Analysts | Pakistan

ISLAMABAD - Analysts and international affairs experts described the meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing as a highly significant development, underscoring the depth of strategic cooperation and the strengthening of bilateral ties at a critical.

Analysts and diplomats on Wednesday raised concerns over “increased risks of escalation” after India launched late-night airstrikes at six sites in Pakistan’s Punjab and Azad Jammu and Kashmir. The attack resulted in 26 civilian casualties and over 40 injuries. In retaliation, Islamabad took down five Indian jets. According to military spokesperson Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, several Indian checkposts were destroyed in response. Separately, the government said Pakistan did not target any civilians in India in its retaliatory actions. Amid the ongoing developments, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif called a meeting of the country’s apex security body and is expected to address the nation afterwards. Here is what journalists and analysts are saying about the recent updates and what they are predicting for the future. Maleeha Lodhi, diplomat “This is a very serious crisis brought on by Indian aggression. Pakistan has responded to the Indian attack by downing five Indian aircraft and destroying Indian posts along t...