By Marvi Sirmed Daily Times recently sat down with veteran Pakistani diplomat Najmuddin Shaikh to discuss the situation in Afghanistan, the prolonged US presence there as well as the role played by other regional players, such as China and India. Talking to Marvi Sirmed, he discussed what he thinks the …
Spearhead Analysis – 03.04.2017 By Hira A. Shafi Research Analyst, Spearhead Research The year so far, has been saturated with a stream of terror attacks across the Afghan-Pak region. Besides the early dawning of this years fighting season, the Taliban and the Afghan forces are reported to have been engaged in constant …
After a prolonged period of less than cordial relations and a refusal to come to the talking table, it seems better sense has prevailed on both sides. The one on one meeting between Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and President Ashraf Ghani is a welcome thaw in relations between Pakistan and …
Spearhead Analysis – 13.07.2015 By Abdulla Wasti Research Analyst, Spearhead Research Pakistan Today Feature Analysis by Spearhead Research In the past six months, we have witnessed Pak-Afghan relations shift from one spectrum to the other; although some would say that they had predicted it. Since assuming office, Ashraf Ghani made the …
Spearhead Analysis – 07.06.2013 From this guidance note it is apparent that the new government comes in with a great deal of preparation having done its home work. The guidance is comprehensive and obviously based on a realistic view of the environment. The priorities are sound and the emphasis on …
TURNING POINT: DEFINING THE ARMY’S ROLE Even with the advent of a democratically elected government with a clear mandate, the fear of military intervention at some stage continues to linger in Pakistan. In Lahore, Raj Chengappa, Editor-in-Chief, The Tribune Group of Newspapers, speaks to General Jehangir Karamat, who preceded …
By Air Commodore (R) Khalid Iqbal Afghanistan is passing through unfortunate times. Three streams of fragile transition are in progress; all in an indecent haste to meet the 2014 timeline. These are in security, political and economic domains. Though political transition holds the key to success; it is the patchiest …
By Air Commodore (R) Khalid Iqbal Turkey was able to facilitate a meeting between the leaders of Afghanistan and Pakistan, accompanied by their ministers and army chiefs, within days the head of Afghanistan’s Intelligence Agency was wounded by a suicide bomber in Kabul. This attack was almost a carbon copy …
Spearhead Analysis – 08.11.12 Four years ago in a historic election President Obama was elected with a much bigger margin than the narrow one which gave him victory and the trust of the American people for another four year term. The Republican aim of making him a one term President …