(Shamim Shahid) The unfolding situation in Tirah is not simply a matter of security, displacement, or administrative confusion. It is a troubling manifestation of how political confrontation between the federal government and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government has transformed a sensitive tribal region into a testing ground for power games. Tirah today stands as a […]
Tirah: Where Politics Overtakes Security Read More »
It is remarkable how many self-declared experts on security operations, as well as those self-proclaimed political experts, suddenly appear in public debates. Even when they have no familiarity with the terrain or the operational environment, they speak as if they are seasoned military planners. This produces strange explanations, often presented with complete certainty. There is
How Political Posturing Turned Tirah into a Crisis Zone Read More »
The people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are facing severe hardships. The cold is intense. But a fundamental question arises, who is responsible for this situation, and who is opposing what is happening? These are the questions we are examining today. We are also discussing the position of the Chief Minister of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sohail Afridi. On
Tirah in the Crossfire of Confusion, Cold, and Contradictory Policies Read More »
The tension between the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where the governance has miserably failed its citizens, and the federal government is clearly visible. But this tension and the effects of all these political disputes are only being raised by the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The province, which the government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was trying to
Governance in Name Only: KP’s Leadership Fails the People Read More »
(Shamim Shahid) The controversy surrounding the Tirah operation has once again exposed a chronic fault line in Pakistan’s governance: the dangerous disconnect between Islamabad and Peshawar. What should have been a clearly articulated, legally justified, and administratively coordinated security initiative has instead descended into confusion, contradiction, and human suffering. At the centre of this unfolding
Tirah Operation and the Crisis of Confusion Read More »
(Arif Yousafzai) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa today presents a grim paradox. At a time when militancy is visibly resurging, governance in the province appears to be deteriorating with equal speed. This dual crisis is not unfolding in isolation; it is deeply connected to the nature of contemporary politics in Pakistan, where symbolism increasingly substitutes substance, and protest
When Protest Replaces Governance Read More »
The announcement of nationwide protests on 8 February, by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), once again raises a basic and unavoidable question: can street agitation resolve the problems ordinary people face in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, or has protest itself become a substitute for governance? The declared objective of these rallies is clear, to apply pressure on the center
(Shamim Shahid) Afghanistan once again finds itself at the centre of a complex regional equation where security, diplomacy and internal political contradictions intersect. The recent deadly explosion in Kabul, which claimed eight lives including those of two Chinese nationals, is not merely another tragic incident in a country accustomed to violence; it is a stark
After Kabul’s Blast: A Defining Moment for Afghanistan Read More »
(Zahir Shah Sherazi) Pakistan today stands at a dangerous crossroads where confused political narratives, inconsistent security policies, and chronic governance failures have converged to deepen instability—particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the former tribal districts. At the heart of this crisis lies the legacy and current posture of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), whose past decisions and present
PTI’s Security Gamble and Its Aftermath Read More »
The border between Pakistan and Afghanistan has long been a flashpoint, and recent developments have only underscored the persistent challenges of cross-border militancy. Despite the Taliban’s claim to control, they have been unable to secure the Afghanistan-Pakistan border—or Afghan frontier with Tajikistan—allowing insurgent groups to exploit these gaps for their operations. Humanitarian Strain Amid Security
