Key developments on Oct. 30:
A Pakistani automotive manufacturer has opened up a manufacturing plant in the Philippines, it emerged on Friday.
In a post on the social media platform X, the Pakistan embassy in the Southeast Asian country said: “Pakistan-made three-wheelers have entered the Philippine market!”
It said that Philippine President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr inaugurated the assembly plant of Pakistan’s Sazgar Engineering Works Limited.
It highlighted that, facilitated by the embassy, the manufacturer was introducing its “passenger, commercial three-wheelers and electric vehicles” in the Philippines.
According to the official website of the Philippine president, the plant was inaugurated on Thursday.
It quoted him as saying that the inauguration of the plant marked “an important step in our journey to strengthen our country’s manufacturing sector and advancing the transition to cleaner, more sustainable transportation”.
He said that the plant was designed to assemble approximately 12,000 three-wheeled vehicles annually, covering both electric and internal combustion engines.
“Sazgar has been building vehicles in Pakistan for over three decades. When it chose its first home outside of Pakistan and its hub for all of Southeast Asia, it chose the Philippines. It placed its confidence in our country,” he said.
According to the company’s website, Sazgar is a public limited company headquartered in Lahore. It exports three-wheelers and parts to over 20 countries, including Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Sri Lanka and Nigeria.
Pakistan’s armed forces targeted and destroyed several Afghan Taliban posts and military positions in areas adjacent to South Waziristan and Parachinar, state media reported on Friday, citing security sources.
According to state-run Radio Pakistan, the army “gave a befitting reply to unprovoked firing by the Afghan Taliban along the Pak-Afghan border in the Angoor Adda area” on Tuesday.
“Using heavy weaponry, the Pakistan Army forced Afghan Taliban personnel to abandon their posts and flee,” the report said.
Citing reports, it added that several Afghan Taliban regime personnel were also killed during the operation.
“Security forces remain committed to the defence of the country and the protection of its people and there will be no compromise on national security,” the report said.
On Tuesday, Afghan security forces opened unprovoked fire on Pakistan Army border posts and residential areas in the Angoor Adda border area, which claimed the life of one local and injured a family of five.
According to officials, the firing originated from posts located inside Afghan territory and targeted Pakistani border posts with sniper, small and heavy weapons.
Sources said that Pakistani forces launched an immediate and effective retaliatory action, engaging multiple Afghan Taliban border posts, mortar positions and defensive bunkers with small and heavy arms, including artillery.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi had condemned the firing, asserting that Pakistan would “never tolerate” attacks on its people or violations of its sovereignty.
Meanwhile, Pakistan had also dismissed a statement by Afghanistan’s defence ministry regarding the incident that claimed that Pakistan was the aggressor, terming it a “fabrication of lies”.
The border at Angoor Adda is one of the most important and sensitive crossings along the Pak-Afghan border, serving as a key trade route and one of the main points of public movement between the two countries.
Islamabad has repeatedly urged the Taliban administration in Kabul to dismantle terrorist sanctuaries on Afghan soil, particularly those linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, that are used for attacks in Pakistan. Officials say those appeals have gone unheeded.
September witnessed another bout of conflict between Pakistan and Afghanistan.
On Sept 21, in response to recent major terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan conducted “calibrated” airstrikes in the border region with Afghanistan against terrorist hideouts, with the government saying more than 28 terrorists were killed.
Information Minister Attaullah Tarar described the action as part of Operation Ghazab lil Haq, which was launched on the night of Feb 26 in response to unprovoked cross-border firing by the Afghan Taliban.
Days later, Pakistan shot down eight drones launched from across the border that had entered Pakistani airspace near the Torkham border and Kohat. It was also reported that the Afghan Taliban engaged in unprovoked firing the night before near Kurram as security forces foiled an attempt by terrorists to cross into Pakistan.
In retaliation for the drone incursion, Pakistan conducted “precision aerial and drone strikes” in 10 locations across Afghanistan.
A demarche was also delivered to the Afghan side on Sept 26 on account of the Sept 23 airspace violation by drones, the Foreign Office said.
On Oct 1, Pakistan again carried out “well-planned and calibrated” airstrikes against terrorist hideouts in Afghanistan, the information ministry said, adding that the strikes resulted in the deaths of “multiple terrorists”.
Around mid-October, the state media reported that security forces had again responded to unprovoked firing by Afghan Taliban forces along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in KP’s Upper Kurram.
It quoted security sources as saying that several personnel of the Afghan Taliban were “reportedly killed during the Pakistan Army’s retaliatory action along the Ghuzgarhi border”. The sources further said that in the Upper Kurram sector, the army targeted the Afghan Taliban’s Topsar post and Shipola base camp with artillery fire, reportedly completely destroying the latter.
The border skirmishes came a day after the Foreign Office said that talks with Afghanistan could not be unconditional, but also rejected suggestions that Islamabad was unwilling to engage with its neighbour and said it would welcome sincere efforts by friendly countries to help resolve the dispute.
ISLAMABAD: A PPP delegation called on Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas on Friday and urged the opposition to join a proposed parliamentary committee on electoral reforms, Senator Sherry Rehman said.
“He told us that he will respond [to the proposal] after consultation. We are hopeful that their response will be positive,” Rehman said in a video statement after the meeting.
The proposal for the committee’s formation was shared by PPP chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari during the National Assembly on Thursday.
He had said Parliament had decided to constitute a committee on electoral reforms in response to a PPP request and urged Opposition Leader in the NA Mehmood Khan Achakzai to nominate a representative to the committee since the opposition had described electoral rigging as a “fundamental issue”.
PTI lawmakers had quit the parliamentary standing committees last year on the directives of their party chief.
On Friday, another PPP delegation, comprising the party’s secretary general Nayyar Bokhari, Senator Waqar Mehdi, Nadeem Afzal Chan and Rehman, visited Senate Opposition Leader Allama Raja Nasir Abbas with yet another invitation to join the proposed body.
The opposition delegation included Abbas, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, Noor-ul-Haq Qadri and Senator Ali Zafar.
Bokhari said the opposition leaders told the PPP delegation that they would consult with all opposition parties before coming up with their response to the PPP invitation.
Speaking during the meeting, Senator Rehman said the objective of the committee was to bring the government and opposition together to formulate joint proposals for ensuring free, fair and transparent elections.
“Repeated questions over the credibility of the electoral process undermine the credibility of Parliament itself. Free, fair and transparent elections are essential not only for protecting the rights of voters but also for strengthening democratic institutions,” she added.
Rehman said that the committee would deliberate and present its recommendations before parliament for approval. She stressed that electoral reforms must be a collective parliamentary undertaking to ensure broad-based political consensus and public confidence.
A source privy to the meeting told Dawn that the PPP delegation also urged the opposition leaders to sit down with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif regarding the appointment of a new chief election commissioner (CEC), as the incumbent CEC was still sitting in office even after two years of retirement.
Under the 27th Constitutional Amendment, the CEC continues to serve until the appointment of a successor.
Speaking to the media after the meeting, Rehman said: “We have told the opposition that they must join this committee, play an active role and openly express their reservations.”
She added, “If they (opposition members) remain absent, how will their reservations be addressed?”
“Every political party should ensure its participation in the committee. We all know that the PTI has boycotted parliamentary committees. So we asked them to join this committee, play an active role in it, express their reservations and suggest reforms,” Rehman said in the video statement.
These committees, she said, were the “heart of parliamentary work”.
She further stated that the PTI should participate in other parliamentary committees as well and “strengthen Parliament’s role”.
Rehman added that Abbas had welcomed the PPP delegation, expressed gratitude to Bilawal and said they would respond to the proposal after consultation.
“We are hopeful that their response will be positive,” she said.
PTI’s Parliamentary leader in the Senate, Senator Zafar, said while speaking to the media that electoral reforms were essential for strengthening democracy and ensuring public confidence in the electoral process.
However, he emphasised that the fundamental problem in Pakistan was not the absence of laws or the need to make new laws. “The real problem lies in their implementation,” he said.
“The key question is how we will ensure that existing electoral laws are implemented honestly, transparently and without discrimination. Unless this fundamental issue is addressed, merely introducing new laws will not achieve the desired results.”
Zafar thanked the PPP for extending the offer and stated that the PTI would discuss the proposal internally within the party before formulating and communicating its response.
He reiterated that any meaningful discussion on electoral reforms must address both the legal framework and, more importantly, the mechanisms to ensure its effective implementation.
A day earlier, another PPP delegation invited Opposition Leader Mehmood Khan Achakzai to participate in the parliamentary committee to promote consultation and discussion among parliamentary representatives on electoral reforms.
Later, in a press conference, Raja Pervez 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.
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”.
Chief of Defence Forces and Chief of Army Staff Field Marshal Asim Munir met with Singapore’s Foreign Minister Dr Vivian Balakrishnan on Friday, where the two discussed regional security and avenues for bilateral cooperation, according to the military’s media wing.
In a statement, Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said the foreign minister, who is currently in the country on an official visit, called on CDF Munir at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi.
The two leaders discussed matters of mutual interest, evolving regional and global security dynamics and avenues for bilateral cooperation, it said.
“Both sides exchanged views on regional peace and stability and underscored the importance of sustained engagement and cooperation in areas of shared interest,” the statement read.
During the meeting, CDF Munir reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Singapore, including enhancing “institutional linkages and constructive engagement for promoting regional peace, stability and security”.
The Singaporean diplomat reciprocated the commitment and lauded the professionalism of Pakistan’s armed forces. He acknowledged Pakistan’s role in regional peace and stability, ISPR added.
Earlier, the foreign minister met Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, during which the premier expressed admiration for Singapore’s “remarkable economic transformation” and achievements in innovation and development.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO), the premier reaffirmed Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening its longstanding and friendly relations with Singapore, particularly as the two countries are commemorating the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations this year.
“The prime minister expressed admiration for Singapore’s remarkable economic transformation and achievements in innovation and development. He underscored the importance Pakistan attaches to its partnership with Singapore, both bilaterally and multilaterally including within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean),” it said.
The statement said that the two sides discussed ways to enhance bilateral trade and investment and expand cooperation in priority areas, including the digital economy, fintech, infrastructure development, logistics, small and medium enterprises and the services sector. They also discussed exploring new avenues for mutually beneficial economic cooperation and enhancing people-to-people contacts.
“The two sides also exchanged views on regional and international developments and reaffirmed their commitment to continued engagement and cooperation at bilateral and multilateral fora,” it said.
The meetings came shortly after Dar discussed with the visiting diplomat the possible resumption of direct flights between Pakistan and Singapore “to facilitate business travel and close contact between our peoples”.
Dar shared this while addressing a press conference alongside Balakrishnan. He began by saying that Pakistan and Singapore enjoyed longstanding and friendly ties focused on mutual respect and goodwill, and Pakistan was one of the first countries to recognise Singapore following its independence in 1965.
He noted that Balakrishnan’s visit to Pakistan was the first one by a Singaporean foreign minister in over two decades.
“I am grateful that he was kind to accept my invitation,” he said, adding that the trip was particularly significant as the two countries were commemorating 60 years of diplomatic relations this year.
“The visit reflects our shared commitment to strengthen this friendship and broaden our cooperation.”
Dar said that delegation-level talks and a restricted meeting between the two sides earlier in the day focused on strengthening political and economic ties, expanding cooperation in technology and education and promoting culture and people-to-people contact.
“We also exchanged views on key regional and international developments,” he added.
He further stated that the two sides had recognised “the considerable untapped potential in our relationship” and stressed the importance of sustained engagement.
“We agreed to hold regular bilateral political consultation and promote high-level exchanges to strengthen cooperation between our governments and institutions,” he said, adding that economic cooperation was central to the discussions.
He said “we welcomed the significant growth” in bilateral trade between the two countries and discussed ways to build on this progress further.
“We agreed to encourage closer engagement between our business communities through the exchange of business delegations and stronger links between our chambers of commerce,” he elaborated.
Moreover, Dar continued, the reopening of the Trade and Investment Office at Pakistan’s High Commission in Singapore had also been discussed.
“The reopening of the Pakistan Trade and Investment Office is a testament to Pakistan’s resolve to promote stronger B2B ties with our friendly country Singapore.”
Beyond trade and investment, he said: “We discussed the scope for closer cooperation in education, research and innovation, including digital technologies and artificial intelligence. We also considered ways to strengthen links between our universities and research institutions. We also agreed to deepen cooperation in human resource development, agriculture and climate domains.”
Dar noted that Pakistani professionals in Singapore contributed to its economy and society and served as a “valuable bridge between our two nations”.
He said, “We agreed to encourage greater cultural, academic, youth and people-to-people exchanges.”
Moreover, he said, “We also discussed the possible resumption of direct flights to facilitate business travel and close contact between our peoples.”
Pakistan’s engagement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) as the country’s “oldest sectoral dialogue partner” also came under discussion, Dar said.
“Pakistan attaches great importance to practical cooperation with the organisation and its member states. I convey Pakistan’s best wishes to Singapore as it prepares to assume the Asean chairmanship in 2027.
“We look forward to working closely with Singapore in support of its priorities as the chair and to further strengthening the Pakistan-Asean cooperation.”
Dar said the meetings in Islamabad also presented the opportunity to share perspectives on regional and international peace and the security landscape.
“We discussed the impact of regional tensions on maritime trade,” he said, adding that secure sea routes and uninterrupted supply chains were essential to trade and economic stability.
He said the two sides had reaffirmed the central role of dialogue and diplomacy, respect for international law and adherence to the principles of the UN Charter in addressing regional and global challenges.
The DPM said he had conveyed to the visiting dignitary that Pakistan remained engaged with key regional and international partners to encourage continued dialogue and diplomacy as it was the “only viable means to resolve outstanding challenges”.
On Palestine, he said, “I expressed concern over the continued expansion of illegal settlements and efforts to alter the status of the West Bank and Al-Quds Al-Sharif. I stressed the urgent need for unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to the people of Gaza. I reiterated firm support for an independent, sovereign, viable, and contiguous state of Palestine based on pre-June 1967 borders with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital, which is the stated policy of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan”.
In the context of South Asia, Dar said he briefed the visiting dignitary on the importance of a “just, durable and peaceful settlement of the longstanding Jammu and Kashmir dispute in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions”.
He concluded his speech by saying: “We look forward to working very closely with Singapore to carry forward the understanding reached today. Pakistan and Singapore’s friendship remains strong and forward-looking as we mark 60 years of diplomatic relations.
“We have committed to deepening this partnership and building a more prosperous future for our people.”
Speaking after him, Balakrishnan began by saying: “This is a significant year for Singapore and Pakistan. We have never forgotten that Pakistan was one of the earliest countries to recognise Singapore’s independence. And that’s why we are commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties.”
Over the years, he said, there had been high-level exchanges between the two countries.
He added that “we’ve had opportunities for a substantive and productive exchange of views”.
“We’re in constant communication, far more than people realise — that we have a very effective partnership.”
Balakrishnan continued that Pakistan and Singapore had “excellent ties” at the diplomatic level.
“In fact, they are so good that it makes it even more obvious that actual trade relations — and looking at the numbers and the data — ought to be much higher. And that, I would say, is the first order of business.
“We need to facilitate greater trade and investment flows. We need to strengthen the links, especially between SMEs, between businessmen, and they need to meet, they need to know each other, they need to understand the business opportunities and the risks on both sides in Southeast Asia as well as South Asia,” he added.
Balakrishnan said governments of the two countries needed to facilitate these interactions and identify new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation.
“In an increasingly uncertain global environment, including on the business side of it, I think it is all the more important for our two countries to remain open, connected and constructively engaged with each other,” he said.
The two sides, he said, also discussed carbon markets, which “we think is another fertile opportunity for Singapore and Pakistan to work together”.
“It will be another promising avenue to attract investments into projects in Pakistan that reduce emissions while supporting sustainable development, and our officials are exploring opportunities in this area.”
Speaking about the exchange of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on disaster management between Singapore and Pakistan, he said it reflected “our shared commitment to strengthen disaster preparedness and response”.
Disasters, he said, were not something one wished for. “But it is something which we have to prepare for and to be acutely aware that at the rate things are going, and with the progression of climate change, this is a current and clear threat. And the more we can work together and prepare together, the more resilient we will be”.
Unfortunately, Pakistan had extensive experience in responding to large-scale natural disasters, Balakrishnan said, adding that Singapore could learn from Pakistan in how to cope with disasters and be more resilient for the future.
“Through this MoU, we hope to explore cooperation in areas including early warning systems, the sharing of best practices, strengthening search and rescue capabilities, as well as hopefully conducting joint training and exercises.
“It’s again worth remembering that disasters do not respect boundaries, do not have passports, and again, the more we can work together, the better,” he added.
Moreover, the Singaporean foreign minister said “we welcome the opportunities to deepen cooperation between our institutes of higher learning, which includes the Nanyang Technological University and the National University of Singapore with Pakistan’s National University of Sciences and Technology”.
“I want to emphasise that this is just the beginning. We hope to expand that list in due time.”
On regional and international developments, he congratulated Dar for the “incredibly valuable role that Pakistan is playing”.
“For instance, we know there is crisis in the Gulf, and in fact, most of the energy that comes through the Gulf is actually headed to the east — South Asia, Southeast Asia, and to Northeast Asia.
“And the unique, but very constructive and valuable role that Pakistan plays is the one which we commend you for, and we wish you every success because if you succeed, it’s good for all of us.”
He emphasised that international law was critical for both Pakistan and Singapore.
And in the case of Singapore, he said, “because we are an island city state and our trade volume is three times our GDP, the maritime arena is essential. And therefore, the United Nations Convention of the Law of the Sea 1982, which sets out the freedom of navigation and overflight, especially in straits used for international navigation as a right not by the grace of littoral powers — This is of acute importance to us, and we are very, very heartened that Pakistan stands in exactly the same position this issue with us”.
He noted that Singapore would take the chairmanship of Asean next year while Pakistan was already the chair of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation. This, he said, would present another set of opportunities for these two regional blocs, “two dynamic, diverse regional blocs, to look for opportunities to do together”.
He then moved on to education, saying that opportunities in this area were also discussed.
“We are living in an age of a new industrial revolution, AI and digital technologies, and it is essential to ensure that our young people have the relevant skills not for yesterday’s jobs, but for tomorrow’s jobs.
“And so, this emphasis on skills and relevant qualifications and capability and human talent development is another very important area for cooperation between Pakistan and Singapore,” he added.
Earlier, Dar and Balakrishnan held talks and discussed ways to enhance cooperation in trade and investment, the Foreign Office (FO) said.
Balakrishnan arrived in Islamabad earlier in the day. He called on DPM Dar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The FO said in a statement that the two leaders reviewed the “longstanding and friendly relations” between Pakistan and Singapore as the two countries marked 60 years of diplomatic relations.
They underscored the importance of sustained high-level exchanges and discussed ways to further enhance cooperation in trade, investment, connectivity and skills development, while promoting business-to-business exchanges and people-to-people contacts, the statement added.
Dar and Balakrishnan also discussed cooperation at multilateral fora and Pakistan’s enhanced engagement with Asean, particularly in the context of Singapore’s forthcoming chairmanship of the body in 2027.
Moreover, exchanging views on regional and global developments, Dar emphasised the importance of dialogue and diplomacy in resolving disputes and advancing lasting peace and stability, the statement said.
Later, their opening remarks from delegation-level talks between the two sides were televised, with Dar saying that the depth of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Singapore was not reflected in economic ties.
He said his focus had been on “economic diplomacy” after joining the Foreign Office, adding: “If we work together, […] I am sure we can reach a new level of economic relations.”
The DPM further suggested the Board of Investment in Pakistan could work with its counterpart in Singapore.
He said the two countries had “great cooperation” on multilateral issues and Singapore’s interest in regional issues was “greatly appreciated”.
“You remain in touch, and we keep sharing developments with you.”
He added that the two had also discussed Palestine and Kashmir issues, among other matters, in a restricted meeting.
“So I think this friendship and great cooperation will continue from our side, and I am sure you will always reciprocate, rather go a mile ahead of us,” the DPM said.
For his part, the Singaporean foreign minister recalled that Pakistan was one of the “early countries to recognise Singapore post independence”. He pointed out that Singapore was 61 years old and was commemorating the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties with Pakistan.
According to the FO, the delegation-level talks focused on expanding trade and investment, strengthening cooperation in agriculture and food security and enhancing connectivity to promote tourism and business exchanges.
“The two sides also explored collaboration in education, vocational training, disaster management and information technology. The Singaporean foreign minister highlighted the potential of carbon markets to attract green investment to Pakistan. Dar emphasised the importance of stronger institutional mechanisms and regular follow-up to advance mutually beneficial cooperation,” it said.
“The Ministers also exchanged views on regional and global developments. Singapore’s foreign minister commended Pakistan’s sustained efforts to promote dialogue and diplomacy in the region and its important contributions to regional peace and stability,” it added.
“Both sides agreed to build on the positive momentum generated by the visit, ensure timely follow-up on the understandings reached, and sustain engagement to further strengthen Pakistan-Singapore relations across all areas of mutual interest,” it said.
After the meeting, Dar and Balakrishnan also exchanged an MoU on cooperation in disaster management between Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority and the Singapore Civil Defence Force in Islamabad.
“The MoU reflects the shared commitment of Pakistan and Singapore to strengthening cooperation in disaster preparedness and response and building resilience against natural disasters,” the FO statement on the document’s exchange said.
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