Senator Afnan Ullah Khan raised concerns in the Senate that Starlink satellite internet service is reportedly operating in some areas of Balochistan without official authorization, citing the service’s continued functionality in Iran during January 2026 protests and conflicts as a precedent requiring Pakistani security considerations.
The senator emphasized that authorities should ensure Starlink does not create any security or operational problems for Pakistan while the government evaluates the American satellite internet provider’s pending license application submitted on February 24, 2022, however Secretary IT contradicted the claims stating there is no confirmation of Starlink service currently operating in Balochistan.
The allegations come amid ongoing controversy surrounding Starlink owner Elon Musk’s social media statements that Pakistani senators characterized as anti-Pakistan rhetoric. During Senate Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunications meetings chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan in January 2025, multiple senators accused Musk of aligning with India’s narrative against Pakistan and propagating false allegations through social media platforms.
Senator Afnan Ullah Khan from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz proposed that Starlink should only receive operating authorization if Musk issues a public apology for his remarks, stating that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority must consider Musk’s campaign against Pakistan before issuing any license.
Secretary IT revealed that Starlink has submitted a formal license application to operate in Pakistan while considerable work is progressing on satellite and space-related regulatory frameworks. Pakistan Telecommunication Authority Chairman Major General (Retd) Hafeez Ur Rehman confirmed that Starlink registered locally and plans to establish ground stations in Pakistan for satellite-based internet services, however the application remains pending security clearance from the Ministry of Interior and approval from the newly-established Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board which is currently formulating rules governing satellite internet operations.
Senator Khan’s reference to Starlink’s Iran operations highlights Pakistani lawmakers’ security concerns about foreign-controlled satellite internet services. In January 2026, Iran deployed nationwide electronic warfare operations combining military-grade jamming systems targeting Starlink’s Ku-band and Ka-band frequencies during mass protests over the country’s economic crisis, successfully degrading service from functional connectivity to 30-80% packet loss rates according to digital rights monitoring groups.
The Iranian government reportedly confiscated thousands of smuggled Starlink terminals that had infiltrated the country since 2022 when then-United States President Joe Biden authorized American technology companies to bypass sanctions, with estimates suggesting 50,000 to 100,000 terminals entered Iran through illicit supply chains.
Iran passed legislation in January 2026 making possession of unauthorized satellite internet terminals including Starlink punishable by six months to two years imprisonment for personal use, with espionage-related usage carrying death penalty provisions.
Iranian authorities deployed advanced radio-frequency jamming systems combining GPS denial flooding the L1 band, direct Ku-band and Ka-band targeting using mobile jamming units, and Russian electronic warfare systems transferred during 2024-2025 to neutralize Starlink operations during the country’s longest-ever internet blackout affecting 85 million people. The successful jamming operation marked the first verified instance of a nation-state defeating Starlink at national scale during internal political crisis, demonstrating that low-earth orbit satellite constellations remain vulnerable to determined state interference despite technical resilience.
Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority clarified that registration with Pakistan Space Activities Regulatory Board is mandatory before obtaining a satellite internet license in Pakistan, creating a two-step authorization process requiring satellite internet providers to first register with PSA-RB before proceeding to licensing through PTA.
The regulatory framework ensures both space operations compliance and telecommunications oversight, with PSA-RB rules under development establishing technical standards, security requirements, spectrum coordination and operational conditions for satellite providers balancing connectivity expansion against national security considerations and domestic industry protection.
The controversy surrounding Musk’s social media activity intensified in early 2025 when the Tesla and SpaceX CEO endorsed narratives about grooming gangs in the United Kingdom that Pakistani senators characterized as perpetuating harmful stereotypes against Pakistanis. Senator Palwasha Khan accused Musk of partnering with India to propagate false allegations, while Senator Anusha Rahman called for thorough background examination before granting licenses. Digital rights activist Usama Khilji criticized Musk’s broader support for right-wing politics and accused him of engaging in bigotry, linking these controversies to Starlink’s expansion challenges in Pakistan.
Pakistan’s satellite internet regulatory development occurs as the country seeks to expand broadband access in remote and underserved areas where traditional fiber optic and cellular infrastructure proves economically challenging to deploy. The conflicting statements between Senator Afnan Ullah Khan claiming unauthorized Starlink operations in Balochistan and Secretary IT denying confirmed service raise questions about enforcement mechanisms preventing unauthorized usage, as Starlink’s low-earth orbit constellation technically enables coverage across Pakistan’s geography including western border regions without requiring ground infrastructure or formal company operations.
