Pakistan’s fight against terror
The army chief has repeatedly expressed his resolve at the Corps Commanders conferences and during his visits to various formations that Operation Zarb-e-Azb will continue until the last terrorist is...
View ArticleWe all are part of the problem and part of the solution
Whenever things have gone wrong and democracy is perceived to be not delivering, the military has stepped in. This has occurred four times, spanning nearly half the time Pakistan has been in existence....
View ArticleAdvance normalisation, not prospects for conflict
The recent statement made by Indian Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar that India would engage in terrorism to counter terrorism emanating from other countries is really shocking. This further raises...
View ArticleHarmonising state policies with economic pragmatism
If past history is any guide, one does not expect any serious debate by parliamentarians during the budget session. Many among them spend a major part of allocated time on every other aspect except the...
View ArticleThe one-dimensional goalpost
There is a major national failing that needs to be corrected if we are to move forward. Our leaders, instead of looking at national problems, holistically look at them through a single prism and...
View ArticleIndia-Pakistan relations on slippery slope
There is a strong perception in Pakistan that India’s present confrontational policy has been motivated by several internal and external factors. New Delhi appears to be deeply concerned by the...
View ArticlePPP should engage in serious introspection
The recent irresponsible remarks by Asif Ali Zardari against the armed forces brought a strong reaction from the entire cross section of society and political parties. There was severe criticism within...
View ArticleCan the military reform Pakistan’s politics?
Pakistan is a country of contradictions, but nowhere are these contradictions as sharp as in the attitude and policies of the civilian and military leaderships. The military has been fighting an...
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The global and regional impact of Iran’s nuclear deal
The world is watching with keen interest as nuclear talks between Iran and the six major powers — the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China — enter their final phase. Chances of a deal being...
View ArticleNawaz-Modi meeting generates hope
There were unrealistic expectations in Pakistan and India regarding the outcome of the meeting of their leaders that took place on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation Summit in Ufa,...
View ArticlePolitical leaders should lead, not follow
It was refreshing to watch Army Chief General Sharif spending Eid in North and South Waziristan with the troops. During Ramazan, too, he had visited troops in the tribal areas fairly frequently....
View ArticleTesting times for Imran Khan’s leadership
Believing in his invincibility, Imran Khan built a perilous myth around the fallibility of the last general elections. Thankfully, the judicial commission, after painstaking deliberations, has exploded...
View ArticleMullah Omar’s demise — opportunities and risks
The announcement of Mullah Omar’s death has created a leadership crisis, giving rise to uncertainties regarding the fate of the Afghan Taliban and prospects of peace in Afghanistan. Keeping Mullah...
View ArticlePak-India relations — is there a way forward?
Once again, expectations were raised and quickly dashed when it became clear that there was no likelihood of a meeting between Nawaz Sharif and Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the United Nations...
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Peace remains elusive in Afghanistan
The capture of Kunduz by the Taliban, albeit for a brief period of three days, has sent shockwaves in the region and was a great morale-booster for the insurgents. This clearly demonstrated that the...
View ArticleAssessing the state of democracy
The press and electronic media are frequently reminding us that the civil and military leaderships are on the ‘same page’ and there exists a smooth relationship between the two. This is only partially...
View ArticleThe current dynamic of US-Pakistan relations
The US, by deciding to retain its forces in Afghanistan until 2018, is giving a signal that its relationship with Afghanistan and interest in the region is not transactional, but of a more abiding...
View ArticleThe unfolding tragedy of Syria
While the world watches with dismay the tragedy unfolding in Syria, the global and regional powers, instead of working towards peace, continue to fight a ruthlessly cruel proxy war, playing with the...
View ArticleLearning from the Chinese experience
The news that Chinese Military Commission’s Vice-Chairman Fan Changlong will be visiting Pakistan and India next month is an interesting development. Although the vice-chairman’s ministry deals with...
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Is Pakistan out of the woods?
As the year draws to a close, it would be useful to assess the country’s state of overall strengths and weaknesses. Interestingly, around a year and a half ago a high-profile group of former foreign...
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