Every year on June 26th, a somber but significant event takes place across the globe. It is a day dedicated to shining a light on the dark corners where the unspeakable crime of torture still lingers. The International Day to Support Victims of Torture serves as a powerful reminder of the urgent need to address…
The changed pattern of contemporary power politics and the outbreak of the Ukraine war between the United States and Russia have changed the standings of various states in their respective regions. The outbreak of war between two major powers has again compelled the governments of various states to formalize their defence postures against the emerging…
As U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s plane touched down on Chinese soil, it was apparent that the welcome – or lack thereof – was symbolic of the frosty state of relations between the two superpowers. With no red carpets, no traditional greetings, and notably, no high-level Communist Party of China (CPC) officials present at…
IntroductionThe ongoing discourse surrounding Islam in contemporary times has revealed numerous discrepancies as diverse religious authorities strive to define the permissible and prohibited aspects in Islam. As a consequence, religious communities often find themselves growing increasingly distant from the foundational scripture the Quran, constructing ethical frameworks and principles based on a myriad of supplementary sources….
In the words of Richard Woolf, the modern world is a story that has been repeated through centuries and that story is that of self-interest, selfishness, lust for power and complete disregard for mutual progress, magnanimity and dignity. Mankind has established many institutions with the mindset of egalitarianism and economic progress such as the United…
Since the discovery of oil in the second half of the 19th century in the US, the political power of oil has been on ample display. It has been the most critical dimension in shaping international, domestic and social life. Subsequent detection of oil reserves in Russia, Latin America and Middle East meant that the…
Pakistan has availed International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans on 22 occasions since 1950 in its very short history as an independent nation. The first IMF Agreement came in 1958 when Pakistan was struggling with its balance of payments; its most recent was in 2019 when economic conditions had so worsened that the Imran Khan government…
Ambassador (Retd) Asif Ali Durrani has been a career diplomat for more than three decades, and served as Ambassador of Pakistan to the UAE and Iran. He was also posted to India, Afghanistan, United Kingdom and Pakistan Mission to the United Nations in New York. Prior to joining the Foreign Service of Pakistan in 1986,…
