Author Archives: Moeed Yusuf
3 days ago
Room for hope
WE are through with the May 11 elections. Given the persistent violence and the overall aura of uncertainty that marked the run-up to the elections, the state deserves credit for having pulled off the ballot.
WE are through with the May 11 elections. Given the persistent violence and the overall aura of uncertainty that marked the run-up to the elections, the state deserves credit for having pulled off the ballot.
29th April, 2013
Impact of violence
THE run-up to the elections is proving extremely bloody. There is certainly more to come. Interestingly, what Pakistan is experiencing is usually not considered ‘election-related violence’.
THE run-up to the elections is proving extremely bloody. There is certainly more to come. Interestingly, what Pakistan is experiencing is usually not considered ‘election-related violence’.
8th April, 2013
The next five years
JUDGING by the number of Western media and analytical queries I have received over the past two weeks, there seems to be a growing interest in Western capitals in the potential implications of the elections on
JUDGING by the number of Western media and analytical queries I have received over the past two weeks, there seems to be a growing interest in Western capitals in the potential implications of the elections on
18th March, 2013
Polls won’t be derailed
THE Pakistani rumor mill is in overdrive on the issue of general elections. The word doing the rounds is that the elections may not happen after all.
THE Pakistani rumor mill is in overdrive on the issue of general elections. The word doing the rounds is that the elections may not happen after all.
25th February, 2013
Talks with the enemy
A MULTI-PARTY conference called by the Awami National Party recently endorsed talks with “law-abiding” Pakistani Taliban. The topic was picked up by the media.
A MULTI-PARTY conference called by the Awami National Party recently endorsed talks with “law-abiding” Pakistani Taliban. The topic was picked up by the media.
4th February, 2013
Pakistan’s dilemma
THE Pakistani establishment has been as much a victim of its successes as it has of its failures over the years.
THE Pakistani establishment has been as much a victim of its successes as it has of its failures over the years.
14th January, 2013
All in the timing
RECENT months have seen a fresh momentum around efforts to get a political reconciliation process in Afghanistan going.
RECENT months have seen a fresh momentum around efforts to get a political reconciliation process in Afghanistan going.
24th December, 2012
Things looking up
IN terms of foreign relationships, Pakistan has been in a rather peculiar position over the past decade. It is a frontline ally in the global coalition against terrorism. Yet, it is acutely distrusted by most of the global power
IN terms of foreign relationships, Pakistan has been in a rather peculiar position over the past decade. It is a frontline ally in the global coalition against terrorism. Yet, it is acutely distrusted by most of the global power
3rd December, 2012
The need for experts
I AM often asked by Pakistani friends and colleagues why Pakistan is perceived negatively in Washington. Some also question why people like me, Pakistanis situated in Washington’s policy world, don’t do much to
I AM often asked by Pakistani friends and colleagues why Pakistan is perceived negatively in Washington. Some also question why people like me, Pakistanis situated in Washington’s policy world, don’t do much to
12th November, 2012
Ties after US polls
PRESIDENT Barack Obama has won a second term in the White House. According to a recent survey of major Muslim countries, Pakistan was the only country where people did not show a clear preference for this
PRESIDENT Barack Obama has won a second term in the White House. According to a recent survey of major Muslim countries, Pakistan was the only country where people did not show a clear preference for this
22nd October, 2012
Tackling an insurgency
PAKISTAN is infested with a variety of Islamist militant outfits: transnational groups, nationally focused anti-state groups, and sectarian organisations, among others.
PAKISTAN is infested with a variety of Islamist militant outfits: transnational groups, nationally focused anti-state groups, and sectarian organisations, among others.
1st October, 2012
Still a long way to go
SINCE the US apologised on the Salala incident, the Pakistan-US relationship has been on the mend. One has witnessed a fairly swift turnaround in the mood of the two governments in the last couple of months.
SINCE the US apologised on the Salala incident, the Pakistan-US relationship has been on the mend. One has witnessed a fairly swift turnaround in the mood of the two governments in the last couple of months.
10th September, 2012
India-Pakistan equation
AMIDST the constant inflow of disturbing news from the Af-Pak theatre, we have one positive to point to: the thaw in India-Pakistan relations.
AMIDST the constant inflow of disturbing news from the Af-Pak theatre, we have one positive to point to: the thaw in India-Pakistan relations.
20th August, 2012
The link with governance
PREVIOUSLY, I have written about positive developments in terms of the evolution of Pakistan’s democratic process. We find ourselves in a situation that represents the beginnings of the process that ultimately leads to
PREVIOUSLY, I have written about positive developments in terms of the evolution of Pakistan’s democratic process. We find ourselves in a situation that represents the beginnings of the process that ultimately leads to
30th July, 2012
Room for optimism
EVERY time I have visited Pakistan over the past two years, I have found the Pakistani street growing more despondent about the future of the country.
EVERY time I have visited Pakistan over the past two years, I have found the Pakistani street growing more despondent about the future of the country.
9th July, 2012
Lessons from the impasse
WE finally have something positive to report on the Pakistan-US front. The US apology — or regret, depending on how we wish to see it — is quite a development in itself.
WE finally have something positive to report on the Pakistan-US front. The US apology — or regret, depending on how we wish to see it — is quite a development in itself.
18th June, 2012
The weaker side
TO the US-Pakistan relationship again where I must confess I can’t make head or tail of Pakistan’s present stance.
TO the US-Pakistan relationship again where I must confess I can’t make head or tail of Pakistan’s present stance.
28th May, 2012
Changing the narrative
PAKISTAN is seething with anti-Americanism. This public sentiment is constraining the state’s ability to find sensible options to work out the US-Pakistan relationship.
PAKISTAN is seething with anti-Americanism. This public sentiment is constraining the state’s ability to find sensible options to work out the US-Pakistan relationship.
7th May, 2012
Which way forward?
OBITUARIES are never easy to write. But the time may have come to start thinking of putting one together for the present phase of the Pakistan-US relationship.
OBITUARIES are never easy to write. But the time may have come to start thinking of putting one together for the present phase of the Pakistan-US relationship.
16th April, 2012
Lost opportunity?
PAKISTAN’S civil-military landscape has begun to change quite significantly. The independent media, judicial activism, the military’s preoccupation with the fight against terrorism, and geopolitical developments had already set the ball rolling.
PAKISTAN’S civil-military landscape has begun to change quite significantly. The independent media, judicial activism, the military’s preoccupation with the fight against terrorism, and geopolitical developments had already set the ball rolling.
