2011 was indeed an ‘Annus Horribilis’ in the chequered history of Pak-US relations. Likewise, it was a year of global retreat for America. The US kept an unrelenting pressure on Pakistan by taking pot shots on its core national interests. Even the Kashmir cause, so dear to candidate Obama’s heart, was not spared. An effort [...]
Historically Baluchistan has been an area of interest for major world powers. Erstwhile USSR aimed at reaching the warm waters through Baluchistan and its invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 was the first step in this regard. In the wake of 9/11 America has also become interested in this part of Pakistan, but for different reasons. [...]
A mini Pakistan assembled at the National Defence University to conceptualize the contours of ‘Comprehensive National Security’. Participants of this five week intellectual activity were drawn from all parts of Pakistan; they represented all walks of life. A mix of over 50 parliamentarians, civil and military bureaucrats, advocates, technocrats, media men, prominent members of civil [...]
Drone and suicide bomber are the new facets of contemporary warfare; representing the concepts of ‘bomb without man’ and ‘man as a bomb’. Moreover, all nuclear states have a tendency to indulge in proxy wars through non-state actors and third party state actors. These warfare related innovations have altered the conventional time space calculus; thus [...]
As expected, Bonn II Conference did not go beyond the rhetoric. Conference convened to encourage talks with the Taliban and boost the regional cooperation, brought forth the reality of a dead ended peace process sans Pakistan. Though Taliban had been engaged in peace talks for years, they also didn’t show up for the event; they [...]
A premeditated attack by the NATO forces on Salala outposts depicts a typical American cowboy’s psyche of executing unprovoked attacks and using disproportionate force against humble targets. It was indeed a cowardly attack and an act of aggression against Pakistan.
The nation that was highly polarized on the memo gate episode promptly put its act together [...]
Sporadic fireworks have always been a regular part of Pak-US relations. Successive governments have been managing the bilateral relationship despite huge gap between the state policy and public opinion. Ironically, some facets of these relations which our successive governments thought were mutually beneficial, at times, drew a sharp public reaction. Strategic divergence between Pakistan and [...]
Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) commemorated its proclamation day last week. Cyprus conflict falls in the category of those international disputes whose equitable resolution would benefit the Muslim population; other such conflicts are Palestine and Kashmir. These conflicts are on the agenda of the United Nations; yet they have betrayed solution since decades, bogged [...]
It is refreshing that United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) accrued the distinction to become the first UN agency to welcome Palestine as its full member. UNESCO has indeed kept up its apolitical mandate, while responding to the collective voice of international conscience.
A huge cheer erupted in UNESCO’s General Assembly after the vote. [...]
Afghan President presented the best facet of his statesmanship when he said in a recent TV interview, “God forbid if any war took place between Pakistan and the United States, we will stand by Pakistan…If Pakistan is attacked and if the people of Pakistan needed Afghanistan’s help, Afghanistan will be there with you.” He spoke [...]
