The April 1 meeting in Urumqi between delegations from Pakistan and the Taliban did not produce a breakthrough, a communiqué, or even a photo op. Yet its significance lies precisely in that silence. In a region where diplomatic theatrics often overshadow substance, the Urumqi encounter unfolded behind closed doors, under China’s discreet supervision, and with a level of urgency that […]

Ali Ahmad Saifi has been appointed as the new head of the mass immunization department at the Taliban-run Ministry of Public Health, following an exposé by Amu TV that led to the dismissal of his predecessor, Abdul Hakim Hemat, over corruption allegations, people familiar with the matter said. The appointment follows a report by Amu TV that Himmat had been […]

India’s foreign policy today stands at a moment of reckoning. What was once celebrated as a model of strategic autonomy—rooted in anti-colonial solidarity, non-alignment, and moral leadership—now faces intense scrutiny. Critics argue that India’s deepening embrace of the United States–Israel axis, particularly in the context of the ongoing West Asian conflicts, signals not pragmatism, but a troubling surrender of independence. […]

Most Kashmiris who had looked at Shahbaz Sharief with hatred until yesterday, on the charges of Imran Khan’s captivity and election theft, and had left with no love for Pakistan, were carrying the picture of the same Shahbaz Sharief and loudly saying that the Kashmiri-born had succeeded in bringing about a ceasefire between Iran and the US. That is, they […]

A Chinese tanker sanctioned by the United States, Rich Starry, ​passed through the Strait of Hormuz on ‌Tuesday. The Rich Starry would be the first to ​make it through the Strait of Hormuz and to ​exit the Gulf since the US naval blockade began. A US-sanctioned tanker linked to China has reportedly crossed the war-hit Strait of Hormuz amid a […]

Scores of civilians across the Middle East expressed anxiety and dread as peace talks between the US and Iran collapsed in Pakistan. A sense of dread spread across the Middle East after talks between the US and Iran collapsed, as fears of renewed fighting rattled an already tense region with Donald Trump ordering a naval blockade of the Strait of […]

Gold fails to rally amid the West Asia war involving the US, Israel, and Iran as rising oil, yields, and dollar strength weigh on prices. Here’s what it means for investors. At the start of 2026, gold appeared perfectly positioned to shine, reaching an all-time high in January. Expectations of stable inflation, a potential rate-cut cycle by the US Federal […]

Les murs défensifs ne favorisent pas l’innovation. Alors que la concurrence mondiale s’accélère dans le domaine des technologies émergentes, l’Amérique demeure l’un des pôles d’innovation les plus dynamiques au monde. Elle possède des universités et des instituts de recherche de premier plan, ainsi qu’un esprit d’entreprise qui engendre des innovations toujours plus révolutionnaires. L’Amérique continue de façonner l’ère numérique. Mais […]

At least five senior Taliban officials from the public health ministry, including a close aide to their minister, have been arrested by Taliban intelligence over corruption, three sources familiar with the matter said. Those detained include Noorullah Darwish, Taliban’s head of documents and communications at the ministry, along with four other officials working in or around the Taliban minister’s office. […]

Taliban said on Thursday they would hold “comprehensive and responsible” talks with Pakistan in China, as the two sides seek to ease tensions after weeks of cross-border fighting. In a statement, the Taliban’s Foreign Ministry confirmed that it had sent what it described as a mid-level delegation to the Chinese city of Urumqi, where talks with Pakistani officials were expected […]