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If the reported agreement between the United States and Iran is formally signed in Geneva this week, it will mark one of the most consequential diplomatic developments in the Middle East in decades. Beyond the symbolism of two long-standing adversaries reaching a negotiated understanding, the agreement would represent a rare victory for dialogue in a region where military confrontation has too often been allowed to dictate political outcomes. It is therefore understandable that governments across the world have welcomed the prospect of a settlement that promises not only to reduce tensions but also to restore a measure of stability to…
By Dr Nazia Sher Manta rays and mobula rays, collectively known as mobulids, are among the most remarkable yet least understood marine species in Pakistan’s waters. These large, gentle filter-feeders belong to the genus Mobula and are globally recognised for their ecological importance and extreme biological vulnerability. In the Arabian Sea, particularly within Pakistan’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), they remain largely invisible in fisheries policy despite being increasingly affected by human activity. Scientific records, including FAO identification guides and regional fisheries studies, confirm the presence of at least five mobulid species in Pakistan’s marine waters. These include the oceanic manta…
By Khpalwak Mohmand The recent demand by the All Tribes Jirga to accord formal legal status to jirgas in the tribal areas is more than a procedural request. It reflects a deeper anxiety about identity, governance and access to justice in regions where the state’s formal institutions remain distant, slow, or often mistrusted. For many in the tribal districts, the jirga is not an alternative to justice but its most immediate and culturally legitimate form. It is both a memory of continuity and a living mechanism of dispute resolution that has shaped Pakhtun society for centuries. At its core, the…
By Abdul Rehman Patel History rarely moves in a straight line. It circles back on itself, revisiting familiar scenes with different actors, different slogans and different expectations. The setting may change, the faces around the negotiating table may be new, and the language of diplomacy may evolve, but the underlying drama often remains remarkably similar. Across decades of international politics, the world has repeatedly witnessed moments when leaders gather beneath bright lights, sign carefully drafted agreements and declare the beginning of a new era. Yet history reminds us that the signing of a document is often easier than the transformation…
If the reported understanding between the United States and Iran survives the early turbulence of competing briefings and carefully curated diplomatic signalling, it would represent more than a routine thaw. It would mark a rare recalibration in a relationship that has, for decades, been defined less by formal war than by sustained, managed hostility. Yet even in its most optimistic reading, what is emerging is not a settled agreement but a tentative architecture of restraint, still fragile, still contested, and already subject to interpretation by multiple capitals eager to shape its meaning. At this stage, the substance of the development…
By Muhammad Mohsin Iqbal In an age increasingly defined by political divisions, geopolitical rivalries and economic uncertainty, there remain a few institutions and experiences capable of uniting people across borders. Football is undoubtedly one of them. Regardless of language, nationality or social background, the game possesses a unique ability to inspire collective emotion. For ninety minutes, differences often fade as millions become invested in the same contest, the same drama and the same dream. The FIFA World Cup 2026, hosted across the United States, Canada and Mexico, has once again become the centre of global attention. It is more than…
By Dr Zawwar Hussain For centuries, humanity has looked towards the oceans as an endless source of life, prosperity and opportunity. Vast, powerful and seemingly indestructible, the world’s seas have sustained civilisations, enabled trade, regulated the climate and provided food for billions of people. Yet beneath the surface of this immense blue expanse, a crisis is unfolding. The oceans that have quietly supported life on Earth for millennia are now facing unprecedented pressure from pollution, environmental degradation and climate change. The scale of humanity’s dependence on the oceans is often underestimated. Covering more than two-thirds of the planet, oceans perform…
By Abdul Wahab Munshi The journey from Jamshoro to Karachi has long offered travellers a familiar sight: the broad and powerful sweep of the Indus River, the waterway that shaped the history of Sindh and sustained its people for centuries. Today, however, that journey tells a different story. Large stretches of the riverbed appear exposed and lifeless, covered in sand rather than flowing water. What was once a symbol of abundance now presents an unsettling image of scarcity. It is a scene that raises difficult questions about water management, environmental stewardship and the future of one of Pakistan’s most important…