Unprovoked shooting down of a Turkish Air Force (Tu AF) RF-4 Phantom aircraft by the Syrian air defence system on June 22 has sent shock waves across the world. Syria, already mired in multiple crises of serious magnitude has certainly added another one to its menu. Downing of Turkish jet has triggered a chorus of…
These days Pakistan’s relations with America are going through an interesting phase. The election season in both the countries is casting its shadows on bilateral dealings. The leadership of the two countries is playing to the public sentiment, consumed by rhetoric on non-issues. Narratives and counter-narratives are making the landscape hazy, yet discernible. America that…
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…
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…
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…
Democratic freedom that India prides itself has been missing from the IHK since 1947. The voice of Kashmiris has always been portrayed as a threat to India’s territorial integrity rather than treating it as a whistle blower’s call to mend the ways. IHK has indeed been an open cage for the last six decades or…
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…
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…
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…
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…
