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By Prof. Dr Sheikh Akram Ali Political leadership has always been central to the making and unmaking of nations. In wealthy, stable states, institutions often cushion the weaknesses of individuals. In poorer countries, where institutions are fragile and social pressures acute, leadership matters far more. Bangladesh belongs firmly to the latter category. Its political history shows that moments of progress and regression have been shaped less by abstract systems than by the character, judgement and resolve of those at the helm. Courage and wisdom, or prudence, have therefore emerged as the twin pillars of leadership in the Bangladeshi context. When…

By Uzma Ehtasham Pakistan’s leadership is framing last May’s confrontation with India not only as a military success but as a turning point with economic and diplomatic consequences that are now beginning to surface. Addressing a meeting of the federal cabinet, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the outcome of what he described as the “Battle for Truth” had sharply increased international interest in Pakistani fighter aircraft, with several countries approaching Islamabad to explore potential purchases. In his telling, the reverberations of the conflict are no longer confined to the battlefield but are being felt across markets, ministries and foreign capitals.…

A quiet but potentially consequential shift is under way in the strategic calculations of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. It has unfolded without fanfare, through months of discreet consultations rather than dramatic announcements. Yet the recent confirmation by Pakistan’s minister for defence production that a draft framework for trilateral defence cooperation exists, even if still under review, marks a point of transition. What was once an abstract idea has edged closer to policy. The process remains cautious and deliberately understated, but it reflects deeper forces reshaping how these three states view their security in an unsettled world. This emerging conversation…

By Uzma Ehtasham For the third time in a matter of months, the world has edged uncomfortably close to a confrontation between two of its most volatile capitals. Washington and Tehran, long locked in an antagonistic embrace, find themselves again at the center of global unease as reports circulate of a possible United States military strike on Iran. This is not a distant strategic abstraction, but a tangible escalation that has prompted European states to evacuate their citizens, airlines to reroute flights, and governments to withdraw diplomats. The suddenness of these movements, and the gravity that underpins them, speaks volumes…

By Dr. Zawwar Hussain What follows may unsettle some readers. It may irritate others. Yet societies rarely reform themselves through comfort. History suggests that nations begin to awaken only when they develop the courage to confront unpleasant truths without denial. One such truth confronts us today with painful clarity: our education system is no longer designed to produce thinkers, scientists, writers, innovators or leaders. With quiet efficiency, it has become a factory for clerks. Not clerks merely as an occupation, but clerks as a mindset. Young people trained to obey rather than to think, to execute instructions rather than to…

By S.M. Inam Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif was right to acknowledge the importance of Pakistan’s overseas citizens after record remittances of $3.6bn flowed into the country in December, marking a striking 16.5% increase over previous months. For a cash-strapped economy under constant external pressure, such inflows matter enormously. They help stabilize foreign exchange reserves, ease balance-of-payments stress and, in many respects, keep the economy afloat when other sources of financing dry up. The gratitude expressed towards the diaspora was therefore justified, and long overdue. Yet celebration alone risks masking deeper structural weaknesses. Remittances may now exceed the funds Pakistan receives…

Donald Trump once again placed the world on edge by turning diplomacy into a threat and threats into theatre. In a single statement, the US president claimed Iran had reached out to negotiate a nuclear deal and that preparations for a meeting were under way, only to warn that military action could come first. He spoke of “powerful options” and red lines crossed, suggesting force was not only possible but imminent. The contradiction was not subtle. It was deliberate. The signal sent to Tehran, and to the wider world, was that dialogue existed only at the pleasure of American power…

By Alia Zarar Khan I came across an inappropriate video that recently went viral across Pakistan, shameless, morally objectionable eliciting a strong public reaction. The content not just compelled widespread discussion, not because it demanded reflection, but because it was turned into entertainment. As an active social media user, the reaction caught my eye, leading me to further look into the full context. What followed was not merely a controversy about a video, but a troubling reflection of how quickly public outrage in the digital age can mutate into casual amusement. The speed with which such content circulates, and the…