The writer heads the independent Centre for Research and Security Studies, Islamabad The equation is quite even as far as allegations and suspicions go. Pakistan is at pains to convince the world that the intermittent violence it experiences is inflicted by groups, which can be termed instruments of terrorism and instability. Groups such as the TTP, Jamaatul Ahrar, the Islamic State, the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and the Baloch Republican Army stand out as some of those instruments.…
Posts published in “Day: September 7, 2016”
The author, a Canada resident, is an ex-F-16 fighter pilot from Pakistan Air Force. Some have romanticized them, others have idolized them, and yet others have abhorred them. All have feared them, however. Over the years, the Taliban have acquired an image of mysterious allure and danger, until the truth about them hardly mattered. With Pakistan Army now in the hinterland to obliterate the menace, it’s time to have a closer look at the nature…
Yet another day of destructive violence in Kabul showed that the ability of the Taliban to launch attacks at will has not been diminished. First, there was a double suicide bombing near the Afghan Defence Ministry which killed at least 24 people, many of whom were senior security officials. Later on Monday night, three attackers stage a suicide bombing in front of the international aid group Pamlarena’s offices and then took hostages and barricaded themselves…
The slide towards an uncertain future in Afghanistan has been noted in these columns several times in recent months, but the last week is of particular import given the violence and gravity of events within it. Militarily and in terms of the security of the populace in Kabul as well as other major cities — is at an all-time low. The Taliban or their proxy affiliates are penetrating security rings within the cities on an…
Relations with US and India, Focus on building on our strengths Edit in Pakistan Today, Sept 7, 2016
Pakistan’s relations with the US which have gone through several ups and downs have taken another dip. Accusing Pakistan of failing to take action against the Haqqani network and bring Afghan Taliban to the negotiating table, US administration has refused to supply F-16s and reduced security assistance by 73 pc. What has caused anger among Pakistan’s establishment is that the US has signed a security cooperation agreement with India and is lobbying hard for India’s…
Rahmatullah Nabil, the ex-chief of the Afghan spy agency—the National Directorate of Security (NDS) – Tuesday alleged that President Ashraf Ghani’s unnecessary meddling in the works of government institutions has fueled political, security and social uncertainties in the country. “Poor leadership and unnecessary interferences by President Ghani in various fields of politics, security and economy and even social sphere have forced us to move toward a strategic deadlock, this has increased the feelings of desperation…
Members of the Baghlan provincial council on Tuesday raised concerns over ongoing threats by the Taliban against some strategic highways in the northern Baghlan province. Amid rising violence by the Taliban in the area, council members have said there is an urgent need for government to take more comprehensive security measures to curb the problem. “The lack of government concentration and in general the negligence of local government have paved the way for the Taliban…
In a single-basin-country like Pakistan, life would be impossible even to contemplate without the Indus and its tributaries and their life giving waters. Soon after its creation in August 1947, Pakistan faced extreme and unpredictable miseries at the hands of India who claimed proprietary rights to the waters of eastern rivers passing through its territorial land and crossing Pakistan. An agreement was reached between India and Pakistan through a bilateral tribunal according to which status-quo…
The writer is an Islamabad-based journalist. WHOEVER coined the phrase ‘China-Pakistan Economic Corridor’, or CPEC, may not have imagined the opportunities versus challenges that the largest planned foreign investment will throw up for Pakistan. As Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif’s government seeks to prove its increasingly strong commitment to the project with recent high- profile events such as the launching of a free-trade zone in Gwadar, once a dusty fishing village turned into the entry point…
ISLAMABAD: The special security division could not be deployed for the protection of Chinese working on projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor because provinces have yet to give the necessary authorisation for their deployment. The issue came to surface during a meeting that was called to review progress on the implementation of the $46 billion CPEC projects. The provinces remained reluctant amid renewed challenges to the CPEC from regional powers that see the geo-economic strategic…
The leaders of Japan and China have agreed in talks to move ahead with discussions on the creation of a hotline to prevent minor clashes at sea or in the air over the East China Sea from escalating – but analysts in Japan say there is no indication of compromise on territorial disputes in the region. Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister, on the sidelines of the Group of…