2014

Mr Shamshad suggests that “if our civilian rulers had been steadfast in their own commitment to constitutional supremacy, rule of law, independence of judiciary, separation of powers, and institutional integrity, no military dictator would have had dared a breach of his own constitutional oath”. “Pakistan and World Affairs” is a book penned by Mr Shamshad Ahmad, a renowned civil servant …

US Secretary of State John Kerry recently visited New Delhi to attend the 5th India-US Strategic Dialogue. During his stay, he held discussions with his counterpart Sushma Swaraj which was followed by his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This represented the first high—level contacts between the US and India since Modi became Prime Minister in May 2014. Reports on …

The foundation of the BRICS Development Bank has highlighted the problems with the current system of global assistance and governance – particularly from the US. The most important thing is that it’s now a permanent sign that global governance is a mess. Global governance has not kept up with the pace of global economic change.” No sooner had the dust …

They can’t help themselves. Whatever the situation, the reaction of US policymakers is more war. Weak economy? War will get things going. Strong economy? Military spending will cool it off. Two wars (Afghanistan and Iraq) finally winding down? Time to ramp up secret arms sales to a pair of pipsqueak insurgencies (Libya and Syria). Other superpowers love militarism. But only …

Western sanctions against Russia appear to have a fairly narrow, tangible goal: to punish Moscow for supporting pro-Russian rebels in eastern Ukraine. But to what end? Sanctions need to reinforce a wider strategy designed to change Moscow’s behaviour so that it starts respecting the sovereignty of all post-Soviet states. Ukraine is just the latest example in a long series of …

A former senior bureaucrat, and a renowned economist, Mr Muhammad Khan Achakzai is the 22nd and incumbent Governor of the Balochistan province. He hails from one of the most prominent Pashtoon political families of the province. His father Khan Abdul Samad Khan Achakzai was a revered personality and his younger brother, Mehmood Khan Achakzai, is one of the most respected …

Beyond the popular movement for freedom which started three years ago and spread all over the Middle East, the region is currently facing a much more serious situation. An extra-governmental, radical insurgent group, the ISIS, is gaining control over vast territories while capturing major cities and rich oil fields in Iraq. This marks one of the defining moments of the …

Russian Federation’s Ambassador to Pakistan Jahangir’s World Times (JWT): A joint statement at the conclusion of Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdul Aziz al Saud’s visit to Pakistan raised many eyebrows about country’s Syria policy. How do you see this policy? Is it consistent with Geneva-I accord? Alexey Yurievich Dedov (AYD): Pakistan’s policy on Syria has always been independent and …

The Communist Party of Kampuchea (CPK), also known as the Khmer Rouge (Red Khmer) ruled Cambodia from April 17, 1975 until January 1979. In 1976, the Khmer Rouge established the state of Democratic Kampuchea. Three decades after the fall of the regime that managed the torture and death of some two million Cambodians in pursuit of agrarian utopia, the recently-concluded …

When the Titans Clash, The Bullish Surge, Adieu the Bravehearted, Paid in the Same Coin?, Call of the Conscience, The African Ogre , The Race Schism, Winning the Battle, Losing the War, The Gavel Strikes, Changing Winds, 1. When the Titans Clash On July 17, a Malaysian airliner MH 17, a scheduled international passenger flight carrying 295 people from Amsterdam …