Russia launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) from its southern Astrakhan region during a morning attack on Ukraine on Thursday, marking the first use of such a powerful long-range missile in the conflict, claims Ukraine’s air force.

The missile strike targeted enterprises and critical infrastructure in the central-eastern city of Dnipro, a key hub in Ukraine’s industrial and logistical network. The Ukrainian air force confirmed the attack, which comes amid rising tensions following Ukraine’s recent use of U.S. and British-supplied missiles to strike Russian targets. Moscow had repeatedly warned that such actions would lead to a severe escalation, and the ICBM launch appears to be in response to these Ukrainian strikes on Russian soil.

Anton Gerashchenko, advisor to the former Minister of Internal Affairs, has confirmed that Russia launched an ICBM. However, Russia has not confirmed this. Apparently, the ICBM struck Dnipropetrovsk, but there is no word on the damage it caused.

While the exact target of the missile remains unclear, the long-range nature of intercontinental ballistic missiles, capable of reaching thousands of kilometers, has raised concerns. These missiles can carry both nuclear and conventional warheads, though it is still unknown whether the missile launched by Russia was equipped with a nuclear payload or a conventional warhead.

In the course of the attack, Ukrainian air defences successfully intercepted and destroyed six Kh-101 cruise missiles, underscoring the ongoing effectiveness of Kyiv’s air defence systems, despite the increasingly sophisticated Russian missile arsenal.

Russia’s use of an ICBM adds another layer of complexity to the already devastating 33-month-long war that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

In Pakistan, the horrific murder of Karitika, a 15-year-old Hindu girl who was raped and her body was dumped in a garbage heap near Dargah Usman Shah, has once again shed light on the perilous conditions faced by religious minorities in the Islamic Republic. Just days earlier, two Hindu girls, Hema (15) and Venti (17), were found hanging from a tree in Islamkot, Tharparkar, Sindh, in another heinous crime against vulnerable minorities.

Such atrocities reflect the grim reality for women and girls from minority communities in Pakistan, particularly Hindus and Christians. They live in constant fear of abduction, violence, forced conversions, and forced marriages. Many suffer physical assaults, and in the most brutal cases, they are raped and murdered. Disturbingly, justice for such crimes remains elusive as perpetrators escape accountability, shielded by systemic failures and societal complicity.

In Sindh, home to a significant portion of Pakistan’s Hindu population, incidents of abductions and forced conversions of underage girls are rampant. Local reports and human rights organizations frequently document these abuses, yet they receive scant attention from the authorities. Victims and their families often face immense pressure, legal obstacles, and threats, making it nearly impossible to seek justice.

The plight of minorities in Pakistan is exacerbated by a judicial system that sides with perpetrators, particularly in cases involving forced conversions. Courts routinely validate such conversions and marriages under the pretext of “religious freedom,” ignoring the coercion and violence underpinning these acts.

Beyond physical violence, minorities endure systemic discrimination in education, employment, and political representation. Hate speech against non-Muslims is alarmingly common, further entrenching societal prejudices. The state’s failure to protect its minorities starkly contrasts with its constitutional claims of equality and justice.

The murders of Karitika, Hema, and Venti are not just individual tragedies; they are a damning indictment of Pakistan’s institutionalized neglect and active oppression of its minority communities. Until the Paki establishment confronts its deeply ingrained biases and reforms its governance structures, the lives and rights of millions of its citizens will remain in peril.

Nine militants were killed, and six others were injured in the Tirah Valley of Khyber District following intense clashes with Pakistan Army. The battle, which lasted for several hours, also claimed the lives of eight security personnel and left seven others injured. Reportedly, the engagement took place at three separate points, as security forces carried out an intelligence-based operation targeting a high-value target.

Allegedly, the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is believed to have ambushed Pak Special Forces (SSG) during the operation, leading to heavy casualties on both sides.

However, mortar shells fired during the clashes landed in civilian areas, causing damage to homes and injuring local residents. This incident comes amid heightened tensions as the Kokikhel Internally Displaced Pashtuns (IDPs), who were forcibly evicted from Tirah 13 years ago, have begun returning to their homes.

These ongoing clashes are part of a broader strategy by the Pak military to discourage the return of the displaced Pashtuns and maintain control over the region, which are a valuable strategic and fertile area. The military’s heavy-handed tactics shows that the Punjabi Pak Army is deliberately escalating tensions to prevent the resettlement of displaced Pashtun families, deepening their alienation. This incident is part of a broader form of exploitation and militarization of Pashtun lands, with innocent civilians caught in the crossfire.

An occupied- government-run school in Qara Bagh, Azam Warsak, South Waziristan, came under attack on Monday night when unidentified individuals fired a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG) at the building. While the school sustained minor damage, no major destruction was reported, according to a security official.

Reportedly, the assailants detained the school staff in a room before launching the attack. No injuries have been reported so far, but the incident has heightened tensions in the region.

It is suspected that the banned Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is involved, as the group remains active in the area. However, such incidents indicate deeper connections between terrorism and Punjabi Pak Army-backed elements.

This attack highlights the fragile security situation in South Waziristan, a part of the Pashtun-majority Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Pashtun territories have long faced violence by the Punjabi Pak Army under the guise of counterterrorism, with heavy militarization, checkpoints, and a lack of accountability exacerbating local grievances.

On November 21, Pashtun political parties, tribal representatives, and the Pashtun Jirga will unite for a large-scale protest demonstration at Khyber Chowk in Bara Bazaar. The demonstration aims to address pressing issues, including the escalating violence in the region, dollar war, and the release of political prisoners.

PTM activists emphasize that the protest represents the collective voice of Pashtuns, who have long suffered under the weight of exploitation and militarization in their lands. The “dollar war” is the regional instability perpetuated by the Punjabi Pak Army for financial aids and political gains, with innocent Pashtun communities bearing the brunt of the consequences.

The protest comes against the backdrop of broader grievances faced by Pashtuns, including enforced disappearances, militarized checkpoints, and the use of counterterrorism as a pretext for heavy-handed control over their territories. The region has also seen systematic extraction of resources and violence against peaceful activists and journalists, particularly members of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM).

This demonstration is a significant moment of solidarity, as Pashtuns seek justice and accountability for decades of exploitation. Protesters are also demanding the release of political prisoners detained under dubious circumstances and an end to Pak Army-backed policies that have led to widespread violence and human rights abuses of Pashtuns.