• Iran’s defence capabilities designed to deter aggressors: official.
• Israel expresses concern over Iran’s missile production: report.
• Israel seeks to attack it again to curtail those efforts, says report.
  

Iran insisted on Monday that its missile programme was defensive in nature and designed to dissuade attack, while adding that the existence of its arsenal was not up for debate.

Israel had presented Iran’s ballistic missiles, along with its nuclear programme, as the two main threats it sought to neutralise during the 12-day war the foes fought in June.

“Iran’s missile programme was developed to defend Iran’s territory, not for negotiation,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said at a weekly press conference.

“Therefore, Iran’s defence capabilities, designed to deter aggressors from any thought of attacking Iran, are not a matter that could be talked about.”

Iran’s ballistic capabilities put Israel within striking distance, and after Israel’s unprecedented attacks that sparked the war in June, Tehran responded with waves of missiles and drones launched at Israeli cities.

According to US broadcaster NBC, Israel is growing increasingly concerned that Iran is seeking to rebuild and expand its missile production following the war, and may seek to attack it again to curtail those efforts.

During a planned visit to the US later this month, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu “is expected to present US President Donald Trump with options for the US to join or assist in any new military operations”, NBC reported, citing an unnamed source with direct knowledge of the plans and former US officials briefed on them.

Over the course of the recent war, Israel struck military sites, nuclear facilities and residential areas, killing more than 1,000 people.

Israel reported more than 50 Iranian missile strikes inside its territory that killed 28 people.

The US briefly joined its ally in striking Iran’s nuclear facilities before declaring a ceasefire.

Iran once procured much of its weaponry from the United States, but following the break in diplomatic relations after its 1979 Islamic revolution, it had to develop its own domestic arms industry.

The Washington Times has described 2025 as a turning point in Pakistan–US relations, citing what it called a dramatic shift in Washington’s approach.

The newspaper said President Donald Trump abandoned the long-standing “India First” policy and elevated Pakistan’s strategic importance, a change it linked largely to the May conflict between Pakistan and India.

In May 2025, following India’s unprovoked attacks, Pakistan launched a calibrated military response, Operation Bunyanum Marsoos, targeting Indian troop concentrations, air assets, and key command infrastructure. Retaliatory strikes neutralized over 26 high-value installations across five Indian states, including missile silos, air defence systems, logistics hubs, and communications networks.

Pakistani drones and cyber operations further disrupted India’s energy grids, rail networks, and surveillance systems, while multiple Rafale jets were reportedly shot down. The operation demonstrated Pakistan’s military discipline, precision, and strategic reach, sending a clear message that its airspace and national sovereignty would not be violated.

The article provides a special analysis of the growing rapport between Chief of Defence Forces, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir and President Trump, describing Pakistan’s transformation from an “undesired state” to a key partner. Its rapid image-building and opinion shift in Washington are described as rare and unique, positioning Pakistan as a central pillar of Trump’s South Asia policy.

Earlier, during his official visit to the United States, Field Marshal Munir praised President Trump for helping prevent “many wars,” including brokering the May Pakistan-India ceasefire.

Addressing the Pakistani diaspora, he highlighted Pakistan’s diplomatic successes, warned against any future Indian aggression, and reaffirmed that Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir remains an internationally recognized dispute. The military chief also held high-level engagements with US military and political leadership, emphasizing strengthened bilateral cooperation, regional security, and counterterrorism collaboration.

Initially, Washington had sought to strengthen India through platforms like the Quad, sidelining Islamabad. However, India’s political climate, restrictions on personal freedoms, uneven military performance, and diplomatic rigidity cast doubt on its role as a regional stabilizer.

The first thaw in Pakistan-US relations came via secret counterterrorism exchanges, signaling substantive cooperation. In March, Trump unexpectedly praised Pakistan’s counterterrorism efforts during a national address, prompting a policy shift.

Islamabad seized the opportunity, turning limited cooperation into strategic gains. Engagement increased, and the bilateral relationship evolved from transactional to strategic. The short but intense May skirmish with India became a decisive turning point, showcasing Pakistan’s military discipline, strategic focus, and asymmetric capabilities – qualities that reportedly surprised Trump.

The article also highlights historic engagement between Trump and Field Marshal Munir, including their first-ever luncheon meeting for a Pakistani military chief and Munir’s red carpet visit to US Central Command Headquarters for high-level talks. Advisers described their relationship as a “budding bromance,” with Munir emerging as a disciplined, strategic, and carefully image-managed figure in Washington. Pakistan also leveraged this attention with light diplomatic gestures and public relations moves, further boosting its standing.

US President Donald Trump called the visit an “honour,” praising Munir for helping avert further escalation between Pakistan and India. The meeting discussed the recent Middle East conflict, Pakistan’s understanding of Iran, and regional security issues. Trump credited Munir’s leadership in securing the May ceasefire, calling it a major contribution to preventing war between the nuclear-armed neighbours, and noted that the luncheon marked the first time a US president hosted a Pakistani army chief unaccompanied by civilian officials.

By early 2026, The Washington Times notes, Pakistan sits at the center of Trump’s emerging grand strategy for South Asia and the Far East. It offers Washington discreet channels to Iran, a potential role in Gaza, and a subtle counterweight to China’s regional influence. Islamabad has re-established itself as a serious regional actor, reshaping US policy and rewriting the balance of power in South Asia.

As Australia continues its investigation into the deadliest mass shooting in decades, the newly released court documents on Monday revealed fresh details and images of the father-and-son duo, who are accused of opening fire on a religious festival at Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing 15 people.

The documents, released by the NSW Courts as part of the police facts sheet on Monday, contain redactions, images from a video of Sajid Akram and his son Naveed Akram.

The documents claimed that the father-and-son duo had carried out “firearms training” in what was believed to be the New South Wales countryside prior to the shooting.

An alleged video found on Naveed’s mobile phone from late October shows the father and son training, “firing shotguns and moving in a tactical manner” in the countryside.

The NSW police believe that the suspects were inspired by Daesh, saying the group’s flags were found in a car they drove.

While Sajid was shot dead by police, Naveed is still recovering from his bullet injuries in hospital and has been charged with 59 offences, including murder and terrorism.

The pair also recorded a video in October railing against “Zionists” while sitting in front of a flag of the Daesh alongside four long-barrelled guns and rounds of ammunition and detailing their motivations for the attack, police said.

The attackers made a nighttime reconnaissance trip to Bondi Beach just days before the killings, documents showed.

A CCTV footage, presented to the court, showed the two men allegedly leaving an Airbnb in Campsie on the day of the attack and travelling toward Bondi Beach while carrying concealed weapons.

According to the alleged facts, the duo threw four improvised explosive devices into the crowd moments before opening fire. While none of the devices detonated, police say three pipe bombs and a tennis ball bomb were all viable.

Australia’s federal government has flagged a suite of reforms to gun ownership and hate speech laws, as well as a review of police and intelligence services.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also announced a sweeping buyback scheme to “get guns off our streets”.

The government of New South Wales — where the shooting took place — recalled its parliament for two days on Monday to introduce what it called the “toughest firearm reforms in the country”.

“We can’t pretend that the world is the same as it was before that terrorist incident on Sunday,” New South Wales Premier Chris Minns told reporters.

The new rules will cap the number of guns an individual can own to four, or 10 for exempted individuals like farmers. There are more than 1.1 million firearms in the state, officials said.