Pakistan’s security establishment is increasingly frustrated with PTI leaders, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where provincial officials have reportedly refused to cooperate with federal security institutions.
Under Asim Munir, the very institutions meant to protect and guide the country -- civilian government, judiciary, diplomatic corps -- are being sidelined.
By taking charge of both roles, Munir becomes the most powerful military officer in Pakistan’s recent history, with broad influence over defence operations, appointments and institutional architecture.
One of the strongest takeaways from the letter is a direct question: why has the United States not sanctioned Munir despite well-documented evidence of political persecution.
There is also confusion about how long Munir’s tenure as CDF would last once appointed. The final decision on tenure rests with the prime minister, leading to negotiations and delays.
Amid this internal conflict, the Sharifs face a difficult balancing act. Giving too much authority to the CDF framework could provoke a backlash from the military.
Pakistan is witnessing the early signs of a fractured state trying to negotiate power between a weakened civilian government and an emboldened military leadership.
Munir’s past rhetoric has shown a hardline stance against India. As head of Pakistan’s intelligence agencies and now the overall armed forces, he carries both ideological conviction and operational control.
Beyond governance, India has repeatedly warned that IMF funds indirectly enable Pakistan’s security establishment, which continues to patronise terror groups targeting Indian territory.
This development signals more than just a commercial agreement: it positions Pakistan as a strategic partner for the US in resource security and supply-chain diversification away from China.
This comes a day after a massive blast in a car near Delhi’s Red Fort left 10 people dead and investigators are already connecting the blast to Pakistan-linked networks.
Pakistan’s opposition parties launched nationwide protests against the Shehbaz Sharif government’s 27th Constitutional Amendment, which strengthens military power, creates a Federal Constitutional Court, and grants lifetime immunity to top officials.
The minister’s visit to the terror-linked party’s headquarters -- his first -- is being widely seen as a sign of official endorsement of Hafiz Saeed’s political network.
Officially, Munir’s term as army chief ends on November 28, 2025. Yet confusion persists over whether his new rank allows him to continue until 2027 or whether another formal extension will be required.
Instead of easing tensions, the discussions with the Taliban exposed Pakistan’s long-standing fault line: the military’s dominance over civilian leadership, especially in shaping foreign and security policy.
Shehbaz Sharif’s “Black Day” post was meant to reignite Pakistan’s anti-India rhetoric. Instead, it highlighted something far darker: how detached Pakistan’s leadership has become from both truth and reality.
For a country that has never seen a full civilian government complete its term without military interference, this latest power play may mark a new phase in Pakistan’s cycle of controlled democracy.
Signed on September 17 in Riyadh by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the pact declares that “any aggression against either country shall be considered an aggression against both.”
Pakistan has reimposed a ban on the far-right Islamist group Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) under anti-terror laws after deadly anti-Israel protests near Lahore left at least five dead.
The federal cabinet will review a proposal to ban Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) following violent protests. Punjab supports the ban, citing police injuries and property damage. Supreme Court will decide.
Shehbaz Sharif's message of “harmony and peace” rang hollow against the grim reality of abductions, forced conversions, temple demolitions, and systemic discrimination faced by Hindus in the country.
If history is any guide, Trump may indeed enjoy the compliments, perhaps even take a meeting, but he is unlikely to fight Pakistan’s battles for it.
Giorgia Meloni’s reactions are becoming a trademark at international events. Her eye-roll at US President Joe Biden during the NATO summit remains one of the most viral images of recent years.
From fumbling headphones in front of Putin to gushing over Trump at a peace summit, Shehbaz Sharif’s repeated blunders paint a picture of a leader desperate for international recognition but repeatedly falling short.
“Pakistan had nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize for his ‘outstanding, extraordinary contributions to first, stop war between India and Pakistan and then achieve a ceasefire," said Shehbaz Sharif.