Cross‑border terror response
Islamabad’s message to Kabul has been delivered with unmistakable clarity: any act of terrorism inside Pakistan traced back to Afghan soil will invite a decisive cross‑border response. The…
The Public Purview
Editorial
UN resolutions ignored
What value does a UN Security Council resolution hold if it is never implemented? This question was at the heart of an informal meeting…
Lessons from Iran
American administrations, whether Republican or Democrat, have rarely paused to reflect on the consequences of their foreign policy misadventures. From failed nation‑building projects to…
Strengthening Iran–Pakistan ties
Symbolism carries immense weight in international diplomacy, and the fact that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian chose Pakistan for his first foreign visit after the…
Illusion of growth
Political rhetoric often leans heavily on clichés, but when repeated endlessly, they lose their force. This was evident when Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb concluded…
Climate funding cut
Pakistan is facing intensifying climate threats at the very moment it has chosen to reduce funding for the institutions responsible for managing them. The…
Lebanon peace threatened
The future of Lebanon may well determine whether the recently signed memorandum of understanding between the United States and Iran can survive. Even as…
Digital peace accord
Developments surrounding the Iran–US memorandum of understanding have moved at remarkable speed. Although the physical signing ceremony was scheduled to take place in Switzerland…
Hate speech harms
Long before a place of worship is attacked or a mob gathers in fury, the seeds of violence are sown through language. Hate speech…
Deal faces obstacles
With the temporary peace accord between the United States and Iran scheduled to be formally signed in Geneva on Friday, the arduous journey of…
Fragile peace accord
After three and a half months of devastating conflict involving the United States, Israel, and Iran, marked by an uneasy temporary ceasefire, a genuine…
Ensuring Muharram peace
With the holy month of Muharram set to begin next week, the state has already initiated its annual security and administrative measures to ensure…
Economic recovery dilemma
When Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb unveiled the Economic Survey 2026, he painted a hopeful picture of recovery. The headline numbers do support his optimism:…
Coalition talks in GB
The recent elections in Gilgit‑Baltistan have placed the Pakistan Peoples Party in a strong position to form the next government, with early results showing…
Fiscal tug of war
Budget delays are not unusual in Pakistan, given the difficulty of reconciling competing demands from various lobbies. Yet the current impasse is of a…
AJK unrest deepens
Azad Jammu and Kashmir has once again been thrust into turmoil following the proscription of the Joint Awami Action Committee (JAAC) by the regional…
Trader concessions
The government’s Fixed Tax Asaan Scheme for traders with an annual turnover of up to Rs200 million has been presented as a pragmatic alternative…