#1041

As of 2024-2025, the primary security concern for Pakistan regarding Afghanistan is the presence of which group?

(a) Al-Qaeda

(b) Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)

(c) ISIS-K

(d) The Northern Alliance

Explanation: Pakistan maintains that the TTP (often called the 'Fitna al-Khawarij' by the state) uses Afghan soil as a base to launch attacks inside Pakistan. This issue has become the 'red line' in bilateral relations, with Islamabad demanding that the Afghan interim government disarm these militants or hand them over.

#1042

What is the name of the 'one-document regime' implemented by Pakistan at border crossings in 2024?

(a) The Visa-Free Entry

(b) Valid Passport and Visa requirement

(c) CNIC-based entry

(d) The Border Pass

Explanation: For decades, tribes living along the border (particularly at Chaman and Torkham) crossed using local permits or ID cards. In 2024, Pakistan strictly implemented the 'one-document regime,' requiring a valid passport and visa for all Afghan nationals. This led to prolonged protests by local traders and residents accustomed to free movement.

#1043

The 'Trans-Afghan Railway' project, discussed in 2024-2025, seeks to connect Pakistan with which Central Asian country via Afghanistan?

(a) Kazakhstan

(b) Uzbekistan

(c) Tajikistan

(d) Kyrgyzstan

Explanation: The Trans-Afghan Railway project aims to link Termez (Uzbekistan) with Peshawar (Pakistan) via Mazar-e-Sharif and Kabul. This project is a pillar of Pakistan’s 'Geo-economics' strategy, intended to provide Central Asian states with access to the Arabian Sea via Pakistani ports like Gwadar and Karachi.

#1044

In March 2024, Pakistan launched 'intelligence-based anti-terrorist operations' inside Afghan territory in response to:

(a) A dispute over cricket

(b) A major terrorist attack in Mir Ali, North Waziristan

(c) The closure of the Torkham border

(d) A request by the UN

Explanation: Following a deadly attack on a security checkpost in Mir Ali that killed seven Pakistani soldiers, Pakistan conducted targeted airstrikes against TTP hideouts in Khost and Paktika provinces of Afghanistan on March 18, 2024. This marked a significant escalation and a clear message to the Kabul authorities regarding cross-border militancy.

#1045

Which Pakistani Prime Minister visited Kabul in November 2020, emphasizing 'peace as the only way forward'?

(a) Nawaz Sharif

(b) Imran Khan

(c) Shahid Khaqan Abbasi

(d) Yousaf Raza Gillani

Explanation: Imran Khan's visit to Kabul in 2020 was a significant diplomatic gesture aimed at building trust with the then-Ghani administration and signaling Pakistan's support for a political rather than a military solution to the Afghan conflict.

#1046

Which international boundary line is frequently the site of 'unprovoked firing' incidents between Pak-Afghan forces in 2024-2025?

(a) The Radcliffe Line

(b) The Durand Line

(c) The Line of Control

(d) The McMahon Line

Explanation: Border skirmishes at Torkham and Chaman have become more frequent in recent years. These clashes often erupt over the construction of security posts or fencing by Pakistan, which the Afghan Taliban forces occasionally contest based on their non-recognition of the border.

#1047

The 2024 'Azm-e-Istehkam' security campaign in Pakistan is partly aimed at:

(a) Expanding the navy

(b) Countering the TTP threat originating from cross-border sanctuaries

(c) Banning all trade with Kabul

(d) Building a new capital city

Explanation: Azm-e-Istehkam is a comprehensive national counter-terrorism drive. A key component of this strategy is to secure the border and neutralize militant groups that take advantage of the security vacuum in the border regions of Afghanistan.

#1048

Which airline resumed flights between Islamabad and Kabul in 2024, signaling a cautious return to normalcy?

(a) Emirates

(b) PIA (Pakistan International Airlines) and Kam Air

(c) British Airways

(d) Lufthansa

Explanation: Restoring air connectivity is essential for diplomatic and business ties. While flights were suspended or limited after August 2021, regular services by Kam Air and PIA (at various intervals) have been critical for the movement of officials and humanitarian workers.

#1049

The 'Torkham' border was famously used as a crossing point for which 2024 humanitarian mission?

(a) A religious pilgrimage

(b) The Polio vaccination teams coordination

(c) The transport of heavy tanks

(d) A marathon race

Explanation: Both nations coordinate on health issues like Polio eradication, as the virus often moves across the border via traveling families. Torkham serves as a key synchronization point for cross-border vaccination campaigns supported by the WHO.

#1050

In January 2024, Iran conducted missile strikes in which Pakistani province, claiming to target a militant group?

(a) Sindh

(b) Punjab

(c) Balochistan

(d) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Explanation: In mid-January 2024, Iran launched missile and drone strikes in the Panjgur district of Balochistan, claiming to target hideouts of the militant group 'Jaish al-Adl.' Pakistan condemned this as an unprovoked violation of its sovereignty, leading to a temporary recall of ambassadors and a sharp rise in bilateral tension.

#1051

What was the name of Pakistan's retaliatory military operation against militant hideouts in Iran on January 18, 2024?

(a) Operation Swift Retort

(b) Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar

(c) Operation Zarb-e-Azb

(d) Operation Sentinel

Explanation: Following the Iranian strikes, the Pakistan Armed Forces launched 'Operation Marg Bar Sarmachar' (Death to the Insurgents). The operation targeted hideouts of Baloch separatist groups (Sarmachars) in the Sistan-Baluchestan province of Iran. This marked a rare direct military exchange between the two neighbors, though both sides subsequently moved to de-escalate.

#1052

Which Iranian President visited Pakistan in April 2024 to normalize ties and promote economic cooperation?

(a) Hassan Rouhani

(b) Ebrahim Raisi

(c) Mahmoud Ahmadinejad

(d) Mohammad Khatami

Explanation: President Ebrahim Raisi undertook a high-profile state visit to Pakistan in April 2024. The visit was diplomatically significant as it signaled a formal end to the January tensions. During the visit, both countries signed multiple MoUs and pledged to increase bilateral trade to $10 billion over the next five years.

#1053

What is the primary diplomatic stance shared by Pakistan and Iran regarding the conflict in Gaza and Palestine in 2024-2025?

(a) Support for Israel's security

(b) Strong advocacy for an immediate ceasefire and a two-state solution

(c) Complete neutrality

(d) Joining the NATO response

Explanation: Both Islamabad and Tehran have consistently used international forums like the UN and OIC to condemn the military actions in Gaza. They advocate for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access, and the establishment of a sovereign Palestinian state, which serves as a significant point of convergence in their respective foreign policies.

#1054

The 'Joint Border Management Committee' (JBMC) was revitalized in 2024 primarily to address which challenge?

(a) Sectarian education

(b) Cross-border terrorism and illegal crossings

(c) Water sharing

(d) Space exploration

Explanation: Following the 2024 missile exchanges, both nations agreed to strengthen the JBMC. The committee's goal is to improve intelligence sharing and coordinate security operations to prevent militant groups from using the rugged border terrain for attacks, ensuring that the border remains a source of stability.

#1055

In the current 2024-2025 period, what is the primary export of Pakistan to Iran?

(a) Crude oil

(b) Rice, Textiles, and Fruits (like Mangoes)

(c) Nuclear technology

(d) Heavy machinery

Explanation: Agriculture forms the backbone of Pakistan's exports to Iran. Rice is the single largest item, and there is high demand for Pakistani textiles and seasonal fruits. In return, Pakistan primarily imports electricity, gas, and chemical products from Iran.

#1056

How did Pakistan respond to the tragic death of President Ebrahim Raisi in a helicopter crash in May 2024?

(a) With indifference

(b) By declaring a national day of mourning and sending a high-level delegation to the funeral

(c) By closing the border

(d) By joining the Israeli cabinet

Explanation: In a show of solidarity and respect for the late President who had visited Pakistan only weeks prior, Pakistan declared a day of mourning and flew the national flag at half-mast. PM Shahbaz Sharif and other leaders attended the memorial services, emphasizing the personal and state-level bond.

#1057

In 2024, Pakistan launched a campaign to 'Regularize' which segment of its economy that is heavily linked to Iran?

(a) The IT sector

(b) Petroleum smuggling (Iranian Diesel)

(c) Cricket broadcasting

(d) The airline industry

Explanation: Under the direction of the SIFC and the caretaker/elected governments, Pakistan launched a crackdown on the smuggling of Iranian diesel. The goal is to move this trade into legal, taxable channels through the new border markets and official customs points.

#1058

In late 2024, which international body's President visited Pakistan and discussed the 'Sustainable Development Goals' (SDGs) with Iranian counterparts present in the region?

(a) World Bank

(b) UN General Assembly (President of the 79th Session)

(c) IMF

(d) NATO

Explanation: The President of the UNGA visited Pakistan in 2025 to acknowledge its role in regional peace. During such visits, Pakistan's leadership often emphasizes its 'Geo-economic' strategy of connecting with neighbors like Iran to achieve sustainable regional growth.

#1059

The 'Look Africa' Trade Forum held in 2024 saw Pakistan and Iran discussing joint efforts to:

(a) Invade Africa

(b) Tap into the African market through joint shipping and logistics hubs

(c) Ban African exports

(d) Build a new UN

Explanation: Both nations are looking to diversify their exports. Discussions have occurred regarding using Iranian and Pakistani ports as transit hubs for goods moving to the African continent, showcasing a broader regional economic vision.

#1060

What is the current status of the U.S. as a trading partner for Pakistan in the 2024-2025 fiscal period?

(a) It is the 5th largest partner

(b) It is the largest single-country export destination for Pakistan

(c) It has been replaced by China in all trade

(d) Trade has been suspended since 2021

Explanation: The United States remains Pakistan's largest single-country export market, particularly for textiles, leather, and IT services. Maintaining this economic link is a vital component of Pakistan's 'Geo-economic' strategy, even as the two nations navigate strategic differences over regional security.

November 2024 Current Affairs MCQs & Solutions