Photo : Dawn
Photo : Dawn
In Focus
Pakistan’s post-ceasefire narrative: Claims and Allegations
Today’s PR coverage looks at the post-ceasefire narrative in Pakistan on the following fronts: Foreign Ministry’s response to PM Modi’s speech, expulsion of officials, claims of heavy losses suffered by the IAF, Pakistan’s alleged “military success over India,” claims of high death toll in Pakistan and justification for 7 May strikes.
Response to Indian Prime Minister Modi’s speech
On 14 May, Dawn reported on the Foreign Office’s (FO) statement in response to Prime Minister Modi’s 12 May speech. The FO called his remarks “provocative, inflammatory, and rooted in misinformation.” It asserted that the ceasefire was facilitated by friendly countries. The FO accused India of using the Pahalgam incident as a pretext for military adventurism and to push a politically motivated narrative of external threats. The statement condemned the alleged killing of civilians, mostly women and children, it claimed, and warned against normalizing such actions as regional policy. Pakistan reiterated its position on resolving disputes through UNSC resolutions and welcomed Trump’s support. It also denounced India’s suspension of the Indus Waters Treaty as a violation, and stated it will take all necessary steps to protect its rights under the treaty.
Justification for the 7 May strikes, acknowledgement of US mediation in the ceasefire
On the same day, Dawn reported on Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar’s interview with CNN in which he stated that Pakistan’s retaliatory strikes on 7 May were a necessary act of self-defence following Indian aggression. Dar emphasized Pakistan’s confidence in its conventional military strength. He claimed there was no direct contact between the two countries before the United States intervened and mediated the ceasefire. According to Dar, Marco Rubio relayed India’s willingness to halt hostilities, to which Pakistan agreed on the condition that India would not escalate further. Separately, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar accused India of failing to link the initial attack to Pakistan, calling the incident a major “security and intelligence failure” despite there being “7,00,000 Indian troops” in Kashmir.
Tit-for-tat expulsion of officials
On the same day, Dawn reported that Pakistan has expelled Indian High Commission official Shankar Reddy Chintala in a tit-for-tat move after India expelled a Pakistani diplomat on espionage charges. On 11 May, Indian authorities arrested two individuals in Punjab accused of leaking sensitive military information. It was stated that one suspect shared Indian Army movement details under the direction of a Pakistani official in Delhi. India declared the Pakistani official persona non grata. Pakistan retaliated, expelling the Indian official the same evening.
Claims regarding high death toll reiterated
On the same day, Pakistan’s military claimed that 11 service members and 40 civilians, including 7 women and 15 children, were killed during recent hostilities with India. Another 121 people were injured, among them 10 women and 27 children, according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The military stated it lost six Pakistan Army soldiers and five Pakistan Air Force personnel. Issuing a stern warning, it said any future attempt to challenge Pakistan’s sovereignty or territorial integrity would be met with a “swift, full-spectrum, and decisive response.”
Claims of global support over its supposed “military success over India”
On 14 May, a report in the The News International claimed that there was outpouring of global support for Pakistan on social media platforms with the slogan “Pakistan Zindabad” The report asserted that Pakistan’s engagements are being viewed “not merely as a military engagement but as a rare and symbolic moment in which a Muslim nation decisively outmatched a much larger adversary.” As per the report, the show of support has not been limited to the global Muslim community, but also from “unexpected corners of the western societies” and “people from China, Pakistan’s long-standing strategic partner.” The report also alleged that the military exchanges “exposed deep fissures within India itself.”
Claims pertaining to heavy losses inflicted on the Indian Air Force
On 14 May a report in The News International claimed that the Pakistan Air Forces’ (PAF) response to the Indian Air Force (IAF) strikes on 7 May has “dented the Indian Air Force.” The report cited unverified sources that claim that Pakistan downed India’s “three Rafales, one MiG-29, and one Su-30 — along with one UAV Heron.” The report further claimed that two Indian pilots were martyred and three critically injured in the counter-offensive. It also alleged that in Operation Bunyanum Marsoor, Pakistan launched Fateh-1 ballistic missiles at an Indian base. The News International further made an unverified claim that S-400, the Indian Air Defence System at Adampur Air Bas,e has been destroyed by the offensive Bunyanum Marsoor.
PPP urges global mediation on Kashmir, warns of India’s coercive regional strategy
On 14 May, Dawn reported that PPP leaders Nayyar Bukhari, Sherry Rehman, and Nadeem Afzal Chan held a press conference, urging international mediation for a permanent resolution of the Kashmir dispute. Ms Rehman highlighted that India’s “illegal occupation,” demographic engineering, and refusal to engage with Kashmiri voices were the root causes of recurring crises. She warned that India’s aggressive diplomatic actions, including expelling Pakistani diplomats, halting trade, and using the Indus Waters Treaty, constitute a broader coercive strategy to isolate Pakistan and assert regional dominance.
Responses from print media
On 14 May, an editorial in the Dawn titled “Crisis averted” highlighted the “fundamental duty” of India and Pakistan, as formidable nuclear powers, to prevent an all-out war in the region. While the editorial criticized India’s alleged strikes on mainland Pakistan as a “dangerously provocative” and a “grave miscalculation,” it condemned media reporting on both sides. The editorial underscored the need for “responsibility and immense restraint” from both parties and cautioned against the catastrophe of a nuclear war and its permanent damage beyond the two warring countries. The editorial urged the leadership of both countries to exercise “political will and wisdom” in pursuit of lasting peace.
On the same day, an editorial in Dawn titled “Back from the brink” opined that “India is willing to enter into meaningful negotiations with Pakistan over the major sources of tension.” The editorial claimed that the US diplomatic engagement and the supposed internationalization of the Kashmir conflict have been unfavorable developments for India. The editorial reiterated Pakistan’s claims of victory over India, supported by “China’s diplomatic backing and its military cooperation,” and claimed that Washington’s neutrality in the conflict was the "biggest diplomatic setback for the Modi government,” given India’s strategic alliance with the US.
On the same day, an editorial in The News International titled “Rehyphenated realities” discussed the implications of the ceasefire and the subsequent de-escalation. The editorial claimed that India was allegedly “compelled to seek external help after failing to secure a decisive advantage,” following Pakistan’s “swift and calibrated response.” The editorial further claimed that the US involvement in the conflict has re-internationalized the Kashmir dispute, which it terms as “the most significant outcomes of the confrontation.” Alleging the government of using the crisis for domestic political gains, the author asserted that India has been “diplomatically cornered” while Pakistan is enjoying a “diplomatic success.”
References
“40 civilians, 11 personnel martyred in Indian strikes,” Dawn, 14 May 2025,
Baqir Sajjad Syed, “Pakistan honours ceasefire despite ‘provocations’,” Dawn, 14 May 2025
“Tit-for-tat expulsions over ‘espionage’,” Dawn, 14 May 2025
“Nuclear war ‘wasn’t an option’: Dar,” Dawn, 14 May 2025
Syed Irfan Raza, “PPP seeks global intervention to resolve Kashmir dispute,” Dawn, 14 May 2025
“Bunyan-um-Marsoos: How PAF cut IAF down to size after Indian attack on Pakistan,” The News International, 14 May 2025
"‘Pakistan Zindabad’ echoes beyond boundaries as nation celebrates military’s victory,” The News International, 14 May 2025
“Crisis averted”, Dawn, 14 May 2025
“Back from the brink,” Dawn, 14 May 2025
“Rehyphenated realities,” The News International, 14 May 2025
In Brief
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Imran Khan’s sons urge global pressure over father’s “inhumane” prison conditions
On 14 May, Dawn reported that Imran Khan’s sons, Suleman and Qasim, have publicly addressed their father’s imprisonment for the first time in an interview with influencer Mario Nawfal. Khan has been jailed since August 2023 over a 190 million pound corruption case and faces anti-terror charges linked to the 9 May 2023 riots. The brothers informed that the court had allowed weekly phone calls with their father in November 2023, but the calls are irregular, brief, and infrequent. They claimed that Khan is being held in “inhumane conditions” and denied basic rights. Having exhausted legal avenues, they called for international pressure on Pakistan. Speaking publicly, they said, was their only remaining option to advocate for their father’s release from Adiala Jail, where Khan is currently lodged. (“In rare interview, Imran’s sons seek global pressure for father’s release,” Dawn, 14 May 2025)
PTI leadership calls out the government over reluctance to engage with the opposition
On 14 May, Dawn reported that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan has criticized the government’s reluctance to engage in talks with political rivals, questioning, “If a ceasefire can be reached with India, why not with our own people?” The report highlighted that PTI is willing to consider joining a multi-party conference if the government organizes one. The report also stated that the internal disagreement was ignited around the resignation of Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Chairman Junaid Akbar. Mr. Akbar has reportedly confirmed his resignation to PTI leadership but advised Barrister Gohar to seek Imran Khan’s input before finalizing any decision. It remains unclear whether the National Assembly Secretariat has received the resignation. Additionally, the report highlighted PTI Central Information Secretary Sheikh Waqas Akram’s condemnation of India’s alleged “continued aggressive, provocative and warmongering rhetoric”. He has also reportedly criticized the Pakistan government's silence to India’s recent responses as “both irresponsible and disgraceful.” (“If ceasefire is possible with India, why not with political rivals at home, asks PTI”, Dawn, 14 May 2025)
ECONOMY
Auto sales rise year-on-year despite monthly dip
On 14 May 2025, Dawn reported that sales of cars, pickups, and vans reached 10,596 units in April 2025, a one per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase from April 2024 but a five per cent month-on-month (MoM) decrease from March 2025. The report stated that MoM drop was attributed to a highway closure in Sindh delaying deliveries, while the YoY rise was driven by improved economic conditions, lower interest rates, easing inflation, and new car model launches. The report mentioned that the car sales for the first 10 months of FY25 (July 2024–April 2025) increased by 40 per cent YoY to 111,464 units. The report detailed a “company-wise” performance, in which Sazgar Engineering Works saw a 42 per cent MoM sales decline, with YoY sales dropping to 549 units in April due to a 10-day strike. Similarly, Pak Suzuki Motor Company Ltd (PSMCL) recorded a 12 per cent MoM decrease but a 33 per cent YoY increase, with 4,003 units sold in April. Sales of two- and three-wheelers rose 26 per cent YoY to 135,721 units in April. The report also revealed that tractor sales fell 48 per cent YoY to 1,602 units, reflecting weak farming conditions. (Aamir shafaat Khan, “Auto sales fall 5pc in April,” Dawn, 14 May 2025)
PETA demands that anomalies in industrial electricity tariff be fixed
On 13 May, Dawn reported on the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association (PTEA) demand to fix anomalies in the industrial electricity tariff by the government. The report detailed that the industries use high voltage connections—about 11kV and 132kV—and are being charged more electricity rates than those using lower voltage (400V). The report highlighted that this contradicts “international best practices and basic grid economies.” Further, it informed that large industries that invest in high-voltage infrastructure are penalized even though they reduce the load on the grid. The report claimed that the tariff structure is affecting the industries, causing them to split “their load into multiple low-voltage connections”. This increases the grid inefficiency and leads to system losses. The report mentioned that the industries that use high voltage are given 10–15 percent cheaper rates internationally, as they do not burden the utility infrastructure. Additionally, PTEA has called upon the government to rectify the anomaly in the tariff to increase efficiency, stating that regressive practices don't change anything. (Mubarak Zeb Khan, “Textile industry demands cheaper power,” Dawn 13 May 2025)
PIA should be revived through PPP model, says an article in Dawn
On 14 May, an article in Dawn lamented that the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), once a respected global carrier, is now burdened with financial and operational troubles. Its liabilities have exceeded PKR 830 billion, with a PKR 112 billion loss in FY 2023–24. An attempt to privatize 60 per cent of the airline failed due to complex conditions. The article highlighted that despite these challenges, PIA holds valuable assets, including the Roosevelt Hotel (New York), Sofitel Hotel (Paris), and international route rights, valued at PKR 163 billion, with independent estimates reaching PKR 343 billion. The article suggested a revival strategy based on a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), focusing on fleet renewal, workforce reduction, and investment. A Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) would acquire 60 per cent of PIA, raise PKR 137.5 billion, and eliminate PKR 202 billion in liabilities through a debt offset swap. The report also suggested that the funding should come from a Public Service Development Fund (PSDF), using a 70:30 debt-to-equity model, aiming to raise PKR 100 billion via crowdfunding and institutional finance. The plan projects a 26.77 per cent internal rate of return and 42.2 per cent equity IRR, with a six-year payback over a 25-year term. However, the Privatization Commission’s demand for full control and exclusion of key assets like the Roosevelt Hotel threatens the PPP model. The report concluded that the clean-swipe approach and PSDF Act could help restore PIA. (Salman Qaisrani, “PIA: the only way forward,” Dawn, 14 May 2025)
Increase in Pakistan’s exports amid US's tariff pause
On 14 May, Dawn reported on the increase in Pakistan’s merchandise exports to North America by 11.24 per cent to USD 4.837 billion in the first nine months of FY 2024-25. The report suggested that the reason is mainly due to increased exports to the United States by 12.08 per cent, particularly in textiles and clothing. The report stated that the US accounts for 94 per cent of exports, with other countries accounting for the rest of the share, mainly Canada, the exports to Canada declined by 0.26 per cent. The report mentioned that imports from North America increased to USD 1.902 billion, which is around 27.39 per cent. The report stated that despite the tariffs imposed by the US on Pakistani textiles, which is 29 per cent, the 90-day pause has delayed the enforcement, which has not affected the export growth. The report further stated that the exports to the US in FY24 were around USD 5.442 billion, which is an 8.26 per cent decrease from FY23. The report also mentioned the export situation in other regions like Latin America and Central America, where the exports rose by 17.82 per cent and the exports declined by 3.47 per cent, respectively. The report suggested that the increase in North American exports is linked to the slowdown of exports from Bangladesh and Vietnam .( Mubarak Zeb Khan, “Exports to North America rise,” Dawn,14 May 2025)
SECURITY
Bodies of kidnapped truck drivers from Punjab found in Galangoor
On 14 May, Dawn reported on the discovery of bullet-ridden bodies of four truck drivers who had been abducted from Punjab. The bodies were found in Galangoor on 13 May. The report states that the drivers were abducted on 9 May while delivering LPG imported from Iran, when armed men ambushed their trucks in the Ahmedwal area. According to the report, the attackers burst the trucks’ tires and abducted the drivers at gunpoint. Local residents discovered the bodies and informed the authorities. The victims were from Pakpattan and Rahimyar Khan. An official investigation has been launched, and as of now, no group has claimed responsibility. The Balochistan government spokesperson has condemned the killings as “barbaric and deeply tragic,” assured that the perpetrators would not be spared, and stated that all available resources would be used to ensure justice is served. He emphasized that “such cowardly acts would not shake the state’s resolve.” (Saleem Sahid, “Four abducted truck drivers found dead in Noshki,” Dawn, 14 May 2025)