The recent announcement by the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan regarding its application to join the BRICS group marks a significant geopolitical development. As the decision now rests with the existing BRICS members, including Pakistan’s historical rival, India. The move underscores Islamabad’s recognition of the group’s escalating influence amid rapidly evolving regional and global geopolitics. This article delves into the implications, […]

On December 15, 2023, eight persons – three Policemen, including a sub-inspector, and five terrorists, including a suicide bomber – were killed during a clash, when terrorists tried to enter the District Police headquarter in Police Lines area of Tank Town (Tank District) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). Two attackers were killed by Police while the third was cornered and blew […]

Amid ongoing criticism of Pakistan’s expulsion of Afghan refugees, the country’s caretaker prime minister said on Friday that he is responsible to his own people, not illegal aliens. Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said that Pakistan is not a signatory to the UN Refugee Convention but has registered the refugees based on an agreement with the UNHCR. He emphasised that undocumented refugees in […]

While the idea of negotiations with the TTP may appear appealing as a means of achieving peace and stability, the TTP’s unpredictable nature, violent ideology and the potential encouragement of extremism all make negotiations an ineffective and risky approach. Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar recently delivered a resolute message during his address to a delegation from the Peshawar Chamber […]

In ongoing discussions between representatives from Pakistan and the Afghan Taliban, it has been conveyed that the Taliban is prepared to either neutralize all Pakistani militant groups operating within Afghanistan or facilitate their extradition to Pakistan. The interim government of Afghanistan has put forth a formal request to Pakistan, urging them to acknowledge the legitimacy of the Taliban-led interim administration […]

The recent assault in Dera Ismail Khan, which led to the tragic loss of numerous soldiers, serves as a stark reminder of the grim challenges facing us. Pakistan finds itself in a critical juncture, demanding adept handling. Hafiz Gul Bahadur, the militant commander hailing from the Datta Khel area of North Waziristan, was formerly associated with Jamiat-e-Ulema Pakistan (JUI-F) and […]

Functioning as a security state, Pakistan has long formulated its foreign policy choices based on security needs and the aspiration to establish itself as a hard military power. This approach has allowed the military to play a leading role in shaping both domestic and foreign policy decisions, often overshadowing civilian institutions. However, with changing global dynamics, the current civil-military establishment […]

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) serves as a powerful symbol of the burgeoning alliance between China and Pakistan. This ambitious venture, born under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has not only elevated economic collaboration but has also left an indelible mark on their broader bilateral relations. Positioned as the “flagship project” of the BRI, CPEC envisions an intricate network […]

Pakistan has started repatriations that could force millions of Afghans back to their crisis-wracked home country. As Crisis Group expert Ibraheem Bahiss explains in this Q&A, the policy could bring further trouble to the region, notwithstanding Islamabad’s efforts to justify itself on security grounds. What is happening on the Afghanistan-Pakistan border? On 3 October, Pakistan’s caretaker government announced it would […]

The United States and Pakistan have a longstanding relationship spanning more than three-quarters of a century, but this relationship has experienced significant stress since the post-9/11 American intervention in Afghanistan. The U.S. had expected Pakistan to lend more support to its efforts to defeat the Taliban, and Pakistan felt underappreciated despite the economic and human costs it incurred for becoming […]