Posts published in “Day: January 15, 2016”

A number of Afghan political analysts have expressed optimism over what they call Pakistan’s resolve to support the Afghan peace and reconciliation process. The statement comes a few days after Islamabad hosted a four-nation meeting aimed at mapping out a way forward to get the Taliban to the negotiating tables with the Afghan government – despite the insurgent group’s unprecedented winter campaign of violence this year. Their ongoing battle, which usually ends in winter, has…

THE complexity of the challenge confronting the Muslim world where dealing with religiously inspired militancy is concerned has been aptly demonstrated by a series of recent events. The latest crisis emerged in Jakarta, where elements linked to the militant Islamic State group went on the rampage on Thursday.A news outlet connected to the group claimed responsibility for the carnage, while Indonesian police also said they believed IS was behind the attacks.Meanwhile, on Wednesday, IS claimed…

The suicide blast at a polio centre in Quetta and the attack on the Pakistan consulate in Jalalabad in Afghanistan on January 13 point to the fact that the struggle against terrorism is far from over. The incident in Quetta has evoked at least three claims of responsibility, i.e. from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Jaish-e-Islam and Jundullah. All three are jihadi terrorist groups that oppose the polio eradication programme on spurious grounds such as a…

President Obama’s last State of the Union address didn’t exactly live up to its expectation, but it did hold an important insight in the future of Pakistan-US relations. Admittedly Pakistan is battling serious problems with militancy and extremism but the huge efforts and sacrifices we have made thus far were discredited one final time in the eyes of the American people as President Obama said that, “Instability will continue for decades in many parts of…

Kabul: Following the attacks on the Indian consulate in Balkh province and Pakistan’s consulate in Nangarhar province, Tajikistan has decided to close down its missions in Badakhshan and Kunduz. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) said that Tajikistan’s embassy in Kabul – through an official letter to the ministry – termed mounting insecurity as the main reason behind the closure of the consulates. “The letter has stressed the move will not have any impact on…

Kabul: The New National Front of Afghanistan (NNF), officially launched as an opposition party on Thursday, claims the National Unity Government (NUG) has failed in all areas. It stressed that elections should be held as soon as possible so as to replace the current government. Speaking at the launch, Anwar ul-Haq Ahadi, the chairman of the new party, said that all activities of the NUG are against national interests. He said he regrets having supported…

Official says four countries agreed that no Afghan groups to be excluded from talks WASHINGTON – The Taliban in Afghanistan have yet to decide to join renewed peace efforts despite an urgent need to get talks going before the spring fighting season begins in April, a senior US administration official said. Delegates from Afghanistan, Pakistan, China and the United States held talks in Pakistan on Monday to try to resurrect efforts to end nearly 15…

The writer is a Research Adviser at the Foreign Affairs Committee of Pakistan. From committing to burn the other’s ashes to the ground to developing an agenda for a comprehensive bilateral dialogue ensuring regional stability, the relationship between Pakistan and India has seen all colours. The hostility from the Indian side has been particularly prominent and in some cases, somewhat startling since the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took to power last year. In contrast to…

The peace process is moving in the right direction. Indian and Pakistani Foreign Secretaries have jointly agreed to reschedule the talks to hold them in “very near future”. India has welcomed the arrest of several members of the JeM on Wednesday. Security personnel have meanwhile arrested another lot of JeM activists and sealed their seminary in Sialkot. India has hailed the formation of a special investigation team by Pakistan promising all necessary cooperation from Indian…

NEW DELHI / ISLAMABAD: As the national security advisers of Pakistan and India are expected to devise the modalities of a high-powered team to be sent to India to investigate the Pathankot assault, Pakistan’s civil and military leadership have ordered dismantling the network of Jaish-e-Muhammad in Punjab. After India welcomed the Special Investigation Team that Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif constituted on Wednesday to probe the Indian Air Force base attack that left seven soldiers dead…