Saad Hafiz

The Islamic world and the west appear to be caught up in an intensifying phase of political and cultural conflict. Each side views the other with mistrust and suspicion and both have a shopping-list of grievances. Over-zealous punditry on television, in the op-ed pages, on campuses and in strategic studies think tanks reinforce the fear […]

The intense debate over the Partition of India in 1947 continues six decades later. Some commentators have described the partition as neither inherently desirable nor necessary feasible but tragically inevitable. They attribute this to the Congress and Muslim League’s incompatible visions for India, which led to deadlock in talks forcing the British to impose a […]

The prevailing largely negative view of Islam in the non-Muslim world is reinforced by the attacks on soft civilian targets like shopping malls and churches. As a result, the world is becoming increasingly familiar with Salafi militants and Deobandi extremists who have instigated terrible acts of terror and violence as part of a jihad or […]

Pakistanis live in interesting times. The country’s pusillanimous leadership is pushing for peace talks with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The TTP responds with fresh atrocities committed with frightening regularity in the name of the ‘religion of peace’. The state is quick to forget the TTP’s long history of murder and mayhem and treat it as […]

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif restated his dream recently to turn Pakistan into an ‘Asian Tiger’. This title became synonymous with some East Asian nations that achieved high growth by pursuing an export-driven economic strategy. On the surface, Mr Sharif’s desire appears more like a pipedream and less a realistic goal. For a brief period in […]

As the stage-managed ceremonies marking Pakistan’s 67th Independence Day approach, it may be worth examining the state of the state. This is not to belittle ‘befitting’ national celebrations, which can become important elements of a national identity. Every nation needs symbols, traditions and ‘auspicious’ days to affirm its distinctiveness and pass its traditions to the […]

A central plank in the monotheistic faith of Islam is that every Muslim is his or her own priest, bound by only his or her own relationship with God. Yet, it is impossible to imagine Islam in the present day without the suffocating power of self-appointed priests. In the past, Islamic societies had accorded respect […]

Drones have been a popular topic of late, mostly in discussions about whether the US government should be authorised to track down and kill suspected terrorists anywhere around the globe using the pilotless predators. Amidst the passionate debate, the much vilified drones have become the signature weapon in the post-9/11 anti-terrorist warfare, particularly in the […]

Pakistan, the world’s only Muslim nuclear power, celebrated Youm-e-Takbir (Day of God’s Greatness) this year with the usual fervour and chest- thumping bravado. The day marks the country’s nuclear tests in 1998, which were a tit-for-tat response to earlier Indian tests. Pakistan’s nuclear weapons programme is setup as a military deterrent against India. It is […]

Between gushing tributes to the ‘all-weather’ friendship between Pakistan and China, Prime Minister Li Keqiang could have highlighted the contribution of women to China’s rise as a world power to his Pakistani hosts. Pakistan can learn from the great strides that China has made in terms of women’s empowerment. In sharp contrast to Pakistan, China […]