The country is going through a period of severe crisis, how many times has one heard this idiom? Quite often! Many political leaders start with this as their opening gambit to convince the electorate that they are the only ones who can take Pakistan out of the current state of paralysis, calamity, and under-achievement. However,…
Good sense has prevailed and an imminent catastrophe has receded. In a written statement issued on August 30, Geert Wilders announced “not to let the cartoon contest go ahead.” The contest was to be held at the tightly guarded offices of his Party for Freedom in the Dutch parliament building. Meanwhile, the Netherlands government had…
Preface Having served as part of the rank and file of the prestigious Pakistan Army, it gives me great elation and satisfaction to see it evolving with the challenges of 21st century. The sacrifices being rendered by the ranks to safeguard the geographical frontiers is beyond doubt – a debt to our future generations. Being…
Dear Readers, John McCain, a seasoned US Republican Senator from Arizona who, more than a year ago was diagnosed with glioblastoma multiforme, a lethal form of cancer breathed his last on August 25, only one day after his family announced he would be discontinuing his cancer treatment. At his death the veteran politician had served…
The ongoing US-Turkey Trade War is the classic example of “power politics” where national interests are on top priority. US being a superpower and center of international gravity tries its best to use so-called ‘economic sanctions‘ to contain Turkey in the region, Middle East, South Caucasus, Central Asia and of course Asia. Emerging socio-economic, geo-political…
Terrorist Activities in Pakistan Suicide BombingsAt least six persons – among them three Chinese engineers were injured in a suicide attack on a bus in the Dalbandin area of Chagai District in the morning of August 11, reports The Express Tribune. The bus carrying Chinese engineers was being escorted by Frontier Corps (FC) troops to…
Context President Trump’s decision to withdraw from the 2015 Iran nuclear deal in May this year has ironically put its strategic ally India in a testing position. The energy related sanctions are planned to go into effect on November 4, but other sanctions known as “snap-back” sanctions got implemented on August 7. Snap-back sanctions will…
John McCain III was born into a Naval family to John S McCain Jr and Roberta McCain at Coco Solo Naval Air Station in the Panama Canal Zone. His father Admiral John S. McCain II, served as Commander United States Pacific Command while paternal grandfather, John S. McCain Sr. was also a four-star United States…
Steve Coll’s new book is an excellent account of events of the last two decades in Afghanistan-Pakistan region. Steve has all the credentials to embark on this project. He is one of the best and well-informed journalists and his previous book Ghost Wars is the most authentic work of the history of Central Intelligence Agency’s (CIA’s) war…
Europe and Asia are geographically one land mass, British geographer Sir Halford J. Mackinder maintained as far back as 1904 that whoever controlled the Eurasian heartland would control the world. Soon after, Nicolas Spyman countered with the thesis that whoever controlled Eurasia’s rim would control the heartland and the world. China’s Belt and Road Initiative’s…
