Pulwama and Zahedan attacks: search for the actual beneficiaries on February 21, 2019Was it a coincidence that Zahedan and Pulwama suicide attacks took place within 24 hours on 13th and 14th February, respectively? These attacks carry a very serious message from the perpetrators that they would keep Pakistan under pressure whenever an opportunity arises for Pakistan to head towards stability and prosperity. As stated by Prime Minister […]
Pulwama incident: a lesson to change the mindset on February 16, 2019Thursday’s suicide attack on Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy in Pulwama, 20 km from Srinagar, has been the deadliest so far in which 40 CRPF soldiers were reportedly killed while scores were injured. It is a sad incident as poor soldiers were killed while complying with the flawed policies of their political and security […]
Four decades of Iranian revolution on February 10, 2019Iran is celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Islamic revolution amidst the worst kind of American sanctions. It is a nation under stress economically; considered an interventionist state by its GCC neighbours and their allies; and is in a state of undeclared war with Israel. Being the champion of Shia Islam, the country is deeply […]
US withdrawal and fears of uncertainties in Afghanistan on February 4, 2019Ashraf Ghani’s government is visibly upset over the proposed understanding between the US Envoy Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban about the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan in return for Taliban’s assurances that Afghan territory would not be available to Al-Qaida or ISIS. President Ghani has reportedly written a letter to President Trump pleading to review […]
Taliban-US Talks heading for a countdown on January 28, 2019Finally, it can be said that the stalemate between the Taliban and the United States has broken. During the past six days of marathon talks the two sides have made progress and, according to the media reports, Taliban and Americans have reached an understanding whereby the US has agreed to withdraw its troops from Afghanistan […]
India’s Afghanistan Policy: A cause for apprehension on January 24, 2019India’s Afghan policy has largely been Pakistan centric which over the decades thrived on the nature of the relationship Pakistan enjoyed with Afghanistan. Unfortunately, from day one, Pak-Afghan relations hit the rocks when Afghanistan voted against Pakistan’s membership in the United Nations. Except for the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, and ascension of the Taliban, the […]
Taliban’s revival in Afghanistan: Lessons for Pakistan on January 7, 2019Emergence of Taliban as a phenomenon in mid-nineties has changed the basic character of the Afghan society from a tribal-feudal to religio-secterian in a neighbourhood already witnessing changes due to the Iranian revolution. Interestingly, emergence of Taliban is not a result of class struggle or fits into the chemistry of religious war within the society. […]
US drawdown from Afghanistan on December 27, 2018Although President Trump’s intention to leave Afghanistan was evident to the policy makers in the region, his decision would come so soon especially when his Special Envoy on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad was in the middle of holding preliminary talks with the regional countries. Still, there is opposition in the US Defence Department for an abrupt […]
US-Taliban dialogue: a test for the stakeholders on December 10, 2018US Special Envoy on Afghanistan Zalmay Khalilzad is on his third mission to hold talks with Afghanistan’s neighbours (minus Iran) and the Taliban to find a way out of the Afghan problem that has fatigued almost all the stakeholders involved in the crisis. Mr Khalilzad will be holding the third round of talks with the […]
Mr Trump, you don’t know anything about Afghanistan! on November 25, 2018President Trump’s remarks against Pakistan last Sunday once again reminded the policy makers of the two countries about the seriousness of the Pakistan-US relations negotiation, especially when a maverick person like Trump is directly involved in the conduct of bilateral relations. During an interview with the Fox TV President Trump again blamed Pakistan of “not […]