Dr Fawad Kaiser

What was the constraining motive for Othello in killing Desdemona? Honour, not jealousy surely, for would the merely jealous husband give vent to such feelings as Othello does? Whatever hold the passion of jealousy may have had over Othello before, he feels convinced that the calm, sorrowful but determined feeling of justice reigns supreme and […]

The mental health of adolescents in the 15 to 19 age group, according to the latest World Health Organisation (WHO) Mortality Database, is the number two cause of illness and disability. With depression named as the number one cause in this age group, a rising trend of suicide in young males is observed. The rate […]

While I was researching the history of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) disputes, I came upon an otherwise hard-nosed analysis of the issue that Pakistan cricket has the unique legacy to self-destruct, inherited from the biology of nepotism and political infection. This odd juxtaposition of corruption, meritocracy and political power piqued my interest, and I […]

The current civilian leadership has growing concerns about the terrorist threat to the state. The planned NATO exit from Afghanistan means that the US will need to reformulate aspects of its engagement in the South Asian region. Without doubt, the overall US approach will stay geared towards maintaining influence to maximise focus on narrow security […]

What happened in and to the government and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) peace process in these recent weeks? Where did a process that seemed to be so promising when it began with the ceasefire accord go wrong, and what factors contributed to its ultimate breakdown? Where do things stand today? What can be done to revive […]

In my therapy session with a formerly abducted 45-year-old-man at the rehabilitation centre, he described his life in militant captivity and his coping strategies, and suggested ways of reintegration. He witnessed, endured and participated in hideous atrocities while in militant captivity. Vigilance, absolute obedience and cooperation with his captors, prayer and hope, denial, blaming others, […]

For those who are primarily interested in any psychiatric diagnosis that could apply to serial killing and cannibalism, standard texts are recommended where psychological issues are thoroughly discussed. This article takes a look at Pakistan’s first cannibal serial killer Mohammad Arif, who admitted to eating a child after his brother stole the body from a […]

What principles guide photojournalists and what does it mean to be fair and accurate and clear in capturing images? And more importantly, what images are published and why? Everyone knows a picture is worth a thousand words. But sometimes, especially in journalism, a picture can be worth much, much more. This added value is not […]

Various conflicts around the world have been described as part of a ‘war on terrorism’. If regular armies are indeed engaged in armed conflict with terrorists, what protection do they derive from the international treaties against terrorism? To what extent are international treaties against terrorism applicable to acts committed by armed militant forces during an […]

Perhaps, like me, you also squirmed when you read of the 17-year-old Pakistani victim of a gang rape, Amina, who died after immolating herself in protest against a police report that led to the release of a key suspect. News reports said that the woman killed herself just days after a man was cleared of […]