Pakistan’s Prime Minister’s adviser on political and public affairs, Rana Sanaullah, has claimed that Imran Khan, founder of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), is on the verge of losing his political influence. Speaking at a rally in Gujranwala, Sanaullah sharply criticized Khan’s tenure, his strained relations with the military establishment, and the internal disarray within PTI.

Sanaullah alleged that Khan’s government brought destruction during its rule and partly blamed former army chief General Qamar Bajwa for key decisions of that period. He contrasted Khan’s confrontational approach with Nawaz Sharif’s restraint toward state institutions. According to Sanaullah, Khan’s conflict with the establishment began when he sought to use it against political rivals and later attempted to blackmail it for personal political gain.

The adviser further claimed that around 85% of PTI members no longer align with Khan’s political direction, warning that the party’s tactics resemble those of controversial past movements. Analysts view these remarks as part of the ruling coalition’s effort to weaken PTI ahead of Pakistan’s evolving political landscape.

At least 23 Afghan Taliban soldiers were killed in cross-border attacks by Pakistani forces over the past two days, according to a report by Pakistan’s The News on Sunday, December 7. The clashes occurred near the Chaman border in Balochistan, where Pakistani troops reportedly responded to gunfire from Afghan forces who allegedly violated a ceasefire late Friday night in the Zaman sector.

Sources cited by the report said the exchange began with small arms fire and escalated to heavy weaponry, including rockets and artillery, lasting around 45 minutes. Three Afghan border posts were reportedly destroyed. Pakistani sources claimed precision weapons were used to avoid civilian casualties, though Afghan troops later moved into populated areas, prompting further retaliatory fire.

The incident underscores the fragile security situation along the Pakistan-Afghanistan frontier, where tensions have grown since the Taliban’s return to power. Both sides have accused each other of ceasefire violations, raising concerns about potential escalation and civilian safety in border communities.

Pakistan’s Election Commission (ECP) has declined to recognize Barrister Gohar Ali Khan as chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), citing ongoing legal proceedings over the party’s internal elections. The ECP also rejected his request to formally include independent senators into the PTI ranks, stating that the party currently lacks the legal authority to make such incorporations.

The decision comes as PTI’s intra-party election case remains under judicial review, with the Lahore High Court having suspended aspects of the party’s internal processes. In its official response, the ECP clarified that no certification or recognition could be issued to Gohar at this stage. Barrister Gohar has expressed disappointment and announced plans to challenge the ruling in court, arguing that the ECP’s stance undermines the party’s democratic rights.

The dispute adds to PTI’s ongoing legal and political challenges following the 2024 general elections. Analysts suggest the outcome could influence PTI’s parliamentary standing and its ability to contest future elections under its current leadership structure.

Pakistan’s federal authorities have imposed foreign travel bans on 132 senior leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, citing their alleged involvement in the violent protests and vandalism that erupted on May 9, 2023. The decision, confirmed on Saturday, adds the names of several prominent figures to the Exit Control List (ECL), effectively preventing them from leaving the country.

Among those restricted are PTI founder Imran Khan, senior leaders Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Omar Ayub, Fawad Chaudhry, and Shibli Faraz. Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur, Shehryar Afridi, Usman Dar, and female leaders Shireen Mazari, Zartaj Gul, Musarrat Cheema, and Kanwal Shauzab are also included. Officials said the Punjab Home Department had recommended the inclusion of 132 names.

The move reflects the government’s intensified scrutiny of PTI members accused of inciting political instability. Analysts suggest the bans could further strain relations between the ruling coalition and PTI supporters, potentially complicating efforts toward political reconciliation ahead of future elections.

Pakistan’s Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar announced a proposal to form a trilateral alliance with Bangladesh and China, signaling Islamabad’s intent to create a new framework for regional cooperation outside the long-paralyzed South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC). Speaking at the Islamabad Conclave Forum, Dar said the initiative could expand beyond the region and emphasized collaboration over conflict.

The proposal comes as South Asia faces heightened political and diplomatic strains. India–Pakistan relations remain frozen after years of hostility, while Bangladesh–India ties have deteriorated following political upheaval in Dhaka. Analysts suggest Pakistan’s move reflects frustration with SAARC’s ineffectiveness and a desire to diversify regional partnerships. Academic Rabeya Akhtar called the plan ambitious, while others see it as a pragmatic response to shifting alliances.

Experts warn that if realized, the alliance could deepen India’s isolation and intensify regional rivalries, particularly between New Delhi and Beijing. Observers will watch whether Dhaka formally engages with Islamabad’s initiative or maintains a cautious stance amid competing strategic pressures.

Pakistan’s military announced that nine suspected India-backed militants were killed in separate counterterrorism operations in the Tank and Lakki Marwat districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on December 6 that the raids were launched following intelligence reports about militant presence in the area.

According to the ISPR, seven militants were killed during an operation in Tank, while two others died in Lakki Marwat. Security forces also recovered weapons and ammunition from the sites. The military described the slain individuals as being involved in multiple attacks against security personnel, law enforcement agencies, and civilians.

Authorities said a “sanitization operation” is ongoing to eliminate any remaining India-supported militants in the region. The incident underscores Pakistan’s continued struggle with cross-border militancy and its efforts to maintain stability in its northwestern border areas.

A deadly overnight exchange of fire between Pakistani and Afghan forces broke out along the Spin Boldak border, killing at least four civilians, Afghan officials confirmed on Saturday. The four-hour-long clash marked a serious breach of the fragile ceasefire brokered less than two months ago by Qatar and Turkey. Residents fled the border town as gunfire continued through the night, while hospitals in Kandahar reported receiving multiple casualties.

Both Islamabad and Kabul acknowledged the incident but traded blame over who initiated the attack. Pakistan’s spokesperson for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif accused the Taliban of unprovoked firing, asserting that Pakistani forces responded decisively to protect national security. The Taliban, however, claimed Pakistan launched the assault first, forcing them to retaliate.

The renewed violence comes shortly after both sides met in Saudi Arabia for a fourth round of talks aimed at resolving broader disputes. Despite agreeing to uphold the ceasefire, the latest confrontation underscores persistent mistrust and heightens concerns over regional stability along the 2,574-kilometer border.

Pakistan’s military spokesperson, Lieutenant General Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry, stated that jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s recent remarks pose a threat to national security. Speaking at a press conference on December 5, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Director General said Khan continues to believe that the country cannot function without him in power, describing his political career as over and driven by ego and emotion.

Chaudhry accused Khan of inciting citizens to withhold electricity bill payments and discouraging overseas remittances, actions he said undermine the state. He also warned that negative comments against the army’s leadership would not be tolerated. The ISPR chief emphasized that the army remains apolitical and loyal to the constitution, rejecting any attempt to drag it into politics.

The statement comes amid growing tensions between Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party and the military establishment. Analysts suggest the remarks signal a hardening stance by the army, potentially deepening Pakistan’s political polarization ahead of future elections.

Pakistan’s federal government has imposed a complete ban on all meetings with former Prime Minister Imran Khan inside Adiala Jail, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced on Friday. The minister described Khan as a ‘war-mongering extremist’ and said the decision was taken under prison regulations to prevent political directives being issued from inside the facility.

Tarar warned that any attempt to disrupt law and order outside the prison would be met with swift and strict action. He accused Khan and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party of trying to push the country toward economic default by allegedly writing to the IMF and orchestrating violent attacks on military installations on May 9. The minister also claimed that PTI members were distancing themselves from Khan’s ‘Taliban-like mindset’.

The government is reportedly considering imposing governor’s rule in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a PTI stronghold. Tarar emphasized that there would be no dialogue with groups promoting extremism or anti-state narratives, signaling a further hardening of Islamabad’s stance against Khan and his supporters.

Intense gunfire broke out along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border late Friday night, with both sides confirming the exchange of fire. No casualties were immediately reported. The Taliban government in Kabul alleged that Pakistani forces initiated the attack on Afghanistan’s Kandahar province, while Islamabad accused Afghan troops of firing first at the Chaman border without provocation.

The incident comes just two days after peace talks between the two countries in Saudi Arabia ended without progress. Pakistani Prime Minister’s spokesperson Mosharraf Zaidi stated that Pakistan remains fully alert and committed to protecting its territorial integrity and citizens. The renewed violence follows a period of relative calm since October, when the first direct clashes were halted through Qatari and Turkish mediation.

Analysts warn that the latest border skirmish could further strain already fragile relations between Islamabad and Kabul, especially amid Pakistan’s accusations that Afghan nationals are behind recent terrorist attacks inside its territory—claims the Taliban government has strongly denied.

Tensions between Pakistan and Afghanistan have led to the closure of key border crossings since October 11, leaving hundreds of trucks stranded and disrupting regional trade. Pakistani truck drivers transporting goods to Afghanistan are facing uncertainty as their cash reserves run out. Exporters and logistics operators report that shipments bound for Afghanistan, Iran, and Central Asia, including kinnow fruit exports, have been severely affected. According to Junaid Makda, president of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce, thousands of containers carrying bilateral and transit goods are stuck across Pakistan, with demurrage charges of $150–200 per container per day. Last year, Pakistan exported kinnow worth $110 million, but this year’s estimate has dropped to $100 million due to the disruption. The closure follows one of the most intense border clashes since the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul in 2021, further straining trade and livelihoods across the region.

The Pakistani government has suspended the visitation rights of former Prime Minister and PTI founder Imran Khan’s sister, Uzma Khan, after she allegedly engaged in political discussions during a recent prison visit. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar announced that any visitor who discusses politics with the jailed leader will lose visitation privileges, citing prison regulations that prohibit such conversations. Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar emphasized that these restrictions have long existed under prison law and apply equally to all convicts. He added that Adiala Jail, where Khan is held, operates under Punjab’s jurisdiction, and that meetings must be supervised, limited to six visitors once a week, and free of political content. The ministers also warned that anyone violating prison rules or causing unrest outside the facility would face strict action. The government reiterated that Khan, as a convicted prisoner, cannot hold unsupervised meetings or communicate politically from jail.

Pakistan has reopened the Torkham and Chaman border crossings with Afghanistan after nearly two months of closure, allowing United Nations aid trucks to pass through. Foreign Office spokesperson Tahir Andarabi confirmed the decision, stating that it was made in consultation with the Ministry of Commerce. However, trade between the two countries remains suspended. The reopening follows heightened tensions between Islamabad and Kabul, which escalated after a drone strike in Kabul on October 9 that the Taliban-led Afghan government blamed on Pakistan. The closure had disrupted cross-border trade and caused shortages of food and medicine in Afghanistan. Despite a ceasefire brokered by Qatar on October 19, relations between the two neighbors remain strained, with Pakistan accusing the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) of using Afghan territory as a safe haven, a claim Kabul denies.

Pakistan has announced plans to privatize its state-owned Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) amid mounting debt and IMF loan conditions. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif confirmed that an auction for the airline’s sale will be held on December 23 and broadcast live across national media. The government intends to sell between 51% and 100% of PIA’s shares to reform loss-making state enterprises and meet the terms of a $7 billion IMF bailout. Four consortiums—Lucky Cement, Arif Habib Corporation, Fauji Fertilizer, and Air Blue—have been shortlisted to participate in the bidding. Sharif emphasized transparency and merit in the privatization process, expressing hope that PIA will regain its former prestige and operational efficiency. The move marks Pakistan’s largest privatization effort in nearly two decades. A previous sale attempt failed after a $36 million offer fell far below the $305 million reserve price. The government aims to complete the process swiftly to stabilize the aviation sector and reduce fiscal pressure.

Imran Khan, the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and former Prime Minister, is in good health, according to his sister Uzma Khan. She made the statement after meeting him at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail on Tuesday, December 2. The visit came after widespread rumors about Khan’s death in custody prompted authorities to allow his family to see him. Pakistani media reported that the meeting was arranged before PTI’s planned protest program. Uzma Khan said she would share more details after consulting with her sisters Aleema and Naureen. Meanwhile, security around Adiala Jail has been tightened, with five new checkpoints established on Adiala Jail Road. Earlier in the day, unverified reports of Khan’s death sparked unrest across Pakistan, leading PTI to call for protests in Rawalpindi. To prevent gatherings, local authorities imposed Section 144, banning all public assemblies in the area.