R I C E S A M I D G LO B A L O I L S U R G E : P M
g SAYS ADEQUATE CRUDE OIL SUPPLIES SECURED THROUGH DIPLOMATIC AND ECONOMIC MEA SURES, LAUDING PROVINCIAL GOVTS FOR SUPPORTING CENTRE’S AUSTERITY MEA SURES
6 6 3 Afg h a n Ta l i b a n f i g hte r s k i l l e d i n 'O p e rat i o n G h a z a b L i l H a q ' , s ays Ta ra r
ISLAMABAD
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Federal Information Minister Attaullah
Tarar said on Friday that 663 Afghan Taliban operatives have been killed and more than 887 injured during the ongoing Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, launched in response to what he termed “unprovoked action” from across the Pakistan–Afghanistan border
The operation was initiated nearly two weeks ago following renewed clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan after Afghan Taliban forces allegedly opened fire on multiple locations along the frontier, prompting a swift military response by Pakistani forces
Tensions between the two neighbours escalated after Afghanistan launched a border offensive in response to Pakistani air strikes carried out in February Islamabad maintained that the strikes targeted terrorist hideouts and accused Kabul of failing to act against militant groups operating from its territory an allegation rejected by the Taliban administration
Providing details of the operation on his X account, Tarar said Pakistani security forces had destroyed 249 check posts and captured another 44 during the campaign
He added that 224 tanks armoured vehicles and artillery guns belonging to Afghan Taliban forces had also been destroyed
Two rudimentar y T TP drones intercepted, shot down near Rawalpindi: S ec urity sources
economic reforms The minister assured the committee that all regulatory actions are aligned with international standards and are crucial for safeguarding the country s financial system ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t Pakistani security forces successfully intercepted and neutralised two rudimentary drones near Rawalpindi on Friday using electronic countermeasures security sources confirmed No casualties were reported, and the airspace, which was temporarily closed as a precaution, has now been reopened, the security sources said The Ministry of Information posted on X that the drones belonged to terrorist group Fitna al-Khawarij allegedly nurtured by the Afghan Taliban regime The statement said that “no military or civilian infrastructure was damaged, aside from minor debris from the forced crashing of the drones dismissing claims by the Afghan Defence Ministry suggesting the Faizabad military centre had been hit, resulting in casualties and material loss “The Taliban regime’s claim includes no verifiable evidence and exposes its established role as a proxy supporter of terrorism harbouring groups such as Fitna al-Khawarij (linked to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan) and Fitna al-Hindustan (terrorist organisations in Balochistan),” the ministry said It added that the Taliban’s official accounts regularly proliferate fake news and propaganda citing previous false claims about Pakistan Air Force aircraft being shot down
According to the minister around 70 locations across Afghanistan were targeted in air strikes, focusing on militant infrastructure and operational bases
In Kabul Paktia and Kandahar terrorists and their support infrastructure, including logistics bases and camps, were targeted,” he said Tarar also released a video which he said demonstrated that Pakistani forces conducted “precise strikes” only against installations linked to terrorism
No civilian population or civilian infrastructure was targeted, contrary to claims made by officials and media of the Afghan regime,” he stated Meanwhile, Pakistan reiterated its demand for verifiable assurances from Kabul that Afghan territory would not be used for terrorist activities against Pakistan
During his weekly briefing, Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said Islamabad
PSX DROPS OVER 500 POINTS AS MIDDLE EAST
tification
said a high-level committee formed by the prime minister is holding daily meetings to assess the situation and recommend policy responses to ensure continuity of fuel supplies Petroleum Minister Ali Pervaiz Malik informed the committee that Qatar had declared force majeure due to the conflict, resulting in a suspension of LNG shipments to Pakistan He said that an LNG cargo that previously cost around $25 million is now being quoted at nearly $100 million in the international market
The committee was also told that Pakistan currently operates five oil refineries, most of which are outdated Malik said
Saudi Arabia was supplying crude oil to Pakistan at discounted rates, but shipping costs had increased sharply from about $700 000 to nearly $7 million per cargo Malik said the recent Rs55 per litre increase in petrol and diesel prices was implemented to ensure uninterrupted fuel imports He explained that oil cargoes typically take around 20 days to reach Pakistan and that without adjusting prices oil marketing companies could have stopped imports due to higher procurement costs If prices had not been increased immediately companies would not have imported fuel and the country could have faced shortages, he told the committee He added that oil prices are determined based on average Platts benchmark prices and that the pricing mechanism remains unchanged The minister also said the Strait of Hormuz had become congested due to the conflict, forcing vessels to take longer routes while insurance costs and premiums had increased significantly
Members of the committee raised concerns about increases in petroleum prices on existing stocks and asked the government to explain the factors behind such adjustments
During the meeting Senator Farooq H Naek criticised the increase in fuel prices and said the burden was being shifted onto the public Officials also informed the committee that LPG imports from Iran are continuing and have increased compared with earlier levels while there is currently no proposal to raise domestic LNG prices
The committee was further told that gas supplies are being prioritised for the fertiliser sector Aurangzeb and Malik said the prime minister had directed that efforts should be made to avoid placing additional burden on the public
The government will review international oil prices before announcing the next revision in petroleum product prices on Friday, they added
Pakistan, S audia agree to work together for regional peace, stability
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar and Chief of Army Staff & Chief of Defence Forces Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir were also present At the outset the Prime Minister conveyed his respectful regards and best wishes to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and expressed profound appreciation for the Kingdom’s longstanding support to Pakistan,” it added The prime minister expressed Pakistan’s full solidarity and support for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in these challenging times
Both leaders had an in depth exchange of views on the recent developments in the region and agreed to work together for regional peace and stability, the PMO said Earlier on Thursday, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia on a brief official visit at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud The visit came as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East showed no signs of immediate de-escalation state media reported
According to a post on its X account, state-broadcaster PTV News said, Premier Shehbaz was received at the Royal Terminal of King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah by Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishal bin Abdulaziz Pakistan s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Ahmad Farooq Consul General in Jeddah Syed Mustafa Rabani, and other diplomatic staff were also present PTV News reported that the visit, lasting only a
few hours would include a meeting between PM Shehbaz and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman In the meeting there will be detailed discussions on the current regional situation, state of security, and bilateral relations, the state broadcaster said, emphasizing that the visit reflects Pakistan’s positive diplomatic role, which Islamabad intends to continue The visit comes amid heightened hostilities in the Middle East where Gulf countries including Saudi Arabia have faced attacks from Iran which Tehran says target US and Israeli sites in retaliation for largescale strikes carried out by the latter Earlier on Thursday, the PMO said the premier would exchange views with the Saudi crown prince on ongoing regional tensions, security and bilateral cooperation reaffirming that Pakistan will continue playing a constructive diplomatic role
‘VISIT PART OF BROADER EFFORT FOR CESSATION OF HOSTILITIES’: Addressing a weekly press briefing, Foreign Office Spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said PM Shehbaz’s visit should be seen in the context of Pakistan’s efforts to advocate for an early cessation of hostilities and pave the way for dialogue and diplomacy He noted that Pakistan has consistently urged three key principles to its interlocutors during the conflict, including respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity and refraining from the use of force within sovereign territory; Upholding international law and UN Charter principles and resuming dialogue and engagement to pursue a peaceful negotiated resolution to the crisis
No fur ther hike in petrol, diesel prices amid global oil surge: PM
A day earlier the Ministry of Finance clarified reports suggesting another hike stating that Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb had made no statement regarding further increases and that circulating media reports were inaccurate In an official statement on
petrol rates domestically the ministry added The clarification comes amid widespread media speculation over potential adjustments, as Pakistan closely monitors global market fluctuations Meanwhile, official sources revealed that PM Shehbaz Sharif in a consultative session attended by federal and provincial representatives and military leadership including Chief of Defence Forces Asim Munir decided that no further fuel price hikes would be made in the near future, regardless of developments in the Middle East The premier assured that block allocations for emergencies would be used to absorb any additional costs emphasizing that no other emergency could be more severe than the current crisis caused by fuel supply disruptions following the US-Israel attack on Iran
T wo rudimentar y TTP drones intercepted, downed near Rawalpindi:
tH E IMF and the government of Pakistan have failed to come up with an assessment of the impact of the Iran-USA-Israel war on Pakistan s revenue collection the IMF review team, which had gone to Istanbul from Pakistan, has returned to Washington without reaching an agreement Another review team is due in May for the budget, and it is hoped that there will be an agreement before that with the consequent release of the $1 billion tranche under the Extended Fund Facility of $6 6 billion and a tranche of $200 million under the Resilience and Sustainability Fund that the IMF has not reached an agreement is bad news, though it reflects more on the IMF than Pakistan, as it is insisting on ignoring the conflict, and sticking to its initial recommendations the main problem the IMF seems to have is with Pakistan’s inability under the fresh challenges of the war because it wants the primary surplus maintained at Rs 3 15 trillion, which may not be possible the IMF has also demanded that the petroleum levy not be reduced, which the government wants to do, as a means of avoiding further petrol price hikes, something which it might find difficult to do as the international oil price continues to rise reaching above $100 per barrel with analysts predicting tentatively prices of over $150 At that price the government will not be able to avoid further price hikes the IMF is also worried about the failure to pass recommended amendments in the Pakistan Sovereign Fund Act, and also demands the reversal of the ECP Act change which allows legislators to prevent their assets declarations from being made public the government has clearly reached the crisis point faced by several predecessors, and which have led to the failure of the country to complete so many previous programmes this has been despite the government having the best will in the world to complete the programme However, the discussion is no longer about whether this programme will be the country’s last It is now about whether the programme can be completed at all Frankly this is because the IMF is insisting on targets agreed when circumstances were different the situation is a stark reminder that the IMF is only trying to secure its loan, not help Pakistan tide the present crisis
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami
Arif Nizami (Late)
Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
are converging pushing millions in Sindh to the brink of hunger District Health s fresh data shows 33 3 percent of children under five are suffering from wasting (acute malnutrition) over 60 percent are stunted and 60 percent are underweight in tharparkar these rates are among the highest in the country these rates coincide with the alarming statement raised by health experts at the National Conference tackling Malnutrition in Sindh, on 23 June 2025, at Chandka Medical College, Larkana the medical professionals stated “Every second child in Sindh suffers from stunting these figures demand urgent policy attention Stunting and wasting are not just physical indicators but also deeply erode cognitive development, weaken immunity, and undermine Sindh’s future prospects these figures not only reveal a nutritional emergency but also highlight the systemic neglect of rural health infrastructure Pakistan signed on to the UN pledge to cut stunting below 15 percent by 2025 yet Sindh s rate close to 50 percent is over three times higher this failure has long-term consequences: children locked into cycles of poor learning lower earnings and chronic illness perpetuating poverty and threatening Sindh s social growth Statistics reveal that in some areas of Sindh, around 50 percent of children are stunted, over 20 percent suffer from wasting, and approximately 41 percent are underweight these stats signal a deep-seated nutritional emergency they foreshadow a future generation with impaired cognitive abilities diminished health and learning capacity and reduced earning potential At the provincial level, these children are being locked into a relentless cycle of underdevelopment, which threatens Sindh’s broader economic productivity and social stability Along the Indus Delta saltwater intrusion has displaced over 1 2 million people in recent years and resulted in the destruction of farmland and traditional fishing zones We have lost both our land and our fish catch Without income, we cannot buy enough food,” said Abdullah Mirbahar a fisherman in thatta district Coastal communities have been displaced from the Indus Delta region in the past
It was a time when knowledge was borderless, when madrassahs produced scientists as naturally as they produced jurists, and when faith and logic were taught under one roof It was a time when revelation shaped ethics and reason expanded understanding when learning was not fragmented into religious and worldly and when the pursuit of knowledge was itself an act of worship this integrated system flourished during the classical Golden age of Islamic civilization, roughly from the 8th to the 13th centuries, when cities like Baghdad Cordoba Cairo Basra and Bukhara stood at the heart of global learning Institutions such as the Bayt al-Hikmah in Baghdad Al-Qarawiyyin in Fez AlAzhar in Cairo and the great madrassahs of Nishapur and Samarkand nurtured scholars who moved effortlessly between disciplines
From this environment emerged figures like Ibn Sina, a legendary physician whose medical texts shaped Europe for centuries; Al-Biruni a master of astronomy mathematics and Qur anic studies; Ibn Rushd both jurist and philosopher; Al-Khwarizmi the pioneer of algebra; Ibn al-Haytham whose work laid the foundations of modern optics and scientific method; and Nasir al-Din al-tusi, a theologian-astronomer whose mathematical models influenced later European astronomy Along the course of history this integration broke apart and the two worlds of knowledge began to run in parallel Madrassahs were pushed to the margins confined largely to ritual and tradition, while modern education took centre stage What was once a unified pursuit of truth was reduced to a divided system, producing scholars of religion unfamiliar with the modern world and professionals of the modern world disconnected from their spiritual and civilisational roots the split did not occur overnight nor was it the result of a single intellectual failure It was shaped by profound political and historical disruptions, most notably the decline of Muslim political authority and the advent of European colonialism As colonial powers imposed their administrative and legal systems they also introduced new models of education designed to produce functionaries rather than thinkers Indigenous institutions of learning were either dismantled or rendered irrelevant to state power Madrassahs, once centres of broad intellectual in-
two decades, according to a study by the Jinnah Institute (A think tank led by a former climate change minister) the displacement, driven by seawater intrusion land degradation and climate shocks has not only eroded livelihoods but also intensified food insecurity and malnutrition in coastal communities these cascading crises leave children particularly vulnerable to chronic undernutrition, with national stunting, wasting, and underweight rates still hovering alarmingly above global health benchmarks the latest report by IPC warns that 11 million people in Pakistan s rural areas which is nearly 22 percent of the analysed population faced Crisis or worse levels of food insecurity between November 2024 and March 2025
“the persistence of high inflation, combined with agricultural losses from floods and reduced employment in rural economies is driving households deeper into food insecurity the IPC analysis notes Of these 11 million rural citizens, 1 7 million (3 percent) are enduring Emergency conditions, marked by severe food consumption gaps and extreme coping strategies the situation is projected to worsen in the lean season (April to July 2025) with millions more expected to be pushed into food insecurity due to high food prices, reduced income opportunities, and climate-related shocks Particularly in Sind, around 18 percent of the population, or about 3 8 million people, are facing extreme food shortages and struggling to meet their basic needs these people are facing a high risk of acute malnutrition these conditions urge the government humanitarian agencies, and development partners to scale up food assistance, livelihood support, and resiliencebuilding measures before the lean season peaks Without timely intervention millions could slide into more severe hunger levels
change, is our priority, said Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah during a national conference in June 2025
quiry retreated into preservation mode focusing narrowly on religious texts to safeguard identity in an era of domination this defensive posture while understandable gradually isolated religious education from the evolving sciences, technologies, and social realities shaping the modern world At the same time, modern education in Muslim societies developed along explicitly secular lines borrowing heavily from Western epistemologies that separated knowledge from metaphysics and ethics Science and reason were presented as autonomous value-neutral pursuits, while religion was relegated to the private sphere Over generations, this bifurcation hardened into institutions, mindsets, and class divisions: the madrassah graduate and the university graduate came to inhabit different intellectual universes often viewing each other with suspicion What began as a historical disruption thus evolved into a structural divide this split comes at a price A divided education system has produced fragmented minds and fractured societies Madrassahs, cut off from contemporary disciplines, struggle to engage modern economic technological and political realities while graduates of modern institutions often emerge highly skilled yet ethically unanchored the result is a widening moral intellectual vacuum and mistrust between religious and professional classes, and leaves Muslim societies vulnerable to both rigid literalism and uncritical secularism
Bridging this widening gap is not a romantic return to the past; it is a practical necessity if Muslim societies are to reclaim their lost intellectual and moral potential In Pakistan a number of institutions have begun reviving elements of this integrated legacy Darul Uloom Karachi, one of the country s most influential seminaries, has expanded its academic horizon by engaging contemporary economics, Islamic finance and modern legal questions
In Jamia Usmania (KP) and Jamia tur Rasheed (Karachi) alongside the traditional Dars-e-Nizami curriculum students are increasingly exposed to modern subjects, contemporary social issues, and structured research methodologies Jamia Binoria Aalamia (Karachi) has also taken notable steps in this direction by encouraging engagement with modern disciplines languages and applied fields while maintaining a strong grounding in classical Islamic scholarship Meanwhile institutions like Jamia Baitussalam
Bridging this widening gap is not a romantic return to the past; it is a practical necessity if Muslim societies are to reclaim their lost intellectual and moral potential In Pakistan, a number of institutions have begun reviving elements of this integrated legacy Darul Uloom Karachi, one of the countr yÊs most influential seminaries, has expanded its academic horizon by engaging contemporar y economics, Islamic finance , and modern legal questions.
WFP Pakistan Country Director Coco
Ushiyama reaffirmed this commitment underscoring the need for integrated action built on access livelihoods and climate resilience Since the 2022 floods Sindh s government has rolled out several relief measures: notably, the World Bank–backed Sindh Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Project (SFERP) mobilized ₨ 5 7 billion between October 2022 and January 2023 to repair 208 breaches in irrigation infrastructure revitalize dams pumps and canals and revive agricultural livelihoods, benefiting over one million low-income residents Additionally, relief grants under the Flood Rehabilitation Programme were enhanced in mid-2025 Meanwhile a Financial times exposé highlighted that nearly two years after the floods 12 million survivors remained in makeshift shelters with recovery stalling amid funding delays and the burden of debt-funded aid
While the statistics paint a grim picture, the situation is not beyond repair the first step forward lies in acknowledging malnutrition as a structural issue linked to poverty governance and climate vulnerability rather than a short-term crisis Sindh s response must shift from relief to reform: improving data-driven planning, prioritizing rural health systems, and ensuring that nutrition programs reach the most deprived communities Progress will be gradual but with political will fiscal discipline and institutional continuity Sindh can still move toward a future where hunger is not inevitable but preventable
The writer is a freelance columnist
While the statistics paint a grim picture , the situation is not beyond repair The first step forward lies in acknowledging malnutrition as a structural issue linked to pover ty, governance , and climate vulnerability rather than a shor tterm crisis SindhÊs response must shift from relief to reform: improving data-driven planning, prioritizing rural health systems, and ensuring that nutrition programs reach the most deprived communities
Stop digital poison
Voices outside power
hUmera Fatima
Zabih Ullah KhattaK
Rethinking consent in marriage
A
marital rape it assumes that harm and trauma changes once a woman is married But forced sex does not become less violent only because it occurs in a bedroom rather than on the street the psychological harm and trauma is the same, even when the man responsible is her husband Yet the law sends a clear message to married women that what they go through is not recognised this silence comes with a price it discourages women from speaking out it reas-
Until Pakistan enacts a law that criminalises marital rape and recognises consent as belonging to the woman, not the marriag e , justice will remain conditional for married women. As long as marriag e is treated as a shield for abuse , women will keep suffering quietly, not because they consent, but because the law refuses to listen. Till then, we must realise that a woman does not stop being human the day she becomes a wife
sures abusers that marriage shields them from consequences it reinforces the dangerous belief that a woman s bodily autonomy is conditional and valid only until nikah every time this issue comes up, the same argument resurfaces that recognising marital rape would destroy the institution of marriage it sounds protective but it is deeply misleading if the institution of marriage is so fragile that it will break unless it extends protection to sexual offenders, then the institution needs some serious reimagining Marriage is not harmed by consent; it is harmed by coercion it is not strengthened by silence; it is corroded by unchecked harm no relationship becomes sacred by ignoring violence Another argument which is found appealing to some is difficulty of proof and misuse By that account, all offences committed in private should receive immunity religion is commonly used to end this discussion but islam does not support the use of sexual coercion the Qur an describes marriage as a bond built on love and mercy the life of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) stands as an example of gentleness, respect, and restraint in islamic teaching, causing harm (zulm) is never allowed Marital relations are meant to be based on mutual willingness Forced intimacy does not protect marriage but takes away its meaning What we are witnessing, therefore, is not a conflict between law and religion, or culture and morality it is a conflict between patriarchy and dignity Our Constitution guarantees dignity equality and the right to life these promises
A recent Lahore High Cour t decision, Jameel Ahmad v. The State (2025 LHC 7342), has reignited a debate that we have long avoided: can a husband be held criminally accountable for rape while the marriag e legally subsists? Interpreting existing law, the Cour t held that under the current legal framework, rape is not recogniz ed if the marital bond has not legally ended
are not symbolic; they are meant to apply inside homes as much as outside them the fact that a woman becomes a wife does not make her inferior before the law However unless the issue of marital rape is explicitly identified the married woman is technically in a legal grey zone where physical independence can be negotiated this discomfort is not new Pakistan has faced it before domestic violence honour killings and workplace harassment were previously ignored as personal matters or cultural issues Progress only began when we
T u r k e y i s ‘ t h e n e x t I r a n ’
the language being used is not new rather, it is a familiar script – one that has preceded sanctions destabilisation and war across the Middle east for decades the implications are unmistakable: a powerful regional actor that refuses subordination to israel is being rebranded as an existential threat requiring containment – or worse Most analyses of the current Us-israeli war on iran have focused on escalation into the Gulf Far less attention has been paid to the intensifying rhetorical and strategic campaign directed at turkey Yet the signals are becoming impossible to ignore
ISRAELI RHETORIC REPURPOSED:
On 17 February 2026, former israeli prime minister naftali Bennett speaking at the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations declared bluntly: A new turkish threat is emerging turkey is the new iran He went further, warning that President recep tayyip erdoğan is “sophisticated, dangerous, and seeks to encircle israel ” Bennett accused Ankara of “trying to flip saudi Arabia against [israel] and establishing a hostile sunni axis with nuclear Pakistan as well as attempting to create a new choke ring via syria and Gaza Bennett’s language is not accidental it mirrors, almost verbatim, the rhetoric deployed against iran for decades to justify a permanent posture of confrontation today that same logic is being repurposed in a discursive move designed to reclassify turkey from being a regional power critical of israel into a civilisational enemy this shift is not merely rhetorical Bennett explicitly argued that “a weakened tehran” creates “a summons to hunt down enemies throughout the Middle east before they can solidify in this
B ennett accused Ankara of ‘tr ying to flip S audi Arabia against [Israel]’ and establishing a ‘hostile Sunni axis with nuclear Pakistan’
Gaza bound flotilla that killed ten turkish activists
defining rupture in bilateral
against Palestinians particularly in Gaza over the past decade and a half has further inflamed turkish public opinion pushing Ankara towards an openly confrontational stance against israel s genocidal policies and territorial ambitions, especially after October 2023
turkey’s role in post Assad syria has also become a central faultline since the fall of Bashar al Assad s regime in december 2024 Ankara has expanded its presence controlling territory in northern syria, and providing backing to syria s interim government including political, economic and security cooperation For israel this is deeply unsettling türkiye s stated priority – of restoring syrian territorial integrity and central authority – runs directly counter to israel s long standing preference for a fragmented regional security landscape it also threatens israel’s land-grabbing parts of syrian territory turkey’s close ties with Qatar have become another israeli red line and are regarded as a strategic threat the israel-Us war on iran has further inflamed relations because Ankara has sought de escalation and has refused to allow its territory or airspace to be used for attacks on iran erdogan has also directly discussed the recent interception of iranian missiles in its airspace with iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian to reduce the potential for escalation
FROM ‘PERIPHERY DOCTRINE’ TO ‘HEXAGON OF ALLIANCES’: the deepening rupture between israel and turkey represents the last nail in the coffin of israel s historic periphery doctrine developed in the late 1950s under Prime Minister david Ben Gurion, the doctrine proposed that israel seek alliances with non Arab regional powers – notably turkey pre revolutionary iran and ethiopia today two of those former pillars – turkey and iran – are treated as enemies But the doctrine has not disappeared; it is being repurposed into a policy of contain-
ment towards turkey israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin netanyahu recently outlined a “hexagon of alliances” – including india Greece Cyprus and unspecified Arab African and Asian countries – designed to constrain turkey s regional influence in recent months israel has hosted the leaders of Greece, Cyprus, and india to cement this alliance in december 2025, standing alongside Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis and Cypriot President nikos Christodoulides netanyahu warned that those who fantasise they can re establish their empires and their dominion over our lands should forget it – a statement widely interpreted as a reference to turkey the irony is stark Anti imperial rhetoric is being mobilised to justify a new imperial alignment and architecture of regional dominance israel s goal is to supplement the Abraham Accords with a broader regional security network which will ensure its supremacy and neutralise any potential for Palestinian liberation
MANUFACTURING THE TURKISH
THREAT : the ideological groundwork for a broader confrontation is also being laid in American media and think tank circles Writing in the new Conservative on 3 March, sumantra Maitra highlighted the emergence of “a coordinated effort in narrative manufacturing about how turkish secularism is in jeopardy how recep tayyip erdoğan is the gravest threat in the Middle east since suleiman the Magnificent, and how Western Civilization informs us that turkey is the real enemy ” Maitra also pointed to figures such as Michael rubin of the American enterprise institute who has posted in turkish on X asking whether Ankara in 2036 will resemble tehran in 2026
Writing in the Wall street Journal on 4 March, Bradley Martin of the near east south Asia Center for strategic studies, which is a Us department of War think tank, urged nAtO to reconsider turkey’s membership arguing that “the U s shouldn’t forget that turkey opposes U s foreign policy and is a headache for its allies right wing media outlets have eagerly joined the chorus in the new York Post, Jonathan schanzer of the Foundation for defense of democracies accused Ankara of “cultivating terrorist proxies in the Middle east for years this deploys the same language long used to justify sanctions and war against iran schanzer further accuses türkiye, alongside Qatar, of seeking to resurrect the influence and ideology of the Muslim Brotherhood, which the United states designated a terrorist organisation in January this narrative manufacturing follows a well worn path it relies on selective history inflated threat allegations and the conflation of regimes opposed to israel with existential danger in turkish media a grim assessment is taking hold
wife cannot refuse. Or can she?
Zainab ZarghaM
SATISFACTION
months
She attributed the reduction in crime to the effective strategy and policy measures introduced under the leadership of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz According to Azma Bokhari, the Crime Control Department (CCD) and the Punjab Police have played a pivotal role in curbing criminal activities across the province Owing to their coordinated and proactive efforts even routine street crime incidents have decreased considerably in several districts
said no one in Punjab could now dare to cast an evil eye on any mother, sister or daughter, as the protection of women remains the foremost priority and a clear red line set by the chief minister Azma Bokhari also stated that every officer and official of the
jab Police has been directed to adopt a courteous and respectful attitude toward citizens and address them as “Sir” and “Janab”, a move aimed at strengthening mutual trust respect and cooperation between the police and the public Info minister expresses deep sorrow and grief over
The provincial information minister added that the latest law and order indicators and crime statistics in Punjab were encouraging and reflected the government s effective governance administrative oversight and policy implementation
Emphasising the government s commitment to public safety, she
Azma Bokhari further said that, in view of growing public confidence and appreciation for the CCD’s performance Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has decided to transform the department into a premier law-enforcement agency so that more effective and swift action can be taken against criminal elements
Jaz z invests Rs58 7b in F Y25 to expand digital platforms and network capacit y
ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t Jazz invested PKR 58 676 billion during FY25 to expand network capacity strengthen digital platforms and accelerate its transition into a leading integrated digital service company JazzWorld spanning connectivity fintech entertainment, insurance, and digital platforms The investment focused on enhancing connectivity, scaling digital services, and embedding artificial intelligence across customer journeys and operations in line with the company’s AI1440 (Augmented Intelligence) strategy to serve over 100 million customers in Pakistan Jazz closed the year with strong financial momentum Total revenue in 4Q25 increased 24
leadership qualities and sense of national responsibility It was also agreed to establish a joint working committee to develop practical recommendations for the promotion of Iqbal Studies through academic courses research initiatives and scholarly programs
SHO AMONG SEVEN POLICEMEN MART YRED IN L AKKI MARWAT IED ATTACK
Adirected authorities to provide the best possible medical care for the injured Such cowardly acts of terrorism will not weaken the government s resolve to eliminate militancy, he added
National leadership reacts
Security forces foil terrorist infiltration bid in Nor th Waziristan
Security forces thwarted another infiltration attempt by militants near Sadaq village in North Waziristan as part of the ongoing Operation Ghazab Lil Haq, security sources said on Friday According to officials militants identified as members of the Afghan Taliban and Fitna al-Khawarij attempted to cross into Pakistani territory near the border village However, troops of the Pakistan Army responded swiftly and effectively, preventing the infiltration Sources said the militants were forced to retreat after facing strong resistance from Pakistani troops The attempted incursion was described as an act of unprovoked aggression, which was repelled through timely and coordinated action by security forces
Officials added that security personnel remain on high alert along the frontier and are committed to preventing cross-border militant movement while ensuring stability in the region Meanwhile, Pakistan s armed
forces carried out airstrikes during the night between March 12 and 13, targeting suspected militant hideouts across the border in Afghanistan Security sources said the strikes destroyed the Tarawo terrorist camp in Kandahar Another facility, the Sherinaw camp located in Paktia, was also targeted during the operation Officials said footage of the successful strikes has been released Authorities said operations under Operation Ghazab Lil Haq will continue until all designated objectives are achieved, with forces maintaining heightened vigilance against cross-border militant activity The operation was launched on February 27 following renewed clashes along the Pakistan–Afghanistan border after Afghan Taliban forces allegedly opened fire on several locations, prompting a swift military response by Pakistan Officials say the name “Ghazab Lil Haq,” which translates roughly as “Wrath for the Truth” or “Fury for Justice reflects what they describe as a decisive response to aggression
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif strongly condemned the attack expressing deep sorrow over the loss of seven police personnel In a statement from the PMO, he prayed for the elevation of the martyrs’ ranks and strength for their families while also wishing a speedy recovery for the injured He reiterated that the sacrifices of police and security forces in the fight against terrorism will never be allowed to go in vain President Asif Ali Zardari also condemned the attack and prayed for the martyrs, emphasizing the state’s unwavering resolve against terrorism while Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi called it a “cowardly act” targeting the nation s brave security forces
ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday raised serious concerns regarding the health of its founder and former prime minister, Imran Khan, reiterating its call for his immediate transfer to Shifa International Hospital for specialized medical treatment During a press conference senior PTI leaders condemned what they described as the government s criminal negligence in addressing Imran Khan s medical needs The party leadership insisted that, as a former prime minister and a prominent national figure Imran Khan should be provided with the necessary medical care at a specialized facility Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi, accompanied by other senior party figures, criticized the federal government’s handling of the situation He also spoke out against what he termed as politically motivated
against
ers demanded that Imran
personal physicians be
mediate access
and party leadership
The party warned that any further delay in providing adequate medical attention to Imran Khan could
serious consequences PTI leaders emphasized the urgency of the matter and called on the authorities to act promptly to ensure the former prime minister ’s well-being The press conference highlighted the party s ongoing concerns about Imran Khan s health and the conditions of his detention, as well as the broader political context surrounding his legal challenges
ISLAMABAD
A sub-committee of the Senate
Standing Committee on Interior and Narcotics Control has directed the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and relevant investigation agencies to conduct a thorough probe into the theft of 2 828 cartons of cigarettes from FBR warehouses in Swabi and Mardan, which has resulted in an estimated loss of approximately Rs250 million
The instructions were issued during a meeting held at Parliament House on Thursday chaired by Senator Saifullah Abro The committee reviewed the circumstances surrounding the embezzle-
ment and ordered that a detailed investigation report be presented before its next session
During the proceedings members of the sub-committee also instructed Pakistan Customs to submit comprehensive records of all confiscated items including gold, silver, electronics, cigarettes, and narcotics since 2012
The committee set a deadline of 10 days for the submission of these details
the meeting assured the commit-
inquiry The theft of the cigarette cartons from the FBR godowns in Swabi and Mardan has drawn significant attention due to the large financial impact and the involvement of government storage facil-
