Muhammad Aftab Afzal The recent blasts in Karachi should have been an eye-opener for those who consider the ongoing Taliban movement as jihad, and also a wake up call for the clerics to do away with their swollen pride and prejudice for the cause of humanity and safety of the nation Terrorism has reared its ugly head as the biggest challenge faced by Pakistan in recent years and a major area of concern for the current democratic government, especially since the issue is suffused with religious inferences. The strings of terrorism are wound around religious seminaries, not all but some, … Continue reading Divided we stand, united we fall

Dr Maleeha Lodhi The writer is a former envoy to the US and the UK, and a former editor of The News India’s offer to restart foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan holds out the prospect of an end to the protracted diplomatic standoff between the two countries. But the immediate challenge is to find a way to reconcile clashing visions of how the dialogue should be pursued. The shift in Delhi’s yearlong no-talks posture has set the stage for renewed bilateral engagement. Whether this will be a step towards a return to the structured peace process that Pakistan advocates is … Continue reading Limits of coercive diplomacy

Mariam Chaudhry The subcontinent is once again abuzz in anticipation of a fresh round of talks between India and Pakistan. No pronouncements have been made yet on what areas these talks will actually traverse but the respite is nearly as overdue as the late on-setting rains. So, tentative as maybe the first drops, the overcast looks promising for now. The current freeze experienced a thaw earlier with the production of a joint statement at Sharm el-Sheikh re-committing to the ‘dialogue process’. The melt was short-lived when subsequent uproar in India caused Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to quickly retrace his steps … Continue reading Let us hope again

Jyoti Malhotra It doesn’t really matter whether or not the impending talks with Pakistan at the foreign secretaries’ level will be part of a “composite dialogue” or simply a dinner conversation in Hyderabad House – that is, if the conversation is held in Delhi. Or whether the Americans gently persuaded the Indian and Pakistani establishments to climb down from their soaring, antagonistic rhetoric of the past year or so, and break bread with each other. Few will care whether the impending dialogue will yield a dramatic breakthrough or give way to a modestly-sized initiative with modest ambitions. Even diehard diplomatists … Continue reading Mumbai’s message: let the talks go on

Rahimullah Yusufzai Chief of the Army Staff Ashfaq Parvez Kayani has offered to train the Afghan army and police. In diplomatic circles, particularly Western, the move was described as bold and daring. However, doubts were raised about its practicability in view of the past bitterness in bilateral relations. Gen Kayani made his offer at the recent annual Nato military commanders’ conference in Brussels and then made it public in rare briefing sessions arranged separately for foreign and Pakistani journalists at his Rawalpindi offices. Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who participated in the recent London Conference on Afghanistan, also made mention … Continue reading Behind Kayani’s training offer to Afghans

The third edition of the IPL, which last year was moved to South Africa because of security concerns, is due to start with a match between the Deccan Chargers and the Kolkata Knight Riders in Mumbai on March 12. —AFP/File Photo Cricket Corporate big-shots rule the world of Indian sports BIG FISH Corporate big-shots rule the world of Indian sports LONDON: Shane Warne has urged his fellow Australians to play in the upcoming edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL) despite threats from an Indian political party. The Mumbai-based Shiv Sena, a right-wing party, has said Australians will be barred … Continue reading Shane Warne urges Australians to play IPL despite threats from Hindu Mullahs