PPP leader Nadeem Afzal Chan criticizes Punjab gov…

Thousands of Moroccan migrants who entered Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta this week have begun returning home after their hopes of reaching mainland Europe faded. Many said they were driven back by hunger, exhaustion and difficult living conditions, while others claimed they faced hostility after arriving in the Spanish territory. Several returnees said they had decided to cross into Ceuta after watching viral social media videos and receiving messages from friends claiming the heavily guarded border could be breached. Believing they had a chance to build a better future in Europe, many left their jobs and travelled to the border. However, after reaching Ceuta, migrants discovered there was no clear route to mainland Spain. Many said they became stranded in the enclave with limited access to food, water and shelter. One migrant said he survived for three days by drinking only water because he could not afford food. He described the cost of basic meals as extremely high and said life in Ceuta was far more difficult than he had expected. Returning migrants also claimed that many supermarkets and shops remained closed, making it difficult to buy essential supplies. Some spent days in wet clothes after swimming across the border and struggled to find safe places to rest. Several migrants alleged they were forced to leave certain neighbourhoods by local residents, although those claims could not be independently verified. Spanish authorities confirmed that two people suffered minor injuries in separate knife attacks and said one suspect had been arrested. Officials added that no deaths linked to the incidents had been reported. The large influx also affected businesses on both sides of the border. In the Moroccan border city of Fnideq, hotels and restaurants faced staff shortages after several workers crossed into Ceuta. Some employers have already begun looking for replacement workers as many employees remain missing. Meanwhile, daily life in Ceuta has gradually started returning to normal. Cafes have reopened in parts of the city, while police continue to maintain a strong security presence. Many businesses, however, remain closed as authorities monitor the situation. Aid workers said migrant reception facilities are operating at full capacity, with thousands of people still believed to be inside the enclave awaiting assistance or decisions on their future. Local residents expressed mixed emotions over the crisis. While many admitted the sudden arrival of thousands of migrants created fear and uncertainty, others said they sympathised with the young people, arguing they had been misled by false hopes of an easier route into Europe.

A senior American military commander has warned that the United States could soon struggle to maintain its support for Israel while also protecting its own military interests across the Middle East. The warning reflects increasing concern inside the Pentagon that the ongoing conflict with Iran is placing heavy pressure on US naval forces and missile defence resources. According to reports from The Washington Post and other international media outlets, General Alexus Grynkewich, who leads US European Command, has told Pentagon officials that American naval assets in the region are becoming overstretched. He reportedly said that unless another US Navy destroyer is deployed, military commanders may eventually have to choose between defending American personnel and continuing missile defence operations in support of Israel. His assessment has drawn attention because it comes from one of the senior officers directly responsible for overseeing US military operations rather than from outside analysts. It suggests that the growing demands on American forces are becoming a serious concern at the highest levels of military planning. US Navy destroyers equipped with the Aegis combat system have played a major role in helping defend Israel from Iranian missile attacks. These warships are capable of detecting incoming ballistic missiles and intercepting them using advanced SM-3 and SM-6 missile systems. However, these destroyers are also critical to American security operations around the world. They are needed in the Indo-Pacific to counter China’s growing military presence, in Europe to support NATO allies, and across the Middle East to protect US military bases and key shipping routes. Sending more of these ships to one conflict reduces the military’s ability to respond quickly to other global crises. The conflict has also placed significant pressure on America’s stockpile of advanced missile defence systems. Pentagon assessments reported by The Washington Post indicate that US forces have fired more than 200 THAAD interceptors during the fighting with Iran, which is believed to be nearly half of the country’s available inventory. In addition, US Navy ships have launched more than 100 missile interceptors. Although Israel also relied on its own defence systems, including the Arrow and David’s Sling missile shields, American support proved essential during the most intense phases of the missile exchanges. Military experts say the challenge goes beyond the number of missiles used. Advanced interceptors are highly sophisticated weapons that require considerable time and resources to manufacture. Replacing depleted stockpiles cannot happen quickly, raising concerns about America’s ability to sustain long conflicts while remaining prepared for new security threats elsewhere. Defence planners have warned that prolonged military operations could leave the United States with reduced inventories of some of its most important air defence weapons. For many years, US military strategy has been based on the ability to respond to several major conflicts at the same time. The country maintains security commitments across Europe, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific, requiring a constant supply of military equipment and personnel. The latest warning from US European Command suggests those assumptions are now being tested as growing global tensions demand the same resources in multiple regions. An analysis by the Center for Strategic and International Studies, cited by CNN, estimates that the US has already used a large share of its advanced missile inventory in recent weeks. The report suggests that around half of the country’s THAAD and Patriot interceptors have been consumed, while substantial numbers of Precision Strike Missiles, Tomahawk cruise missiles, Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles, and SM-3 and SM-6 interceptors have also been used. The findings highlight a broader challenge facing the US military. Although it remains one of the world’s strongest armed forces, modern warfare is consuming advanced weapons at a pace that is difficult for defence industries to match. As conflicts continue across different regions, Washington may increasingly face difficult decisions about where to deploy its military resources.