Politicians facing violence on September 30, 2020On September 16, 2020, a report on “Political violence incidents steadily decreasing” appeared in this newspaper covering a study of Dr. Ali Hasnain of the Lahore University of Management Sciences that he had shared with his colleagues from LUMS and University of California. The subject drew my attention as it claimed to be a data-driven […]
The fall of elite’s democracy in India — Part II on July 1, 2019The Part I of this column had discussed the rise of Narinder Modi, his charismatic personality, and the overwhelming support he received from Indian public during recent election that left many political analysts and observers wondering and questioning themselves as to why they couldn’t foresee this upcoming victory of BJP. Another mind-boggling question for them […]
The fall of elite’s democracy in India — Part I on June 27, 2019While the BJP supporters went into jubilation to celebrate second consecutive electoral victory of their party, the political opponents and observers sounded doom and gloom as soon as the election results of Indian Lok Sabha were announced. “It’s an end of Mahatma Gandhi era in India,” an opponent cried while a political observer claimed that […]
Growing threats of RAW and NDS on June 12, 2019We, as a nation, are going through a very complex and paradoxical situation these days when security and insecurity go side by side, trust and distrust continue chasing us every now and then, and loyalty takes no time in turning into disloyalty. A couple of months ago, the nation had an occasion to re-strengthen its […]
Freedom of expression, security and patriotism on May 24, 2019Freedom of expression is an ideal that aspires to have no boundary or limit in its pursuit for achieving its desired goals. It’s an ideal that demands freedom for airing conflicting views without invoking any physical or disciplinary reactions from opponents or state’s regulatory agencies. Now the reaction against the use of this right is […]
Who are we? on April 16, 2019A sane voice amid a variety of insane voices suddenly emerged from a remote part of the world and in a flash, it pulled the whole world under its influence and became a symbol of resistance against the wave of terrorism that has been spilling blood for many decades. A voice, not a gun or […]
Islamophobia, Jihadism, or peace on March 24, 2019While the worshippers were getting ready to offer their prayers, a demon of hatred was busy preparing his deadly weapons with a most despicable plan in his mind to unleash his terror onto those innocent worshippers who were least aware of what horrifying fate was about to pounce on them. Driving his car in a […]
Peace – a far cry on March 14, 2019The recent shooting down of an Indian aircraft by Pakistan, followed by the arrest of its pilot and his subsequent return to India within the shortest possible time showed how rapidly change can occur in international relations. No blood was spilled and no territory occupied; yet Pakistan was victorious in this short-lived aerial conflict. For […]
The dichotomy of Kashmir crisis on March 6, 2019Nearly after two and half years after a terror attack that triggered Pak-India border conflicts, another terror attack, deadlier and more shocking than the previous one, has led India and Pakistan to resort to their old practices of accusing each other of supporting terrorists. Can this conflicting situation between these two countries be brought to […]
What caused Afghan peace negotiations? on February 4, 2019The US initiative for holding peace talks with the Taliban, Pakistan’s use of its influence to bring Taliban on table talks, and the emerging signs of satisfaction from the US and Taliban on positive progress of negotiations are the greatest events of the year evoking a hope for an end to the militancy that has […]