ZEESHAN AFZAL

  Afghanistan welcomes upgraded diplomatic ties with neighboring Pakistan. Taliban government to follow Pakistan’s move to designate ambassador to Kabul as tensions between the two nations ease. Afghanistan has welcomed an upgrade in its diplomatic ties with Pakistan, signalling an easing of tensions between the South Asian neighbours. Pakistani Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday said the charge d’affaires stationed in the Afghan capital, Kabul, would be elevated to the rank of ambassador, with Afghanistan’s Taliban government later announcing its representative in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, would also be upgraded. A charge d’affaires serves as an embassy’s chief of mission in the absence of the ambassador. “This elevation in diplomatic representation between Afghanistan [and] Pakistan paves the way for enhanced bilateral cooperation in multiple domains,” the Afghan Ministry of Foreign Affairs posted on X on Saturday. Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is due...

  South Asia needs a peace deal. In its aftermath, United Nations was established, envisioned as more effective organization. Human history is marked by conflicts that have often led to devastating wars. The two World Wars were products of such conflicts, causing the loss of millions of lives and immense suffering. It was only after these catastrophic events that the world recognized the need for a forum, where nations could engage in dialogue and resolve their disputes peacefully. The League of Nations was the first attempt at creating such a platform, but it failed miserably to prevent further conflict, eventually leading to the outbreak of World War II. In its aftermath, the United Nations was established, envisioned as a more effective organization. However, the UN has also struggled to address critical global issues. The enormous cost of the two World Wars, primarily involving European powers, prompted a shift in approach. European countries chose to resolve their differences...

Karachi hit by 19 minor earthquakes since Sunday. Chief meteorologist says Landhi Fault Region likely cause of ongoing seismic activity. First tremor recorded at midnight on Monday. Epicenter near Malir, depth around 40 kilometers. Third jolt recorded near Korangi early Tuesday. Karachi has now experienced 19 mild earthquakes since Sunday, the Seismic Monitoring Centre of the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) confirmed on Tuesday. The latest tremor occurred at 9:57am, registering a magnitude of 2.8. The epicentre of the 16th quake was located northeast of Malir, approximately 15 kilometres from the area, at a depth of 40 kilometres. Previously, two back-to-back tremors were recorded late Monday night — the first at midnight with a magnitude of 2.6 and the second at 12:23am measuring 2.8. Both had a depth of 40 kilometres and were centred northeast of Malir. The third tremor occurred at 6:42am Tuesday with a magnitude of 3.2 and a shallower depth of 11 kilometres, near Korangi. S...

When the why walks away: Virat Kohli’s retirement and the summer that lost its song. Kohli didn’t leave because he stopped loving the game. He left because the game stopped understanding the kind of love he gave it. There was a time: before hashtags and hostilities, when cricket on this subcontinent belonged to purer minds. I was lucky to grow up in that Karachi. A city where cricket was not a proxy for politics, but a portal into grace, grit, and genius. Our coaches didn’t teach us whom to cheer based on flags; they taught us to revere Sunil Gavaskar if we wanted to learn the art of attrition, and Gordon Greenidge if we sought the fury of a square cut in full bloom. We were taught that genius bowed to no border. Which is why, today, I feel no conflict in mourning Virat Kohli’s exit. In times like these, when vitriol comes easier than virtue, this piece is not written in protest or praise. It is written in remembrance. For the game we once loved. And the way we were once taught to love...

  Sticking to  Dadi’s  Recipes Nazish Chagala discusses the relationship between our genetic predisposition and the food we eat today. Sitting at the dinner table, we often find ourselves complaining about the copious amounts of oil in our Saalan, or perhaps the missing crunch from what look like overcooked vegetables. Can you blame us? Nutritional science is but a baby compared to other fields, and Dr Google has pretty much told us that we are not going to last as long as we had hoped. No wonder we are afraid of butter, egg yolks and most oils. The truth is that the more research that goes into food – its nutritional value and best practices around cooking and consumption – the more we realize why ancient cultures such as ours come out on top in terms of nutrition and cooking practices. In Pakistan, we have had the benefit of amalgamating learnings from Islam and Ayurveda and married the best to help us get the most from what is on our plates. Let’s take that  Saala...

   Remembering Muhammad Ali, "The Greatest". Muhammad Ali was a three-time world heavyweight boxing champion, civil rights leader, and one of the most significant and celebrated sports icons of the 20th century. Nicknamed "The Greatest," Ali's career was as colorful as it was controversial. Born Cassius Clay, he changed his name and converted to Islam, refused to be drafted during the Vietnam War, and was banned from boxing as a result. But the boy from Louisville was always much more than a mere pugilist; he was an activist, entertainer, and philanthropist who inspired an entire generation. Takes up boxing, wins his first bout. Born Cassius Marcella Clay Jr. on January 17, 1942 in Louisville, Kentucky, he began training as a amateur boxer in 1954, aged 12, after his bike was stolen. The distraught youngster reported the theft to policeman and boxing enthusiast Joe E. Martin, who suggested he take up the sport and invited him to come around to his gym. It was th...