The Senate Standing Committee on IT and Telecom has accused SpaceX CEO Elon Musk of taking an anti-Pakistan stance following his recent comments regarding the availability of Starlink in the country. During a meeting on Wednesday, committee members alleged that Musk was siding with India to promote a false narrative against Pakistan. One senator even suggested that Starlink’s entry into Pakistan should be tied to Musk issuing a public apology.

The Secretary of IT dismissed Musk’s remarks as misleading, clarifying that there has been no direct engagement between the government and SpaceX regarding Starlink’s operations in Pakistan.

Chairman of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), Major General (R) Hafeezur Rehman, informed the committee that Starlink cannot receive a license to operate in Pakistan until it secures government security clearance. He emphasized that Starlink’s operations must comply with government policies, including routing internet traffic through designated gateways. He also assured the committee that Starlink has committed to not bypassing Pakistan’s internet system.

The PTA Chairman further revealed that a dedicated Space Regulatory Authority has been established to oversee satellite internet services and other low Earth orbit (LEO) technologies. The committee requested a detailed briefing from the authority in its next meeting to address Starlink’s licensing process and broader space policy concerns.

During the session, one lawmaker raised questions about Starlink’s registry mechanism and the status of its pending security clearances. She also criticized the IT Ministry for delegating key responsibilities, such as the enforcement of the PECA law, to the Interior Ministry.