Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban talks are expected to take place once again, but it is evident that neither side was the original initiator of this process. These negotiations are being facilitated by China, which has positioned itself as a central mediator in the evolving regional dialogue. A key question remains whether this second round
Talks, Terror, and Trust, Can Pakistan and Afghanistan Break the Cycle Read More »
A fresh revelation by former Afghan intelligence chief Ahmad Zia Siraj has once again pulled back the curtain on a reality many in the region already understand but global actors often hesitate to confront directly, the continued presence, facilitation, and operational space enjoyed by terrorist groups inside Afghanistan. This is not an isolated claim. Over
Afghan Taliban’s Double Game Exposed as Pakistan Emerges Central to Regional Stability Read More »
(Mushtaq Yusufzai) The evolving security situation in Afghanistan has once again come under intense scrutiny following a new investigative report that raises uncomfortable but necessary questions: Was the international community wrong to assume that ISIS-Khorasan Province had been weakened beyond strategic relevance? Did intelligence failures both foreign and domestic create the conditions for its resurgence?
(Shamim Shahid) In the constantly shifting landscape of international relations, where rivalries often dominate headlines and mistrust defines engagement, moments of quiet diplomacy tend to go unnoticed until their consequences become impossible to ignore. The recent round of indirect and exploratory talks between the United States and Iran reportedly facilitated in part through behind-the-scenes diplomatic
Pakistan Between Washington and Tehran: The Hidden Talks That Could Change Everything Read More »
(Hassam Uddin) In recent months, a new diplomatic track between Pakistan and Afghanistan has drawn attention not only for its substance but also for its geography. The fact that these engagements are taking place on Chinese soil reportedly in venues such as Urumqi has sparked important questions: Why China? What does Beijing seek to gain?
Pakistan–Afghanistan Talks in China: What’s Really Driving the Quiet Diplomatic Shift? Read More »
Pakistan today finds itself in a complex security landscape where the visible decline in terrorist incidents in certain areas, particularly parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, masks a deeper and more adaptive threat. Groups such as the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Tehreek-e-Taliban Gul Bahadur Group (TTG), and their affiliates are not disappearing, they are reorganizing, recalibrating, and
Talks on the Table, Terror on the Ground, Pakistan Walks a Tightrope Read More »
Lakki Marwat to Urumqi, Kabul to Islamabad, the chessboard of regional security rarely moves with a single meeting, and certainly not with one held far from the centers of power. The recent round of talks in Urumqi between Pakistan and Afghanistan, facilitated by China, was projected in some quarters as a potential turning point. Yet,
No Breakthrough in Urumqi, Ground Realities Dictate Islamabad’s Afghanistan Policy Read More »
(Shamim Shahid) The recent de-escalation between global powers has once again reminded the world of a simple but often ignored truth: war benefits no one. While international attention has been drawn to conflicts elsewhere, closer to home, the fragile and often strained relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan remains a matter of deep concern. The rhetoric
The situation in Afghanistan today is a reality that cannot be denied, a state where restrictions on expression, media, and political space shape not only governance but also the voices that emerge from within it. In such an environment, even prominent figures like former president Hamid Karzai operate under visible constraints, making it difficult to
Afghanistan Must Eliminate Terror Sanctuaries to Prevent Further Strikes Read More »
( Zahir Shah Sherazi) The evolving dynamics between Pakistan and Afghanistan have once again entered a critical phase one that carries profound implications not only for bilateral relations but for the broader stability of the region. Recent engagements in Urumqi, China, have brought to the surface long-standing concerns, hardened positions, and a narrowing window for
