Dr Zia Ul Haque Shamsi

Clear thinking and full institutional backing has led Pakistan’s Prime Minister to declare unequivocally that there is ‘absolutely no’ chance that we will allow the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) any bases or permission to conduct military operations inside Afghanistan. In fact, PM Imran Khan’s policy statement is reflective of his long-term commitment for support to […]

Human security is the most important element of national security. It relates to basic human needs: food, health, economic, environmental, personal, community, and political, however, none would be possible without a concerted effort for the sound development of state institutions and systems. The human security and the development of any state are dependent on each […]

It will be very unfortunate for the poor people of Afghanistan if a repeat of 1990s occurs, where, after defeating one of the two superpowers of the time — the Soviet Union — Afghans decided to kill each other for control of Kabul. The ground situation is presenting a similar situation as another superpower — […]

The value of peace is invaluable and cannot be measured, sought through sacrifices of the generations, and yet is not guaranteed. Ask the people of Palestine, Kashmir, Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, Iraq, Libya, and Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar. Peace cannot be achieved by becoming a nuclear state, by reaching space, or by getting a resolution passed […]

The prevalent crisis due to COVID-19 must be treated as a global emergency. It is unlike a routine seasonal storm, or an earthquake, or a Tsunami, or an eruption, or an epidemic in Africa or elsewhere. COVID-19 is unique in its nature and characteristics. The entire world is facing a lockdown which is unprecedented in […]

The debate about the role of religion in the governance of a modern state is as old the state and the religion. The dominant role of the Nobles during the Pharaohs of Egypt, to the role of Church in Rome, there are numerous stories in the recorded history. However, without going into the details of […]

When I first defined ‘WAR’ as ‘Waste of Available Resources,’ few people reacted to it by calling me an idealist or liberalist or even constructivist. However, most of them did understand what I meant. Warfare remains the most ancient form to resolve disputes, whereas rest everything has been transformed. Bilateral Treaties, Agreements, Multilateral Treaties, League […]

The South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) was established on December 8, 1985 with its Secretariat in Kathmandu, Nepal. All the South Asian states: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, the Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka, are its founding members. However, Afghanistan joined the group in April 2007. SAARC is comprised of countries with diverse religion, […]

Its has become fashionable to label Pakistan Armed Forces as ‘Assassins’ ‘Land Grabbers’ and ‘King-Makers’ etc. Be it a ‘Journalist’ or the ‘Judge’ or for that matter a ‘Politician’ the language of the charges is nearly the same. Forum may be a ‘Court Room’ ‘Social Media’ or a ‘Press Conference.’ I think it is time […]