Opinion

Taliban, Afghanistan Internet Shutdown, Supreme Leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, Rifts in Taliban, Afghan Safe Havens

Disconnected and Divided: Taliban’s Fractured Emirate Risks Regional Stability

Opinion /

For the past several days, Afghanistan has been plunged into an eerie silence, not just metaphorically, but literally. The internet shutdown, though described by Taliban as a “technical fault,” is in fact a calculated, deliberate move orchestrated by the Taliban’s top leadership in Kandahar. The decision reportedly came directly from Supreme Leader Mullah Hibatullah Akhundzada, […]

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Pakistan’s Resolve Against Militancy and Afghanistan’s Taliban Divide

Opinion /

Aqeel Yousafzai The recent security operations in Quetta and Shirani once again highlight the entrenched threat of militancy in Pakistan’s western belt. In Quetta, a major counterterrorism action left around ten people dead, while in Shirani district, eight militants were eliminated in a military-led operation. These events are not isolated. They reflect a persistent militancy

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Cross-Border Militancy and Foreign Recruits Challenge Taliban’s Grip

Opinion /

Zahir Shah Shirazi The message delivered by Pakistan, China, Russia and Iran on the sidelines of this year’s UN General Assembly was unambiguous: Afghanistan must stop being a safe haven for transnational militant networks or face consequences. On paper, the demand is simple and reasonable. In practice, turning words into action against a mosaic of

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Taliban, Bagram Airbase, Pakistan and Afghanistan, Russia and China, Foreign Terrorist Organisation in Afghanistan

Regional Powers Warn Taliban: Act Against Terror, Build Inclusive Govt, Avoid US Bases

Opinion /

The recent dialogue in Islamabad, where Afghan intellectuals, civil society representatives, and women activists participated, was an important attempt to foster understanding between the people of Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, suspicion and confusion surrounded the event, with some alleging it was an exercise against the Afghan Taliban. In reality, it was a private initiative, spearheaded

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A New Jihadist Hub? Why Pakistan, China, Russia and Iran Are Alarmed at Afghanistan’s Militant Haven

Opinion /

Mushtaq Yusufzai Once again, Pakistan, China, Russia, and Iran have spoken in one voice, demanding that Afghanistan’s soil must not be allowed to be used against any country. The joint statement, issued on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, reflects not only regional anxieties but also a growing sense of

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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Terrorism in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Free prisoner 804, PTI Peshawar Jalsa, CM Ali Amin Gandapur Paying Extortion Money

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Burns While Its Rulers Play Politics

Opinion /

The security crisis engulfing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has reached a point where deadly attacks and counter-terror operations are now a grim daily routine. Yet the provincial government behaves as if nothing is more urgent than staging political rallies for the release of a single prisoner. This stark mismatch between public need and official priority has

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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, Pakistan Army, Dera Ismail Khan, Afghan Taliban

Escalating Instability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Puts Civilians and State Under Pressure

Opinion /

Arif Yousafzai The security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa today is alarming, complex, and steadily worsening. It would be misleading to suggest that this province enjoys peace. On the contrary, Pakhtunkhwa has become an aggressive and volatile region where law and order is collapsing, and the writ of the state is openly challenged by militant groups.

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Pakistan’s Crucial Test: Winning the War of Narratives in an Age of Disinformation

Opinion /

Aqeel Yousafzai The conflict we see on the ground is only half the story. Alongside guns and bombs there is a far more insidious campaign underway: a war of narratives in which images, videos and stories are weaponised to shape belief, erode trust in state institutions, and rewrite facts. Pakistan’s institutions political leaders, mainstream media

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Pskistan, Afghanistan's Shifts, Taliban

From Allies to Adversaries: How Afghanistan’s Shifts Are Fueling Pakistan’s Security Crisis

Opinion /

In recent months, the region has witnessed critical developments with direct implications for Pakistan’s security; particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Among these, none has stirred more speculation than the question of whether internal rifts within the Afghan Taliban might signal the end of their rule. Compounding this is the surfacing issue of Bagram Airbase, with

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