KARACHI: As Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi heads to Afghanistan today on a one-day visit, experts said the step forward should not be mistaken as a major breakthrough in the fragmented relations between the two countries.
Qureshi is the first high-level Pakistani official to visit Afghanistan since Prime Minister Imran Khan took office on July 26.
Among other things on the agenda is the deteriorating law and order situation in Afghanistan, especially in the violence-hit provinces of Ghazni, Nangarhar and Logar provinces, a senior diplomat in Kabul told Arab News. “The Afghanistan-Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Solidarity (APAPPS), agreed between President Dr. Ashraf Ghani and Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi in April earlier this year, will be the major topic of discussion,” the diplomat, requesting anonymity as he was not allowed to speak to media, said.
“Qureshi is coming to Kabul on his first foreign tour at the request of his Afghan counterpart, Salahuddin Rabbani, as the Afghan government desperately needs peace in the three troubled provinces ahead of the country’s parliamentary elections on the 28th of next month,” he said.
Restoring peace in Nangarhar, Ghazni and Logar — the three areas where the Taliban and Daesh have wrecked major havoc — is a matter of serious concern “for both the US and the Afghan government”. “Ghani, who is going to contest the presidential elections next year, wants to take credit by having peace in these areas,” he said.
He explained that the APAPPS provides a comprehensive and structured mechanism to enhance engagement between the two countries and all talks held on Saturday will look to build on its inaugural session held on July 22, in Kabul.
In the meeting, officials from both sides had assessed all areas of mutual interest, including counter-terrorism, bilateral ties, repatriation of Afghan refugees’ and prospects for peace and reconciliation. However, a massive Taliban attack followed in Ghazni soon after, making the meeting look like an exercise in futility. “The APAPPS hasn’t worked so far and the Afghan government now wants it to produce the required results,” the diplomat said.
Rahimullah Yousufzai, a Peshawar-based veteran journalist and an expert on Afghan affairs, said: “It is an initial exploratory visit in which the negotiating teams will get to know each other so we should not expect any major breakthrough.”
This meeting will provide the basis for the focused discussions, Yousufzai explained. “The Afghan government will speak about the APAPPS, especially the point binding both countries not to allow its soil to be used against the neighbor. So action against Afghan Taliban will be urged. The Pakistani delegation will press for action against Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which is using Afghan soil against Pakistan.”
Shahid M Amin, Pakistan’s former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, the Soviet Union, France, Nigeria and Libya, said PM Khan and Qureshi have categorically stated that peace in Afghanistan is in the interest of Pakistan. “Peace in Pakistan depends on a peaceful Afghanistan and our government has always wanted it,” Amin told Arab News, adding that Kabul had been wrongly “crediting” Pakistan for Afghan Taliban’s success in Afghanistan. “The Taliban have achieved its success on its own but the situation is wrongly assessed by making Pakistan a scapegoat,” he complained.
The good thing, Amin said, is that the US’ commitment toward attaining peace in Afghanistan has increased, while the Taliban’s attitude has also softened after having direct talks with Washington. “If Pakistan can assert any influence it will surely make for a peaceful Afghanistan, which in turn is indispensable for a peaceful Pakistan.”
Amin said the visit will certainly have an impact on addressing these grievances. “It is high time that both countries remove each other’s reservations and go ahead for broader peace. Imran Khan has said that the issue of Afghanistan can be resolved through a political solution,” he added.
Yousufzai, however, is skeptical and says the timing should also be kept in mind before predicting the outcome of Saturday’s visit.
Former Pakistan Foreign Secretary Shamshad Ahmed Khan said a major change can be expected only if the US leaves Afghanistan. Ruing on the fact that 18 years have passed since the Afghan war, he said that the US has yet to take a leaf from history and should realize that peace in Afghanistan cannot be restored until all foreign forces leave the country.
“Peace is not electricity that you [can access by] turning on a switch. For resolving issues, one needs time and an understanding of root causes, which are not caused by Pakistan but because of the US presence,” he said. Turning the focus on the influence of India due to American presence, Khan adds: “All these hurdles should be removed for peace in the region.”
Waiting to exhale – no breakthrough expected in Pak-Afghan ties
Waiting to exhale – no breakthrough expected in Pak-Afghan ties
- Peace talks top agenda as FM Qureshi heads to Kabul even as experts urge caution
- Look to resolve volatile conditions in three provinces, among other things
Pakistan calls on US, UK to urge India to come for dialogue at neutral location
- After brokering May 10 ceasefire, US had said Pakistan and India had agreed “to talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site”
- Weeks after worst military confrontation in decades, India and Pakistan have dispatched top lawmakers to press their cases in US, UK
ISLAMABAD: The head of an official delegation visiting London to present Islamabad’s position following a recent military standoff with New Delhi said on Tuesday the United States and the United Kingdom should encourage India to come for dialogue at a neutral location.
Weeks after their worst military confrontation in decades, India and Pakistan dispatched top lawmakers to press their cases in the United States, where President Donald Trump has shown eagerness for diplomacy between them. The Pakistan delegation is currently in London in the next stop of its mission and will go onwards to Brussels.
Gunmen on April 22 massacred 26 tourists on the Indian-administered part of Kashmir in the deadliest attack on civilians in decades in the scenic region that has seen a long-running insurgency and is disputed between India and Pakistan since 1947. India accused Pakistan of backing the assailants — which it denies — and launched strikes on Pakistani territory.
More than 70 people were killed in missile, drone and artillery fire on both sides for around four days before the US and other allies brokered a ceasefire on May 10. US secretary of state Marco Rubio also said at the time the two nations had agreed “to start talks on a broad set of issues at a neutral site.” He did not specify when the talks would take place or where.
“As part of our achieving this ceasefire, it was agreed at the time that going forward, we would have a dialogue at a neutral location, covering all friction points,” said Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, the head of the Pakistani delegation and the scion of the political Bhutto dynasty.
Bhutto Zardari, who was speaking to BBC Radio, said it seemed from recent statements by Indian leaders and actions of the government in New Delhi that they were not in favor of pursuing talks.
“We still believe that the United States and other allies can engage with India as a friend and explain to them that these decisions are not in their interest,” he said. “Similarly, here in the United Kingdom, you have a long history with India and Pakistan. [Disputed] Kashmir is the unfinished agenda of the partition [of India and creation of Pakistan in 1947] and forms the root cause of our conflict.
“Your [UK] government too is well-placed to speak to the Indian government as a friend and explain to them that refusing to engage with their neighbor, for two nuclear-armed countries to have no dispute resolution mechanism, is not in anybody’s interest.”
Separately, Bhutto Zardari led Pakistan’s delegation in a discussion with the Financial Times Editorial Board in London.
“We reaffirmed Pakistan’s abiding commitment to peace, emphasizing that dialogue, not domination, remains the only sustainable path forward with India,” the leader wrote on X.
“Expressed grave concern over the erosion of strategic stability: India’s violations of the Indus Waters Treaty, the weaponization of water, and the dangerous descent toward conflict in a nuclearized region, a trajectory that threatens to condemn future generations to perpetual insecurity.”
Pakistan announces income tax relief for salaried class in FY2025-26 budget
- Tax rate for those earning between $2,128–$4,255 annually to be cut from 5% to 2.5%
- Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains below 10%, among the lowest in the region
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan announced significant income tax relief for the salaried class on Tuesday as it announced its federal budget for the fiscal year 2025-26, aiming to ease the burden on working people amid high inflation and economic uncertainty.
Pakistan’s tax-to-GDP ratio remains below 10%, among the lowest in the region. The government has pledged to raise this ratio to 14% through tax reforms, digital enforcement, and expanding the tax base.
“First of all, we are providing relief where it is most needed, relief for the salaried class,” Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, presenting his first full-year budget in the National Assembly, said.
“In this regard, there is a proposition for a significant reduction in the income tax slabs for the working class.”
Aurangzeb said the income tax rate for individuals earning between Rs600,000 and Rs1.2 million ($2,128–$4,255) annually would be cut from 5% to 2.5%.
“For those earning up to Rs22,000,000 [$7,788], the tax rate has been proposed at 11% instead of 15%. Similarly, those who earn a higher salary, there is a proposition of tax reduction,” the finance minister said.
“For those who are earning between Rs22,000,000 [$7,788] up to Rs32,000,000 [$11,328], the tax rate has been proposed to be reduced from 25% to 23%.”
For high-income earners making over Rs10 million ($35,460) annually, a 1% reduction in the additional surcharge has been recommended to help curb the ongoing brain drain, the minister said.
Aurangzeb described the changes as part of broader efforts to simplify the tax structure and “strike a balance between inflationary pressures and take-home pay.”
The federal budget, with a total outlay of Rs17.57 trillion ($62 billion), comes as Pakistan seeks to stabilize its economy under a $7 billion International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout program approved last year.
The budget also includes a 20% increase in defense spending, while total government expenditure is expected to be 7% lower year-on-year compared to the last fiscal, reflecting fiscal consolidation goals tied to IMF negotiations.
The proposed budget will be debated in parliament before final approval.
Pakistan to raise defense spending by 20% in FY26 amid tensions with India
- Pakistan unveils $62 billion budget, a 7% decrease in overall spending, debt servicing to consume half of total spending
- Budget reflects attempt to balance security concerns with ongoing fiscal reform efforts under $7 billion IMF loan program
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will increase defense spending by more than 20% in the 2025-26 fiscal year to Rs2.55 trillion ($9.04 billion) as it seeks to bolster military capabilities following the country’s worst confrontation with India in nearly three decades.
The move comes as the government unveiled a Rs17.57 trillion ($62 billion) federal budget on Tuesday, reflecting a 7% decrease in overall spending compared to the current fiscal year. The largest portion of the budget – Rs8.21 trillion ($29 billion), or nearly half of total expenditures – will go toward debt servicing, continuing to strain Pakistan’s fiscal space.
“National defense is the most important priority of the government,” Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said while presenting his first full-year budget in the National Assembly. “For this national duty, Rs2,550 billion [$9.04 billion] will be allocated.”
Pakistan’s defense budget for the outgoing fiscal year stood at Rs2.12 trillion ($7.44 billion). The increase comes weeks after a four-day military standoff with India in May, which erupted following an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that left 26 Hindu pilgrims dead. New Delhi blamed Pakistan-backed militants, a charge Islamabad denied.
The two nuclear-armed neighbors exchanged missile, drone, artillery, and air strikes before agreeing to a ceasefire on May 10.
Aurangzeb said the budget was being presented “at a very important and historic moment when the nation in recent days showed extraordinary unity, determination and strength.”
“After the Pak-India war, India has threatened to block the flow of river water into Pakistan. India is trying to use water as a weapon. I want to make it clear that water guarantees Pakistan’s survival and no hindrance will be tolerated in this respect,” the finance minister added.
Fiscal consolidation under IMF watch
Pakistan remains under a $7 billion IMF loan program approved last year, and the budget reflects an attempt to balance security concerns with ongoing fiscal reform efforts.
The government has set a GDP growth target of 4.2% for the next fiscal year, while aiming to reduce the fiscal deficit to 3.9% of GDP. The economy grew just 2.6% in 2024/25, falling short of its 3.6% target due to weak agriculture and industrial output. Inflation is projected at 7.5%.
In a May 23 statement, the IMF said Pakistan had pledged to maintain fiscal consolidation while safeguarding “social and priority expenditures,” targeting a primary surplus of 1.6% of GDP in 2025/26.
Aurangzeb said the new budget aimed to “change the DNA of our economy” by boosting exports, building foreign exchange reserves, and promoting productivity to avoid recurring balance of payment crises.
Bridging the gap
The government expects total revenues of Rs11.1 trillion ($39 billion), leaving a Rs6.5 trillion ($23 billion) financing gap to be filled through domestic and external borrowing, as well as privatization proceeds. Privatization is expected to bring in Rs87 billion, while Rs106 billion ($376 million) is projected from foreign sources.
The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has been tasked with collecting Rs14.1 trillion of the projected Rs19.3 trillion in gross revenue, marking a 19% year-on-year increase.
Under the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP), Rs1 trillion ($3.5 billion) has been allocated, with Rs328 billion ($1.16 billion) earmarked for transport infrastructure projects. The government also set aside Rs113 billion ($399 million) for education and Rs32 billion ($113 million) for health care.
Aurangzeb also announced plans to grow IT exports to $25 billion over the next five years and forecast a rise in workers’ remittances to $38 billion by the end of the current fiscal year.
Mixed reaction from markets
The budget drew mixed reactions from analysts and market participants.
Muhammad Waqas Ghani, head of research at JS Global Capital Ltd., said the proposals prioritized “tax reduction, energy sector changes, and austerity” in line with the last two budgets.
He noted the construction sector was favored, while the auto industry was the most negatively affected.
“On equities, CGT (capital gains tax) remains at 15%, but income from loans will be taxed at 25% to encourage mutual funds to divert their funds toward the equity asset class,” Ghani said.
Amreen Soorani, head of research at Al Meezan Investment Management, said the budget proposals were largely in line with market expectations.
“While there are some discernible disparities in the taxation of various asset classes, the initial reaction from the listed equity market appears to be one of cautious optimism,” she told Arab News.
However, the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OICCI), which represents over 200 multinational companies in Pakistan, expressed disappointment, urging the government to overhaul tax structures to improve competitiveness and attract foreign investment.
Pakistan PM urges global powers to take ‘immediate action’ to end Israeli offensive in Gaza
- Over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed since Israel launched its latest military offensive in Oct. 7, 2023
- Pakistan has for decades called for establishment of independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday urged world powers to take immediate action to end Israel’s military offensive in Gaza, saying he hoped innocent Palestinians would achieve their dream of freedom soon.
Over 54,000 Palestinians have been killed and much of the coastal enclave of Gaza devastated since Israel’s latest air and ground offensive began in October 2023, health authorities in Gaza say.
“The oppression, cruelty and barbarism taking place in Palestine and Kashmir — no matter how much we condemn it, it is not enough” Sharif said while addressing a federal cabinet meeting.
“But I believe this is a very critical time for the global powers to effectively use their influence to ensure a ceasefire in Palestine, because what is happening there is the shedding of innocent Muslim blood — the blood of little girls, children and parents.”
The Pakistani PM added:
“I have strong hope in Allah Almighty, God willing, that the people of Palestine will gain freedom, the people of Kashmir will gain freedom. They have made tremendous sacrifices.”
Pakistan has been calling for a ceasefire and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza since the latest war broke out.
Pakistan, which does not recognize Israel, has for decades called for the establishment of an independent Palestinian state based on pre-1967 borders, with Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital.
Although nearly 150 countries have recognized Palestine statehood, most major Western powers including the United States, Britain, France, Germany and Japan, have not.
Muslim countries that do not recognize Israel include Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Syria and Yemen.
Pakistan shares range bound amid uncertainty over budget announcement
- Index recorded intraday high of 970 points and low of 51 points, eventually closing at 122,024, gaining 383 points or 0.32 percent
- Pakistan will unveil annual federal budget, seeking to kickstart growth while finding resources for hike in defense expenditure
ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Stock Market witnessed a range-bound session today, Tuesday, with the index fluctuating within a narrow band amid uncertainty surrounding the budget announcement.
Pakistan will unveil its annual federal budget for the coming fiscal year on Tuesday evening, seeking to kickstart growth while finding resources for an expected hike in defense expenditure following a military conflict with India last month, the worst between the nuclear-armed neighbors in decades.
Islamabad will also have to contend with remaining within the discipline of its International Monetary Fund program and the uncertainty from new trade tariffs being imposed by the United States, its biggest export market.
“The index recorded an intraday high of 970 points and a low of 51 points, eventually closing at 122,024 — gaining 383 points or 0.32 percent,” brokerage house Topline Securities said in its daily market review.
“Market participation remained healthy, with total traded volume reaching 591 million shares and a traded value of PKR 21 billion.”
Media reports say the government is likely to present a 17.6 trillion rupee ($62.45 billion) budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, down 6.7 percent from this fiscal year. It has projected a fiscal deficit of 4.8 percent of GDP, against a targeted 5.9 percent deficit in 2024-25, the reports say.
Analysts said they expect an increase of around 20 percent in the defense budget, likely offset by cuts in development spending.
Pakistan allocated 2.1 trillion Pakistani rupees($7.45 billion) for defense in the outgoing fiscal year, including $2 billion for equipment and other assets. An additional 563 billion rupees ($1.99 billion) was set aside for military pensions, which are not counted within the official defense budget.
The government of Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has projected 4.2 percent economic growth in 2025-26, saying it has steadied the economy, which had looked at risk of defaulting on its debts as recently as 2023. Growth this fiscal year is likely to be 2.7 percent, against an initial target of 3.6 percent set in the budget last year.
Pakistan’s growth lags far behind the region. In 2024, South Asian countries grew by an average of 5.8 percent and 6.0 percent growth is expected in 2025, according to the Asian Development Bank.
With inputs from Reuters
