Confronting evilon May 18, 2019The Islamic State (ISIS)’s otherwise disastrous campaign to attain power can claim one indisputable success. ISIS-linked violence has created chaos, destroyed communal harmony, increased hatred, and made life miserable for people of all faiths. The bloody carnage unleashed by suicide bombers, targeting Christians on Easter Sunday in Sri Lanka is a recent example. It has […]
Stay the parliamentary courseon May 4, 2019The debate on whether the parliamentary or presidential system is best for the country is back in the news. It rears its head whenever the leadership and financial problems facing the country seem insoluble as they do now. We know that a deep ill-will for parliamentary democracy exists in certain influential quarters. And the failure […]
Preventing financial meltdownon April 20, 2019The country’s grim economic prospects arguably deserve urgent attention. So, the recent criticism of the government’s economic performance is welcome. Blaming past governments for economic mismanagement, although true, means little. The current government must remember its primary writ is to revive the economy. The government must quickly find a replacement for Finance Minister Umar, who […]
The new face of fascismon April 6, 2019Mankind paid a huge price to win the battle against fascism in the 20th century. This victory probably prevented the rebirth of fascism, synonymous with Hitler’s conquest and genocide on a vast scale. Hitler’s ally, Mussolini and his fascist regime used dictatorial methods. They were responsible for war crimes during their expansionist campaign in North […]
Call for toleranceon March 23, 2019There seems no respite from loathsome terrorist acts that test the patience of governments and societies. But it is essential that those responsible for the violence don’t win. Countering the global trend of rising hatred, bigotry, and demonization is a crucial lesson from the Christchurch atrocity. Finding a definition of terrorism that will satisfy everyone […]
India and Pakistan: the aftermath of crisison March 9, 2019The recent military exchange between India and Pakistan has raised the stakes in a volatile region. Taking such significant risks – heavy-handed response to terrorist provocation being the latest – has made it clear that national security policies are out of kilter. Silencing the drumbeats of war merely postpones coming to terms with the prickly […]
South Asia on edge againon February 23, 2019Is South Asia far away from a tipping point or Franz Ferdinand moment from a fatal escalation? Hardly an alarmist view in this charged environment. Raising the stakes after acts of terror and bloodshed have plunged states and regions into deadly conflicts. Calls to national dignity and honour do unleash public resentment leading to incalculable […]
Peace is a distant dream in Afghanistanon February 9, 2019It appears likely that once again Afghanistan’s fate is going to be left to the tender mercies of the Taliban. President Trump’s decision to cut and run from the war-torn country-by withdrawing US troops who are the primary obstacle to an eventual Taliban victory-can only accelerate this outcome. As so often witnessed in international politics, […]
Risking the futureon January 26, 2019It isn’t entirely unexpected that Prime Minister Imran Khan and his team are finding it difficult to square election promises with the country’s realities. There is an almost a clear feeling of hopelessness, in the way leaders and governments are forced to approach the range of reforms needed in Pakistan. But what is more telling, […]
Why democracy is worth fighting for?on January 11, 2019The democratic system faces multiple threats in these volatile times. The clarion cry of the anti-democrats is that democracy favours the elites and has failed the masses that it was intended to serve. They point to the unfulfilled promises and the time wasted in the endless debate which gets in the way of the hard […]