The year 2025 proved to be extremely difficult and decisive for Pakistan and the wider region. Pakistan faced sustained pressure on multiple fronts, from accusations following the Pahalgam incident to heightened tensions with Afghanistan and the increasingly close alignment between India and Kabul. These overlapping challenges created a persistent sense of strain. Yet, even within […]
Eyes on Terror, Hands on Victory: Pakistan 2025 Read More »
Today, we are discussing the current political situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s Chief Minister, Sohail Afridi, has announced a street movement scheduled for January 9 with a single stated objective: the release of the party’s jailed founder. Alongside this, we will also examine Pakistan–Afghanistan relations, particularly the evolving situation along the border.
A Party in Power, a Movement Without Momentum Read More »
(Aqeel Yousafzai) In an era defined by overlapping crises, contested narratives and rapidly shifting power alignments, Pakistan in 2025 finds itself at the centre of an unusually intense global conversation. At the heart of this conversation stands one individual: General Asim Munir. Rarely in Pakistan’s history has a serving military chief—or, as he is now
How Pakistan Repositioned Itself in 2025 Read More »
Everyone is aware of the tense situation currently prevailing between Pakistan and Afghanistan. However, since trade has been suspended and the border closed, there has been a noticeable 17 percent reduction in terrorist incidents. This is precisely what we will discuss today, along with the issue of Afghan refugees returning from Pakistan and whether they
Border Closure, Terror Decline, and Afghanistan’s Self-Inflicted Crisis Read More »
(Shamim Shahid) Over the past three months, Pakistan-Afghanistan relations have witnessed a noticeable shift toward positivity, particularly in trade, diplomacy, and information exchange. After years of fluctuating relations marked by tensions, mistrust, and intermittent cross-border conflicts, there are emerging signs of collaboration and cautious optimism. This sudden change raises several questions about the underlying factors
There has been a clear and visible shift in the extremist mindset. In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the former tribal areas, a new trend has emerged within terrorist organizations. Previously, these groups mobilized people in the name of Sharia, Islamization, and the implementation of Islamic law. Their core narrative revolved around declaring the state and the
From Sharia to Nationalism: The New Strategies of Terrorist Networks in Pakistan Read More »
Over the past two to three years, in the ongoing fight against extremists, we have witnessed a clear and visible transformation in the traditional dynamics of warfare. A significant shift has taken place. Unlike conventional wars, where heavy weaponry was preferred, widely used, and seen as a decisive advantage, modern warfare has increasingly moved toward
Weapons Are No Longer Enough: How Extremists Are Targeting Minds Instead Read More »
(Fida Adeel) For more than two months, the Pak-Afghan border has remained largely shut, freezing trade, suspending Afghan transit commerce through Pakistan, and deepening mistrust between two neighbours that geography has permanently tied together. This prolonged closure is not merely a diplomatic signal; it is a strategic stress test for both states, one that exposes
Geography, Militancy and the Limits of Diplomacy Read More »
When we say that the youth in the former FATA, especially in North and South Waziristan, are prime targets of extremists and terrorist groups, there is a long historical background to this reality. You may recall that when the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan, the United States and much of the world supported the Mujahideen fighting
Why Youth in Former FATA Became Easy Targets for Militancy Read More »
(Shamim Shahid) Sirajuddin Haqqani’s recent statement from Kabul that Afghanistan seeks peace, dialogue and negotiations rather than war, and that Afghan soil should not be used against neighbouring countries has inevitably triggered intense debate in Pakistan and across the region. Coming from the interior minister of the Taliban government and the most influential leader of
Haqqani’s Call for Peace: Signal of Strategic Realism or Another Tactical Pause? Read More »
