The killing of student leader Sharif Osman Hadi in Dhaka, followed days later by the attempted assassination of Motaleb Shikder in Khulna, has pushed Bangladesh into a familiar but dangerous phase: shock, speculation, and a growing sense of political drift. When violence strikes at moments of uncertainty, attention naturally turns outward.

Who benefits? Who is watching? And who is shaping the story as it unfolds?  These questions matter. But they are often asked in the wrong order.

The recent attacks do not require external planning to explain how they occurred. Bangladesh is in the middle of a fragile political transition. Authority is contested. Institutions are under strain. Rival groups are testing limits.

In such environments, targeted violence can emerge from internal rivalries alone. History, in Bangladesh and elsewhere, offers no shortage of such examples. Where the external dimension becomes relevant is not at the point of execution, but after the fact.

In modern geopolitics, influence rarely begins with action. It begins with interpretation. Once violence occurs, the political environment shifts. Emotions rise. Trust weakens. Rumour fills the gaps left by incomplete information. This is where indirect influence becomes effective not by causing events, but by shaping how they are understood.

Pakistan’s approach to Bangladesh has long reflected this logic. Direct interference carries costs: attribution, diplomatic fallout, and the risk of escalation. Indirect influence, by contrast, offers flexibility. It allows engagement without ownership and relevance without responsibility. The recent assassinations have created precisely the kind of environment where this method works best.

Bangladesh’s internal debates provide the entry points. Questions around national identity, secularism, and the legacy of 1971 have never fully disappeared. They resurface during moments of stress, often with sharper edges. Violence accelerates this process. It turns political disagreement into moral outrage and narrows the space for nuance.

In such conditions, certain narratives gain traction almost on their own. Claims that historical settlements remain unsettled. Arguments that accountability itself fuels instability. Appeals to broader ideological or religious identity.

These themes are not imported wholesale. They already exist within Bangladesh’s political ecosystem. What changes is their intensity and reach.

Pakistan’s role, where it exists, is largely confined to intensification rather than direction. Sympathetic voices, aligned commentators, diaspora discussions, and digital platforms reinforce narratives that resonate with long-standing positions in Pakistan’s own political discourse. This does not require coordination. Alignment is enough.

Crucially, this method leaves no fingerprints. There are no orders to trace, no operational links to expose. If challenged, the absence of evidence becomes part of the defence. If ignored, the narratives still circulate. Either way, plausible deniability is preserved.

The effectiveness of this approach lies in its patience. Pakistan does not need to manufacture crises in Bangladesh. It waits for them. Domestic instability creates openings that cannot be engineered as easily from the outside. Once those openings appear, influence flows with minimal effort.

The danger for Bangladesh is not that it is being controlled externally, but that its internal vulnerabilities make it susceptible to narrative capture. Each unresolved attack erodes confidence and each delayed investigation fuels speculation. Over time, the political conversation shifts from facts to frames, from accountability to accusation.

Responding to this challenge is not straightforward. Overreaction risks amplifying external narratives. Silence allows them to settle. The most effective counter, though also the hardest, is internal: credible investigations, visible enforcement, and political restraint across factions. Confidence is the enemy of indirect influence.

It is also important to avoid misdiagnosis. Treating indirect influence as direct aggression invites escalation without solving the underlying problem. Ignoring it entirely leaves the information space unguarded. The balance lies in recognising how influence operates today quietly, laterally, and often without a single identifiable author.

Pakistan received three bids on Tuesday in a nationally televised auction for its state-owned carrier, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA), as the government pressed ahead with a reform long sought by the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

This was the country’s second live auction of the troubled airline after last year’s attempt faltered. The 2024 process attracted only one bid that fell well below the government’s benchmark price, halting what was intended to be Pakistan’s first major privatisation in almost twenty years.

Transparent Bidding Ceremony

During Tuesday’s broadcast, representatives from the competing groups entered one after another to place sealed envelopes into a transparent box, momentarily fumbling as they inserted their bids during the televised ceremony. Officials said the auction would unfold in two stages, with the second round of open bidding set for later in the day.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the transparency of the process and urged cabinet members to attend the afternoon session. “I am thankful to the ministers and the head of the Privatisation Commission for ensuring a transparent procedure,” he said.

Competing Consortia and Private Airline

Among the three bidders was a consortium led by Lucky Cement Limited, which included Hub Power Holdings Limited, Kohat Cement Company Limited and investment firm Metro Ventures.

A second group was headed by Arif Habib Corporation Limited, featuring Fatima Fertiliser Company Limited, private education network City Schools and real estate developer Lake City Holdings Limited.

The third bidder was private airline Air Blue (Private) Limited.

Under the government’s structure, Pakistan is offering to sell up to 100% of PIA. Any stake above 75% would carry a 15% premium, according to local media reports.

Improved Financial Outlook

Last year, the government set a minimum price of 305 million dollars for a 60% stake but received only one bid worth 36 million dollars from Blue World City. The bidder refused to increase its offer, citing heavy losses and inefficiencies within PIA.

Since then, the government has absorbed most of PIA’s historic debt, allowing the airline to post its first pre-tax profit in twenty years. The United Kingdom and the European Union have also lifted a five-year ban that had cut PIA off from key routes, improving the carrier’s prospects and potential valuation.

IMF-Driven Privatisation Drive

The airline’s sale is part of a broader privatisation agenda tied to Pakistan’s IMF bailout package. The government aims to reduce fiscal losses and revive investor confidence by divesting stakes in several state-owned enterprises, including banks and power distribution companies.

Analysts believe that the reopening of European routes and reduced debt burden could significantly boost investor interest this time.

with inputs from Reuters

Home Vietnam’s Communist Party Finalises Leadership Nominations Ahead of January Congress

Vietnam’s Communist Party Finalises Leadership Nominations Ahead of January Congress

Senior officials of Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party concluded a two-day plenum in Hanoi on Tuesday, finalising nominations for the country’s next top leadership positions, party chief To Lam announced. As is customary in the tightly controlled political system, no names were released, with formal appointments expected at the upcoming five-yearly party congress scheduled for 19–25 January.

Lam said delegates “voted with a high level of support” for nominees to key positions, according to his closing remarks published on the party’s official website. He appeared to acknowledge his own nomination for a leadership post, thanking delegates in a carefully worded statement that analysts interpreted as confirmation of his frontrunner status.

Lam Poised for Second Term

Widely viewed as the leading contender to remain general secretary — Vietnam’s most powerful position Lam has consolidated influence since succeeding the late Nguyen Phu Trong in July 2024. A former public security minister, he has championed administrative reform, anti-corruption measures and major infrastructure expansion during his tenure.

Lam’s assertive leadership has reshaped the country’s political landscape, signalling both continuity and centralisation. His reappointment had been seen as all but certain earlier this year, though ambitions to merge the party and presidential roles — mirroring China’s governance model may have cooled following recent trade tensions with Washington. The United States imposed 20% tariffs on Vietnamese goods in August despite Hanoi’s earlier concessions.

Political Stability Boosts Markets

The announcement of the leadership nominations even without official names lifted investor confidence, pushing Vietnam’s benchmark stock index close to a record high on Tuesday morning. Analysts attributed the rally to optimism over political stability and the expectation that Lam’s policies will continue.

“Investors prize predictability, and Lam represents a continuation of current economic priorities,” one Hanoi-based economist said.

Factions and Possible Power Balances

Speculation is swirling in Hanoi over potential power-sharing arrangements among Vietnam’s top five leadership posts: general secretary, president, prime minister, parliament chair, and the standing member of the party’s secretariat.

The contest pits two major factions against each other — one aligned with Lam and the security apparatus, and another rooted in the military and its corporate network, including defence conglomerate Viettel. Observers say a leadership lineup excluding senior military figures would be highly unusual.

Army General Luong Cuong, the current president, could stay on or be replaced by Defence Minister Phan Van Giang, according to party insiders. However, the final decisions will rest with the Politburo’s elite circle, where last-minute shifts remain possible.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, a seasoned political operator with roots in the security services, has survived several reshuffles and may do so again. Names circulating as potential successors include former central bank governor Le Minh Hung, deputy prime minister Nguyen Hoa Binh, and police general Luong Tam Quang.

Continuity and Caution

Party officials are also expected to weigh regional representation to preserve Vietnam’s traditional balance between northern and southern leadership, though northern figures have historically dominated top posts.

Despite uncertainties, Lam’s consolidation of control suggests Vietnam’s next leadership lineup will maintain the current trajectory a blend of cautious economic reform, assertive governance, and disciplined one-party rule designed to preserve stability at home and influence abroad.

with inputs from Reuters

Home Pakistan: Five Policemen Killed In Gun And Bomb Attack

Pakistan: Five Policemen Killed In Gun And Bomb Attack

Five Pakistani police personnel were killed on Tuesday when their van was ambushed in a bombing and shooting attack in the country’s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa district, provincial police said, as Pakistan struggles with a resurgence of militant violence.

Provincial police said the vehicle was first targeted with improvised explosives before the attackers opened fire, killing four officers and the driver. No group has claimed responsibility for Tuesday’s attack. However, suspicion is likely to fall on the Pakistani Taliban, or TTP, which is separate from but aligned with Afghanistan’s Taliban government and has been blamed by authorities for previous attacks, reported Daily Sabah

Justice For Policemen

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the attack. “Police have always played a frontline role in the war against terrorism,” Sharif said.

Daily Sabah, a Turkish newspaper, added that Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Suhail Afridi condemned the attack. In separate statements, they said the assailants would be brought to justice and expressed condolences to the families of the killed police officers.

Pakistan-Afghanistan Conflict

The attack in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province’s Karak district, a region relatively unscathed by militant attacks, comes as relations between Pakistan and neighbouring Afghanistan have collapsed after a surge in violence.

The countries have struggled to maintain a truce following their worst border clashes since the Taliban came to power in October, with Islamabad blaming the rise in militancy on groups using Afghan soil to plot their attacks. Kabul denies the charges, saying Pakistan’s security is an internal problem. Talks in Istanbul last week ended without agreement.

Pakistan’s mountainous border regions are home to Islamist militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban, who have waged a war against the Pakistani state for nearly 20 years.

(with inputs from Reuters)

Home China Urges Thailand and Cambodia to Halt Border Clashes and Resume Dialogue

China Urges Thailand and Cambodia to Halt Border Clashes and Resume Dialogue

China has called on Thailand and Cambodia to immediately agree to a ceasefire and end weeks of cross-border fighting, urging both nations to pursue dialogue and resolve their disputes peacefully. The appeal comes amid intensifying clashes along their 817-kilometre border, where daily exchanges of rocket and artillery fire have continued for three weeks.

A fragile truce brokered by Malaysia in its capacity as ASEAN chair, with support from U.S. President Donald Trump, collapsed earlier this month, reigniting hostilities. China has since joined regional diplomats in pressing for restraint and renewed negotiations under the auspices of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

China Steps Up Mediation Efforts

Beijing’s Special Envoy for Asian Affairs, Deng Xijun, said the “top priority for both sides” was to stop the fighting and return to talks. The Chinese foreign ministry confirmed on Tuesday that Deng recently visited Bangkok and Phnom Penh for discussions with their respective prime ministers and senior officials as part of China’s shuttle diplomacy.

“China supports ASEAN’s mediation efforts and stands ready to create favourable conditions and provide a platform for dialogue between Thailand and Cambodia,” the ministry said.

The two countries are scheduled to hold a meeting of defence officials on Wednesday in an attempt to reinstate the ceasefire a move welcomed by ASEAN as a potential breakthrough in halting the escalating conflict.

Regional and International Context

China has positioned itself as a “friend and close neighbour” to both Thailand and Cambodia, emphasising its commitment to promoting peace “in its own way.” While Beijing did not directly reference the earlier Trump-backed ceasefire, its renewed engagement reflects a bid to assert diplomatic leadership in Southeast Asia at a time of heightened regional instability.

Trump, for his part, has claimed that the Thai-Cambodian conflict was among “eight wars” his administration had helped stop globally — a statement that contrasts with the current situation on the ground.

In an editorial published Monday, China Daily praised Beijing’s diplomatic role, stating that “few actors can claim to have the trust and willingness necessary to sustain mediation efforts as China.” The newspaper likened Beijing’s involvement to its successful facilitation of reconciliation between Iran and Saudi Arabia last year.

A Path Toward De-Escalation

Analysts say that while the conflict remains volatile, the prospect of renewed talks offers a narrow window for diplomacy. ASEAN’s involvement, backed by China’s influence and regional stature, may help both sides avoid a prolonged confrontation that could destabilise mainland Southeast Asia.

Beijing’s call for restraint underlines its growing role as a mediator in regional security disputes a position reinforced by its emphasis on “dialogue, not coercion” as the preferred means of conflict resolution.

with inputs from Reuters

Home Australian State To Tighten Gun Ownership, Ban Terrorist Symbols

Australian State To Tighten Gun Ownership, Ban Terrorist Symbols

Australia’s most populous state is set to pass tougher gun laws, ban the display of
terrorist symbols and curb protests in an emergency sitting following the Bondi mass shooting, as authorities stepped up their response to the antisemitic attack.

The terrorism and other legislation amendment bill is expected to clear the upper house of the New South Wales parliament on Tuesday.

The state’s centre-left Labor government has proposed capping most individual gun licences at four firearms with farmers allowed as many as 10.

Fifteen people were killed and dozens injured in the mass shooting at a Jewish Hanukkah celebration at Bondi on December 14, a shock attack that prompted calls for tougher gun laws and stronger action against antisemitism.

A Muslim prayer hall previously linked by a court to a cleric who made statements intimidating Jewish Australians was shut on Monday by local authorities, a move described by New South Wales Premier Chris Minns as an “important step” for the community.

Minns said authorities “need to make decisive steps, whether its through planning law or hate speech, to send the message to those who are intent on putting hate in people’s
heart or spreading racism in our community that they will be met with the full force of the law.”

The Canterbury Bankstown Council said on Tuesday it had issued a “cease use” directive to shut down an “illegal prayer hall” run by cleric Wissam Haddad after surveillance of the Al Madina Dawah Centre showed the premises was being used in violation of planning laws.

An official at the centre told Reuters by telephone that Haddad was no longer involved in managing the centre.

The Al Madina Dawah centre said in a statement on social media on December 15 that Haddad’s involvement was “limited to occasional invitations as a guest speaker, including delivering lectures, and at times Friday sermons”.

A source close to Haddad, who declined to be named, also told Reuters the preacher was no longer involved in the management of the centre.  Haddad denies any involvement or knowledge of what happened in Bondi, the source added.

With Reuters inputs

 

Home China’s Reusable Rocket Ambitions Stumble After Failed Booster Recovery

China’s Reusable Rocket Ambitions Stumble After Failed Booster Recovery

China’s latest attempt to develop a reusable rocket suffered a setback on Tuesday after the first stage of its new Long March 12A failed to land and be recovered following launch, according to its state developer. The test, however, did achieve partial success as the rocket’s second stage reached its planned orbit.

The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation (CASC), the state-owned contractor behind the country’s main space programmes, confirmed the recovery failure but did not disclose details of the malfunction. “Further analysis and troubleshooting are under way,” CASC said in a statement.

The 70-metre-tall Long March 12A represents China’s effort to build a fully reusable launch system similar to SpaceX’s Falcon 9, which has revolutionised commercial spaceflight by significantly cutting launch costs through booster recovery and reuse.

China’s Reusability Race

Although China has achieved dozens of successful satellite launches, it has yet to master booster recovery — a key technology that allows rockets to be reused for multiple missions. The Long March 12A’s debut marked only the country’s second recorded attempt at recovering a booster after launch.

Reusable technology is widely seen as the next frontier in making spaceflight more cost-effective. SpaceX’s reusable Falcon 9 rocket, developed by Elon Musk’s aerospace company, has become the global standard, enabling its Starlink network to dominate the low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite market.

While China has deployed hundreds of LEO satellites in recent years, analysts say it cannot realistically compete with Starlink until it develops its own reliable reusable rocket system.

Growing Domestic Competition

The failed recovery comes amid intensifying competition among Chinese rocket firms both state-owned and private to replicate SpaceX’s success. Earlier this month, private firm Landspace attempted to recover its own reusable rocket, Zhuque-3, but also failed to secure a stable booster landing.

Landspace, which employs fewer than 2,000 people, has positioned itself as a nimble private-sector challenger to CASC, whose workforce exceeds 100,000. Despite the latest setbacks, both entities are expected to continue testing reusable technologies as China accelerates its push to lower launch costs and expand its commercial satellite capacity.

The Long March 12A’s mixed outcome successful orbit insertion but unsuccessful recovery underscores both China’s rapid progress and the technological hurdles that remain before it can rival SpaceX in reusable spaceflight.

with inputs from Reuters

Home Buying Social Media Influencers To Shape China’s Narrative

Buying Social Media Influencers To Shape China’s Narrative

A China attempt to recruit an Italy-based “military influencer” to peddle falsehoods about Taiwan and undermine its social and military cohesion, has gone viral in Chinese-language online circles.

说的没毛病啊：关恒事件受到如此关注，确实是有中共大外宣推波助燃。

落日海盗兄，去年9月你打电话给我，尝试招募发展我做外宣的事情这么快就忘了？（看看视频节目，勿谓言之不预也）… https://t.co/PPQfrnspdl pic.twitter.com/rNU3Hu23Op

— 说真话的徐某人 (@xumouren_yt) December 18, 2025

The military influencer is “Xu Mou-ren-Who Speaks Truth” and before we go further, let’s explain what a military influencer is. Basically he or she is a serving member of the armed forces of a country or even a veteran, who uses social media to share authentic experiences of life in the military.

Now it’s not clear if Xu Mou-ren ever served in the PLA, but he is based in Italy, which seems to give him a measure of independence on what he posts on social media or on Youtube where he claimed that a Chinese influencer known as “Sunset Pirate”, had approached him on behalf of Chinese military intelligence.

Attempt to Undermine Taiwanese Confidence

Sunset Pirate allegedly offered Xu a monthly payment of about $43,000 for producing content critical of Taiwan’s military capabilities. The stated aim, Xu said, was to weaken confidence within Taiwanese society about its ability to defend itself. The intermediary also suggested that Xu’s content could be rebroadcast by pro-Beijing television channels to amplify its reach.

The dispute between the two reportedly stemmed from differing views over a separate case involving illegal Chinese migration. Following this, Xu chose to make the recruitment attempt public, releasing the audio as evidence.

In the recording, Sunset Pirate claims to have recruited multiple influencers across Japan, Italy and the United States, spanning fields such as music, travel, food and automobiles.

Their main task, he said, was not overt political messaging but the promotion of Chinese culture and narratives in a subtle manner. He described the guiding principle as “moistening things silently” advancing influence gradually without attracting attention.

Boundaries and Censorship

Joining hands with China came with conditions: limited criticism of the Chinese Communist Party was acceptable, but criticism of Xi Jinping was strictly forbidden.

The recording also suggests that Xu was asked to comment on the Russia–Ukraine war to highlight Ukrainian weaknesses and erode Taiwanese confidence in their own military resilience.

Experts Warn of Expanding Covert Influence Campaign

Taiwan-based Japanese journalist Akio Yaita believes there is a systematic campaign driven by Beijing to co-opt overseas and Taiwanese influencers for narrative and information warfare.
In his view, it is very likely that many Taiwanese influencers have already been approached given the shared language. They would likely have been offered tempting sums of money to do Beijing’s bidding.

The key is whether an influencer openly criticises Xi Jinping. Such criticism not only puts the influencer at risk, but even compromises the person “handling” the influencer. So if somebody on social media consistently aligns with China, it should be a warning to those listening in that he or she is playing China’s tune.

This story underscores another point: as social media increasingly shapes public opinion on security and sovereignty, the risk is not loud propaganda but quiet credibility voices that sound reasonable, balanced and even critical, yet never cross certain lines. For audiences, the lesson is stark: in an age of information warfare, what is left unsaid can matter more than what is spoken, and neutrality itself may sometimes be the most carefully constructed position of all.