‘China’s mediation led to an unexpected peace deal between long-hostile Saudi Arabia and Iran, disrupting traditional alliances. The absence of the US and China’s emergence as a major player has left Israel uncertain about its ties with Saudi Arabia. Despite positive reactions, doubts remain about the strength of the newfound Saudi-Iran connection and their planned ambassador exchange’’. A major peace agreement has happened in the Middle East, but it’s not between Israel and the Arab countries. Instead, it’s between Saudi Arabia and Iran, two nations that have remained hostile to each other for many years. Surprisingly, the deal wasn’t arranged by the United States; it was mediated by China. This turn of events has surprised people all around the world and has caused great confusion. The usual alliances and conflicts that have shaped international relations for a long time have been disrupted, at least for now. The United States has been a key player in the Middle East for the last 75 years and has usually been at the center of important events. However, in this situation, the U.S. is not actively involved and is watching from the sidelines as significant changes unfold. On the other hand, China used to have a minor role in the region, has suddenly become a major player. This shift in dynamics has made Israel uncertain about its relationship with Saudi Arabia. Israel had been trying to build closer ties with Saudi Arabia as they both have mutual concerns about Iran. Now, Israel is uncertain about how this new agreement will affect their plans. Amy Hawthorne, a deputy director at the Project on Middle East Democracy, a nonprofit organization, emphasized that this development is a significant event. She mentioned that while the United States couldn’t have made this deal with Iran due to their lack of relations, China’s accomplishment has elevated its diplomatic status and is more impressive than anything the U.S. has achieved in the region since President Biden took...

It is a pity that in the context of unprecedented enormous opportunities and major challenges in Afghanistan, we lack the existence of dynamic leadership with the essential capabilities to take advantage of opportunities and turn challenges into opportunities. No doubt that Afghans are individually hardworking and courageous citizens, but when it comes to the collective status, our background in the last five decades is full of regrettable catastrophes and turmoil. Despite sacrificing millions of innocent lives in the struggle for freedom, they neither achieved the goals of real independence nor avoided internal confrontations, nor preserved the dignity of their values. The most shameful act of the Taliban regime and the regrettable social setback of Afghans as a nation that certainly defamed their national honour questioned their past pride and so-called present victories, is the long-term closure of schools and universities for girls. Most importantly, despite being the most indispensable and collective demand of all Afghans, they have even failed to initiate a public protest against the ban and the immediate opening of girls’ educational institutions. In order to put things back on track and end the current stalemate, get rid of the internal and external isolation, the Taliban need not deviate from religious values, nor should they breach the cultural boundaries. Within the framework of respect for personalities and their statuses, they severely need to urge their leaders to either revise their perceptions regarding the self-defined interpretation of Islamic principles, pay attention to the legitimate concerns of the world community, including the neighbours, or face the terrifying aftermath and destructive outcome of their policies that would certainly devastate the country. It has been almost two years since the Taliban’s takeover in Afghanistan. Afghans living there are in distressing and difficult situations. The economic condition is dire, the starvation...

Under the banner of the Forum for Human Rights in Jammu and Kashmir, a citizens’ group that includes retired judges, military officers, and top civil servants, in a report, urges New Delhi to address fears of demographic change.  By Iftikhar Gilani Even as four years later Indian Supreme Court began hearing on the revocation of special status to Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir, an informal group of concerned Indian citizens that includes former judges, top officials, and even military officers has called Indian government to restore the democratic process, release prisoners, stop media crackdowns, and address fears about demographic changes in the region. Under the banner of the Forum for Human Rights in Jammu and Kashmir, the citizens’ group said that since Aug. 5, 2019, when India revoked limited autonomy and divided the Muslim-majority region into two centrally administered areas, a barrage of laws is being imposed day after day, stoking mistrust and fears. Presenting its fourth annual report, the group, which includes five senior retired judges, four retired army and air force officers, former Home Minister Secretary Gopal Pillai, former External Affairs Secretary Nirupama Rao, and former government interlocutor Radha Kumar, disputed New Delhi’s claims that the region has progressed after its incorporation into the Indian Union. “The facts, however, suggest otherwise. In its three annual and two thematic reports, the forum has documented more than three dozen economic, political, and social rights violations between August 2019 and July 2022, including economic losses of more than 50,000 crore rupees ($6.078 billion), if conservative estimates are made,” the report said. The group noted that Jammu and Kashmir had the most licensed gun owners among all centrally-administered areas and the most gun owners per capital city among all Indian states in 2023. In December 2016, there were 369,191-gun license holders. Later the government banned the issuance of...