Some Kabul themes
Apart from the negotiations with the Taliban and the US troops’ withdrawal plans, much of what is happening in Afghanistan, especially the impact of the state’s reconstruction on society, should…
An evolving enemy
Three Chechens, one Uzbek, one Kyrgyzstani and one Dagestani. These are the nationalities of six of the 10 terrorists that attacked the Bacha Khan Airport in Peshawar on Saturday (the…
Waiting for Malala to grow up
When the state and the political elite of the country cannot be on the same page even on how best to deal with an existential threat to it, is there…
A leaf from Turkey’s book
The discussion in Turkey on a botched coup attempt some years ago raised some hopes of Pakistan following a similar route. Operation Sledgehammer, as the attempted coup in Turkey was…
Still a long way to go
Since the US apologised on the Salala incident, the Pakistan-US relationship has been on the mend. One has witnessed a fairly swift turnaround in the mood of the two governments…
Beyond elections
Looking beyond the coming elections, Pakistan’s future looks bleak. There is little question that elections 2013 will prove more divisive and chaotic than anything we have seen before. Mere transfer…
Talking with the enemy
In more than a decade-long conflict between the Pakistani state and the Al-Qaeda and its inspired local militants, the initiative undoubtedly has fallen into the hands of the extremists. They…
Negotiating a New Order
Just a couple of years ago could any liberal in Pakistan ever imagine calling for a military operation? Liberals like Pervaiz Hoodhboy have put all their bets on the Pakistani…
Confessed serial killer hid in plain sight, then broke own rules
A confessed serial killer from Alaska who hid in plain sight and whose crimes went undetected for more than a decade, was ultimately caught after he gave in to his…
A Pakistani solution
Despite the many hints and calls for a coup of some sort, the Pakistani military shouldn’t intervene now when the politicians are doing a great job of discrediting every last…
