Echoes of peaceBy: Raoof Hasan on June 19, 2018In this age of expanding strife, a bolt from the blue — the phone call made by the Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the Chief of Army Staff General Qamar Javed Bajwa — led to the agreement and subsequent implementation of a three-day ceasefire by the Taliban which was the first of its kind since the beginning of the current phase of strife in Afghanistan. Another statement has now been issued … [Read more...] about Echoes of peace
Resolving the Kashmir disputeBy: Yasser Latif Hamdani on June 19, 2018The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) recently released a fair and balanced human rights report on Kashmir. Predictably, it has been dismissed with contempt by the Indian Ministry of External Affairs. The report notes that India rejected access to Indian administered Kashmir. Meanwhile, Pakistan made access to Pakistan administered Kashmir subject to access … [Read more...] about Resolving the Kashmir dispute
Technology and capitalismBy: Lal Khan on June 19, 2018There has been much propaganda that new technological ‘revolutions’ are laying the basis of capitalism’s eternal existence, and hence Marx’s philosophy and prediction of class struggle and socialist revolution have become obsolete. However, a closer look at the history of capitalist evolution and the impacts of technological advances exposes the fallacy of this propaganda. From steam to … [Read more...] about Technology and capitalism
Shutting the door on refugeesBy: Mashaal Gauhar on June 19, 2018Amid increasing intolerance towards migrants and refugees, the heroism of Mamoudou Gassama who scaled an apartment building in Paris to rescue a four-year-old boy hanging from a fourth floor balcony makes us ask why the stigmatisation of migrants is permitted. For his exceptional bravery — the kind only seen in superhero movies — 22-year-old Mamoudou Gassama, an illegal immigrant from Mali, was … [Read more...] about Shutting the door on refugees
Chasing democracyBy: Raashid Wali Janjua on June 19, 2018Pakistan’s democratic project has not developed as desired. The reason for this failure has been the inability to evolve an appropriate constitution, meaning one that is in sync with the popular aspirations and needs of our community. Where did we go wrong? Was it the early death of our Quaid that derailed this project? Perhaps it is the self-seeking ambitions of the power-obsessed bureaucrats … [Read more...] about Chasing democracy
Abdur Rahman I: The beginning of the glory of Muslim SpainBy: Akbar Ahmed on June 16, 2018The story of the origin of the greatest of the dynasties of Andalusia, Spain is as fantastic as if it were taken from the pages of The Thousand and One Nights. Abdur Rahman, a dashing young Arab prince, barely escapes with his life from Damascus following a palace coup and massacre, survives hair-raising adventures with a band of soldiers hard on his heels with orders to kill him, and after … [Read more...] about Abdur Rahman I: The beginning of the glory of Muslim Spain
Black money, taxes and amnestiesBy: Dr Ikramul Haq on June 16, 2018Efforts to tackle the twin menaces of black money and tax evasion have always failed in Pakistan. Numerous amnesty schemes lacking consequential strict action for not availing the same have miserably failed. Many Press reports suggest that the same will be the fate of the two schemes - Foreign Assets (Declaration and Repatriation) Act, 2018 and Voluntary Declaration of Domestic Assets Act, 2018 - … [Read more...] about Black money, taxes and amnesties
SCO-from Shanghai to QingdaoBy: S M Hali on June 16, 2018The Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), which just concluded its summit at the eve of 17 years of its formation in China's progressive metropolis Qingdao, appears to have come of age. The Shanghai spirit continues to guide the SCO member states, which now include Pakistan and India as well. The need to establish cooperation institutions has been reiterated as well. It was heartening to note … [Read more...] about SCO-from Shanghai to Qingdao
The Gilgit-Baltistan question — a historical analysisBy: Mudabbir Akhund on June 16, 2018The recent crisis in Gilgit-Baltistan, which has intensified further, after the attempted forceful imposition of the Governance Order of Gilgit-Baltistan 2018, have born another movement led by opposition benches of the legislative assembly, along with Awami Action Committee (AAC). This movement categorically rejected the GB Order 2018 and on some levels turned into a mass movement but failed … [Read more...] about The Gilgit-Baltistan question — a historical analysis
The Middle Eastern problem and the West’s pursuit of powerBy: Noor Fatima Sultan Khan on June 16, 2018The continuous forceful and fierce mission for power and strength in the Middle East between two provincial opponents, i.e. Saudi Arabia and Iran, has rendered peace and security no more than an idealistic thought. What's more, the constant interference of foreign powers - apparently to battle oppression and fanaticism -only makes things worse. This interference has apparently brought forth … [Read more...] about The Middle Eastern problem and the West’s pursuit of power
