Across-the-board accountability on January 26, 2016In his book titled The establishment And How They Get Away With It, Owen Jones, a British columnist, author, commentator and political activist from a democratic-socialist perspective, wrote: “The establishment includes politicians who make laws, media barons who set the terms of debate, businesses and financiers who run the economy, police forces that enforce a […]
Threat to the fraternity from within on January 19, 2016Unfortunately, the contradictions or differences between Arab and Iran date back 1,400 years, and both sides believe in the righteousness of their cause. They use every opportunity to put the other on the mat. In 1990, after Saddam Hussain invaded Kuwait, the US, other western powers and Arab countries were united against him. Earlier, they […]
Pathankot debacle on January 11, 2016Indeed, there are extremists and terrorist organisations in Pakistan and India that do not wish to see the resolution of disputes through talks, as a belligerent environment is conducive to their vile acts. Even as the Indian government refuses to admit any lapse on the part of security and intelligence agencies in the terror attack […]
Modis pragmatism on December 28, 2015Indian Prime Minister (PM) Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Pakistan had mixed reactions in Pakistan as well as in India. Debate is raging on whether his visit to Pakistan was preplanned or whether he just decided on the spur of the moment that he should stop over in Pakistan. However, it is said that Narendra […]
Foolish planning on December 21, 2015Certainly the time has come for the political hierarchies ruling at the Centre and in the provinces to take stock of their acts. The causes they are presently championing so fervently and the fracas they are waging so stridently are enthusing no one on the streets. Issues of electoral reforms, constitutional reforms, civil and military […]
Rekindling hope on December 14, 2015The fifth ministerial Heart of Asia Istanbul Process jointly hosted by Pakistan and Afghanistan reaffirmed the commitment by all participating states to the principles and objectives of promoting regional peace and prosperity with collective effort. They agreed to respect each other’s sovereignty and vowed to abstain from the blame game. Such declarations in the past […]
Empowering the disenfranchised on November 30, 2015After 2008 elections, there have taken place constitutional reforms through various amendments during the proceding five-year term. In view of allegations and protests against rigging in the 2013 elections, the idea of electoral reforms caught the fancy of the politicos on both sides of the divide to promote the democracy project and empowerment of the […]
Better sense prevails on November 23, 2015After the Paris carnage and further threats of terror attacks hurled forward by Islamic State (IS), better sense seems to have prevailed, as compulsive adventurists have shelved their plan of regime change in Syria, at least for the time being. On Saturday, the UN Security Council (UNSC) unanimously adopted a counter-terrorism resolution based on a […]
Good governance: sine qua non for peace on November 16, 2015A debate is raging over the Inter-Services Public Relation’s (ISPR’s) press release issued after the corps commanders’ conference in which the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Raheel Sharif, said: “Good governance is a must for good results and the inconclusive investigations by Joint Investigation Teams (JITs) are affecting the operation.” He underlined the need […]
The Modi magic is waning on November 9, 2015The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered a humiliating defeat in the Bihar State Assembly elections due to the extremism and religious intolerance that went on the rise after Narendra Modi came to power in India. On May 26, 2014, Narendra Modi took oath of office as India’s 15th Prime Minister (PM), 10 days after a […]