Pakistan’s interior ministry finally admitted to temporarily blocking access to X (formerly Twitter) in February, citing national security concerns and the platform’s alleged failure to comply with government directives regarding misuse. The ban, implemented around the time of general elections, followed claims of vote rigging and subsequent protests. The government asserted that X was being used to spread destabilizing content, a claim disputed by activists who viewed the block as an attempt to suppress dissent. A court subsequently ordered the platform’s restoration within a week.
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Anwar ul-Haq, a U.S. citizen who recently returned to Pakistan with his family, confessed to murdering his 15-year-old daughter. Police believe the killing stemmed from his disapproval of her TikTok videos, which he deemed objectionable. The suspect’s brother-in-law was also arrested, and authorities are investigating the possibility of an honor killing. The family had lived in the United States for 25 years before returning to Balochistan province, where conservative social norms prevail.
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Afghan Taliban forces retaliated against Pakistan following Pakistani airstrikes, prompting a significant escalation of tensions between the two nations. Kabul’s announcement of these retaliatory strikes highlights a dramatic shift in the regional dynamics, a stark contrast to the celebratory tone in Pakistan just a few years ago when the US withdrew from Afghanistan.
The situation is undeniably complex. For decades, Pakistan’s military utilized Afghanistan as a training ground and recruitment hub for various terrorist organizations. This long history of support, however unintentional the consequences may have seemed at the time, has now come back to haunt Pakistan. The current conflict feels, to some, like a case of reaping what you sow, with Pakistan now facing the repercussions of its past actions.… Continue reading
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood