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Afghanistan: Tough Terrain, Tough Test

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A land like Afghanistan that has been home to numerous forces previously, drove by Alexander the Incomparable. Despite being such an incredible force, this force was not crushed anyplace on the planet and this force proceeded to win triumphs. Alexander the Incomparable’s military-experienced opposition from the Aspasui and Asakin clans during their mission in the Kabul Valley. The Aspasui and Asakin clans live in the Peshawar Valley in present-day eastern Afghanistan and present-day Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan.

A land like Afghanistan that doesn’t meet any ocean is known as a land encompassed by mountains. What’s more, in a land encompassed by mountains, battling and winning force is just about as troublesome as ascending the Himalayan K-2 in an incredibly chilly climate. Afghanistan became a socialist state for the first time in the late 1970s. The place that is known for Afghanistan turned into a cemetery for a force like the Soviet Union. Political dissidents on Afghan soil crushed the Soviet Union with the assistance of the US and the Soviet Union self-destructed. After February 1986, Gorbachev recognized that there was no requirement for Soviet military activity in Afghanistan, and portrayed his impressions that Afghanistan had become a bleeding wound.

The US started testing a similar bleeding wound after the 9/11 attacks. After a long conflict of 20 years, the US gave a date for the withdrawal of troops. The CIA as of late gave a dystopian expression of remorse following the obliteration of new proof of Osama Bin Ladin inclusion in the 9/11 attacks. The expression of remorse didn’t ensnare any American Leader, nor did it convict any American General. The US gave a date of military withdrawal when the world economy, including the US, was hit by a pandemic like Coronavirus. A nation like the US, which may now perceive that Afghanistan will remain a bleeding wound. The wound also wounded a force like the United States.

The same weapon that the US utilized against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan, the same weapon that the US needed to destroy, however, fizzled. The US crushed the Soviet Union in Afghanistan with the assistance of the Taliban, however, the inquiry emerges concerning which force crushed the lone superpower on the planet in Afghanistan by having Uni-Polar status?

History has shown that whenever guerrilla warfare was fought anywhere, even the greatest power was defeated, be it the army of Alexander the Great, the Soviet Union or the United States.

The question arises, what will the mainland government of Afghanistan look like after the US leaves? Will there be an Al-Qaeda government there? The past tells us that land like Afghanistan never recognizes any external force.

International law tells us that conflict always comes to the table when both parties recognize each other as ‘parties’. The United States recognized Al-Qaeda as its adversary and joined it in negotiation. Now if the people of Afghanistan are allowed to decide that they should democratically decide the future of Afghanistan and bring the government to power with the help of the vote. So will the United States recognize a government that will come into being democratically, whether it is the government of al-Qaeda or one of Afghanistan’s most popular political parties?

Given the ongoing situation, it is not wrong to say that after the departure of the United States, the atmosphere of central power on the Afghan mainland will become vacant. Due to which there is a fear of civil war in Afghanistan due to which a country like Pakistan can be most affected. Due to the civil war, the resettlement of refugees in Pakistan may increase again, which Pakistan cannot afford.

The second biggest influence will be the mobilization of geopolitical forces. China, Russia’s intentions, and the use of Central Asian landlocked countries natural resources and access to the Arabian Peninsula will only be possible if the peace prevails in Afghanistan. Afghanistan has the largest border sharing with Pakistan. Pakistan has been the most important Non-NATO ally of the United States in the Afghan war. But now that the CPEC is in the final stages of completion, Pakistan also has to deal with the situation after the US withdrawal in Afghanistan.

Pakistan will have to discuss a number of important issues with Afghanistan, including its border disputes. Afghanistan’s accession to the CPEC is welcome, but before that, the flag of peace must be waved in Afghanistan, for which Pakistan will be the biggest beneficiary.

 

By: Yasir Uzair Ahmed

The writer is an Aspiring Scholar of Politics and IR based in Lahore.

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Business

Pakistan Banks Association elects Zafar Masud as chairman, forms 16-member executive committee

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KARACHI – On December 28, 2025, the Pakistan Banks Association (PBA) formed a new 16-member Executive Committee, which includes two women and eight new member banks, reflecting a move towards increased inclusivity and wider industry representation.

Following the elections, the Executive Committee unanimously elected Mr. Zafar Masud, President and Chief Executive Officer of The Bank of Punjab, as Chairman of the PBA. Commenting on his election, Mr. Masud said the newly constituted Executive Committee represents an important evolution in the Association’s governance.

He noted that the expanded and more diverse membership strengthens the PBA’s ability to advance a National Economic Agenda, with a focus on bridging credit gaps in priority sectors, accelerating financial inclusion through digital channels, and supporting Pakistan’s sustainable economic recovery.

The leadership team also includes Mr. Nassir Salim, President and Chief Executive Officer of Habib Bank Limited, as Senior Vice Chairman, and Mr. Yousaf Hussain, President and Chief Executive Officer of Faysal Bank Limited, as Vice Chairman.

Mr. Nassir Salim emphasized the importance of resilience and strong compliance frameworks amid global headwinds, while Mr. Yousaf Hussain highlighted modernization, technology adoption, and agility as key priorities to ensure the banking sector remains innovative and regionally competitive.

Commenting on the milestone, Mr. Muneer Kamal, Chief Executive Officer and Secretary General of the PBA, said that the expansion of the Executive Committee, including the historic inclusion of female representation, reflects the Association’s commitment to diversity and modern governance.

Under the new leadership, the PBA aims to deepen collaboration with the State Bank of Pakistan, the Ministry of Finance, and the Federal Government to support infrastructure development, expand private sector credit for agriculture and SMEs, and advance the country’s digital transformation.

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Business

Saudi carrier flyadeal opens new office in Islamabad

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ISLAMABAD – flyadeal, Saudi Arabia’s rapidly expanding low-cost airline, has opened a new dedicated sales and marketing office in Islamabad, highlighting its swift growth in Pakistan. During a brief visit to Pakistan’s capital, flyadeal CEO Steven Greenway reaffirmed the airline’s dedication to becoming a key player in the country’s vibrant air travel industry.

flyadeal launched non-stop scheduled flights from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan in February, connecting  Riyadh and Jeddah to the country’s commercial hub of Karachi, which signalled the airline’s first move into South Asia.

Since then, flyadeal has significantly scaled up frequency, now operating 18 non-stop services each week between the two countries serving a total of five gateway cities in Pakistan – Karachi, Peshawar, Sialkot, Lahore and Islamabad.

“Our Pakistan flights have proved a great success since our entry, bringing affordable low fares and reliable punctual services to this exciting market,” said Greenway.

“Having expanded from one to five cities across the country in the space of just eight months, thanks to regulatory and travel industry support, it’s only a matter of time before we grow further with much-needed additional capacity and provide the travelling public with wider reach and greater choice of non-stop flights bridging both countries.”

flyadeal has partnered with leading general sales agent Matchless Travel to serve the travel trade and members of the public across Pakistan through its nationwide network of offices.

Farooq Ahmad, flyadeal Head of Sales, added: “flyadeal has developed a great relationship with Pakistan’s travel agency community, quickly building confidence within the trade of our value-added product offering. Our dedicated sales office in Islamabad complements the efforts of Matchless by providing increased brand presence and awareness.”

Following the sales office opening, flyadeal’s senior management team from the head office in Jeddah and Karachi hosted Islamabad’s travel trade to a thank-you dinner.

All flyadeal services to and from Pakistan are operated with Airbus A320 family aircraft in a single 186-seat Economy Class configuration. The flights cater to a mix of business, leisure, pilgrim and migrant worker traffic, as well as the large outbound Pakistani expatriate community living in the Kingdom. Jeddah-bound flights serve as the gateway to the Saudi holy city of Makkah.

flyadeal operates scheduled flights from bases in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam to more than 30 domestic and international seasonal and year-round destinations in the Middle East, Europe, North Africa and South Asia with a modern fleet of 43 Airbus A320 family aircraft.

Effective 1 January 2026, flyadeal will add Madinah as its fourth base in the Kingdom, a strategic move to enhance air travel options to and from the Holy city. 

 

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Gold

Ways to check the purity of gold: Methods and Facts

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LAHORE – In Pakistan, uncertainty always looms over the minds of people. Some people remain unsure whether the gold they bought is pure or not, so in case of such a scenario, here is what you can do.

Ways to verify your gold:

  • Check Official Markings

Look for engraved markings on the inner side of the jewelry; it may say 24k, 22k, 21k, or 18k. In Pakistan, 21k means 87.5% purity; on the other hand, 24k means 99.9% purity and is mostly used as investment bars.

  • Professional Ways to Test

If you remain unsure about your gold, then you should consider visiting major gold markets such as Karachi’s Sarafa Bazaar or Lahore’s Liberty Market.

Three such ways include:

Electronic Gold Testers: In today’s modern world, jewelers use handheld electronic devices to measure the electrical conductivity to provide the user with immediate karat reading.

XRF Spectrometry: This method is widely regarded as the best and most accurate way; most high-end gold laboratories use X-Ray fluorescence to get the exact elemental composition of the item.

Touchstone Test: This is known as the Kasauti Test, the gold is rubbed against a dark stone(Kasauti), and the streak is then compared with known purity needles, or it is treated with acid.

  • Test at Home

Magnet Test: Gold is not attracted to magnets if the item is powerfully attracted towards a powerful magnet, then it is likely that it contains some sort of base metals, most probably iron or nickel.

Floating Test: Gold remains a dense element if gently placed in a bowl filled with water and sinks all the way to the bottom. Then, it can be considered pure gold. However, if the gold item floats or sinks slowly, it is most likely fake gold or the item is gold-plated.

Vinegar Test: By applying a few drops of vinegar on the item, you can check its purity because pure gold retains its shine, but fake gold loses it altogether.

Ping Test: This is a sound test. First of all, take the gold item in your hand and gently strike it against another metal. Pure gold produces a high-pitched ringing sound, whereas base metals produce a “thud” sound.

Note: It is pertinent to mention here that methods to test at home aren’t completely reliable, and the results shouldn’t be considered as the final results, as there are chances that they can be influenced by other factors. That’s why it is better to follow the other ways mentioned in the article.

  • Precautionary measures before buying

Before buying the gold item, request a certificate of confirmation of the purity of the gold being bought. Before paying the price for the gold, verify the daily price of the gold from the Jewellers Association or upfront.pk to avoid being overcharged for lower-quality gold.

 

 

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