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By S.M. Inam Pakistan’s election as chair of the Economic Cooperation Organization’s Council of Ministers (ECO-COM) for 2026–2027 marks a moment of notable regional significance, one that has drawn warm acknowledgements from foreign ministers across the member states. On the virtual platform of the 29th ECO-COM session, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar spoke with measured optimism, underscoring the need for collective action in a world increasingly defined by rapid technological change and shifting geopolitical currents. Drawing lessons from Kazakhstan’s recent presidency of the organization, he emphasized that economic divides across South and Central Asia must be…
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…
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: Members of the Afghan community living in the United States appealed to President Donald Trump not to suspend their immigration applications in the wake of the shooting that left National Guard personnel dead near the White House. The call came after an Afghan national was accused of opening fire on National Guard officers in Washington, prompting the Trump administration to immediately freeze all Afghan immigration requests. The decision sent shockwaves through Afghan families already waiting anxiously for their cases to be processed. Community leaders said the incident was the criminal act of an individual and should…