Starlink test: Can Pakistan stick with Elon Musk after the British haircut? | Elon Musk News

Islamabad, Pakistan – In January, when Pakistani citizens fought with poor internet quality after the country began to unfold National firewall last yearSome of them marked Elon Musk on X, calling for it to provide Starlink services, the satellite internet provider, which the most rich man in the world was founded in 2019.

Musk replied, saying SpaceX, his company behind Starlink, awaits the approval of the Pakistan government.

This waiting has become political.

As countries around the world are fighting geopolitical chaos, unleashed by the unconventional deals and threats of US President Donald Trump for a month, Pakistan is in the midst of his own struggle on how to manage a relationship with Musk, who, as a close ally of Trump, has the president's ear.

Pakistan, a country of 241 million, banned X (before Twitter) in February 2024 before the national elections.

The social media platform that Musk bought for $ 44 billion at the end of 2022 was blocked by orders The Ministry of Interior to failure to comply with government directives to eliminate the content that the government is considered by the government as problematic.

A year later, the use of the platform remains illegal in the country -although Pakistan, with less than five million x subscribers, was not a major market for the social media company. China, Russia, North Korea, Iran, Myanmar, Venezuela and Turkmenistan are the only other countries that banned X.

Starlink is now emerging as a Pakistan-Musk relationship. In recent weeks, Musk, who has over 219 million followers of X, has published for sexual assault on children Cases in the UK, some of which participated in Pakistani men and took place more than a decade ago.

A matter of national interest?

In January, when Indian MP Priyanka Chaturvedi objected to the ancestral use of the term “Asian” and stressed that the British cultivation gangs were led by “Pakistani” men, Musk responded with tweet, saying “yes”, seeming to support the view.

This caused outrage from Pakistani legislators, who suggested that the issuance of a Starlink operating license should be conditional to the technological tycoon, offering an apology for its remarks on the country. Pakistani MP Palvasha Khan said the legislators discussing Starlink's license request had raised the band's comment.

The big question: Should Pakistan establish its decision on business and national security reasons, or should this be reported in Musk's political proximity to Trump or the billionaire comments?

Of Ahmed Athek Anur, a legislator from the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Navaz (PML-N) and a member of the Committee of the National Assembly of Information Technology and Telecommunications, the country's decision should not be reported even as a trump card.

“It's a matter of internet infrastructure and national interest,” he told Al Jazeera. “Starlink can benefit from remote areas where optical cables are impossible. But every international company operating in Pakistan must comply with our laws and regulations, with national security being a top priority. “

At the same time, he acknowledged that the dual business and political accessories of Musk complex solutions for Starlink-service based on satellite, which, if it works in Pakistan, could allow consumers to bypass the country's firewall.

“Pakistan must protect his interests. We are aware of concerns about data security, confidentiality and encryption. While modern technology is essential for progress, laws must be maintained in letters and spirit, “Anver said.

Pakistan “Is it Closed to Business”?

Although Starlink has been registered in Pakistan since June 2021, it requires additional licensing to become completely operational.

A senior employee of the Pakistani Telecommunication Body (PTA), the country's telecommunication regulator, explained the three -step approval process.

“First, they must register with the Pakistan's Securities and Exchange Commission (SECP), which Starlink is over. Next, they must be approved by the Pakistani Regulatory Council (PSARB), after which they will turn to us in PTA for final authorization, “the employee said, demanding anonymity as he is not authorized to speak with the media.

“The Starlink application is currently being reviewed in the space regulator organ,” he added.

According to a PSarb statement to Al Jazeera, “Starlink has already registered with SECP, so PSarb initiates directly engaging with SPACEX headquarters in the United States (Starlink's Mother Company) when it approaches Starlink Pakistan.”

“The app has been evaluated by PSARB, and discussions between the two countries continue continuously,” the statement added.

SpaceX did not respond to Al Jazeera's inquiries about discussions.

But the PTA official, the agency, which finally has to give up Starlink to start operations, advocates for caution.

“These satellites can cause disturbance as their frequencies may contradict other satellites that are already in orbit. The space regulator must ensure that existing satellites serving Pakistan have not been disturbed, “explained the official official.

But Wahaj Us Siraj, CEO of Nayatel, one of the main providers of Internet services in Pakistan, suggested that concerns about Starlink are overworked.

“This will actually provide an additional option for Pakistani Internet users, which is useful,” Siraj told Al Jazeera.

Pakistan has had several major online interruptions in the last year, for which the government has accused errors of submarines that connect the country to global internet infrastructure.

In fact, in the Global Oookla Speedtest Index, Pakistan is ranked among the largest worldwide Internet speeds in the world. According to the latest ranking, the country is positioned at 96 out of 104 at a mobile internet speed, while in the fixed broadband line is placed in 138 of 152 countries.

“The Starlink regulatory authorization must be provided most within 90 days. However, licensing and acquisition of object certificates (NOCS) can take years, which discourages both the local and foreign businesses, “Sirai said.

“It's like telling investors to take their money elsewhere because Pakistan is closed to business,” he added.

The Pakistani government is struggling to attract foreign investment as it is fighting a prolonged economic crisis. In 2023, the country narrowly avoided the default and is currently on its 25th Loan Program at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) worth $ 7 billion.

Impact on US -Pakistan relations

Anwer, the PML-N politician, has rejected the idea that Pakistan's approach to Starlink will affect relations with the United States.

“The bigger picture is that the main forces intervene when it serves their interests. We saw this during the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and again after September 11, when the United States was engaged in Pakistan, “he said. “Economic issues are separate from national interests.”

Qandil Abbas, a professor of international relations at Quaid-E-Zam University in Islamabad, shared a similar opinion.

“Musk has no official position of the government, except to be Trump's advisor. Although important in business relations, Pakistan must focus on state diplomacy to the state, “he told Al Jazeera.

Abbas claims that there is no guarantee that Musk will remain in the inner circle of Trump, especially as a contradiction about his role in the administrative mountain and some of his movements are facing an increase in the summit.

“With that in mind, Pakistan must deal with strict Musk in business terms, not political,” he said.