Iftikhar Ahmad

Foreign Office Spokesperson Asim Iftikhar Ahmad strongly condemned the horrific events of September 11 in New York and reaffirmed support and solidarity for innocent victims’ families and loved ones. In the strongest possible terms, Islamabad has also condemned the recent planned terrorist attacks supported from across our borders. In a statement on the 20th anniversary […]

The Taliban have urged the international community to recognise them and re-open embassies in Kabul. An inclusive arrangement in this context would require strategies from within Afghanistan as well as sources outside such as the UN Security Council. There is a need to review the conflict in Afghanistan for the last 40 years and what […]

The national flag has been lowered to half-mast at the prime minister’s secretariat amid mourning on the death of iconic Kashmiri leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani. Indian forces snatched the mortal remains of the Kashmiri leader from his family. India has hit a new low over Geelani’s burial. The foreign office said that the incident […]

Before the Taliban set off to establish their government, Afghanistan first needs structure and functions. Pakistan is keen for Afghans to work out a political solution acceptable to all. Our sincere efforts in the Afghan peace process are aimed at a region that is peaceful and prosperous. We have relayed this to the international community. […]

External environment refers to the outside institutions or forces that potentially affect an organisation’s performance. The specific environment is the part of the environment that is directly relevant to the achievement of an organisation’s goals. Organisations exist to meet the needs of customers. This is true even for governmental organisations. They exist to provide services […]

Education creates an enabling culture. University qualifications generally lead to better-paid jobs and higher social class positions. Quite expectedly, teachers and even students look down on vocational qualifications as ‘inferior’ or a second-rate option compared to more traditional academic subjects and courses. Those from working-class backgrounds are more likely to enrol in vocational subjects and […]

It is a historic opportunity for Afghans to end the conflict, which has for long led to the destruction of infrastructure and loss of humans and humanity. Pakistan and regional countries have, and will continue, to support the Taliban and Afghan government in hammering out a solution and rebuilding the country. Peace in Afghanistan is […]

Why the poor remain poor is a question that requires a look at linkages of poverty. The culture of poverty passes poverty from one generation to the next through the process of socialization. The poor lack skills and so get low wages or are unemployed. Poverty and low wages benefit the rich. The existence of […]

Aggression goes on without cessation, the aggressor goes unchecked, institutions fail to deliver, that is the stage in front of us everywhere in this world that is otherwise expected to be just, unbiased and humane in approach. Heart breaking things are happening to people at the hands of people. Life is a complex whole we […]

The American myth of a unipolar world has started to crumble, as China comes out from the shadows and Russia gathers strength under the leadership of President Vladimir Putin. Afghanistan turned out to be a military and strategic quagmire for America and her allies. Elsewhere, the US failed to pressure Iran following the Houthi attacks […]