The Nefarious Indo-Israel-Afghan Nexus
Retired Indian Lt Col Rajesh Pawar in a recent podcast with Shubankar Mishra, openly discussed what many in Pakistan view as confirmation of a dangerous Indo-Israel-Afghan nexus. According to Pawar, Afghanistan provides safe havens and operational space to TTP and BLA, India supplies funding and Israel offers advanced weapons, intelligence and technical support to destabilize […]
Afghanistan’s Hollow Warnings on TTP Deepen Pakistan’s Security Crisis
The recent Express Tribune report on Kabul’s warning to TTP highlights a familiar pattern of declaratory diplomacy failing to address Pakistan’s core security concerns. While the Taliban claims its supreme leader instructed TTP to halt cross-border violence, Islamabad demands verifiable action rather than statements, as counterterrorism remains the bedrock of bilateral trust. Balochistan and Khyber […]
US Strategic Ambitions in Balochistan’s Mineral Wealth Amid Enduring Security Threats
As Amir Jahangir in his opinion piece “The Mineral Gambit” published in The News on June 1, 2026, highlights the United States faces a profound strategic contradiction in its pursuit of secure access to Pakistan’s vast critical mineral resources. While Washington seeks to diversify supply chains away from Chinese dominance, ongoing instability in Balochistan fueled […]
Kaja Kallas Visit and the 8th EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue
The arrival of Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, in Islamabad on June 1, 2026, marks a significant moment in Pakistan-EU relations. Received warmly by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, her visit underscores the growing importance both sides attach […]
China Becomes The New Penholder in UNSC on Afghanistan
In a quiet but significant shift at the United Nations Security Council, China has taken over as the sole penholder on Afghanistan in 2025. This role, previously held by Japan in 2024, places Beijing at the center of drafting resolutions and steering international discussions on one of the world’s most complex crises. The transition of […]
Tax Targets: Looking Beyond the Headlines
Recent debate around FBR’s revenue performance has largely been driven by headline figures pointing to an “Rs864 billion gap” in tax collection. While such numbers are striking, they do not fully reflect how fiscal targets are designed, adjusted, and ultimately evaluated within a changing economic environment. At the outset of any fiscal year, tax targets […]
The New Architect of Afghan Diplomacy: China’s Strategic Stewardship at the United
The transition of China into the role of official “penholder” for the Afghanistan file at the United Nations Security Council marks a definitive turning point in the international management of Afghan diplomacy. By assuming this stewardship in 2025, a responsibility previously held by Japan, China has effectively become the primary representative and architect of the […]
PPDN Conference 2026 in London: Questions of Timing, Transparency and Intent
The announcement of the Pakistan Policy and Development Conference 2026 in London, organized by the Pakistan Policy and Development Network (PPDN) in collaboration with the London School of Economics, has drawn attention not only as an academic initiative but also as a politically sensitive development. At a time when Pakistan is working to strengthen its […]
Russia’s Military Agreement with the Taliban: Arming the Guardians of Pakistan’s Deadliest Foe
As Russia signs military cooperation agreements with the Taliban, it bolsters a regime actively sheltering TTP terrorists who launched over 600 deadly cross-border attacks on Pakistan in 2025 alone, revealing a dangerous disconnect between Moscow’s rhetoric and regional realities. Russia’s deepening military-technical partnership with the Taliban, formalized during Taliban Defense Minister Mullah Mohammad Yaqoob’s recent […]