Khan meets Trumpon July 21, 2019We expect that the efforts to end the conflict in Afghanistan will dominate Prime Minister Imran Khan’s meeting with President Donald Trump in Washington next week. While Afghanistan matters, unrealistic expectations, and the lingering trust deficit are issues of greater long-term importance. If left unaddressed, they will continue to hamper the bilateral relationship and imperil […]
Diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Israel are long overdueon July 5, 2019The collective interests of the state should be paramount. If we accept this principle, then Pakistan’s long-held position against diplomatic relations with Israel makes little sense. Reason above passion and emotion is the pillar of a successful foreign policy. A lesson our policy-makers may well learn if they wish to further the country’s interests. It […]
The troubled Ummahon June 23, 2019For the Muslim Ummah, which comprises a fifth of humanity, these are troubling times. The Sunni-Shia schism has widened because of the conflicts in Iraq, Syria, and Yemen. The murderous campaign launched by Islamic State (IS) has intensified the friction between Muslims and non-Muslims. In addition, the ingredients to build just societies, such as consultation, […]
Modi is the futureon June 1, 2019Prime Minister Modi should be a happy man. By, winning two consecutive terms with a full majority – a feat previously accomplished only by leaders of the now beleaguered Congress party – Modi has joined J. Nehru and I. Gandhi as one of the most dominant politicians in Indian history. Importantly, the stunning victory of […]
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 […]