It has been obvious for a while now that the war in Afghanistan is not going well. After years of presence there, the Americans and NATO forces still face danger and attacks on daily basis. Some experts even suggest that the Taliban are becoming stronger, more brazen and are engaging allied forces more aggressively. So, […]
Pakistan wins ICC ODI Champions match against India 2009. The win shows that fans in South Asia are changing. Cricinfo has a great article by Sambit Bal who explains that because matches between both countries have increased, the excitement has been muted to an extent and has made the game more “sane”. I agree. I think Cricket should not be inextricably linked to national identity, politics or religion in South Asia because it perpetuates divisiveness. On the contrary, delinking such issues from India Pakistan matches will allow us to focus on the game.
Word of advice for Washington – in your efforts to win the battle against the terrorists, don’t humiliate your friends. After spending about a year in Pakistan, I arrived back home, that is back in the States last night. Well, as I was at the last stop before exiting the immigration area at Dulles Airport, […]
: Foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi of Pakistan suggests that Islamabad appoint a special envoy to India in attempt to engage both countries in back channel diplomacy, and hopefully more progressive, warming relations. Riaz Mohammad KHan is considered for the position of special envoy and Foreign Minister Qureshi insists that such attempts should work in tandem with front ends of diplomacy as well. Perhaps in the initial stages, US Special Envoy Holbrooke or another envoy might mediate such talks that can lead to a warming of relations in the Subcontinent.
United States Senate passes the Kerry-Lugar bill tripling foreign aid to Pakistan for “sustainable development” purposes and counterterrorism/counterinsurgency assistance. This comes as both the United States and Pakistan struggle in defeating terrorism in the region. The bill specifies up to $1,5,000,000 through 2013 annually as President Obama revamps our strategy in dealing with the Af-Pak quagmire.
United States General McChrystal explains that Iran’s Quds Force and Pakistan’s ISI are aiding the Taliban in Afghanistan, undermining US efforts and interests in the War on Terror. His remarks are useful in drawing out history of extremist groups in the region and the ISI’s dealings with Afghanistan during and after the Soviet Afghan War. That history shows that Pakistan has no significant links to Al Qaeda, the perpetrators of 9/11 and links with the Taliban were dictated by our interests in funding Mujahideen forces to counter Soviets int he 1980’s.
I have noticed strange things in Pakistan during my recent stay there, but two things stand out for me. One, it is the unbelievably weird ability of Pakistanis to connect every bad thing to American and how America with Israel and India is relentlessly trying to destroy Pakistan, but Pakistan is surviving against all odds. […]
CNN reports on Pakistan’s female fighter pilots and the Air Force’s work in counterinsurgency and the War on Terror. It’s a very good article and reminds us that Pakistan is a moderate country paying their own costs in trying to uproot fundamentalism, militancy and terrorism from their country.
Tragedy stuck Karachi Pakistan the other day when about 20 women died from suffocation while attempting to collect wheat flour that was distributed by a charity. It isn’t the only time that poor Pakistanis have died tragically, but this one is especially awful because it started with very good intentions. Because the price of flour […]
The Iran-Pakistan-India natural gas pipeline slated for completion by 2013 sees India withdraw from the project and increasing concern from Washington that Pakistan do the same. However, there are few alternatives to such a profitable, efficient solution to Pakistan’s energy crisis. The IPI pipeline is testimony to Fareed Zakaria’s concept of “The Rise of the Rest” and beckons President Obama to consider formulating new strategies in foreign policy dealing with Iran, Pakistan and India
I can’t think of anyone in any government in Pakistan’s history openly rejecting anything proposed by Washington before Pakistan’s current President, Asif Zardari publicly and strongly rejected Obama’s new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. Speaking to Financial Times, President Zardari correctly pointed out when he said: “Afghanistan and Pakistan are distinctly different countries and cannot […]
The horrific attack on Pakistan’s religious minister the other day has reminded the world that Pakistan’s struggle for survival is not over. Actually, it has not even begun, even though we see military operation against the Taliban in Swat, the battle itself against nihilists has yet to be started. For this battle to begin, the […]
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