Between the two PTI’s on September 23, 2018Of all the collective mess that Atif Mian’s episode has exposed of our society and politics, in subtle ways it has also revealed a structural dynamic of PTI that may create a challenge, or an opportunity for the party in times to come — depending on how they use the information. The structural dynamic also […]
Warming up with Australia on April 26, 2016It is about time people in Pakistan end their obsession with the United States. This obsession coupled with academic discourse and narrative dominated by US-Pakistan relations has only served to complicate the relationship further in the past 10 years. At times, it appears that the US and Pakistan are trying to scratch too much out […]
Quetta killings on April 25, 2016When 68 percent of the upper middle class/elite youth of Pakistan in the survey that I conducted last year believe that Shiites are ‘kafirs’ (infidels), and out of this lot, 42 percent believe that they must also be officially declared as ‘kafirs’ by the government, I see very little reason why we should be surprised […]
India must compromise on April 22, 2016In one of my recent articles on Kashmir that I wrote right before the entire Line of Control (LoC) debacle between India and Pakistan, I mentioned how India was not doing enough, and did not appear to be serious in striking peace with Pakistan, and all for a good reason. Peace with Pakistan means stability […]
Pakistans complaining party on April 22, 2016It was obvious that my host was no ordinary man, as I searched his house in one of the most posh streets of the most posh localities in Lahore. I parked my car outside the well-guarded house and as I made my way in, the smell of freshly trimmed grass made me reminise me of […]
Voting rights for overseas Pakistanis on April 21, 2016The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has finally succumbed to the pressure. The overseas Pakistanis including those with dual citizenship will now, for the first time in the history of Pakistan, have the right to vote. In simpler words, the fate of Pakistanis living in Pakistan will now largely be decided by those ‘Pakistanis’ who […]
Maybe we havent really forgotten Kashmir on April 20, 2016Yaqoob Bangash in his recent article, ‘Maybe we have forgotten Kashmir?’ in a national daily presents a picture of glimmer and hope that Pakistan is all set to move beyond the Kashmir issue, and that today’s youth in Pakistan would rather take up a job in India than maintain a belligerent attitude towards the country. […]
Understanding drones on April 19, 2016In my last column for Daily Times (October 13, 2012), I made an argument that it is the lack of knowledge, politicisation and propaganda against the drone strikes that is causing people to hate drones and the US. Hence, in the sequel, I will attempt to educate the people on what exactly are drones, how […]
Do Pakistanis really hate the drones? on April 19, 2016“Please tell the people in Punjab, who have never been to Waziristan or lived under the militants’ rule, to stop protesting against the drone strikes, and leave us alone.” Four of my students at the Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, who belong to North Waziristan, were blunt on the issue of drones when I inquired from them […]
Pakistans North Waziristan strategy on April 16, 2016The North Waziristan operation provides Pakistan with a critical opportunity, which will not only decide the fate of internal security in Pakistan, but more importantly, will lay down the course of US-Pakistan relations. While the remarks of General Kayani show the ‘will’ and seriousness of the operation, it must also be implemented with substantial gains […]