Khalid Iqbal

Air Cdre (Retd) Khalid Iqbal is an analyst of international security and current affairs. He is a former assistant chief of air staff of Pakistan Air Force.

Balochistan: Beyond Six Points

Attempt On Malala’s Life, Dumping Of Defaced Dead Bodies In Balochistan And Surfacing Of Body Bags In Karachi Are Some Of The Facets Of Terrorism Running High In Pakistan; Intricately Linked Together By A Common Financier, Trainer And Arms Provider. Logistics Trail Leads To One Source, Though Operatives Have Diversified Origins And Purposes. All These…

Read More

Russia-Pakistan-America

Reaction to ‘postponement’ of President Putin’s visit to Pakistan is quite interesting. Conspiracy theorist blame American and Indian pressure, some also talk about American pressure via Saudi Arabia. Over the last two years or so, there has been a quantum jump in high level Pakistan-Russia interactions. Hence, expectations have been snowballing in the context of…

Read More

The Dis-United Nations

Theme for debate in the 67th session of the UN General Assembly is fascinating as well as elusive: “Adjustment or settlement of international disputes or situations by peaceful means”. General Assembly is the main deliberative, policymaking and representative organ of the United Nations, comprising 193 members. It is a unique forum for multilateral discussion on…

Read More

North Waziristan Blues

North Waziristan is under international spotlight due to holing-up of a large number of hardened militants, combatants, criminals and terrorists. It also houses a portion of “Haqqani Net Work”. Haqqanis have never identified themselves as an autonomous entity; they present themselves as part of Afghan resistance under their ‘Ameer’: Mullah Omar. Alongside usual brinkmanship, America…

Read More

Plight of Burmese Muslims

Recent upsurge in violence against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar has highlighted the regime’s complete disregard for basic human rights. While the international conscience awakens slowly, the Muslim minority has already suffered a colossal spell of ethnic cleansing. Accounting for over one-third of the total population of Myanmar, 800,000 Rohingyas are neither recognised as citizens, nor…

Read More

Afghanistan Order or Disorder

A billion dollar question that intrigues the minds of strategists the world over is about the future course that Afghanistan could follow, as the occupation forces are on their way out. The prospects of Nato withdrawal, as envisaged in the recent Chicago Declaration, raise dilemmas about bringing durable peace and stability to Afghanistan in the…

Read More