Express Tribune Editorials 17th August 2026

Taliban at five

The Taliban have now been in power for five years. Having established relative peace inside Afghanistan, the administration is struggling to keep its promises of embracing diversity and forming an inclusive government. The sole positive note is that the political landscape in the war-torn country has settled and is now free from external intervention. Yet, clusters of non-state actors holed up inside Afghanistan are not only detrimental to regional peace and security but also pose an existential threat to the Southwest Asian country. This paradox is fraught with serious consequences, inviting the clergy-led leadership to think outside the box.

Unless the terror nexus is rooted out and Kabul cooperates with regional stakeholders to forge a counter-terrorism alliance, geo-economics and prosperity will remain a far cry for the 45 million impoverished citizens. Furthermore, the regime in Kabul has failed to overcome the stigma of the Stone Age. Its decision to ban education for girls and impose an ultra-orthodox civil decorum has crippled the nation's vibrancy and talent, breeding discontent against the militia that was once seen as a symbol of resistance to foreign intervention.

The challenges ahead include seeking international legitimacy and averting an imminent economic collapse. Afghanistan remains trapped in a vicious circle of instability, diplomatic isolation and international uncertainty - all owing to its self-inflicted adherence to hardline ideology. The leadership must go the extra mile to face reality, which necessitates deep introspection. It is time to stop playing to the gallery and resorting to illogical alliances, such as its newfound courtship with India. Perpetual peace in the region cannot be achieved until Kabul opts for a broad-based, multi-ethnic dispensation, proactively flushes out terrorists, and works consistently to uphold the fundamental rights of its citizens. Achieving this requires a change of heart from the Taliban, which is indispensable for their survival.

Maiden youth policy

All and sundry in high offices have touted Pakistan's demographic dividend as a catalyst for future success, but almost every effort to realise this success has gone by the wayside, leaving us instead with a brain drain that threatens to keep us from ever rising beyond a very low ceiling.

This week, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif formally launched the country's first National Youth Employment Policy, a comprehensive framework which, if implemented with rigour, could finally begin to translate demographic reality into economic opportunity. The policy's ambition is commendable. A mandatory 35% quota for women in the labour force acknowledges that Pakistan cannot afford to leave half its population on the economic sidelines. Equally noteworthy is the 10% annual quota for young startups, shifting the policy gaze from conventional job-seeking towards entrepreneurship and innovation. These targets represent a structural rethinking of how the domestic labour market must evolve.

But ambition must be matched by execution. The policy sets a target of halving the number of youth not in education, employment or training (NEET) by 2030 – a goal that is so ambitious that it could be mistaken for a typo. A National Coordination Committee has been established to oversee implementation, but even with perfect coordination between the government, the private sector and international partners, such a massive reduction is unrealistic. Other measures, such as more free laptops for deserving students, AI and IT training, and scholarships to China, are encouraging, but they are parts of a whole. With the lack of jobs waiting for these students when they graduate, the government must set the stage for them to become entrepreneurs. Unfortunately, investment capital is also hard to come by.

While the government deserves credit for coming up with a plan, it must ensure that the 'next plan' is ready for implementation sooner rather than later, or we will remain a source of subsidised skilled labour for companies abroad.

Disappointing start

Pakistan's return to the FIH Hockey World Cup after an eight-year absence was supposed to mark the beginning of hope - if not a revival. Instead, the national team's 4-1 loss to England in the opening game of the tournament in Amstelveen, Netherlands, has dampened hopes and shown just how much ground Pakistan still have to cover before they can again be counted among the sport's serious contenders.

Losing to England – a well-organised side with great depth and consistency – is not a shocker. However, the manner of Saturday's defeat is difficult to ignore. England scored in every quarter, while Pakistan managed only one goal. More tellingly, England converted two of their six penalty corners, whereas Pakistan failed to make either of their two opportunities count. In a tournament where fine margins and set pieces decide matches, such inefficiency is costly.

Having missed the 2023 World Cup, Pakistan returned to the global stage after an eight-year absence by producing a spirited comeback against Japan in the semi-finals of the qualifying tournament, scoring three times in the final nine minutes to win 4-3. That performance suggested a side capable of fighting back under pressure. That said, the gap between Pakistan and the top contending teams cannot simply be attributed to one bad day. Pakistan hockey has suffered from years of institutional instability and a shortage of the sustained investment required to produce a deep pool of world-class players.

Qualification should, therefore, not be mistaken for recovery; it is merely an opportunity to begin rebuilding. At the same time, it would be premature to write this team off. The World Cup has only just begun, and Pakistan's next assignment is against Wales on Monday. The tournament format gives the squad ample opportunity to recover, with a match against India still to come in what could prove to be a decisive Pool D encounter.