Author Archives: Najmuddin A Shaikh
15th May, 2013
The Afghanistan challenge
IT is more or less clear that despite security threats and administrative breakdowns the massive — by Pakistani standards — turnout in the May 11 elections has given Nawaz Sharif a clear mandate.
IT is more or less clear that despite security threats and administrative breakdowns the massive — by Pakistani standards — turnout in the May 11 elections has given Nawaz Sharif a clear mandate.
8th May, 2013
Karzai on the warpath
PERHAPS of all the bizarre and grim developments in Afghanistan over the last few days the one that takes the cake is President Hamid Karzai’s press conference on Saturday.
PERHAPS of all the bizarre and grim developments in Afghanistan over the last few days the one that takes the cake is President Hamid Karzai’s press conference on Saturday.
1st May, 2013
Kurdish solution?
FOR our friends in Turkey much of the news in their neighbourhood is disturbing. In Syria, the conflict remains stalemated.
FOR our friends in Turkey much of the news in their neighbourhood is disturbing. In Syria, the conflict remains stalemated.
24th April, 2013
Muslim world in decline
MYANMAR is a country that is supposed to be recovering from years of dictatorial rule and moving towards democracy and an opening up to the rest of the world. It is a country with an opposition leader who has won
MYANMAR is a country that is supposed to be recovering from years of dictatorial rule and moving towards democracy and an opening up to the rest of the world. It is a country with an opposition leader who has won
17th April, 2013
Karzai’s latest charges
IN what was termed a routine meeting of the Afghan National Security Council on Sunday President Hamid Karzai instructed his ministers of defence, interior and foreign affairs to take “immediate action” to see to the removal of the border gate, checkpost and other installations built by Pakistan along the Durand Line.
IN what was termed a routine meeting of the Afghan National Security Council on Sunday President Hamid Karzai instructed his ministers of defence, interior and foreign affairs to take “immediate action” to see to the removal of the border gate, checkpost and other installations built by Pakistan along the Durand Line.
10th April, 2013
No ray of hope
IN less than 20 months all coalition forces are due to withdraw from Afghanistan. President Hamid Karzai’s outburst against the Americans had raised the question of whether Karzai wanted a residual American presence.
IN less than 20 months all coalition forces are due to withdraw from Afghanistan. President Hamid Karzai’s outburst against the Americans had raised the question of whether Karzai wanted a residual American presence.
3rd April, 2013
The undisputed power
WHEN one views the pictures of president George W. Bush being informed of 9/11, bewilderment and shock are evident. After all the American mainland, protected by two oceans, had never suffered a direct attack.
WHEN one views the pictures of president George W. Bush being informed of 9/11, bewilderment and shock are evident. After all the American mainland, protected by two oceans, had never suffered a direct attack.
27th March, 2013
The decade after
AS President Barack Obama started out on his journey to the Middle East, Iraqis were marking the tenth anniversary of the invasion of their country — an invasion that was supposed to liberate them from the dictatorial Saddam regime and set new standards of democracy and stability for the Middle East.
AS President Barack Obama started out on his journey to the Middle East, Iraqis were marking the tenth anniversary of the invasion of their country — an invasion that was supposed to liberate them from the dictatorial Saddam regime and set new standards of democracy and stability for the Middle East.
20th March, 2013
The American reaction
IN the days that have passed since American Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel visited Kabul and received a less than cordial welcome from President Hamid Karzai, there has been no visible improvement in relations between the Karzai administration and the International Security Assistance Force.
IN the days that have passed since American Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel visited Kabul and received a less than cordial welcome from President Hamid Karzai, there has been no visible improvement in relations between the Karzai administration and the International Security Assistance Force.
13th March, 2013
New US-Afghan tensions
US DEFENCE Secretary Chuck Hagel, on his first overseas trip after a bruising confirmation hearing, arrived in Afghanistan probably hoping to hear some words of praise for the “blood and treasure” that the Americans and their allies had expended in Afghanistan.
US DEFENCE Secretary Chuck Hagel, on his first overseas trip after a bruising confirmation hearing, arrived in Afghanistan probably hoping to hear some words of praise for the “blood and treasure” that the Americans and their allies had expended in Afghanistan.
6th March, 2013
Progress in Iran talks?
IRAN has been in the news in Pakistan for the past few weeks. This is primarily because of the finalisation of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline agreement and the fear that it would attract UN, or at least US, sanctions on Pakistan for breaching the US-led effort to restrict Iran’s fossil fuel exports.
IRAN has been in the news in Pakistan for the past few weeks. This is primarily because of the finalisation of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline agreement and the fear that it would attract UN, or at least US, sanctions on Pakistan for breaching the US-led effort to restrict Iran’s fossil fuel exports.
27th February, 2013
Tense ties with US
THE recent meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels has brought to light the sort of ideas the Obama administration is debating with Nato allies as it tries to meet the objectives of completing its military withdrawal by 2014 and leaving behind enough resources to offer Afghanistan a chance of achieving stability.
THE recent meeting of Nato defence ministers in Brussels has brought to light the sort of ideas the Obama administration is debating with Nato allies as it tries to meet the objectives of completing its military withdrawal by 2014 and leaving behind enough resources to offer Afghanistan a chance of achieving stability.
20th February, 2013
America and the drone issue
SINCE my last article the debate in Washington on drones continues.
SINCE my last article the debate in Washington on drones continues.
13th February, 2013
America’s drone issue
OVER the last few weeks, particularly in the week preceding the congressional hearings for confirmation of Obama’s new CIA director, much has appeared in the American and international media about the role of
OVER the last few weeks, particularly in the week preceding the congressional hearings for confirmation of Obama’s new CIA director, much has appeared in the American and international media about the role of
6th February, 2013
Has reconciliation been advanced?
THE trilateral summit hosted in London by Prime Minister David Cameron, judging by the joint statement his office released, has been an outstanding success.
THE trilateral summit hosted in London by Prime Minister David Cameron, judging by the joint statement his office released, has been an outstanding success.
30th January, 2013
Reconciliation is the key
PERHAPS the best news to emerge concerning Afghanistan over the last few days is the five-day visit of the Afghan defence minister Gen Bismillah Khan Mohammadi to Pakistan at the invitation of our army chief.
PERHAPS the best news to emerge concerning Afghanistan over the last few days is the five-day visit of the Afghan defence minister Gen Bismillah Khan Mohammadi to Pakistan at the invitation of our army chief.
23rd January, 2013
Tension along the LoC
WHAT is one to make of the recent incidents along the Line of Control (LoC), the extensive and distorted media coverage they received and the consequent rise in tension in India-Pakistan relations?
WHAT is one to make of the recent incidents along the Line of Control (LoC), the extensive and distorted media coverage they received and the consequent rise in tension in India-Pakistan relations?
16th January, 2013
Karzai in Washington
AS I write this on Tuesday morning the drama of the ‘long march’ of the Tehrik Minhaj-ul-Quran dominates the air waves.
AS I write this on Tuesday morning the drama of the ‘long march’ of the Tehrik Minhaj-ul-Quran dominates the air waves.
9th January, 2013
Karzai in Washington
BY the time this article appears President Karzai will have arrived in Washington and possibly have had his first round of talks with President Obama and with a now recovered Secretary Hilary Clinton.
BY the time this article appears President Karzai will have arrived in Washington and possibly have had his first round of talks with President Obama and with a now recovered Secretary Hilary Clinton.
2nd January, 2013
Unpleasant twists
PAKISTAN has been making almost heroic efforts over the last few months to put its relations with Afghanistan on an even keel and make a vital contribution to the reconciliation process that the Afghan government ostensibly wishes to move forward.
PAKISTAN has been making almost heroic efforts over the last few months to put its relations with Afghanistan on an even keel and make a vital contribution to the reconciliation process that the Afghan government ostensibly wishes to move forward.
