Sit-ins and economy
Thousands of people have participated in dharna (sit-ins) every day for the last two months at the D-Chowk in Islamabad. The sit-ins organised by two political parties ie Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf…
A reality check for India
So how do you go from being an international pariah for 12 long years to becoming the best friend and partner of Uncle Sam overnight? You know what they say…
Solution is known…the words fail us
We are transfixed by the symptoms: power cuts, gas shortage, petrol crisis. We are not getting the measure of the underlying crisis, the true problem: this is a clueless and…
Botswana, Africa’s diamond, risks losing its sparkle
When environmental scientist Bakang Bogopa graduated first in his class from the University of Botswana two years ago he did not expect that his first job would be moving furniture…
Hiatus with IMF
The news has come from Washington that the IMF has declined the request by our Finance Minister for release of the quarterly installment following the fourth review. Instead, it is…
Kobane’s fall would be symbolic setback for Obama Syria strategy
It's not a particularly strategic location, the United States and its allies never pledged to defend it, and few people outside the region had even heard of it before this…
The news that’s unfit to lead headlines
The manner in which the news of latest army promotions and postings hit the print and electronic media headlines says something about the state of democracy in this country. Five…
An ominous embrace?
No, not necessarily - unless you are forged in a competitive edge while considering Indo-Pak relations in the traditional zero-sum mould. But let that come later. First, the embrace itself.…
Challenge and response
After the barbaric act by extremist militants against schoolchildren at the Army Public School in Peshawar and the attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine in Paris, the reaction and response…
Security dilemma
Among other things, the visit of President Obama to India brings into focus the politics of the region. If Pakistan and India reduce their bilateral insecurities, the South Asian Association…
