The change in the air
THE week that just passed was happenin’, even by Pakistani standards. The political parties — the PTI and PML-N — continued to play nice for photo ops; Imran Khan and…
Kurram’s crucible
WHEN KP CM Gandapur says Kurram’s problem is a conflict between two groups and not militancy, he has got blinkers on. Either that, or he is deliberately hoodwinking a nation…
A national compact for 2025
THE new year starts with the country facing multiple challenges that need to be met in a politically calm environment. The complex nature of overlapping challenges and the fact that…
How to counter insurgencies
IT is easy to say that the state must develop comprehensive and distinct counterterrorism and counterinsurgency strategies; however, what does comprehensive mean? This critical aspect is often missed in policy…
Unplanned urban growth
Islamabad, once hailed as a model of urban planning, is now struggling under the weight of its expansion. What was envisioned as a serene, green, and orderly capital has succumbed…
Fear of the people
SOME months ago, the Baloch Yakjehti Committee (BYC) called a jirga in Gwadar. The aim was to highlight the many challenges of Balochistan such as underdevelopment and state excesses, including…
Countering terror — beyond labels
During the past few weeks, terrorists affiliated with the TTP), Al-Qaeda, and the Islamic State of Khorasan Province (ISKP) have been referred to by Pakistani authorities as Khawarij. This term,…
Beefing up security
THE dynamics of terrorism threats in Pakistan have shifted significantly since the Taliban took control in Afghanistan, challenging security institutions to develop an effective strategy to address these risks. The current counterterrorism…
Peshawar’s last sentinel
The grand old man of Peshawar, Haji Ghulam Ahmed Bilour, recently announced his retirement from parliamentary politics. At 84, Haji Bilour is the oldest surviving member of the Bilour family,…
State vs. citizens
The twists and turns preceding and accompanying the holding of the Pashtun Tahaffuz Movement’s (PTM’s) Jirga in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) could not be described as anything but mind boggling. Initially,…
