Gandapur offers to lead dialogue process with Taliban
PESHAWAR S TA F F R E P O R T
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur has claimed that Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman no longer holds influence over the Taliban and offered to take charge of negotiations with the group
Speaking to journalists in Islamabad on Friday, he said, “Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s influence over the Taliban has ended Give me the task and I will bring them to the table
He revealed that a plan for talks with the Taliban had been submitted two and a half months ago but no progress has been made “I’ve sent a plan for negotiations with tribal elders to the foreign and interior ministries but haven t received a response The Taliban cannot refuse the tribal eld-
ers he stressed If I m given the task, you ll see me sitting with [Taliban leader] Akhundzada tomorrow There’s been no contact with the Taliban yet but send me and talks will begin he asserted
He also remarked that two years ago, when he roamed the mountains, low-level Taliban leaders were in touch with Fazlur Rehman, “but today I am the chief minister and tomorrow I might not have any value
Reflecting on the general elections, he said, On election day, we were hiding in the mountains We held no public rallies Out of 95 Union Council chairmen only three were ours; the rest were missing Earlier while addressing an Iftar gathering, Gandapur said the K-P government has overcome its financial challenges and currently
has a surplus of Rs159 billion while Punjab faces a deficit of Rs148 billion “There’s talk of corruption in o
he quipped
Calling for political stability, he said, “The founder of PTI must be released Only his release can restore political stability in the country Things were normal before the PTI government was removed; now terrorism and lawlessness have surged He also stressed the need for dialogue with Afghanistan “We share thousands of kilometers of border with Afghanistan Whenever I speak of
Deposits in Pakistan s banking sector reached Rs31 03 trillion in January 2025, reflecting a 12 6% year-onyear (YoY) increase, according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Thursday On a month-on-month (MoM) basis deposits rose by 2 4% indicating continued financial sector expansion Meanwhile total advances in the banking sector climbed to Rs14 73 trillion up 21 8% compared to last year However, advances saw an 8% decline on a MoM basis, highlighting a more cautious lending approach by banks Analysts attributed this trend to policy adjustments particularly the removal of taxation linked to the advance-to-deposit ratio (ADR) Banks are returning to focus on attracting deposits and are becoming more cautious about providing advances following the removal of ADR-related taxation, said Awais Ashraf, Director of Research at AKD Securities Limited As a result the ADR for the sector dropped to 47 5% in January down from 52 9% in the previous month Last year the ADR stood at 43 9%
and NBP closed in negative territory
together, we reaffirm our dedication to strengthening people-to-people connections and enhancing cooperation between our countries In a world facing many challenges Navruz reminds us of the importance of harmony renewal and mutual respect Let us use this occasion to promote peace, understanding, and friendship across the world May this Navruz bring prosperity, good health, and happiness to all of us,” the envoy concluded
PM in Saudi Arabia
PA K I S TA N I PM Shehbaz Sharif made a bilateral visit to Saudi Arabia marking an change from the attendance at two Summits which had provided opportunities for sideline meetings, As it is, this may be seen as a firstanniversary visit, which parallels the visit Min Shahbaz made around a year ago, marking his first foreign visit after taking office That particular visit was followed by a series of visits by Saudi delegations reflecting both an intensification of the relationship as well as a transformation of its nature However the basis of the relationship remains security, something that figured prominently in the discussions between Mr Sharif and the Saudi PM, Crown Prince Muhmmad bin Salman
There are both old ties, and then there are new ones The old relationship was the sending of labour to Saudi Arabia The large number of overseas Pakistanis not only allowed Pakistan to benefit from the remittances sent home but also enabled Saudi Arabia to maintain the fast pace of development it has achieved for the last several decades However, there has now been a change, with Pakistan, from being a source of labour, becoming a destination for investment It should be noted that the establishment of the Special Investment Facilitation Council has led to the interest of Saudi investors in mineral development corporate farming and other enterprises It should be noted that Pakistan s progress in software export is based on sales to the Middle East Though the emphasis has shifted from trade to aid, it should not be forgotten that Saudi Arabia has continued to fulfill that role and has always been friend in need It should not be forgotten that the IMF only granted Pakistan its latest EFF of $ 7 billion after certain rollovers were made by Saudi Arabia
The visit may have a prominent religious component, which explains why the bilateral meetings were held on arrival That the visit did not contain any dramatic announcement of new projects or new initiatives it probably indicates that projects already in the pipeline occupy the attention of the national leaders That might explain why the Saudi Crown Prince went so far as to reassure Mr Sharif about the treatment of Pakistani nationals in Saudi Arabia An important aspect that must have come up is that of the latest developments in Gaza, and the OIC-Arab League plan for its reconstruction That these two leading Muslim states shown concern about a third shows how inter connected they are
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
TH E world is witnessing an unprecedented transformation one driven not just by environmental factors but by extreme geopolitical shifts Sea level rise represents an ecological disaster that threatens both state jurisdiction and economic development as well as international legal frameworks Nation-states now face legal and diplomatic problems because their coastal areas and maritime borders change while existing UNCLOS frameworks prove inadequate to solve these disputes The world loses land while power relations between states experience fundamental changes Rising sea levels will directly change Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) together with territorial boundaries between countries The maritime zones known as EEZs enable countries to exercise complete control over their essential maritime resources which include fisheries and offshore oil deposits The disappearance of coastal areas and islands creates disputed border lines which results in increased geopolitical conflicts New Moore Island (South Talpatti) demonstrates the issue of border dispute between India and Bangladesh The disappearance of the island beneath ocean waters did not halt the ongoing dispute regarding maritime rights The severe coastal erosion that Bangladesh faces becomes more dangerous as its land area decreases which threatens both the national economy and defence capabilities The economic centre of Pakistan Karachi faces both flooding and land erosion while the country remains exposed to security threats The continuing existence of the Maldives and Tuvalu depends heavily on the outcome of the climate crisis The total submergence of these countries creates complex legal and diplomatic situations which terrify their governments Several governments now seek foreign territories for population relocation to avoid illegal mass migration without compromising their national identity However, this presents an unprecedented challenge: If a nation loses all its land, does it still retain sovereignty? How will international law adapt to protect the rights of displaced citizens? UNCLOS the bedrock of maritime law provides no clear answers The world witnesses both the disappearance of
i c , t e r r o r i s t r e a l i t y
Tterrorism, raising critical concerns about regional security and the broader implications of militant movements operating under the guise of nationalism
The BLA has undergone a dramatic transformation over the years evolving from a separatist insurgency into a ruthless terrorist organization Initially formed in the early 2000s, the group emerged from decades of Baloch nationalist grievances, focusing on
warfare against
institutions
convoys and infrastructure projects At its inception the BLA operated as
while
of
targeting
to fight for Balochistan s
However, as Pakistan s armed forces strengthened their counterinsurgency measures and launched development initiatives in the region the group began to lose local support
This shift prompted the BLA to abandon traditional guerrilla warfare in favor of more extreme tactics Over time, it began targeting unarmed civilians, foreign nationals particularly Chinese workers associated with CPEC and critical economic projects These tactics not only delegitimized its cause but also exposed its reliance on external sponsors seeking to destabilize Pakistan rather than genuinely address Baloch s grievances Today the BLA s actions mirror those of global terror networks, posing a serious threat to national security and regional stability
BLA embodies a troubling paradox as its very structure reflects a disarray that undermines its claims of representing Baloch aspirations BLA operates through a decentralized and adaptive structure that reflects the complexities of its insurgency Unlike traditional militant organizations, the BLA is characterized by semi-autonomous factions that function independently while adhering to overarching strategic goals This fragmentation allows for operational flexibility enabling various groups within the
BLA to respond swiftly to shifting political and security landscapes Leadership has transitioned from traditional tribal figures to a new generation of educated militants who utilize modern technology for recruitment and propaganda However, this decentralized model has also led to internal rivalries and power struggles, with splinter groups like the Majeed Brigade often pursuing their radical agendas including extreme tactics such as suicide bombings This internal conflict complicates counter-terrorism efforts raising critical questions about the group s true motivations BLA has descended into barbarity, increasingly targeting innocent civilians in its campaign of terror as demonstrated through various attacks The August 2024 Musakhel District massacre saw militants execute 23 Punjabi passengers after forcibly removing them from buses a chilling act of ethnic violence Similarly the recent Jaffar Express hijacking marked a new low, with militants killing 21 civilians and holding hundreds hostage These attacks highlight the BLA’s utter disregard for human life, as it uses civilians as pawns to further its separatist agenda This shift underscores the group s moral and strategic collapse into outright terrorism BLA thrives not only on violence but also on the narratives that external forces and certain domestic elements weave around it Indian media’s selective portrayal of the BLA, particularly in its coverage of the Jaffar Express hijacking glorifies the group as “freedom
certain nations while other countries enlarge their geographical domains The artificial island construction by China within the South China Sea demonstrates how certain states use geographic modifications to reach strategic advantages and boost their economic power China has built islands and military facilities to extend its territorial claims which enables them to control valuable maritime resources The situation shows that some states are disappearing while others create artificial land masses to expand their territorial power The lack of regulation in this practice creates the potential for powerful states to establish their territorial claims by overpowering defenceless
r e c o g n i z e t h e s e c u r i t y, l e g a l , a n d d i p l o m a t i c
c r i s e s t h a t r i s i n g s e a l ev e
fighters ” reflecting New Delhi’s strategy to destabilize Pakistan by manipulating narratives and undermining its counterterrorism efforts Within Pakistan certain political factions exploit the chaos for personal gain, often failing to condemn terrorist acts outright a lapse that reflects their tacit alignment with anti-state narratives This lack of clarity weakens the collective national stance against militancy However Pakistan s security apparatus has weathered decades of insurgency and remains vigilant against these threats It is not a nation that bows to destabilization attempts its security institutions stand firm, knowing that no amount of external manÓoeuvring or political indecision can shake the foundations of a state that understands the price of its stability
As a nation forged in resilience Pakistan will neither bow to terror nor tolerate those who sanitize it whether across the border or within its ranks The BLA s relentless attacks on civilians and national security will be met with unwavering resolve The time for restraint is over decisive action must be taken to dismantle this network of terror The Pakistan Army battlehardened and resolute stands ready to eliminate every threat to the nation s stability This is not just a fight against insurgency it is a stand for Pakistan s sovereignty, security, and stability The writer can be reached at zartajchaudhary@gmail com
BLA thrives not only on violence but also on the narratives that external forces and cer tain domestic elements weave around it Indian mediaÊs selective por trayal of the BLA, par ticularly in its coverag e of the Jaffar Express hijacking, glorifies the group as Âfreedom fighters,Ê reflecting New DelhiÊs strategy to destabiliz e Pakistan by manipulating narratives and undermining its counter terrorism effor ts
Comfor t or crutch?
Censored voices
ZArtAj CHAudHAry
TH E fluid way in which Palestinian women devise and revise strategies and narratives of resilience reflects a dynamic responsiveness to both local and international events, forces and discourses These women navigate a complex socio-political landscape responding to the shifting political realities of occupation economic hardship and the growing influence of international institutions in their daily lives The contemporary, post-Oslo, neoliberal, fragmented, NGO-ized West Bank presents a unique set of challenges that require Palestinian women to adopt innovative and adaptive resistance strategies Given this evolving context Palestinian women have increasingly chosen incrementally transformative tactics as a means of navigating and countering both structural and direct forms of oppression Their desire to identify a resistance strategy that meets three crucial criteria commanding local legitimacy possessing the potential to produce radical outcomes, and remaining feasible in a context of gendered violence, patriarchal social norms, and marginalization illustrates the depth of their political engagement and strategic acumen Palestinian women s strategies of resistance while sometimes appearing vague and limited in scope resonate deeply within their communities due to their compatibility with local political ethics and the social limitations imposed on their activism The seemingly modest nature of these tactics does not indicate a lack of ambition or radical potential Rather they reflect an understanding of the necessity for sustainable culturally rooted, and context-sensitive approaches to resistance In an environment
where open confrontation with the Israeli occupation is fraught with danger and where patriarchal norms continue to shape women s roles in political life Palestinian women have strategically crafted forms of activism that subtly challenge and erode these constraints over time
This approach often termed “transformative incrementalism ” allows women to make gradual yet profound contributions to their communities and to the broader project of national liberation By emphasizing the value of small, cumulative acts of resistance, this strategy offers a means of preserving political agency in an era characterized by fragmentation and disillusionment
A crucial aspect of transformative incrementalism is its function as both a demonstration and a source of resilience for Palestinian women The process of engaging in resistance even in forms that appear non-confrontational or limited enables women to assert their agency and maintain their connection to the broader struggle for self-determination
Many women repeatedly affirm the significance of feeling that they are contributing to their communities and the larger liberation movement This contribution is not merely symbolic; it provides a tangible sense of purpose and empowerment that counteracts the disempowering effects of occupation and socio-political marginalization The meaning derived from participation in transformative resistance serves as a crucial psychological and emotional resource, reinforcing women’s commitment to their struggle despite the obstacles they face Furthermore transformative incrementalism presents an important means of subverting the constraints of a resilience framework championed by international
NGOs In recent years the development sector has increasingly co-opted radical concepts, repackaging them in ways that align with neoliberal ideologies and governance models Resilience once understood as a collective capacity for resistance and endurance has been redefined within NGO and development discourse to emphasize individual adaptation and coping mechanisms By promoting a neoliberalized version of resilience, international organizations present Palestinians with a model of survival that focuses on personal psychological fortitude and medical intervention rather than collective political action This reframing subtly shifts the responsibility for overcoming political violence from structural change to individual perseverance, undermining the legitimacy of broader resistance efforts In this context Palestinian women’s adoption of transformative incrementalism represents a critical intervention By redefining resilience on their own terms they challenge the passive, depoliticized version advocated by international organizations and reassert the radical ethos of earlier Palestinian resistance movements Their approach to resilience is not about mere survival or psychological adjustment; rather it is about fostering a foundation for sustained resistance that addresses both immediate and long-term challenges
Unlike the resilience framework promoted by NGOs, which encourages Palestinians to ‘bounce back’ by accepting their circumstances as an immutable reality transformative incrementalism insists on the possibility of change even if that change is slow and difficult to achieve Despite the radical potential embedded in transformative incrementalism, it remains vulnerable to the creeping effects of NGO-ization
Over the past few decades international funding and institutional partnerships have
W h o w i l l p a t r o l t h e
m o r a l i t y p o l i c e ? ’
Th e re n ow n e d p s yc h o a n a l y s t K a re n
Ho r n e y co i n e d t h e te r m wo m b e nv y t h e i d e a t h at m e n , u n a b l e to c re ate l i fe, co m p e n s ate by co nt ro l l i n g t h o s e w h o c a n
Bangladesh has a saying: Rashtro shobar, dhormo jar jar religion is personal, but the state belongs to all. That principle is wor th defending
h e d i n t h e n a m e o f f a i t h A h i g h s c h o o l te a c h e r i s
j a i l e d fo r te a c h i n g e vo l u t i o n Po e t s, re s e a rc h e r s, a n d a c t i v i s t s a re
p ro s e c u te d u n d e r c y b e rc r i m e l aw s fo r ex p re s s i n g t h e i r v i e w s Th e
j u s t i f i c at i o n ? R e l i g i o n
IN a grainy video circulating on social media, a self-appointed enforcer patrols a Bangladeshi marketplace during Ramadan His mission? To catch those smoking instead of fasting When he finds offenders he shames them publicly forcing them into humiliating squats hands clasped over their ears It s tempting to dismiss this as an isolated case, but it fits a pattern Across Bangladesh, selfappointed morality police driven by rigid interpretations of morality are imposing their version of “right” and “wrong ” A university employee harasses a female student for her attire Sculptures are smashed in the name of faith A high school teacher is jailed for teaching evolution Poets, researchers, and activists are prosecuted under cybercrime laws for expressing their views The justification? Religion But this isn’t about faith It’s about power wielded through an uncompromising interpretation of Islam that serves as a tool for control THE GLOBAL PLAYBOOK OF FUNDAMENTALISM: Fundamentalism anywhere in the world thrives on the need to control And history shows that when personal piety morphs into public enforcement individual freedoms erode This isn t just a South Asian story The very term fundamentalism originates in early 20th-century America when Protestant Christians declared themselves guardians of biblical truth By the 1970s and ’80s, the Moral Majority movement repackaged this ideology shaping conservative politics for decades Today roughly a quarter of white American voters proudly identify as evangelical fundamentalists Donald Trump though hardly a model of Christian virtue secured their backing to clinch the presidency Twice From the US to Bangladesh, the playbook is strikingly similar Evangelicals push to remove books from schools ban discussions on transgender rights and undermine reproductive healthcare In Afghanistan the Taliban takes it to the
the warning signs are there Under pressure from religious hardliners, school textbooks have been rewritten purging “objectionable” content Illustrations of women have been altered to appear more modest Any mention of gender identity? Erased
THE FIXATION ON CONTROLLING WOMEN: Wherever religious fundamentalism takes hold, it inevitably targets women Psychologists argue that male insecurity plays a role The renowned psychoanalyst Karen Horney coined the term womb envy the idea that men unable to create life compensate by controlling those who can The stricter the moral code, the tighter the grip on women s choices And these anxieties don’t remain confined to the fringes They shape national policies In the US evangelical pressure has led to sweeping restrictions on abortion and birth control Bangladesh hasn t imposed such bans yet but the rising influence of religious conservatism is unmistakable Civil rights don t vanish overnight They disappear incrementally through small concessions to hardliners A revised textbook here A censored syllabus there A statue quietly removed to avoid offense Each retreat emboldens those who seek to impose religious dogma on public life
THE CASE FOR RESISTANCE: But resistance is possible The power of social media has already exposed moral policing in action Public outrage forced the arrest of the Dhaka University employee who harassed a female student When religious hardliners pressured authorities to cancel a soccer match between two women s teams, protests both local and national forced it to be reinstated with fanfare If self-proclaimed enforcers of morality humiliate people in public, let them be exposed in turn Record them Share their actions Make them accountable Bangladesh has a saying: Rashtro shobar dhormo jar jar religion is personal but the state belongs to all That principle is worth defending Because the moment we allow self-appointed moral police to dictate how others live, we surrender not just individual freedoms but the very foundation of a pluralistic society Hasan Ferdous is an author and journalist based in New York
played an increasingly significant role in shaping Palestinian activism often steering movements away from grassroots organizing and toward professionalized, donor-driven initiatives This shift has, at times, led to a dilution of radical politics and a reliance on frameworks that prioritize bureaucratic compliance over genuine political engagement Palestinian women s resistance is not immune to these pressures While transformative incrementalism offers a promising alternative to co-opted notions of resilience, it must constantly navigate the risks associated with NGO-ization ensuring that it remains rooted in local political aspirations rather than donor agendas Nevertheless Palestinian women s determination to begin a transformative process that starts from society s foundations provides greater prospects of sustainability and grassroots legitimacy By prioritizing community engagement cultural continuity and locally driven initiatives women s resistance efforts foster a deeper and
Babri
Nor th Korea test-fires new weapons system
they would continue to benefit from their original tariff agreements Globally, Leghari argued, net-metering policies are revised to prevent imbalances in energy systems and financial losses He also highlighted the government s renegotiations with IPPs which he said had resulted in savings of Rs1 5 trillion
PM Shehbaz offers
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif cur-
rently on an official four-day visit to Saudi Arabia, offered prayers at the sacred Roza-e-Rasool (Peace Be Upon Him) on Thursday
During his visit to Masjid-eNabawi in Madina the premier prayed for Pakistan s progress unity among the Muslim Ummah and global peace
PM Shehbaz, accompanied by his high-level delegation, was granted special access to the revered Riaz-ul-Jannah, where he performed Nawafil and supplicated for the well-being of the nation and the Muslim world
Officials termed the visit as a reaffirmation of the strong spiritual and diplomatic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia The Prime Minister’s prayers at one of Islam’s holiest sites reflect his emphasis on fostering unity and harmony across the Muslim community officials said Prior to his arrival in Madina, Prime Minister Sharif landed in Jeddah on Wednesday, where he was warmly welcomed by Prince Saud bin Mishaal the Deputy Governor of Makkah His visit aims to bolster bilateral trade enhance economic cooperation and explore
new investment opportunities under Saudi Arabia s Vision 2030
During his stay PM Shehbaz is expected to hold high-level meetings, including a crucial session with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman The discussions will focus on expanding trade partnerships increasing private sector collaboration and strengthening energy and infrastructure ties between the two countries
Officials said that talks will also address regional developments, including the humanitarian situation in Gaza and broader Middle East issues concerning the Muslim world
accompanied by his legal team Judge Sipra directed him to cooperate with investigators and join the inquiry before the next date of hearing A day earlier Basharat had filed separate bail petitions in terrorism cases related to protests in Taxila and Sadiqabad, seeking protective relief from arrest Punjab Police foil another terrorist attack on
The federal cabinet’s Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) is expected to approve the transfer of the State Bank of Pakistan s (SBP) Long Term Financing Facility (LTFF) portfolio worth Rs330 billion to the Export-Import (EXIM) Bank of Pakistan Business Recorder reported this citing sources The move is in line with Pakistan s commitments under the International Monetary Fund s (IMF) Extended Fund Facility (EFF)
The EXIM Bank, established under the Export-Import Bank of Pakistan Act 2022 is mandated to promote exports and import substitution The Ministry of Finance stated that, historically, the SBP has offered refinancing facilities to exporters through the Export Finance Scheme (EFS) and LTFF in both conventional and Islamic modes since 2007
The visit comes in the backdrop of 34 Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) signed last October between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia amounting to $2 8 billion The agreements aim to promote private investment and enhance cooperation in energy, agriculture technology and other sectors
Under the IMF programme, Pakistan agreed to phase out SBP’s operational role in such schemes and transfer responsibility to EXIM Bank A similar transition of the EFS portfolio is already underway, following a Term Sheet approved by the ECC and Cabinet in 2023 The current phase now involves the handover of the Rs330 billion LTFF portfolio with an additional Rs210 billion in fresh LTFF financing also to be managed by EXIM Bank
The finance minister has requested ECC approval for two key measures: transferring the SBP’s Rs330 billion LTFF portfolio to EXIM Bank and allocating Rs1 001 billion through a Technical Supplementary Grant (TSG) to meet subsidy requirements for the fresh portfolio in FY2025
According to the news report, the refinance schemes are designed to promote exports especially in the value-added sector
The Prime Minister s delegation includes key cabinet members such as Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, who are expected to engage with Saudi investors and explore opportunities for Pakistani businesses particularly in sectors aligned with Saudi Arabia s Vision 2030
The EFS has been available since 1973 while LTFF has catered to long-term financing needs of exporters To enhance the transmission of monetary policy and fulfil IMF conditionalities under the Standby Arrangement (SBA), Pakistan has committed to fully exit SBP-managed refinancing schemes by 2028
To oversee this transition a Working Group comprising representatives from the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Commerce, Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), SBP, and EXIM Bank was formed The group’s phase-out plan was shared with and approved by the IMF
Under the proposed structure EXIM Bank will act as the disbursing agent on behalf of the government, processing and releasing subsidy payments to Participating Financial Institutions (PFIs) and Participating Islamic Banking Institutions (PIBIs)
