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For more than two years, Ukraine has been the epicenter of Europe’s deadliest conflict since the Second World War, a war that has left millions of lives shattered and landscapes scarred by relentless violence. Yet, in recent weeks, there has been a cautious sense of optimism in diplomatic corridors, as hopes for a resolution appear to have inched closer than at any point in recent memory. Keith Kellogg, the United States’ special envoy for Ukraine, has indicated that a peace agreement may be “very near,” even as he acknowledged that significant hurdles remain. His comments underline the paradox at the…

By Faizan Khan LAHORE: Jamaat‑e‑Islami (JI) Pakistan chief Hafiz Naeem‑ur‑Rehman has announced a nationwide sit‑in on 21 December, targeting Punjab and other parts of the country in protest against the new local government law. Addressing a demonstration in Lahore, he criticized the Punjab Local Government Act, calling it a “black law” that undermines city and union council rights. He accused powerful landowners of monopolizing the system and perpetuating oppression. “We will hold sit‑ins across Punjab and nationwide. Everything is being distributed within a single family,” he said, highlighting what he described as nepotism in politics. Naeem‑ur‑Rehman added that political workers…

By Amjad Qaimkhani WASHINGTON: The United States is reportedly on the verge of a breakthrough to end the war in Ukraine, according to President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Keith Kellogg. Kellogg said the proposed peace agreement is in its final stages, with only two major issues remaining: the future of the Donbas region, including Donetsk and Luhansk, and the control of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, currently under Russian authority and Europe’s largest nuclear facility. “Once these two points are resolved, the rest of the issues should be straightforward,” Kellogg said, describing this final phase of negotiation as the most…

By Mehrab Shah Afridi ISLAMABAD: Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti has affirmed that terrorists cannot impose their rule over the nation, adding that the people of Balochistan have stood with the armed forces and will continue to do so. Speaking at a press conference, Bugti said that around 100 terrorists recently surrendered in Dera Bugti, and he welcomed those who chose to lay down arms rather than confront the state. “The state of Pakistan and its flag are paramount. For the nation, personal issues are set aside,” he said. He detailed that over the past year, 900 terrorist incidents occurred…

The Foreign Office spokesman underscored that Pakistan’s institutions remained steadfast in protecting the nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, projecting a unified front amid mounting external scrutiny By Asghar Ali Mubarak ISLAMABAD: Pakistan strongly rejected and condemned a provocative and unfounded statement made by India’s foreign minister, framing it as both baseless and irresponsible. Speaking on behalf of the Foreign Office, spokesperson Tahir Hussain Inderabi underscored that Pakistan was a responsible state, with all its institutions—including the armed forces—serving as pillars of national security. The Foreign Office spokesman emphasized that these institutions remained fully committed to safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and…

By Aziz Khatri KARACHI: The Karachi Arts Council wrapped up its World Culture Festival with a colourful closing ceremony attended by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Labour Minister Saeed Ghani, Karachi’s CCPO Javed Alam Odho and the UAE Consul General Bakhit Atiq. Artists from Bangladesh, South Africa, Italy, Algeria and Japan were also present. Addressing the ceremony, Shah thanked international performers for coming to Pakistan and praised the Arts Council for organizing what he called a “beautiful festival”. He said representatives from more than 140 countries had taken part, adding that culture remained “a defining part of who we…

A chilling revelation has emerged from one of the world’s leading human rights organizations, exposing Pakistan as the latest target of some of the most sophisticated and intrusive forms of spyware known to exist. Amnesty International’s investigation into the so-called “Intellexa Leaks” has shed light on the deployment of a software tool named Predator, developed by Intellexa, an affiliate of the Israeli NSO Group. The disclosure is remarkable not only for the technical sophistication of the software but also for the geopolitical incongruity it presents: Pakistan and Israel maintain no formal diplomatic ties, and yet, according to Amnesty, citizens of…

S.M. Inam The inaugural session of Pakistan’s Eleventh National Finance Commission (NFC) has opened a new chapter in the complex dialogue between the federation and its provinces over the country’s fiscal architecture. Presided over by Federal Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, the meeting set in motion a series of working groups tasked with examining critical financial issues, signaling a more structured and consultative approach to resource allocation. These groups, to include representatives from all relevant stakeholders, are expected to produce detailed reports and recommendations for the NFC, covering the vertical distribution of national financial resources, the parallel allocation among provinces, population…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak Under the leadership of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Pakistan’s economy in 2025 displayed remarkable signs of recovery, stability, and cautious optimism. After years of turbulence marked by high inflation, currency instability, and persistent fiscal deficits, the country began to regain its footing, signaling a potential turning point in its economic trajectory. While challenges remain, the fiscal year 2025 has demonstrated that a combination of prudent policy-making, structural reforms, and international engagement can yield tangible results. One of the most striking achievements of the year was the sharp reduction in inflation. From a peak of 38 percent…