Dr Ejaz Hussain and Maqbool Ahmed Wasli

Pakistan is afflicted by religious extremism and radicalisation. Thousands of people have lost their lives in sectarian warfare and to terrorists who have declared war against the Pakistan state. Consequently, the very fabric of the state and society in Pakistan has been jolted with intermittent terror attacks. In order to stem the tide of radicalisation […]

This article attempts to explain the radicalisation of South Asia comparatively. For this purpose, five cases — Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India and Sri Lanka — have been selected for conceptual and empirical analysis. To begin with, Sunni radical movements in Pakistan and Afghanistan are closely linked while Shia movements in both countries are tied with […]

“Pakistan constantly disturbs India, creates nuisances and stokes terrorism. Terror incidents keep on happening,” said Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi during his recent visit to Bangladesh. While receiving the liberation war honour on behalf of Atal Behari Vajpayee, the former Indian PM, Modi heralded that he was an activist during the 1971 war against […]

The world we live in was supposed to be civilised with no space for barbarianism. We thought ethics and respect for humanity would reign supreme in the 21st century. Alas! The fate of the majority of the world’s population, in particular minorities, still hangs in oblivion. They are treated like slaves, killed without any evidence […]

The movement for Pakistan was controlled by the political elite, which belonged to Muslim minority areas such as the United and Central Provinces. Based in a minority setting, the Muslim League envisioned a separate and sovereign homeland in Muslim majority areas such as Punjab, NWFP (now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa), Sindh, Balochistan and East Bengal. Owing to […]

Human beings are a unique mix. At times, they cooperate socially, economically and politically and, quite often, these very humans fight battles and wage wars for reasons ranging from competing ideologies to material interests. In almost all cases of cooperation or confrontation, the actors involved did somehow feel the need to sit somewhere and ponder […]

According to media reports, Chinese president Xi Jinping’s Pakistan visit is expected this month. This well-awaited visit was twice postponed, costing our relations to the country dearly. China and Pakistan have enjoyed unparalleled political and strategic relations since the early 1960s. Most Chinese call Pakistan an “iron brother” and Pakistan terms China a “pillar of […]

“Bangladesh is a suspected country,” an Airport Security Officer (ASF) informed me when he checked my luggage and passport in Karachi airport during my last visit to that county, which once hosted 54 percent of Pakistan’s population. It was also the region that was politically more aware and active in terms of the establishment of […]

The terror attack on Charlie Hebdo is undoubtedly tragic, barbaric and condemnable despite the controversial nature and approach of the former. It is to be noted that one among the killed was a French Muslim policeman who sacrificed his life in the defence of the French state and its liberal values. The incident also points […]