Perils of mediation
"Mediation between the aggressor and aggrieved has its inherent pitfalls. The task becomes more challenging when one party possesses far greater power and resources," says the…
Zahid Hussain
Bangladesh’s return to democracy
The writer says: "The polls have ended the political uncertainty that had gripped the South Asian nation since the overthrow of the previous regime by a student-led uprising in…
Crime and punishment: Sheikh Hasina’s conviction comes as lesson for all authoritarian rulers
Ultimately, says the writer, the coercive power of the state could not withstand the power of the people.
New territorial claim
US President Trump’s threats of reoccupying Bagram intensified after Kabul’s rejection of any deal.
China and shifting geopolitics
The writer observes that Pakistan-China relations have not been affected by Islamabad’s improved ties with Washington.
Terrorist violence and protests in Pakistan’s Balochistan must serve as wake-up call to the state
There appears to be complete breakdown of the state’s authority in large parts of the troubled province.
A fleeting peace
The ceasefire, along with provisions to allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, has provided some relief to the hapless population. But a temporary peace and opening of the food supply…
Struggling against terrorism
There has been a marked escalation in terrorist attacks in Pakistan over the past five years. Targeted killings, suicide bombings and attacks on security installations have become…
The fallacy of digital terrorism
Military spokesperson Lt-Gen Ahmed Sharif Chaudhry's presser was supposed to be a briefing on counterterrorism efforts and the recent violence in Bannu, but the talk digressed to…
Shadow of authoritarianism
The decision to ban PTI is yet another sign of the state’s desperation, says the writer.