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In Brief
PAK-AFG
Pakistan worst-affected by Taliban's takeover of Kabul, says ICG
On 09 January, as reported by Dawn, the Taliban's 2021 takeover of Afghanistan affected Pakistan the worst, as per a report by the International Crisis Group (ICG). The main cause for the escalation is the Afghan Taliban’s refusal to act against Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which Pakistan blames for a surge in militant violence that has killed over 600 security personnel last year alone. In retaliation, Pakistan has carried out cross-border airstrikes, including its first-ever strike on Kabul, and stated that it would strike again if attacks that are traced back to Afghanistan continue. The report places Afghanistan-Pakistan tensions among the top 10 major conflicts to watch in 2026, and proceeds to warn that Pakistan’s already tense relations with Afghanistan could unravel after recent tensions. More broadly, the ICG states that the world is entering an increasingly violent era. (“Pakistan worst-hit by Taliban takeover of Kabul: International Crisis Group,” Dawn, 09 January, 2026)
FO says terrorism from Afghan soil the sole bilateral issue with Kabul
On 08 January, as reported by Dawn, the Foreign Office (FO) said that terrorism supported by Kabul is the only bilateral issue between the two countries. During a weekly briefing in Islamabad, FO spokesperson Tahir Andrabi said, “We do not have any bilateral dispute with Afghanistan except for this one issue. Terrorism emanating from Afghanistan is a major issue. So we need verifiable assurances, commitments that these acts will be stopped.” Furthermore, he reiterated Pakistan’s long-standing demand for Kabul to address the increasing number of terror attacks and make an effort to neutralise the situation. The spokesperson further stated that Pakistan does not wish to be hostile towards Kabul and is instead requesting a written assurance from the Afghan Taliban that the neighbouring country’s provinces would not be used by Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan (TTP). (“Only ‘bilateral dispute’ with Kabul is terrorism emanating from Afghan soil: FO,” Dawn, 08 January 2026)
ECONOMY
Pakistan’s forex reserves rebound to USD 16 billion amid debt pressures
On 09 January, Dawn reported that the State Bank of Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves had risen to USD 16 billion, indicating a stable foreign exchange regime in Pakistan. As per Central Bank data, reserves soared to their highest level in FY21 with USD 17.29 billion; since then, reserves have been falling continuously. In FY23, the reserves have fallen to the default level, at around USD 4.4 billion. As of 2 January 2026, State Bank Reserves reached USD 16.055 billion, total liquidity stood at USD 21.19 billion held by the country, and net holdings of commercial banks were recorded at USD 5.136 billion. However, in FY26, Pakistan has to complete debt servicing of around USD 26 billion. (“Forex coffers rise to $16bn, highest level since FY21,” Dawn, 09 January 2026)
Finance ministry report flags transparency gaps in SIFC
On 09 January, The Express Tribune reported that the Finance Ministry report, as part of the action plan of the IMF Governance and Corruption Diagnostic Assessment, flagged concerns over the absence of transparency in the Special Investment Facilitation Council’s initiatives. The ministry agreed that the lack of transparency in SIFC work could undermine policy predictability and weaken the investor’s confidence. The SIFC was established in 2023 to attract foreign investment by facilitating investors through a single window and promoting cooperation among all government departments. But SIFC failed to attract any major foreign investment in the last two and a half years of its establishment. The report underlined that the availability of information in public regarding concessions and fiscal and regulatory relaxations remains limited. The ministry is preparing a final report on SIFC to meet the IMF's USD 7 billion loan package conditions, as Pakistan is bound to make an action plan public to address the governance and corruption-related vulnerabilities. Also, the IMF had raised concerns over the Board of Investment Act, which gives vast powers to the SIFC Council; particularly, Articles 10F and 10 G undermine accountability mechanisms. (“Investment steps lack transparency,” The Express Tribune, 09 January 2026)
Government approves major funding to modernise Sindh’s railway network
On 09 January, Dawn reported that a multi-billion-rupee plan to modernise the Sindh railway network was approved by the Sindh and federal governments. PKR 63.27 billion investment is outlined for core infrastructure rehabilitation, procurement of DMU train sets, and development of maintenance facilities. The Sindh government ordered the release of PKR 6.6 billion immediately, which will be allocated to replace 100 of the province’s 308 unmanned railway crossings across key routes. In the first phase, six new trains will be rolled out, while another batch of six diesel-run train sets will follow in the next phase. These projects will help in cutting travel time between Kotra and Dadu by one and a half hours. Also, Rohri railway station will be upgraded with the installation of escalators and the beautification and renovation of buildings. (“Major rail-based transport plan approved to connect cities in Sindh,” Dawn, 9 January 2026)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
TTAP convoy reaches Lahore despite police actions
On 09 January, as reported by The Express Tribune, a convoy of the Tehreek-e-Tahafuz-e-Ayeen-e-Pakistan (TTAP) reached Lahore despite police resistance as the opposition alliance pressed ahead with a street mobilisation campaign for the second anniversary of the 08 February 2024 general elections. Several members of the TTAP were detained during their journey, while the vehicles in the convoy were vandalised. As stated by the organisation, containers were placed by the Lahore administration to block routes near Data Darbar, and the son of MWM chief and TTAP Vice Chairman Senator Allama Raja Nasir Abbas was taken into custody, an action that was later denied by the Gujranwala police. PTI condemned the actions of the Punjab Police, calling them "fascist" and "oppressive". On the other hand, the PTI also reported late-night raids that were conducted on the homes of its workers in Lahore. (“TTAP convoy reaches Lahore amid detentions,” The Express Tribune, 09 January 2026)
EXTERNAL
Pakistan police to get training at Beijing Police College
On 09 January, as reported by Dawn, all assistant superintendents of police (ASPs) of the National Police Academy will undergo a one-month training program at the Beijing Police College. The program was accepted in principle during Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi’s visit to the Beijing Police College. Through this initiative, Pakistani police officers would get an extensive training where they would be equipped with modern professional education, whilst gaining access to the high-tech training sections of the Beijing Police College. Moreover, Naqvi was highly impressed by the professional capabilities and top-class training displayed by the vehicle squad. The minister was briefed regarding the use of modern technology to modulate protest and violent incidents, technology-based education and practical training, and AI-based instructions. (“Law enforcers to be trained at Beijing Police College,” Dawn, 09 January 2026)
SECURITY
Operation launched after Kech grenade attack
On 09 January, Dawn reported that security forces launched a combing and search operation in the Mand area of Kech district following a grenade attack during an open court held by Parliamentary Secretary for Fisheries Mir Barkat Rind. Officials said the grenade exploded in a parking area near the venue in Mand, close to the Iran border, but Mir Barkat Rind and attendees escaped unharmed. In the aftermath of the attack, authorities increased security for the parliamentary secretary as investigations and security operations continued in the area. (“Operation launched after Kech attack,” Dawn, 09 January 2026)
JUDICIARY
Law Minister lauds 27th Amendment as ‘historic step’
On 09 January, Dawn reported that Pakistan’s Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar defended the 27th Constitutional Amendment as a historic measure to strengthen the country’s federal structure, rejecting criticism that it undermines judicial independence. Speaking at a book launch at the Supreme Court Bar Association, Tarar said the amendment’s key achievement was the establishment of a Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) with equal provincial representation. He argued this addressed long-standing concerns over imbalance in the Supreme Court, where judges from larger provinces, particularly Punjab, dominated due to the size of their high courts. Responding to Amnesty International’s criticism, Tarar noted that the FCC was envisaged in the 2006 Charter of Democracy and emerged from concerns over the Supreme Court’s expansive suo motu powers. He maintained that the FCC would help address provincial grievances and reinforce federalism. (“Law minister defends 27th Amendment as ‘historic step’,” Dawn, 09 January 2026)
Editorials/Opinions
Access to healthcare
Tahera Hasan, “Excluded from healthcare”, Dawn, 09 January 2026
"Women's access to healthcare in Pakistan is shaped not only by poverty, but also by the intersection of documentation, marginalisation and gender. After more than a decade of work in one of Karachi’s largest informal settlements, it has become evident how the absence of identity documents interacts with restrictive social norms and institutional power imbalances to systematically exclude women from public services. Insights from a community-based maternity home reveal that women’s avoidance of healthcare is less about awareness and more about fear, administrative exclusion, and the everyday costs — financial, social, and emotional — of navigating systems that were not designed with them in mind."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1965910/excluded-from-healthcare
Disaster management
Editorial, “Pre-monsoon audit,” Dawn, 09 January 2026
“The NDMA’s decision to launch a nationwide Infrastructure Audit Programme before the monsoon is a welcome step. It suggests a shift away from routine warnings towards real action. The programme reflects a lesson Pakistan has learned the hard way: natural hazards turn deadly when roads, buildings and public facilities are ill-prepared. The floods of 2022, the destructive monsoon episodes of 2024, and fresh warnings of heavier rainfall in 2026 show that extreme weather is becoming all too frequent. In this context, the NDMA’s plan to inspect high-risk and heavily used buildings is timely. As the federal housing minister noted at the launch, many losses are not caused by nature alone; they also result from unsafe construction, poor maintenance, and infrastructure that fails under predictable stress. Auditing such assets before disaster strikes is a sensible place to begin."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1965914/pre-monsoon-audit
Economy
Editorial, “Uneven recovery,” The Express Tribune, 09 January 2026
“Pakistan's celebrated economic stabilisation efforts may have addressed several key indicators, but on closer inspection, it becomes unreservedly clear that the beneficiaries of this recovery are almost all people who were already among the wealthiest in the country. Beneath the headline growth and booming stock market is a devastating "K-shaped" recovery that is enriching the affluent while crushing the poor and hollowing out the middle class. And while such recoveries are a frequent occurrence in several countries, the intensity of the curve raises legitimate questions about how the government plans to lift the poor, who now comprise more than half the country's population, according to several publications."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2586139/uneven-recovery
Solving Pakistan
Khurram Husain, “Solving Pakistan,” Dawn, 08 January 2026
“Whenever talking about solutions, it is critical to first have clarity on the problem, because the obvious question is, ‘solution to what?’ When it comes to the economy, for example, are we asking for a solution to the economy’s inability to earn foreign exchange in quantities sufficient to pay for its import requirements? Or are we asking for solutions to the inability to raise revenues in quantities sufficient to pay for the expenditure requirements of the state, without running up unsustainable levels of debt? Speaking of debt, is our envisioned solution to pay this debt down or to raise the state’s capacity to carry the burden of servicing this debt? Are we talking about how to pump growth, or how to bring about a kind of growth that is sustainable, and that lifts people out of poverty, creates opportunities for the young and, overall, secures the livelihoods of the citizenry?"
https://www.dawn.com/news/1965743/solving-pakistan
27th Amendment
Editorial, “Course correction,” Dawn, 08 January 2026
“It has been said at length before, but bears repeating: the 27th Amendment was a monumental mistake. The same has now been underlined by international human rights group Amnesty International, which has described it in its new research report as the “crescendo of a concerted and sustained attack on the independence of the judiciary, right to fair trial, and the rule of law in Pakistan”. That is a sobering assessment, and it should give any well-meaning citizen some pause."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1965739/course-correction
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