Zafar Iqbal Yousafzai

The borderland between Pakistan and Afghanistan, due to its strategic importance, has been historically vital for all the powers that retained authority over there. Being a focal point of the great game, this area was utilised by the British to vie with Russia. Later, it jeopardised the relations between Pakistan and Afghanistan after the independence of the former. The most dominant point in this … [Read more...] about Politics on borderland

Officials of the US administrations during the tenures of George W Bush and Barack Obama clearly stated that their relations with Pakistan were limited to cooperation in the fight against terrorism. However, with India the US relations were based on long-term cooperation in the areas of trade, commerce, defence, and high-technology exchange. The peak-point in the US-India relationship was the deal … [Read more...] about Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US — II

The relationship between Pakistan and the United States since 9/11 has seen insurmountable mistrust, and steep ups and downs. The West in general and the United States in particular have been trying to present Pakistan as a hypocrite and double-dealer in the war against terror. The huge sacrifices and human and material looses borne by Pakistan are intentionally being minimised. An impression is … [Read more...] about Pakistan, Afghanistan and the US — I

Will the transition of the Taliban and the Afghan government’s peace agreement made with Hizb-e-Islami in Afghanistan may help reduce the unity government’s frustration? The two-year term of the political agreement brokered by the US Secretary of State John Kerry between Dr Ashraf Ghani and Dr Abdullah Abdullah on September 21, 2014 to settle the dispute of presidential elections, and … [Read more...] about Emerging scenarios

With border skirmishes escalating, the blame game is on. Indian hostility is remarkable and the statements from both sides have kept the pot boiling. One should not be optimistic about cordial Pak-India ties in the presence of India’s biased policy of non-acceptance towards Pakistan. Indo-Pak ties had changed for the better when Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and Indian Prime Minister Narendra … [Read more...] about The crux of the Indo-Pak sour ties

The controversy of the China-Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC) has once again re-emerged, when the Balochistan government issued its report regarding the route on July 26. The report, entitled CPEC: The Route Controversy, mainly argues that the federal government does not consider the concerns of the federating units about changing the route, which will affect inter-provincial harmony and create … [Read more...] about The CPEC controversy

The recent round of peace talks facilitated by Pakistan in Murree (near Islamabad) between the Taliban and the Afghan government gives new hope to bringing peace and stability to the war-ravaged Afghanistan. The talks are being held while Afghanistan is playing a blame game against Pakistan. The anti-Pakistani statements of President Ashraf Ghani, the attack on Afghan Parliament on June 22, the … [Read more...] about Afghan peace talks

Mutual visits, CBMs, agreements, reengagement, military and security cooperation, joint efforts against militancy and the keenness of both Pakistan and the new Afghan government have brought their relations to such a positive momentum, one that has not been seen throughout their history before. The initiative was taken by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani to visit Islamabad in mid-November. Ghani was … [Read more...] about Intriguing Pak-Afghan ties: compromising factors