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In Brief
EXTERNAL
Pakistan affirms commitment to regional peace with incoming Bangladesh leadership
On 13 February, Dawn reported that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif engaged the incoming leadership of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) following its victory in the recent general elections. PM Sharif affirmed his country’s resolve to work together with the new administration for regional peace. The prime minister spoke with BNP leader Tarique Rahman over the phone and extended his congratulations on a “historic and splendid victory” in the elections. "Recalling the historic, fraternal relations between Pakistan and Bangladesh, the prime minister reiterated his resolve to work together with the leadership of Bangladesh to further strengthen mutually beneficial bilateral cooperation,” a statement said. Pakistan and Bangladesh have seen their ties grow closer over the last year, after they signed several agreements in August 2025 covering trade, diplomacy, media, education and cultural exchanges. (“PM engages incoming Bangladesh leadership, affirms resolve to work together for regional peace,” Dawn, 13 February 2026)
UNSC condemns suicide attack on imambaragh in Islamabad
On 13 February, Dawn reported that the United Nations Security Council, on Friday, condemned the suicide attack at an imambaragh in Islamabad in the “strongest terms”. In a statement, the 15-member UNSC described the attack as a “heinous and cowardly suicide bombing terrorist attack”. It expressed sympathy and condolences to the victims' families and wished for a speedy recovery. It condemned all acts of terrorism and stressed the need to ensure accountability, urging all states to cooperate actively with Pakistan. (“UN Security Council condemns suicide attack on imambargah in Islamabad,” Dawn, 13 February 2026)
Indonesian president shows interest in using PAF’s training ecosystem
On 13 February, Dawn reported that Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto expressed interest in leveraging the Pakistan Air Force’s (PAF) training ecosystem and aerospace development infrastructure to enhance its defence capabilities. The Indonesian President met with Pakistan’s chief of air staff, Air Chief Marshal (ACM) Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, during an official visit to the country. “During the meeting, (...) President Prabowo expressed keen interest in leveraging PAF’s state-of-the-art training ecosystem and aerospace development infrastructure to enhance Indonesia’s defence capabilities,” the ISPR statement read. It also states that the Indonesian air chief was interested in the PAF’s support in advancing operational and flying training. ISPR also said that ACM Sidhu held a joint meeting with the Indonesian defence minister and chief of defence forces, discussing a wide range of defence and security matters. (“In meeting with ACM Sidhu, Indonesian president shows interest in leveraging PAF’s training ecosystem: ISPR,” Dawn, 13 February 2026)
PAK-AFG
Around 150,000 Afghans returned from Pakistan and Iran so far in 2026, says UN
On 14 February, Dawn reported that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said that nearly 150,000 Afghans have returned home from Pakistan and Iran so far in 2026. This is in addition to the 5.4 million Afghans who have returned from the two countries since late 2023. The UNHCR said it continues to observe high numbers of Afghans returning or being forced to return from neighbouring countries, particularly Pakistan and Iran. This comes at a time when the scale of these returns has been deepening the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. According to the World Bank, rapid population growth fuelled by these returns has led to a four per cent decline in GDP per capita in 2025. “We are deeply concerned about the sustainability of these returns,” the UNHCR said. Along with other UN agencies and partners, the UNHCR continues to monitor the complex regional situation closely. (“Nearly 150,000 Afghans returned from Pakistan, Iran in 2026: UN,” Dawn, 14 February 2026)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Senate uproar as resolution on Imran’s health defeated by voice vote
On 13 February, Dawn reported that the Senate descended into chaos after a PTI-sponsored resolution expressing concern over the health of incarcerated former prime minister Imran Khan and calling for his transfer to a hospital was rejected through a voice vote. The report indicated that opposition members staged a protest at the chairman's podium following their failed attempt to count votes, but Rana Sanaullah and other government officials confirmed Imran received proper medical care from multiple boards, which evaluated his health condition. The report submitted to the Supreme Court became the basis for PTI lawmakers to claim that medical care for eye problems was delayed, which they presented as a matter of constitutional and humanitarian concern, before the session concluded with intense arguments. (“Pandemonium in Senate as resolution expressing concern over Imran’s health rejected,” Dawn, 13 February 2026)
Opposition alliance stages overnight sit-in at Parliament over Imran’s medical care
On 13 February, Dawn reported that the opposition alliance Tehreek Tahafuz-i-Ayeen Pakistan staged a sit-in at Parliament House after revelations that PTI founder Imran Khan had significant vision loss in one eye, vowing to continue the protest until he is shifted to a hospital and granted access to personal doctors and family. The report said opposition leaders gathered inside Parliament premises and, in parallel, staged a protest outside KP House after alleging blockades and use of force by police, while the government maintained that there would be no negligence in his treatment and that he would be taken wherever required for medical examination. (“Defiant TTAP stage sit-in at Parliament House over Imran’s health, vow to remain until demands fulfilled,” Dawn, 13 February 2026)
ECONOMY
Power sector and NHA remain major financial burden as SOEs profits decline in FY25
On 14 February, Dawn reported that the Power Sector and the National Highway Authority of Pakistan remained the biggest financial burden on Pakistan's economy. The power sector continues to operate with a PKR 9.2 trillion liabilities, equivalent to half of Pakistan’s annual budget, despite PKR 800 billion Capital injections to end circular debt. The Finance Ministry’s Central Monitoring Unit released a FY25 Aggregate report on the performance of state-owned entities. The report mentioned that during FY25, SOEs witnessed a decline in their overall profitability. Aggregate profits decreased by 13 per cent, falling from PKR 820.7 billion in FY24 to PKR 709.9 billion in FY25. The SOE’s debt stock, circular debt, pensions and quasi fiscal flows showed that total debt portfolio rose by four per cent, increasing from PKR 9.196 trillion to PKR 9.571 trillion. (“SOEs drain PKR 21 tr of tax revenue in FY25,” Dawn, 14 February 2026)
Weekly inflation eases by 0.59 per cent but year-on-year SPI remains elevated
On 14 February, Dawn reported that, as per Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data, the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) for the week ending on 12 February decreased 0.59 per cent. The weekly SPI covers 17 urban centres and tracks the prices of 51 essential items across all expenditure groups and quintiles. The year-on-year data show a 4.26 per cent increase in SPI, mainly because of an increase in prices of tomatoes, wheat flour, beef, eggs, bananas, LPG, etc. (“Short-term inflation decreases 0.59 per cent,” Dawn, 14 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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