Foreign Policy Blogs

Tag Archives: Pakistani Politics

Kerry Lugar & Domestic Trouble in Pakistan

Like everyone else, I too was taken aback by the fierce opposition to the Kerry Lugar bill. Not sure what the fuss is about, I decided to read about it. So, I read everything that was available on-line about the bill. During my research, I realized that the government of Pakistan has nothing wrong. It […]

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When Martial Law = Democracy

Pakistan suffers decreased security with weekly suicide attacks, terrorists fleeing NATO forces from Afghanistan into Pakistan and a stagnant if not worsening economy. ALthough the situation is partially a result of Cold War policies in which Pakistan cooperated with the United States against Soviets, today’s post 9/11 context puts both countries back into cooperation with one another. However, the alliance is looked at with skepticism, specifically by way of the Kerry Lugar Bill which many feel, sidelines the military. Zainab Jeewanjee explains.

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Pakistan, Fight Back

Why is there so much commotion about the attack on the GHQ in Pakistan? Come on, please; did we not know that the Taliban are a threat to everything Pakistan? Regretfully, there is still support for the Taliban in the country. I was watching Ijaz-Ul-Haq, son of Zia, one of the worst dictators in Pakistan’s […]

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Peshawar Blast

There we go again. Another bomb blast in Peshawar destroyed everything – peace, confidence and hope, yet again. We all know that the campaign against the Taliban is going to be bloody, and these nihilists are going to do everything in their power to scare, destabilize and intimidate Pakistan, but I am confident that Pakistanis […]

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Considering the ISI

United States General McChrystal explains that Iran’s Quds Force and Pakistan’s ISI are aiding the Taliban in Afghanistan, undermining US efforts and interests in the War on Terror. His remarks are useful in drawing out history of extremist groups in the region and the ISI’s dealings with Afghanistan during and after the Soviet Afghan War. That history shows that Pakistan has no significant links to Al Qaeda, the perpetrators of 9/11 and links with the Taliban were dictated by our interests in funding Mujahideen forces to counter Soviets int he 1980’s.

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Local Body Elections Can Help Pakistan

There is a new controversy brewing in Pakistan about the local governments. Musharraf government had introduced a system under which local body elections were held and Nazims (a Nazim is like a mayor) were directly elected. However, the problem is that Nazims had very little authority to begin with and now that the current government, […]

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Karachi Trouble

According to a report in Dawn, Pakistan government has lost billions in revenue because of the chaos that was caused by rain in Karachi. This is not good news. There is no question that this rain in Karachi broke all records, at least for the last 30 years, but the response from those who were […]

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Please Be Serious & Take Responsibility

In an excellent piece in Daily Times, the writer deplored the conspiracy theorists in Pakistan claiming that the US is working on re-drawing the map of Asia, and there is no room for Pakistan in this ‘new map’. The writer correctly pointed out that this type of hysterical notions have been claiming that Pakistan is […]

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Nawaz & Zardari Meeting

I am not a fan of Asif Zardari, but I have to give him credit for swallowing his ego, yet again, and going to meet Nawaz Sharif at Sharif’s residence. Given Pakistan’s awful economical and political situation, I do admire Zardari’s commitment to finding common ground with as many political parties as possible to keep […]

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Latest in Pakistan

The good thing is that Prime Minster Gilani has called all the major political parties to share the outcome of this meeting with Indian Prime Minister. This is a wonderful development in a country where everything is slowly sliding back towards stone age. I am sure that my readers would be surprised to read that […]

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Water & electricity shortage

Despite my positive outlook about life, I get extremely depressed when I look at Pakistan as an observer from outside. At times, I just don’t know how can the country deal with serious issues threatening Pakistan’s very existence. For me, one way is to stick my head in sand and keep pretending that all is […]

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Name one thing wrong!

It is fashionable in Pakistan to oppose America. Perhaps, it is a phobia that has gripped the country that America is bad. Or, it is just plain stupidity that people in Pakistan love to be anti American. No matter how you look at it, there is a campaign in Pakistan against the United States of […]

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Imran in America

As I have discussed yesterday, Taliban supporter and anti American politician, who by the way has failed for 10 years in politics is in America. Apparently, he is there to raise funds for the victims of Swat Operation. Well, only in America. Yes, only in America can a man like Imran Khan, who supports the […]

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Why is Imran in Houston?

Imran Khan, a failed politician in Pakistan was in Houston recently. While there, his tone was totally different from what people hear him in Pakistan. When he speaks in Pakistan, he rails against the great Satan, America (according to him), but he selects his words carefully when he is in the States. Double standard? Yes, […]

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Interesting Exchange

Pakistan’s internal disputes are serious, but rarely do outsiders notice anything. Here is an example. Below, you’d find an article written by a gentleman in Northern Virginia. One of his readers responded favorably, but another reader reacted sharply, and this response should help the readers understand the simmering tensing inside Pakistan. I have removed the […]

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