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By Syed Shamim Akhtar Pakistan stands on the edge of a constitutional turning point — one that could either strengthen the state’s institutional balance or plunge it into a new phase of uncertainty. The federal cabinet’s approval of the 27th Constitutional Amendment and its referral to the Senate has ignited intense political and legal debate across the country. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, presiding via video link from Azerbaijan, hailed the move as a step toward “stability and continuity,” yet for many, it marks the start of an anxious reckoning with the shape of Pakistan’s governance itself. This proposed amendment, now…

By Uzma Ehtasham A new and troubling front has opened in long and bitter information wars. In recent days, a short, explosive video has spread like wildfire across Afghan and other regional social media networks. The clip, which claimed to show security forces desecrating a mosque and the Holy Qur’an, even bringing dogs into a place of worship, was designed to provoke horror and fury. Its circulation was swift, its emotional impact fierce — but it was built entirely on falsehood. Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, backed by independent fact-checkers, has confirmed that the footage was artificially generated using AI…

The European Union’s new Security Strategy for 2026 may appear, on paper, as a blueprint for a more capable and secure Europe. In practice, however, it represents something far more perilous — a turning point that could push the continent deeper into confrontation and insecurity. This ambitious scheme is not about peace or collective safety. It is, rather, the codification of Europe’s gradual militarization under the pretext of “strategic autonomy” — an agenda that risks transforming Ukraine into a permanent frontline state and the rest of Europe into a tightly controlled military bloc. The European Commission’s insistence on building what…

In the bustling corridors of Istanbul last week, a carefully orchestrated diplomatic engagement between Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban ended, at least for now, with frustration and disillusionment. Pakistan’s foreign office has painted a picture of negotiations conducted in good faith, only to be met repeatedly with what it describes as evasive maneuvers, empty assurances, and a troubling lack of accountability from its counterparts in Kabul. The third round of talks, convened on 7 November under the auspices of Turkey and Qatar, had been framed by Islamabad as a crucial opportunity: a chance to convert verbal commitments into tangible, verifiable…

In a development that promises to reshape Pakistan’s legislative and judicial landscape, the federal cabinet on Saturday approved the 27th constitutional amendment, signaling Islamabad’s intent to resolve longstanding ambiguities in the country’s governance structures. The meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif via video link from Baku, underscored the administration’s continued commitment to institutional reform, even as the nation navigates a politically charged environment and heightened public scrutiny. Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar, who briefed the cabinet on the amendment and presented its draft, emphasized the legal and democratic rationale behind the initiative. The cabinet’s decision to grant clause-by-clause approval…

Pakistan and Afghanistan returned to the negotiating table in Istanbul this week for the third round of talks but deadlock persisted, a meeting that on paper promised a fragile but tangible path towards a ceasefire. Hosted jointly by Turkey and Qatar, the talks brought the delegations face to face after a series of shuttle diplomacy sessions conducted by mediators. The ostensible goal, according to officials in Ankara, was to finalize practical mechanisms to enforce the truce, including monitoring and verification systems that would allow violations to be promptly investigated and addressed. For Islamabad, the test was simple, even if far…