Pakistan’s long-range missile plans raise alarm in Washington
The Biden administration has raised concerns about Pakistan’s development of long-range ballistic missiles, warning that the program could eventually create a capability to strike the United States. Officials released intelligence about the program and imposed sanctions on entities linked to it, citing failed diplomatic efforts to address the issue.
Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer described the program as an “emerging threat” to the U.S., pointing to Pakistan’s work on advanced missile systems and testing equipment for larger rocket motors.
Finer emphasized that the list of countries with nuclear weapons and long-range missile capabilities targeting the U.S. is limited and typically adversarial, making Pakistan’s actions particularly worrisome.
The U.S. sanctioned Pakistan’s state-owned National Development Complex, which oversees missile development, including the Shaheen ballistic missile program. The State Department also imposed sanctions on three Karachi-based companies and Chinese entities supporting Pakistan’s missile efforts.
Pakistan’s government dismissed the U.S. claims, calling them unfounded and designed to hinder its ability to defend against India. Analysts suggest the missile program may aim to deter U.S. involvement in potential conflicts with India or complicate efforts to disarm Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal.
Islamabad’s nuclear weapons program has historically focused on countering India, with which it has fought three wars.
Officials estimate Pakistan’s ability to develop missiles capable of reaching the U.S. could take a decade. However, the White House stressed the urgency of addressing the issue now to prevent further progress.
Relations between the U.S. and Pakistan have strained in recent years, partly due to Washington’s closer ties with India and Islamabad’s growing alignment with China.
Pakistan’s power grid threatened by growing adoption of Chinese solar panels
Pakistan is currently experiencing some of Asia’s highest energy prices, as electricity costs have increased by 155% since 2021. With over 40% of the population living below the poverty line, many households are turning to renewable energy — particularly solar power — to offset high electricity bills.
However, this growing trend towards solar poses challenges to Pakistan’s power sector, which is already struggling with financial strain and a decline in grid-based energy demand.
In recent years, energy expenses for some Pakistani residents have surpassed their rent payments, prompting a shift toward alternative energy sources.
In the first half of 2024 alone, Pakistan imported $1.4 billion worth of solar panels from China, making it the third-largest buyer of Chinese solar products globally.
For consumers, this renewable energy source can be up to 70% cheaper than relying on the nation’s gas-powered grid. While this transition has provided relief for many Pakistanis, it has intensified challenges for the national power grid.
As more residents choose solar power over grid-based energy, the financial burden on remaining customers has increased, driving officials to consider further price hikes to offset the shortfall.
The nation’s power minister, Awais Leghari, described the situation as a “catch-22,” noting that as more consumers leave the grid, fewer users are left to shoulder the already-high capacity payments, potentially making energy unaffordable for many residents.
This reduction in revenue for the country’s power sector comes as it also deals with over $9 billion in debt, much of it owed to China. Pakistan currently has more Chinese energy financing than any other nation.
With state-run energy consumption at its lowest point in four years, officials are working to renegotiate their debt terms with Chinese creditors to ease financial pressure.
Russia and Pakistan forced into barter system due to sanctions
Russia and Pakistan are bypassing international sanctions with some old fashioned bartering. Instead of using currency, the two are exchanging goods like mandarin oranges and chickpeas.
This development comes as Russia faces mounting challenges getting basic needs for its citizens and engaging in the global financial market. Sanctions on the country have forced it out of lucrative trade deals due to its invasion of Ukraine.
In particular, U.S. secondary sanctions have made foreign lenders wary of facilitating any trade that might bolster Russia’s war efforts. The effects have been felt even between the “no limits partners” China and Russia, where 98% of Chinese banks were declining Russian payments by August.
In response, Russia and Pakistan have found a potential workaround: a barter trade mechanism.
At the first-ever Pakistan-Russia Trade and Investment Forum, held in Moscow on Tuesday, Oct. 1, the two countries outlined a deal that avoids traditional financial transactions altogether.
Under the agreement, Russia will send 20,000 tons of chickpeas to Pakistan in exchange for the same quantity of rice. Additionally, Pakistan will be sending 10,000 tons of potatoes and 15,000 tons of mandarin oranges for Russian lentils and even more chickpeas.
The Pakistani Deputy Minister of Trade Nasir Hamid said that difficulties in making payments have forced the partner countries to opt for the barter mechanism.
Russia is no stranger to bartering, it even made similar deals with China during the Cold War. That practice continued far into the 1990s. As new rounds of U.S. sanctions affect Moscow’s trade relations, it seems that bartering is once again becoming a viable solution.
The total export value from the Pakistani side alone is expected to exceed half a billion dollars.
Gunmen kill at least 23 people taken from vehicles in southwestern Pakistan
Gunmen fatally shot at least 23 passengers after identifying them and taking them from buses, vehicles and trucks in one of the deadliest attacks in southwestern Pakistan. Police said the killings happened overnight Sunday, Aug. 25, and the attackers burned at least 10 vehicles before fleeing the scene in Baluchistan.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet, but separatists in that area have often killed workers and others from the country’s eastern Punjab as part of a campaign to force them to leave.
The attack came just hours after the outlawed Baluch Liberation Army warned people to stay away from highways as they launched attacks on security forces in various parts of the province.
Pakistani man charged with cyberterrorism for misinfo that led to UK riots
Farhan Asif, a 32-year-old freelance web developer, has been charged with cyberterrorism after allegedly spreading false information online about a deadly stabbing in the United Kingdom. Asif was arrested during the week of Aug. 18, at his home in Lahore, Pakistan, by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA).
According to a police report seen by various news outlets, Asif operated the website Channel3Now, where he allegedly posted false details about the suspect involved in a fatal stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport, England, on July 29. The incident resulted in the deaths of three young girls and injuries to eight other children and two adults.
The riots resulted in injuries to dozens of police officers, over 1,000 arrests, and nearly 500 charges, with more than 150 individuals sentenced to jail time.
Counterprotests also emerged, with thousands taking to the streets to support immigrants, holding signs reading “Racists Out, Refugees In” and chanting “Love, Not Hate.”
The actual suspect was later identified as Axel Rudakubana, a 17-year-old from Cardiff, Wales, born in the U.K. to Rwandan parents. A judge allowed his name to be released to help stop the spread of misinformation.
The motive for the stabbing remains unclear.
Police recovered two laptops and a mobile phone from Asif’s home, where they found the X account of Channel3Now active. Asif reportedly confessed during interrogation but claimed he was not the source of the false information, stating he received it from a U.K.-based social media account. The website has since been taken offline, and there has been no activity on the X account since Aug. 11.
A Pakistani court has granted authorities an additional four days to question Asif. Pakistani police stated that Asif’s actions “created a sense of fear” in Britain and damaged Pakistan’s reputation.
Before his arrest, Asif was confronted by ITV about his role in fueling the riots. He responded, “I don’t know how such a small article or a minor Twitter account could cause widespread confusion.”
Harris introduces Walz; Vance speaks to supporters during Philly rallies
Vice President Kamala Harris introduced Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz as her running mate while Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance spoke to supporters during separate rallies in Philadelphia. And U.S. officials say a Pakistani national with ties to the Iranian government has been arrested in connection with a plot to kill American politicians. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Aug. 7, 2024.
Harris introduces Walz; Vance speaks to supporters during Philly rallies
Both major political parties made a showing in Philadelphia on Tuesday, Aug. 6. Vice President Kamala Harris and her newly picked running mate Gov. Tim Walz, D-Minn., held their first rally together. In a dueling rally nearby, former President Donald Trump’s running mate Sen. J.D. Vance, R-Ohio, made his first stop in the city since joining the Republican ticket.
Harris joined Walz on stage in front of thousands of people at a rally and in front of millions of voters across the country who tuned in.
Polls show 71% of Americans are not familiar with Walz. The Minnesota governor got the opportunity to introduce himself in battleground territory and took aim at the vice presidential pick on the other side.
“Like all regular people, I grew up with in the heartland,” Walz told supporters. “J.D. studied at Yale, had his career funded by Silicon Valley billionaires and then wrote a bestseller trashing that community. Come on. That’s not what middle America is. And I got to tell you, I can’t wait to debate the guy.”
At Vance’s rally, he responded to the news of Walz being Harris’ selection for vice president.
“Tim Walz’s record is a joke,” Vance said. “He’s been one of the most far left radicals in the entire United States government at any level. But I think that what Tim Walz’s selection says is that Kamala Harris has bent the knee to the far left of her party, which is what she always does.”
Vance also criticized Harris for not doing a sit-down interview with the media since becoming the presumptive nominee of the Democrat Party 17 days ago.
Harris will be hitting at least five battleground states in the days to come as the Democratic National Convention (DNC) approaches later in August.
Trump announces ‘major interview’ with Elon Musk
Former President Trump has announced he will be sitting down with Elon Musk for an interview on Monday, Aug. 12. Trump made the announcement on his Truth Social platform Tuesday, Aug. 6, saying, “On Monday night [Aug. 12] I’ll be doing a major interview with Elon Musk — details to follow.”
In July, the tech mogul endorsed Trump following the assassination attempt on the former president during a rally in Pennsylvania.
Pakistani national with ties to Iran charged in Trump assassination plot
The Department of Justice says it’s arrested a Pakistani national with ties to the Iranian government in connection with a plot to kill American politicians and officials. Multiple sources said one of the main targets was former President Trump.
Asif Merchant, 46, is charged with murder for hire after DOJ officials said he flew from Pakistan to the U.S. to recruit hitmen for the plot. They said one of the so-called “hitmen” he contacted was a confidential informant for the FBI.
Trump’s security was increased in June after authorities learned of an Iranian plot to kill him. This was before the assassination attempt at a Butler, Pennsylvania rally and is not related to those events, according to the FBI.
Officials said there’s been dozens of aftershocks ranging in magnitude between 2.5 and 4.5 following the initial rumblings that began around 9 p.m. local time. Seismologists called it “a pretty active sequence in such a short amount of time.”
Hamas names Oct. 7 attack mastermind as new leader
Hamas has named its new leader following the assassination of former leader Ismail Haniyehin Iran. Yahyah Sinwar, known as the mastermind behind the Oct. 7 attack, is now leading the terror group.
The move is likely to provoke Israel, which has had Sinwar at the top of its most wanted list since that deadly attack ten months ago. The Israeli military responded to Sinwar’s appointment, vowing to take him out as well.
Cori Bush loses Missouri primary; Michigan Senate race is set
Media projections show Democratic congresswoman and “squad” member Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., lost her primary race in Missouri Tuesday, Aug. 6. Bush has been a vocal critic of Israel in its war against Hamas, and pro-Israel groups spent upwards of $10 million on efforts to unseat her.
In Michigan, a battleground territory, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers won the Republican nomination for a U.S. Senate seat, setting him up to face Democratic Rep. Elissa Slotkin in the November election.
Restaurant chain Buca di Beppo files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy
The restaurant chain Buca di Beppo has filed for bankruptcy protection. The privately owned company says revenue never fully recovered after the COVID-19 pandemic.
As part of its bankruptcy, the three-decade-old business said it began closing underperforming restaurants this year, including a dozen locations in July alone.
It will also restructure the rest of its 44 locations, but said it will continue to serve its family-size portions that has been Buca’s staple.
Hocker, Thomas bring home gold for the US on the track
The U.S. took home two Olympic gold medals on the track in Paris on Tuesday. That brings the team’s gold medal count to 24 and the overall total to 86.
First, Cole Hocker won the men’s 1,500-meter relay, coming from behind in the final seconds to set an Olympic record at 3 minutes and 27.65 seconds.
Then Gabby Thomas earned her first Olympic gold medal, winning the women’s 200-meter final after taking the bronze back in Tokyo. Thomas crossed the finish line in 21.83 seconds to give the U.S. its first gold in the event in 12 years.
Pakistan and Iran both launched strikes into each other’s territory in the week of Jan. 15. Neither country appears to want a war with the other, but in a region where military might is the most common form of diplomacy, the tension could still boil over.
Iran and Pakistan are making the same argument: The other side is providing a haven to Baloch militant groups who want to create their own country. Iran and Pakistan share a 560-mile border, where a region known as Balochistan exists. The border between the two nations is predominantly lawless, with militants and drug runners crossing frequently.
On Tuesday, Jan. 16, Iran struck who it said were Baloch militants operating in Pakistan. Two people were killed. On Thursday, Jan. 18, Pakistan retaliated by striking who it said were also Baloch militants operating in Iran. Nine people were killed.
Pakistan and Iran were both mad at the other for launching the strikes but are now trying to navigate a plan of action that won’t lead to direct conflict.
Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, a spokesperson for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry, said the strikes were based on credible intelligence and took out terrorists, making it clear the actions weren’t directed against Tehran.
“Iran is a brotherly country,” Baloch said, “And the people of Pakistan have great respect and affection for the people of Iran.”
The strikes aren’t happening in a vacuum. Iran’s regime is under pressure to stand tough against internal attacks by militant groups. In addition to the strikes into Pakistan, Iran launched air assaults against targets in Iraq and Syria. Iran said it targeted ISIS militants responsible for two attacks during a memorial for Qasem Soleimani. More than 100 people were killed and dozens more were wounded in the twin bombings. The memorial marked the four-year anniversary of Soleimani’s killing by a U.S. drone strike.
Iran is also trying to project its power in the Middle East so the militant groups it supports — such as Hamas, Hezbollah and the Houthis — keep doing Tehran’s bidding. Iran wants those groups to keep up the pressure against Israeli forces in Gaza while also attacking commercial shipping and naval vessels in the Red Sea.
On the other side of the border, Pakistan’s military would be seen as soft if it let Iran’s initial strike go unchecked. The military holds a lot of political sway in Pakistan and can’t afford to be seen as weak — especially not with a general election coming up in February.
Nuclear-armed Pakistan also can’t afford to look weak in front of nuclear-armed India. The two countries have a complex relationship and tensions between the two are always kept at a slight simmer.
As far as what happens next, both the United States and China are urging restraint in the region, but there’s no guarantee either side will back down if their defenses are tested again. And for their part, elements within the Baloch militant groups vowed to avenge the deaths of those killed in this week’s strikes and keep waging war.
Pakistan strikes back at Iran; US targets Houthi missiles: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 18, 2024
Developing stories out of the Middle East as Pakistan fires back at Iran and the U.S. launches additional strikes at Houthi targets. And the latest Apple Watches will be back on sale on Thursday, Jan. 18, but with some changes. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024.
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Pakistan strikes Iran; U.S. targets Houthi missiles
There are new developments out of the Middle East as the possibility of a wider war in the region looms. Pakistan said it has carried out strikes targeting terrorists inside Iran.
The sole objective of today’s act was in pursuit of Pakistan’s own security and national interest, which is paramount and cannot be compromised.
Pakistan’s foreign affairs ministry
The strikes come after an Iranian missile attack on Tuesday, Jan. 16, that Pakistani officials said killed two children and was unprovoked. Pakistan said its strikes on Iran were “highly coordinated and specifically targeted precision strikes against terrorist hideouts.”
An Iranian official said the strikes killed at least nine people, including four children. Pakistan’s foreign affairs ministry released a statement that said Pakistan’s national security is its priority.
“Pakistan fully respects the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Islamic Republic of Iran,” the statement said. “The sole objective of today’s act was in pursuit of Pakistan’s own security and national interest, which is paramount and cannot be compromised.”
Meanwhile, the United States launched another round of airstrikes against Houthi targets in Yemen on Wednesday night, Jan. 17. U.S. Central Command said U.S. forces targeted 14 Iran-backed Houthi missiles that were loaded to be fired from the Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen. The U.S. said the missiles presented an imminent threat to merchant vessels and Navy ships in the region.
On Wednesday, Jan. 17, the U.S. announced it was redesignating the Houthis as global terrorists for the group’s continued attacks against commercial ships in the Red Sea. The move subjects the Houthis to economic sanctions aimed to cut off funding to the militant group.
Speaker Johnson pushes the president for border reform in meeting on Ukraine aid
Following a meeting at the White House on Wednesday, Jan. 17, House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., told reporters he pressed President Biden on immigration reform, calling the southern border a “national security and humanitarian catastrophe.” Biden called congressional leaders pushing for more aid to Ukraine, aid that has been blocked by House Republicans for months demanding stricter border policy as the U.S.-Mexico border has been flooded with a record number of migrants.
According to the Pew Research Center, 10.5 million undocumented immigrants have been living in the U.S. since 2021. While Republicans have drawn a proverbial line in the sand demanding the border be addressed in any Ukraine-Israel funding package, the meeting may have marked a path forward for negotiations that have been at a stalemate in Congress.
Biden has requested $61.4 billion in additional funding for Ukraine, which includes additional funding for Israel. Still, it hinges on what border policy changes both sides can agree upon.
“We understand that there is concern about the safety, security, sovereignty of Ukraine,” Speaker Johnson said. “But the American people have those same concerns about our own domestic sovereignty and our safety, and our security.”
In talking to reporters following the meeting, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer expressed some hope that talks are moving in the right direction, with both sides having similar goals. But he did note that compromise is the only way anything gets passed.
Texas defies DHS cease-and-desist letter after park takeover
A war of words is brewing between Texas and the Biden administration amid the immigration crisis at the border after the state’s national guard took over a public park along the U.S.-Mexico border last week. The state said the move was to deter migrants from illegally crossing into the area.
The Department of Homeland Security issued a cease-and-desist letter to Texas over the weekend, calling for officials to stop blocking federal border patrol agents from entering Shelby Park in Eagle Pass, by a deadline of Wednesday, Jan. 17.
The department said Texas’ move is obstructing border patrol from apprehending and processing migrants. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton responded Wednesday, Jan. 17, sending a letter to Homeland Security, rejecting its request and saying the state will continue “utilizing its constitutional authority to defend her territory.” DHS has warned Texas it would refer the matter to the Justice Department should the state continue to deny border patrol full access.
Maine judge defers Trump decision until Supreme Court ruling
Maine’s secretary of state barred Trump from the ballot last month, citing his actions around the Jan. 6 capitol riots a week after the Colorado Supreme Court’s similar decision. Trump, the GOP frontrunner for the 2024 presidential election, has appealed the states’ decisions, leaving his name on both ballots for now.
The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to hear the case out of Colorado, with arguments set for Feb. 8. The Maine judge ordered Maine’s secretary of state to make a new ruling within 30 days of the Supreme Court’s decision.
On Wednesday, Jan. 17, Trump voluntarily attended his defamation trial in New York for a second day, where he sparred with the judge, who threatened to kick him out of court for making comments as his accuser, columnist E. Jean Carroll, was testifying. Trump said he will not be at Thursday’s Jan. 18 court proceedings so he can attend the funeral of his mother-in-law, who passed away last week at the age of 78.
Iowa sues TikTok for misleading parents and exposing children to harmful content
Other states have filed similar lawsuits, though a judge in Indiana threw out the case. TikTok faces many other legal challenges, from inappropriate content to privacy concerns. It is not just TikTok facing backlash and challenges when it comes to protecting children from harmful content on social media; globally, there have been calls for social platforms to protect children.
In a statement regarding the latest lawsuit in Iowa, TikTok said it “has industry leading safeguards in place for young people, including parental controls and time limits for those under 18. We are committed to tackling industry wide challenges and will continue to prioritize community safety.” TikTok’s CEO, along with the other social media CEOs, is set to testify in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Jan. 31 discussing online child sexual exploitation.
Apple begins selling watches without blood oxygen feature
The latest versions of the Apple Watch will return to Apple store shelves but with some modifications. Beginning Thursday, Jan. 18, Apple will once again sell its Series 9 and Ultra 2 watches online and at its retail stores, but the watches will be without the blood oxygen feature.
This comes after Apple was banned from using the technology following an intellectual property dispute with the medical device company Masimo. The blood oxygen app will still be on the watches, but Apple said when users tap on it, they will be alerted that the feature is no longer accessible. Apple is still appealing the International Trade Commission’s ruling that found Apple infringed on Masimo’s patents.
Amid Pakistani expulsion threats, Afghan refugees return home
An ongoing crisis has been unfolding along the borders of Afghanistan for over 40 years — a region marked by conflict, instability and political shifts. It’s currently the world’s most extensive refugee crisis, with 8.2 million Afghans residing in neighboring countries, according to the United Nations.
Since the Taliban takeover in 2021, nearly 600,000 Afghans have sought asylum in neighboring Pakistan, bringing the estimated total of unregistered Afghans in the country to 1.7 million.
Source: AP Images.
Now, the Pakistani government is instructing these refugees to leave voluntarily or face forced removal. Pakistani officials have emphasized that this nationwide crackdown does not target legally registered Afghan refugees or individuals holding Afghan citizenship cards. This measure represents the government’s first significant effort to address illegal immigration.
Source: AP Images.
The interim interior minister of Pakistan, Sarfraz Bugti, has issued a final warning, instructing all undocumented immigrants to depart voluntarily by Nov. 1, or they will face forcible removal.
“I am warning those people who are living here illegally that they should leave voluntarily before the 1 Nov. deadline, before we start deporting them forcefully,” Bugti said. “We have done our geofencing to work out where they are living, we have identified the areas, and we know in which part of metropolitan cities of Pakistan they are living, which town of Pakistan they are in, which villages they are in. We have complete details of each and every thing.”
Protests have erupted in border cities between the two countries as Pakistani officials announced the establishment of deportation centers. Local religious party leader Mulvi Muhammad Yousaf has expressed concerns about the impact of these policies on local businesses and employment, urging the government to reconsider its decisions.
The initial announcement by Pakistan was prompted by a government review of Afghan nationals’ alleged involvement in 14 suicide bombings this year, with the most recent incident resulting in the deaths of at least 57 people.
Source: AP Images.
Both U.N. and U.S. leaders have called on Pakistani officials to fulfill their obligations in assisting refugees and asylum-seekers. U.S. State Department spokesperson Mathew Miller strongly encourages Afghanistan’s neighbors, including Pakistan, to allow entry for Afghans seeking international protection. Miller suggested neighboring countries collaborate with international humanitarian organizations, such as UNHCR and IOM, to provide humanitarian assistance.
While Taliban leaders have requested Pakistan stop expelling Afghans, they have concurrently established special border camps to provide immediate support for returning Afghan families.
Official sources indicate that more than 52,000 men, women and children have returned to Afghanistan as the Nov. 1 deadline approaches.
US military equipment left in Afghanistan now in hands of Pakistani militants
Pakistani officials are warning that U.S. military equipment left behind during the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan is now in the hands of a militant group that is threatening Pakistan. The high-tech munition was abandoned by the U.S. in order to get troops out of the region quickly.
Pakistan Interim Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar expressed serious concern over the firepower, helicopters, guns, ammunition and other military equipment now belonging to terrorists associated with Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
TTP is closely linked to al-Qaida and the Afghan Taliban, which overtook Afghanistan’s government following the United States’ departure.
It is unclear how much high-tech weaponry was left behind during the withdrawal, however U.S. defense officials have confirmed it was a “significant” amount.
The Pakistani government officials who spoke to The Associated Press say the TTP’s threat to the region has increased significantly since gaining access to modern military equipment. According to their sources, TTP fighters can now target Pakistani troops from a distance because of the new weaponry.
The caretaker prime minister is calling for a plan-to-action to tackle the challenge of U.S. leftover equipment.
It is unknown how the TTP gained control of the U.S. equipment, but the Pakistani Taliban has posted videos online boasting newly found guns with laser and thermal sighting systems
Two security officials told the AP that the Afghan Taliban likely sold the equipment or gifted it to their allies.
This is the latest ramification of the U.S. withdrawal, which is still widely criticized two years later.
Thirteen U.S. service members and over 100 Afghan civilians were killed in Kabul after a deadly bombing at the airport during the early days of the Biden administration.
Pakistan became a key ally of Washington in its war against terror after the 9/11 attacks in the United States.
