ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Information Atta Tarar has stated that Pakistan’s defense is robust and capable of delivering a forceful response to any aggression, expressing full confidence in the professional capabilities of the armed forces.
Addressing the media, the minister linked the country’s improved global standing to its successful diplomacy. He noted that the Pakistani passport is now receiving greater respect internationally and announced that high-level bilateral meetings with Saudi Arabia are forthcoming, which will focus on enhancing trade, investment, and economic development.
Minister Tarar claimed that the public has rejected calls for protest, leading to restored peace and stability within the country. He cited international praise, including recent remarks from former US President Donald Trump, as evidence of Pakistan’s growing role in establishing global peace.
Shifting to domestic policy, the Minister emphasized the government’s focus on youth and sports. He highlighted the need to provide more sports facilities to nurture talent, using the success of tennis star Aisam-ul-Haq as an example. He specifically promoted the sport of paddle, revealing that new courts have been built in Islamabad and expressing his ambition to expand the sport to the village level with help from the private sector.
Defense Minister Khawaja Asif has hailed the recent meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and US President Donald Trump as a sign of “unprecedented progress” in Pak-US relations.
In a statement on social media, the Defense Minister described 2025 as a “year full of achievements.” He linked the diplomatic success to other national victories, including a “victory over India” and a “defense agreement with Saudi Arabia,” stating that the “successes of the hybrid system partnership continue.”
His comments follow a significant meeting at the White House, where PM Shehbaz and Field Marshal Asim Munir met with President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The Oval Office meeting lasted for one hour and twenty minutes, though no official details of the discussions have been released.
