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.

Pak-Russia Rapprochement

For over six decades, Pakistan has lived under an uncertainty cum-insecurity syndrome in the context of its relations with Russia, especially in the Soviet era. During early days, Soviet quest to reach warm waters was interpreted as Russian design to sever Baluchistan from Pakistan; and analysts were not widely off the mark. USSR was instrumental…

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Agony of Agni!

Pakistan was quick to respond. It test fired its Shaheen 1A missile within a week of India’s launch of Agni V. This indeed was a befitting response and demonstration of national resolve. Pakistan does not seek to enter into an arms race, not it wants to match a weapon-for-weapon with India or for that matter…

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Kashmir & the United Nations

With Excerpts from the Governor General of India’s letter, of October 27, 1947, to Maharaja of Kashmir make an interesting read: “Your Highness’s letter dated 26th October has been delivered to me by Mr VP Menon. In the special circumstances mentioned by Your Highness, my Government has decided to accept the accession of Kashmir to…

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Seoul Summit 2012

During the Seoul Summit world leaders called for strong action to combat the threat of nuclear terrorism. “Nuclear terrorism continues to be one of the most challenging threats to international security…Defeating this threat requires strong national measures and international cooperation.” said the Seoul communiqué. Summit has urged all countries to accede to international conventions on…

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The Balochistan Squeeze

Balochistan is under tremendous squeeze. Internal weaknesses have encouraged the external actors to play their provocative and disruptive role. From a behind the scene role covered under the smoke screen of denials, these actors have now picked up the courage to come to fore openly. Pakistan’s reaction has been quite appropriate. Two demarches’ to the…

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Afghanistan Ending the Game

Now is the time for a paradigm shift in international approach towards resolving the Afghanistan issue. This is the moment for a healing touch; it’s time for the occupation forces to disengage and leave Afghanistan at its own. Left to itself, Afghanistan would normalize after some constructive aftershocks. International community has wandered in the wilderness…

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The Drone Dilemma

Drone and suicide bomber are new facets of warfare. Drone is a bomb without man and suicide bomber represents the man as a bomb. Drone is an innocent looking name given to an unmanned aircraft or a remotely piloted aircraft, incorporating the entire range of lethal weapons that a piloted aircraft could carry. Drone functions…

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