The ESCAP survey
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) launched its flagship document – the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2013 (hereafter survey)…
The ballot and the bayonet
In most countries, if a criminal gang had issued a death threat against high-profile national organisations five months earlier than their killing spree, two things would happen: Firstly, the state…
Combating financing of terrorism – II
Appraisal of global and domestic initiatives: Since the tragic event of September 11, 2001, the United States and its allies have been engaged in what they call 'war on terror'…
‘Bugging’ Wali Bagh for ANP prospects: Election Outlook-VII
"Is he a Pakhtun?,"* an ailing 89-year-old Khan Abdul Wali Khan asked his son Sangeen Wali in Pashto as he began to inquire about the identity of this writer. Lying…
Muslims need a new road map
Dry academic debates hold as much charm for me as they do for most readers. But when Dr Tariq Ramadan speaks, you cannot help but pay attention. One of the…
Perceptions of national power
Apologists may downplay it, but the fact is that power is the core attribute of a state, defining its position in international politics by giving it the leverage to influence…
The ESCAP survey
The United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) launched its flagship document – the Economic and Social Survey of Asia and the Pacific 2013 (hereafter survey)…
Blood, pride and hope
Modern analyses of the comparative strength of states utilise metrics such as population, GDP, military spending and other `objective` criteria. The `human` factor the sentiments and emotions of the concerned…
Modi as Pakistan’s candidate
A Neighbour in Delhi, who happens to be a Narendra Modi devotee, asked me which leader Pakistanis would want as India’s next prime minister. I’m no clairvoyant, I told the…
A cost we all will pay
Addressing a public meeting in Hyderabad on February 23, the Prime Minister said that PPP undertook record development schemes worth billions of rupees all over Pakistan, which was unprecedented in…
