The dynamics of kidnapping
As the federal cabinet – which recently met in Karachi – noted, kidnapping for ransom has become one of the biggest threats to security in the city. There have been…
Being Asif Zardari
“Islamabad is already jolted and now let’s wait for the aftershocks.” That was my first reaction at a TV talk show on Sept 7 when the anchor asked for my…
Redefining ourselves
In terms of massive tragedy, atrocities committed and personal traumas surely no one community has suffered more in contemporary history than the Ummah –the worldwide community of Muslims. Indeed, if…
Parliament`s vote
By any standard, the vote in Britain`s House of Commons on Aug 29 was a historic one. Its effects will be felt, and its significance better appreciated, with the passage…
Impact of bilateral and multilateral treaties under international law
A treaty is an international agreement concluded between states in written form and governed by international law.1 A treaty can also come into existence through an agreement between a state…
The security challenge
Economic interdependence between nations is a reality of today. Even countries like the US or China are not totally self-reliant. An economic shock in one region sends waves throughout the…
Pak-US mistrust: a reminder
Last week, top secret details about America’s intelligence expenditure were made public as part of the leaks by former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden. The leaked “black budget” has never…
Vision and grit
After two months of reticence on his government’s policies, Nawaz has been doing a lot of talking of late, both on the economy – which he considers to have been…
A plan at last
The federal interior minister’s excellent initiative for reinvigorating the National Counter-Terrorism Authority (Nacta) is most welcome as is the concept of a National Intelligence Secretariat. Nacta has been mostly dormant,…
The illusion of a ‘reset’
Kerry’s visit on August 1 was the first by a US secretary of state to Pakistan after nearly two years. The last one, by Hillary Clinton in October 2011, had…
