Author: Saifullah

There is a quiet irony in watching Pakistan, a country Donald Trump once accused of harboring terrorists while pocketing American aid, emerge as one of the most consequential diplomatic assets of his second administration. Yet here we are. As Washington and Tehran find themselves locked in one of the most dangerous standoffs of the decade, it is Islamabad not Brussels, not Riyadh, not Geneva that is discreetly keeping the back channel alive. How that came to pass reveals something profound, not just about Pakistan’s reinvention, but about how nakedly transactional American foreign policy has become under Trump. For most of…

There are moments when a legal system is tested not only by the brutality of a crime, but by the weight of public expectation that follows it. The Lahore Motorway case became one such moment, where a single criminal act evolved into a national legal response and then into an international talking point. A woman stranded with her children on a motorway was attacked in a crime that shocked public consciousness across Pakistan. What followed, however, was not ambiguity or institutional paralysis. It was investigation, prosecution, conviction, and finally appellate confirmation. The accused were traced through digital forensics, DNA evidence,…

Gulf Hostilities Escalate as US-Iran Talks Remain Deadlocked Missile Attack on Kuwait Airport Raises Regional Tensions Hostilities in the Gulf region intensified on Wednesday after a missile and drone attack damaged Kuwait International Airport, while US forces carried out military strikes near the Strait of Hormuz. The developments come as diplomatic efforts between the United States and Iran remain stalled. According to Kuwaiti authorities, the attack targeted Terminal 1 of Kuwait International Airport, causing injuries and significant damage to airport facilities. Flight operations were suspended, and incoming flights were diverted until further notice. Kuwait’s Ministry of Defence condemned the incident,…

Security Forces Kill 17 India-Backed Terrorists in Balochistan: ISPR Security Forces Conduct Successful Intelligence-Based Operations Pakistan’s security forces have killed 17 India-backed terrorists during a series of intelligence-based operations (IBOs) carried out across multiple districts of Balochistan, according to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR). The operations were conducted in Mastung, Nushki, Zehri, Khuzdar, and Kech following the terrorist incident involving a train on May 24. The military’s media wing stated that the operations targeted terrorist hideouts and networks operating in the province. Heavy Blow to Terrorist Networks According to ISPR, security forces effectively engaged several terrorist locations during the operations.…

In South Asia’s evolving security landscape, Pakistan finds itself at the center of a complex and increasingly hybridized form of pressure. What once appeared as isolated insurgencies now reflects a wider ecosystem of influence, facilitation, and strategic intent operating across porous borders and competing regional interests. From Pakistan’s security perspective, militant networks operating in neighboring spaces are no longer viewed as standalone actors. They are seen as part of a layered structure where local insurgent groups benefit from external safe havens, financial channels, and varying degrees of technical or logistical support. This combination allows them to persist despite sustained counterterrorism…

The Kishanganga Hydroelectric Project is widely viewed as a major point of contention in the water relations between India and Pakistan. Located on the Kishanganga River, known as the Neelum River in Pakistan, this 330 MW run-of-the-river project diverts water through a 24 km tunnel into the Jhelum basin, reducing downstream flows that eventually enter Pakistani territory. The project was approved under the 2013 Permanent Court of Arbitration ruling, which allowed India to proceed but required it to maintain a minimum environmental flow of 9 cubic meters per second downstream. However, concerns have repeatedly been raised that this condition is…

The arrival of Kaja Kallas in Islamabad on June 1, 2026, marks an important milestone in the evolving relationship between Pakistan and the European Union. Warmly received by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the visit highlights the growing importance both sides place on structured and sustained high-level engagement. At the center of the visit is the 8th EU-Pakistan Strategic Dialogue, co-chaired by Pakistan and the European Union. Established under the 2019 Strategic Engagement Plan, the dialogue has become the principal institutional platform for reviewing and advancing cooperation across a wide range…

In a quiet yet strategically significant development at the United Nations Security Council, China has become the sole penholder on Afghanistan in 2025, replacing Japan, which managed the file during 2024. The transition is far more than a routine diplomatic reshuffle. It reflects a broader shift in global power dynamics and signals Beijing’s growing influence over the future direction of Afghanistan and regional security. For years, most country-specific files at the Security Council were traditionally handled by the Western trio of the United States, the United Kingdom, and France. Draft resolutions were usually coordinated among these powers before being discussed…

Russia’s expanding military engagement with the Taliban regime has opened a new and complex chapter in Eurasian geopolitics, but it is also exposing a deeper contradiction that cannot be ignored. While Moscow publicly positions itself as a stakeholder in global counterterrorism, its growing defense cooperation with the Taliban-controlled administration in Afghanistan raises serious questions about strategic consistency and regional security consequences. The core issue is not diplomacy itself, but the environment in which this diplomacy is unfolding. Afghanistan under Taliban rule has not stabilized in the way many international actors had hoped. Instead, it has increasingly been associated with the…

In a significant milestone for the development of Balochistan, the first test flight by South Air successfully landed at the Gwadar New International Airport, marking a major step forward in the region’s aviation and economic growth. Airport officials and representatives from relevant institutions warmly welcomed the aircraft upon its arrival, celebrating the successful completion of the trial operation. The successful landing is being viewed as an important advancement in strengthening Gwadar’s air connectivity and boosting commercial and trade activities in the region. Officials believe that the operationalization of the airport will open new opportunities for domestic and international travel, further…