Dear Readers, The killing of Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad on May 2, 2011 by a raiding party of US Navy Seals who flew in undetected in stealth helicopters, accomplished their mission and flew out, has left many red faces in Pakistan. Pakistan was not informed about the mission for ‘security reasons’; it was only…
AbstractIt is one of the important lessons of all the splendid ancient dynasties and modern day wars for power pursuits that self defence is the best defence and relies on indigenous armaments industry always guarantees safety of the national strategic assets and protects the desired goals of foreign policy and socio-economic plans. It is also…
A Complex History of Cooperation and Confrontation AbstractThe importance and future of Afghanistan for the US strategic and economic forces has shaped the ongoing strategic dialogues. Whereas, strategic and economic forces in Pakistan are busy in negotiating their interest with the US officials to achieve not only the economic prosperity that has been affected by…
The NATO nations and their coalition allies agreed to the December 2014 date for ending military mission in Afghanistan, during the alliance’s summit in Lisbon, held during the last month. Summit had laid down the broader frame work for ending the war. Hence, Presidential review was little more than a formality, just tweaking the strategy…
Terrorist Activities in PakistanSuicide BombingsAt least nine persons were killed and 31 others injured when a suicide bomber detonated his vehicle near a police patrol in a densely populated area of Hangu District on Mar 3. The deaths included three policemen who were targeted. The injured include 12 women and four children. The bomber was…
For a few heady hours following Hosni Mobarak’s exit from power after 30 years of dictatorial rule during which he (and his family) managed to “save” US $ 40 billion from the salaries paid to him as a public servant of an impoverished nation, the successful revolt in the streets sent hopes soaring about impending…
The recent upsurge in the streets of the Arab world has been force-multiplied by the planned (and unplanned) use of both internet and the media, Twitter, Facebook, Al-Jazeera, CNN, etc have all chipped in. Joining the dominos Tunisia and Egypt that have fallen, Yemen, Algeria and Bahrain are tottering, Libya is now in a state…
Hard Power has been used often in the context of national security by a number of States, if the aims have not been achieved it is primarily because of their inability to employ all elements of national power. The US national security system is grossly imbalanced and finds it easier to mobilize resources for Hard-Power…
“Soft Power” is the ability to make others do what you want, what they would otherwise not have done. Based on intangibles: i.e. less on what you own, and more on what you represent, others do what you want because of how they see you. What one wants can be done not just by States,…
1. General: Obama’s Wars under review tells the inside story of Obama making the critical decisions on Afghanistan War, the clandestine missions in Pakistan and the worldwide fight against terrorism. The books is a chronological compilation of quotes and paraphrases that Woodward has selected to demonstrate how the decision making process in this case actually…
