The Roundup Media

Pakistan's Key Challenges for 2025: Navigating a Critical Year As Pakistan enters 2025, it faces an array of formidable challenges that demand urgent and coordinated action. From resurgent security threats to democratic backsliding and economic strain, the country’s road to stability and growth is fraught with complexity. Below, we explore the five key issues that Pakistan must tackle head-on in the new year. 1. Resurgence of Security Threats In 2024, Pakistan experienced 784 terror attacks, resulting in 579 civilian and 383 security personnel deaths — the highest since 2015. The resurgence of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) poses unique and interlinked threats. The TTP, operating from Afghan territory, escalates regional tensions with Afghanistan, while the BLA’s intensified operations, including attacks targeting Chinese nationals, strain Pakistan’s relationship with its largest foreign investor. A dual-pronged strategy is needed: aggre...

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                        https://wa.me/c/923554754711 China - Pakistan Debt (Alleged) Trap: Analyzing the Exploitive Nature of CPEC with "World System Theory" • The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is part of China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), aimed at expanding Chinese influence globally. CPEC has increased Pakistan's economic dependence on China, leading to concerns about a potential debt trap. • The World System Theory describes the relationship where China is the "core" and Pakistan is the "periphery." This theory highlights the exploitation of Pakistan, which provides cheap labor and raw materials to China, while China supplies high-profit consumption goods. • The partnership has led to economic benefits for Pakistan, such as infrastructure development and increased connectivity. However...

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Analysis: Why more Southeast Asian countries have signalled interest to join BRICS • Several ASEAN countries, including Malaysia, Thailand, and Indonesia, have shown interest in joining BRICS. Countries are motivated by the desire to diversify their global economic options and strengthen their international standing. • BRICS offers potential benefits in investment, trade, and infrastructure financing, particularly from China and India. The group's collective potential is attractive for national interest calculations. • Analysts warn that joining BRICS could lead to overreliance on China, impacting ASEAN countries in the US-China trade war and South China Sea conflicts. Economic risks include China's slowing domestic demand and prope...

   https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 India to ditch Russian weapons? Not so fast! Western newspaper Politico claimed, citing a liberal expert, that India is set to halt major defense purchases from Russia, prioritizing U.S. cooperation instead.  In their opinion, the reasons behind that are fear of sanctions, the conflict in Ukraine and the desire to develop indigenous weapons. 👇 Here are some facts why these claims are no more than wishful thinking by foreign media: ◾️ Major defence contracts are being realised between Russian & India, including for the delivery of S-400 air defenses and Igla-S MANPADS. ◾️ Russian-origin Su-30MKI remains the backbone of Indian Air Force. ◾️ Super-duper BrahMos missile is at an all-time high, securing interests from severa...

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 How Russo-Ukraine war became a boon for US Big Five arms makers The Ukraine conflict has become a great boon for American Big Five defense contractors, sending their stocks up and boosting their profits. In January 2022, they openly lauded a deteriorating state of global peace and security as a business opportunity for their investors and employees. Shares in Lockheed Martin, RTX, Boeing, Northrop Grumman and General Dynamics grew in value 12.78% on average in just one year since the start of the special military operation. ▪️ Lockheed Martin provides Javelin anti-tank missiles, HIMARS mobile artillery rockets, and PAC-3 air defense missiles, as well as other munitions and missiles to Ukraine. The company's revenue for the twelve mont...

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 How strong is India’s economy? India's economy is growing rapidly, with an annual growth rate of 6-7%. It is projected to become the world's third-largest economy by 2027, behind the U.S. and China . Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to secure a third term, solidifying his position as India's most influential leader since Nehru. Modi's economic policies have focused on building massive infrastructure, promoting services exports, and implementing a new welfare system with digital transfer payments. This has helped reduce poverty and expand the middle class. However, the country still faces the challenge of generating mass employment, as only about 100 million out of a working-age population of 1 billion have formal jobs. To susta...

     https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Greek god of fire: Russia’s stealth jet, hypersonic missile and satellite-killing S-500 air defense system Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu confirmed in a briefing Tuesday that Russia’s Air Defense Forces would be getting additional S-500 air and missile defense systems in two modifications. Here’s what we know about these fearsome weapons. 🔺 The S-500 Prometey (lit. ‘Prometheus’ – as in the ancient Greek god of fire) is a road-mobile air and missile defense system developed by Russian weapon manufacturer Almaz-Antey. 🔺The system has a range of up to 600 km , and the ability to detect targets at up to 800 km away. 🔺The S-500 can simultaneously target up to 10 ballistic supersonic targets flying at speeds up to 7...

    https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Third front: US readies for confrontation with China in Asia US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is heading to China this week. This trip comes amid a concerted push by the Biden administration to form an anti-China coalition in the Asia-Pacific. Here are some of their most recent moves:        🔺US held its largest-ever joint military drill in contested waters with the Philippines, where they simulated sinking an enemy warship and capturing islands facing Taiwan and the South China Sea. The drill involved medium-range missiles deployed to Asia-Pacific for the first time.      🔺US is expanding AUKUS by involving Japan in the development of the alliance’s “advanced capabilities,” inc...

   https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Article Analysis - In Ukraine, New American Technology Won the Day. Until Was Overwhelmed. The United States is testing Project Maven in Ukraine, which is a program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to process images, the New York Times reports. Project Maven is being tested in Ukraine on the front lines, the publication stated. According to the newspaper, American, British, and Ukrainian officers, as well as military contractors, are working to find and exploit Russian vulnerabilities. It is noted that there is an intelligence gathering center operating at an American base in Europe, which uses technologies developed as a result of Project Maven's evolution. The testing of AI technologies in Ukraine by Washington has yielde...

   https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Israel-Iran Conflict: Escalation and Calls for De-escalation Article Discussion -  Cycle of Retaliation by Maleeha Lodhi Summary The Middle East remains on edge after Israel's attack on Iran, pushing the region towards a potential larger conflict. The escalation began with Israel's airstrike on Iran's consulate in Damascus, prompting Iran to retaliate with a missile and drone attack on Israeli military installations. This direct confrontation marks a shift in the covert conflict between the two countries. Both sides crossed red lines, with Iran aiming to establish deterrence against future Israeli attacks and Israel seeking to limit damage and restore deterrence. The international response varied, with swift condemnation of ...

Theatre of the Absurd Summary This article by Sushant Singh, titled "Theatre of the Absurd," highlights the complexities and inadequacies in India's strategy against China. The piece discusses the prolonged stand-offs and diplomatic engagements between India, China, and Bhutan since the 2017 Doklam crisis, emphasizing the military and economic strides China has made in Bhutan. Despite attempts by Indian leaders to reset relations through summits and diplomatic talks, China's influence in the region continues to grow, showcased by its deepening ties with Bhutan and continuous border infrastructures. The Indian government's responses are critiqued for lacking coherence and effectiveness, leading to India's increased reliance on external powers like the United States for strategic balance. This narrative portrays India's struggle to maintain leverage over China amidst global and regional power dynamics, suggesting a scenario where India's geopolitical str...

   https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Iran's President Ibrahim Raisi arrived on a two-day official visit to Islamabad, Pakistan 8 agreements were signed today between Iran & Pakistan, solidifying ties between the two nations.  🔘 A Security Agreement aims to enhance collaboration on crucial security matters, ensuring the safety and stability of both Iran and Pakistan. 🔘 Another notable agreement focuses on judicial cooperation, facilitating civil and commercial matters between the two countries. 🔘 The signing of agreements on animal health, establishment of free zones, and human resource development reflects a commitment to fostering economic growth and prosperity. 🔘 Additionally, memoranda of understanding on cinematic film exchange, mutual recognition o...

    https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 US and Philippines kick-off large scale exercise amid growing Asia-Pacific tensions Balikatan , an annual joint drill between US and the Philippines, has rung the alarm from China. What’s different about it this year?    This year’s exercise will be the largest yet, with 17,000 troops from US, the Philippines, Australia, and France . The participants will simulate sinking an enemy warship and capturing islands in areas facing Taiwan and the South China Sea.     Notably, they will conduct their first ever exercise beyond Philippine territorial waters into contested waters . Additionally, the Philippine Army will train in the use of medium-range missiles, deployed for the first time to Asia Pacific by...

    https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 World military expenditure reaches all-time high of $2,443 Bln in 2023 Global military expenditure increased by 6.8% in 2023 year-over-year and reached a new record high of $2,443 billion, with the three largest spenders being the US, China and Russia , according to new data published on Monday by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). "World military expenditure rose for the ninth consecutive year to an all-time high of $2,443 billion," SIPRI said. Moreover, military expenditure increased in all five of the geographical regions defined by SIPRI, the institute added. The US remained the world's biggest military spender with a 37% share of the world total and $916 billion spent in 2023. It is followed ...

   https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Forum for India - Pacific Island Cooperation (FIPIC) Why in News? The Third Forum for India -Pacific Island Cooperation (FIPIC) summit held at Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea in May 2023. India announced 12 points development plans for the Pacific Island nations. Genesis of FIPIC It was launched in 2014 at Fiji by Indian PM Narendra Modi. Members It includes 14 Island countries - Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Marshal Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, Niue, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Soloman Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu. Why it's Important? Pacific Islands consists of three major group of islands: Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia. Pacific Island nations have large Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZ) which are sources of natural...

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 US 'begged' Israel not to strike Iran but request was embarrassingly ignored The United States allegedly begged Israel not to carry out a counterattack against Iran in the early hours of Friday, but the Israeli decision to ignore Washington is part of an "embarrassing" trend, Politico reported, citing a US official.  "The US begged [Israel] not to do it, and literally no one from the Pentagon to the Joint Chiefs to the CIA to the intel community thinks this is a good thing," the official was quoted by Politico as saying on Friday. "At this point, it’s truly embarrassing how much Israel does not listen to us, but yet this doesn’t keep President Biden from blind fealty."   The US' silence on this Israeli strike on Iran is part ...

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Afghanistan, China Hold Strategic Talks Including BRI Investments Talking about the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Kabul said that progress was now moving towards "practical cooperation" after Afghanistan desired to join China's global infrastructure development project in 2023. "Also, both sides talked about the latest developments in increasing the level of oil extraction in Afghanistan and starting the extraction of Logar’s Mes Aynak mine and it was emphasized that plans should be considered to speed things up," the Islamic Emirate's Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Besides an increasing economic partnership between the two countries, China is also assisting Afghanistan in training its civil servants and is offering scholarships to t...

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Bark with no bite: Australia unveils new national defense strategy Australia has announced that it will invest $330 billion in military capabilities by 2033-2034, more than six times its current defense budget. What is behind this spending splurge?      Australia hopes to advance its undersea (nuclear submarine), long-range strike, autonomous, cyber, and space capabilities, and bolster its northern bases, among others, as it seeks to build an amphibious warfighting force with new capabilities.        The planned increase in defense expenditure to 2.4% of GDP, however, is below Australia’s rate of inflation – so the additional funds may not be available in real terms.       While Australia...

  https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaY98AM9hXF8HkfxYY39                                          https://wa.me/c/923554754711 Exploring the deep: Which countries have underwater drones? Northrop Grumman has unveiled the Manta Ray unmanned underwater vehicle (UUV), built for the Pentagon's Defense Advanced Projects Research Agency (DARPA) and designed to perform long-range military missions. The company called the new drone a UUV, inspired by the "graceful glide" of the fish for which it is named. In addition to the US, a number of other countries are developing their fleets of underwater naval drones. Russia: The unique nuclear-powered and nuclear-capable Poseidon UUV has already entered service with the country's navy, where this sophisticated drone - capable of creating a "nuclear tsunami" - has become part of the armament of such nuclear-powered submari...