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In Focus
UNSC endorses Pakistan’s claim of increased TTP attacks from Afghan soil
Report warns that the TTP may morph into an “extra-regional threat” if not addressed
On 10 February, The Express Tribune and Dawn reported that the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) released a report saying that attacks on Pakistan by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant group from Afghanistan have increased. This report thus endorses Pakistan’s long-running claim about militant sanctuaries in Afghanistan. The report, released by the Analytical Support and Sanctions Monitoring Team, also comes at a time when the country is experiencing renewed violence following the suicide attack that killed at least 33 people in Islamabad and the 31 January militant attacks in Balochistan.
According to the report, the presence of terror outfits in Afghanistan remained a source of concern in Central and South Asia. “There was an increase in attacks in Pakistan launched by TTP (Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan) in Afghanistan, which led to military exchanges. Regional relations remained fragile. Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant-Khorasan (ISIL-K) was under sustained counter-terrorism pressure, but it retained a potent capability, coupled with intent to conduct external operations,” it said. It also highlighted the concern surrounding cross-border attacks and the radicalisation of vulnerable domestic communities. It added that no member state endorses Kabul’s view that there were no terrorist groups within Afghanistan. Crucially, it spoke about how Al-Qaeda continued to exist independently in Afghanistan and has been acting as a service provider and multiplier of other terrorist groups in Afghanistan, including the TTP. It noted that the TTP is one of the largest operating terrorist groups in Afghanistan, and its confrontation with Pakistan has led to military interventions, highlighting the growing complexity of attacks. The report added that Pakistan’s response to the TTP has been a major setback for the group. Additionally, the report also drew attention to other militant groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA).
Pakistan has repeatedly blamed the Afghanistan-India nexus for growing terrorism and violence in the country. Both nations have rejected this claim. Pakistan’s interior minister said earlier this week that the mastermind behind the Islamabad attack was an Afghan citizen with links to Daesh. Last year, a report from the UN’s 1988 Taliban Sanctions Committee said that groups such as the BLA, Majeed Brigade and TTP were in “close coordination” and that there was a risk of them exploiting regional tensions, particularly between Pakistan and India and Afghanistan. In 2023, another UN report revealed that the TTP had established a new base in KP and that it had close ties with the Afghan Taliban and Al-Qaeda, and further noted that some Taliban members had even joined the TTP, supporting Pakistan’s claim of terrorism originating from Afghan soil. (“UNSC report endorses Pakistan's claims of increased TTP attacks from Afghan soil,” The Express Tribune, 10 February 2026; “TTP may morph into ‘extra-regional threat’,” Dawn, 11 February 2026)
In Brief
IND-PAK
India skips arbitration hearing amid Indus Water Treaty dispute
On 11 February, Dawn reported that, as per a statement by Hague’s Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA), India did not respond to an invitation to participate in a hearing and did not appear in proceedings over a case related to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) dispute with Pakistan. The treaty was designed to remove water from the volatility of politics and conflict and to anchor it firmly in law, engineering discipline and neutral dispute resolution. Further, the tribunal may also prescribe remedial measures to prevent ongoing prejudice. While international tribunals lack coercive enforcement mechanisms, their awards are binding, and persistent defiance carries serious legal, diplomatic, and reputational consequences. ("India skips IWT case-proceedings at the Hague," Dawn, 11 February 2026)
EXTERNAL
Pakistan and Indonesia reaffirm bilateral cooperation
On 10 February, Dawn reported that Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar and Indonesia’s investment minister Rosan Roeslani reaffirmed trade and investment as key pillars of bilateral cooperation between the two countries. Roeslani was in Islamabad to discuss strengthening Pakistan-Indonesia economic and investment ties during a meeting with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both leaders reviewed “potential collaboration opportunities and mutually beneficial projects, including exchange of views on sovereign wealth fund models, and reaffirmed trade and investment as a key pillar of bilateral cooperation.” The meeting follows a two-day official visit by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in December 2025 and the signing of an MoU to establish an Indonesia-Pakistan Joint Trade Committee (JTC) (“Dar, Indonesian minister reaffirm trade, investment as key pillars of bilateral cooperation,” Dawn, 10 February 2026)
President Zardari welcomes Uzbek president’s invitation to visit and strengthen ties
On 10 February, Dawn reported that President Asif Ali Zardari welcomed an invitation from Uzbekistan President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to visit his country, while also emphasising the strengthening ties between the two countries. The invitation letter, which was handed over to President Zardari by Uzbek Ambassador Alisher Tukhtaev, also expressed gratitude for being conferred the Nishan-e-Pakistan, the country’s highest civilian award. President Zardari said that Pakistan and Uzbekistan were close bilateral partners, while also reaffirming Pakistan’s commitment to further strengthening cooperation with Uzbekistan in key sectors like food and agriculture, mining and banking, among others. This follows the two countries signing a protocol for expanding bilateral trade to USD two billion within the next five years. (“President Zardari welcomes Uzbek president’s invitation to visit, emphasises strengthening ties,” Dawn, 10 February 2026)
ECONOMY
Overseas workers’ remittances reach USD 3.5 billion in January
On 11 February, Dawn reported that in January, overseas workers’ remittances were recorded at USD 3.5 billion, increasing by 11.3 per cent during Jul-Jan of the current fiscal year (FY26) as per State Bank of Pakistan data. Remittances in January were “mainly sourced” from Saudi Arabia (USD 739.6 million), the United Arab Emirates (USD 694.2 million), the United Kingdom (USD 572.1 million) and the United States of America (USD 294.7million). ("Workers’ remittances total $3.5bn in January, up 11.3pc in Jul–Jan FY26," Dawn, 11 February 2026)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Sindh sets up single-judge inquiry into Gul Plaza fire, gives eight-week deadline
On 10 February, Dawn reported that the Sindh government formally notified a single-member commission, headed by Sindh high court justice Agha Faisal, to further investigate the Gul Plaza shopping centre fire in Karachi that killed at least 73 people and destroyed more than 1,100 shops. The provincial gazette contained a notification which ordered the commission to finish its investigation within eight weeks while receiving assistance from the Karachi commissioner's secretariat. The document specified that the terms of reference required investigators to establish both the reasons behind the fire and all relevant events which led to the disaster. The investigation needed to evaluate both the speed and effectiveness of rescue efforts, which took place during the incident. The investigation needed to identify all parties who failed to perform their duties correctly before and after the incident occurred. The investigation needed to verify if all relevant building plans and fire prevention and audit procedures followed the established safety regulations and laws. (“Sindh govt notifies single-judge commission to investigate Gul Plaza inferno,” Dawn, 10 February 2026)
Supreme Court appoints Salman Safdar as amicus, orders report on Imran’s jail living conditions
On 10 February, Dawn reported that PTI lawyer Salman Safdar met former prime minister Imran Khan at Adiala jail for nearly three hours after the Supreme Court allowed the visit and appointed Safdar as amicus curiae, directing him to submit a written report on Imran’s living conditions by the next day. The report said Safdar told reporters that Imran appeared in fine health but did not share details, citing the court-mandated report. It added that the court sought an updated assessment because of an earlier attorney general report related to Imran’s detention in Attock jail in 2023, while PTI leaders continued to press for visitation rights and raised concerns about alleged restrictions and health-related issues, with the hearing adjourned to 12 February. (“PTI lawyer Salman Safdar meets Imran at Adiala jail, says party founder appeared fine healthwise,” Dawn, 10 February 2026)
Courts issue non-bailable warrants against Aleema Khan and KP CM Sohail Afridi
On 11 February, Dawn reported that courts in Rawalpindi and Islamabad issued non-bailable arrest warrants in separate cases against senior PTI figures Aleema Khanum, sister of party founder Imran Khan, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa chief minister Sohail Afridi. The Rawalpindi anti-terrorism court issued an arrest warrant for Aleema Khan after she failed to appear for her November 26 PTI protest case hearing, which the court declared fell under anti-terrorism laws. The prosecutors accused her of sending messages which led to violent protests during the protest. The court in Islamabad issued a non-bailable warrant for Chief Minister Afridi under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act for defamatory statements against state institutions, yet he failed to appear for his court hearings. (“Non-bailable warrants issued for Aleema Khan, Sohail Afridi,” Dawn, 11 February 2026)
Editorials/Opinions
Imran Khan
Editorial, “Amicus curiae at Adiala,” The Express Tribune, 11 February 2026
"A breakthrough of sorts in Imran Khan's legal cases was attained yesterday as the Supreme Court allowed PTI counsel, Salman Safdar, to meet the incarcerated former PM. This development has come after a long hiatus and severe political somersaults, as the family and lawyers have been denied an audience with the PTI founder. The secrecy around the eye surgery of the jailed leader, reportedly carried out at PIMS, had stirred concerns about his well-being, prompting party leaders and lawyers to approach the apex court."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2591849/amicus-curiae-at-adiala
Pakistan & the IMF
Nadeem ul Haque & Shahid Kardar, “Exiting IMF: change incentives,” Dawn, 11 February 2026
"A credible exit requires binding fiscal and monetary rules, transparent escape clauses and the discipline to let prices work. It’s not the IMF that is the cause of Pakistan’s problems but the auditor that arrives after the damage. Exiting the IMF is not an act of defiance or nationalism; it is an act of competence. Until Pakistan stops confusing aspirations with instruments, plans with incentives, and rhetoric with reform, it will keep announcing exits — and signing the next programme."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1972491/exiting-imf-change-incentives
Security
Editorial, “Past follies,” Dawn, 11 February 2026
"In the aftermath of last Friday’s brutal bombing targeting an Islamabad imambargah, ways to address the menace of terrorism are being discussed in both houses of parliament. While there has been plenty of mudslinging between the treasury and the opposition on the issue, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif attempted to go back in history during Monday’s National Assembly session to trace the roots of the problem. According to him, today’s terrorism is the “blowback” of “mistakes committed by dictators in the past”, referring to the respective involvement of generals Zia and Musharraf in Afghanistan. The minister also observed that we deny our history and fail to realise our mistakes, while also highlighting the issue of sectarianism in society. Meanwhile in the Senate, there were calls to summon senior ex-military men to ascertain how TTP militants were able to re-enter the country."
https://www.dawn.com/news/1972477/past-follies
Wealth inequality
Dr Muhammad Babar Chohan, “Deepening wealth gap,” The Express Tribune, 09 February 2026
"Recent data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, compiled by a stock brokerage and financial company, reveals a widening inequality in incomes and assets between the rich and the poor of the country. The data shows economic prosperity is flowing upwards while financial strain is dissipating deep downwards, making the rich richer and the poor poorer. Based on the latest Household Integrated Economic Survey (HIES), it is observed that the real purchasing power for the common man has been declining between FY19 to FY25."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2591455/deepening-wealth-gap
Province
Fahd Husain, “Time for offensive defence,” The Express Tribune, 08 February 2026
"Basant is the latest in a series of high-profile projects in Punjab that are being acknowledged and appreciated – sometimes grudgingly – by people inside and outside the province. Punjab has always been ahead of other provinces in most respects, and there are genuine concerns too that it gets favoured treatment from the Centre, but with Maryam Nawaz at the helm, things are moving even faster than usual. She has succeeded in generating an unmistakable buzz around her pro-active governance style."
https://tribune.com.pk/story/2591295/time-for-offensive-defence
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