(Arif Yusufzai) Pakistan today stands at a perilous crossroads where the erosion of state authority, the weakening of institutions and the collapse of accountability have created a fertile ground for militancy, smuggling and organised crime. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), more than any other province, reflects this dangerous reality. The province has become a frontline case study […]
The ongoing security situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is no secret. Everyone can see it. From North and South Waziristan to Bannu, Dera Ismail Khan, Lakki Marwat, and even Chitral, terrorism is visible everywhere. In Tank, police officers were martyred just the other day. On the one hand, the security situation is deteriorating. On the other
Security Crisis and Governance Failure: Why KP Is Slipping Out of Control Read More »
The Diplomat, in one of its recent reports, mentioned that the year 2025 has proved to be a turning point for Pakistan, the year in which Pakistan once again emerged as an important, strong, and reliable country at the international level. Now the question arises, why did Pakistan become the centre of international attention? We
2025: A Defining Year for Pakistan’s Foreign and Security Policy Read More »
(Shamim Shahid) Pakistan today finds itself standing at a decisive crossroads where internal political paralysis, deepening governance failures, and a rapidly transforming regional geopolitical landscape are intersecting in dangerous ways. The latest signals emerging from Adiala Jail—where former prime minister Imran Khan is incarcerated—have once again reshaped the country’s political temperature. According to party
Zahir Shah Shirazi The youth of Pakistan constitute a significant portion of the population, and yet a recurring tragedy in the tribal areas of North and South Waziristan is their exploitation by terrorist organisations. It is not that these young people are inherently easy targets; the reality is far more complex. Tribal areas have long
Why Terrorists Target Our Tribal Youth; And What Can Stop It Read More »
There is a long history of the tribal areas. For generations, it has been ingrained in people’s minds that weapons were a form of jewellery. At one point, carrying a gun was considered a matter of pride, even fashion. Today, however, it is equally evident that weapons are also seen as destructive. This shift in
From Guns to Grievances, The Unfinished Story of Pakistan’s Tribal Youth Read More »
(Mushtaq Yusufzai) Pakistan today stands at a decisive juncture where internal security, regional diplomacy and state authority intersect in ways that can no longer be managed through ambiguity or half measures. Recent developments Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir’s candid address in Islamabad, his high-profile visit to Saudi Arabia, renewed diplomatic engagement with Iran,
Terrorism, Afghanistan and the Hard Realities of Regional Security Read More »
(Shamim Shahid) A troubling report has surfaced that demands serious reflection from policymakers, analysts, and the international community alike. According to this report, India is considering or has initiated a policy of granting visas to individuals affiliated with various militant and extremist organisations operating in Afghanistan. If this assessment is even partially accurate, it represents
India’s Afghan Visa Policy and the Regional Security Paradox Read More »
(Irfan Khan) The Tirah Valley, a historically strategic region in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, is once again at the center of a storm that reflects not only the security challenges of the area but also the complexities of regional politics and humanitarian concerns. The recent announcement of a major security operation in Tirah has
What’s Behind Pakistan’s Latest Security Operation in Tirah Valley Read More »
(Arif Yousafzai) The recent terrorist attack on a security check post in North Waziristan, claimed by the Hafiz Gul Bahadur group, is not an isolated incident, nor is it an unexpected one. It is, rather, another loud reminder of a grim reality that Pakistan has been reluctant to confront honestly: militancy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and
A Region in Flux, a State on Guard: Pakistan and the Re-Engineering of Militancy Read More »
