Talking about Kashmir in the time of coronavirus on May 11, 2020On May 5, the Center for Security, Strategy and Policy Research, University of Lahore organized a webinar titled “Kashmir in the Age of Detention: What Changes for the Kashmiris Pre and Post-Pandemic ?”. The webinar was graced by some of those professionals who have spent their lives dealing with the Kashmir issue as scholars, diplomats […]
Talking about Kashmir in the time of coronavirus on May 9, 2020Needless to say, the machinations of the powers that be, coupled with the COVID-19-induced insularity, will push the Kashmir cause farther from the table and off the radar. While the task to keep the issue alive is a gargantuan one in an inhospitable international landscape, it is certainly not impossible. Regardless of the difficulties involved […]
In Search of a Center of Gravity on December 8, 2019Book Review: The Battle for Pakistan: The Bitter US Friendship and a Tough Neighbourhood Author: Shuja Nawaz ISBN: 978-969-872-909-7 In her seminal book, The Blind Eye, Rabia Akhtar argues that Pakistan deftly and brilliantly maneuvered its way, and navigated US’ non-proliferation policy to get a nuclear deterrent for itself. Rabia’s research-laden work attributes Pakistan getting […]
What does the Doha Impasse mean for Pakistan’s Kashmir Diplomacy? on September 13, 2019In a series of Tweets on Saturday, US President Donald Trump announced an end to ongoing peace talks with the Taliban. Analyses over the implications of this abrupt move have started to come out. By all means, this will dent chances of a modicum of peace ,however tenuous, in Afghanistan. However , a deadlock in […]
India: a force sans power? on August 17, 2019Book Review: Dragon On Our Doorstep: Managing China Through Military Power Authors: Pravin Sawhney and Ghazala Wahab In one of his seminal books entitled “Conventional Deterrence,” John Mearsheimer asserted that deterring a potential attacker is not only a function of weaponry and numbers but that of military strategy. In other words, denying an adversary its […]
Clearing the Fence; Book Review: Game Changer on May 4, 2019I turned 19 on Saturday, the 29th of January ,2011 but that was the last thing on my mind when I woke up at 6:00 AM to watch Pakistan lock horns with New Zealand at Christchurch. I was fixated on the thoughts of who would lead our World Cup that was announced on 19th January. […]
Hollow rhetoric does not help policymakers go beyond binaries on January 18, 2019Army units take great pride in their history. More often than not, a battalion’s emblem is based on its biggest war grab. Paltan ki izzat (honour of the unit) means life and death for all, right from the Commanding Officer down until sepoys. Responding fire with fire is what these soldiers are trained for. Trained […]
The inevitable response on January 10, 2019‘The very thought of an Indian professor visiting an infantry division that partook in Operation Grand Slam just before the outbreak of the 1965 Indo-Pak war, is enthralling to say the least. The 12 Division also known as Chinar Division, facing the Chinar Corps of the Indian Army has a simple motto: Semper estparatum (always […]
Khan’s foreign policy: opportunities and challenges on July 31, 2018Former cricket legend and World Cup winning captain, Imran Khan is all set to take the reins after taking a sizeable lead in the 2018 General Elections. The talismanic Khan delivered a victory speech in which he succinctly shed light on his agenda for Pakistan. While many of his supporters, including myself, have subscribed to […]
Kim Jong-un’s big guns — why the dictator won’t be another Saddam on June 20, 2018The foremost reason as to why states endeavour to possess nuclear weapons is to deter adversaries, perceived to be existential threats. Hence, nuclear weapons are a product of the need for deterrence; owing to their capacity to cause great damage to one’s opponents. Afflicted with paranoia and ravaged by the Korean War, North Korea decided […]