Opinion
Pakistan's Politics Needs Rules Before It Needs Deals
Bilal Javed on four political fights this week, from new provinces to Islamabad's local polls and detentions, and why process matters more than a deal.
Opinion
Opinion: 4 The Indus Compass stories. Latest: Pakistan's Politics Needs Rules Before It Needs Deals. Key developments, background and analysis.
4 stories on opinion since 7 November 2026; the latest was published on 13 November 2026.
Key developments
- Pakistan's Politics Needs Rules Before It Needs DealsIn about 48 hours this week, Pakistan saw a three-hour jail meeting with Imran Khan, the release of two of his sisters, a referendum idea on new provinces and an ECP warning over Islamabad's local polls.
- Chashma-5 Shows What the China Partnership Does Best. The Hard Part Is OursThe dome of Chashma-5, a 1,200MW plant near Mianwali, was placed on November 10; the government expects it to start generating in September 2030.
- CPEC's Next Phase Needs a Joint Security Plan and a Dividend People Can SeeA Pakistani delegation in Beijing said Balochistan's security is improving but that Pakistan and China need a coordinated joint strategy for CPEC's security challenges.
- Diplomacy Must Not End When the Shooting StartsThe Security Council adopted a Pakistan-initiated statement saying diplomacy must continue during active hostilities.
Opinion
Chashma-5 Shows What the China Partnership Does Best. The Hard Part Is Ours
Bilal Javed on the Chashma-5 dome ceremony: why joint projects with China work, and why the grid, the finance and the public timetable now matter more than the speeches.
Opinion
CPEC's Next Phase Needs a Joint Security Plan and a Dividend People Can See
Bilal Javed on why Pakistan and China need a coordinated security plan and visible local benefits for CPEC's next phase, from Gwadar to Sindh, and what to ask for now.
Opinion
Diplomacy Must Not End When the Shooting Starts
Bilal Javed on why the UN Security Council's statement on diplomacy during war matters for Pakistan, and why it will mean little unless it is applied in Gaza, Iran and beyond.