Author: Saifullah

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…

Twenty-eight years ago, Pakistan made one of the most defining strategic decisions in its history by responding to India’s nuclear tests conducted on May 11 and 13, 1998. Through six successful nuclear detonations on May 28 and 30, Pakistan restored the strategic balance of power in South Asia and established a credible deterrence framework that fundamentally reshaped the regional security environment. India’s nuclear ambitions had already become evident decades earlier following its 1974 nuclear test, which significantly altered the security calculations of the region. Faced with an increasingly assertive and militarily expanding India, Pakistan pursued nuclear capability not out of aggression, but out…

Donald Trump has stated that he would only support an agreement with Iran if it clearly benefits the United States, emphasizing that negotiations remain a central part of his leadership approach amid continuing regional tensions and diplomatic efforts. Speaking during an interview with Fox News, Trump said negotiations are fundamentally “his job,” adding that he remains actively engaged in talks despite ongoing disagreements between Washington and Tehran. He acknowledged that Iranian negotiators are highly skilled in diplomacy and indicated that discussions have continued even in the face of major political and strategic differences. Trump claimed that the United States currently holds a dominant position…

The leadership of the Pakistan Armed Forces has congratulated the nation on the 28th anniversary of Youm-e-Takbeer, describing the occasion as a historic milestone that symbolizes Pakistan’s strength, unity, and determination to safeguard its sovereignty. According to the Inter-Services Public Relations, Asim Munir, along with the chiefs of the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy, extended heartfelt congratulations to the nation and paid tribute to the landmark achievement that transformed Pakistan into a nuclear power on May 28, 1998. The military leadership stated that Youm-e-Takbeer serves as a reminder of one of the most defining moments in Pakistan’s history, when the country successfully restored…

Pakistan is commemorating the 28th anniversary of becoming a nuclear power with nationwide celebrations of Youm-e-Takbeer, observed with patriotic enthusiasm and renewed commitment to national defence and sovereignty. In his message on the occasion, President Asif Ali Zardari stated that Pakistan harbors no aggressive intentions against any country and described the nation as responsible and peace-loving. However, he emphasized that Pakistan remains fully prepared to make every sacrifice necessary for the defence of the homeland. The President warned that any act of aggression against Pakistan would receive an immediate, forceful, and devastating response. He also paid tribute to the sacrifices of martyrs, stating…