Along Karachi’s coast the construction of two additional 1,100 MW generation III AP 1000 nuclear power plants (KANUPP II & III) is under way. Earlier this month, experts form International Atomic Energy (IAEA) completed the key Generic Reactor Safety Review (GRSR) of these nuclear reactors. These Pressurized Water Reactors (PWR) are capable of generating 1100…
Economic sustainability and political stability were the two main issues in the recently held presidential elections 2015 in the Republic of Uzbekistan. The voters rightly elected Islam Karimov for his miraculous socio-economic achievements in the past years. National security, societal harmony, continuation of financial and banking reforms also remained under serious consideration of the voters….
Immersed in turmoil for various reasons ever since the Arab Spring started with Mohamed Bouazizi’s self-immolation in Tunisia on Dec 18, 2010, separating the permutations and combinations of allies and foes in the Middle East given any country or sub-region is mind-boggling. Beset with multiple crises ourselves, mostly of our own making, we are desperately…
Fast becoming increasingly dangerous for the region, and for Pakistan, the Yemen situation has inherent contradictions and complications that need to be addressed. The Saudis have not minced words in claiming our help – and fast. We can understand their impatience, for them it is a pretty straightforward transaction. They pay us for the manpower…
Pakistan’s geo-strategic crossroads location connecting China with South Asia, the Middle East and Central Asia was confirmed by the signing of agreements pertaining to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) during the visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Islamabad. Envisaging construction of roads, rails and power plants, nearly US$ 35 billion (of the US$46 million)…
Terrorist Activities in Pakistan Suicide AttacksAt least eight persons, including two Policemen, were killed and 23 others were injured in a suicide attack on Police headquarters near the main gate of Police Lines in Qila Gujjar Singh area of Lahore District on February 17, reported Dawn. Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan-Jama’at-ul-Ahrar (TTP-JuA) ‘spokesperson’ Ehsanullah Ehsan claimed responsibility for…
Dear Readers, After days of heated debate and argument, a joint session of Parliament passed a unanimous resolution to remain neutral and stay out of the Saudi-led air campaign targeting Shiite rebels in Yemen. However the resolution stated that Pakistan should be prepared to come to Saudi Arabia’s aid if the latter’s sovereignty or territorial…
Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi came to power, analyst were watching as to who would call the shots in Indian foreign policy—parliament or the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Now with BJP’s adoption of resolution on foreign policy the situation has become clear; it is the hardliners in BJP who would remote control India’s policy, and…
Operation Decisive Strom led by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and its 10 coalition partners against the Shia sponsored and trained Houthi militants in Yemen is going through air strikes. Riyadh, Islamabad, Istanbul, Tehran and Cairo are very busy in the lengthy spells of diplomatic activities. Stakes of socio-economic bounties, geo-political superiority and geo-strategic maneuverings…
The Race towards NuclearizationPakistan’s quest for attaining nuclear weapons was solely driven by India. When ‘Buddha smiled’ in the Indian Pokhran in 1974, achieving nuclear weapons parity with its arch enemy for the beleaguered nation that had not yet fully recovered from the 1971 split became an obsession. There was across the board near unanimity…
