Pakistan

The new year brings new hope that the time is right for India and Pakistan to focus on confidence-building measures to resume diplomatic and trade ties.

In a bid to broaden their support, they are not limiting themselves to religious appeals but discussing political and economic issues too.

The famously pro-Taliban politician is making a visit to Kabul at a tense time in Afghanistan-Pakistan relations.

“Upon arriving in Islamabad with 300 families, we realized that the state was neither ready to listen nor interested in addressing the issue of missing persons.” 

Baloch protesters are demanding an end to the decades-old problem of forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. Pakistan’s government is trying to justify the practice.

The invasion sparked an internationally supported process of militarization and Islamization that cemented the military's power.

“Dozens of Tajikistan citizens have been killed in our operations and dozens of others have been arrested,” acting Defense Minister Mohammad Yaqoob Mujahid said.

The year was dominated by elections, and political and economic instability. Amid the bad news, India landed a spacecraft near the Moon’s south pole.

The number of people who have applied to contest the upcoming elections has increased by 33 percent over that in the 2018 election.

Whether the delay in elections, and the tarnished delimitation process, abets any party in the February polls remains to be seen.

The country’s youth, women, transgender community and people with disabilities either stay away from voting or their access to the process is restricted.

An interview with Somaiyah Hafeez about the current protest movement demanding an end to forced disappearances and real accountability in Balochistan.