The TTP-Baloch Nexus on February 1, 2024On January 27, a day after diplomatic ties were restored between Pakistan and Iran in the wake of a missile exchange, certain gunmen killed nine and injured three Pakistani citizens inside Iran’s southeastern region of Sistan-Balochistan near the border with Pakistan. No group has claimed responsibility for the attack. Reportedly, the victims were labourers, who […]
Pakistan’s Foreign Policy Choices on December 15, 2023On 12 December 2023, in Daraban, Dera Ismail Khan, Tehrek-e Jihad Pakistan (TJP), a group affiliated to the Tehrek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), launched a suicide truck attack on the army’s check post consuming the lives of 23 soldiers. In response, Pakistan delivered a scathing demarche to the Afghan charge d’affaires and asked for an investigation […]
The Blasphemy Issue on May 4, 2023On April 14, in Faisalabad, a Muslim woman named Sana Ullah allegedly claimed to be an Islamic prophet. The proclamation drew a stern reaction from people. The police intervened to arrest the woman and her two accomplices on charges of blasphemy under the country’s laws. In Pakistan, blasphemy is an issue, which is condemned with […]
Hafiz Saeed Sentenced for Terror Financing on April 18, 2022On April 8, in Lahore, an anti-terrorism court awarded a combined sentence of 33 years imprisonment to the Chief of the banned Jamaat-ud Dawa (JuD) Hafiz Muhammad Saeed in two cases of terror financing. In both cases, the court also imposed a collective fine of Rs 340,000. The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) had registered the cases […]
Pakistan’s Intent to Recognise the Taliban on April 7, 2022On March 17, 2022, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) voted to establish formal ties with the relevant authorities of Afghanistan, without extending to the ruling Taliban regime any diplomatic recognition. Out of 15, 14 members voted for the UNSC Resolution 2626 (2022), while Russia abstained from voting. In its wake, Pakistan’s UN envoy Munir […]
National Security Policy: the Public Version on February 7, 2022On 14 January 2022, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan finally unveiled the public version of the country’s first-ever National Security Policy (NSP). The policy is meant for five years (2022-26) and it will be reviewed at the end of every year. At the occasion, the PM said that the country was in a dire need […]
National Security Policy on January 11, 2022On 27 December, 2021, at the occasion of the 36th meeting of the National Security Council headed by the Prime Minister, members of the council approved the first National Security Policy (NSP) 2022-26, presented by National Security Advisor Dr Moeed Yusuf, who also announced that the document was a product of consultative efforts that had […]
Priyantha Kumara and the Image of Pakistan on December 7, 2021All efforts to project the soft image of Pakistan foundered on one gruesome incident: Priyantha Kumara, a Sri Lankan Christian, who had been working as export quality control manager at Rajco Industries, Wazirabad Road, Sialkot (Punjab) for 10 years, was lynched to death on 3 December 2021. On the allegation of blasphemy, the zealots set […]
Scapegoating Pakistan for the Afghan Turmoil on December 4, 2021On February 29, 2020, at Doha, the US played sharp and safe by negotiating with the Taliban to form a national government of reconciliation in Kabul after the withdrawal of foreign forces. With the end of the effort of the regime change in Afghanistan, the US withdrew all forces on August 30, 2021, by virtually […]
Terrorism ravaging Afghanistan on May 16, 2020In Afghanistan, peace is fragile and truce is ephemeral. The only thing firm and perpetual is volatility. On 12 May 2020, in eastern Nangarhar province, a suicide bomber attacked a funeral procession of a local pro-government militia commander, Shaikh Akram, and killed and wounded about 50 grievers. On the same day, a three-member suicide squad […]