In recent history, it is the first time that the highest-ranking official of a sovereign independent state has been taken out by a foreign country. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Hosseini Khamenei lost his life to a targeted attack on the morning of February 28. Incoming missiles penetrated the building, which had a concrete bunker […]
Expanding the Arab Spring
The Arab Spring of 2010 transformed several Arab countries within two years. Some saw their monarchies toppled. Some saved themselves by introducing reforms into the social and economic spheres. The major effort had been to save one’s monarchy – even by paying a cost. The Arab monarchies were taken by surprise. They had underestimated the […]
Evolving Pak-US relations
On December 21, Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt (retired) wrote an op-ed, “Trump’s surprising policy turn on Pakistan”, that appeared in the Washington Times. In addition to being a high-ranking retired army officer, Kimmitt is a former deputy assistant secretary of defence for Near East and South Asia and former assistant secretary of state for political-military […]
National Security Strategy of the US
Released in November, the document called the National Security Strategy of the United States (US) exudes significant aspects. Regarding foreign, defence and intelligence policies, the document emphasises national interest. The document admits that, during the Cold War era (1946-1991), the past US governments had broadened the scope of national interest, leaving no space unattended and […]
Drivers of Foreign Policy
For a developing country such as Pakistan, the academic definition of the foreign policy – a country’s internal dynamics dictate the contours of its external dealings – has submitted to the contrary delineation. That is, factors external to Pakistan shape its internal (domestic) policy. The year 2025 remained eventful. The rise of Donald Trump in […]
The Next War
On July 17, the United States (US) proscribed a militant group called The Resistance Front (TRF) as a Foreign Terrorist Organisation and Specially Designated Global Terrorist. India claims that the TRF is an offshoot of the banned Pakistan-based militant organisation, the Lashkar-e Taiba (LeT), which had already been proscribed by the United Nations Security Council […]
A modern war
Whereas it is yet to be decided, whether or not the Pahalgam incident was self-inflicted, both warring countries have tasted a tinge of modern war – a kind of war which depends on flying objects mostly missiles and drones. The movement of troops remained a formality. It was the movement of robotics which kept dazzling […]
Budget Is Presented
Finally, the much-awaited budget has been presented in the National Assembly – immediately after Pakistan’s high-powered delegation concludes its visit to China. The ongoing month of June will be remembered to dictate Pakistan’s two preconditions. First, Pakistan has to present a budget for the financial year 2024-25 as per the directions of the International Monetary […]
Economy: Documentation and Digitalization
Pakistan’s economy is now bracing itself for documentation and digitalization. Documentation means getting recorded, and digitalization means getting digitally accessed. Taken together, it means that, instead of manual entries done by tax authorities of any hue, digital computing technology would be used to collect taxes. Similarly, taxpayers would be able to access the economy digitally […]
The IMF sets conditions
Pakistan has finally reached the pass where the federal budget for the financial year 2024-25 will test the waters: whether or not Pakistan qualifies for the next Extended Fund Facility of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Led by Nathan Porter, the IMF mission informed Pakistan that the next bailout package would be considered only when […]