Kabulov pushes for Afghan peace troika on February 26, 2021Zamir Kabulov, a high ranking career diplomat and Russia’s special envoy for Afghanistan, landed in Islamabad on February 19, 2020, as part of the efforts to kick-start the Afghan Peace Process, which seems to be lingering around for quite some time now. Before leaving Moscow, Kabulov told Russian news agency Sputnik that he expects the […]
The sluggish Afghan transit trade calls for attention on July 18, 2020Pak-Afghan traders shared concerns with the officials of the Directorate of Transit Trade Custom House, Peshawar, over the sluggish flow of Afghan transit trade at Torkham – the key crossing point between Pakistan and Afghanistan. They were of the view that after reopening of Torkham border for Afghan transit cargo three days a week (day-light […]
Washington’s Game of Thrones amid COVID-19 on June 5, 2020The United States (US) has reported more than 1.9 confirmed COVID-19 cases cumulatively with over 109,146 deaths, as of June 4, 2020, both figures are highest in the world. The grim situation necessitates an effective response in the wake of global pandemic. However, White House, in the backdrop of economic melt-down, bipartisan adversity, and diverging […]
Washington provokes Beijing, befriends New Delhi, suspects Islamabad on December 16, 2019In June 2019, the US Department of Defence (DoD) released its latest report on American strategy in the Indo-Pacific for the coming years. As evident from the document, New Delhi will play a role as a main US ally in South Asia. At the same time, despite all recent diplomatic cosiness, Islamabad was not mentioned […]
Erstwhile FATA development plan on a reversal? on July 4, 2019The business community of tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (erstwhile Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) were taken by awe when the federal government withdrew SRO No. 1212(1)/2018 dated 05/10/2018 in a proposed budget for 2019/2020 while introducing Federal Excise Duty on the manufacture of certain classes of products like steel and ghee units. The move […]
The many faces of corruption on May 6, 2019Corruption may be nearly as old as human history. As global economy expanded substantially during the 20th century, proceeds of corruption increased in absolute terms. Given its very nature, it is hard to estimate the global magnitude of corruption with certainty. The World Bank estimates that the annual corruption proceeds exceed $1.5 trillion, or 2 […]
Pakistan’s undiscovered pot of gold? on February 23, 2019Energy security is the key foundational block of the national and international energy frameworks across the world. From the geostrategic perspective, energy security is also deemed critical for national and international sovereignties. The International Energy Agency (IEA) defines energy security as “the uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price”. Energy security has many […]
Post-Doha Afghan peace equation on January 31, 2019Meaningful negotiations are rooted in some basic principles. First, an attitude prompting the negotiators to work for solutions that will benefit all or most of the participating parties. Second, an orientation that views the other person as a potential partner, rather than an adversary. Third, a climate that stimulates both parties to realize that they […]
Is Pakistan’s economic take-off around the corner? on December 13, 2018How countries develop overtime? How do nations move from the third world to first world? What stages are involved? One of the models to explain such transition of societies is “Rostow’s Five Stages of Growth”. Walt Rostow – an American economist and political theorist was the man behind this model. He explains the complete transition […]
CPEC financial arrangements; deciphering the myths on October 28, 2018CPEC – China Pakistan Economic Corridor – is not a creeping colonisation as many experts portray it as such. Yet, CPEC manages to be a buzz word – with a negative connotation – for the international media and power corridors. It once again, has come under verbal attack, apparently after recent tug of trade-war between […]