Senator Faisal Vawda on Wednesday called for a dramatic increase in Pakistan’s defense spending, proposing a threefold rise in the defense budget and a doubling of salaries for all armed forces personnel.

Speaking during a Senate session, Vawda argued that, given the current security climate, the country should halt development spending and redirect those funds to bolster defense capabilities. He also recommended that opposition members be included in diplomatic delegations abroad to present a united front on international issues.

During the same session, Senator Irfan Siddiqui strongly condemned violent acts targeting children and public infrastructure, emphasizing that such actions have no place in any legitimate struggle for rights.

Former Finance Minister Ishaq Dar also weighed in, denouncing the involvement of Indian proxies in destabilizing activities. He urged India to learn from Pakistan’s retaliatory measures and cease such actions.

Senator Sherry Rehman reiterated her party’s support for dialogue where possible but made it clear that those responsible for the killing of innocent children could not be regarded as political actors.