Pakistan and Iran: new goalposts
Pakistan is fortunate to have Iran as a strong and considerate neighbour. Although at times the relationship becomes tense mainly due to events that are mostly related to factors that…
Balancing act for Turkey economy in 2014
Turkey faces an economic tight-rope walk in 2014, analysts warn, at risk from global turbulence and under pressure from the markets to cut consumption in a highly-charged election year. The…
Drowned, sinking deeper in debt
Pakistan, drowned deep in debt, is sinking deeper and deeper with each passing moment. The situation, if not remedied on a war footing, will eventually lead the country to an…
Realignment of ties
The most serendipitous emerging foreign policy event for Pakistan, provided its leadership has foresight, is the ongoing power realignment within the Muslim world, as international engagement with Iran looms on…
View point: Saudi annoyance with UN
Something unprecedented happened at the UN last week. Within 24 hours of winning a non-permanent member seat on the UN Security Council, Saudi Arabia announced its resignation. The country had…
Fears of Afghan women
With the withdrawal of Nato-led troops and the transition of security to Afghan forces, the future of Afghan women is threatened. That women’s hard-won rights are already eroding is evident…
Concerns about battered rupee
The rupee is fast losing its value vis-a-vis other major currencies. And the country's economic team leaders - the State Bank Governor and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar - have held…
Deadly tentacles of terrorism
The ghastly and cowardly attack of September 15, 2013 by Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) on Major General Sanaullah Khan, Lieutenant Colonel Tauseef Ahmad and Sepoy Irfan Sattar, has once again exposed hollowness…
‘I-5 Group’
Pakistan possesses all the basic ingredients essential for becoming a global hub for Islamic banking and finance. The biggest advantage that Pakistan has over its competitors in Islamic banking and…
Numbers from a hat
Sleight of hand, a rose-tinted view of revenues and external inflows and a hopefully supportive State Bank: the budget, long on rhetoric and short on action (to reflect a road…
