By Shamsul HaqThe Middle East is passing through one of the most critical phases in its recent history, with war, diplomacy, energy security and shifting strategic alliances increasingly intertwined. Against this backdrop, the defence agreement signed by Saudi Arabia, Pakistan and Turkiye in Makkah carries significance far beyond the three signatories. It could potentially contribute…
By Riaz HussainMARDAN: Child abuse continues to pose one of Pakistan’s most pressing child protection challenges, with hundreds of children falling victim to sexual abuse, abduction, violence and exploitation every month despite stronger legislation and growing public awareness.The issue has once again come under the national spotlight following a series of disturbing incidents across the…
By Shamsul Haq Every summer, as tobacco leaves begin to mature across the fertile plains of Mardan, Swabi and Charsadda, a familiar dispute resurfaces. Farmers demand higher prices for their crop, tobacco companies complain of overproduction and regulatory constraints, while the Pakistan Tobacco Board (PTB) finds itself accused by both sides of failing to ensure…
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) has reported a major transformation in global opioid markets following a dramatic decline in Afghanistan’s opium production. According to the 2026 World Drug Report, Afghanistan’s opium production has dropped by 95 percent since 2023, leading to a significant reduction in heroin supplies and rapidly shrinking existing…
Taimoor Khan Civilian gun ownership is rapidly increasing in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, with experts linking the trend to rising insecurity, fear of violence, deep-rooted social traditions, and the state’s growing reliance on arms licensing as a source of revenue. Official data show that between January 2024 and March 2026, more than 400,000 people applied for arms…
At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Egypt are scheduled to visit Islamabad from March 29 to 30, 2026. The visiting dignitaries include Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, Hakan Fidan, and Badr Abdelatty. During their visit, the foreign ministers will engage…
Riaz Hussain : March 8, 2026, began as a morning of unimaginable sorrow—one that shattered my world forever. When the Dean of Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute informed me of my son Roslan Riaz’s alleged suicide, it felt as though the ground slipped beneath my feet. I collapsed, unable to process the devastating news. My heart…
Muhammad Younas TIRAH VALLEY, KHYBER DISTRICT — For residents of Pakistan’s Tirah Valley, displacement has once again become a looming reality, reopening old wounds for families who only recently rebuilt their lives after years of conflict-driven upheaval. Official notices announcing the registration of families for what authorities describe as a “managed displacement” have spread quiet…
A four-day Oxford Pakistan Publishing & Mentoring Workshop, focused on Tackling Climate Change Challenges in Pakistan, was successfully held in Islamabad, bringing together leading academics and emerging scholars from Pakistan and the United Kingdom. The workshop was supported by the British Academy and delivered in collaboration with Saïd Business School, University of Oxford. The workshop…
By Muhammad Younas and Islam Gul The dusty hills of Khyber have turned silent. Where trucks once rumbled through the Torkham crossing day and night, hundreds of vehicles now stand still in the fading autumn sun. Families sit beside their packed belongings, waiting for a border that refuses to open. What began as a security…
