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Beijing: Pakistan and China have maintained a close strategic partnership for years, particularly in the defense sector, with the apparent objective of countering India. Recent developments indicate that this cooperation has entered a new, more assertive phase. In recent months, Pakistan has brokered deals to sell JF-17 fighter jets to multiple countries, leveraging China’s co-development of the aircraft to strengthen ties with Muslim-majority nations. Domestically, Pakistan’s military has consolidated power, allowing it to make major decisions without political upheaval—a pattern that historically enables Pakistan to maintain internal military strength while benefiting from external support, notably from China. The JF-17 as a Strategic ToolUnder the leadership of Army Chief Asim Mun...

Moscow: The Russian Air Force has received a new, highly lethal batch of Su-57 fifth-generation stealth fighters, marking a significant upgrade in its combat capabilities. The United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) confirmed that the aircraft feature design improvements that enhance operational range, weapons integration, and overall mission efficiency. Vadim Badyukha, CEO of UAC, stated, “We are not stopping at what has already been achieved. Major upgrades have been implemented, and ongoing improvements continue to enhance the aircraft’s combat systems and maneuverability, making it highly effective in operations.” Notably, these enhancements come despite stringent sanctions imposed by the United States and Western nations. Enhanced Combat CapabilitiesThe upgraded Su-57 incorporates adv...

Islamabad: Since Donald Trump’s election as U.S. President last year, the United States and Pakistan appeared to be drawing closer. Trump repeatedly praised Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir and Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, but recent events in Pakistan have highlighted the fragile reality on the ground, signaling potential risks for Washington’s strategic bets. Last week, Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, was rocked by a massive suicide attack on a Shia mosque, killing 36 people. The attack exposed the government and army’s inability to guarantee security in the capital. For the U.S., it sends a warning that the high-stakes partnership involving General Munir, Pakistan’s mineral wealth, and strategic interests may not be as stable as anticipated. Experts suggest that Trump’s pref...

Tehran/Washington: The United States has significantly increased its military presence in the Middle East, deploying an aircraft carrier, USS Abraham Lincoln, along with three guided-missile destroyers—USS Frank E. Petersen Jr., USS Michael Murphy, and USS Spruance—to the Arabian Sea, near Iranian waters. These measures come as diplomatic efforts continue but concerns rise that a failure in negotiations could escalate into armed conflict. Doubling Weapons in the Middle EastOpen-source intelligence reveals that in the past two months, the U.S. has more than doubled its offensive military assets near Iran, a move reminiscent of its pre-Venezuela military buildup. While Iran is not as vulnerable as Venezuela, the warning is clear: any U.S. military strike could trigger a wider regional con...

Moscow: India has received full and active support from Russia as it assumes the BRICS chairmanship from January 1, 2026, following Brazil. Russia has congratulated India and pledged strong backing for its leadership within the bloc. Russia Endorses India’s LeadershipRussian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, a close aide of President Vladimir Putin, praised India’s leadership and stated that very few countries in the world can match India’s contribution in culture, philosophy, and innovation for humanity. “We hope that under India’s guidance, BRICS will scale new heights of success,” he said. Ryabkov emphasized that India’s human-centric approach this year serves as a hallmark of its chairmanship, aiming for genuine multipolarity without any space for hegemony. His remarks were ma...

Hanoi: Russia has suffered a significant setback in Asia as Vietnam, a traditionally reliable defense partner, shifts away from Russian weaponry. India had already reduced its dependence on Russian arms in recent years, replacing Russian fighter jets with French Rafales in its air force and increasingly sourcing weapons from Israel. Now, Vietnam is following a similar path. Vietnam’s Changing Defense StrategyVietnam’s air force has long relied on Russian aircraft, including 16 Su-22M4 jets, 9 Su-22UM3K trainers, 5 Su-27SK fighters, 5 Su-27UBK trainers, 35 Su-30MK2 multirole fighters, and 12 Yak-130 trainer aircraft. However, since 2022, Hanoi has been diversifying its military procurement. Reports indicate that Vietnam is close to finalizing a major deal with France for Rafale fighter j...

Dhaka: Bangladesh is heading to the polls on February 12 to elect its next government. This election is taking place in the absence of Sheikh Hasina, who served as Prime Minister from 1996 to 2001 and again from 2009 to 2024, drawing global attention to the outcome. With Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League out of the race, the contest has become a direct battle between Tarique Rahman, son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, leading the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), and Shafiqur Rahman of the right-wing, India-opposing Jamaat-e-Islami party. BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami have been campaigning vigorously across the country. Survey Predicts BNP VictoryAccording to a recent opinion poll conducted by Eminence Associates for Social Development (EASD) and reported by the Bangladeshi newspaper Pr...

Tehran: Saudi Arabia, already a major military power in the Arab world, may possess nuclear weapons, according to a sensational claim by former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) senior official Hussein Kanani Moghadam. Speaking to U.S. journalist Rick Sanchez, Moghadam stated that while Saudi Arabia publicly denies having nuclear weapons, the reality is different. He added that the United States and Israel are also aware of Saudi Arabia’s nuclear capabilities. Alleged Discussions with U.S. and IsraelIn the interview, the former IRGC commander claimed, “It is not only Iran; the U.S. and Israel have knowledge of Saudi Arabia’s nuclear arsenal. Saudi Arabia has held discussions with both countries on this issue. In exchange for recognition of Israel, the U.S. allegedly agreed to tac...

Beijing: China has rejected U.S. allegations that it conducted secret nuclear tests, calling the claims “completely false” and accusing Washington of using such claims as a pretext to resume its own nuclear testing. At a United Nations disarmament conference in Geneva on Friday, the U.S. alleged that China had carried out nuclear tests in 2020. In response, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said that these accusations are unfounded and a deliberate attempt by the U.S. to justify restarting large-scale nuclear tests. China urged the United States to refrain from “irresponsible actions” that could escalate global tensions. Rising Tensions Between Washington and BeijingThe U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Thomas Dinano made the allegations amid ongoing efforts by the Trump administration to br...

Tripoli: At least 53 people, including two children, are feared dead or missing after a migrant boat capsized off the coast of Libya. The vessel, carrying 55 African migrants, had departed from the western Libyan city of Al-Jawiya on Thursday night and overturned near the city of Zuwara on Friday morning. Migrants often use this route from Africa to Europe in search of a better life, but the journey is notoriously perilous. Only Two Women SurvivedThe International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported on Monday that out of the 55 people on board, only two women of Nigerian origin were rescued. One of the survivors told IOM that she lost her husband in the accident, while the other said she lost her two children. The vessel had set off late on February 5, and six hours into the journ...