Pak Affairs

“We can’t afford a setback to the agriculture sector and will take collective measures. It’’ a very big challenge for us.” Muhammad Ishaq Dar (Federal Minister for Finance) Agriculture sector plays a vital role in Pakistan’s economy. It provides the raw materials to down-the-line industries and also helps in poverty alleviation. Traditionally, this sector has been performing well but in …

The history of humanity is fraught with the acts of violence and the instances where wars have been waged, territories conquered, and the empires created;  all in the name of God. This fact gives birth to the question whether violence is something abnormal or an intrinsic characteristic of human activity. In other words, how could revolutions, massacres, torture or cruelty …

Founded in Shanghai, China in 2001, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is an intergovernmental organization comprising six member states namely China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. Formed as ‘Shanghai Five’ in 1996, — as a confidence-building forum to demilitarize borders — the organization added Uzbekistan in 2001 and adopted its present name. The organization’s goals and agenda have since …

“We are in a race against time. The era of consumption without consequences is over. — UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon Global warming refers to increase in the average temperature of the earth’s surface. There is a general consensus among the scientists that its principal cause is the burgeoning use of fossil fuels which release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases …

The indispensible role of Pakistan in Afghan peace process is causing desperation and frustration for India. India views new development as a threat to her huge investments in Afghanistan and is fraught to safeguard her vested interests against Pakistan. India’s vast diplomatic presence in Afghanistan is already raising alarms of suspicions amongst the international community and policymakers. Interestingly, India has …

When Saudi Arabia announced the formation of a 34-state Islamic military coalition to combat terrorism, it included the name of Pakistan along with Arab countries such as Egypt, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates, besides Turkey, Malaysia and some African states, among the list of member countries. Although initially Pakistan welcomed the formation of the alliance against terrorism, yet it …

Pakistan has been engaged in fighting resurgent terrorists and rampaging militants for more than a decade now. Over these years, some specific anti-terrorism and counter-militancy operations have been conducted in the terror-infested tribal areas. During and/or after these operations, particular peace accords between the government and terrorists were also signed with an aim to bring about  lasting peace in the …

The Constitution of Pakistan 1973 is federal in nature. It divides the areas of legislative competence between the federation and the provinces; all the executive action is then linked with the legislative competence. Following this scheme of work, the law and order falls within the domain of the provinces. The justice system that primarily deals with the law and order …

Terrorism is, undoubtedly, the gravest threat to world peace at present and many countries are putting in herculean efforts to root out this cancer from within their territorial boundaries. In order to help the world community in these efforts, Pakistan drew up a pragmatic operational strategy and launched operations thereupon. These operations resulted not only in nabbing of numerous hardcore …

In the 1980s, once driving on a busy New York street, I was struck by a popular bumper sticker that read: “One nuclear bomb can ruin your whole day.” On surface, this thought looked childish, if not frivolous, but if taken literally, that bumper sticker did speak the ultimate truth. Indeed, it only takes one, just one nuclear weapon, to …