Pak Affairs

John Kerry’s Pakistan trip might be all smiles and handshakes, but there’s a crisis brewing beneath the surface. On July 31, following several false starts, US Secretary of State John Kerry arrived in Islamabad for meetings with Pakistan’s political and military leadership. And while the visit comes at a turbulent time for Pakistan — on the heels of a massive …

Historically, the Balochistan region consisted of the current province of Balochistan in Pakistan, Sistan and Baluchestan province in Iran and some area in Afghanistan. Today, Balochistan is the largest province of Pakistan by occupying 43% of its total area. In 1947, Balochistan comprised four princely states namely Makran, Lasbela, Kharan and Kalat. The first three states opted to accede to …

Pakistan is back in the arms of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), having stayed out of them for just over a couple of years. By way of a letter of intent dispatched to Washington, Islamabad has formally requested the institution to come up with another programme. We need to understand this new approach to the Fund in the historical context. …

The happenings during the holy month of Ramadan showed yet another time, if, at all, any further reminder was needed, that Pakistan’s internal security challenge still remains the most daunting. As a newspaper report highlighted, more than 350 people have lost their lives since the new government took office in early June. As if the Bannu jailbreak was not enough …

The PML-N expunged two P’s from the PPPP in general elections and brought forward another two P’s’ the Power Policy. Bitter truths are not easy to tell. It is said, particularly, of politicians speaking to their constituents. Yet, one cannot help but commend the new government to tell the masses what their predecessors were unable to for the past six …

Pakistan has been a victim of terrorism since many years now. Besides some separatist groups in Balochistan, Tehrik-a-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is the major terrorist network operating against the state and its people. Nevertheless, a strong desire is present among both at Federal and KPK Provincial Government to hold talks with TTP to bring about peace in Pakistan. Generally, the term …

My name is PIA, and this Independence Day, a flashback of six decades’ old success, flashes upon my mind. It was February 1, 1955 when I, as the national flag carrier, took off with my first foreign flight from Karachi to London. With this not merely a super constellation aeroplane took off for unlimited skies, but fate of millions of …

One of the greatest threats to the survival of Pakistan is the ever-increasing population. With an annual growth rate of 3.1%, Pakistan’s population has shot up to 174.59 million. This makes Pakistan the world’s sixth most populous country. Most developing countries have realized that rapid growth in population is the biggest hurdle in economic development. Uncontrolled increase in population is …

‘The tree of China-Pakistan friendship was planted decades ago, nurtured by successive leaders and is now exuberant with abundant fruits’ .Chinese Premier Li Keqiang during his visit to Pakistan VISIT OF THE CHINESE PREMIER The key feature of Mr Li’s visit to Pakistan was the demonstration of a democratic culture in Pakistan where, the heads of all political parties were …

The incumbent Nawaz Sharif-led Pakistani government is poised to give a new direction to the foreign policy wherein all Pakistani missions abroad have been directed to vigorously pursue economic diplomacy that will, in turn, promote Pakistan’s interests in the realms of trade, foreign investment and economic cooperation. Traditionally, the focus of our foreign policy has been on strategic relations with …