ISLAMABAD ‚ Pakistan's top security official Monday admitted that al Qaida's leadership moved freely in and out of the country and vowed that “no mercy” would be shown to extremists based in its tribal territory that borders Afghanistan . In the past, Pakistan has been heavily criticized for rejecting evidence that al Qaida was largely […]
KHAR, Pakistan: A lashkar of the Salarzai tribe launched a campaign against militants on Sunday, attacked their strongholds in the area and destroyed 10 houses and a number of the so-called "command' centres in the Bajaur tribal region. Militants, in the meantime, freed six soldiers they had earlier kidnapped. Before deciding to launch the operation, […]
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The killing of women for honour is a demand of the tribal traditions, Balochistan Senator Israrullah Zehri informed the Senate on Friday. Zehri was responding to Senator Yasmeen Shah's statement in which she had drawn the House's attention towards reports that five women had been buried alive in Balochistan in the name of […]
The New York Times reported that General Ashfaq Pervez Kayani, chief of staff of the Pakistan Army met Mike Mullen, David Petraeus, David McKiernan and other top U.S. officials aboard Abraham Lincoln to discuss how best to beat the Taliban in tribal areas. Well, good, finally these guys are waking up!!! For years, thoughtful and […]
Lahore, July 28: When Pakistan's Prime Minister, Yusuf Raza Gillani, visits Washington this week, he will face tough questions about securing Pakistan 's federally administered tribal areas (FATA) along its border with Afghanistan . So will his hosts in Congress. For a key question on Islamabad 's mind is the fate of stalled legislation creating […]
Fresh clashes have erupted in N.W.F.P and 23 Taliban fighters were killed, and the administration had to impose curfew to control the situation. The situation in N.W.F.P has been deteriorating for years now and despite the very best efforts by the army, the terrorists are getting stronger and more confident. They are also increasing their […]
WANA, Aug 27: At least 23 Taliban and two soldiers were killed, while 20 militants and seven soldiers were injured on Wednesday after clashes broke out in different areas of South Waziristan. Sources said that the Taliban attacked a checkpost in Tiarza, 3km off Wana on Tuesday night. The security forces countered the attack, killing […]
Eight of the judges sacked last November by former Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf have been reinstated. They took their oaths at the governor's house in Karachi. Reports say seven or eight more may be sworn in next week. Mr Musharraf sacked some 60 judges, including Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry, but some were restored later. Former […]
PESHAWAR – Peshawar-based United States Consul General Lynne M Tracy survived an attempt on life here on Tuesday morning. "Two persons boarding Land Cruiser opened fire on the bullet-proof vehicle of the top American diplomat at Rehman Baba Road, University Town, Peshawar," remarked SHO Arshad Khan. He added that the US Consul General was accompanied […]
Asif Ali Zardari, the leading contender for the presidency of nuclear-armed Pakistan, was suffering from severe psychiatric problems as recently as last year, according to court documents filed by his doctors. The widower of former prime minister Benazir Bhutto was diagnosed with a range of serious illnesses including dementia, major depressive disorder and post-traumatic stress […]
WASHINGTON ‚ Zalmay Khalilzad, the American ambassador to the United Nations, is facing angry questions from other senior Bush administration officials over what they describe as unauthorized contacts with Asif Ali Zardari, a contender to succeed Pervez Musharraf as president of Pakistan. Mr. Khalilzad had spoken by telephone with Mr. Zardari, the leader of the […]
All countries that have had high rates of fertility and, therefore, high rates of population growth now have very young populations. Pakistan along with almost all countries of the Muslim world falls into this category. For several decades the rates of fertility ‚ the number of children born per woman in the reproductive age ‚ […]
It was obvious from the start that PML (N) and PPP are not going to get along forever, but the alliance didn't even last for 8 months and today Nawaz Sharif announced that his party is leaving the ruling coalition. In reality, both parties have very different views on almost every issue, but the breaking point […]
Pakistan People Party has nominated Asif Ali Zardari to be the next President of Pakistan. As of today, it seems likely that Asif Zardari is going to be the next President of Pakistan. It is also obvious that the Pakistan People Party and its allies (excluding Pakistan Muslim League (N)) have the necessary majority to […]
Given the non-stop turmoil in Pakistan, and the role of military in Pakistan's affairs, political or otherwise, it was understandable when Pakistan watchers took great interest in Crossed Swords by Shuja Nawaz. Almost no one knows the author except for the few fortunate, but there is a simple way to introduce him. Shuja Nawaz, the […]