Skip to main content

Posts

UN Security Council condemns ‘heinous and cowardly acts’ of terrorism in Balochistan

The United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has strongly condemned the series of terrorist attacks across multiple locations in Balochistan. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the UNSC said the attacks, which occurred on January 31, 2026, were carried out across the province and described them as “heinous and cowardly acts of terrorism”. The UNSC expressed its “deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims, as well as to the governor and people of Pakistan”. The council also wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured in the attacks. The statement reaffirmed that “terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security”. It added that it was crucial to “hold perpetrators, organisers, financiers, and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice,” urging all states to cooperate with the government of Pakistan in accordance with interna...
Post a Comment
Read more
Recent posts

The eternal ascent: Basant returns to the skies of Lahore

In the ancient city of Lahore, where the Ravi river whispers secrets to the minarets of the Badshahi Mosque, spring arrives not with a gentle sigh, but with a sudden, jubilant roar. When the winter’s fog finally yields to the sun’s warm gaze, the skies above the walled city awaken. Kites (‘patangs’) burst upward from rooftops, their paper bodies trembling, their tails slicing the blue sky like calligraphy in motion. This is Basant: a centuries-old festival marked by marigold blooms and kites, carried by colour and the steady pull of the wind. Bo Kata! — a festival of freedom and flight Basant traces its roots to Vasant Panchami, the ancient herald of spring observed on the fifth day of Magh, when the land stirs from winter’s slumber. In the mustard fields of Punjab, ochre blooms unfurl like carpets laid for spring’s arrival. Goddess Saraswati, (the goddess of learning and the arts), clad in saffron-gold, is invoked with music and learning, her veena (an Indian stringed instrument)...
Post a Comment
Read more

NA adopts resolution calling for ‘aggressive’ national response against terrorism’s sponsors, facilitators

ISLAMABAD: The National Assembly on Tuesday adopted a resolution calling for an “aggressive” national response against the external sponsors and internal facilitators of terrorism. The lower house of Parliament continued its discussion on the prevailing security situation in Balochistan in the wake of a series of deadly attacks across the province on Saturday. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Dr Tariq Fazal Chaudhry tabled the resolution, which was passed with a majority vote. It stated: “This House condemns in the strongest terms the recent terrorist incidents in Balochistan, in which not only innocent civilians were targeted but also heinous and inhumane tactics such as using women as weapons were adopted.” The NA further demanded that an “immediate, aggressive, coordinated, and effective national response be ensured against these external sponsors and internal facilitators, funding, smuggling, and propaganda hubs, in which political, diplomatic, military, intelligence, legal, and...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why Flames plan to manage Parekh carefully even after impressive return

CALGARY — Zayne Parekh just delivered the best performance of his young NHL career, and Calgary Flames fans should savour it.  Because as good as he looked Monday night against the Maple Leafs, he won’t be playing all 27 games the rest of the way. That’s not speculation. That’s straight from Ryan Huska, who told Sportsnet the 19‑year‑old will be on a schedule for the remainder of the season — a load‑management plan designed to protect a still‑growing defenceman from a punishing stretch that includes 16 games in March alone. So yes, Parekh was impressive. Yes, he looked like the most confident version of himself we’ve seen. And yes, he earned Huska’s trust to the point he was thrown over the boards in the final two minutes of a one-goal game with the Flames’ goalie pulled. But no, he will not be in the lineup every night. And Flames fans need to brace themselves for that reality, resisting the urge to light up social media with suggestions that a healthy scratch...
Post a Comment
Read more

Militant violence surges in January after December lull: PICSS

ISLAMABAD: After a noticeable decline in violence in December 2025, the first month of the new year witnessed a renewed surge in anti-state violence, leading to higher fatalities among militants, civilians and security personnel, according to official statistics. Data released by the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) shows that combat-related deaths in January 2026 rose by 43 per cent compared to December 2025. A total of 361 people were killed during the month, including 242 militants, 73 civilians and 46 security force personnel. At least 135 people were injured, among them 71 civilians, 52 security personnel and 12 militants. PICSS reported that January saw 87 militant attacks nationwide, marking a 28pc increase from the 68 attacks recorded in December 2025. Of these, 38 attacks took place in mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 20 in the province’s tribal districts (erstwhile FATA), 27 in Balochistan and two in Punjab. Balochistan emerged as ...
Post a Comment
Read more

KSE-100 sheds over 300 points during early intraday trading

Pakistan’s benchmark index, KSE-100, shed 334.45 points during early intraday trading on Monday. The index was down 0.18 per cent from its previous close of 184,174.48 points at 11:20am, to 183,840.03 points. This drop comes on the heels of a particularly turbulent week for Pakistan’s equities market. Last week, the index lost over 6,000 points on Thursday after the State Bank kept interest rates unchanged. The index rebounded slightly to close in the green on Friday. Shoaib Memon, executive vice president of equities at AKD Securities, said the reaction of the central bank’s decision to maintain the key policy rate at 10.5pc should have a “short-term” negative reaction, and that even within US-Iran geopolitical tensions, “positive sentiment” will prevail. Top decliners were led by Bank Makramah Limited, falling 10pc to Rs83.06, followed by Grays Leasing Limited, which fell 9.47pc to Rs20.37, and Ashfaq Textile Mills Limited, which fell 9.28pc to Rs19.85. According to a techni...
Post a Comment
Read more

Israel reopens Gaza’s Rafah border crossing to Egypt, with limits

Israel reopened the border between Gaza and Egypt on Monday for people on foot, a move that would allow Palestinians to leave the enclave and let back in those who want to return after fleeing Israel’s war in the enclave. The reopening of the Rafah border crossing will be limited, with Israel demanding security checks for Palestinians entering and exiting. Israel and Egypt were expected to impose caps on the number of travellers. Israel seized the border crossing in May 2024, about nine months into the Gaza war that was brought to a tenuous halt by an October ceasefire brokered by US President Donald Trump. Rafah’s reopening was an important requirement under the first phase of Trump’s broader plan to stop fighting between Israel and Hamas. An Israeli security official said that European monitoring teams had arrived at the crossing, which “has now opened to the movement of residents, for both entry and exit.” Foreign Journalist barred from Gaza In the first nine months of Isra...
Post a Comment
Read more