PM ORDERS NEPRA APPEAL TO ‘PROTECT’ EXISTING SOL AR USERS
AMID ‘NEW REGUL ATIONS’
g PREMIER SHEHBAZ DIRECTS POWER DIVISION TO IMMEDIATELY FILE APPEAL AGAINST NEPRA’S ‘ PROSUMER REGULATIONS 2026’
g STRESSES NEED FOR COMPREHENSIVE PLAN TO PROTECT EXISTING AGREEMENTS AND ENCOURAGE ROOFTOP SOLAR ADOPTION
g EMPHA SIZES 466,000 EXISTING SOLAR USERS MUST NOT BEAR BURDEN OF 37 6 MILLION GRID CONSUMERS
g NEPRA REPLACES NET METERING WITH NET BILLING; BUYBACK RATE MAY DROP FROM RS25 9 TO RS11 PER UNIT
g HIGH-LEVEL MEETING ATTENDED BY ISHAQ DAR, AWAIS LEGHARI, AHAD CHEEMA AND SENIOR OFFICIALS REVIEWS NEW NET METERING REGULATIONS
Salman Safdar denies comment on Imran Khan’s health, submits jail repor t to SC
ISLAMABAD S ta f f r e p o r t Advocate Salman Safdar on Wednesday rejected media reports attributing statements to him regarding the health of PTI founder Imran Khan, clarifying that he had made no such comments following his Supreme Court-ordered meeting at Adiala Jail
“I needed to speak to the media today as yesterday false news was attributed to me Safdar told reporters I did not make any statement regarding PTI founder Imran Khan s health, he said, adding that details of his threehour meeting had been misreported Safdar explained that after meeting Imran Khan, he had only stated it would not be appropriate to speak publicly until he submitted his report to the Supreme Court “It is not appropriate [for me to talk] until I submit the report he had said at the time confirming only that the meeting took place and that he had been granted full access He further clarified that he did not brief Imran Khan’s sister Aleema Khan or PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja regarding the meeting According to Safdar both understood that he could not discuss the contents of the report I requested them not to discuss anything related to the report I did not tell them anything, and they respected my opinion, he said Earlier, Aleema Khan had told reporters that Safdar was not permitted to speak on any subject after the meeting, adding that he had only informed them that he met Imran Khan for two hours and that he was “alright ” On Tuesday the Supreme Court appointed Safdar as a friend of the court to assess and report on Imran Khan s living conditions at Adiala Jail Acting on court directions, Safdar met the PTI founder and inspected his cell Safdar revealed that his report spans seven pages and 22 paragraphs and has been submitted to the apex court “My first responsibility was to submit the report he said adding that he had fulfilled his duty He noted that he praised Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan and commended the administration of Adiala Jail in his report Chief Justice of Pakistan Yahya Afridi had directed that Safdar be treated with respect and granted unhindered access during his visit
PR OFIT REPORT
Here is what has happened in short: the
Zardari warns against Iran esc alation, urges dialogue to safeguard regional peace
S ta f f r e p o r t The National Assembly on Wednesday unanimously passed a resolution paying
GOVT PL ANS TO COLLECT RS132 BILLION FROM HOUSEHOLDS THROUGH NEW FIXED CHARGES
Pakistan’s Symmetr y Group acquires US-based digital branding firm in AI-driven expansion Symmetr y says LogoDesignGuru com Inc to generate $0 7m revenue this year as group strengthens global digital footprint
Pak istan’s capital market moves to T+1 settlement c ycle
Pakistan’s capital market has moved to a T+1 settlement cycle with all eligible trades at the Pakistan Stock Exchange now being settled one day after the transaction date
The change took effect on February 9, 2026, replacing the previous T+2 settlement system, according to an official statement issued on Tuesday Under the new mechanism trades are settled on a Trade plus one basis
With this move Pakistan joins markets such as the United States Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Jamaica and China, which have already adopted shorter settlement cycles European markets the United Kingdom and Switzerland are expected to implement similar systems by 2027
The transition was carried out under the supervision of the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan in coordination with the Pakistan Stock Exchange National Clearing Company of Pakistan Limited Central Depository Company, Pakistan Stock Brokers Association State Bank of Pakistan Pakistan Banks Association Mutual Fund Association of Pakistan securities brokers, custodian clearing members, asset management companies, settling banks, E-Clear and other non-broker clearing members
According to the statement, the T+1 framework allows faster access to funds and securities, improves liquidity and reduces settlement and counterparty risk by shortening exposure periods The quicker completion of trades is also aimed at strengthening investor confidence including among institutional and foreign investors SECP Chairman Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu said the reform brings Pakistan’s capital market in line with modern jurisdictions by accelerating settlement timelines reducing market and counterparty risks and improving liquidity He added that adoption of the T+1 cycle would enhance investor confidence and align the market with evolving international standards
The SECP described the shift as part of a broader policy initiative to modernise capital markets, lower systemic risk and strengthen investor protection, while PSX, NCCPL and CDC acknowledged the coordination of stakeholders in implementing the new system
S enate panel seeks end to p opulation-based NFC share formula
and the proposed Public Sector Development Programme of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination for 2026–27 Members stated that population growth continues to outpace job creation and public sector capacity The chairman of the committee said that the current generation was already facing a shrinking job market and warned of greater pressure on future cohorts if growth remains unchecked
term planning The proposal was made during a meeting chaired by Senator Amir Waliuddin Chishti where the committee examined the National Population and Reproductive Health Bill 2026 along with broader health sector issues These included medical admissions vacant seats in medical and dental colleges, population
During the discussion on the population bill lawmakers called for a uniform national policy Health ministry officials raised technical concerns, referring to a Federal Task Force on Population, but the ministry secretary informed the committee that the task force formed in 2021 was no longer functional while provincial bodies remained active after devolution
ECC APPROVES AUCTION OF 500,000 TONNES PASSCO WHEAT TO CLEAR LIABILITIES
TSteel sector reports Rs150b losses as power subsidy remains frozen for Karachi-based units
Association of Large Steel Producers, in a letter dated February 9, 2026, urged the Ministry of Finance to resolve the matter on an urgent basis The letter addressed to Finance Secretary Imdad Ullah Bosal warned of financial strain on manufacturers and potential economic fallout if the issue
SHO among five cops mar t yred in DI Khan terror ambush
Despite the clarification industry representatives say Karachi-based manufacturers, particularly in the long steel segment, have not received relief Although K-Electric has challenged certain incremental power orders in the Islamabad High Court industry sources maintain that the disputed amount represents less than 17 per cent of the total subsidy while the remaining portion is undisputed and independent of court proceedings
Subsidy figures have already been reconciled by Nepra and the Ministry of Energy under the supervision of the Special
unresolved Copies of the correspondence were also sent to senior federal and provincial authorities including the offices of the prime minister and president, the Sindh chief minister, the power minister, the special assistant to the prime minister for industries, the national coordinator of the Special Investment Facilitation Council the chairperson of Nepra and the Senate Standing Committee on Finance The issue gained attention during a Senate Standing Committee on Finance meeting on February 26, 2025, when Additional Secretary Finance Qumar Sarwar Abbasi stated that there had been no delay by the government or the finance ministry in releasing subsidy payments to K-Electric His remarks differed from earlier claims by Power Division officials who had cited nonrelease of funds as the reason for delay
led to operating losses, delays in expansion and reduced capacity utilisation
Industry representatives warn that continued delays may result in plant shutdowns job losses and lower domestic steel output They have called for immediate approval and disbursement of the undisputed subsidy amount, saying further inaction could affect investor confidence in Karachi’s industrial sector
Police have attained the highest rank of martyrdom in the line of duty ” Naqvi said in a statement also wishing DSP Hafiz Adnan a swift recovery Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi took notice of the incident and condemned the terrorist attack in the strongest terms Paying tribute to the fallen personnel, he said the provincial government would provide all possible assistance to the affected families He said the KP Police stood on the frontline of the fight against terrorism adding that terrorism was a shared national challenge Actions against elements hostile to peace will be further intensified across the province, he said, stressing that such cowardly acts could not weaken police morale KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also expressed deep sorrow over the incident praising the bravery and sacrifices of the police personnel He directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for the injured officers and prayed for their speedy recovery Former KP chief minister and PTI leader Ali Amin Khan Gandapur also expressed grief over the attack, saying the officers had laid down their lives in defence of the country and its people He offered condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the elevation of the martyrs ranks WANTED COMMANDER AMONG THREE TERRORISTS KILLED IN BANNU ATTACK In a related development, police foiled a major terrorist attack on the Khoniakhel Police Post in Bannu’s Wazir subdivision late Tuesday night killing three terrorists and injuring nine others officials confirmed According to police a large group of heavily armed terrorists launched a coordinated assault on the police post in an apparent attempt to besiege and seize control of the facility
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Which means that if you are yet to get solar panels installed, then your bill, under the same consumption pattern would not be Rs 15 300 but a whopping Rs 31 300 Compared to the earlier negative bill under net-metering the consumer will now have to pay at least Rs 15,300, for the same pattern of consumption If the consumer manages to produce an extraordinary amount of units such that the net bill is still negative, they would get PKR credits like before which can then be used to offset future electricity bills or be paid out based on the agreement, but that is also a fool s hope Because the government s plan is two-pronged, in this regard and that is where sanctioned load comes in Under the new sanctioned load regulation a prosumer cannot get a net-metering setup of more than their sanctioned load Previously this requirement was at 1 5x a connection s sanctioned load
Simply, this means that if your sanctioned load was 7 kW, you were allowed to install up to a 10 5 kWh solar setup But under the new rules your connection will only be approved if it is under 7kwh This means that no-one can essentially beat the house (DISCO), in the longer run, until they significantly lower their consumption For a rough estimate, a 7kWh connection makes 840 kW(units) per month on average according to the commonly accepted annual average yield of 4x per day A new user would hence have to consume less than 200 units for the month, to merely break even HOW IT AFFECTS EXISTING PROSUMERS
The decision has naturally been a
cause for concern for those households that have already installed rooftop solar and are on net-metering connections Initial reports in the media were mixed over the status of existing netmetering users Since those people with existing net-metering connections had signed seven year (in some cases five and three) year contracts with their respective power distributing companies like LESCO PESCO etc many felt they could not be shifted to net billing because it would go against the contract However, while the Nepra regulations are dense, they are also very clear In section 21 of the regulations Nepra categorically states that the 2015 regulations under which existing prosumers had signed contracts stand repealed While this does not render the agreements void, the existing consumers will now be billed according to the new regulations A screenshot from an official Nepra presentation shows how existing prosumers have been affected by the new regulations that have shifted them from net-metering to net-billing This has naturally caused an uproar among existing consumers They feel cheated out of their contracts While the 2015 contracts explicitly stated that distribution companies cannot change the terms of these agreements, there was a provision that the terms of their contracts could be changed if Nepra intervened, which is what has happened in this case As things stand all existing net metering connections have been shifted to the new net-billing system There is still a protection for existing consumers in the new regulations In
of interaction coexistence and mutual respect Our relationship is rooted in faith, history, and enduring cultural bonds that continue to shape our region,” he said Highlighting cultural ties President Zardari said the Persian (Farsi) language and its rich literary tradition had profoundly influenced Pakistan s intellectual and cultural life For centuries, he noted, Farsi served as the official language of large parts of the regions that now form Pakistan “Its influence remains deeply embedded in our national consciousness Pakistan s national anthem itself reflects the deep imprint of the Persian language on our collective identity, he added He recalled that long before Allama Muhammad Iqbal, Pakistan’s renowned Haft Zaban poet Sachal Sarmast the celebrated 18th-century poet of Sindh composed profound poetry in Farsi reflecting a shared spiritual and philosophical space President Zardari said poets and thinkers such as Rumi, Hafiz, Saadi, and Ferdowsi were widely revered in Pakistan, while Iqbal who wrote much of his work in Farsi remained a shared symbol of dignity awakening and renewal for both societies Iran despite facing external pressures and challenges, made notable progress in key sectors’ In his welcome address, Ambassador
pressures and challenges Iran had
section 21, the new regulations make it clear that existing consumers will be charged for electricity at the national average power purchase price until the terms of their contracts are up which is currently around Rs 27 per unit After the terms of their contract is up it will be charged at the national average energy power price IS THE GOVERNMENT BACKTRACKING?
There are currently 4 66 lakh net meter prosumers in the country Most of these are centered in urban areas and have installed large solar systems to offset their consumption Many have achieved zero as well as negative bills through net metering With the introduction of net billing the party will have to
Sitara Petroleum
made notable progress in key sectors including technology, defence, science, and the economy He said the Iranian nation had consistently demonstrated resilience and self-reliance turning challenges into opportunities while continuing its development journey with determination The ambassador reiterated that Iran did not seek war and believed in resolving disputes through dialogue and diplomacy However, he said that if war were imposed Iran would respond fully in defence of its sovereignty
W h e n a Ri f l e B e co m e s Rh e to r i c Solar Policy Whiplash
AMERICAN economist Thomas Sowell wrote that the first lesson of economics is scarcity There is never enough of anything to satisfy all those who want it The first lesson of politics is to disregard the first lesson of economics” In public debate, politics and economics are often treated as distinct spheres politicians handle governance while economists tackle markets and fiscal matters Yet in reality the two are inseparably intertwined Politics shapes economic outcomes and economic conditions transform political landscapes Their relationship is sometimes cyclical, reinforcing, and at times destabilizing for countries Understanding this interdependence is indispensable for any society seeking stability prosperity and democratic resilience At its core economics concerns the allocation of resources while politics determines who has the authority to allocate them Political structures that include constitutions, legal systems, electoral rules, and state institutions form the scaffolding upon which an economy operates They establish the rules of property contract taxation competition trade and labour They define the incentives for investment and innovation and set boundaries for market conduct Consider one of the most basic economic indicators investor confidence It rises and falls not only with corporate earnings or macroeconomic data but with political predictability Stable democracies with transparent and accountable institutions tend to attract capital whereas fragile states or authoritarian regimes that govern by decree often repel it Political risk becomes an economic variable When a government suddenly nationalizes as-
and cross border investment can reshape entire industries Political shifts in one country can alter global supply chains, as seen in debates over decoupling, reshoring, and the future of globalization Just as political structures guide economic behaviour economic conditions fundamentally mould political dynamics Prosperity or stagnation inequality or broadly shared growth each creates distinct pressures on political institutions Periods of economic expansion often stabilize political systems When employment is high and incomes are rising, voters tend to reward incumbents and trust in institutions Economic success acts as a validation of governing models The post war boom in Western democracies for instance underpinned decades of political stability and the expansion of welfare states But when economic conditions deteriorate, political landscapes can change dramatically Economic crises undermine public faith in established political parties and technocratic expertise High unemployment or inflation breeds frustration and fuels narratives of elite failure Populist movements often arise from such conditions promising to represent the people against economic injustice or external threats The global financial crisis of 2008 triggered waves of political upheaval including austerity protests, the rise of anti-establishment parties, and a questioning of globalization itself
Inequality is perhaps the most potent economic force shaping politics today As wealth concentrates political power follows Campaign financing lobbying and media influence become tools for protecting economic privilege, often entrenching a cycle where economic disparities translate into political inequalities and vice versa Public resentment grows when economic mobility stagnates, fuelling support for radical changes that are sometimes constructive sometimes disruptive Demographics also matter Ageing populations shrinking workforces and social welfare burdens influence political debates on taxes immigration, pensions, and public spending Economically informed anxieties about job security or automation drive political rhetoric and policy responses Recognizing the interdependence of politics and economics is not simply an academic exercise it is a prerequisite for sound governance Too often economic policy is framed as technocratic and insulated from the messy world of politics But decisions about budget priorities or industrial strategy are ultimately political choices reflecting societal values Conversely, democratic debate that ignores economic reality risks creating expectations no policy
This was not an aberration It fits a long and dangerous pattern in Assam, where Sarma’s rhetoric has steadily narrowed the space for Muslim life under the guise of national security He has floated proposals like reduced fares by Muslim auto drivers later reframed as measures aimed at infiltrators and urged citizens to practice non-cooperation with Bengali-origin Muslims: don’t rent to them, don’t employ them don’t buy from them Each statement is wrapped in plausible deniability Together they form a policy of social strangulation
Why organs go unused
particularly Bengali-speaking “Miya” Muslims whom Sarma routinely brands as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh The visuals combining real footage with edited or AI-generated effects of bullets striking targets were not accidental They were crafted to dehumanize, to reduce a community to targets, and to signal that the machinery of the state stands ready to pull the trigger Deletion after backlash does not erase impact; it confirms calculation
The Indian National Congress condemned the video as a call to genocide, warning that such content cannot be dismissed as trolling or fringe mischief when it emanates from the ruling party’s official handle Senior leaders K C Venugopal and Supriya Shrinate urged judicial intervention arguing that normalization of violent imagery at the highest levels corrodes the rule of law AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi went further, filing a police complaint in Hyderabad on February 9, demanding criminal action against Sarma for “genocidal hate speech ” Even as authorities drag their feet on confirming an FIR the pressure has mounted and so has the anxiety of a community accustomed to being told that what it experiences is not what it sees Assam s demographics sharpen the stakes Muslims comprise roughly 34 percent of the state’s population with Miya Muslims forming a significant portion Since the BJP came to power in 2016 and particularly since Sarma assumed the chief ministership in 2021 this community has faced what human rights groups describe as systematic persecution: arbitrary arrests, mass evictions, torture, extrajudicial killings, and mob lynchings International watchdogs including Human Rights Watch Amnesty International and UN experts have repeatedly flagged Assam as a site of grave abuses Since May 2025 alone over 300 Ben-
The now-deleted video did not merely expose bad judgment; it revealed a governing philosophy that treats minorities as expendable obstacles to a majoritarian project. By legitimizing hate, the state emboldens violence By eroding constitutional equality, it hollows out democracy. Assam’s Muslims are being told, in images and in action, that their belonging is conditional and their lives negotiable. India’s constitutional promise demands more than deletion and denial It requires accountability political, legal, and moral. When a rifle becomes rhetoric, silence becomes complicity
gali-speaking Muslims have been arbitrarily detained or expelled to Bangladesh among them Indian citizens Nationwide, flawed citizenship verification processes have harassed and excluded nearly two million Muslims, weaponizing paperwork into punishment Violence has followed words In 2025 at least 50 Muslims were killed across India in incidents linked to communal hatred with 23 involving state actors Assam has been a grim contributor Police firing during eviction drives has killed protesters, including a 19-year-old Bengali-origin Muslim Mob lynchings often under the pretext of cow vigilantism or theft have punctuated the years from Nagaon in 2017 to Morigaon in 2023 and beyond Each incident chips away at the promise of equal protection, teaching victims that justice is selective
The bulldozer has become policy Since 2016, more than 17,600 families mostly Bengali Muslims have been evicted in Assam, with over 5000 displaced since June 2025 January saw 1 200 homes demolished in Sonitpur; February brought 516 more in Hailakandi In total over 50 000 people have been uprooted from roughly 160 square kilometres of land, often in defiance of Supreme Court orders mandating due process, rehabilitation, and restraint The message is unmistakable: legality bends when identity is suspect Defenders of the government insist these actions target infiltrators not Muslims But when a chief minister theatrically shoots at Muslim faces, when policies overwhelmingly harm one community, and when due process evaporates at the point of a bulldozer, the distinction collapses National security cannot be a fig leaf for collective punishment Citizenship cannot be reduced to an accent test And governance cannot rely on terror as a substitute for law
The now-deleted video did not merely expose bad judgment; it revealed a governing philosophy that treats minorities as expendable obstacles to a majoritarian project By legitimizing hate the state emboldens violence By eroding constitutional equality it hollows out democracy Assam s Muslims are being told, in images and in action, that their belonging is conditional and their lives negotiable India’s constitutional promise demands more than deletion and denial It requires accountability political legal and moral
plicity The
A perilous presidency
WHEN the US Department of Justice released additional troves of documents connected to Jeffrey Epstein the reaction was immediate and visceral The shock was not about Epstein himself His criminality had already been established in court What unsettled the public was something else entirely: proximity From former British royal Prince Andrew to former U S Presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump; from tech billionaire Elon Musk to Virgin Group founder Richard Branson; from former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak to former US Treasury Secretary Larry Summers, the newly released files, as summarized by the Associated Press, include correspondence flight logs and social exchanges linking Epstein to an extraordinary roster of powerful figures None of these individuals have been charged with crimes related to Epstein s trafficking operation, and all have denied wrongdoing That legal reality is essential Yet the appearance of such names within official investigative materials has triggered a deeper moral discomfort one that extends beyond courtroom proceedings The Associ-
ated Press described the files as a who s who of powerful men” appearing in emails, invitations, photographs or scheduling records tied to Epstein Prince Andrew long scrutinized over his relationship with Epstein settled a civil lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre while continuing to deny any wrongdoing Bill Clinton acknowledged flying on Epstein s plane years before the financier ’s final arrest but has denied knowledge of criminal behaviour Donald Trump has similarly acknowledged a past social relationship while denying awareness of abuse Elon Musk has publicly stated that he declined invitations to Epstein s island Richard Branson s company emphasized that interactions were limited to business or group settings Ehud Barak admitted visiting Epstein’s New York residence and flying on his plane later expressing regret for the association Larry Summers called his connection a major error of judgment Sergey Brin, Steve Bannon, Steven Tisch, Howard Lutnick, Casey Wasserman and others appear in various correspondences but have not been accused of criminal conduct Association in legal terms is not guilt Yet the psychological impact of proximity is harder to dismiss When a convicted trafficker of minors successfully embedded himself within elite political, financial and academic networks, it forces uncomfortable questions How did someone with known red flags retain access to such circles even after his 2008 plea agreement in Florida? Why did social contact continue after serious allegations were already public knowledged? The outrage many feel is not about bypassing due process It is about moral symmetry In ordinary life association with a convicted sex offender can destroy reputations overnight Within elite spaces however such association appears cushioned by status and influence That perceived asymmetry fuels distrust
The Epstein case has also revived speculation regarding intelligence connections A 2020 FBI report cited a confidential source claiming that Epstein may have been trained as a spy and relayed information through intermediaries to Israeli intelligence Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, have publicly rejected any suggestion that Epstein worked for Mossad Intelligence experts quoted in reporting have emphasized that no evidence has confirmed such claims Nonetheless the presence of these allegations in investigative files has intensified curiosity and suspicion Epstein s financial origins remain opaque His international reach was vast His access to elite networks was unusual Opacity invites speculation but speculation is not proof The responsible position is neither blind dismissal nor reckless accusation It is rigorous transparency The deeper issue is structural Epstein s crimes were not committed in isolation Trafficking networks require recruitment, logistics, financial channels and silence The public now asks
The Epstein case has become a symbol of elite access, institutional failure and the fragility of trust Rebuilding that trust requires sunlight, consistency and courage Anything less will leave the convulsion unresolved, and a society that cannot resolve its convulsions risks allowing suspicion to replace confidence in the very structures meant to uphold justice
whether every dimension of that network has been fully exposed and dismantled
The Associated Press made an essential point: none of the individuals named have been charged in connection with Epstein s crimes That fact must anchor any serious discussion Yet it is legitimate for citizens to ask whether investigations were comprehensive, whether institutional blind spots existed and whether systemic safeguards have been strengthened to prevent future exploitation Trust in institutions depends on visible equality before the law If powerful individuals were investigated and cleared clarity strengthens legitimacy If investigative gaps remain, transparency must close them Silence feeds suspicion The Epstein scandal represents more than personal depravity It represents a stress test for institutional credibility When elites circulate within the orbit of a trafficker even without criminal liability, the
Intelligence experts quoted in reporting have emphasized that no evidence has confirmed such claims Nonetheless, the presence of these allegations in investigative files has intensified curiosity and suspicion
power to a regional inferno
nomic collapse refugee flows and the disruption of global energy supplies that would dwarf anything seen in recent decades
flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at staving off war Envoys and officials from both sides as well as other regional actors have been shuttling back and forth between various capitals to find a path forward The outcome was indirect talks in Oman on February 6, which President Donald Trump described as “a very good” encounter and Iran’s president said was a “step forward with further meetings expected The very fact that discussions are underway suggests that neither capital believes confrontation is inevitable Yet the parallel movement of US naval assets into the Persian Gulf what Trump has called his “beautiful armada” tells a different story Whether this mobilization is a prelude to war or a calculated effort to rattle Iran into concessions is difficult to determine With Trump, intention is often a moving
target The same gesture can be a threat a bargaining chip, or an impulse, sometimes all at once His foreign policy rarely follows a linear logic; it is often improvised and shaped by whoever last had the president’s ear Still the absence of a clear strategy does not mean there is no structure Powerful currents domestic regional and personal swirl around the president and may push him and the United States toward conflict or restraint
The pro-war camp in Washington is loud and well-organized Iranian expatriates who dream of regime change and in some cases a restored monarchy have found new energy in the Trump era They are joined by the familiar alliance of neoconservatives and pro-Israel hawks senators like Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Ted Cruz (R-TX), and Tom Cotton (R-AR) who view Iran as the final obstacle to an American-Israeli order in the Middle East
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu enjoys unfettered access to the president (he visited him at least five times in 2025) and has proved adept at framing every Iranian move as an existential threat For this coalition diplomacy is useful only if it produces surrender
Opposing them is a broader but less organized constituency that cuts across the American political spectrum After two decades of costly, futile wars, most voters have little appetite for another They want the government to focus on a range of press-
ing domestic issues not on remaking Iran
This sentiment helped carry Trump back to the White House, but he has since increasingly abandoned it His decision to engage militarily against Iran in June 2025 threatened to fracture the MAGA movement and unleashed a powerful set of right-wing populist detractors
Yet, it is evident that the theatrics of military power have seduced Trump Limited, spectacular actions the June strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, the January abduction of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro appeal to his taste for decisive drama without long-term commitment They allow him to look strong while avoiding the messy occupation that followed the invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan But Iran is not Venezuela, and it is certainly not a target that can be subdued from the air alone True regime change would demand American boots on the ground and ownership of a chaotic transition a prospect Trump clearly dreads Regional actors have so far helped to temper Trump’s impulses Saudi Arabia, Turkey, and Qatar countries the president respects and often courts fear that a USIran war would set the entire region ablaze
Their quiet diplomacy in January appears to have stayed the president s hand reminding him that oil markets, trade routes, and fragile domestic reforms across the Gulf could collapse overnight None of these governments loves Iran but all prefer a contained local
corruption charges According to some Israeli critics Netanyahu silenced the Israeli public and even rode the wave of its radicalization through a series of expansionist wars in the Occupied Territories, Lebanon and Syria
These wars reached a “point of no return” in Gaza before moving on toward second and third wars in the West Bank and Lebanon and perhaps Syria
These wars would not have been so easy were it not for a series of factors, first among them the unconditional support of Washington This support as we see takes multiple forms: from brandishing accusations of antisemitism to the full logistical backing of the Israeli war machine s plans All this proceeds from the premise that the interests of the Israeli right (not merely Is-
Tehran for its part has drawn hard lessons from the past two and a half years Its efforts to display caution in confrontations with Israel and the United States have been interpreted as weakness inviting ever bolder coercion Iranian leaders now speak openly of deterrence through decisive even preemptive force Should the United States strike again the response is likely to be far more robust than in previous rounds direct, unscripted attacks on American military assets perhaps even on economic and energy infrastructure across the Gulf Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei recently warned of “regional war” if Iran is attacked The aim would be to internationalize the conflict and compel outside powers to intervene before the escalation spirals out of control
Such calculations unfold against a backdrop of mounting multifaceted pressures on the Iranian regime Sanctions are biting deeper than ever before the capital Tehran is running out of water, domestic unrest is becoming an existential threat, prompting unprecedented repression and there is every reason to believe that Israeli and possibly American clandestine services are fueling the chaos
The strategy is transparent: create so many fires that the regime is stretched thin to the point of collapse Yet implosion may suit Israel which has long preferred weak fragmented neighbors to strong centralized states but it would be catastrophic for the rest of the region Iran is a country of 93 million people twice the size of Iraq and a massive political and security vacuum could trigger significant internal violence, eco-
rael as a state) are deeply rooted in Washington’s principles philosophy religious culture and strategic interests
Second, the growing influence of racist and fascist right-wing movements in Europe and elsewhere This influence is visible at the heart of institutions of power and media in the US and Western Europe, even amid the solidarity of millions of people with the victims of the genocide in Gaza Third there has been a decline of Arab solidarity amid Western hostility to Arabs and Muslims especially the children of immigrants It is now obvious that there is no effective, unified Arab strategy for confronting the mounting regional crises Moreover Israeli hegemony in the Middle East has been disorienting the Arab world s priorities and hindering the emergence of the approaches required to address the consequences, both material and potential, of this hegemony
Where, then, are the negotiations headed? The same forces that shape the battlefield are present at the table Hawks in Washington insist that any deal must cover not only Iran s nuclear program but also its ballistic missiles and regional alliances They know these demands are almost impossible for Tehran to accept, which is precisely the point Capitulation on missiles would strip Iran of its primary means of defense a red line no Iranian government can cross especially after the confrontation with Israel in June demonstrated their critical importance As such, Israel is adamant that this capability be dismantled This maximalist agenda makes the latest round of talks more likely to fail than to succeed Iran’s growing poly-crisis is also encouraging its adversaries to avoid easing the cascading pressures through compromise and relief In fact the temptation to test Tehran with another limited military operation,
Fourth, the influence of Israel’s expansionist right’s supporters has become increasingly apparent notably in the spheres of communication technology cybernetics and artificial intelligence This factor, in my view, will be a major threat over the coming months, not to mention years Wars being waged to harvest store and exploit data have become a reality It seems that the principal player in this war is Israel, whether directly or through American billionaires, their giant corporations and their influential businesses and networks Washington backed by Tel Aviv is launching another round of blackmail against
Qamar baShir
A N D I P LO M A C Y
Iran says it will not negotiate over its missile capabilities
had struck a framework deal with NATO chief Mark Rutte to ensure greater US influence
He had previously been warning that if the United States did not seize Greenland, Russia or China could “The US, Denmark and Greenland must sort this out themselves ” Lavrov said He accused Denmark of treating Greenlanders as second-class citizens Greenland has said that sovereignty and integrity are a red line in any discussions with Washington
He expressed these views while chairing a performance review meeting of Iqbal
and Saddar Divisions at his
The
conducted a detailed assessment of professional performance, administrative affairs, crime control measures and public service delivery in both divisions The CCPO directed to focus on bringing a positive transformation in police culture by adopting a serviceoriented approach Stressing respect for complainants, he said the dignity of citizens must be upheld at all times He instructed that the public visiting police offices check posts or other police facilities should be addressed respectfully as Sir and Madam
He further directed that strict confidentiality be maintained in the investigation of cases involving women and children “Highhandedness will not be tolerated under any circumstances he warned
He announced that police stations would be monitored in real time to evaluate performance and ensure accountability The CCPO also ordered the timely registration of FIRs and emphasized merit-based investigations to ensure justice
ments reflect the company’s strategic focus on excellence and ensuring that the upcoming properties set the highest standards in service and guest experience from day one
To strengthen the operational capacity of the force, he directed that modern and specialized training courses be conducted, adding that advanced training was essential to align the police force with contemporary professional standards
The CCPO commended the police for ensuring the peaceful conduct of the Basant festival and issued directions for awarding appreciation letters in recognition of their commendable performance
Aqsaam-e-Naach: Andaaz-e-Kathak to Showcase Discipline and Grace of Kathak at Karachi Ar ts Council KARACHI S
Aqsaam-e-Naach: Andaaz-e-Kathak, a two-day Kathak dance presentation, will be held on February 13 and 14 at the Karachi Arts Council with performances beginning at 8:00 pm on both evenings The production aims to highlight the discipline grace and expressive depth of Kathak one of South Asia s most refined classical dance forms Choreographed by Mohsin Babar, a leading choreographer and Kathak maestro, the show brings together a group of 12 dancers all of whom are scholarship students trained at Mr Babar's Kathak School of Performing Arts the city s first academy dedicated to Kathak These dancers represent years of rigorous practice dedication, and immersion in the classical Kathak tradition The programme will feature eight dance pieces, presented through a combination of group compositions and solo performances These include classical Kathak repertoire as well as interpretive works such as fusion tarana ghazal and other stylistic variations offering audiences a layered and immersive experience of Kathak s range and versatility
M C A L LS TA R L A I I M A M B A R G A H AT
he said praying for the complete elimination of terrorism from the country
Later, the prime minister visited the residence of Shaheed Oun Abbas to offer Fateha and condolences to his family He was accompanied by federal ministers police and district administration officials who briefed him on the incident
Punjab CM pledges Rs10b safety and sec urity gear for FC Balochistan, vows unity against terrorism
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Wednesday said Pakistan was facing the challenge of fifthgeneration warfare and stressed the need to counter negative narratives with clarity and resolve, asserting that “those who seek to divide us will never succeed
She also announced the provision of modern safety and security equipment worth Rs10 billion to Frontier Corps (FC) Balochistan to strengthen its counterterrorism capabilities, according to a handout issued by the Punjab Directorate General of Public Relations (DGPR) The chief minister was addressing a special ceremony during her visit to FC Headquarters in Quetta, where she conveyed her salutations on behalf of herself and the people of Punjab to FC officers and personnel “It is an honour for me to visit FC Headquarters Quetta Balochistan is not alone; Punjab stands shoulder to shoulder with it, she said, thanking the Balochistan chief minister and the Inspector General FC for the invitation the handout said Maryam Nawaz said the allocation of funds for capacity-building of FC Balochistan was not a favour but the province s right FC personnel fight for the country and the nation; ensuring their protection is the responsibility of the government ” she added She said that under the leadership of Field Marshal Asim Munir the se-
curity forces were effectively countering hostile elements “If we remain strong and united even our worst enemy cannot harm us she remarked emphasizing that peace and stability in Balochistan are a national priority The chief minister paid tribute to the martyrs of Frontier Corps after reviewing a list of more than 1,000 FC personnel who had embraced martyrdom She also visited the family of Shaheed Captain Muhammad Ali Qureshi saying the sacrifices of martyrs and their families were a source of pride for the entire nation Maryam Nawaz said security personnel were performing their duties in extremely harsh weather conditions and difficult terrain driven purely by patriotism She described the growing participation of women in security forces as a positive and encouraging development She urged the youth and women of Balochistan not to fall into the
hands of extremists and instead play an active role in the province’s progress and development Highlighting measures taken in Punjab the chief minister said the provincial government had significantly enhanced the capacity of all law enforcement agencies to curb crime, resulting in a marked decline in crime rates She added that CCTV surveillance now covers streets neighbourhoods and highways across Punjab She reiterated that those who attack places of worship or take up arms against the state were enemies of the country and deserved no leniency “Strong and unambiguous action will continue against terrorists she said Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti appreciated Punjab s assistance, terming it a positive and commendable step toward strengthening security in the province
