Return of Gun Culture in Pakistan’s Northwestern Province

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…

Read More

Oil Surge and Middle East Tensions Shake Global Markets, PSX Falls Over 2,000 Points

Riaz Hussain Global oil prices climbed sharply on Monday as escalating tensions in the Middle East heightened fears of disruptions to energy supplies, while stock markets across Asia — including Pakistan — came under renewed pressure.Brent crude rose by $2.01, or 1.84 per cent, to reach $111.27 per barrel during early trading after touching its…

Read More

Rising Attacks and Mistrust Push Lakki Marwat Toward Crisis

Zakia Marwat Lakki Marwat, a strategically significant district in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, is witnessing a sharp deterioration in its security environment as militant attacks surge, exposing critical weaknesses in the region’s law enforcement and governance structures. Recent incidents, including the killing of seven police personnel—among them a station house officer—have underscored the severity of the…

Read More

Foreign Ministers of Saudi Arabia, Türkiye, and Egypt to Visit Islamabad for Consultations

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…

Read More

Afghanistan Releases American Detainee Dennis Walter Coyle on Eid al-Fitr

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has released American detainee Dennis Walter Coyle on the occasion of Eid al-Fitr, handing him over to his family in Kabul on Tuesday. Afghan officials said Coyle had been held for violating local laws and was freed after the Supreme Court deemed his detention period sufficient, following an appeal from…

Read More

When Narratives Clash, Families Pay the Price: The Human Cost of Displacement in Tirah Valley

By Muhammad Younas TIRAH VALLEY / BARA — On the dusty roads leading out of Pakistan’s Tirah Valley, the argument over who is responsible for displacement feels distant to the families sleeping inside vehicles, huddled against the cold, and waiting for their names to be called. For them, survival has little to do with narratives….

Read More

Deadly Explosion Hits Chinese–Afghan Restaurant in Kabul, One Chinese National Among Seven Killed

KABUL — 19-01-2026 A deadly explosion struck the Chinese Noodle restaurant, a joint Chinese–Afghan eatery, in the Gulforoshi street of Shahr-e-Naw, Kabul, at on Monday, killing at least seven people, including one Chinese national, and injuring several others. According to preliminary information,The blast occurred near the kitchen area of the restaurant, which was known for…

Read More

Between Return and Re-Displacement: Tirah’s Families Trapped in a Cycle of Uncertainty

By Muhammad Younas TIRAH VALLEY / BARA — When Yaseen Khan returned to his village of Donga in Shalobar, Tirah Valley, eight years ago, he believed the worst chapter of his life had ended. “We came back after years of militancy and displacement,” he says. “My father and I tried to rebuild our home and…

Read More

Uprooted Once More: Tirah Valley Families Face Renewed Displacement Amid Uncertainty and Fear

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…

Read More

Beyond the Torkham Gate: The Politics, Pain, and the Price of Being Afghan in a Divided World

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…

Read More