Ambassador Abdul Basit on Kashmir, Indo-Pak relations and ICJ case on November 26, 2017Q: Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) has remained a bone of contention for quite a long time. As Pakistan’s envoy to India, you’ve also tried to address the matter through dialogue but in vain owing to certain hostile factors. Where do you see the issue heading at a time when India is using state machinery to […]
Projecting Pakistan’s diplomatic prowess on November 17, 2017This week, I availed the opportunity to attend the weekly press briefing by Dr Mohammad Faisal, the Foreign Office spokesperson, at the ministry’s headquarters in Islamabad. In his detailed briefing, Dr Faisal highlighted various issues pertaining to foreign policy and national security which, among others, included India’s frequent violations of ceasefire along the Line of […]
Prince Mohammad bin Salman’s suicidal gamble on November 9, 2017Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman al Saud is one of select few millennials at the helm of global affairs right now. His rapid accession in Riyadh’s power circles as the de facto leader is one of the most unexpected turning points in the House of Saud’s history, as not only was he initially appointed […]
An open letter to Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy on October 30, 2017I hope you will read this letter with patience and tolerance in light of the recent controversy created by your tweets regarding the now-sacked AKUH doctor. I found several problems with your tweets on the alleged harassment suffered by your sister. Firstly, your ‘zero boundaries’ comment was not only stereotypical but also demeaning. Secondly, your […]
Ananas Foundation’s revolutionary breakthrough on October 26, 2017In this day and age, extremism and xenophobia have become embedded in societies across the world. Whether on the basis of religion, ethnicity or social values, such norms have taken a toll on how we interact or judge others. Post-9/11 attacks, the most marginalised and judged community is the Muslim community that is currently going […]
Pakistans foreign policy is stronger than ever on September 9, 2017For the past few weeks, it seems that lines have clearly been drawn at geo-strategic level in light of changing regional and global security dynamics. In my previous analysis, it was stated that Pakistan’s foreign policy is heading towards the right direction with the BRICS declaration being a meaningless ‘victory’ for India, hardly any skeptic […]
A futile jubilation on September 7, 2017The Xiamen BRICS declaration is being talked about a lot in Indian and Pakistani media circles owing to the condemnation clauseconcerning certain militant groups such as Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM) and Laskhar-e-Taiba (LeT). Indian diplomatic circles claim that it’s a huge victory for them, as for the first time their concerns were made part of the BRICS […]
The French are keen to invest in Pakistan: envoy to France on August 11, 2017His Excellency Ambassador Moin ul Haque is a career diplomat currently serving as Pakistan’s Ambassador to France. The interview with the ambassador was recently conducted by Hassan Khan at the Embassy of Pakistan in Paris, France. Q: What inspired you to pursue a career in diplomacy? A: My father always wanted me to join […]
Lack of ethics in our media on July 12, 2017Ever since the Pakistani media was liberalised in 2002, channels upon channels focusing on news have been launched over the years. For the average Pakistani household, evening talk shows have become a major source of political awareness and, if looking from a certain angle, even entertainment. Talk shows are not entirely meant to be a […]
The writing is on the wall on July 10, 2017Ever since the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) initiated its probe into the money trail of Sharif family’s offshore wealth, sections of media perceived as loyal to the first family have tried their level best to delegitimise the investigation.However, fate took a different course when the Supreme Court of Pakistan(SCP) on Monday issued notices to a […]