IntroductionAs a commanding officer of 14 Punjab I had participated fully in the September 1965 War in CHAMB-JAURIAN Sector and SIALKOT Sector. I am narrating below a few events based on my memory and personal diary for the interest of our learned readers. Operation GRAND SLAMBetween 15 and 22 August the overwhelming forces of the…
Recent Pak-Afghan summit had many interesting features. Before leaving Kabul for Islamabad, President Karzai had said that it would be his 20th visit to Pakistan, and that earlier 19 had not yielded any results. Afghan President’s visit came at a time when Afghanistan is undergoing important political and security transitions. Draw-down of foreign forces is…
According to Global “Economic Prospects”, South Asia Region growth declined from 7.4% in 2011 to an estimated 5.4% in 2012, mainly due to a sharp slowdown in India. Home to many of the developing world’s poor, the economic future of the region depends upon (1) Regional cooperation bringing about the Asian Century (2) supporting regional…
Most Pakistanis, while not oblivious to the country’s multiple challenges, still think that the country, resting on weak foundations of democracy, conservative religious orthodoxy, and poor economy, remains fundamentally instable. Optimists think the country has survived numerous crises over the past more than six and half decades and there is little reason to think it…
Mamnoon Hussain stands elected as the 12th President of Pakistan but not before quite unnecessary controversy generated by the Supreme Court (SC). The PML (N) had the required numbers even if PPP had not boycotted the Presidential elections process. The “unconditional” support from PPP’s former ally, the MQM, gave additional insurance. The PPP ruling party…
Holding Parliamentary elections in about 60 days from a standing start, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) says that “Local Bodies” polls cannot be held soon for various reasons, informed sources claim delays may range from 4 months to 8 even. The deliberate foot-dragging in the various Provincial Local Bodies Bills confirms lip-service only to…
The Federal Interior Minister’s excellent initiative for reinvigorating the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (NACTA) effective is most welcome, so is the concept of a National Intelligence Secretariat, NACTA has been mostly dormant, mostly due to the obduracy of Rahman Malik. He wanted NACTA to function under his aegis, with good reason NACTA officials feared Malik would…
Terrorist Activities in Pakistan Suicide BombingsAt least 24 people, including 14 female students, four nurses and at least three Frontier Corps (FC) per sonnel along with Quetta Deputy Commissioner, identified as Abdul Mansoor Khan and two others were killed and 27 injured when uniden tified terrorists blew up a bus of Sardar Bahadur Khan (SBK)…
Dear Readers, Emphasized by political thinkers and administrators as being very important, local self governments are crucial to society as they help set the structure and guidelines for an individual community. Surprisingly local government finds mention in the Constitution of very few countries and still fewer contain rules for local government. In the case of…
During his two-day visit to Pakistan, the UN Secretary General, Mr. Ban Ki Moon, had a busy schedule, covering diverse areas of interest ranging from disease to drones. His presence on the Independence Day ceremony has earned him immense goodwill amongst the people of Pakistan. Pakistan has traditionally supported the purposes and principles of the…
