June 2013

Javid Hussain (Former Ambassador) Jahangir’s World Times (JWT): How would you elaborate the foreign policy of outgoing PPPP- led regime? Javid Hussain (JH): I think the foreign policy of the previous regime, despite some variations and nuances, was, in essence, the continuation of the foreign policy pursued by Musharraf. Even a cursory glance at the PPPP policy, in its overall …

Nearly 15 years after he was ousted in a bloodless coup, business tycoon Nawaz Sharif and his center-right party are poised to regain control over Pakistan’s government, according to early returns from the historic May 11 vote — the first transfer of power from one elected government to another in the country’s history. Like the last two times he won …

The next 10 years could see the world economy go into a tizzy, wobble and then crash. The signs are there. The European Union debt crisis does not seem to end anytime soon. The United States still has no definite answer to its debt crisis or “fiscal cliff”. Japan is too busy trying to clear the economic and political mess …

A conversation with Nihal Rodrigo Former Secretary General of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) Q: How would you define the ‘Asian Century’? Ans: I deem it fit to describe the global changes anticipated as not exclusively tied to the rise of only ‘Chindia’ i.e. China and India, and its future dominance. I prefer to describe the process …

Reading shocking reports of killings, arson and mayhem instigated by monks, or perhaps provocateurs, there is good reason to despair about the future of Myanmar. State violence against ethnic groups around the country has been a suppurating wound for decades, but now other long-pent-up resentments are erupting which threaten to derail the fragile process of restoring civilian rule. Current communal …

‘War on Terror’ in Afghanistan started by the US on 7th October 2001 under ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) umbrella is to complete twelve years soon. At this point, can we say that the Taliban stand defeated? The answer is definitely a big ‘No’. The Nato and Isaf forces were equipped with all the military might and the most sophisticated …

The real decision-maker in Iran is Supreme Leader Khamenei, not President Ahmadinejad. Blaming Iran’s problems on President Ahmadinejad inaccurately suggests that Iran’s problems will go away when Ahmadinejad does. On June 14, Iran will hold a presidential election. Term limit prevents Ahmadinejad from running for reelection, but he refuses to leave office quietly — he has been grooming his chief …

The G20, comprising the world’s leading economies, met in Washington recently alongside the semi-annual International Monetary Fund (IMF)-World Bank meetings of finance ministers. During the economic crisis and its recovery phase, the G20, which has emerged as the premier global economic forum, appeared to be a cohesive unit, capable of taking collective decisions for the good of the world economy. …

The security transition plan in Afghanistan is a high-risk political game. Decreasing the presence of foreign troops is not just a military strategy; it signifies a concomitant reduction in international commitment to Afghanistan after 2014. This development could spell disaster for Afghanistan’s counter-narcotics policy, which relies heavily on international donors for military infrastructure and financial resources. Much of the civilian …

As long-term national interests and structural factors generally determine foreign policy, such policies often persist regardless of who holds political power. Decision-making on Pakistan’s foreign affairs is an increasingly complex process reflecting a growing number of interest groups and external factors. Elections, therefore, affect foreign policy mostly on the margins, but they can and do influence decisions and set the …