In 1849 the British East India Company (EIC) acquired Punjab and Pushtun lands across the Indus after defeating the Sikh dynasty of late Maharaja Ranjit Singh. Pathan tribesmen straddling key passes agreed to safeguard their territory in return for fixed payment. Adam Khel Afridi tribesmen inhabiting hills between Peshawar and Kohat kept that pass open…
ContextAfghanistan’s strategic outlook is undergoing a dramatic overhaul amid escalating connectivity disputes, geopolitical realignments, and regional conflicts. The combined pressures of India–Pakistan instability, U.S. trade friction with India, Iran-Israel hostilities, and Pakistan’s rising diplomatic leverage are forcing Kabul into a balanced posture— nurturing Indian, Iranian, Chinese, and Pakistani ties while maintaining neutrality in broader conflicts….
There has been a paradigm shift in the Arabian Peninsula’s security calculus since Iran and Israel fought tooth-andnail for a drawdown conflict. The realpolitik intention of Washington and Tel Aviv was to bring Tehran on its knees and, somehow, engineer a regime change, but that did not materialize. Iran has emerged stronger at home, irrespective…
“Education is out from books now – it’s time to work on personalized learning and smart tools” Sadaf Bhatt In today’s fast-moving world, technology is changing the way we live, talk, and most importantly, how we learn. One of the biggest change in education today is Artificial Intelligence (AI). It’s not just something for scientists…
In a country like Pakistan where millions of children lack access to quality education, it is easy to feel paralyzed by the degree of the problem. The numbers are daunting, the infrastructure gaps real and the inequality heartbreaking. But sometimes, all it takes is one small act of kindness to begin reshaping the entire system….
Dr Huma Baqai, ModeratorRespected guest, faith leaders, friends, and advocates of peace, a very warm good afternoon. It is a profound honor to welcome you all to the launch of the Pathfinder Interfaith Harmony Initiative. At a time when the world feels increasingly fragmented, we gather here today with a singular purpose. And that purpose…
Sehrish Mustafa Research Executive, KCFR Asalam-o-Alikum and good morning, everyone. This is Sehrish Mustafa from Karachi Council on Foreign Relations. I welcome you all to Amaanibagh for the inauguration of two significant initiatives by the Pathfinder Group. I would like to invite Dr Huma Baqai to the stage. She is the director of Millennium Institute…
Every young heart is filled with radiant dreams of the future, and often these dreams are painted with the colors of courage, determination, and the desire to serve one’s people. Rashid Minhas, born on 17 February 1951 in Karachi, was one such youth whose dreams transcended the ordinary. From childhood, he displayed a natural curiosity…
Originally Published in DJ in 2023 58 years have passed since the fateful day of September 6, 1965, a date that Pakistan holds in solemn remembrance. It was on this day that unprovoked and simultaneous attacks were launched by Indian forces, aiming at the cities of Lahore and Sialkot. This marked the outset of the…
Recently the Indian Air Force chief made a bold statement that “India shot down five Pakistani fighter jets and one other military aircraft during clashes in May”. However, official accounts of Operation Sindoor never mentioned any Pakistani aircraft shot down. Government press briefings (May 10) did not refer to aerial kills or wreckage. For example,…
