PM SAYS PML-N TO ACHIEVE ‘HISTORIC RESULTS’ IN NEXT POLLS
g CREDITS NAWAZ SHARIF FOR LAUNCHING PROGRESS JOURNEY SINCE 1985 AND NUCLEAR ACHIEVEMENT OF 1998
from Afghanistan continue to affect the youth globally He lauded the United States’ offer of technical assistance to strengthen Pakistan’s counter-narcotics initiatives The Interior Ministry officials also briefed the US envoy on the performance of the AntiNarcotics Force (ANF) reporting that 134 tons of drugs were seized this year and 2,001 suspects, including 75 foreigners, were arrested Operations covered multiple provinces, with 110 Afghan nationals apprehended in Balochistan Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Sindh and 40 659 acres of land cleared of drug cultivation The total estimated value of seized drugs reached $12 797 billion The meeting also focused on preventing illegal immigration Naqvi emphasized Pakistan s clear policy on the matter and noted that the latest scanning machines are being installed at all airports to strengthen border security Both officials agreed to strengthen joint measures and intelligence-sharing to prevent unauthorized movement and illegal entry into Pakistan and beyond Ambassador Baker praised the ANF s performance and reaffirmed the US commitment to provide all possible technical assistance in counternarcotics and illegal immigration Minister Naqvi underscored that Pakistan-US relations are crucial for regional peace and stability expressing determination to further strengthen long-standing bilateral ties
g EMPHA SIZES EX-PM SHIFTED NATIONAL POLITICS TOWARDS SERVICE DELIVERY BY PRIORITISING INFRA STRUCTURE, ROAD NETWORKS, HEALTH FACILITIES AND ECONOMIC INITIATIVES
The ceremony was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar, federal and provincial ministers, parliamentarians, members of the National and Provincial Assemblies senior officials of relevant departments and a large gathering of citizens Terming the mass transport system a major public relief initiative, the prime minister said the project would
labourers, lawyers and daily wage earners
Recalling the political and development journey of the PML-N Shehbaz Sharif said the foundation of progress had been laid in 1985 during Nawaz Sharif s tenure, when development projects were launched at a time the country was otherwise mired in slogans and political confrontation g
ISLAMABAD
S ta f f R e p o R t
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Saturday strongly rejected what it termed “ridiculous” and “deeply unfortunate” remarks by the military s spokesperson against party founder and former prime minister Imran Khan asserting that he was not a national security threat and warning that such narratives risk further weakening democracy at a time of intense political strain
In a measured yet firm response to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) press conference a day earlier, senior PTI leaders called for restraint, easing of tone and a grand national dialogue, while lamenting what they described as growing censorship erosion of democratic norms and politicisation of state institutions following recent constitutional amendments
On Friday, ISPR Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry in a strongly worded press conference accused Imran Khan of creating and spreading an anti-army narrative, stating that such rhetoric had gone beyond politics and assumed the character of a “national security threat ” The remarks triggered an immediate backlash from the PTI leadership which convened an
S ta f f C o R R e S p o n d e n t Defence Minister Khawaja Asif on Saturday lashed out at the PTI for its reaction to a hard-hitting press conference by Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General Lt Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry a day earlier, in which he sharply criticised party founder Imran Khan On Friday, Lt Gen Chaudhry without naming Imran referred to the former prime minister as a mentally ill person a narcissist and a security risk noting that it was up to the government to decide how to deal with him He accused Imran and the PTI of promoting a narrative
unusual press conference at Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) House in Islamabad to respond without escalating tensions PTI Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, addressing the media said the accusations against Imran Khan were baseless and dangerous Do not drive away the people of Pakistan; they stand with Imran Khan and the
aimed at undermining the military and destabilising the state Responding to the remarks PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali had expressed disappointment , saying the party had never adopted, and would never adopt, an anti-state stance Speaking to reporters in Sialkot Asif said the PTI had no grounds to protest the DG ISPR s comments, recalling what he described as Imran s derogatory and theatrical behaviour” towards political rivals while in power He cited past incidents in which Imran mocked opposition leaders including Mehmood Khan Achakzai, and used offensive language for women
PTI he said Imran Khan is not a national security threat He has kept the people united Raja argued that while the country was home to many divisive narratives ethnic, sectarian and otherwise Imran Khan had consistently rejected them in favour of what he called a unifying national narrative of Pakistan
ISLAMABAD
JUDGE’S SON GRANTED BAIL AFTER VICTIMS’ FAMILIES FORGIVE HIM IN ISL AMABAD FATAL ACCIDENT CASE
more time to verify the medical report, inspect the vehicle, and record witness statements The case was registered under Sections 322 (manslaughter) 279 (rash driving) and 427 (mischief causing damage) of the Pakistan Penal Code With both families formally pardoning the accused, the magistrate approved bail and directed his release The incident has drawn comparisons to a similar 2022 case in Islamabad where an SUV allegedly driven by the daughter of a Lahore High Court judge struck and killed two men near the Sohan Bridge
he had reportedly gone for medical treatment Investigators collected medical and forensic samples and impounded the vehicle for examination On Tuesday, Magistrate Kundi had granted physical remand to allow police
Three more declared proclaimed offenders for anti-Pakistan propaganda ISLAMABAD S
A district and sessions court in Islamabad has declared PTI leader Seemabia Tahir journalists Ahmad Noorani and Jameel Farooqi as proclaimed offenders for spreading anti-state propaganda on social media Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Abbas Shah on Saturday issued written orders of declaring Ahmad Noorani Jameel Farooqi and Seemabia Tahir as proclaimed offenders The court also issued arrest warrants for the above-mentioned accused The court in its order said Despite repeated reminders Ahmad Noorani Jameel Farooqi and Seemabia Tahir miserably failed to appear in the court ” The National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) has already submitted the challan of the case in the court It is necessary to mention here that three separate cases are registered against these persons NCCIA registered these cases in July and August 2025 Earlier on Friday the same court had also declared Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Mirza Shahzad Akbar as a proclaimed offender as he failed to appear in the court in connection with a case filed against him in July 2025 The court order came a day after Pakistan formally forwarded to the UK extradition requests for former prime minister Imran Khan’s aide Shahzad Akbar and YouTuber Adil Raja Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Abbas Shah also issued a written order declaring Shahzad Akbar a proclaimed offender
No talks with PTI, says Tarar as gov t hardens line
On the issue of jail visits Tarar said such meetings were governed strictly by law He explained that under the jail manual political discussions or antistate
That investigation remained stalled for nearly two years In July 2024, Islamabad’s police chief informed the IHC that the vehicle involved had been in the use of Supreme Court Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmed Earlier this year a local court acquitted Shanzay Malik, the judge s daughter, after accepting her legal team s acquittal plea
He said Nawaz Sharif shifted national politics towards service delivery by prioritising infrastructure road networks health facilities and economic initiatives ushering in a new era during the 1988 elections that continues to define the PML-N s identity The prime minister said history would remember Nawaz Sharif ’s achievements in “golden words ” particularly Pakistan’s attainment of nuclear power in 1998 He observed that without this milestone the geopolitical and security situation including during the recent war with India in May would have been significantly different
PM Shehbaz further said Punjab was once again witnessing rapid progress under the “dynamic and young” leadership of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, who, he added was carrying forward Nawaz Sharif ’s development legacy He lauded several provincial initiatives including the construction of a cancer hospital expansion of metro bus services the Clean Punjab campaign pollution reduction drives, housing schemes for the homeless, assistance for flood-affected populations, and the provision of miss-
ing facilities in schools These works speak for themselves, the prime minister
adding
development and
comes
“even by political opponents ” In her address Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz highlighted the key initiatives undertaken by her government stating that the country had witnessed substantial progress and development under the PML-N s leadership She reiterated her commitment to public welfare projects aimed at improving quality of life and economic opportunity
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz had jointly laid the foundation stone of the project on Friday According to the project plan a Rs62 7-billion Yellow Line Corridor will be constructed and completed within one year The 31-kilometer-long mass transit system, being built under Punjab s Transport Vision 2030, will run between Aimenabad and Gakhar Mandi towns along the GT Road The Yellow Line will operate entirely on green energy benefit at least 51 000 passengers daily include
PTI rejec ts ‘sec urity threat label, allegations ’
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01
For God s sake don t do this he urged, warning that attempts to politically minus Imran Khan would not succeed and could instead damage national cohesion He cautioned that removing the elected government in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to replace it with an unelected setup would have serious consequences for which those taking such steps would bear responsibility Calling the DG ISPR’s press conference “unfortunate ” Raja said the PTI had no intention of responding to allegations in a confrontational manner Today we are being told that the country s most popular leader is a national security threat which is ridiculous but this is not the first time such claims have been made ” he said Drawing parallels with the 1990s Raja recalled how state institutions had repeatedly attempted to sideline former prime minister Benazir Bhutto by branding popular leaders as threats to national security “These efforts never succeeded he said adding that leaders could not be removed from the hearts of the people through administrative decisions We are not mad We know who has always been in control in this country,” he
Muzaffar Hassan Mansoor, Safdar Hassan S
Raza in regard to their father ’s filial treatment of his children and his artistry as
poet This Part concludes with a couple of interviews of Jauhar Nizami by Bedar Sarmadi and Naveed Shibli for Urdu dailies
Nawa-i-Waqt and Awam respectively In Part II, the compiler has reproduced letters of condolence
remarked, asserting that the nation had historically recognized such manoeuvring
Setting the broader context Raja said Pakistan s history was replete with moments when democracy was replaced by authoritarianism under the promise of prosperity, only for those experiments to fail He noted that democracy and constitutionalism had repeatedly been dismissed as unsuitable for the country yet every ruler left the country weaker than before
He said the PTI was often ridiculed as a disorganised party lacking understanding, but questioned whether forced development through coercive power had ever succeeded If that was the solution Pakistan would have been developed long ago, he added Raja stressed that the country urgently needed a “grand dialogue” involving the people to prevent repetition of past mistakes Warning of democratic backsliding he said recent constitutional amendments and what he described as the subjugation of the judiciary represented a regression even worse than some previous periods of military rule
He also criticised increasing censorship saying those who spoke freely risked being booked under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act
(Peca), facing inquiries and trials He cited proceedings against lawyer couple Imaan Mazari and Hadi Ali Chattha as examples Despite his criticism Raja said the PTI remained ready for dialogue emphasising that the people of KP and their elected chief minister must not be mocked or undermined “Do not put the future of the country or KP at stake in this battle of narratives he said highlighting the province s sensitivity amid the prevailing security situation and terrorism concerns The PTI is the biggest force in the country that can take it towards betterment ” Raja also addressed criticism from within the party’s support base including pressure on PTI s leadership and social media wing to respond aggressively We are sitting because the country is dear to us, and we don’t want discord,” he said, adding that while it was easy to respond to a brick with a stone the PTI would refrain in the national interest Former National Assembly speaker and PTI MNA Asad Qaiser echoed Raja s concerns, saying the ISPR chief ’s words had sparked anger in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa “Your words should have been appropriate ” he said adding that the remarks had left an entire province feeling disrespected and should be withdrawn
GOVT APPROVES COTTON REVIVAL PL AN, FBR TO COLLECT
quality
According to reports this decision comes as cotton production in the 2025-26 season has dropped significantly to 6 8 million bales, 34% below the target of 10 18 million bales During the meeting the Cotton Commissioner from the Ministry of National Food Security & Research (MNFS&R) presented the implementation plan which incorporates recommendations from the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) Representatives from APTMA pro-
posed the establishment of an independent Cotton Board similar to the United States model, to oversee all cotton-related matters However, the Federal Minister for National Food Security & Research clarified that the ongoing merger of the Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) and the Pakistan Central Cotton Committee (PCCC) would resolve the issues raised by the industry The Chairperson of the National Seed Development and Regulatory Authority (NSDRA) emphasized the importance of
Turkiye plans drone assembly facilit y in Pakistan to boost defense expor ts
Ankara’s initiative to set up UAV facilit y strengthens defense ties and boosts Pakistan’s militar y capabilities
Turkiye is planning to establish a facility in Pakistan to assemble combat drones, as part of its broader strategy to expand its defense industry and enhance international exports according to Turkish officials speaking to Bloomberg The facility will focus on assembling stealth and long-endurance drones in Pakistan, with discussions on the project advancing significantly since October While Turkiye’s Defense Ministry declined to comment, and Pakistan’s Information Minister Attaullah Tarar did not respond to inquiries the talks are seen as part of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan s efforts to bolster Turkiye s defense exports which grew by 30% this year to a record $7 5 billion This move aligns with Turkiye s ambitions to strengthen its influence in the Middle East and beyond The two countries have long-standing defense ties Turkiye is currently building corvette warships for Pakistan s navy under a co-production deal and it has upgraded dozens of Pakistan s F-16s Turkiye is also seeking Pakistan s involvement in its Kaan fifth-generation fighter program Additionally, both countries are collaborating on the TF-X fighter jet program, with Pakistan contributing research through the National University of Sciences and Technology (NUST) Moreover Turkiye and Pakistan have deepened cooperation on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI) has signed agreements with Pakistan s National Engineering and Scientific Commission (NESCOM) to jointly produce components for the Anka UAV which boasts a 24-hour flight time and a payload capacity of 250kg This new drone-assembly facility would enhance Pakistan s access to advanced UAV technology while supporting Turkiye s growing defense export ambitions The initiative comes amid heightened regional tensions, including a ceasefire with India after a military clash in May and ongoing clashes between Pakistan and Afghanistan over militant groups operating from Afghan soil
Pakistan secures key ADB financing for major infrastructure projects
ISLAMABAD p r o f i t Pakistan has formalized three significant agreements with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to enhance the country’s infrastructure, marking a critical step forward in key development projects The agreements signed in Islamabad on December 5 2025 include project readiness financing for the ML-1 Karachi-Rohri railway section and the Quetta Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, as well as supplementary funding for the ongoing Balochistan Water
The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) saw a surge in bullish momentum on Friday with the benchmark KSE100 Index climbing nearly 900 points in the second half of the session At 4:10pm the index stood at 167 176 11 up 892 56 points or 0 54% Across-the-board buying interest was evident in key sectors, including automobile assemblers, cement, fertiliser, commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, oil marketing companies (OMCs), and power generation Index-heavy stocks such as ARL HUBCO
saw positive movement The rally was driven by several positive developments The Saudi Fund for Development (SFD) extended the term of its USD 3 billion deposit, which was due to mature on December 8, 2025, for another year The extension is expected to strengthen Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves and contribute to the country’s economic growth Additionally President Asif Ali Zardari approved Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif s summary appointing General Syed Asim Munir as the country s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF) for a five-year term This move also helped bolster investor sentiment
Hajj 2026 pilgrims warned of visa delays; complete data sought
The Ministry of Religious Affairs has issued an urgent advisory for Hajj pilgrims instructing them to submit their complete and accurate data to designated bank branches no later than December 12 warning that incorrect or incomplete information could delay or even jeopardise visa issuance According to the ministry, all pilgrims must provide their photo passport and medical certificate to their as-
The ministry cautioned that if a pilgrim’s data is incorrect their Hajj visa may be delayed and in some cases could be canceled Bank staff will review documents and contact pilgrims if their photo or certificate does not meet Saudi Arabia s instructions PR OFIT S
is to present the annual financial statements of the company which show how the company has performed in the last financial year Both these companies were found in non-compliance with this regulation The purpose of these regulations is to protect the investors by requiring companies to fulfil different obligations over a period of a year which will allow investors to evaluate the performance of the companies and allow them to gauge how well it is performing Placement of the non-compliant segment is considered to be a severe warning against the company If this noncompliance persists for six months after placement on the Non-compliant segment, the next step is to place it on a Risk Warning Alert
signed bank branch within the specified period Officials emphasized that any error whether in personal details documentation, or photographs can disrupt the Hajj visa process Sources said pilgrims should ensure every detail matches Saudi visa requirements to prevent administrative delays
Moving on CASA
THE visit of Kyrgyz President Sadir Zhaparov to Pakistan was his first bilateral visit to Pakistan, and was the first by any Kyrgyz President in 23 years However, there was a multilateral dimension, as the main item on the visit There were several MoUs signed between Pakistani companies and visiting Kyrgyz businessmen, but the focus remained on CASA-1000, the ambitious quadrilateral hydroelectric project, whereby Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan would produce hydroelectricity and export upto 1300 MW to Pakistan and upto 300 MW to Afghanistan This represents another energy corridor from Central Asia to Pakistan, joining Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan Turkmenistan sits on top of the fifth largest natural gas reserves in the world, and it proposes a pipeline to India passing through Pakistan the TAPI (Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India) pipeline which is stalled mainly because India is uncomfortable with the idea of part of its energy supply passing through Pakistan Kazakhstan possesses the second largest deposits of uranium in the world and is already the largest producer of uranium It does not sell any yet to Pakistan but could prove a valuable resource in a post-fossil-fuel era However, the CASA-1000 is a much more immediate prospect, with work proceeding apace, and completion scheduled for the end of next year One difficulty with the project is that it will export during the summer when the rivers are highest and when Pakistan’s own hydel generation is at its maximum However, as demand increases, Central Asian hydel would allow turning off expensive thermal generation, with the additional benefit that there would be a foreign exchange saving in terms of lower fuel imports (This would have to balanced against the foreign exchange payments that would have to made to Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan for their hydel, so it would make sense of increase trade with them, and to develop a surplus to cover the cost of hydel
As was decided in July the two countries have targeted a bilateral trade of $100 million This will go hand-in-hand with other efforts to increase people-topeople contacts, including Pakistan s easing of visa restrictions for Krgyz travellers Another dimension of the relationship is how it links up Pakistan with yet another member of the Turkic States Organization Both countries are thus linked to Turkiye, thus providing yet another link The two also have a mutual neighbour in Afghanistan and have an interest in its not spreading instability in the region
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Tof a rapprochement
The visit came days after a high-status conference took place in Islamabad involving antiTaliban Afghans who were a part of the Ghani regime toppled in 2021 During the week-long visit, the Indian government reached several crucial agreements ensuring increased cooperation for economic growth The Afghan representative requested that India invest in minerals sports and agriculture A special trade zone will also be established for bilateral trade while efforts to facilitate trade through Chabahar remain a crucial subject Crucially, the move comes as an Indian effort towards a notable change in the regional geopolitical dynamics The Indian government had long seen the Taliban as a threat to its security India supported the Northern Alliance against the Taliban during the 1996-2001 period Following the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001, India came out in open support of the newly formed Afghan government
As a response to India's open enmity, the Taliban carried out attacks on Indian nationals in Afghanistan with attacks on the Indian embassy in 2009 and the Indian consulate in Herat in 2014 Despite decades of antagonism the animosity has apparently come to a halt as Muttaqi, the Taliban foreign minister, calls India a "close friend" On upgrading the Indian technical mission in Afghanistan to an embassy the Indian foreign minister assured Afghanistan that Closer cooperation between us contributes to your national development, as well as regional stability and resilience" India further showed interest in including itself in the development of Afghan youth, with a commitment to "expand avenues for Afghan students to pursue studies at Indian universities The Indian foreign minister also reiterated support for the Taliban regime stating that India ensures full commitment to the sov-
ideology continues to shape their external behaviour including their relationship with militant groups operating beyond their borders Pakistan sharing a long and porous border with Afghanistan has long borne the consequences of cross-border militancy Groups like the TTP have exploited Afghan territory to launch attacks on civilians, security forces, and infrastructure, aiming not only to destabilise Pakistan but also to challenge its very state authority These militants often operate as proxies for international actors seeking to weaken Pakistan s position in the region Despite repeated calls for cooper-
ation, Afghanistan under the Taliban has largely shirked responsibility, framing the TTP as Pakistan s internal problem or as refugees in need of shelter, a posture that is neither credible nor sustainable and underscores the region’s growing security vulnerabilities International concern over cross-border militancy has intensified In a recent meeting of the ISIL and Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee at the UN Security Council 0n 20 November, Denmark, as chair, warned that the TTP poses a ‘serious threat’ to Central and South Asia, receiving ‘logistical and substantial support’ from Afghan authorities The committee also highlighted the danger from IS-K a rival militant faction operating in Afghanistan Pakistan noted that groups like the TTP and BLA are thriving under their hosts patronage, often with indirect support from India, underscoring the complex interplay of ideology, state interests, and regional rivalries The Taliban’s responses have been inconsistent at times dismissing the TTP as Pakistan’s problem at others calling them refugees but the international community remains sceptical Without concrete action from Afghanistan, cross-border attacks will persist, further destabilising Pakistan and the region While it may be unrealistic to expect the Taliban to act decisively against the TTP given their shared ideological roots and history of cooperation in Afghanistan there are measures within their capacity Diplomacy monitoring of militant networks and restrictions on recruitment and training within Afghan territory could significantly reduce the threat Pakistan s demand that the Taliban curb cross-border attacks is not merely a national security requirement, it is a call for responsible governance and regional stability Failure to address these threats carries serious
For Pakistan, the safety and protection of its people are non-negotiable The Taliban must recognize that cooperation, accountability, and responsible governance are not optional, they are essential Only by aligning their policies with these imperatives can Afghanistan hope to flourish and avoid remaining a persistent source of threat to its neighbours and the region at large
India’s Diplomatic Gamble in Afghanistan
ereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Afghanistan" The Taliban regime has long shown interest in improving relations with India In January 2025 Muttaqi affirmed that Afghanistan does not pose a threat to any nation expressing his hopes for increased diplomatic relations with India Foreign minister Muttaqi thanked his Indian counterpart, saying that the visit marks a "significant & historic step forward in the trajectory of bilateral relations between Afghanistan & India "
During the week-long visit the Afghan government urged India to invest in the agriculture mining healthcare and other sectors of Afghanistan
The two nations also agreed to resume the visa process for Afghan students and workers to travel to India A possibility of trade through the Chabahar port was also discussed during the visit The Indo-Afghan rapprochement intensified the latter s relations across the Durand Line With a, then unprecedentedly violent conflict unfolding between Pakistan and Afghanistan The conflict, coupled with the renewed alliance of Delhi and Kabul has created a hostile environment between Pakistan and Afghanistan
The Taliban's outreach to India has marked a decisive recalibration in the geopolitical landscape of South Asia It not only creates consideration for Islamabad but also for South Asia's fragile balance of power To navigate this new challenge, Pakistan must prioritize diplomatic engagement with both regional blocs amid the prevailing crisis Buildup of regional tensions can result in undesired consequences for all the parties involved
Pakistan issued a statement, calling out Afghanistan's claim of Jammu and Kashmir being a part of India, calling it a "clear violation of the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and the legal status of Jammu and Kashmir
The India-Afghanistan axis comes with induced anxiety for Islamabad Pakistan s enduring influence in Afghanistan is now under threat as the Indo-Afghan cooperation unfolds Following Muttaqi s visit to New Delhi, Afghanistan, and Pakistan have had a monthlong conflict Despite negotiation efforts by regional powers the two nations struggle to come to an agreement Pakistan s foreign minister Khawaja Asif blamed the failure on India claiming that the decisions of the Taliban are being "sponsored by New Delhi" While the rapprochement comes as a dealbreaker between Afghanistan and Pakistan the former benefits from the Indian investments and diplomatic support Moreover the visit has opened new corridors for the Taliban government to escape Pakistan s shadow and pursue a diverse foreign policy The Taliban delegation s visit to Dar-ul-Uloom Deoband can also be seen as a drift between Pakistan and Afghanistan s clergy further weakening Pakistan's soft power in Afghanistan
The Taliban s outreach to India has marked a decisive recalibration in the geopolitical landscape of South Asia It not only creates consideration for Islamabad but also for South Asia s fragile balance of power To navigate this new challenge Pakistan must prioritize diplomatic engagement with both regional blocs amid the prevailing crisis Buildup of regional tensions can result in undesired consequences for all the parties involved Muhammad Shahghazi is a research intern at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad he can be reached at mohammadkhan893@gmail com R e d e f i n i n g R e g i o n a l A l i g n m e n t s
dr zafar Khan Safdar
MuhaMMad Shahghazi How the Taliban are shooting themselves in the foot
The Jobless Crisis Reaches a 21-Year High
Tfuels desperation and forces people into survival behaviour that erodes the moral and social fabric of society With rising inflation, high utility prices, stagnant wages and shrinking formal opportunities more households are now slipping below the poverty line Parents are pulling children out of school to send them into informal labour Women, already disadvantaged by cultural and structural barriers, are being pushed further into the margins This is not development; it is regression What makes this crisis even more frightening is the rapid rise in psychological distress linked to unemployment A recent study published in 2025 shows unemployed individuals in Pakistan suffering significantly higher rates of loneliness, emotional trauma, and financial stress Mental-health experts
have also warned that the country is on the verge of a psychological breakdown with rising suicides anxiety disorders and drug dependency linked directly to economic strain and unemployment Over 1,000 suicides were reported in just one recent year, and many of them were tied to joblessness and hopelessness These are not numbers to glance over This is the human cost of economic failure Drug abuse is also intensifying, especially among young people who feel cornered by shrinking opportunities and an uncertain future When the system blocks legitimate avenues for progress illicit ones emerge to fill the vacuum Drugs substances and cheap narcotics become an escape for those who see no pathway out of poverty or unemployment Families are disintegrating under the pressure, communities feel less safe, and crime takes root where the state retreats This is not a coincidence; it is the predictable outcome of joblessness mixed with social neglect There is also a darker more dangerous side to this crisis High unemployment makes young people more vulnerable to exploitation Criminal networks, human traffickers smugglers and extremist groups prey on economic desperation When young men and women cannot find work they become easy recruits for those offering quick cash a sense of belonging or simply a way to escape hunger Even if not all unemployed youth fall into these traps, the structural risk is undeniable A society where millions of young people have nothing to lose is a soci-
‘THE only place where they allow me to stick my nose is the handkerchief said once president Chaim Weizmann Frail, half blind, and close to his death, Israel’s first president was frustrated that his mostly ceremonial job left him out of the political loop after stormy decades at the heart of the Zionist project s dramas struggles and intrigues It wasn t much different for the next 10 presidents, except that they, unlike Weizmann, mostly liked the many ceremonies, cocktails, and encounters with the common
people that the job entails However, there were moments when the presidency mattered greatly, moments like the one President Isaac Herzog has now come to face History was first shaped by a president in 1982 when Yitzhak Navon shocked by the massacre of Lebanese Palestinians by Israel s Christian allies demanded a judicial commission of inquiry Navon s successor, Chaim Herzog, engineered in 1984 the unity government that saved Israel from economic collapse Even more daunting was Herzog s challenge two years later when senior Shin Bet officials faced charges for ordering an illegal killing of unarmed terrorists, covering up the killings, framing an IDF general, and lying to investigators The scandal was huge not only because of the severity of the charges, but because it implicated the head of the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency) himself Avraham Shalom (1928-2014) and while at it suggested an institutional culture of unauthorized violence and of lying in court This was on one hand On the other hand, all suspects had dedicated their careers to the state at times risking their lives Second no one had allegedly acted for personal gain And lastly all wrongdoing was done in the sincere belief that it was serving national security And that s where the president
stepped in A former head of Military Intelligence, but also a senior corporate lawyer, Herzog endorsed a deal whereby he granted the suspects an unprecedented amnesty before indictment in return for their admissions of guilt and perennial departure from public office This is the precedent that evidently inspired Benjamin Netanyahu s letter this week to President Isaac Herzog, hoping that the son would now do as his father did in 1986, and let the prime minister off the legal hook Sadly the letter ’s content demands that Herzog reply with one word: no
The first of several astonishing things about Netanyahu s letter is that unlike the suspects of 1986, he admits no wrongdoing
None In fact, it does not even use the term “pardon ” In other words, this defendant thinks that, unlike any other citizen, his sentence should be canceled regardless of what is being probed there just because of the defendant s identity Even more incredibly Netanyahu wants the president, and the rest of us, to believe that he wants his trial discontinued because it has torn Israeli society, and now pits “the public interest” against “my personal interest which is to conduct the trial and prove my innocence
While that s what Netanyahu wants us to think, it is not, in all likelihood, what he him-
self thinks, which is that at least in one of his three cases – Case 1000 – he now faces conviction Having heard the witnesses legal experts agree that the evidence there is solid and the offenses are grave Illegal presents worth hundreds of thousands of shekels have been received over an extended period of time This is what troubles Netanyahu, not our national rift
Most perplexingly Netanyahu actually wants us to believe he cares about this society being torn asunder The man who showed up in court surrounded by cabinet ministers, like a mafioso out to intimidate judges and witnesses; the guy who libeled the cops, the media, the prosecution, the courts, and “the Left” of having conspired against him; the man who abandoned Israel Police to Itamar Ben-Gvir s devices; the man who unleashed barbarians on the Supreme Court; the man who inspires a multitude of online rabble rousers – is now shedding crocodile tears over this society being torn apart Whodunit? he seems to be asking in wonderment before suggesting to our bewilderment that the only one who can get us out of this terrible mess is he the same one who got us into it, and that the only way for him to grant us this patriotic service is that we set aside our courts, forget our laws, mock our justice, overrule our conscience, and forfeit our self-respect Yes experienced lawyers say that Netanyahu s letter was but an opening position
designed to eventually produce a compromise along the lines of what the elder Herzog did with Avraham Shalom Netanyahu knows goes this theory that the only viable deal is one that will involve on his part an admission of guilt an acceptance of public responsibility, and a legally binding commitment to leave the premiership, or any other public office, and never return But this is not what we were served What the prime minister gave you Mr Pres-
majid nabi burfat
S S E S 9 0 0 I N I N D O N E S I A
Dash Board of NHA & MWP be ensured, says Abdul Aleem Khan
Punjab Minister for Information and Culture Azma
istan narrative while sitting comfortably in the lap of the Indian media and the people of Pakistan now clearly
Azma Bokhari emphasized that this mentally and morally paralyzed individual is seeking support from Taliban-linked militant groups and India, Pakistan’s sworn enemy, in the desperate pursuit of power Such actions she said pose a grave threat to national security as well as regional peace
The Minister stated that baseless attacks on the Commander of Bunyanum Marsoos are nothing but evidence of the PTI founder ’s mental defeat, ethical collapse, and deeprooted enmity toward Pakistan
She further noted that a handful
of elements working against the country represent a clear threat to the stability of the state but Pakistan possesses complete capability to crush every conspiracy hatched against it Azma Bokhari added that attacks on state institutions, disrespect toward martyrs and anti-army propaganda are all part of an enemy-driven agenda one that the conscious and patriotic people of Pakistan have decisively rejected
She reaffirmed that every narrative, every conspiracy, and every actor working against Pakistan will collapse like a wall of sand in front of the state s unbreakable resolve
SENIOR BRA COMMANDER, OVER 100 MILITANTS SURRENDER IN SUI
14 Indian prox y terrorists neutralized in three KP, Balochistan IBOs: ISPR
RAWALPINDI s ta f f r e p o r t
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)
Security forces neutralized 14 terrorists in fire exchange during three separate intelligence-based operations (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan the military s media wing reported on Saturday In a statement, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said, “Nine khawarij belonging to Indian proxy Fitna al-Khawarij were killed on Friday An intelligence-based operation was conducted in Tank on the reported presence of terrorists
During the conduct of the operation, own troops effectively engaged the khawarij location, and after an intense fire exchange seven khawarij were sent to hell
the statement read Fitna alKhawarij is a term the state uses for terrorists belonging to the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP)
In a separate IBO conducted in Lakki Marwat, two more khawarij were effectively neutralized by the security forces ” “Sanitisation operations are being conducted to eliminate any other Indian-sponsored kharji found in the area the statement said Later in the day, the ISPR said security forces conducted an IBO in Balochistan’s Dera Bugti district and killed five terrorists belonging to the Fitna al-Hindustan The state has designated Balochistan-based groups as Fitna al-Hindustan to highlight India s alleged role in terrorism and destabilization across Pakistan
The ISPR said that weapons and ammunition were also recov-
ered from the slain terrorists in all three instances According to the military s media wing the eliminated terrorists remained actively involved in numerous terrorist activities against security forces, law enforcement agencies and target killing of innocent civilians ” It added that a counter-terrorism campaign under the vision of Azm-i-Istehkam would continue at full pace to wipe out the menace of foreign-sponsored and supported terrorism from the country ” Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif paid tribute to the security forces for the operations
According to a statement posted by state broadcaster PTV on X he said that security forces were making big gains against terrorism under Azm-i-Istehkam
KP to withdraw over 55 M ay 9 protest c ases against politic al workers
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has decided to withdraw more than 55 cases filed against PTI workers during the May 9 and 10 protests following a provincial cabinet decision Advocate General Shah Faisal Utmankhel said that a total of 319 cases were registered after the protests, most of which have since resulted in acquittals or discharges due to insufficient evidence The remaining 55 cases those in which no government responses were filed will be withdrawn once the cabinet meet-
ing minutes are officially received Additional Advocate General Inam Yousafzai has been appointed special prosecutor to oversee the withdrawal process Some of the cases did not include anti-terrorism provisions, while others were concluded after the government submitted its replies in court Of the cases registered under the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) 29 remain pending and 23 have already been decided including eight acquittals Several were transferred to regular courts after ATA sections were deemed inapplicable Six cases are still under process with replies filed in one
case and five awaiting submission
Once the cabinet minutes arrive, withdrawal applications will be submitted and argued in court after which no May 9–10 protest-related cases will remain pending A separate report issued on Saturday said 416 terrorism cases are currently pending across 10 AntiTerrorism Courts (ATCs) in KP, with Peshawar accounting for the highest number 192 across three courts In November 2025 KP ATCs collectively decided 100 cases, including 57 in Peshawar, 15 in Matta, and seven in Mardan Courts in Buner, Bannu and Dera Ismail Khan did not decide any cases during the same period
