IntroductionAt the time of partition in 1947 there were 562 Princely States (including Agencies and Individual Residences) in India. Those States were not part of the British India because they had not been conquered or annexed by the British Government during their expansion period. What was their status? Some salient points that were peculiar to…
In 2008, after the election of President Barack Obama, new administration re-visited the neglected Afghan theatre. After incremental escalations and surge, President Obama announced withdrawal of majority of U.S. troops by the end of 2014. This set in motion gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops and equipment starting in 2010-11. From 100’000 troops the numbers are…
Kerry-Karzai marathon talks on Bilateral Security Agreement (BSA), also known as Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), fizzled out after raising high hopes a day earlier. Americans want to extract maximum concessions from the outgoing Afghan president. Afghanistan side is careful, and thus is in no hurry. “I believe Karzai wants the BSA, but he doesn’t…
Most recently, under the patronage of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces and President of the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research (ECSSR), the ECSSR organized its 19th Annual Energy Conference under the title ‘Unconventional Fossil Fuels: The…
Literally missing by inches being named the youngest person to win the Nobel Peace Prize, the young Pakistani girl who achieved international fame after being shot in the head and neck on a school bus in the Swat Valley by the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on October 9 last year, Malala Yousufzai felt she had not…
After an inordinate delay Qamar Zaman Chaudhry has been appointed the NAB Chairman. A credible bureaucrat with an impeccable record, he has the right CV. The unfortunate controversy about his appointment could have been avoided by bringing Pakistan Tehrik-i-Insaf (PTI), the third largest party in the National Assembly (NA), into the consultations. The delay underscores…
Criminals and terrorists evade detection, arrest and punishment by easily operating across international borders, taking full advantage of the reluctance of law enforcement authorities to engage in complicated and expensive transnational investigations and prosecutions. Money is used to buy influence and power, imagine the potency of such illegals having, more often than not, the official…
Terrorist Activities in Pakistan Suicide BombingsAt least 15 militants were killed and several others were injured when a suicide bomber ran a vehicle full of explosives into the headquarters of Mullah Nabi Hanfi group of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in the Spin Tall area of Hangu District in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) on October 2. The headquarters…
Dear Readers, The “Azm-e-Nau 4” Exercise held at Bahawalpur on Nov 4, 2013 where accurate air and ground based fire power and coordination was on show between the various wings of the armed forces The Pakistan Army’s artillery and soldiers demonstrated the power of defence and attack with anti-tank missiles and short-range weapons while the…
Mere fact that Nawaz-Obama talks took place cannot be construed as a sign of progress, especially in the context of a prolonged sour relationship between the two countries. Nawaz-Obama summit has, yet once again, brought forth the reality that both sides lack clarity about keeping the bilateral relationship on a sustainably stable trajectory. Apart from…
