Study Kit

IF you hide from reality for long enough, you can land up in a place from where it is next to impossible to find your way back. Something like that may be happening to Pakistan, where for more than a quarter century, our state has come to be virtually held hostage by a reality that we have been denying in …

Pakistan should feel greatly heartened by the Kremlin statement in its favour after US President Donald Trump announced his new policy on Afghanistan. This is a testament to the growing bilateral relations between Moscow and Islamabad. Recently, there have also been reports of growing ties between Russian and the Afghan Taliban and supply of arms to the latter from the …

Political parties and social groups are expressing reservations on the new census results, raising questions on the fairness of this count and the way it was conducted As the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) gradually reveals the country’s sixth census results, political and social commentary is on the rise with some terming the count as ‘unrealistic’ and ‘unfair’. In its …

In 1941, shortly after Pearl Harbor pulled the United States into World War II, a group of volunteer American aviators led by Gen. Claire Chennault known as the Flying Tigers fought Japanese aggression in China. They were so successful that many people believe they were decisive in holding back Japan, eventually leading to its defeat. Although they were paid volunteers …

Dealing with corruption requires political will and a comprehensive framework With Transparency International ranking Pakistan 116/176 on the Corruption Perception Index 2016, will the decision of Nawaz Sharif’s disqualification contribute to ending the culture of corruption? This is a key question in today’s Pakistan. The way different politicians — both who have been in power and those from the opposition …

This week’s news that Gaza’s Hamas rulers have entered into a new pact with former Fatah strongman Mohammed Dahlan appeared to signal a new phase not only in Palestinian politics but in the wider Palestinian-Israeli and Arab regional arena. What once seemed unthinkable has become a reality, as the balance of power shifts due to the current Gulf Cooperation Council …

The Cold War as a system of states ended on a cold and gray December day in Moscow in 1991, when Mikhail Gorbachev signed the Soviet Union out of existence. Communism itself, in its Marxist-Leninist form, had ceased to exist as a practical ideal for how to organize society. “If I had to do it over again, I would not …

It is often argued that women’s contributions to the labour force can be an important driver for economic growth in Pakistan. This is represented not only in government reports but also by transnational organisations and NGOs. Indeed, one of the major themes driving girls’ education campaigns in the country is that educated girls will be able to secure jobs and …

Our country stands at a crossroads of its history. Exports are down to $21.7 billion while imports have risen by 18 percent to $49 billion. The trade deficit has reached an alarming $26.9 billion and it is likely to grow to $30 billion this year. The current account deficit has reached $12 billion and Pakistan is sinking fast. We will …

WASHINGTON — When President Trump gave a fiery campaign speech in Huntsville, Ala., on Friday evening, he drew a rapturous roar by ridiculing Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, as “Little Rocket Man.” Among diplomats and national security specialists, the reaction was decidedly different. After Mr. Trump repeated his taunt in a tweet late Saturday and threatened that Mr. Kim …