Bharat Rakshak

The most accurate estimate of Pakistan’s population in 2025 is around 255–258 million people. Different authoritative sources (UN, World Bank, Worldometer, Georank) give slightly varying figures, so the realistic margin of error is about ±3 million.

In this video, we discuss and analyze the recent article from The Economist about Imran Khan, particularly focusing on the claims made regarding Bushra Bibi. The discussion compares this situation to a broader pattern in Pakistan’s political history, where many prominent figures whether leaders, politicians, or dictators have sought guidance or support from spiritual leaders, often referred to as peers.
The video highlights how this spiritual or mystical association has long influenced Pakistan’s political culture. Historical examples include Nawaz Sharif, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, Ayub Khan, and Benazir Bhutto, all of whom were known to maintain ties with particular spiritual mentors or saints.
Through these comparisons, the video explores how religion and spirituality intersect with power and politics in Pakistan, shaping leadership narratives and public perception over time.

Air India estimates the ban has cut its annual profit before tax by $455 million.

A_Gupta wrote: ↑23 Nov 2025 21:43 Apparently, Pakistan loses $760,000 per day (2025 estimate) for each day it doesn't allow Indian overflights, or about $277 million per year.

A problem is that Air India is losing more than that.

Air India estimates the ban has cut its annual profit before tax by $455 million.

Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry refuted allegations by the Afghan Taliban on Tuesday that Pakistan had conducted overnight strikes in Afghanistan, state media reported.

Pakistan’s airstrikes on Kabul signal a decisive shift in regional security policy, aiming to establish strong deterrence and curb escalating cross-border militancy.

Pakistan’s recent airstrikes on Kabul have reportedly alarmed the Taliban leadership and created what security sources describe as a “new deterrence.” According to The Express Tribune, the strikes marked a major shift in Islamabad’s counterterrorism strategy and signaled its readiness to act beyond the Durand Line.

Manish_P wrote: ↑28 Nov 2025 22:20 ^ Germany, France, UK?

SSridhar wrote: ↑28 Nov 2025 19:40 The Lowy Institute's 2025 Comprehensive Power Index is out.

Terroristan is below Philippines.

Manish_P wrote: ↑28 Nov 2025 22:20 ^ Germany, France, UK?

uddu wrote: ↑28 Nov 2025 22:28
ASIA Power Index...

drnayar wrote: ↑29 Nov 2025 03:25

Manish_P wrote: ↑28 Nov 2025 22:20 ^ Germany, France, UK?

https://www.globalfirepower.com/countries-listing.php

4.India

In Pakistan, much misunderstanding has been created around some key political concepts. Nationalism is equated with treason, secularism with atheism, socialism with communism, freedom of expression with anarchy, true history with betrayal of ideology, cultural affinity with anti-religious practices, etc. It isn’t surprising, therefore, that these misguided perceptions have brought Pakistan to the brink, with neither external peace nor internal cohesion, and militancy spreading over more than half the land mass.

bdelatty said Egypt is hosting a reconstruction conference on Gaza and looked to Pakistan for an expanded role.

“Regarding Gaza, we need everything from Pakistan, not only funding, but also participation from private companies in reconstruction and recovery efforts. We also need technical assistance and medical support. There are 50,000 medical cases in Gaza that require urgent intervention.

“We are expecting a more engaged role from your great country,” he added.

...
“The ministry for foreign affairs has decided to close the embassies of Finland in Islamabad, Kabul and Yangon in 2026,” said the Finnish foreign minister in a press release issued on Friday.

...
In 2023, Sweden also indefinitely closed its embassy in the capital, citing the security situation as the reason.

A_Gupta wrote: ↑30 Nov 2025 05:00 Yawn:
Finland to close embassy in Pakistan over ‘operational and strategic’ reasons

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“The ministry for foreign affairs has decided to close the embassies of Finland in Islamabad, Kabul and Yangon in 2026,” said the Finnish foreign minister in a press release issued on Friday.

...
In 2023, Sweden also indefinitely closed its embassy in the capital, citing the security situation as the reason.

ISLAMABAD: As the crucial Nov 29 deadline expired, questions grew over the government’s failure to notify the appointment of the country’s first Chief of Defence Forces (CDF), a dual-hatted position combined with the office of the army chief.

The CDF position, created under the 27th Constitutional Ame­nd­ment, replaced the now-abolished office of the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, which formally ended on Nov 27. Officials and observers had expected the new notification to coincide with the abolition of the CJCSC post, but Nov 29 was seen as a critical marker being the date on which the original three-year tenure of the incumbent Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, was set to expire.

Some legal experts had argued that without a new notification, FM Munir’s tenure could be interpreted as having lapsed.

However, a 2024 amendment to the Pakistan Army Act extended the tenure of the service chiefs to five years. That change included a “deeming” clause stating that the amendment “shall always be deemed to have been part of the Pakistan Army Act”, a formulation that legal minds say removed the requirement for a fresh notification extending the COAS tenure from three to five years.

Some legal experts argue tenure can be interpreted as having lapsed, others say no need for fresh notification after legal tweaks

Therefore, they contend, Nov 29 never constituted a legal cut-off.

Still, there is near consensus among security and legal officials that the creation of the CDF post, a new assignment rather than a continuation, does require a formal notification. Under the 27th Ame­ndment and subsequent changes to the Army Act, the army chief will simultaneously serve as the CDF for a five-year term.

Therefore, several security sources, when contacted, said the government would have to issue a new, public notification assigning the CDF role to Field Marshal Munir, unlike the quiet extensions recently granted to PAF chief Air Chief Marshal Zaheer-ud-din Babar and ISI director general Lt Gen Asim Malik.

However, the delay is widely seen as a sign of unresolved debates within the highest levels of government. According to individuals with insight into the discussions, one point under consideration is which date would be taken as the start of the COAS’s five-year tenure: November 2022 when FM Munir originally took command or November 2025 as had been broadly speculated after passage of the new legislation.

Another sensitive question is the extent of operational and command authority the CDF would exercise over the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy.

Maybe someone can decipher what is happening in Pakistan: