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By Dr Urooj Aijaz In the contemporary world of international relations and politics, economic clout, shinko diplomacy and normative power have progressively replaced military force as the predominant tools of influence. States now compete less through tactical overmatch and more through market dominance, financial systems, energy flows, technology and bilateral strategic alliances. China’s response to the Venezuela crisis offers a stark illustration of this shifting landscape. Beijing demonstrated how a modern great power can impose strategic costs on a rival while maintaining plausible deniability and diplomatic restraint, without threatening or deploying troops. Over the past several years, China and Venezuela…

By Uzma Ehtasham Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has announced a wide-ranging relief package for exporters, cutting the export refinancing rate from 7.5% to 4.5%, reducing electricity tariffs by a further Rs4.04 per unit, lowering wheeling charges by Rs9, and offering blue passport facilities for two years to high-performing exporters. Speaking at a ceremony held in honor of leading exporters and business figures, the prime minister credited exporters’ “untiring efforts” for bringing billions of dollars into the country and said Pakistan’s economy was now moving from stabilization towards sustainable growth. He claimed that, after what he described as a decisive national…

By Asghar Ali Mubarak The prime minister’s message on World Water Day carries a warning that goes far beyond ceremonial language or diplomatic routine. When Pakistan declares that the use of water as a weapon of war is a violation of international law, it is not invoking abstract legal principles. It is pointing to a lived reality in which water insecurity has become a direct threat to peace, survival and regional stability in South Asia. International law is unambiguous on this question. The Geneva Conventions of 1949 and their Additional Protocols of 1977 clearly prohibit the targeting, manipulation or destruction…

By Israr Ahmad Orakzai KOHAT: Kohat University of Science and Technology and the Kohat Chamber of Commerce and Industry agreed on a joint strategy to promote industrial growth and create new employment opportunities, in a move described as a serious effort to bridge the gap between education and business in the region. The understanding was reached ahead of the “KUST Jobs and Industrial Expo”, scheduled to be held on 3 and 4 February under the auspices of Kohat University. As part of the preparations, the university’s director of ORIC, Dr Muhammad Zeeshan Bangash, along with Rubail Nazir, visited the Kohat…

By Muhammad Mohsin Iqbal History reminds us that even hostility between states has traditionally been restrained by certain moral and strategic conventions. A worthy adversary confronts openly, declares intent, and accepts the consequences. There is an austere dignity in such conflict, however regrettable. In stark contrast stands the conduct of a cowardly enemy—one that avoids direct engagement, shuns accountability, and wages war through deception, proxies, and terror. It is this degraded and dangerous form of hostility that Pakistan faces today. Following its unmistakable setback in May 2025, India appears to have abandoned any remaining commitment to responsible statecraft. Unable to…

By S.M. Inam Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s announcement of a wide-ranging relief package for exporters marks a significant intervention at a moment when Pakistan’s economy has been under acute strain. By cutting the export refinancing rate from 7.5% to 4.5%, reducing electricity tariffs by a further Rs4.04 per unit, lowering wheeling charges by Rs9, and offering blue passport privileges for two years to high-performing exporters, the government has signaled a clear intent to revive industry and restore export momentum. In practical terms, the package is a combination of incentives and structural support designed to breathe life into a sector that…

By Uzma Ehtasham The International Court of Arbitration has once again placed the spotlight on India’s conduct under the Indus Waters Treaty, directing New Delhi to submit operational records of its hydropower projects on Pakistani rivers. The court’s order, requiring India to provide the logbooks of the Baglihar and Kishanganga projects by 9 February 2026, comes with a warning: failure to comply will necessitate a formal explanation. Pakistan, for its part, has been asked to specify by 2 February which documents it is seeking. Hearings on the merits of the case are scheduled in The Hague for 2 and 3…

By Atiq Raja In a world that never stops watching, judging, and rating, many of us wake up each morning already tired—not from work, but from expectations. Expectations of how we should look, what we should earn, whom we should marry, how fast we should succeed, and how loudly we should prove it. Somewhere between scrolling, comparing, and pleasing, we forget to ask the most important question: Is my soul at peace? Society is a loud, relentless place. It applauds achievements, labels people, sets timelines, and hands out invisible report cards. By the time we realize it, we are running…