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By Atiq Raja In the quiet pens of a livestock farm, there exists a creature whose role is at once unassuming and sinister: the Judas Goat. Trained to lead other goats and sheep into the slaughterhouse, it strides ahead with apparent confidence, giving the herd a sense of security. The others follow, trusting its direction, oblivious to the doom that awaits them. The Judas Goat itself halts before the final point, spared each time, only to return and lead another group into the same fate. On the surface, it is an agricultural tactic. Beneath that, it is a profound and…
By Abdul Rehman Patel The recent shooting incident involving two security personnel in Washington, D.C., has thrust the United States back into that precarious space where national security, civil liberties, human rights, and global diplomacy intersect. In the immediate aftermath, former President Donald Trump announced sweeping new restrictions on immigration, travel, and security, targeting what he broadly described as “third world countries.” While the official list of affected nations remains unpublished, media reports suggest that up to nineteen countries could face tightened screening, visa suspensions, green card reviews, and politically driven immigration filtration. The message is unmistakable: borders are no…
In the rugged expanses of Balochistan, where jagged mountains rise as silent witnesses to centuries of struggle, the narrative of militancy is often romanticized, obscuring the devastating consequences it inflicts on ordinary citizens and the nation as a whole. The story, too often reduced to headlines of insurgency and conflict, is inseparable from the courageous work of those who defend Pakistan’s unity and sovereignty. At the heart of this defence stands the Pakistan Army, an institution whose disciplined presence has been instrumental in ensuring the country’s territorial integrity and the protection of millions of lives against those who choose the…
By Syed Shamim Akhtar During his recent visit to Bahrain, Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif sought to project an image of Pakistan as a country ready to embrace international economic engagement. Speaking to Bahrain’s business community, he highlighted the kingdom’s expertise and experience in global commerce and investment, framing the visit as an opportunity to translate long-standing cultural and religious ties into tangible economic partnerships. Agriculture, information technology, and other sectors, he suggested, offer fertile ground for collaboration, while Bahraini investors were invited to explore opportunities in Pakistan. The prime minister’s approach reflects a broader diplomatic push: a concerted effort…
By Mehrab Shah Afridi Pakistan stands at the precipice of a demographic crisis that threatens to strain every aspect of its social and economic fabric within little more than a decade. Recent projections, produced with the support of the United Nations Population Fund, UK Aid, and the Population Council, offer an unflinching view of a nation growing faster than its institutions can adapt. The statistics are stark, yet they risk being dismissed as abstract numbers; what they reveal is not just a challenge for policy makers but a reality that will shape the everyday lives of millions of Pakistanis. By…
By Atiq Raja Migration has always been one of humanity’s most enduring strategies for survival, growth, and hope. It is rarely a decision taken lightly, but for many Pakistanis today—particularly the country’s young, educated, and ambitious—the choice to leave is less a dream than a necessity. Love for one’s homeland remains deeply rooted, yet practical realities are forcing a reckoning. Political uncertainty, economic stagnation, social instability, and restricted opportunities have created conditions in which staying put can feel more like a risk than a choice. For countless individuals, leaving Pakistan has become a rational, even strategic, response to circumstances that…
Pakistan finds itself once again at a critical juncture, confronted with a security environment that is increasingly volatile, unpredictable, and tragically lethal. Recent developments underscore the alarming reality that cross‑border terrorism, facilitated from Afghan soil, continues to threaten not only Pakistan’s stability but also regional security and even global peace. This year alone, a series of counter‑terrorism operations has revealed the scale of the challenge: 1,873 militants, including 136 Afghans, were neutralized, reflecting the relentless determination of Pakistani forces to confront groups infiltrating from across the western frontier. Yet these numbers, as stark as they are, tell only part of…
By Amjad Qaimkhani WASHINGTON: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has assigned India a “C” grade — the second-lowest rating — in its latest annual assessment, raising concerns over the reliability and timeliness of the country’s economic data. According to the report, India’s most recent publicly available figures, dating back to December 2011, were considered both outdated and inconsistent, signaling serious gaps that could hinder accurate monitoring of the economy. The IMF highlighted recurring issues with India’s methodology for calculating GDP, particularly the approach based on income, which experts have repeatedly criticized for its weaknesses. The report comes amid claims by…