Author: Saifullah

US intelligence assessments suggest that the ongoing conflict has not significantly delayed Iran’s nuclear capabilities, according to sources familiar with the analysis cited by Reuters. Officials believe that despite months of military escalation, Iran’s estimated timeline to develop a nuclear weapon remains largely unchanged from previous evaluations, approximately nine months to one year, should Tehran choose to pursue that path. The war, initiated under US President Donald Trump with the stated aim of curbing Iran’s nuclear ambitions, has primarily focused on conventional military infrastructure rather than direct destruction of nuclear assets. While Israeli strikes have targeted selected nuclear-related facilities, US…

Saudi Arabia has called for restraint amid escalating tensions between the United States and Iran, throwing its support behind Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts to prevent the crisis from spiraling further. In an official statement, the Saudi foreign ministry voiced concern over the intensifying military situation in the Gulf, urging all sides to avoid escalation and prioritize a political resolution. The Kingdom explicitly endorsed Pakistan’s mediation, signaling growing regional backing for Islamabad’s role in de-escalation. Saudi officials emphasized the urgency of calming the situation, warning that continued confrontation risks undermining both regional security and global stability. A key concern highlighted by Riyadh…

Pakistan’s external trade imbalance has deepened significantly, with the country’s merchandise trade deficit widening by nearly 20 per cent to $32 billion during the first ten months of the current fiscal year, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Between July and April FY2026, imports climbed to $57.2 billion, reflecting a growth of almost 7 per cent, while exports declined by more than 6 per cent to $25.2 billion. This widening gap underscores a persistent structural challenge, where import demand continues to outpace export performance. The pressure remained evident in April, when the monthly trade deficit rose…

Afghanistan has long carried the haunting label of the “graveyard of empires,” a phrase carved into its identity through decades of invasion, conflict, and upheaval. Few literary works capture this relentless trajectory as powerfully as Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner and A Thousand Splendid Suns. In these novels, deeply personal stories unfold against a backdrop of national collapse, tracing Afghanistan’s descent from the Soviet occupation of the 1980s to civil war, and ultimately to Taliban rule between 1996 and 2001. What were once reflections on a troubled past now read like warnings that were never heeded. The pain, fear, displacement,…

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has announced a province-wide pen-down strike on Wednesday, May 6, intensifying its standoff with Islamabad over what it describes as systematic discrimination in resource allocation. In an official statement, the provincial administration said the move is intended to draw attention to grievances surrounding the National Finance Commission (NFC) award, as well as electricity and gas distribution. Chief Minister Sohail Afridi claimed the province is being economically sidelined, particularly in decisions involving federal financial transfers and energy-related payments. He argued that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is facing undue pressure and neglect in key national matters, accusing the federal government…

The United States has sought to contain rising tensions in the Gulf as its newly launched military initiative, Project Freedom, unfolds against the backdrop of a fragile ceasefire with Iran. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stated that the operation remains limited, defensive, and carefully calibrated to avoid escalation. Speaking to reporters, he emphasized that the ceasefire between Washington and Tehran is still technically intact, despite recent exchanges of fire in the Strait of Hormuz. “The ceasefire is not over,” he said, underscoring that US forces have acted strictly to safeguard commercial shipping in the region. The situation, however, remains volatile.…

The gradual dismantling of the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) has now entered a dangerous phase, transforming from a bilateral disagreement into a direct challenge to the global rules-based order. For decades, the IWT served as one of the few enduring examples of functional diplomacy between Pakistan and India. Today, that framework is being deliberately weakened, not by circumstance, but through a calculated pattern of unilateral actions by New Delhi. The current crisis goes beyond water disputes. It strikes at the credibility and authority of international law itself. On 29 January 2026, the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) in The Hague…