Pakistan’s top generals seek ‘concrete’ action from Afghanistan against Taliban militants

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Senate Standing Committee on Interior on Tuesday discussed increasing the minimum sentence for human smuggling to three years, as the country’s foreign office confirmed the identity of 13 Pakistanis who died last month in a boat tragedy off Morocco’s coast.
The Pakistani government has made several arrests in recent weeks after a boat carrying 86 migrants to Europe, including several Pakistanis, capsized near Morocco on January 16, according to the rights group Walking Borders.
Moroccan authorities said a day later that 36 people had been rescued, while the foreign office in Islamabad confirmed that the survivors included 22 Pakistanis.
The Morocco tragedy underscored the perilous journeys many migrants undertake due to conflict and economic hardship. Soon after the development, Pakistani authorities ramped up efforts to crack down on human smuggling networks facilitating dangerous crossings to Europe.
“The Committee discussed the ‘Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants (Amendment) Bill, 2025,’” an official statement said after the meeting was convened at Parliament House in Islamabad. “The Secretary, Ministry of Interior, emphasized the need to strengthen legal provisions to enhance deterrence.”
“The draftsman from the Ministry of Law informed the Committee that the amendment introduces a minimum sentence of three years, which will reinforce deterrence and ensure better enforcement of the law,” the statement continued. “The Committee members unanimously agreed to pass the bill and underscored the importance of strict adherence to legal enforcement.”
The Senate committee also reviewed other legislative measures related to migration and trafficking.
Meanwhile, the foreign office spokesperson, Shafqat Ali Khan, mentioned the boat tragedy in a statement.
“After a process of extensive verification, the bodies of 13 Pakistani nationals have been identified,” he said, adding the mortal remains of four victims would arrive in Islamabad on February 5 via a Saudi airline flight.
The latest tragedy adds to a series of migrant boat disasters involving Pakistanis attempting to reach Europe via dangerous sea routes.
In June 2023, an overcrowded vessel sank in international waters off the Greek town of Pylos, killing hundreds of migrants, including 262 Pakistanis, in one of the deadliest Mediterranean shipwrecks on record.
More recently, five Pakistani nationals died in a shipwreck off the Greek island of Gavdos on December 14.

KARACHI: A senior Pakistani naval official said on Tuesday two Saudi warships, HMS Jazan and HMS Hail, will participate in the ninth edition of his country’s naval exercise, AMAN-25, which is scheduled to be held from February 7 to 11.
The AMAN exercise, held every two years in the North Arabian Sea, is a multinational naval drill organized by the Pakistan Navy to enhance regional maritime security and interoperability among allied forces. The exercise was first held in 2007 and has since attracted participants from across the world.
According to official information, AMAN-2025 will witness the participation of nearly 60 countries and will be conducted in two phases. The harbor phase will take place from February 7 to 9, while the sea phase, running from February 10 to 11, will include search and rescue operations, live weapon firings and an international fleet review.
Rear Admiral Abdul Munib, Commander of the Pakistani Fleet, highlighted his country’s strong maritime ties with Saudi Arabia during a news conference.
“Saudi Arabia is a brotherly country,” he said, as he mentioned the participation of the Royal Saudi Naval Forces in the exercise while pointing out that Pakistan also enjoyed close relations with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“Pakistan’s relations with both these countries are already strong, but there is also a very close navy-to-navy collaboration with them,” he continued. “We have conducted a number of exercises with them, and both countries will also be actively participating in this exercise.”

Calling the participation from Saudi Arabia “very encouraging,” the naval official said in addition to the two Saudi ships, the Kingdom’s Special Operations Forces (SOF) and Underwater Demolition (UWD) teams would also participate.
“The UAE has one ship participating as well, and their SOF and UWD teams are also participating,” he added.
This year’s exercise is expected to include a wide range of maritime professionals, with over 200 observers from around the world in attendance.
The Pakistani rear admiral noted the role of the AMAN Dialogue, which is scheduled to take place alongside the exercise. He informed it will bring together naval chiefs, coast guards and defense forces from participating nations.
The forum will allow military leaders to exchange insights and discuss strategies for addressing emerging maritime challenges.
“More than just a military drill, AMAN embodies Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to fostering regional stability, ensuring safe and secure seas and countering nontraditional and asymmetric threats,” he maintained.
“Above all, it serves as a vital platform for strengthening interoperability, information sharing and mutual understanding among like-minded regional and extra-regional navies, thus reinforcing the belief that maritime security is a shared responsibility,” he added.