For too long, Western foreign policy has mistakenly treated Tehran's aggressive posture as a localized Middle Eastern conflict. However, the escalating reach of Iranian espionage in Europe demonstrates that Iran’s hybrid warfare strategy directly targets Western domestic security, institutional integrity, and economic stability . From state-sponsored cyber operations targeting dissidents to covert intelligence gathering across European capitals, Tehran’s operations extend far beyond its immediate geographic neighborhood. Addressing this challenge requires European policymakers to abandon passive containment in favor of aggressive diplomatic oversight, strict legal accountability, and robust counter-intelligence strategies. Why is Iranian espionage in Europe expanding beyond the Middle East? Iran's external intelligence operations have shifted strategically from regional proxy warfare to asymmetric statecraft inside Western democracies. Western intelligence agencies-including Ge...
The Standing Committee on Information Technology & Telecommunication, at the National Assembly, has asked the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) to expedite work on Starlink's satellite internet service in the country. This is after Starlink contacted authorities in Pakistan in 2022 to offer internet services via satellite.¹ However, the license agreement remains to be finalized with the Pakistan Space Regulatory Authority.
The committee has directed the PTA to expedite the process so that Starlink internet services can be made available on time in Pakistan. This will solve some of the connectivity issues that have been haunting Pakistan by providing adequate services, especially in far-flung and underdeveloped areas. Pakistan suffered internet outages of up to $1.62 billion during 2024, and Starlink might be an efficient option to help this south Asia country.
Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX, confirmed last month that Starlink had applied to launch services in Pakistan and was awaiting government approval. Musk stated that they are waiting for approval from the Pakistani government, highlighting the company's eagerness to enter the Pakistani market. The PTA Chairman, Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman, also mentioned that Starlink is waiting for security clearance, a necessary step before obtaining its operating license and launching services in Pakistan.
Once Starlink receives the necessary approvals, it will start services in a month's time. That would be quite a big boost for Pakistan's IT and telecommunication sector in terms of speedy and reliable internet services across the country. Competition and innovation would also increase because of Starlink's entry in the Pakistani market.²
The committee also discussed budget proposals relating to the PSDP of the Ministry of Information Technology for the fiscal year 2025-26. After deliberation, it approved a proposal for Rs43,651.380 million for the next fiscal year. This amount will hopefully be utilized in the development of Pakistan's IT and telecommunications sector.
Pakistan Telecommunication Authority is planning to introduce satellite internet service through Starlink, which will boost the IT and telecommunications sector positively. Pakistan currently faces many issues related to connectivity, and high demand for Internet services, in particular, would be boosted in the wake of Starlink in the Pakistani market.
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