Psychological Operations (PsyOps) on April 8, 2019Psychological Operations (PsyOps) are a military technique to demoralize the enemy by conveying selective information through groups and individuals by manipulating their emotions, thought processes, and behaviours. Essential features of PsyOps include: clear mission, defined targets, rapid exploitation, reliable communication, and recurrent appraisal. They may take any shape or form at national, regional, group or […]
Fight for peace on April 1, 2019I have just returned from Pakistan. I know what exactly happened before, during and after the recent conflict between Pakistan and Hindustan. One may conclude that there are no winners or losers in such skirmishes but for the sake of record the real story must be told. I am happy to do that but no […]
Being home once again on March 25, 2019By the end of this year, I would have spent more time abroad than at home in Pakistan. I never planned it this way, but life can unfold unexpectedly. It is difficult to know in January what the garden is going to look like in May. While swimming in the water called time, I remember […]
The blame game on February 24, 2019People smoke three packs a day for 45 years and die of lung cancer; their families blame the Tobacco companies. Your neighbour crashes his car into the traffic light while driving home drunk; his family blames his wicked friends. Our children behave badly and have no social manners; we blame the video games. Similarly, my […]
Checklist for Pakistan visit on February 17, 2019I do not know about you but when I visit Pakistan, in addition to friends and relatives, I try and see politicians, civil servants, journalists and you know who. This fills in my blanks and also gives a cross-sectional view of life in Pakistan. I am fortunate to be one of those who get paid […]
A priceless gift for Prince Muhammed bin Salman on February 6, 2019Your Royal Highness, It is a great honour that you would grace Pakistan with your presence in the near future. I do not have enough words to thank you for coming to the aid of Pakistan in this hour of need. I am afraid I will not be there to receive you but I would […]
Saving our soul — the Islamic artefacts on February 4, 2019We live in an age of Muslim-bashing. This is understandable in the context of how the West dealt with 9/11, and how the mind-set which could have been behind that tragedy, reacted to it. Unfortunately, this situation has inspired some Western academics to start questioning the origins of Islam and its Prophet. I have waited […]
Early History of Muslims needs fresh appraisal – XVI on January 27, 2019The incident of Karbala, scripted after 139 years of its occurrence, has caused a retrospectively-inspired prospective and a poisonous split among Muslims. It was supposed to have been about power politics but has gradually assumed an inflexible theological configuration. As the Abbasid dynasty weakened, they found the political and religious authority very hard to maintain. […]
The legend of Manto lives on on January 23, 2019Each generation has a history of carving out artistic idols for veneration which may help them avoid facing reality or perhaps to refrain from engaging in rational discourse. These gods also attract all sorts of associated legends, depending upon the relevant generation’s perception and motivation. Sa’adat Hasan Manto may have been such an idol. I […]
Early Muslim History needs fresh appraisal – XV on January 7, 2019The Muslim fall from grace is a surprise and a tragedy because they are recipient of a living book, which guarantees success and splendour. The Quran promises them safety (6:82), reverence (63:8), sovereignty (30:47; 3:139), triumph over adversaries (4:141), and leadership (48:28; 14:27). But their fortunes have been in decline for centuries, and they are […]