by bringing together scientific understanding, business considerations and field exposure. Through areas such as soil health, water stewardship, climate resilience and farm economics, participants will be able to examine regenerative agriculture as an interconnected system and consider how these principles can be applied and scaled in Pakistan.”
The program will have two cohorts each year, with 25 participants per session. The four-day training model combines three days of classroom learning at REDC, LUMS with one day of field-based learning, connecting academic understanding with agricultural realities on the ground.
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