The Baloch problem has so far mostly been seen from the lens of the classic realist angle of national security. The pathologies identified and the remedies suggested for resolution of the crisis also, therefore, bear a strong imprimatur of a security-centred approach. It is time the simmering discontent was doused with a human-security-centric approach appealing directly to the public weal …

1. Economic Relations The United States is Pakistan’s largest bilateral trading partner. In FY 2015 (July 2014 – June 2015), Pakistan’s total exports were estimated at $24.59 billion and imports at $41.43 billion. During this period, an amount of $18.72 billion was remitted to Pakistan by the overseas Pakistanis working in various countries and among them 14.4% were only from …

On February 26, Iran held two elections: one for its parliament (Majles-e Shoraye Eslami) and the other for the Assembly of Experts (Majles-e Khobragan Rahbari). The former is Iran’s legislative body, and the latter is the part of government that monitors the Supreme Leader and selects his replacement if he dies, becomes incapacitated or is removed. Since the 1979 Revolution, …

After nearly five months of brutal fighting and two weeks of a scrappy ceasefire, Russian President Vladimir Putin, on March 13, suddenly announced that “the main part” of Russia’s forces currently in Syria will pull out from the country, claiming that their objectives had largely been met and it was time to focus on peace talks. Assuming that this is …

1 – Saudi Aramco Headquarters: Dhahran, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia manages its oil reserves through state-owned Saudi Aramco. In 2014, Saudi Aramco’s average daily oil production was 12 million barrels per day (B/D), making it the world’s largest private oil company by production. Aramco increased oil production amid a global glut that drove benchmark prices down almost 50 percent last …

The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has recently published ranking of Pakistani universities, both general as well as category-wise. The ranking depicts overall position of a particular university vis-à-vis other universities in the country without shedding any light on the academic atmosphere and quality of teaching and learning within the institutions. The question is whether higher education has fulfilled the promises …

Some months ago, a 20-year-old boy, Danish Ali, came into headlines when he fatally shot his older sister, Asifa Noreen, 32, in Taxila, a town about 15 miles west of Islamabad, because she had voted in the local elections against his will. Danish had apparently ‘forbidden’ Noreen from voting. This one incidence explains why women’s participation in political activities in …

Relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia have been tense ever since the establishment of the Islamic Republic back in 1979. Initially, Iran’s doctrine of exporting its revolution and its leaders’ negative view of countries such as Saudi Arabia, together with Riyadh’s creation of the Gulf Cooperation Council and support for Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein’s regime during its 1980-1988 war with …

Most research across disciplines unanimously agrees that it is immoral to detonate an atomic weapon due to both short- and long-term catastrophic effects. Therefore, this piece shall not focus on the actual use of nuclear weapons, but instead will analyze the latter question. Using various philosophical concepts, it will explore the fundamental question as to whether any implementation of nuclear …

Since the outbreak of uprising in Syria, Russia has been providing arms as well as military and logistical support to its Arab allies. As al-Assad’s regime weakened, Russian military support to the regime increased dramatically. But, Russia is out to expand its role in Syria to include direct intervention against the regime’s enemies including the self-styled Islamic State (IS). This …