For too long, Western foreign policy has mistakenly treated Tehran's aggressive posture as a localized Middle Eastern conflict. However, the escalating reach of Iranian espionage in Europe demonstrates that Iran’s hybrid warfare strategy directly targets Western domestic security, institutional integrity, and economic stability . From state-sponsored cyber operations targeting dissidents to covert intelligence gathering across European capitals, Tehran’s operations extend far beyond its immediate geographic neighborhood. Addressing this challenge requires European policymakers to abandon passive containment in favor of aggressive diplomatic oversight, strict legal accountability, and robust counter-intelligence strategies. Why is Iranian espionage in Europe expanding beyond the Middle East? Iran's external intelligence operations have shifted strategically from regional proxy warfare to asymmetric statecraft inside Western democracies. Western intelligence agencies-including Ge...
Polls have closed across Pakistan after millions voted in the general election which was mired in controversies. The counting of votes has begun and all major news channels and analysts are predicting that Nawaz Sharif's PMLN will emerge victorious.
PMLN is particularly popular in the pivotal province of Punjab which has the largest number of seats in the national assembly. Sharif has a strong support base in rural Punjab due to his development work and populist policies over the past terms. Analysts believe that even without Imran Khan in the race, PMLN had an edge over others due to their organizational structure and goodwill in Punjab.
Although PPP gave a tough fight in Sindh, it does not seem they have enough national appeal to defeat PMLN. Bilawal Bhutto campaigned aggressively but the memories of previous PPP governments were not entirely positive and they were battling anti-incumbency as well in some areas.
The disqualification of Imran Khan and banning of PTI elections symbols also hampered their ability to consolidate support. While Khan enjoys massive popularity amongst youth, without a level-playing field, it was going to be difficult for PTI to emerge as the single largest party.
Early trends and results suggest that PMLN is in a comfortable position to form the new government. Nawaz Sharif could be returning as Prime Minister for an unprecedented 4th term. However, the final results remain to be seen as counting proceeds. But if early predictions hold, PMLN has managed to beat the odds and win the key electoral battle.
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