A major conference held in Islamabad to mark five years of Taliban rule in Afghanistan delivered a blunt assessment of the regime’s record. The conference was organized by the Institute of Regional Studies in collaboration with South Asia Times, bringing together policy experts, think-tank analysts, Afghanistan specialists, policymakers, diplomats, and national and international observers. The conference highlighted that the Taliban have failed to build an inclusive system of governance, uphold basic rights, or meet the security and economic expectations of Afghans and the region.

Balochistan stands at a profound demographic crossroads. With over sixty percent of its population under the age of thirty, the province holds immense economic potential, yet it has long grappled with youth unemployment rates hovering near three times the national average

In moments of deep international crisis, the world often finds itself short of credible mediators, states trusted enough by all sides to bring them to the same table. Such was the case as war spread across the region, with major powers divided, alliances strained, and no single actor able to speak to every side at once. It is in this vacuum that Pakistan has stepped forward.