By: Fatima Saleem The region comprising East Asia, South Asia, the Western Pacific, and the Indian Ocean hosts more than half of the world’s population, nearly two-thirds of the world’s economy, and seven of the world’s largest militaries. Seeing the region as the epicenter of global geopolitics, the US launched its Indo-Pacific Strategy (IPS) in February 2022, intending to “firmly anchor” the region. Rekindling the spirit of previous administrations, the strategy is premised on the principles of: The rebranding of the region from Asia-Pacific (APAC) to Indo-Pacific shows that it remains central to Washington’s foreign policy and is part of…
Author: Web Desk2
Issues surrounding gender and sexuality have always been considered taboo in ultra-conservative Afghanistan, and this has only worsened since the Taliban regained control of the country in 2021. Some members of the LGBTQ community deemed the Taliban’s return too dangerous and fled to neighbouring Pakistan along with countless other Afghan refugees. Afghan transgender people escape Taliban persecution only to find “a worse situation” as refugees in Pakistan.In late 2023, Pakistan initiated a controversial program to deport Afghan refugees without proper documentation, further heightening concerns for LGBTQ refugees like Laila Khan and Jannat, two young transgender women who spoke with CBS…
An explosion rocked Taliban military base located close to the airport in Faizabad. It is the principal city of Badakhshan province in northeastern Afghanistan. Fortunately, the blast did not result in any casualties, as confirmed by Badakhshan police spokesman Ehsanullah Kamgar on Tuesday. The incident involved a roadside improvised explosive device (IED) that detonated in the vicinity of the military base. Ehsanullah Kamgar informed AFP that, despite the explosion, there were no reported fatalities or injuries. Authorities are leaning towards the belief that the IED might not be a recent occurrence. However, it may rather be a remnant from the…
Gwadar Airport suffered an abrupt shut down for a period of four days due to heavy rains, snowfall, and adverse weather conditions affecting various parts of the country. This has led to the cancellation of eight flights originating from Islamabad Airport. Flight Operations Disruption Due to the flood situation, flight operations at Gwadar Airport have been temporarily suspended. An official notice informed the airlines about the closure. The cancellation list includes flights PK 601, 602, 605, and 606 from Islamabad to Gilgit, as well as PK 451 and 452 from Islamabad to Skardu, and PK 325 and 326 from Islamabad…
Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund, the Prime Minister of the Islamic Emirate, recently expressed strong criticism against the global violation of human rights, particularly citing the plight of the Palestinian people. The Taliban and Palestinians have a bond of mutual liking, reflected in the very fact that Hamas appreciated the Kabul takeover by Taliban. Global Human Rights Critique: Palestinian Plight In a recent coordination meeting at the Arg, Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan Akhund strongly criticized the global violation of human rights, particularly focusing on the challenges faced by the Palestinian people. He condemned what he perceives as clear oppression against…
Heavy snowfall, rains and landslides have brought life to a standstill in Gilgit-Baltistan, many parts of Balochistan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with the Karakoram Highway and other thoroughfares rendered impassable due to landslides and flash floods. Adverse weather has led to the cancellation of PIA flights between Islamabad and the cities of Gilgit and Skardu. Heavy rains and snowfall continued to affect large areas of KP for a second day on Saturday. At least 22 people died, and 25 others injured. Similarly, rains have caused significant damage in the Gwadar and Kech districts of Makran. Many houses have collapsed, leaving numerous…
During a press conference on Sunday, local government representatives urged the education authorities to assign teaching staff to schools in Bazaar Zakhakhel and other areas in Upper Bara, Khyber district.Chairman Khabar Jan Afridi, speaking on behalf of the Village Council, highlighted the inadequate facilities in several government-run schools and appealed to the relevant authorities for assistance in providing teaching staff.He emphasized that there were more than 20 state-run schools in Bazaar Zakhakhel that were currently without teaching staff. This shortage was negatively impacting the students’ education. Afridi specifically requested that teachers specializing in science subjects be assigned to these schools.…
Months after stepping down as the caretaker interior minister, Sarfraz Bugti becomes Balochistan CM unopposed. Bugti recently joined the PPP and enjoyed the support of the PML-N. He submitted his nomination papers to Assembly Secretary Tahir Shah on Friday. PPP leader and former Chief Minister Nawab Sanaullah Zehri and PML-N leader Nawab Gangeez Khan Marri proposed his name.No other candidate filed nomination papers before the deadline, which expired at 5 pm.Mr. Bugti’s nomination papers accepted after scrutiny by the secretary, who also announced that his unopposed selection.The official announcement of Mr Bugti’s election as the leader of the house will…
Following the recent elections, the newly elected members of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly convened to elect the Chief Minister for the province. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) nominated Ali Amin Gandapur for the coveted position, pitting him against Ibadullah Khan, the candidate from Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N). In a significant victory, Gandapur secured a total of 90 votes, overshadowing Ibadullah Khan, who managed to garner only 16 votes. In his post-election address, Chief Minister-elect Gandapur raised a crucial issue concerning the first information reports (FIRs) filed against PTI workers. He conveyed a stern message, giving the authorities a one-week deadline to resolve…
By: Hummaira Kaleem Bacha Posh is a cultural practice found in different parts of Pakistan and Afghanistan. The term ‘bacha posh’ means ‘dressed as a boy’ in Dari. This tradition has its roots centuries back. Being bacha posh is such a miserable state of physical and mental identity. Centuries old, this tradition is causing a rift in the lives of people. Being a woman is not easy in rigid mountainous Asian countries, especially in Afghanistan. Boys are considered a status symbol, the crown of the family, and the guarantee of the bloodline. In his absence, to fulfil an imaginary and…