America’s economic siege of Iran has been costly for Tehran’s neighbors, and now it is Pakistan’s turn to pick up the tab. On 7 August, Pakistan announced it was suspending its natural gas pipeline project in Iran under threat of U.S. sanctions, and issued a Force Majeure and Excusing Event notice to Iran under the Gas Sales and Purchase Agreement […]

Sitting on the carpet in a small, third-floor apartment of a crowded building on the edge of the Pakistani capital, Islamabad, six Afghan men sip traditional green tea as they scroll through messages and videos on their phones. All of them are anxiously awaiting the same thing – an email that will tell them where they stand in their journey […]

Abstract: After the historic events leading to the Taliban’s capture of Afghan territory and return to government in the summer of 2021, the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)—better known as the Pakistani Taliban—has begun a trajectory to emulate its allies in Afghanistan. Founded in 2007 as an umbrella movement in Pakistan’s tribal territory uniting the area’s militant Islamist outfits, the TTP later […]

The violence erupted after some Muslims claimed they had seen a local Christian and his friend tearing out pages from a Quran, throwing them on the ground and writing insulting remarks. Police arrested more than 100 Muslims in overnight raids from an area in eastern Pakistan where a Muslim mob angered over the alleged desecration of the Quran by a […]

August 15, 2023, marks two years since the the Taliban stormed back to power in Afghanistan as US and NATO forces withdrew from the country following two decades of brutal war. Two Years Since Kabul’s Fall: How life changed for Afghan women since the Taliban took power Since the takeover of the hardline Islamist group, the country has been isolated […]

In the current economic landscape, it is evident that the role of the Caretaker Finance Minister is strategically important in the team of the Caretaker Prime Minister. While following the prudent decision making process, the appointment of Dr Shamshad Akhtar as the Caretaker Finance Minister is commendable. Dr Akhtar’s track record showcases her adroitness in handling intricate economic scenarios, demonstrated […]

On August 7, 2023, Mufti Khair Zaman, a party member and local government office bearer of the Jamiat ul Ulema Islam–Fazl (JUI-F), was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Lakki Marwat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). On August 7, 2023, the social media in-charge of JUI-F for the North Waziristan District of KP, Javed Noor Dawar, sustained injuries in […]

A nation’s leader just wanting his nation to stay neutral regarding a war undertaken against another nation by the United States government can set in motion a US government effort to boot that leader from office. A previously secret Pakistan government document disclosed in a Wednesday in-depth The Intercept article suggests that such a removal effort is just what the […]

On August 7, 2023, Mufti Khair Zaman, a party member and local government office bearer of the Jamiat ul Ulema Islam–Fazl (JUI-F), was shot dead by unidentified assailants in the Lakki Marwat District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). On August 7, 2023, the social media in-charge of JUI-F for the North Waziristan District of KP, Javed Noor Dawar, sustained injuries in […]

In the intricate mosaic of South Asian geopolitics, the recent overture by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for dialogue between Pakistan and India resonates as a potentially pivotal juncture in the enduring saga of their complex relationship. Against the backdrop of historical grievances and simmering tensions, Sharif’s call for engagement serves as a glimmer of hope amidst the uncertainty that has […]