Khurram Dastgir

In his first media address, says all sides will have a level-playing field

Dastgir became defense minister after PM Abbasi formed new cabinet

Condemns ‘blatant political persecution’; calls it pre-poll rigging

'India will not open up its market for Pakistan'

Dastgir cautioned India that any Indian aggression, strategic miscalculation, will not go unpunished

Dastgir says Pakistan, US still share many interests but in Washington 'focus has been on areas of divergence'

Highlights energy infrastructure, rice processing as areas that have investment potential

Commerce minister says unnecessarily negative image is often portrayed

Says exporters must work on marketing Pakistani rice in order to compete internationally 

Also rejects the notion that Pak-Afghan Transit Trade has shifted to Iran