The recent abbreviated visit of S.M. Krishna to Pakistan was a continuation of the trade liberalisation being achieved by both the countries. Low expectations were attached with his visit due to the insignificant outcomes of talks between the foreign ministries throughout the year. Krishna’s recent visit had been more about trade again rather than the promotion of people to people …

The parallels are spooky. In Syria, as in Afghanistan, CIA officers are operating at the borders (in this case, mostly in Jordan and Turkey), helping Sunni insurgents improve their command and control and engaging in other activities. Weapons are coming from third parties (in Afghanistan, they came mostly from China and Egypt; in Syria, they’re mainly bought on the black …

Many Israelis, particularly in the military and defense establishment, understand that an Israeli strike would delay, not destroy, Iran’s programme. The programme could be rebuilt, probably quickly and with greater determination. Colin Kahl is among several scholars who have documented how, contrary to conventional wisdom, Israel’s 1981 attack on Iraq’s Osirak reactor actually accelerated Saddam Hussein’s determination to build nuclear …

In the years after 9/11, anti-Muslim rhetoric simmered on blogs, YouTube videos and a stream of inflammatory best sellers. But not until Barack Obama’s presidency was it allowed to erupt into prominent corners of mainstream politics. Mitt Romney, to his credit, has shunned notions of American Muslim disloyalty, but Republican political and media figures have tolerated or even advanced these …

A recent study of Global Attitudes by Pew Research Center concluded that most Muslims want democracy, personal freedoms, and Islam in political life, while few believe that the US backs democracy. Support for an institutionalised democracy and a re-orientation of the US foreign policy in order to negotiate with the Islamists is pertinent.   President Barack Hussain Obama accepted nominations …

September 1, 1939 – At 5.30 a.m., Hitler’s armies invaded Poland starting World War II in Europe. September 1, 1969 – Military officers overthrew the Libyan government. The Libyan Arab Republic was then proclaimed under Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. September 1, 1983 – Korean Airlines Flight 007 was shot down by a Russian fighter jet while on route from New York …

Going digital without precautions exposes Pakistani journalists to unimaginable risks Who says journalists land into trouble when they transgress certain ideological or geographical boundaries? That’s not always the case. Today, it’s not necessary for them to travel to lawless zones to risk their security. They are equally vulnerable to dangers even within the confines of their homes if they care …

WATCHING the London Olympics 2012, hailed as a singular success, was an exhilarating experience, and for Pakistanis, who waited in vain for an opportunity to raise a shout for one of them, the spectacle offered much food for thought. First, a few words about the 9bn extravaganza. The US regained the world’s No 1 spot that China had snatched from …

Dengue fever is not a new disease. For the last several decades, dengue virus, which is transmitted by mosquitoes, has remained a nuisance and a source of serious medical problems in many countries. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than two billion people across the world become victims of dengue and 1.8 billion (almost 70%) of them live …

Mycobacterium tuberculosis most commonly affects the lungs but it can affect almost any tissue of body like spine, kidneys, brain and intestines; irrespective of gender. It is the leading cause of death worldwide from a bacterial infectious disease. The disease affects 1.8 billion people per year, which is equal to one-third of the entire world’s population. WHO states that in …