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By Atiq Raja Human beings are drawn to labels. We have an almost instinctive need to define, to categorise, and to simplify the complexity of life into easily digestible boxes. We call someone a saint or a sinner, a hero or a villain, as though a single chapter could capture the entirety of a life. It is comforting to think in binaries, to believe that people are entirely good or irredeemably bad, that history can neatly separate the righteous from the corrupt. Yet the weight of history, philosophy, and lived experience repeatedly tells a different story: every saint has a…

By Syed Shamim Akhtar India’s retreat from Iran’s Chabahar port under the shadow of American sanctions has exposed the delicate balancing act that defines the country’s foreign policy in a region of competing ambitions and alliances. Once hailed as a strategic masterstroke, the port project now stands as a cautionary tale about the limits of influence when global pressures collide with regional aspirations. Reports from Indian media suggest that New Delhi has transferred the $120 million it had committed to Chabahar before US sanctions took full effect, effectively handing operational control to Tehran. The transfer appears to mark India’s quiet…

By Uzma Ehtasham Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has underscored Pakistan’s unwavering commitment to its relationship with China, describing it as a strategic partnership resilient under any circumstance. During a meeting with Sun Haiyan, China’s vice minister for international affairs of the Communist Party, he praised Beijing’s support across sectors, particularly in defence, and emphasized the timely and effective implementation of the next phase of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). In a gesture of continued diplomatic warmth, he extended an invitation to President Xi Jinping for a visit to Pakistan later this year. Vice Minister Sun reciprocated, reaffirming China’s determination to…

In a dramatic twist that underscored the fragile calculus of power in the Middle East, President Donald Trump reportedly halted preparations for a major US strike on Iran at the last moment, according to American media reports. The decision, which came amid mounting tensions and widespread fears of a military confrontation, highlights the complex interplay of military capability, diplomatic pressure, and domestic politics that continues to define Washington’s approach to Tehran. By the morning of Wednesday, 14 January, both Washington and key capitals across the Middle East were bracing for what many feared could be a decisive US air operation…

By Atiq Raja Dreams rarely announce themselves with drama. More often, they arrive quietly, forming in the private spaces of thought, in moments of restlessness, hope or sudden clarity. They begin as fragile ideas, easily ignored or postponed, and yet powerful enough to shape the direction of a life. Many people assume that once a dream is identified, discipline and hard work alone will be enough to realize it. When progress fails to follow effort, frustration sets in. What is often overlooked is not a lack of commitment, but a mismatch of environment. Dreams do not grow everywhere. They grow…

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 Asghar Ali Mubarak Diplomacy, for all its frustrations and slow rhythms, remains the least destructive instrument available to states confronting crisis. War promises clarity through force but delivers only ruin, deepened grievances and cycles of retaliation that last generations. Diplomacy, by contrast, is an exercise in restraint. It is the patient art of managing interests, acknowledging realities and seeking compromise where none appears immediately possible. At moments of regional tension, such as the current turmoil surrounding Iran, its value becomes not merely moral but strategic. The unrest in Iran, triggered by economic hardship and aggravated by political discontent, has…

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…