Author: Uzma Ehtasham

By Uzma Ehtasham The killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, alongside senior political and military figures, marks one of the most perilous turning points in the modern history of the Middle East. Tehran has described the joint American and Israeli operation as a blatant breach of the United Nations charter and a violation of international law. Washington, by contrast, has presented it as an act of pre-emptive self-defence, necessary to neutralize imminent threats. Between these competing claims lies a region once again edging towards a wider and potentially uncontrollable war. Among those reported killed was General Mohammad Pakpour, head…

By Uzma Ehtasham The latest strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran, coming hard on the heels of a similar assault in June 2025, have deepened the sense that the region is no longer drifting from crisis to crisis but edging towards something more structural and sustained. What might once have been written off as episodic escalation now appears to form part of a deliberate strategic recalibration. The political geometry of the Middle East, already warped by years of proxy conflict and sanctions, is being redrawn in real time. For Tehran, the optics were stark. Another breach of…

By Uzma Ehtasham KARACHI: Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was confirmed dead following US and Israeli strikes, state media reported, as another wave of attacks struck the country on Sunday. The assassination drew swift international reactions, with nations, global bodies, and religious groups calling for restraint and de-escalation. In Pakistan, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack, describing it as a “violation of the norms of international law.” In a post on X, he said it had long been a convention that heads of state should not be targeted and expressed concern over breaches of these international norms. Russia’s…

By Uzma Ehtasham In recent months, the country has endured a series of deadly attacks following determined operations by the Pakistan Army against safe havens of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, Fitna al-Khawarij, and Fitna al-Hindustan in neighboring Afghanistan. These offensives, aimed at neutralizing extremist networks that have long threatened Pakistan’s stability, appear to have provoked a calculated surge in retaliatory attacks on Pakistani soil. The consequences have been severe: in Kohat, a militant strike on a police van claimed the lives of a deputy superintendent, five officers, and a civilian. Bhakkar witnessed a suicide attack that killed two officers, while in…

By Uzma Ehtasham In a demonstration of enduring bonds and shared interests, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have once again underscored the resilience of their relationship. The recent cabinet meeting in Riyadh, chaired by Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman, approved a series of measures designed to deepen cooperation across multiple sectors, signaling a renewed commitment to a partnership that has spanned generations. At the heart of these decisions lies a bilateral agreement between the interior ministries of both countries, focusing on scientific collaboration, training, and research—a step that promises to enhance administrative and security capacities while promoting the…

By Uzma Ehtasham KARACHI: The Consulate of Italy in Karachi hosted a special Iftar dinner, welcoming government officials, diplomats, and friends of Italy to commemorate the holy month of Ramadan and promote interfaith harmony. Consul of Italy in Karachi, Mr. Fabrizio Bielli, led the event, celebrating the spirit of Ramadan alongside Pakistani guests. The Honorable Governor of Sindh, Kamran Khan Tessori, attended the Iftar, along with other dignitaries, including Rear Admiral Salman Ilyas, Managing Director of Karachi Shipyard and Engineering Works, and Sector Commander Cdr. Nasir Mehmood. Consul Bielli, in his address, emphasized the spiritual significance of fasting, describing it…

By Uzma Ehatsham It is a sobering moment for much of the Muslim world that, despite the announcement of a ceasefire, military operations by Israel have continued in Gaza, even during the sacred month of fasting. For many observers, the persistence of bombardment in such a period carries not only political weight but moral symbolism. The reported truce reached in October 2025 was meant to pause the devastation. Instead, it has come to look fragile, partial or, in the eyes of critics, largely illusory. Since that agreement, hundreds more Palestinians have reportedly been killed and thousands injured. The cumulative toll…

By Uzma Ehtasham Pakistan’s foreign policy seems to be entering a deliberate new phase, one that moves beyond the reflexive posturing and episodic diplomacy of the past, and towards a more coordinated, purposeful, and results-oriented approach. In recent weeks, this shift has become increasingly evident through a series of high-profile interactions, signaling that Islamabad is keen not only to safeguard its interests but also to reshape how the country is perceived on the global stage. A telling example came with the outreach of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to his Bangladeshi counterpart, Dr Khalilur Rahman. In his…

By Uzma Ehtasham The recent remarks by US Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, defending Israel’s killings of Palestinian children in Gaza, reveal a moral indifference that is both chilling and deeply troubling. Graham’s argument, that if he were in Israel’s position he would act similarly, invokes the Allied bombing of German cities during the Second World War as justification. In his framing, the immense civilian suffering inflicted by aerial bombardments and blockades in 1940s Europe becomes a lens through which contemporary violence in Gaza is excused. To equate these circumstances is not merely historically simplistic; it is ethically grotesque. The children,…

By Uzma Ehtasham The standoff between Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and the federal government continues to unravel in a way that seems less about policy or governance and more about a relentless struggle for narrative dominance. Each side trades barbs with the precision of seasoned orators, as though shaping public opinion alone might tilt the balance of power. Yet behind the rhetoric lies a reality that is often overlooked: ordinary citizens, already burdened by economic hardship and insecurity, bear the brunt of this high-stakes political theatre. Recent developments in the Supreme Court, concerning the cases of PTI’s founder, Imran Khan, have…