Newspaper - Column - March 15, 2026

Between hedging & clarity

Between hedging & clarity

Pakistan’s real leverage lies in maintaining open communication channels with Iran.
Updated 15 Mar, 2026 10:00am
Iran’s asymmetric warfare

Iran’s asymmetric warfare

It was clear to Iran’s astute military planners that a strategy was needed to cope with this challenge.
Updated 15 Mar, 2026 10:11am
Who we root for

Who we root for

The world is rooting for Punch, not Gaza’s orphans.
Published 15 Mar, 2026 08:13am
Who will win?

Who will win?

It appears that Iran is preparing for a long war.
Published 15 Mar, 2026 08:06am
Three drivers of deep innovation

Three drivers of deep innovation

Over the last 10 years, several university faculty members have made the transition from academia to leadership positions
Published 14 Mar, 2026 05:35am
Betting abattoirs

Betting abattoirs

Some betting sites profit from death and chaos openly.
Published 14 Mar, 2026 05:35am
Diminished Dubai

Diminished Dubai

Dubai is no longer insulated by a magic bubble.
Updated 14 Mar, 2026 09:49am
The arrogance of Trump’s America

The arrogance of Trump’s America

The US president’s current policy towards Iran, and potentially a host of others, can be summed up in three words: ‘submit, or die.'
Updated 13 Mar, 2026 09:42am
‘Might is right’

‘Might is right’

We have inherited a value system that demands human rights.
Published 13 Mar, 2026 08:12am
War on the poor

War on the poor

The war on the poor has grown more intense.
Updated 13 Mar, 2026 09:52am
Rethinking water treaties

Rethinking water treaties

The Ganges Water Sharing Treaty misses three traits that made the Indus Waters Treaty resilient.
Updated 12 Mar, 2026 09:47am
Fighting oil price hikes

Fighting oil price hikes

Pakistan stands out in the region as a country that moved rapidly to preserve the integrity of its fuel supply chain.
Updated 12 Mar, 2026 09:37am
A global commitment

A global commitment

School meal programmes have emerged as a powerful policy instrument.
Published 12 Mar, 2026 06:52am
A war of attrition

A war of attrition

The longer the war continues, the more difficult it will be for the US to extricate itself from it.
Updated 11 Mar, 2026 09:12am
Fluid frontiers

Fluid frontiers

In the 21st century, new theatres of conflict will emerge around river basins, glacier-fed watersheds and aquifers.
Updated 11 Mar, 2026 09:25am
Starved childhoods

Starved childhoods

Is Pakistan prepared for the disability rights challenge ahead?
Published 11 Mar, 2026 07:33am
Spillover from Iran

Spillover from Iran

The worsening economic situation will feed into the mood against the government.
Updated 10 Mar, 2026 09:09am
Who endures the pain, wins

Who endures the pain, wins

If Iran can indeed survive the conventional assault from Israel and the US, it would radically alter the global architecture of
Published 10 Mar, 2026 07:50am
Counting children

Counting children

Why are millions of parents reluctant to register their child’s birth?
Published 10 Mar, 2026 07:49am
Oil shock

Oil shock

A series of crises have left us with limited policy space.
Updated 10 Mar, 2026 09:26am
Trump’s reckless gambit

Trump’s reckless gambit

Lessons have not been learnt from past US interventions that ended in disaster.
Updated 09 Mar, 2026 09:45am
The emerging axis

The emerging axis

Several structural factors suggest the potential emergence of a Sunni geopolitical axis.
Published 09 Mar, 2026 07:21am
ARCCs in crisis

ARCCs in crisis

Even where anti-rape crisis cells are functional, there are concerns.
Published 09 Mar, 2026 07:20am
Blood money

Blood money

Who stands to gain in the war against Iran?
Updated 09 Mar, 2026 10:02am
Debating war and policy

Debating war and policy

The war in the Gulf has overshadowed Pakistan’s confrontation with Afghanistan.
Updated 08 Mar, 2026 09:37am
What can end the Iran war?

What can end the Iran war?

This war was always about bowing to Netanyahu’s pressure to facilitate the Greater Israel project.
Updated 08 Mar, 2026 09:42am
The L word

The L word

There was no doubt who the aggressor was then. There’s no doubt now.
Updated 08 Mar, 2026 09:53am
Automated inequality

Automated inequality

The future is arriving fast. But the future does not arrive evenly.
Published 08 Mar, 2026 07:01am
Targeting neutral states

Targeting neutral states

A neutral state is prohibited from providing military assistance to the warring parties.
Updated 07 Mar, 2026 09:28am
Firewall confusion

Firewall confusion

Firewalls must not be misused for the unlawful surveillance and censorship of our own citizens.
Updated 07 Mar, 2026 09:45am
Note: Updated 7:30 AM (PKT) every morning