Taliban insurgents have killed scores of people in suicide and other bombings in Afghanistan during the past few days. The violence has picked up since the disclosure of the death of Mullah Omar, and is likely to continue till amicable resolution of…
Afghan Taliban are facing their biggest challenge. Death of Mullah Omar is certainly a strategic blow to the outfit. His charismatic stature had kept the group together and effective; his successor is not likely to attract the same esteem. Reports indicate that…
Afghan Islamic Movement Fidaee Mahaz has recently claimed that Mulla Umar died two years ago; however, Taliban have rejected these rumours. It appears the ground is being prepared for making public appearance of Mulla Omar a possibility in near future. This would…
The UN Security Council has unanimously endorsed the Iran nuclear deal. The show of support was interrupted shortly afterward by a war of words between the American and Iranian ambassadors. Iran's ambassador lashed out at the US mere moments after the vote,…
President Vladimir Putin opened the 2015 Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit by announcing the acceptance of Pakistan and India as members. He said Belarus would obtain observer status, joining Afghanistan, Iran and Mongolia, while Azerbaijan, Armenia, Cambodia and Nepal would be welcomed…
As Greece struggles to manage its debt trap, it has already swallowed the humble pie of being a defaulter. Negotiations for a cash-for-reform package between Athens and its creditors broke down over the previous weekend and Greek Prime Minister Alexis Trspras called…
As the fighting season peaks in Afghanistan, relics from Karzai era have stepped up their effort to create disjunction in Pak-Afghan joint counter terrorism effort. One rudimentary way is to blame anything that goes wrong in Afghanistan on Pakistan. This strategy has…
In the context of globalization, connectivity, diplomacy and trade are not stand alone activities, rather these are parts of a comprehensive concept. If the political and territorial disputes are settled then borders become a source of flow and not obstruction. Connectivity and…
Afghanistan and Pakistan enjoy a unique relationship that has many shades which keep morphing into each other in a number of ways; at times throwing up diverse and daunting challenges, and at times oozing out comforting brotherly sentiments and environment. Afghanistan-Pakistan, bilateral…
Pakistan has reluctantly upped its defence budget for 2015-16 by 11 percent. Total defence outlay is Rs700. 2 billion as compared to Rs 627.2 billion allocated in the outgoing fiscal year, showing an increase of Rs 73 billion. The actual increase in…