Supporting Economy
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Energy and economic problems of Pakistan, and not extremism, top the list of Richard Holbrooke’s concerns when it comes to this country. Scarcely believable? Not quite.
The US’s first priority when it comes to Pakistan remains the war against militancy. What Mr Holbrooke seemed to be attempting, though, was to recast [...]
Non Proliferation Treaty at 40
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The world recently observed the 40th anniversary of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Though designed to contain the spread of nuclear weapons the treaty has largely failed in this respect due to its inherently discriminatory nature, which allows some states to maintain nuclear arsenals while preventing others from acquiring the same.
Some have pointed out [...]
Minister nominates himself for lucrative foreign assignment
Federal Law Minister Babar Awan has nominated himself for an international assignment worth millions of dollars. A former Supreme Court judge and a former attorney general, who had backed the proclamation of emergency of Nov 3, 2007, have also been nominated for the assignment, according to sources.
The law ministry had put the minister’s name at [...]
Loss of 400 million dollars
Over $400 million in reimbursement claims by Pakistan under Coalition Support Fund (CSF) for 2008 have been rejected by the United States because of new guidelines requiring ‘enhanced oversight and accountability’.
Total claims for 2008 were $1.4 billion, but Pakistan got $997 million in reimbursement, whereas the remaining claims were disallowed on grounds of “inadequate [...]
Pakistan eyes five billion dollars in foreign investment
Pakistan aims to attract foreign investment worth five billion dollars this year, but needs to tackle reform, maximise anaemic growth and stem rampant violence to clinch its ambitious target.
Last fiscal year, Pakistan recorded its worst economic growth in more than a decade, at two per cent, and attracted only 3.7 billion dollars in investment.
Yet Board [...]
Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar- Combatant or Collaborator
Image by visionshare via Flickr
US President Barack Obama has reviewed the situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan with his senior officials and diplomats as his administration continues a two-pronged offensive to subdue militants in that region.
The new approach includes a major military offensive in southern Afghanistan and a US-led process to encourage repentant Taliban activists to [...]
Pakistan arrests two Taliban
Pakistan has captured two “shadow governors” belonging to Afghanistan’s Taliban movement. The timing of the reported arrests coincides with the capture of Taliban’s second-in-command Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar in Karachi by Pakistani and US agents this month.
The arrests of Mullah Abdul Salam and Mullah Mir Mohammad, respectively the shadow governors of the northern Afghan provinces [...]
Our source of National Pride
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Nationalism is best understood in contrast to patriotism. Patriotism is simply love for one’s country, whereas nationalism is the sense that one’s nation is the best, often because it is more sacred than other nations. For the past few months, ‘Wake Up Pakistan’ – a campaign targeting this country’s youth – has been [...]
Indian goods being taken to Nato troops via Pakistan
Despite Pakistan’s refusal to let Indian products be taken to Afghanistan through its territory under the Afghan Transit Trade (ATT), Indian goods are being taken to the country via Pakistan under the tags of Isaf and Nato.
Documentary evidence placed in the National Assembly library may have failed to catch the attention of honourable parliamentarians, [...]
Water Problem
Estimates vary but experts believe that the current rabi cultivation season could see a water shortfall of anywhere between 30 and 45 per cent. Some believe that the region hardest hit by this shortage will be southern Punjab, which is said to account for nearly 50 per cent of the country’s wheat production.
Making matters worse, [...]
