The wider implications of Paris
The murderous terrorist attack in Paris has shaken the conscience of the world and once again brought into focus the growing ability of terrorist organisations like the Islamic State (IS) to cause...
View ArticleNo shortcuts to nation-building
In the quest to overcome weaknesses in governance, security issues and even in foreign policy, successive governments in Pakistan have adopted emergency and expedient measures that have eventually...
View ArticleNeed for revisiting Afghan policy
Motivated by self-interest, Pakistan made genuine efforts to promote official level talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. It was not an easy task and required serious coaxing of both...
View ArticlePublic-private partnership in defence production
At a recent seminar in Islamabad, the president made a convincing case for the virtues of engaging the private sector in defence production. The Minister for Defence Production was equally enthusiastic...
View ArticleLong-term strategy for Pakistan-India relations
As Pakistan and India make a renewed attempt at normalising relations, the question on everyone’s mind is whether it would be realistic to expect that the new Comprehensive Bilateral Dialogue will be...
View ArticlePakistan’s stakes in Saudi-sponsored coalition
The announcement that Pakistan has joined the Saudi-led coalition against terrorism was made after some ambiguity. Once again, highlighting the nature of a personalised and ad hoc decision-making...
View ArticleIs India serious about improving relations?
A time comes in the history of nations when they have to seriously take stock of the policies they have pursued over the years. Have these produced the results they had initially aimed to achieve?...
View ArticleAppraising 2015
If we were to assess 2015, it would be fair to generalise that Pakistan, after a long spell, has overcome the worst and seems set on a trajectory that could lead to incremental progress and stability....
View ArticleImplications of North Korea’s nuclear progression
North Korea’s recent underground nuclear test was the fourth since it first joined the nuclear club in 2006. The announcement, as expected, was widely condemned worldwide. The UN secretary general...
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Finding ourselves playing the mediator
The current toxic rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran is another manifestation of the deep decay that has set in the Muslim world. The two countries are locked in a power struggle and are primarily...
View ArticleTaking President Obama’s prediction as a challenge
During his recent State of the Union speech, President Barack Obama made a significant remark that “even without ISIL, instability will continue for decades in many parts of the world”. Apart from...
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My icon, mentor and friend
Sahabzada Yaqub was a man of exceptional qualities who left an indelible impression on me from the first day I met him. His career spanned over a historic period, both pre- and post-Partition. As...
View ArticleTaliban and the Quartet
The success of the quartet’s — Afghanistan, Pakistan, the US and China — efforts in the reconciliation process will largely depend on the response of the Taliban. For Pakistan, it is vital that this...
View ArticleDetermining national direction
For a leader to ensure the country’s progress and meet the aspirations of its people, he has to pursue policies that optimise its potential and enable it to keep pace with the world. This aspect is of...
View ArticlePPP and MQM: in need of a major overhaul
Tragically, the two most important political parties of Sindh — the PPP and the MQM — that also happen to be the second and fourth largest party, respectively, in the country, are in a state of deep...
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India and Pakistan — prisoners of the past
Pakistan-India relations received a major setback after the Pathankot incident for which India blamed the Jaish-e-Mohammad to be the prime suspect for the attack. Narendra Modi, in a recent interview,...
View ArticleTurmoil in the Middle East and its implications
The fluid and evolving situation in the Middle East has explosive implications. It has reopened old wounds and ancient fault lines and reignited regional power plays, especially among Iran, Iraq and...
View ArticleChallenges facing the MQM
While the MQM’s leadership faces a mega internal challenge, pressure from the establishment compounds its miseries. The question is, should the party be allowed to reform itself within the bounds of...
View ArticleThe state of play in Pakistan-India relations
The relationship between India and Pakistan has not come out of its precarious mode. The Indian leadership is not serious about engaging with Pakistan in a formal, institutionalised format unless there...
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The Nuclear Security Summit and Pakistan’s perspective
During the next week, delegations from 51 countries, plus major groups like the European Union and the United Nations are expected to attend the fourth and final Nuclear Security Summit to be held in...
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