ARTIFICIAL intelligence is usually presented as weightless, almost entirely digital. We ask it to write, calculate, translate or create an image, and the response appears instantly. Yet every answer depends on a substantial physical system. This comprises data centres, specialised processors, cooling equipment etc.

In reality AI has both ‘brain’ and ‘muscle’. Algorithms, software, researchers, engineers and companies comprise its brain. Its muscle consists of electricity, computing infrastructure, minerals, manufacturing capacity and reliable networks. The first phase of global AI competition focused mainly on the brain. As AI becomes more widely used, the muscle is becoming impossible to ignore.

The International Energy Agency expects electricity demand from data centres to more than double by 2030, with AI a major driver. The challenge is not simply producing more power. It is producing reliable electricity supply and expanded transmission networks to accommodate the needs of large data centres. Oil and gas reserves beneath the ground are not the same as electricity delivered to a data centre. Resources become strategic only when they can be converted into dependable infrastructure.

The physical foundations of AI also include copper, aluminium, silicon, and rare-earth materials. Advanced semiconductor technologies depend on specialised materials, while mining and refining remain concentrated in a limited number of countries. The digital economy has not escaped geography! An algorithm can cross a border in milliseconds, but a power plant, mine or factory cannot.

This creates a new geopolitical equation. Countries with the strongest AI research and software ecosystems may still depend on others for energy, minerals and manufacturing. Resource-rich countries, meanwhile, may possess the muscle of the AI economy without the universities, capital, software and semiconductor capabilities needed to turn it into computing power. The long-term advantage may belong to countries that can connect the two.

The digital economy has not escaped geography.

Pakistan illustrates this challenge clearly. It is not currently a leading frontier-AI power and faces serious constraints in reliable electricity, advanced computing, research funding etc. Yet it has a large young population, growing software and IT-services sectors, universities, engineering talent, hydropower and renewable-energy potential, and significant mineral resources. The strategic challenge is therefore not simply to acquire more resources or develop more algorithms, but to connect the country’s physical assets with its scientific and technological capabilities.

That would require moving beyond traditional models of exporting raw materials and low-value services. An AI-era strategy would use reliable energy, connectivity and mineral resources to support data centres, cloud services, local research, advanced applications and value-added manufacturing. AI could strengthen sectors such as agriculture, textiles, logistics, mining, health, education and public administration. In this model, AI becomes an industrial multiplier rather than merely another software sector.

Resource wealth alone, however, guarantees neither technological independence nor prosperity. Natural resources cannot substitute for universities, skilled workers, capital, innovation and capable institutions. The relationship between AI’s brain and muscle is better understood as multiplication rather than addition. A country with excellent algorithms but unreliable power will struggle to scale, while a country with abundant energy but weak research capacity may remain a commodity supplier.

The lesson extends beyond Pakistan. Countries such as the United States have ex­­traordinary stren­gths in research, capital, technology companies and advanced computing. China combines rapidly advancing AI with industrial scale and manufacturing capacity. Gulf countries possess energy and capital, while Australia and Canada have substantial mineral and energy advantages.

None controls every part of the AI system. Interdependence will remain unavoidable, but countries that connect more stages, from energy and minerals to computing and applications, will have greater strategic influence.

For Pakistan and other natural resource-rich countries, the message is immediate. An AI strategy cannot stop at applications, start-ups or policy statements. It must also address reliable electricity, data-centre infrastructure, digital skills, research institutions, mineral value addition and industrial capacity.

The next phase of the AI race will not be decided solely by who builds the smartest models. It will also be decided by who can power them, supply them and apply them productively. AI has a brain. But without muscle, even the most brilliant brain cannot move.

The writer is an educationist.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2026

LAHORE: Additional District & Sessions Judge (AD&SJ) Rafaqat Ali Gondal on Tuesday recused himself from hearing the bail application of Ahmed Tanveer, a key suspect, in the rape case of an Azeri woman, and referred the matter to the Lahore High Court for further proceedings.

Earlier, Advocate Safdar Shaheen Pirzada, counsel for the suspect, filed an application seeking exemption for his client from personal appearance before the court.

The counsel stated that the suspect’s interim bail expired on Oct 27, but he could not appear before the court because he had been arrested in another case.

He said Ahmed was in jail for a 14-day identification parade in connection with the other case.

He asked the court to exempt the petitioner/suspect from appearing for one hearing.

However, AD&SJ Gondal expressed his inability to hear the matter.

The judge informed the counsel that he had prepared a reference of the matter and forwarded it to the high court for further action.

Without naming a case, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, last week, had alleged that in a recent rape case, it was revealed that the suspect’s wealthy family allegedly offered huge money to the victim in exchange for withdrawing her allegations, despite her statement already having been recorded under Section 164.

“It was further alleged that the judge who granted bail to the accused had also been bribed,” she added.

Defence-C police had registered the case on the complaint of the Azeri woman, who accused three men of subjecting her to gang rape. She also accused two women of abetment in the crime.

Now all five male and female suspects are in police custody.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2026

Who said international breaks are boring? Actually, I said that. In my defence, however, they generally are quite boring, even with the new Nations League tournament. The first international break of the 2026/27 season, a daunting three weeks spanning the end of September, proved different though.

It produced stories so spicy, there was a meme circulating across social media that ‘we don’t want club football to return.’

MANCHESTER CITY’S COLOSSAL MESS

The first and the most significant bombshell dropped when the anonymous third party commission investigating Manchester City and the 115 charges of financial irregularity levied on them by the Premier League delivered its verdict against City.

The 115 charges consisted primarily of the club failing to provide accurate financial information pertaining to inflows and outflows, namely revenues and payments to players and managers. Other charges were merely implications of the former, namely, breaching multiple articles of the Premier League’s Profit and Sustainability Rules (PSR) and UEFA’s Financial Fair Play (FFP) regulations.

Finally, there were about 35 charges of the club not cooperating with investigators and withholding information. The commission found Manchester City guilty on 114 of the 115 charges.

The financial impropriety charges against Manchester City and FC Barcelona have the potential to rewrite the history books and change the two biggest football leagues on the planet. Here’s why

Now how did we get here? A slight recap.

In 2008, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan bought Manchester City after its previous owners were caught in a corruption case in Thailand. He’s the son of UAE’s founding father, Sheikh Zayed. And as is customary in that part of the world, Sheikh Mansour serves as the Vice President and Deputy Prime Minister of UAE, while his brother is the current President.

Being the Vice President comes with its perks: Mansour oversees the Central Bank of the UAE and the Emirates Investment Authority. You can guess where I’m going with this.

Manchester City invested heavily in its squad soon after the takeover, bringing in the likes of David Silva, Yaya Toure and Sergio Aguero. Big players soon brought in trophies, the pinnacle being that ‘Agueroooo’ goal to clinch the Premier League title for 2011/12. This soon became a normal — City has won eight league titles out of 14 since 2012, along with seven EFL Cups, four FA Cups and a UEFA Champions League.

In 2018, the German investigative magazine Der Spiegel published a report detailing financial irregularities in the City infrastructure, obtained through phishing attacks carried out by hackers. City refused to comment on “out-of-context materials purportedly stolen.” An investigation by UEFA brought about a two-year ban from European competition, which was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Then came the independent commission formed by the Premier League’s Judicial Panel, which took three years to come to their decision.

Manchester City was, according to the findings of the commission, deploying sham contracts, which essentially ballooned up sponsorship deals on paper without getting that revenue. The delta? Funnelled in by the Sheikh. Similarly, some officials and players were paid more than what City’s financial books stated. Again, the delta being paid off by the Sheikh. In an age where FFP rules dictate a club cannot spend more than it earns, and where clubs like Everton are docked 10 points by the Premier League for a £20 million overspend, a question pops up: how did City get away with alleged gross misreporting of more than £900 million for over a decade?

There are two things to bear in mind here. For the most part of the decade, Gianni Infantino was the General Secretary of UEFA. It is rumoured that he used his influence to sweep everything under the carpet, making sure no anomaly makes it to the media. The hacks that led to Der Spiegel’s report contain email correspondence between Infantino and Khaldoon Al Mubarak, an Emirati statesperson appointed chairman of Manchester City. The most powerful man in world football approved, facilitated and helped protect the blatant smash-and-grab by the sheikhs, most famously covering up FFP breaches by City in 2014.

Secondly, the rise of City closely mirrors that of current British Prime Minister Andy Burnham. Burnham is Mancunian and served as the mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 till he became prime minister in 2026. During his mayorship, he attended hospitality dinners with Al Mubarak, supervised official contracts with companies owned by Sheikh Mansour, and saw the UAE pump millions in real estate and economic development, in line with his vision to eradicate homelessness.

He even showed public support to Manchester City on an official tour to Japan. And now as prime minister, he has issued a statement saying he hopes the Emiratis do not pull investments from Manchester as a result of the guilty verdict.

Manchester City has filed an appeal against the decision of the independent commission, claiming clear material errors of law, principle and fact. The result of the appeal is expected in the first quarter of 2027, with huge implications regardless of the outcome.

If the decision is upheld, City could possibly be stripped of all their titles since the UAE takeover, fined, and relegated to the lower divisions, which would spell the end of the club as it is. If the decision is reversed, it would probably just confirm to many the modern reality that deep pockets always prevail.

BARCELONA’S REFEREEING MESS

The second major news from the international break featured FC Barcelona and the infamous Negreira case. The Negreira case centres on payments worth €7.4 million made by Barcelona between 2001 and 2018 to the official bank accounts of companies owned by Jose Enriquez Negreira, then serving as the vice president of the Technical Committee of Referees of the Spanish Football Federation. The payments coincide with a period wherein Barcelona was accused of benefitting from preferential refereeing.

Both the club and the individual deny allegations of bribing and sports corruption, maintaining that the payments were for analytics and refereeing advice. The Barcelona Provincial Court dismissed one of the charges in 2024, maintaining that Negreira was not a public figure and hence bribery charges cannot be upheld.

So why have the charges come back? Well, bitter rivals Real Madrid presented a hardly believable 50,000 pages worth of evidence to UEFA to reignite their disciplinary investigation into sports corruption charges. The criminal case against the same allegations also remains open in the Spanish courts, with hearings scheduled for November.

The Negreira case adds to the financial mishaps that have plagued Barca under presidents Josep Bartomeu and Joan Laporta. And the new evidence submitted by Real Madrid has caused further divide, as evidenced by the backlash over Vinicius Jr’s red card in the first game after the international break.

Current La Liga president Javier Tebas has become embroiled in the situation too, calling the campaign by Real Madrid TV Nazi-esque propaganda. Real Madrid has officially condemned the statement and demanded Tebas resign.

While the Negreria case resembles the infamous Calciopoli scandal that saw Juventus relegated in 2006, it is much harder to prove, since there is no documentation of payments to match referees. If the court deems the payments to Negreira influenced refereeing in Barca’s favour, Barca could also be facing a nullification of trophies in the seasons the club was allegedly favoured, a docking of points which could result in relegation, and significant fines.

RONALDO’S EGOTISTICAL MESS

In the middle of all this, even CR7 and his ego seem like small fish. Cristiano Ronaldo walked out of a training session and left the squad after an altercation with new Portuguese coach Jorge Jesus over not being played in a match. A 1,700-word Instagram post ensued from Ronaldo, before he was suspended for 30 days by the Portuguese FA.

People may call it pettiness at 41 years of age, but the real fight for survival is elsewhere.

The writer is a sports enthusiast with a background in supply chain management. X: @tahagoheer

Published in Dawn, EOS, October 25th, 2026

In May 2026, Islamabad-based vlogger Muhammad Mobeen filmed Dera Ismail Khan’s famous Chowgalla, the British-era town centre where four bazaars intersect, using a drone.

The video glides over the crowded bazaars in the heart of Dera Ismail Khan before pulling back to reveal buildings packed tightly together. As the camera pulls back, rooftops fill the frame, covered not in the usual clutter of water tanks and laundry lines but in sleek black and blue solar panels, stretching as far as the eye can see.

The video has garnered roughly a million views and more than 25,000 likes on TikTok alone. Its popularity has spawned a host of copycat videos, with some content creators dubbing the city “Solar Ismail Khan.”

The city’s urban area covers approximately 40 square kilometres and has a population of roughly 210,000, according to the 2023 census. Beyond the spectacle of thousands of solar panels covering the city’s rooftops, Dera Ismail Khan’s solar transition is beginning to reshape the local economy. It is creating new opportunities while making some traditional trades less viable in this dusty, conflict-affected city in southern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, roughly 300 kilometres from Peshawar.

From specialised solar markets to farmers abandoning diesel-powered irrigation, an unreliable grid is driving a new economy in Dera Ismail Khan — but not everyone can afford to join it

A SOLAR BOOM

Over the past few years, three specialised solar markets have emerged in the city, at Khushal Market, Bannu Adda and Tank Road. Circular Road alone has up to 70 shops dealing exclusively in solar equipment, serving as a major distribution hub for neighbouring Tank, and Upper and Lower South Waziristan.

The boom has extended beyond retail, creating work in solar installation, electrical wiring and the supply and maintenance of batteries, tube wells and related equipment.

Muhammad Saeed, a local solar appliances dealer, says that, by his estimates, the majority of households in the city have adopted solar power. “Those who installed solar [systems] earlier are now upgrading to lithium batteries as prices fall,” says Saeed.

The solar transition has also created ancillary jobs in supply chains and logistics, as well as work for solar-panel cleaners and wiring technicians. At the same time, traditional electricians are seeing a decline in conventional electrical-appliances repairs.

“If consumers use solar energy instead of grid electricity, there is less need for repairs,” electrician Muhammad Naveed tells Eos. To supplement his income, Naveed now also takes on jobs involving solar systems, including for tube wells, alongside specialised wiring work.

THE PRICE OF POWER

Saeed and other solar traders say the city’s crippling, year-round power outages are the biggest driver of the transition. Data from the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (Pesco) show that 43 of the city’s 83 electricity feeders record line losses of at least 80 per cent. Pesco also identifies widespread electricity theft as a problem in the area. A spokesperson for the power utility tells Eos that such areas may face outages lasting 16 to 18 hours a day.

Rising temperatures add to the pressure on residents. During summer, daytime temperatures in Dera Ismail Khan frequently reach 40–45 degrees Celsius, adding to the incentive to seek alternatives.

Dera Ismail Khan’s solar boom is part of a wider shift across Pakistan, driven in part by falling prices for Chinese-made panels and rising electricity tariffs over the past four years. A report by the UK-based energy think tank Ember, titled The Solarisation of Pakistan’s Energy Economy, estimates that Pakistan’s solar power generation rose by 21 terawatt-hours (TWh) in just two years, taking the total increase to 33 TWh. Distributed solar accounted for 28 per cent of Pakistan’s electricity generation in FY25, up from 10 per cent in FY23, the report says.

Eight 585-watt panel solar systems have a combined rated capacity of 4.68 kilowatts (kW). According to local traders, a system of this size can power an air conditioner, refrigerator, lights and fans, with battery storage providing back-up when solar generation is insufficient.

According to solar trader Ali Jan, an individual panel that sold for Rs75,000 not long ago now costs roughly Rs16,000, following a global glut that drove down solar-panel prices. The price per watt has fallen from Rs128 to around Rs28, he says. The cost of an eight-panel set-up fell to around Rs220,000, says Jan, adding that households could recoup the investment within one to two years through savings on electricity.

The imposition of general sales tax on solar imports last year, along with geopolitical tensions in the Middle East, has pushed prices back up, Naveed explains. “Today, solar panels sell for up to 32 rupees per watt in Dera Ismail Khan, bringing the cost of an eight-panel installation to approximately 280,000 rupees,” he says.

THE UNEVEN DIVIDENDS

Dr Aijaz Ahmed has had small solar panels installed at his home and clinic for more than a decade. “In most months, I do not have to pay for electricity,” he tells Eos. “At the clinic, too, the electricity bill is a fraction of what it used to be,” he says.

The savings extend beyond households. Small industries and commercial enterprises, facing high grid-electricity tariffs and rising fuel costs, have also embraced solar power.

One businessman estimates that running a stone-crushing plant on a diesel generator costs up to Rs1.8 million a month. Converting it to solar would require an initial investment of around Rs10.5 million, he says, which could be recovered in just under three years.

Commercial markets and wedding halls are also installing solar systems, with some businesses seeking to reduce or eliminate their dependence on grid electricity. Farmers are following a similar trend. A solar-powered irrigation system, capable of serving 10 acres of farmland, now costs around Rs9 million, according to Ali Jan.

Rising fuel costs are also encouraging farmers to switch to solar-powered tube wells, reducing their dependence on diesel-powered irrigation. Local solar-equipment prices are now closely tied to those in Karachi. Dealers say that a one-rupee-per-watt increase in Karachi is quickly reflected in local prices. Freight charges from Karachi to Dera Ismail Khan have also risen, from around Rs270,000 to Rs350,000 per container since the conflict involving Iran began.

The city’s newer commercial markets, including Gomal, Khyber, Anarkali, Mian Commercial and Gulf Plaza, also face the challenge of keeping shops lit and cooled. Their enclosed spaces and cooling requirements make reliable electricity particularly important. Rising electricity tariffs and fuel costs have made diesel generators increasingly expensive to operate, encouraging businesses to invest in solar power.

WHO GETS LEFT BEHIND

But the transition has also created a divide between those who can afford solar installations and those who cannot. While households and businesses with sufficient resources can reduce their dependence on an unreliable grid, poorer residents remain reliant on electricity they may struggle to afford — or continue to endure long power outages.

Amir Khan, a social worker who runs the “Amir Bhai” Facebook page to help families in need, says poor single women are particularly disadvantaged when it comes to accessing solar power. Khan, who has more than 500,000 Facebook followers, began financing his welfare work himself in 2018.

He says he now receives numerous requests from low-income families seeking help with solar installations.

The solar panels that now dominate Dera Ismail Khan’s rooftops tell only part of the story. Beneath them, new businesses are emerging and old trades are adapting, while families unable to afford the transition remain dependent on an unreliable grid.

In a city increasingly known as “Solar Ismail Khan”, access to electricity is becoming a question not just of supply, but of purchasing power.

The writer is a Peshawar-based reporter for Dawn, with over 15 years of experience covering governance, climate and the economy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
X: @Manzoor

Published in Dawn, EOS, October 25th, 2026

PAKISTAN has had three constitutions. Two given to it by its people in 1956 and 1973. One promulgated by a field marshal in 1962. The 1973 Constitution was adopted by the people through their representatives in the constituent assembly. Article 1 states that Pakistan shall be a federal republic. Neither the term “federal” nor “republic” is expressly defined. The Objectives Resolution provides guidance.

The power and authority of the state in our republic is to be exercised through the chosen representatives of the people. A republic is distinct from rule by one man. In a republic, rulers are not immune from accountability. They can be removed and replaced if they fail to perform.

The various territories that are part of Pakistan or that accede to Pakistan form a federation. These territories are autonomous and their boundaries and powers and authority are prescribed. The Objectives Resolution guarantees that the integrity of the territories shall be safeguarded.

A federal state is brought into being by the territories that comprise it through a written instrument. This instrument defines the authority of the federation and these territories. The federation presupposes and is premised on the existence of these territories. Dismantling the territories would undermine the foundational integrity of the federation and the compact reflected in the 1973 Constitution.

A constitution can be amended. The limits of a province or territory can be changed with its consent. Such an amendment may alter limits or provincial boundaries. It does not contemplate partition or subdivision of existing provinces or existing territories. Actions that compromise provincial integrity inevitably lead to questions regarding the benefits of being part of the federation. These questions have been resolved by the various territories and reflected in the 1973 Constitution. It would not be wise to reopen them.

Emergency powers cannot be used to deprive any citizen of the right to a fair trial.

Provincial integrity is not incompatible with devolution of power and effective local government. The Principles of Policy of the Constitution require the state to encourage local government institutions. Each province is constitutionally required to establish a local government system and to devolve power.

The president is the head of state and represents the unity of the republic. The president as a symbol of a united federation must be satisfied prior to provincial autonomy being assailed. This can only be done in exceptional circumstances. The emergency provisions enable federal rule over a province if the president is satisfied that certain conditions exist.

The president does not have authority to impo­­se an emergency whenever he deems fit. The eme­rgency provisions are not like the erstwhile Arti­cle 58(2)(b). The president was empowered under this Article to dissolve an elected government in his discretion. The emergency powers are not exp­ressed to be discretionary powers of the president.

Could the president have refused to sign the recent emergency proclamation notwithstanding the advice of the federal government? He could certainly have asked the government to look at matters again. Did he have discretion to refuse if after reconsideration the government insisted?

The term “discretion” is not used in the relevant Articles of the Constitution. The conventional legal view is that absent a power being expressed as discretionary, the president is bound to act on the advice of the government. In the case of the emergency provisions the president is required to be “satisfied”. This suggests a mental state of an individual office holder.

It could be argued that a mental state cannot be imposed through governmental advice. Regardless, in the present emergency, this appears to be a moot point since the president did not even ask the government to re­­c­onsider its advice. We do not know the nature of the material made available to the president to satisfy him beyond what is contained in the proclamation. Its contents are in substance assertions and non-speaking. They do not provide cogent reasons.

If the stipulated conditions for an emergency do not exist, the proclamation is unlawful. It is incorrect to state that because emergency powers exist in the Constitution, the exercise thereof is constitutional. The existence of a power and its lawful exercise are two distinct matters.

Emergency powers cannot be used to deprive any citizen of Pakistan of the right to a fair trial. The emergency provisions enable suspension of operation of a provision of the Constitution only relating to a body or authority in the province. They do not permit the suspension of Article 10-A of the Constitution which provides for a fair trial and due process. The federal government’s order pursuant to the proclamation states that Article 175(3) shall not apply to the designated districts. This Article provides for separation of the judiciary from the executive. The constitutional framework does not contemplate such suspension.

The emergency provisions also do not authorise the subdivision of a province by creating a separate governance structure for certain designated parts absent provincial legislative consent. Where certain federally administered areas have been made part of a province through a constitutional amendment (as is the case with Fata), the impact of this amendment cannot lawfully be undone through a proclamation of emergency which is an executive action.

Depriving people of a territory of rule by their representatives is undemocratic and diminishes the federation. When imposed on an unwilling provincial government, it pits the centre against one of its parts and weakens the whole. Normal constitutional functioning should be restored as soon as possible.

The real question that needs consideration is whether currently Pakistan is truly operating as a federal republic. That is what is contemplated by the first Article of our Constitution. If the compact that binds the territories that comprise our nation is broken, what credible vision can the rulers offer the people in these territories? The existential challenge the country faces is not from its enemies and those who wish us ill. It is from power being divorced from political authority and therefore accountability. That is the real emergency facing us. Until we confront this truth, the story of Pakistan will not change.

The writer is a lawyer.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2026

HELD amid the threat of a renewed US-Israeli attack on Iran and escalating conflict in the Arabian Peninsula, the meeting between Iranian leaders and members of the Makkah Defence Alliance was deeply significant — though it remained unclear whether the talks had produced any major breakthrough. The quadrilateral meeting reportedly discussed “regional cooperation, the US-Israeli aggression against Iran and its consequences”, among other topics.

It was the first high-level contact between Iran and all of the alliance’s members since Saudi Arabia was drawn deeper into its conflict with the Houthis. The gathering came days after a brief visit to Tehran by Pakistan’s army chief, during which he reportedly proposed the meeting — a suggestion Iranian leaders responded to positively.

That visit was essentially a part of Pakistan’s mediatory efforts to restart the stalled peace talks between America and Iran, and a response to the latest flare-up in the region. Since the collapse of a brief ceasefire reached in April, the United States has imposed an economic blockade on Iran in an attempt to force it to capitulate. It has not. Iran has kept control of the Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas used to flow.

The diplomatic efforts of Pakistan and Qatar have so far failed to break the stalemate. The main stumbling block to resuming peace talks has been President Trump’s insistence that Iran give up its enriched uranium stockpile. Iran has refused, insisting that the US must end its naval blockade and start negotiations on the seven points that overlap with the Islamabad memorandum of understanding. Iranian leaders have repeatedly declared that “not a single particle of enriched nuclear material” would leave Iran.

Regional peace can be ensured only through a regional security architecture.

Tensions rose further with reports of a possible joint US-Israeli attack on Iran before the US midterm elections. According to American media, Israel had been pressing Trump to resume airstrikes before Israel’s own general elections, which were held yesterday. There are still indications that Trump could restart military action after the American midterms on Nov 3.

Iranian officials warned last week that if Iran were attacked again, its forces would widen their targets to data centres and underwater internet cables in the region.

The situation has grown more volatile with the escalation of the Saudi-Houthi conflict. The Yemeni rebel group, which now controls a large part of the country and Bab al-Mandeb, a critical chokepoint on the Red Sea, has repeatedly struck key Saudi installations.

Against that backdrop, the visit by senior Saudi officials to Tehran stands out as a significant outreach at a time of profound tension between the two countries, with Saudi Arabia absorbing near-daily attacks by the Iran-backed Houthis. The kingdom was represented by Defence Minister Prince Khalid — the brother and trusted envoy of the crown prince.

His decision to travel to Iran under such conditions signalled that the Saudi leadership wants to avert another round of hostilities between the US, Israel and Iran, which could bring Iranian retaliatory strikes on American interests and installations in Saudi Arabia while the kingdom is still battling the Houthis.

For Iran, the presence of senior officials from Saudi Arabia, Turkiye and Pakistan has been symbolically important: Iranian officials are eager to sideline the US from regional security and diplomatic arrangements. Iran’s president expressed hope that the talks could help consolidate “regional unity and cohesion”.

For all the positivity, the central question remains whether the meeting could bridge the gap and help prevent a new round of US-Israeli aggression against Iran and, more importantly, de-escalate the conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthis.

No joint statement was issued, but individual comments since have been encouraging on the possibility of a broader regional security mechanism. Mohsen Rezaei, head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, seemed satisfied after meeting officials from the three countries. “Very good discussions took place between us,” he told Iranian state television. “I feel that a new atmosphere is emerging in the region. … I sensed a very positive atmosphere in the discussions among the gentlemen.” Iranian officials are also hopeful that the meeting could be a prelude to further steps towards shaping “endogenous security — an issue that we have been insisting on for decades”.

The four countries have “agreed to continue discussions to strengthen cooperation … including on regional peace and security”. Indeed, the Tehran meeting was the most significant development yet that could help de-escalate the regional conflict. But the major question remains whether such emerging cooperation can prevent a fresh American-Israeli attack on Iran.

The reported reinforcement of American forces in the region, together with Israel’s continued genocidal war in Gaza and military action in Lebanon, poses the biggest threat to regional and global peace. The continued presence of American bases and troops in the Gulf countries has made their security far more vulnerable.

Most concerning is the escalating Saudi-Houthi conflict, which could trigger a wider conflagration and draw other countries into it. Iran could certainly play an important role in reaching a truce. The escalation could also hand Israel an opportunity to blunt resistance to its expansionist designs. Given Trump’s threatening rhetoric, there is a strong possibility that he will resume attacks on Iran after the midterm elections; the one thing that could stop him is the Republicans losing their majority in both the House and the Senate. And whatever the outcome of the Israeli general elections, there is no indication that the defeat of Netanyahu would change the policy of the Zionist state in any significant way. The divisions among regional countries give Israel complete impunity.

The quadrilateral meeting in Tehran and Iran’s positive response are certainly good omens. But the sources of tension remain that will not be easy to resolve, and the gap has yet to be bridged. It is vital that the Gulf countries refuse to let their soil be used for American aggression. Regional security can be ensured only through a regional security architecture. The Tehran meeting has provided an important opening for any such cooperation.

The writer is an author and journalist.

zhussain100@yahoo.com

X: @hidhussain

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2026

THE fact that high officials from the Makkah defence pact partner states — Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkiye — were in Tehran on Monday made global headlines, and with good reason. At a time when the clouds of war are once again hovering over the Gulf, the meeting sent a strong message that regional states with often competing agendas can come together and discuss their issues at the negotiating table. The event was also significant as the Makkah alliance has been seen as an alternative defence arrangement vis-à-vis Iran’s ‘Axis of Resistance’.

Pakistan was represented by the chief of defence forces, while significantly, Saudi Arabia sent its defence minister, a brother of the crown prince. This shows that Riyadh accorded the highest priority to the meeting. The official Iranian readout said the participants pledged to “continue the dialogue … for peace and security in the region.”

The event is also further proof of Pakistan’s constructive efforts in the diplomatic arena, as the meet-up was held after the CDF — who was in Tehran last week — suggested it.

All regional states are wary of possible fresh US/Israeli attacks on Iran, and the Tehran meeting must be seen in this framework. Moreover, Saudi Arabia has likely reached out to Iran to get the Islamic Republic to use its connections with Yemen’s Houthi Ansarallah group to stop its attacks on the kingdom. Riyadh is also concerned about Iranian retaliation in the face of a renewed Israeli and American attack.

Perhaps Yemen can be the first area for the Makkah pact allies and Iran to discuss. A fresh push for peace should be made that envisages an immediate ceasefire supplemented by an end to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia, and a lifting of the Saudi-led blockade on Houthi-held areas in Yemen. Both Saudi Arabia and Iran, as well as other regional powers, should advocate a negotiated settlement to the Yemeni civil war.

Beyond Yemen, the fact that the US and Israel are preparing for fresh aggression against Iran could spoil efforts for a regional entente. This is why all participants of the Tehran meeting must clearly say that they oppose attacks on Iran or any other regional state.

Iran and the Makkah pact states should also pledge not to let external actors use their soil to launch aggression against each other. In fact, while inviting Iran to join the Makkah alliance may not be practical at this juncture, regional states can at least agree to a common non-aggression framework. That would send a powerful message to external actors that seek to destabilise the region.

States of the region are making sincere efforts to prevent a return to war. It is time Washington and Tel Aviv read the writing on the wall and abandoned their destructive plans.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: The Senate Functio­nal Committee on Human Rights on Tuesday expressed concern over delays in compensation to families of Pakistani seafarers affected by a hostage-taking incident off Somalia.

The committee, chaired by Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri, also discussed cybercrime, crypto-currency related scams, fraudulent investment schemes and the circulation of inappropriate content targeting children on social media.

Taking up the case of Pakistani seafarers, the committee sought explanations from officials over delays in the crew’s release, repatriation of a deceased seafarer’s body, medical treatment for injured crew members and financial assistance to affected families.

Director of the Shipping Wing Arif Haroon briefed the committee on the incident. Members were informed that discussions were underway between the ship owner, the manning agency and parties associated with protection and indemnity insurance over compensation payments.

Senator Quratul Ain Marri sought details of assistance provided by the federal government to the families of deceased seafarers.

Senator Samina Mumtaz Zehri directed the authorities to submit a complete record of crew salaries, medical treatment and financial payments made from April to September. They were also asked to verify reports regarding the prime minister’s announcement of financial assistance and provide details of the amount paid to the families.

The chairperson stressed that insurance-related procedures and disputes among the parties concerned should not cause unnecessary delays in payments to affected families. She sought a comprehensive report on compensation, medical facilities and assistance provided to the victims.

The committee also expressed concern over the growing incidence of cybercrime, ransom-ware attacks, cryptocurrency fraud and schemes promising unusually high returns on investments.

Members raised questions about delays in registering complaints and completing investigations, fraudulent calls, misuse of WhatsApp accounts and personal identification information, suspicious bank accounts and the alleged illegal use of SIM cards.

The chairperson called for clear timelines for processing complaints and a mechanism to keep victims informed about progress in their cases. She also asked the relevant authorities to provide verifiable statistics on investigations, recovery of funds and legal proceedings against suspects.

Officials informed the committee that suspicious accounts had been frozen in some cases, while the recovery and return of money were being processed in accordance with court orders and applicable laws.

The committee also reviewed complaints involving people allegedly defrauded by companies and consultants offering overseas education, study visas and employment opportunities.

The chairperson called for verification of the legal status of consultancy firms and effective action against those involved in fraud.

The committee took exception to the absence of representatives of the Higher Education Commission and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, particularly as the meeting dealt with complaints involving foreign admissions and visa processes.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2026

GUWAHATI: India has deployed hundreds of additional security personnel in its remote northeast, authorities said on Tuesday, after youth protesters clashed with police last week over a plan to build a mega-dam to counter a Chinese hydropower project upstream.

Protests in Arunachal Pradesh’s Siang Valley, which borders Tibet, turned violent last week, triggering clashes with police, who made at least 21 arrests.

Police fired tear gas shells, while youth protesters pelted stones and set fire to a police station and an office of the state-owned National Hydroelectric Pow­er Corporation, authorities said.

“Forces are being increased in the places where it is required. We do not want any law and order problem,” SD Singh Jamwal, police chief of Arunachal Pradesh, told Reuters.

Sporadic protests have taken place in the Siang Valley in the last two years, the location of the proposed 11,200-megawatt Siang Upper Multipurpose Project, which will be developed by state-run National Hydroelectric Power Corporation.

Villagers who oppose the project fear that the dam would submerge ancestral villages belonging to the Adi tribe.

“We will keep opposing this dam till they cancel it. If it is constructed, 27 of our ancestral villages will be completely submerged. At least 40 or 50 more will be affected,” Gegong Jijong of the Siang Indigenous Farmers’ Forum told Reuters.

The Siang river flows into Arunachal Pradesh from Tibet, where it is known as the Yarlung Zangbo. China anno­unced plans in December 2024 to build the world’s largest hydropower dam upstream, triggering fears in New Delhi that its longtime strategic rival could weaponise its control of the river.

China claims Arunachal Pradesh, which it calls Zangnan, as part of southern Tibet. India says the state is an integral and inalienable part of its territory.

Arunachal Pradesh’s BJP-aligned chief minister has called the Chinese project an existential threat.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2026

ISLAMABAD: A majority of PTI lawmakers on Tuesday opposed further efforts to negotiate with the powers that be, arguing that the latter had already secured what they wanted, and that pursuing further talks would “only show weakness”.

Several members also expressed dissatisfaction with the party leadership’s handling of the prevailing challenges, questioning its decisions and overreliance on then-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Sohail Afridi.

Heated arguments were witnessed during a joint parliamentary party meeting that lasted over seven hours, with some questioning why the top leadership had handed so much authority to Mr Afridi, who, they said, held no position within the party hierarchy.

On the other hand, around 15 lawmakers favoured supporting the proposed 28th Amend­ment, arguing that it could help normalise relations with the establishment and pave the way for the release of Imran Khan.

The meeting, held at Parl­i­ament House to discuss the prevailing political situation and the party’s future strategy, was chaired by PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan. Former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser, Senator Ali Zafar and Chief Whip Malik Amir Dogar were in attendance.

An insider, requesting anonymity, said that most participants, including Mr Qaiser, had rejected further efforts to negotiate.

Some criticised Barrister Gohar and Secretary General Salman Akram Raja, questioning why the party leadership appeared to be functioning under Mr Afridi. They alleged that the top leadership had left everything to the KP chief minister, who had become non-functional after the imposition of governor’s rule in KP, because of its interest in transfers, postings and financial matters in the province.

Public support

The insider said members believed that although morale had declined following the PTI government’s removal in KP, the party had not lost public support.

Another participant said Mr Qaiser presented a pre-written declaration containing points that had not been discussed at the meeting, annoying several members. At this, Faisal Amin Gandapur reacted by asking, “Is this a joke?” and walked out following an exchange with Barrister Gohar.

Mobeen Arif Jutt questioned why the party was not speaking up for leaders who were in jail or in hiding, saying he felt embarrassed when speaking to them. He also criticised opposition leader Mahmood Khan Achakzai, alleging that Mr Achakzai had contacted Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz after his son was arrested near Kharian and stayed in Lahore until his son was released.

Azam Swati urged Barrister Gohar and his colleagues to step down, while MNA Shah Ahad also criticised the leadership. Peshawar MNA Sher Ali said party leaders were receiving calls asking them to surrender to the police or face police raids on their homes.

Consultations go on

After the meeting, party whip Amir Dogar said several prevailing issues had been discussed, but decisions would be taken after consultation with leaders of the opposition in both houses. This was the first session and another meeting would follow, he said.

Senator Ali Zafar said the meeting had discussed possible future decisions and that committees, to be headed by the opposition leaders, would be formed.

Media reports suggested that some lawmakers, including Ali Muhammad Khan, walked out of the meeting before it concluded.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2026

WASHINGTON: Pakistan has warned that the situation surrounding Iran’s nuclear programme has sharply deteriorated, urging all sides to exercise restraint and resolve the dispute through diplomacy amid continued hostilities and divisions within the UN Security Council.

Speaking at a council briefing on Iran and nuclear non-proliferation on Tuesday, Pakistan’s Acting Permanent Representative, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, said mounting tensions and a lack of consensus had made a diplomatic settlement more urgent.

“Pakistan remains concerned that the situation regarding the Iran nuclear file has sharply deteriorated, negatively impacting the consideration of the issue, including in the Security Council,” he said.

The dispute centres on international concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities and the verification of its commitments under the non-proliferation regime. The 2015 nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers sought to limit Tehran’s nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief, but the United States withdrew from the accord in 2018 during Donald Trump’s first presidency. Subsequent efforts to restore the agreement failed.

Mr Jadoon urged all parties to avoid rhetoric and actions that could aggravate the situation.

“Pakistan urges all sides to exercise restraint, refrain from irresponsible and destabilizing rhetoric, actions, and postures that could escalate tensions and increase the risk of conflict, and choose a path that delivers peace, security and stability for all,” he said.

Pakistan also called for the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to be allowed to address technical questions relating to the nuclear dispute without political interference.

“We have consistently maintained that any issues of non-compliance must be addressed through competent technical bodies like the IAEA, without politicization and consistent with the relevant parties’ rights and obligations,” Mr Jadoon said.

“The IAEA must be enabled to carry out its work without any hindrance and within its technical mandate,” he added.

The Pakistani envoy highlighted Islamabad’s diplomatic efforts to promote de-escalation, a ceasefire and negotiations. He cited the memorandum of understanding signed in Islamabad in June as evidence that diplomatic engagement could make progress.

“The Islamabad MoU signed in June is a successful manifestation of this approach. It demonstrates that progress on the diplomatic track is possible,” he said.

He acknowledged the support of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkiye, Egypt, China and other partners, and said Pakistan’s leadership continued working towards a peaceful settlement.

“We believe that diplomacy can once again deliver results in paving the way for settling contentious issues peacefully,” Mr Jadoon said.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2026

LOWER SOUTH WA­­Z­IRISTAN: In yet another violation of border protocols, Afghan security forces opened unprovoked fire on Pakistan Army border posts and residential areas in the Angoor Adda border area on Tuesday.

The unprovoked attacks took the life of one local, while five of a family were injured when a mortar landed on their home.

The unprovoked firing prompted a swift response from security forces.

According to officials, the firing originated from posts located inside Afghan territory, and targeted Pakistani border posts with sniper, small and heavy weapons.

Sources said that Pakistani forces launched an immediate and effective retaliatory action, engaging multiple Afghan Taliban border posts, mortar positions and defensive bunkers with small and heavy arms, including artillery.

The “intense and accurate response” forced the Afghan Taliban to abandon their posts and flee. Sources reiterated that Pakistani forces have complete control over the border area.

The border at Angoor Adda is one of the most important and sensitive crossings along the Pak-Afghan border, serving as a key trade route and one of the main points of public movement between the two countries.

Violations from the Afghan side have become a routine matter.

Afghan forces often resort to unprovoked firing without any reason, creating fear among the local tribal population and disrupting trade and daily life.

Published in Dawn, October 28th, 2026