The orphan economy
There are at least six different parties and groups giving their own views about the state of the economy and the required direction of policies, and their viewpoints differ drastically…
The IMF’s visit
The IMF mission that was in Islamabad ostensibly to discuss the contours of the next programme has gone back to Washington. This scribe has been struggling to understand why they…
Let’s keep our powder dry
“If they want peace” said Napoleon Bonaparte to the Russian Czar Alexander, “they should avoid the pinpricks that precede canon balls”. He may as well have been addressing Pakistan and…
Ties with India
Preoccupation with domestic issues over the past few weeks should not have prevented Pakistan`s policymakers and informed sections of society from taking note of the dangerous events along the Line…
Consensus on terrorism
The tone for a much-needed multi-party conference has finally been set. The leadership of the Awami National Party (ANP) has started contacting the leadership of other political parties. The plan…
Inequality in society
With elections approaching, the usual claims from incumbent political parties of being pro-poor and even ‘revolutionary’ have increased in both frequency and amplitude. Notwithstanding their magnificent promises of ending corruption,…
Enter through the narrow gate
“The sun came up upon the left, out of the sea came he! And he shone bright, and on the right went down into the sea.” Thus began the southward…
Wanted: a magic wand
Ambition is a perfectly legitimate gene within the political DNA. Without ambition it would be almost impossible for anyone except a saint to suffer the dross, ennui and heartless envy…
18th Amendment – fallacious argument
Pakistan has a democratic government? There is no need to talk about this anymore. That devolution has taken place as a result of the 18th Amendment to the constitution. Please…
China aims to press Abe into talks on islands
As right-wing supporters push Japan's new leader to get tough with China, analysts expect Beijing to step up its pressure on Japan to discuss the Senkaku islands, potentially escalating a…
