The unrest in Iran, which started with the death of 22-year-old Mahasa Amini, is nearing two months with no let-up. The question arises of how the scarf issue may attain so much traction in a country ruled by the clergy with iron-fist.…
Anocracies are countries in transition towards full democracy after having experienced non-democratic rule in the past but are not fully committed to democratic practices. These countries have a high probability of experiencing intra-state conflicts and violence according to scholars like Gehem and…
Muzzling the egalitarian-minded people under the presumption that they are anti-state or a threat to the revolution is unwarranted
Muzaffar Warsi, a Pakistani poet, lyricist and a scholar of repute, wrote: “AAB TOU BANDE BHI KHUDA BANDOON KI TAQDEER LIKHAIN; DEY…
Imran Khan is neither infallible, nor is he an angel. He is another human being. He has erred in many decisions and his stint in power was not perfect by any means. But he is a brave man, a sportsman par excellence,…
The United States is a pre-eminent power. Its National Security Strategies (NSS) are formulated, modified and revealed from time to time, keeping in line with varying interests and evolving threat perceptions. Whether Pakistan finds some space in these or not, it is…
Pakistan’s politics never had traditions worth emulation. While still a legatee of the colonial mindset, the country’s politics revolved around ideology — good or bad. Frequent interruptions in the political process created a class of opportunists whose sole aim was to grab…
Pakistan’s power and energy issues are interlinked and require structural reforms. The problems are interdisciplinary and multidimensional and not amenable to placebo solutions. It is time the anodyne prescriptions gave way to the strong nostrums to yield sustainable solutions. Starting with energy…
The Tipu Sultan Express named after the famed freedom icon who resisted British colonialism in South India in the late 18th Century is being renamed Wadiyar Express after the Hindu ruling dynasty that ruled over Mysore before and after Haider Ali and…
The election of Xi Jinping as the General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is a vindication of the Party's confidence in his leadership. The 20th National Congress of the CPC has taken place at a crucial time in international…
The killing of a school van driver in Swat on October 10 evoked spontaneous protests. The incident, in which two students were also injured, was reminiscent of the attack on Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai a decade ago. If Malala’s incident turned the…