Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the religious affairs ministry to start preparing for the 2026 Hajj immediately. He has also called for urgent reforms to the country's private Hajj scheme following a situation that led to thousands of unused pilgrimage slots this year. Pakistan received a quota of 179,210 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia for Hajj 2025.
Pakistan Shares Battlefield Intel with China on India Air War
Pakistan's Defense Minister Khawaja Asif stated that it was normal for Islamabad to share battlefield intelligence with close ally China after last month's brief but intense military confrontation with India. While downplaying suggestions that Beijing played a direct operational role or provided decisive satellite support during the aerial fight, Asif emphasized the importance of information sharing due to China's own issues with India.
- China-Pakistan Alliance
- China's Military Support
- Conflict Details
The conflict between India and Pakistan from May 7-10 has attracted significant attention from Western militaries and security observers. Analysts believe that Pakistan's data could enhance China's military readiness, given their strategic alliance and shared economic interests, including the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC).
'Made in Pakistan' Victory
Pakistan claimed that its Chinese jets shot down at least six Indian military planes during the clashes. While China operates a vast network of satellites for intelligence and surveillance, the Pakistani defense minister denied that Chinese satellite capabilities were used to monitor the fighting in real time or access Pakistan Air Force systems.
Despite China being a major defense supplier to Pakistan, Asif emphasized that the actual fighting was conducted solely by Pakistani forces. He also addressed reports of China fast-tracking the sale of J-35 stealth jets to Pakistan, stating that such claims were media speculation.
Nuclear Alert Posture?
Asif dismissed the idea of moving to a nuclear alert posture following the conflict and clarified that modern warfare no longer relies on territorial capture. He also mentioned that there had been no back-channel diplomacy between Pakistan and India post-ceasefire, although military operations heads had been in contact via a hotline.
Despite the ongoing crisis between Israel and Iran, Asif reiterated that India remained Pakistan's top security concern. He highlighted concerns about potential fresh military action from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi due to internal political pressures and upcoming elections in Bihar.
Source: Arab News
