ContextFor all intents and purposes US is entering the third stage of its military engagement in Afghanistan. The first one was right after 9/11 when President Bush launched an attack against the perpetrators and their supporters, Al Qaeda and Afghan Taliban respectively. The second phase was represented by the tenure of Barrack Obama, while the…
ContextThe media sources whose job is to keep the audiences updated on current affairs are increasingly producing material with little perspective. Moreover, the centers of global intellect are writing about the complexities of present real politic in such a jumbled manner that it would be quite challenging for a common reader to follow what actually…
The recent Taliban attack on an Afghan army post outside Mazar-i-Sharif in northern Afghanistan—the deadliest ever by the Taliban on a military base, killing some 150 recruits—underscores the terrorist group’s growing strength more than 15 years after they were ousted from power. The attack confirms yet again that Afghanistan still has a major security problem…
Summary Pakistan-Iran relations have been complicated since Partition and even more so since the 1979 Iranian Revolution. The two countries have worked together on trying to bring stability to Afghanistan, although they do not see eye-to-eye on a future role for the Taliban. There is much potential in their relationship, especially with regard to the…
Context As In the increasing global volatility the US had come to symbolize stability and continuity. However, the election of Donald Trump signifies this would no longer be the case. The unfolding reality has created a new level of uncertainty in world affairs, especially for allies under NATO and the European Union (EU). The EU…
Context As Donald Trump settles down in his role as the new president, a considerable amount of discussion is focused on how he is likely to deal with the ongoing campaign against extremism. Since its inception in the aftermath of 9/11, the war against terror is continually evolving, and thus the question of how best…
Context It is important to understand the present day political, economic, and defense policies of various international actors with the appropriate historical context. After all, in the absence of this relativity, it would be difficult to give meaning to the unfolding events, and predict their future trajectory. Looking at the past often leads to the…
ContextAs President-elect Donald Trump puts together his cabinet that will shape the new American outlook, international actors are anxiously attempting to decipher what his presidency would mean for them, and meanwhile attempt to put a positive spin on it. Some are taking his election rhetoric and statements literally, but then he has little experience about…
ContextA number of significant regional and global events suggest that we are entering a new phase of the global realignment, and the affairs surrounding the campaign against extremism are the heart of this flux. One such event is hardening of the Russian position on Syria and the breakdown of the US-Russia talks to reach an…
ContextTerrorists have again struck in Balochistan, Pakistan’s largest but least populated province. The attack confirmed that this resource-rich province remains Pakistan’s weakest security link against militants and separatists. And what’s more, it could threaten China’s massive US$46 billion investment in the multi-faceted infrastructure venture known as the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). On Monday 8…
