What’s next after Kartarpur? on November 19, 2019Amidst the escalated tensions, greater confrontation and mistrust, Pakistan has taken a leap by inaugurating Kartarpur Corridor. The inauguration is regarded as one historic day in human history as it took a very long time for both countries to actually understand that sanity, human sentiments and emotions stand a bit higher ground than political wills […]
Peace in Afghanistan: a shattered dream? on September 19, 2019With the collapse of talks in Afghanistan, peace once again has become a distant thought. The cancellation of talks is a strange development in itself, given that the US representative and the Taliban had the last round of talks on September 2, and it was reported that a peace agreement had been finalised ‘in principle’. […]
Off to White House on July 10, 2019Prime Minister Imran Khan is all set to meet the American President Mr. Donald Trump on July 22. This will be Premier’s maiden visit and first one-to-one interaction between the two sides since the new administrations have taken charge of their respective offices. Since his election, President Trump had been vocal of his reservations with […]
Easter bombing — a call for introspection on May 13, 2019The killing of more than 250 people in Easter bombings in Sri Lanka speaks about the growing threat of transnational terrorism. Initially, Sri Lankan government held the National Thowheed Jamath (NJT) responsible for the attacks. But as events followed, it was claimed that the local group (who pledged allegiance to the Caliphate) has the support […]
When push comes to shove on April 19, 2019As peace talks in Afghanistan gain momentum, the Taliban have announced the beginning of their spring offensive last week. In developments that followed, as Afghan Taliban and the US representative have somehow established an understanding regarding withdrawal of troops and counter-terrorism, the parties were expected to enter the second phase of the peace talks. As […]
The (over) optimism in Pakistan-India ties on December 10, 2018In recent developments, despite the presence of Indian officials at the groundbreaking ceremony of Kartarpur Corridor, India has once again ruled out the possibility of resumption of dialogue and participation in SAARC Summit. Indian belligerence over the years has grown into irrational stubbornness over the decades specifically after the Mumbai attacks episode. The possibility of […]
The long haul for Afghanistan on November 14, 2018“You will not win a battlefield victory. We may not win one, but neither will you”, Rex Tillerson, former US Secretary of State challenging the Taliban, in one of his deliberations. If there is any one statement which explains the hopelessness and cluelessness of the US’ Afghan adventure, it is this one. This also indicates […]
The long shot for peace in Afghanistan on June 24, 2018After the recent series of events that took place in Afghanistan, hopes for peace have risen high. From the government’s initiative of ceasefire, during the Eid festivities, to its reciprocation by the Afghan Taliban, the point that reconciliation, with minimum of negotiations, is possible only if warring parties agree. However, events that followed the temporary […]