Opinion

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

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 […]

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Burns While Its Rulers Play Politics Read More »

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

Escalating Instability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Puts Civilians and State Under Pressure

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.

Escalating Instability in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Puts Civilians and State Under Pressure Read More »

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

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

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

Pskistan, Afghanistan's Shifts, Taliban

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

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

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

Bagram Airbase, Afghanistan, US President Donald Trump, China, Afghan Taliban

Bagram Airbase: A Symbol of American Might or a New Battlefield?

In the midst of mounting regional tensions and shifting alliances, the recent statements from former US President Donald Trump regarding the Bagram airbase serve as a stark reminder of the fragile geopolitical landscape in Afghanistan. Trump’s calls to reacquire the airbase, a symbol of American military might and strategic presence in Central Asia, have not

Bagram Airbase: A Symbol of American Might or a New Battlefield? Read More »

Afghanistan’s Armed Legacy and Pakistan’s Fight for Stability

Arif Yousafzai When Pakistan’s Ambassador Asim Iftikhar stood at the United Nations and declared that more than twenty terrorist organizations were operating out of Afghanistan with over sixty training camps, he was not voicing a mere diplomatic grievance. He was stating a reality Pakistan has lived with for decades a reality where Afghan soil continues

Afghanistan’s Armed Legacy and Pakistan’s Fight for Stability Read More »

Scroll to Top