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Pakistan Sadiq Khan’s souvenir to the Afghan Taliban

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Some areas of Barmal district in Afghanistan’s Paktika province were targeted by the airstrikes of the Pakistan Army at a time when Mohammad Sadiq Khan, the country’s newly appointed representative for Afghanistan, was engaged in highly diplomatic and intensive talks with some high-ranking Taliban officials in the capital city, Kabul.

The Taliban claimed that more than 46 civilians (women and children) were killed as a result of this attack and denied Pakistan’s claim that the casualties were fighters of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Talian said that the majority of the casualties are civilians and Waziristan immigrants who lived in the areas in the last 10 years.

The Taliban have called this attack a clear violation of Afghan territory and have spoken of severe revenge. Also, the Taliban Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the charge d’affaires of the Pakistani Embassy in Kabul and handed him a letter with objectionable content.

In connection with this attack and its possible consequences, a few points can be speculated.

First,

The world’s silence regarding Pakistan’s daily light attack on Afghanistan is surprising. Not any of the countries in the world, not even the United Nations mentioned anything about the attack. Perhaps the world has realized that Pakistan has taken the risk of attacking Afghanistan not out of drunkenness but out of urgency and with the intention of suppressing TTP.

When the world has reached this understanding, the correctness of the Taliban’s claim of sheltering the TTP will become clearer than before, which will be to the detriment of this group. Pakistan’s weight in international relations can also be understood from the world’s silence, especially when the conflict in Afghanistan is in the middle.

On the other hand, it can also be understood that the Taliban are not important enough in the eyes of the world that an open violation of their sovereign territory would offend anyone, or a country and provoke a reaction. Of course, the loss of statelessness can also be strongly felt. If Afghanistan had a strong and legitimate government, maybe Pakistan would not have been so bold. In that case, if Pakistan had attacked, it would definitely have faced the overwhelming reaction of the countries.

Second,

The well-known movements against the Taliban, like the countries of the world and the United Nations, have given themselves to heavy silence. Indeed, some people have condemned, exactly those who do not want anything from the Taliban, except the reopening of girls’ schools, regardless of the quality of the content of the educational curriculum.

For example, the National Assembly for the Salvation of Afghanistan, the National Resistance Front, the Freedom Front, the Supreme Council of the National Resistance for Salvation, etc., are the current anti-Taliban movements that have avoided condemning the attack so far.

These groups know very well that TTP is walking under the shadow of Afghan Taliban and Pakistan’s concern is understandable in their opinion. Not only that, but they may also be happy with Pakistan’s attack, because while the relationship between Islamabad and the Taliban is strained, the problem of terrorists taking shelter in Afghanistan becomes more apparent, which will be to the detriment of the Kabul regime.

If the tension between Pakistan and the Taliban increases, the former may also establish contact with the opposing current groups, and the reaction to the recent attack can close the door of communication. Even the criticisms of the citizens are more towards the Taliban than towards Pakistan. It is not known how this group understands the silence of the world and the minimal reactions of its opposing forces and citizens.

Third,

Until now, Pakistan has tried to convince the Afghan Taliban to curb the TTP by resorting to dialogue, but it has not succeeded. The re-appointment of Sadiq Khan has no meaning except Islamabad giving importance to negotiations. Now, the attack on Paktika showed that the Pakistani army likes to avoid resorting to force in parallel with negotiations – what is not known is whether Islamabad will achieve its goal or not.

More importantly, by doing this, Pakistan showed that the Afghan Taliban, with the dismissal of Asif Durrani, the re-appointment of Sadiq Khan and his dispatch to Kabul, should not be trapped in the illusion that Islamabad is bound to sit around the negotiating table. To say that Sadiq Khan was not aware of the quality of the “souvenirs” he presented to the Taliban may not be true. Because the current Pakistani civilians and military have reached a consensus to curb TTP.

However, what is clear is Pakistan’s avoidance of a “decisive war” with the Taliban. For now, Islamabad’s preference is to launch sporadic airstrikes and at the same time keep the door open to dialogue. That’s it. Of course, the Taliban also hate to enter the war and instead, they seek to establish a government and extend the life of their rule, not to get involved with Pakistan, which was and is their serious supporter.

Fourth,

It should also be said about the possible response of the Taliban. Although this group has spoken of revenge, the fulfillment of the promise, if not impossible, is not very likely. The fact is that the Taliban do not have the ability to retaliate against Pakistan’s attack.

If they are determined to attack, this is different from border conflicts, which are largely unorganized. In this case, the next reaction will be followed by Islamabad, and again, not this country, but the Taliban will suffer. We all remember Pakistan’s immediate response to Iran’s missile attack. That act of Pakistan showed that it is no joke in defending its territory. It is unlikely that the Taliban did not understand this point.

Apart from that, the Taliban cannot be considered as Iran or Israel if the people of the world are watching the response of this group. As the attack on Taliban territory has not been reacted to, the silence of this group will not be accompanied by sarcasm but with the silence of the world.

If we pay close attention, Pakistan’s open attack reminds viewers, readers and listeners of Israel’s air attack on post-Assad Syrian territory. Therefore, as the new rulers of Damascus have been silent, the new rulers of Kabul will do the same.

But one factor can provoke the Taliban – Zalmay Khalilzad’s statements (Forer US peace envoy). He has claimed on his X page that the Taliban will probably respond. Khalilzad’s view towards Pakistan is very unfavorable. For this reason, a few days before the US sanctioned its missile program, it not only supported, but also demanded more sanctions. He is also unhappy with the imprisonment of Imran Khan, the former prime minister of Pakistan.

The return of Donald Trump to the White House may not benefit Pakistan, because his view is not favorable towards this country. Therefore, Khalilzad may encourage parts of the Taliban to attack.

There are already reports doing rounds in the media that Taliban and Pakistani border troops on Friday engaged in intense clashes in Dand-e-Patan district of Afghanistan’s Paktia province.

Local sources said that the clashes lasted for several hours, with both sides exchanging heavy fire. The Taliban and Pakistani officials did not comment on the incident so far. There is also no immediate report on the casualties.

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Chinese Politburo signals cautious confidence as Beijing pivots toward targeted tech support

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03/08/2026

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The mid-year meeting of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Politburo has long served as a critical evaluation point for Beijing. The session provides the central government with an opportunity to review developments from the first half of the year and steer the country toward a more realistic economic course in the months ahead.

The latest statement from the top leadership signals cautious confidence. The release indicates that policymakers are favoring a stable, targeted approach over the broad-based stimulus measures that characterized previous years. As China manages its economic transition, the post-Covid era of aggressive spending has clearly drawn to a close. In its place, a strategic and structural approach has taken hold, prioritizing resilience and stability over short-term capital injections.

According to the outcomes of the Politburo meeting, the policy orientation will continue to target specific sectors. Financial support will be directed away from the property market and toward high-tech emerging industries such as artificial intelligence and semiconductors. In the real estate sector, the objective remains stabilizing market confidence and keeping debt risks under control.

Infrastructure investment is likewise being reshaped around the concept of “new infrastructure.” The focus is no longer solely on concrete and physical structures; smart power grids, information technology networks, and data infrastructure have taken precedence.

This approach signifies an investment in future competitiveness rather than simply pumping capital into the economy’s more stagnant sectors. Serving as a new driver of growth, digital infrastructure fulfills a dual purpose: supporting domestic demand in the short term while safeguarding technological competitiveness over the long term.

Finally, Beijing is signaling a more conciliatory posture in international trade. The Chinese leadership aims to establish a more balanced trade framework to mitigate concerns voiced by trade partners such as the European Union over what has been termed “China Shock 2.0.”

As the administration prepares for critical leadership changes next year, its primary focus will remain on stability across both economic and social spheres.

China continues to strike a balance between realistic growth targets and systemic restructuring, maintaining policy leeway to absorb potential external shocks. Beijing’s economic strategy reflects a pragmatic assessment of both domestic and international challenges.

Struggling with weak demand, the domestic economy is not yet in a position to anchor national growth independently. Expansion continues to rely heavily on a record trade surplus alongside the impressive export performance of high-tech and clean energy sectors. However, this reliance has drawn pushback from several trading partners.

To stimulate domestic economic activity and ease trade tensions, Beijing unveiled its first standalone five-year plan focused on consumption. Released in July by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Commerce, the plan targets an increase in retail sales to 60 trillion yuan (approximately $8.9 trillion) by 2030. This represents an increase of roughly 20% compared to 2025 levels.

To improve profit margins for small businesses, regulatory authorities are tackling the issue of “involution”—described as excessive internal competition—by curbing platform monopolies and preventing destructive price wars. While these structural adjustments may take longer to yield results, they are viewed as a more sustainable and effective alternative to direct cash handouts.

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Chinese chipmaker profits surge 2,500% on explosive AI computing demand

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6 days ago

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28/07/2026

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Major Chinese microchip manufacturers saw their profits surge by 2,579.5% in the first half of 2026, driven by unprecedented demand for artificial intelligence and computing capacity.

Data from China’s National Bureau of Statistics, cited by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), underscored the industry’s sharp upward trajectory.

Yu Weining, senior statistician at China’s National Bureau of Statistics, explained that this surge is directly connected to the accelerating integration of artificial intelligence across various sectors.

Yu noted that this process has increased the need for computing capacity. The demand for computational processes also lifted profits across the entire electronics industry by 97% year-on-year.

Profits of major Chinese industrial enterprises with an annual revenue exceeding 20 million yuan ($2.9 million) rose 18.7% in the first six months of the year, reaching 4 trillion yuan.

In the first half of 2025, before the global data center construction process had begun, industrial profits had dropped by 1.8% to 3.4 trillion yuan, while profit growth in the electronics sector remained at 3.5%.

The SCMP reported that the global AI boom has generated explosive demand for high-performance computing systems and memory chips, causing a structural pivot in China’s industrial landscape.

Data showed that integrated circuit production in the first half of the year grew by 23% year-on-year to reach approximately 280 billion units.

This figure means that the country produced an average of more than 1.5 billion chips per day.

The profit growth is also corroborated by forecasts from China’s leading chipmakers. Shenzhen Longsys Electronics, one of the largest memory module manufacturers, expects its profits to increase by more than 600-fold in the first half of the year.

Flash memory maker GigaDevice projects that its net profit will surge by approximately 1,099% year-on-year due to supply shortages and rising product prices.

Chinese companies in the AI chip segment are also demonstrating strong profit growth, albeit at a more moderate pace compared to the memory market.

Hygon Information Technology, which develops central processing units and computing units for artificial intelligence, projects that its profits will rise by up to 52.3%.

CXMT hits record high on Shanghai Stock Exchange

Shares of Chinese chipmaker CXMT gained more than 500% on their first day of trading on the Shanghai Stock Exchange on July 27, jumping from 8.66 yuan to 55 yuan.

As a result of this sharp surge in its shares, CXMT’s market valuation reached 3.65 trillion yuan ($539 billion), making the company China’s most valuable publicly traded firm.

At the peak of the rally—even though quoted prices underwent a slight correction toward the close of the trading day—CXMT surpassed Tencent, which was trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange with a market capitalization of $514 billion.

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Massive student movement over exam leaks forces resignation of India’s education minister

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7 days ago

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27/07/2026

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Indian public examination reform proposals follow education minister’s resignation after nationwide youth protests

India’s federal government introduced legislation in parliament on Monday to amend the law governing public examinations, days after the “Cockroach” movement forced the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following nationwide youth protests.

The bill incorporates enhanced sanctions, including longer prison sentences and higher fines for those found responsible for exam leaks and irregularities.

The demonstrations are widely viewed as the most significant youth-led challenge faced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi since he took office in 2014.

What triggered the protests?

Nearly 2 million students took the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), an undergraduate medical entrance examination, in May. The federal National Testing Agency cancelled the exam on May 12 following allegations that question papers had been leaked. The examination was re-administered on June 21.

Young people took to the streets to protest against examination fraud, youth unemployment, and a perceived lack of future prospects.

According to a BBC report, the unemployment rate among university and college graduates aged 15 to 25 in the country stands at a critically high level of 40%. The addition of corruption in public examinations to existing economic strain broke the patience of the youth.

Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Public Party (CJP) movement, led the protests.

The movement derived its name from remarks made in May by Supreme Court Judge Surya Kant, who used the terms “cockroach” and “parasite” in a derogatory reference to unemployed youth and protesters. Young demonstrators adopted the insult as a symbol and named their movement after it.

How the movement unfolded

Young protesters organized street demonstrations demanding the resignation of Education Minister Pradhan. Dipke, who initiated the movement in New Delhi, subsequently organized protests in other parts of the country.

Sonam Wangchuk, one of the protesters, began a hunger strike at the demonstration site in support of the movement. As his physical condition deteriorated, authorities forcibly transferred him to a hospital.

The reaction to Wangchuk’s forcible removal from the protest site caused crowds at the venue to expand rapidly.

Tens of thousands of protesters faced tear gas and baton charges by police while attempting to march on parliament. Some demonstrators engaged in clashes with law enforcement officers.

CJP leaders held talks with ministers from the Modi government, who requested time to evaluate the protesters’ demands internally.

Modi called for unity among lawmakers in the ruling coalition to implement strict measures against exam paper leaks, punish those responsible, and establish a secure, leak-proof system.

Opposition representatives led by Rahul Gandhi staged a sit-in at the entrance of Modi’s official residence demanding Pradhan’s resignation. They were briefly detained by police before being released.

Opposition lawmakers supporting the student protesters disrupted proceedings in parliament. Demonstrations expanded to other regions of the country, including the financial hub of Mumbai.

In his first direct statement regarding the protests, published in a post on X, Modi announced that special courts would be established to prosecute individuals involved in exam paper leaks. Protesters rejected the proposal.

Movement leaders held a second round of talks with the government after Wangchuk ended his 26-day hunger strike.

Following those discussions, the government requested time until the afternoon of the following day to respond to the demand for Pradhan’s resignation.

Education Minister Pradhan subsequently announced his resignation, stating that he was stepping down in light of the situation at the protest site and across the country, as well as to prevent “external forces” from exploiting the environment.

On July 26, Modi announced the creation of a task force headed by technology entrepreneur Nandan Nilekani to overhaul the country’s examination system.

On Monday, July 27, the government presented a bill to parliament proposing amendments to the law governing public examinations. The legislation introduces stiffer penalties for offenders, including extended prison terms and increased monetary fines.

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