PSX REBOUNDS AS KSE-100 JUMPS OVER 4,000 POINTS
Operation Ghazab-Lil-Haqq launched 30 Taliban fighters killed as Pakistan responds ‘immediately, effectively’ to Afghan Taliban unprovoked fire
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The Afghan Taliban miscalculated and opened unprovoked fire at multiple locations along the PakistanAfghanistan border in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, which is being met with an immediate and effective response by Pakistan s security forces the ministry said in a post It added that Taliban regime forces are being delivered punishment in Chitral Khyber Mohmand Kurram and Bajaur sectors Early reports confirm heavy casualties on Afghan side with multiple posts and equipment destroyed ” The ministry reiterated that Pakistan will take all necessary measures to ensure its territorial integrity and the safety and security of its citizens The aggression began with the Taliban opening fire at various points along the border Pakistani forces responded with coordinated artillery, small arms, and drone operations, targeting Taliban hideouts and eliminating threats Security sources confirmed that the troops are fully prepared to defend the border and respond firmly to any form of aggression Exclusive footage from the Kurram sector shows Frontier Corps personnel engaging Taliban positions with expert precision neutralising insurgent threats along the border Security sources added that the Taliban have been circulating false claims and fabricated videos on social media in an attempt to distort the events Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid has reportedly been circulating misleading reports while verified updates from government sources are being shared in real time Security sources noted that accounts linked to India s R&AW have also attempted to amplify false narratives on social media in support of the Taliban Authorities urged the public not to pay attention to any fake news Pakistani security forces, they added, are responding effectively and timely to all hostile actions Authorities affirmed that Pakistani forces remain vigilant and committed to protecting the border emphasising that any aggression will be met with a robust and proportionate response Security officials have urged the public to remain vigilant while assuring that the border remains secure under continuous surveillance and operational readiness Pakistani soldiers stationed along the PakAfghan border reaffirmed their commitment to defending the homeland A soldier on the Bajaur border said that firing was carried out from the Afghan side during the night and was repeated subsequently The Afghan Taliban have no idea which nation they are challenging, he added He further stated that in the retaliatory operation multiple Taliban hideouts were targeted and destroyed “Our nation does not fear anyone ” the soldier said adding If anyone provokes us at the behest of India the consequences will be severe Pakistan knows how to defend itself, he concluded Security forces inflict heavy losses across border in response to unprovoked Taliban aggression Sharing an update of the situation at around 11:40pm, Prime Minister ’s spokesperson for foreign media Mosharraf Zaidi said that not only have no Pakistani posts been captured or damaged but the Pakistani side has inflicted heavy losses across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in response to unprovoked Taliban aggression As of right now, there have been no Pakistani soldiers captured, nor any Pakistani soldiers martyred Any claims of damage to Pakistan thus far are little more than the fantasy of India’s proxies in Afghanistan ” he said in a post on X Rest assured all aggression targeting Pakistan will get the same response: immediate and effective he added According to security sources, counter attacks by Pakistan s forces destroyed Taliban s hideouts and the khawarij fled” The sources said the forces targeted and destroyed the Afghan Taliban’s check post across the border from the Chitral sector and also responded with full force in Nawagai sector Bajaur Tirah Khyber Mohmand district and Arandu sector in Chitral Security forces destroyed two Afghan posts across the border from Bajaur, the sources said ENEMY’S ADVANCES IN CHITRAL, MOHMAND, KURRAM AND BAJAUR SECTORS THWARTED Parliamentary Affair Minister Tariq Fazal Chaudhry also said in a post on social media platform X that the Afghan Taliban had carried out provocative actions along the border in KP and the security forces gave a decisive response He added that the enemy s advances in Chitral, Mohmand, Kurram and Bajaur sectors were thwarted and heavy losses were inflicted on them” The minister said citing initial reports that multiple checkposts and military equipment of the Afghan side had been destroyed
area who are allegedly retaining company material
700 million at their
According to a news report the sub-committee comprising Babar Nawaz Khan Shaikh Aftab Ahmed Syed Waseem Hussain and Syed Nosheen Iftikhar, reviewed HAZECO s affairs and was informed that detailed documentation, including copies of identity cards, had been obtained for individuals reportedly holding transformers, wires and poles purchased with public funds
The convener said initial notices would be issued to those concerned directing them to return the material If they fail to comply first information reports will be registered During the meeting, the chief executive of HAZECO
told the panel that load shedding on 11-KV feeders is being implemented on the basis of AT&C losses in line with the policy applied across other distribution companies He said that when losses decline on a feeder the duration of load shedding is reduced or withdrawn
The committee was informed that employees are currently undergoing a transition process under the PTA arrangement, which will continue until June 30, 2026 Promotions at the HAZECO level will be considered
The
the Power Planning and Monitoring Company is visiting the site to verify the proposed location and assess expenditure, as limited progress has been made so
The visiting team is expected to submit a preliminary report to the sub-committee followed by a detailed report The company s chief executive also said that a comprehensive business plan will be submitted to Nepra by April 2026
T TAP warns of esc alating crisis over Imran's health
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According to the statement TTAP leaders demanded that Imran Khan be immediately shifted to Shifa International Hospital for specialised medical treatment, examined by his personal physicians Dr Faisal Sultan and Dr Aasim Yusuf and granted unrestricted access to his lawyers and family members
The alliance condemned what it termed the government s continued illegal secrecy regarding the former premier s medical reports and test results, stating that concealment was increasing doubts and fears about his condition It reiterated that Imran Khan had been imprisoned in false cases and must be released
The statement also demanded the release of other political figures, including incarcerated Sunni Ittehad
Council Chairman Sahibzada Hamid
Raza Bushra Bibi Shah Mahmood
Qureshi Yasmin Rashid Umar Sar-
Cheema, Ejaz Chaudhry, Ali Wazir, and Mahrang Baloch
Beyond the issue of political detentions TTAP expressed serious concern over what it described as an alarming rise in terrorism particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, deteriorating relations with Afghanistan, worsening economic indicators, and growing repression and lawlessness The alliance called for the formulation of a comprehensive national strategy involving federal and provincial governments political stakeholders and the public to address terrorism It also urged Islamabad and Kabul to avoid confrontation and initiate meaningful negotiations to tackle militancy while suggesting diplomatic engagement with neighbouring countries and friendly states such as Saudi Arabia and Türkiye
Citing recently released economic data, the statement claimed poverty had risen to 29 per cent and unem-
ployment had reached a 21-year high It alleged a sharp decline in both foreign and domestic investment and pointed to the exit of multinational companies as evidence of a deteriorating economic climate TTAP announced that in the coming months it would present an alternative budget and policy proposals, prepared with expert input, to address the country’s economic and legal challenges
The alliance also voiced concern over the prospect of a US attack on Iran warning that such action would destabilise the region It urged the government to play a diplomatic role in preventing any escalation and expressed solidarity with Iran Lastly TTAP criticised the government’s decision to join Board of Peace describing it as an attempt to create a non-representative alternative to the United Nations and objecting to what it called the exclusion of Palestinians from the initiative
adding that dialogue is essential to resolve issues He stressed the need to end confrontation with state
to Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) for a follow-up treatment, receiving a second dose of antiVEGF intravitreal injection on February 24 While PTI has demanded that Khan be treated at Shifa International Hospital under the supervision of his personal physicians the government has accused the
intensified its crackdown in 2023 after hundreds of migrants, including many Pakistanis, drowned in a shipwreck off Pylos, marking one of the Mediterranean’s deadliest disasters Since then authorities have strengthened airport screening arrested over 1 700 suspected human smugglers and launched technologydriven systems to
faraz
WITH the third IMF review for the Extended Fund Facility of $8 8 billion to be accompanied by the second of the $1 billion Resilience and Support Fund Prime Minister
Shehbaz Sharif ’s hint at a reduction in direct taxes made in his address on Wednesday to the opening session of the two-day Pakistan Governance Session 2026, might be interpreted as a hint that the next budget will be more growth-oriented His emphasis on the achievement of stabilisation in the last couple of years, with the inflation rate brought down to 7 percent from 35 percent, and the policy rate brought down to 10 5 percent A cut in direct taxes would act as a stimulus, but the IMF might not approve, in which case it gets shot down In fact there have been enough instances of the government taking a step then having to reverse it because the IMF did not see the government figures as adding up, for it to seem that Mr Sharif might be following a good-cop badcop routine, where he would do wonderful things for people but the IMF wouldn’t let him
However this time it has become too deep a matter for Mr Sharif to try anything else The country’s demographic bulge demands jobs, which can only be generated if the economy is growing About a fortnight ago the World Bank President said that Pakistan needed to create about 30 million jobs in the coming decade If that was not done, he predicted massive migration and political instability at home The political instability is particularly bad news for the government in office, and the whole-of-government approach Mr Sharif recommended is essential but perhaps not enough
The IMF does not try to make economies grow, but as the World Bank chief said, growth had to be a primary policy goal now, not a secondary The review mission is supposed to ensure that Pakistan is meeting its commitments but it must also face the changing context If the IMF does not allow the economy to move onto a growth trajectory, it is not just setting Pakistan up for another crisis needing IMF intervention, but moving the failure of that intervention in terms of unmet conditionalities
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
THE Trump Peace Plan moved forward with the Gaza Peace Plan with the inaugural meeting of the Gaza Board of Peace, which was more a chance for sideline summiteering and photo-ops rather than a forum to decide the fate of Gaza where no important decisions were taken but members made their positions clear Perhaps the most arresting statement was by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who said there would be no reconstruction of Gaza until Hamas was disarmed Meanwhile, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif basking in the praise Trump showered on him said that Pakistani troops forming part of the International Stabilisation Force would not take part in the disarming of Hamas fighters Another thing that Shehbaz said was that Pakistan had joined the Board to seek a Palestinian state, an obvious reference to the two-state solution agreed in the Camp David Accords between the PLO’s Yasser Arafat and right-wing Israeli PM Menachem Begin However Israel and thus the USA has been veering away from the two-state solution towards the Greater Israel solution in which the West Bank, East Jerusalem and Gaza Strip are absorbed by Israel Therefore, the Pakistani participation in the Board of Peace has led to domestic political opposition because it seems to help the USA attain its goals; well not so much the USA as Israel Israel had proved unable to disarm Hamas by force so now it seems as if it is to seek help from the International Stabilization Force It is worth noting that there has been no definition of what constitutes disarmament Hamas is apparently preparing for the new situation by electing a leadership including the head of the political bureau a post which the Israelis have vacated twice by assassination The ISF is closer to formation though it is not clear how far that process has gone, with the ISF chief, a US major general, saying that five countries have made troop commitments, while the second-incommand is to be an Indonesian officer Pakistan has not yet contributed any troops with Shehbaz speaking frankly about Pakistani reservations These in-
cluded the authority it would operate under and the command structure One of the problems that it seems everyone has with the Board of Peace is how far it follows Trump’s suggestion that it could eventually address challenges beyond Gaza which seems an undermining of the United Nations a body which Trump clearly distrusts particularly because it has taken what he sees as an anti-Israeli position His desire for a more proIsraeli body seems to manifest itself in the Board of Peace, which puts countries like Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in something of a bind This has been revealed by the controversy which has resulted from the recent interview of US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee who said that Israel should annex more Arab land This had led to loud squawking by other US allies, with the OIC, the GCC and the Arab League (all Saudi-dominated organizations) all condemning it Huckabee remains at his post and the nearest the US government has come to condemnation is to say that his remarks were taken out of context The widespread condemnation by Muslim countries must be seen in the context of the feeling in the street, which has not overcome memory of the massacre in Gaza
Even as the Israeli conquest of Gaza has not yet come to an end the USA is planning what will be another challenge for the Board of Peace The USA according to most estimates has gone too far with its military deployments in the Arabian Sea to pull back without Iran accepting a humiliating surrender It has shifted two aircraft carrier groups to the area, which gives it the kind of airpower that not all air forces have This is not to underestimate the Air Force itself which can carry B1 and B2 strikes from as far away as Europe not to mention the bases the USA has in the region which include al-Udeid Air Base in Qaatar (the forward HQ of CENTCOM), and naval bases in Bahrain, Jordan and the UAE, along with other bases in Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Syria However it may not all be one-sided as Iran has been preparing for this conflict for some time and is likely to launch asymmetric attacks on warships as well as missiles and drones against bases So far, the
Bagram may be attractive superficially, but it is not really a good option. It does show how Trump is getting himself embroiled in wars with two countries in the Greater Middle East. the drum beating aside, much will depend on the casualties that the USA suffers. Is the American public willing to sacrifice its children for Reza Cyrus?
PAKISTAN S principled and consistent position regarding the security spillover from Afghanistan is no longer a solitary diplomatic assertion; it is increasingly validated by international monitoring mechanisms, independent security analyses and empirical developments on the ground The evolving threat matrix since 2021 has demonstrated that the resurgence of cross-border terrorism is neither conjectural nor politically manufactured It is documented, quantifiable, and internationally acknowledged
The latest report of the United Nations Security Council 1267 Sanctions Committee issued under the United Nations Security Council 1267 Committee monitoring framework substantively reinforces Pakistan s long-articulated concerns regarding the post-2021 security fallout from Afghanistan The assessment underscores that the Afghan Interim Government has provided a permissive operational environment for multiple terrorist entities notably Tehreek Taliban Pakistan (TTP) enabling it to sustain cross-border attacks against Pakistan
It further highlights the entrenched presence of Al-Qaeda, including Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, functioning as a force multiplier by offering training, ideological indoctrination, and logistical facilitation to affiliated groups The report also notes that ISIL-Khorasan Province (ISKP) retains operational capability while pointing to emerging linkages among TTP, ISKP, and BLA/Fitnah Al Hind, including shared resources, coordinated operations, and training infrastructure Collectively, these findings validate Pakistan’s position that Afghanistan’s altered power dynamics have facilitated a consolidated networked militant architecture with Pakistan remaining the principal target of cross-border terrorism
These conclusions are not abstract assessments; they correspond directly with tragic realities within Pakistan The suicide bombing at Islamabad’s district court on 11 November
2025, which resulted in the martyrdom of more than a dozen individuals, and the 6 February 2026 attack on an imambargah that claimed 40 lives were both claimed by terrorist organisations operating from Afghan soil Meanwhile in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa a lieutenant colonel and another soldier were martyred during a counterterrorism operation that eliminated five militants in a suicide blast an illustration of the high-intensity conflict being waged along Pakistan’s western frontier These incidents underscore a sustained campaign of asymmetric warfare directed at destabilizing the state through urban terrorism sectarian violence and targeted assaults on security forces International corroboration extends beyond the United Nations The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation has publicly estimated that between 20 000 and 23 000 militants more than half of them foreign nationals are currently operating in Afghanistan Its assessment identifies ISIS-K, TTP, and AlQaeda as principal actors, alongside Central Asian militant formations, while acknowledging that TTP continues to direct attacks into Pakistan Such evaluations from a major global power reinforce Islamabad s longstanding warning that Afghanistan has re-emerged as a sanctuary for transnational militancy with direct regional repercussions Simultaneously, external analyses have highlighted the transformation of subnational militant actors within Pakistan itself In his assessment Joe Buccino a former communications director for US Central Command argues that the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has evolved from a nominal separatist insurgency into a modern terrorist network employing suicide bombings, train hijackings, and coordinated high-impact attacks He contends that the organization’s methods align more closely with transnational terror syndicates than with traditional ethnonationalist movements particularly given its attacks on civilians and strategic infrastructure This evolution further substantiates Pakistan s assertion that disparate militant entities are increasingly interlinked within a broader ecosystem of hybrid warfare
Pakistan remains committed to defending its citizens, safeguarding its territorial integrity, and contributing to a stable and secure South and Central Asia The international community’s growing recognition of the facts marks not merely a diplomatic vindication, but a pivotal opportunity to restore accountability and recalibrate regional security cooperation on the basis of truth, transparency, and collective responsibility
Pakistan’s response has been measured yet resolute Intelligence-based precision strikes targeting seven terrorist camps and hideouts inside Afghanistan were conducted following a consistent pattern of non-compliance with the Doha Agreement and the continued use of Afghan territory against Pakistan These actions were not acts of adventurism but calibrated exercises of the inherent right to self-defence under international law aimed at neutralizing imminent threats Islamabad has repeatedly emphasized that its objective is not escalation but deterrence, and not confrontation but accountability Moreover, Pakistan has consistently maintained that certain terrorist outfits designated domestically as Fitna-tul-Khawarij and Fitnaal-Hindustan are externally sponsored with the intent of destabilizing not only Pakistan but the broader region Documentary evidence and intelligence dossiers have been shared with international stakeholders to substantiate these claims The convergence of transnational militant financing, cross-border sanctuaries, and hybrid information warfare suggests a sophisticated architecture of destabilization rather than isolated insurgent activity
At its core Pakistan s stance is anchored in the principles of sovereignty, non-interference, and regional stability It has advocated constructive engagement with Kabul, adherence to counterterrorism commitments, and implementation of internationally recognized agreements
Yet sovereignty cannot be unidirectional The right to peaceful coexistence presupposes that no state s territory is allowed to be weaponized against its neighbours
The cumulative weight of evidence from UN monitoring mechanisms to independent global assessments and on-ground operational realities demonstrates that Pakistan’s warnings were prescient rather than rhetorical The challenge now lies in translating international acknowledgment into coordinated action Sustainable regional peace will require verifiable counterterrorism commitments, dismantling of cross-border sanctuaries, and a unified global resolve against the instrumentalization of militancy for geopolitical ends
Pakistan remains committed to defending its citizens safeguarding its territorial integrity and contributing to a stable and secure South and Central Asia The international community s growing recognition of the facts marks not merely a diplomatic vindication but a pivotal opportunity to restore accountability and recalibrate regional security cooperation on the basis of truth transparency and collective responsibility
The writer is a freelance columnist
Markets must mirror faith
TArIq KhAN TAreeN
sources
ment by extremist groups including rem-
Dr Maria Ochir-Goryaeva an Oirat (Kalmyk) historian and human rights
and
Afamilies
remain intense Early warning signs are already visible In industrial regions such as Kemerovo and Irkutsk, authorities have been forced to juggle rising welfare commitments with weakening economic bases Other territories dependent on extractive or declining industries may soon face similar crunches as production slows, investment weakens and tax receipts fall The political risk lies not only in unpaid bills, but in the erosion of governors’ capacity to absorb shocks through discretionary spending and informal fixes
Tóth-Czifra also highlights the importance of the ongoing municipal administration reform Designed to streamline governance, it has instead generated resentment among citizens and lower-tier elites who see it as another step towards the hollowing-out of local self-government
This backlash may not immediately translate into open protest but it threatens to weaken the informal coalitions that have traditionally underpinned regional stability With the 2026 State Duma election approaching, even limited disaffection within administrative layers could complicate electoral management and increase the costs of control The reform carries another sensitive implication
By reducing the number of lower-tier posts it narrows the pool of positions into which returning war participants can be quietly absorbed From the Kremlin’s perspective, these appointments have served as a means of social pacification Their contraction risks intensifying competition over resources and status injecting further tension into already strained local political environments While fiscal stress shapes the formal political arena, Iliuza Mukhamedianova, a Bashkir social researcher, argues that the deeper story of 2026 will unfold beyond offi-
cial institutions In the ethnic republics she is paying closest attention to grassroots dynamics: local protests cultural initiatives educational projects and forms of low-visibility activism that rarely appear in national media but reveal the underlying condition of society In Bashkortostan, this includes the aftershocks of the Baymak protests, which exposed the depth of resentment over environmental degradation governance and cultural marginalization Environmental conflicts linked to resource extraction and land use remain particularly significant In rural and Indigenous communities, disputes over quarries, forests and water systems often fuse economic grievances with questions of identity and dignity These flashpoints are where social inequality cultural survival and political resistance intersect most clearly Mukhamedianova does not expect improvement at the institutional level On the contrary, she anticipates a tightening of control more repression and a narrowing of permissible public activity Yet this does not imply social passivity Across the republics people are forming new informal networks rediscovering mutual aid and experimenting with quieter forms of solidarity These initiatives may lack the visibility of mass movements but they cultivate skills trust and narratives that could one day underpin broader change In the North Caucasus the balance between containment and volatility remains particularly fragile Harold Chambers, who studies nationalism, conflict and security in the region, identifies three sets of variables to watch in 2026: socioeconomic stress extremist threats and the evolution of both peaceful and violent resistance Economic pressures are likely to deepen Infrastructure failures inflation and unemployment continue to weigh heavily on republics already marked by demographic growth and limited opportunity Against this backdrop the risk of recruit-
Russia in 2026, viewed from its regions, is less a monolith than a mosaic of pressures and possibilities The budgets may be thin, and the administrative space increasingly cramped, but the social terrain remains active. Whether these undercurrents will one day translate into broader change remains uncertain What is clear is that the future of the country is being negotiated not only in Moscow, but in its towns, villages and republics, where the costs of the present are felt most directly and where the seeds of whatever comes next are quietly being sown
nants of the Islamic State or more obscure violent networks cannot be dismissed Chambers also notes the symbolic and political importance of upcoming events, from Dagestan s parliamentary elections to the marking of five years since the killing of Aslan Byutukayev, the alleged Islamic State leader in Chechnya Such anniversaries can serve as triggers either for insurgent activity or for demonstrative security operations by the authorities Two broader dynamics could drive instability The first is the return of the Ukraine war to the domestic sphere: through the social consequences of mobilisation, the presence of traumatised veterans and the extension of the conflict into Russian territory via drone attacks or sabotage The second is the intensifying succession question in Chechnya As Ramzan Kadyrov promotes his son Adam more openly, resistance is likely not only from within the republic but also from federal actors wary of hereditary rule Efforts to undermine or bypass this succession plan could unsettle the delicate equilibrium that has defined Chechnya s post-war order For Lana Pylaeva, a Komi human rights activist and analyst, 2026 will be shaped by a contradiction at the heart of state policy On the surface Moscow is paying unprecedented attention to Indigenous communities Vladimir Putin s declaration of 2026 as the Year of the Unity of the Peoples of Russia and the introduction of new official holidays project an image of cultural inclusion Internationally, Indigenous themes are increasingly woven into Russia’s efforts to present itself as a decolonial alternative to Western powers Yet this symbolic recognition is accompanied by intensifying repression Indigenous activists were targeted in a new wave of arrests in December, and Pylaeva expects pressure to grow Expressions of Indigenous identity are likely to be channelled into tightly managed festivals and exhibitions while independent advocacy over land rights language and self-determination faces shrinking space At the same time infrastructural and extractive projects in the Arctic and northern regions are accelerating Pylaeva is closely monitoring plans ranging from open-air nature reserves and year-round resorts in the Northern Urals to prospective gold mining at the Chudnoe deposit Particularly controversial are proposals to divert water from the Pechora and Northern Dvina rivers towards occupied Donbas projects that carry profound environmental and social risks Against this backdrop local activism in Komi though constrained remains a source of cautious optimism sustaining the idea that resistance has not been extinguished
'Bored of Peace': Trump's latest projec t is a mocker y of diplomac y
In Trumpworld, ever ything’s for sale, even international diplomacy
Tthen said, “I never get credit, but that’s OK,” now wants to share his gifts with the rest of the world US President Donald J Trump convened the first meeting of his Board of Peace at the recently renamed Donald J Trump Institute for Peace, calling it the
countries turned down the generous offer, but only one was apparently
disinvited – Canada Prime Minister Mark Carney doesn t appreciate the US president s desire to annex his country as the 51st state In his speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Carney said Canada feels the United States under Trump is no longer a reliable partner The American leader is also punishing Canada by threatening to block the opening of the Canadian-financed Gordie Howe International Bridge, set to connect Detroit to Windsor, Ontario That may be more than just a grudge since the billionaire owner of the competing Ambassador Bridge donated $1 million to a pro-Trump super PAC shortly before Trump s threats One must wonder how Trump can be a global peacemaker when he can t even get along with our northern neighbor, widely known as the world’s nicest country A SYCOPHANTIC MEETING Others rejected Trump s invitation inc l u d i
birthplace – and Norway which the president resents because it hasn t given him t
’t control anyway)
It has been dubbed the Bored of Peace because of Trump’s well-known short attention span (except for revenge and self-enrichment) and tendency to flit from one project to the next
The first meeting had all the sycophanc y of a Nor th Korean Workers’ Par t y Politburo meeting
Most countries notably Western European democracies also turned down invitations because they felt that the board s mandate is too broad that it risks undermining the existing international order, and that it is too undemocratic Russia and China also said no So did the Vatican, Japan, and Brazil
The first meeting had all the sycophancy of a North Korean Workers Party Politburo meeting Kassym-Jomart Tokayev the president of Kazakhstan proposed that the board create a special President Trump award to recognize its namesake’s “outstanding peace-building efforts and achievements ”
The board was ostensibly established to lead the reconstruction of Gaza but its charter says nothing about that instead proclaiming a mandate for dealing with global conflicts Trump could use the board as an end run around the existing international order and to assert his claim of absolute global leadership Or for retribution against his foes Trump who still smarts from the laughing response to his braggadocio before the UN General Assembly in 2018, was asked whether he intended for his new group to replace the UN “It might,” he responded The international body “has never lived up to its potential ” he said “The UN should have settled every one of the wars that I settled He has already cut US funding and membership for dozens of UN agencies
ISRAEL'S SEAT ON THE BOARD
of Israel’s largest defense customers Cooperation spans missile systems, surveillance technologies air defense drones and cybersecurity platforms Analysts widely recognize that Israeli defense exports to India have surged over the past decade embedding the relationship in concrete military infrastructure The current visit is expected to further expand collaboration in artificial intelligence quantum computing cybersecurity and joint defense production For Palestinians this is not abstract cooperation Israel s
j e c t i o n s M o s t m e m b e r s a r e s m a l l e r c o u n t r i e s t h a t s e e m e m b e r s h i p a s a w a y t o c u r r y f a v o r w i t h t h e a d m i ni s t r a t i o n n o t o u t o f a n y c o m m i t m e n t t o r e b u i l d i n g G a z a Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu does not share Trump s enthusiasm for rebuilding Gaza His government appears content to occupy its half of the strip indefinitely and has given Hamas 60 days to disarm or the war may resume The US president has anointed himself chairman for life with veto power over decisions the agenda invitations membership, the logo, and his own successor –pretty much the way he sees the presidency I t s l e g a l s t a t u s i s u n c l e a r T h e U N S e c u r i t y C o u n c i l e n d o r s e d t h e b o a r d ’s c r e a t i o n t o o v e r s e e G a z a r e c o v e r y b u t i t h a s n o t b e e n a u t h o r i z e d b y C o n g r e s s Tr u m p p l e d g e d $ 1 0 b i l l i o n b u t
a p i t o l H i l l , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n t h i s m i d t e r m e l e c t i o n y e a r H e m a y b e a b l e t o p
alignment THE ‘PARTNERSHIP’ Behind the rhetoric lies the substance: arms and technology India has become one
Dr MUhaMMaD akraM Zaheer
From Swif t Retor t to Bunyanum Marsoos
be met with decisive action Fast forward to 2025 and the lessons of Swift Retort resonate in Operation Bunyanum Marsoos This operation demonstrated continuity in doctrine evolution in tactics and adaptation to emerging threats The seamless integration of intelligence, precision weapons and mission planning in Bunyanum Marsoos underscores how the PAF has transformed its operational philosophy ensuring readiness not just for today s threats but for tomorrow s uncertainties Together these operations reveal
a culture of proactive deterrence where our Air Force remains vigilant, agile and missionready at all times Such operational prowess is inseparable from the recent modernization drive spearheaded by Pakistan Air Force leadership that has redefined PAF’s combat capabilities Recognizing that modern warfare demands more than wings and engines Pakistan Air Force has inducted advanced fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles, multi-layered air defence systems and long range precision-guided munitions Surveillance networks have expanded cyber and space domains have been fortified and early warning and command & control systems have been integrated to ensure multi-dimensional superiority Legacy platforms have not been left behind; they have been upgraded with state-of-the-art avionics and weapons systems, making every aircraft, missile and radar a potent contributor to national defence A defining feature of this transformation has
been the focus on indigenization and local aerospace development Spearheaded by the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park PAF has invested smartly in domestic aircraft programs drone development precision weaponry and avionics systems These initiatives not only strengthen operational self-reliance but also cultivate a sustainable, homegrown aerospace ecosystem that has turned Pakistan’s skies into a proving ground for innovation ingenuity and national pride The engine driving this modernization is the visionary leadership of PAF Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu has steered the force with foresight, blending imported capabilities with indigenous solutions to create a modern, adaptable and cost-effective Air Power that has recalibrated deterrence in South Asia PAF leadership s emphasis on quality HR operational doctrine and readiness has ensured that every technological advancement translates into battlefield effectiveness Through disciplined stewardship, strategic foresight and a commitment to excellence PAF has built a force that is both formidable and forward-looking Anniversaries like Swift Retort are more than historical markers; they are reminders of a force that stands vigilant and unwavering, capable of defending the nation s skies with speed and precision They affirm resilience, operational mastery and the enduring spirit of Pakistan Air Force Swift Retort and its operational successors like Bunyanum Marsoos are chapters in a larger narrative: that of a force committed to deterrence technological advancement and strategic autonomy As we
flect on seven years since Operation Swift Retort, one truth emerges clearly: PAF’s resolve is timeless
and an attempt to curb freedom of expression In reality she added the campaign is being run through various accounts, including those of women
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma Bokhari said in a video statement that an extremely unethical social media campaign is being run against Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz She stated that the smear drive is being orchestrated by the “Fitna Party’s” social media brigade with the involvement of certain absconding YouTubers who claim to be journalists Azma Bokhari expressed regret that some members of the journalist community consider these individuals as journalists, adding that such campaigns are a stain on the profession She said that whenever action is taken against these so-called journalists it is portrayed as political victimization
The Information Minister further stated that this smear campaign against Maryam Nawaz has been ongoing since 2014 and those involved raise serious questions about their professional standards She emphasized that responsible journalists cannot post such content from their accounts, and unfortunately, no meaningful action was taken by television channels either Azma Bokhari said We have much to say as well but as political leaders we restrict ourselves to political discourse She added that a cheap campaign was also launched against the Chief Minister under the pretext of the use of an official aircraft but such
Sharmeen Obaid Chinoy’s Patakha Pictures Announces Open Call for 2026 Edition of ‘Claim the Frame’
KARACHI s ta f f r e p o r t
After the successful completion of its last cycle in December 2025, Patakha Pictures, the funding and mentorship initiative launched by Sharmeen ObaidChinoy announced an open call for the 2026 cycle of its acclaimed filmmaking mentorship program
Claim the Frame Created to nurture the next generation of storytellers, Patakha Pictures, launched in 2022, has supported 69 filmmakers to date, whose films have collectively won over 25 awards and screened at more than 70 international festivals The program was founded to amplify women s voices in cinema and strengthen Pakistan s independent documentary landscape In 2024, Patakha Pictures made a special exception to include both men and women from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and its Newly Merged Districts - expanding access to emerging filmmakers in underrepresented regions For its eighth edition Patakha Pictures and SOC Films are once again partnering with the Scottish Documentary Institute and the British Council to bring Claim the Frame to women filmmakers across Pakistan
This year, the program will select four pairs of women filmmakers aged 18 and above Applicants must apply in pairs through a single application form The initiative is seeking bold resilient filmmakers who are ready to shape authentic narratives and create meaningful social impact through documentary storytelling
Claim the Frame welcomes short documentary projects that explore themes exploring women empowerment art identity culture and music
tactics cannot harm a leadership committed to serving the public She highlighted several public welfare initiatives undertaken in Punjab, including the Ramazan Package, electric buses, interest-free business loans under the Asaan Karobar program the Dhee Rani program employment opportunities under Suthra Punjab the Apni Chhat Apna Ghar housing initiative, a Rs200 billion post-flood relief package, and Rs10 billion in assistance for the people of Balochistan
The Punjab Information Minister concluded that the malicious campaign has not only failed to harm Maryam Nawaz but has also exposed the true face of certain elements on social media She urged the public not to be influenced by unethical propaganda and to stand by the truth
PHA launches flower plantation and Eid fair preparations
pansies, marigolds and cockscombs (kalga), among others Spring provides favourable climatic conditions that enable these varieties to flourish In addition to floral displays district agencies have intensified tree-washing operations to mitigate dust accumulation and help reduce air pollution levels Tree trimming is also being carried out to maintain a neat appearance Barren grass patches are being restored using grass fillers to improve the look of public spaces and control dust Spring is considered an ideal period for grass maintenance as warmer temperatures promote vigorous growth and facilitate mowing Beyond horticultural measures, district agencies have also begun repairing and restoring public fountains as part of the overall beautification drive
In addition to these efforts, PHA has also planned public fairs or melas to be held during Eid for the enjoyment of the public These events will have a festive atmosphere with cultural performances food stalls and activities for families and children Meanwhile, PHA Director General Raja Mansoor Ahmad said the initiatives are being carried out in line with the provincial government’s vision to promote a clean green and visually appealing Punjab All district agencies have been directed to ensure the timely completion of works before Eid and to maintain high standards of public service delivery, he added
g PUNJAB CM LAUNCHES E-TAXI SCHEME, ANNOUNCES
