S M Hali

US and NATO forces have been in Afghanistan since October 2001. The bulk of the NATO forces were withdrawn in December 2015. But still around 14,000 remain there. Even at the peak of deployment when the NATO forces numbered more than 150,000, they made little or no dent in the war waging capability of the Taliban, whom they had defeated in October 2001. The Taliban took refuge in caves and bided … [Read more...] about The debate of US forces withdrawing from Afghanistan

India entered the Afghanistan fray more out of spite for Pakistan and less for love of the Afghans. Eighteen years since 9/11, Indian cooperation with the Afghan Unity Government faces impending dangers, which may imperil Indian investments in the war-ravaged country. Most of the threat comes from Indian miscalculation of the risks. India has a poor track record of meddling in the affairs of other … [Read more...] about Perils to Indian investments in Afghanistan

It has been four decades since China decided to adopt the policy of ‘reform and opening up’ in 1978. Although China is one of the most ancient civilizations and has a rich history of culture, development and traditions. The inventions of paper, the compass for navigation, typesetting and gunpowder are but some of its achievements. China was occupied by imperialist powers but fought its way to … [Read more...] about Forty years of China’s ‘reform and opening up’

Pakistan Navy (PN) has organized a multi-nation naval exercise in the North Arabian Sea in the first quarter of 2019. This is the sixth exercise of the Aman series, which have been held biennially since 2007. All previous naval exercises of the Aman series have been highly successful and not only were participated wholeheartedly by navies of friendly countries, ushering goodwill to Pakistan, but … [Read more...] about Naval Exercise Aman-19

US President Donald Trump has written a letter to Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan seeking Islamabad’s assistance and facilitation in achieving a negotiated settlement of the Afghan war. This is a far cry from the denigrating observations of Trump in his new South Asia policy, stopping Pakistan’s Coalition Support Fund due for its support in the war on terror, shutting down aid, warning IMF … [Read more...] about Trump seeks Pakistan’s help with Afghan peace talks

BJP managed to bag majority votes in the 2014, polls riding on an extremist manifesto, promising to rejuvenate Hindutva and Hindu supremacy, which is contrary to secularism prescribed in the Indian Constitution. The result was disastrous as unbridled forces of terror were unleashed on the minorities, wreaking havoc on the hapless souls. The barbarism of the last half a decade caused international … [Read more...] about Hindu-Muslim election card in India

Imran Khan's government has completed 100 days in office. The PTI Chairman had promised the nation an ambitious agenda for the first 100 days. It is heartening that he himself is assessing an accountability of the achievements, omissions and failures. The opposition is crying hoarse, poking holes in the PTI agenda, which is understandable because most of the opposition is being investigated by the … [Read more...] about 100 days of PTI government

India, as an emerging power in the region is eager to join the big boys in the power games being played in Afghanistan. Indian ambitions in Afghanistan are not only for power projection, but also for destabilizing Pakistan. The 16 December 2014 heinous attack on the Army Public School Peshawar, assault at the Bacha Khan University and scores of terror attacks in Pakistan are some examples of the … [Read more...] about Delhi and power games in Kabul

The Cyprus issue is regarded as a "frozen conflict" and has defied resolution for fifty years. The recent discovery of gas in its vicinity has raised the hope of providing a platform for greater cooperation between the two protagonists; the Greek and Turkish Cypriots. While at the same time it has rekindled possible animosity leading to conflict. Currently this scribe is touring Cyprus, at the … [Read more...] about Cyprus gas exploration-boon or bane?

Indian obsession with Pakistani “spies” is so deep rooted that it is bordering on being delusional. On 28 October 2018, Indian media was in a state of frenzy reporting that it had captured two Pakistani spies infiltrating into Indian Territory at Ferozepur Sector. Entire India went berserk, gloating over the arrest of the alleged spies but no sane Indian would stop to ponder over the probability … [Read more...] about Indian obsession with Pakistani spies