Ever since the globalization of the world, diplomacy has gained more prominence. It is an art of dealing with other nations in such a way that while strictly maintaining one’s own national interests, a nation does not impinge on the national interests of other nations. Every act of diplomacy has a quid pro quo. Nations…
President Asif Ali Zardari recently paid his fourth visit to China within one year of assuming office of the President of Pakistan. This time President Asif Zardari visited Zhejiang and Guangdong provinces of China’s east coast – both these provinces operate large amount of trade with us. President Zardari said that in future Pakistan would…
It will be a privilege to publish letters from readers about articles writtenin previous issues or giving suggestions. No letter will be printed whichindulges in personalized attacks or is meaningless in the context of DJ Brigadier Sadiqullah Khan (January 05, 1910-April 02, 2009)I wrote a few words remembering the passing on of an old soldier,…
Dear Readers,While the counter-insurgency in Swat is now in its final act, the Army has already in the preliminary stage of launching full-blown operations in South Waziristan. The militants in this region are still in disarray after the death of Baitullah Mahsud, and even though claimants to leadership make their appearance from time to time,…
Executive Summary An opportunity for IranEven twugh the new chief of the international nuclear watchdog body has pledged to resolve the West’s ongoing stand-off with Tehran over the latter’s nuclear programme, the issue has become knottier than ever before in the aftermath of last month’s presidential election in Iran. Yukiya Amano, who was appointed as…
One has to hand it to Asif Zardari, on the face of it he has politically out- maneuvered Mian Nawaz Sharif yet again, or has he? Despite being under pressure lately Zardari has notable accomplishments. The success of sorts in Swat has been bought at a heavy price, the sacred blood of our young martyrs…
US President Obama on July 13, 2009 ordered US security officials to look into allegations that the Bush Administration resisted efforts to investigate a CIA-backed Afghan warlord over the killings of hundreds of pro-Talibaan prisoners in 2001. The prisoners were in the custody of Gen Abdul Rashid Dostum, a prominent Afghan warlord who served as…
The Supreme Court (SC) had given notice to former President Gen (Retd) Pervez Musharraf to explain his position in the “Judges Case” on July 29, 2009. Musharraf decided not to comply with the SC notice on the evasive legal technical grounds that it was not served on him. I have known Pervez Musharraf for over…
In a country affected by low intensity conflicts, economic mismanagement and political corruption at all levels, constituting a foreign policy which can protect its security interests is really a cumbersome job but even then there are some red lines which nations draw and are not meant to be crossed at any cost. These red lines…
Historians must give credit to India that over the past 62 years, it has always been the first South Asian state to introduce new lethal weapon systems into the region. The Pokhran nuclear test in May 1974, ironically called ‘The Smiling Buddha’, or 24 years later, the unprovoked ‘Pokhran-II’ May 1998 nuclear tests testify to…
