February 2012

Although the United States won the war in Iraq, it lost its world wide credibility as a responsible nation respecting international law, besides earning widespread hatred among Muslims all over the world, who view it as an abominable aggressor, thirsty for the blood and oil of Muslims. When during the final days of December 2011, the last US troops stationed …

Dr. Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema Dean Faculty of Contemporary Studies National Defence University (NDU), Islamabad Dr. Pervaiz Iqbal Cheema is a prominent scholar of international repute and his main area of specialisation is ‘Foreign Policy’. His articles regularly appear in both national and international academic journals, popular magazines and daily newspapers. He has published more than 130 research articles and over …

In today’s context, what is important for Pakistan is the need to be stable politically and strong economically so as to be self-reliant and immune to external constraints and exploitation. This requires a holistic systemic change in our governance patterns. Indeed, history never looks like history when you are living through it. Within less than quarter of a century of …

If we fail to recognise constitutionally the rights of the people of Pakistan and do not develop a constitutional system wherein provinces feel that they are part of the Federation and citizens feel that they have some stakes in Pakistan, it would be very difficult to keep the Federation as a cohesive body. After the introduction of the 18th Amendment …

The year 2011 witnessed political uncertainty, corruption, and lawlessness in Pakistan. Assassination of the Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer and world’s ‘most wanted’ man Osama bin Laden, the Memo scandal and abduction of Salmaan Taseer’s son were among the prominent incidents. The year 2011 witnessed political uncertainty, corruption, and lawlessness in Pakistan. Assassination of the Punjab Governor Salmaan Taseer and world’s …

Pakistan and Iran, despite of international pressure and criticism have maintained cordial relationship. However, the differences and divergence of interests in some areas, including periodic border security tension remain a cause of concern. Maintaining a friendly equation is a necessity for both the countries. The year 2012 began with a continuity in political upheavals, drastic changes and chaos in many …

If it is supposed that there is no concept of eternal reward and punishment then it implies that those great people who devoted their lives for some noble cause and faced impediments in the way and those who embarrassed martyrdom in the pursuit of their goals have wasted their lives. But this is something that is completely illogical and irrational, …

The new generation of Kashmiri freedom fighters have put this struggle to a new level. They have dropped weapons and opted for offering their young blood and one obvious thing about the blood is that it cannot go unnoticed. Kashmir, the oldest unre-solved dispute in the world, a nuclear flashpoint and a cause of three wars between India and Pakistan, …

To retrieve the agreement on Kashmir does not mean mindlessly adhering to every period and comma in it; it does not exclude taking cognizance jointly of the changes that have occurred and making suitable amendments by mutual acceptance. Mr. Chairman, Fellow Panelists: First of all, I wish to express my deep appreciation to the conveners of this Forum for selecting …

Riaz Hussain Khokar ‘Former Foreign Secretary Jahangir’s World Times (JWT): What were the main foreign policy challenges when you took over as foreign secretary? Riaz Hussain Khokhar (RHK): Well, I took the charge as foreign secretary in August 2002 and remained on this prestigious post till 2005. It was quite an intensive experience. I was appointed by General Musharraf who …