Zardari, Nawaz and the factors

Unfortunately, external forces exercise an unjustifiable influence on Pakistan’s internal issues and politics. By external forces here I do not mean only the Unites States but also Britain, other European countries and the international financial institutions. Also, because of the peculiar nature of certain aspects of Pakistani politics, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Iran and [...]

Time to reveal the truth

For the last six years I have struggled in vain to understand the logic of our policymakers and their spokespersons when it comes to dealing with extremism and terrorism. I see no sense and little consistency in their policy towards these challenges. It appears that they too have difficulty understanding the points raised by me [...]

BJP, Bahawalpur and Seraikistan

No one can beat our present government in the art of insulting elected bodies. While the government constantly complains about others doing this, it doesn’t waste a single opportunity to do so itself. The latest example is the proposal of a new province – Bahawalpur Janoobi Punjab (BJP) – by the parliamentary commission for recommendations [...]

For a fresh start

Gen Kayani’s recent statement has been over-analysed for its content, connotations, and consequences. However, if we spend a little time in understanding the anxiety and concerns of Pakistan’s military, it may result in a more democratic and stable Pakistan. The anger and anxiety in the military is not just resistance against ex-generals’ cases. Rather it [...]

Another crucial juncture

The Taliban leader, Mullah Mohammed Omar has many idiosyncrasies. When he came to power, he did not live a single day in the President House in Kabul, but preferred to rule Afghanistan from his simple home in Kandahar. For the past eleven years, he has led the Taliban from an unknown place but enjoys the [...]

Victims of bravery

The day bullets were fired in Malala Yousafzai’s head, I appeared in the Geo News programme “Aapas Ki Baat”. As the programme ended, I received a call from the spokesperson of Tehreek-e Taliban Pakistan, Ihsanullah Ihsan. He taunted me about our reaction to the tragic incident, andthen started to give me his views on the [...]

The march of the Khan

The tribal areas of Pakistan are called “Bazo-y Shamsheer Zen” (an arm armed with a sword) due to their history and geopolitics. North Waziristan could rightly be termed the heart of these tribal areas, and South Waziristan their mind. I usually do not waste any opportunity to enjoy the natural beauty of the region and [...]

Learning from the Jews

Germany, France, the US and even Russia cannot take a single political, economic, strategic or military decision that hurts Israel, or the Jews. The Holocaust has no direct link with sacred books, religion or respected personalities of Jewish religion. However, its negation (whether right or wrong) is prohibited by law in some countries. On the [...]

Future indefinite

Standing alongside S M Krishna, Hina Rabbani Kher again voiced Pakistan’s determination to learn from past and to forget its negative legacy. No doubt this statement, a solution to almost all bilateral issues, has till now not really been actualised for many reasons. India’s holding on to the memories of the three wars, Kargil and [...]