Attack in Mohmand

The recent attack on Frontier Corps (FC) post in Mohmand Agency is the first major US step in arm twisting the hopeless new Pakistani democratic set up.

Cluster Bombs

United States, Russia and China have not signed the Mine Ban treaty and will not sign the Cluster Ban either, but their future actions affected by the outcome of this Treaty.

India Pakistan Talks

India and Pakistan are to have Foreign Minister and Foreign Secretary level talks starting May 20 in Islamabad. It is time to once again look at the chessboard and see what has changed.

Where Billions Vanish

The Musharraf years are over. It is now time for parliament to carry out a public inquiry into the irresponsible and crazy policies that have hitherto been the hall-mark of decision-making.

Gen. Petraeus & Crocker's Washington Show is a Damp Squib

If an act of mercy is twice blessed, then an act of illegal invasion and brutal occupation has since proved to be doubly cursed for the invaders as well.

Simply Outrageous!

In their recent visits, the US officials kept looking for those who could listen to them and nod in the affirmative. They found none.

New US Strategy Needed in Afghanistan and Pakistan

The main thrust of USA's policy was to construct roads and schools and clinics. These were important but no substantial stakeholders or major employment opportunities were created...

Tea Anyone?

I was perplexed at the idea of tea at that hour of the night until I viewed the texture of this liquid I realized this my friends, was no Lipton, it was red wine.

The Plan To Topple Pakistan Military

Its not about Musharraf anymore. This is about clipping the wings of a strong Pakistani military, denying space for China in Pakistan, squashing the ISI, stirring ethnic unrest...

France has a better Middle East foreign policy than the Brits and Americans?

Thirty years later, it (France) has suddenly become a close friend of the very same people who previously thought of them as an enemy.

Imperialism and the Writing of History

Occupied Iraq and Colonial India

Friends Not, Masters

An overview of the declasified US secret documents, it has been alleged in those documents that the Pakistan is supporting the Taliban

Bernard Lewis and the Neocon view of Islam

Lewis has had such a profound influence that according to the Wall Street Journal, “the Lewis doctrine, in effect, had become US policy”.

The Arrest of Nuon Chea- Terror is an Old Hat

The arrest of Nuon Chea, a now obscure but once powerful symbol of terror re-minds us that the war against terror is not a new one.

The Current Mess in Iraq—putting things in perspective

One of the major debates that continue to take place within the global media today is that what future course of action shall the United States take in Iraq.

Assessing the Socio-Economic Decline of Pakistan

While the future does not appear to be rosy from any angle, it is worthwhile to state that the situation in Pakistan has still not reached a point where we could group it with failed countries.

Rushdie and the British Establishment

It is certainly true that the attitudes and belief systems of pockets of Muslim youth represent a serious challenge to the ethos of a post-industrial, post-modern society; but it is also true that the terrorism that has taken place on British soil or that

Letter from Pakistan

My American friends, can you imagine your great country without justice for all? Can you live in country where justice is not available? Thanks to your Government who is supporting a military dictator in Pakistan, we cannot experience the same freedoms as

The Lament Of Bengal's Luddites

SEZs (Special Economic Zones) in India are expected to generate 15-17 lakh new jobs in 5 years and attract around INR 2,50,000 crore and boost exports by 25 % in 10 years.

Pakistan Shinning II - Propoganda or Reality

There is no precedent of any nation having developed economically without consistently saving and reinvesting a substantial portion of its annual GDP.

Education Reform: Signs of Hope

There is good news: the “White Paper” to “debate and finalize national education policy”, distributed in December 2006 by the Ministry of Education, though incomplete and flawed, is an enormous step forward.

Dismantling India’s Colonial Past

In matters of foreign policy, India is beginning to abandon the Raj approach to our neighbors

Huntington's Clash of Civilizations Thesis

Why are such gimmicks, like the “Clash of Civilizations” created and for what purpose?

Know Pakistan

Four tenths of the population live below the poverty line, six tenths have single bedroom houses and eight tenths have no sanitation. What does all this tell us? That in order to fight our demons, we must first know them.

This Really Gets My Goat

As the outcry against the Pakistani governments plan to mine the Durand Line grows, I am reminded of the title of a Ray Bradbury novel published in 1985, Death Is A Lonely Business. Death is a lonely business. Step on an anti-personnel landmine, and it

India’s Foreign Policy: An Analysis

It is time for a reality check: A look within. India was a great civilization and has a great history. As Indians we are right to be proud of it. However, as Indians we must not forget what history teaches us: that humility not hubris is what makes you gr

Medicalising Pakistan

A recent visit to Pakistan was the eye opening one. There was one pharmacy in my neighborhood a few years ago, but now the small street is sprawling with five pharmacies and all are doing “wonderful business”.

The Moving Finger and the Baker-Hamilton Iraq Study Group

A comprehensive look.

Truth Behind US-India Nuclear Deal

US-India deal has all the signs of great treaty. However it also contains some ominas signs of India getting trapped in a CIA net.

The Road to Hell is Paved with Good Intentions

The Muslim Policeman who refused to guard the Israeli Embassy in London, the European Union trying to force the working time directive in the UK, a state in India to removing learning of English in schools and the decision by the Iranian Government to res

Pakistan's Afghan Policy

Afghanistan was created as a buffer state between the British and Russian empires. The international boundary line between Afghanistan and the British empire, inherited in 1947 by Pakistan, is the Durand line. This line divided ethnic Pashtun tribes into

Dont Expect Brown to be Softer on the War on Terror

Will a change in leadership bring a change in British foreign policy?

Five Years on - Lessons unlearned

It is the failure to understand the mainstream demands of most in the Muslim world that has been the real failing of the War on Terror.

Mission Accomplished II

Although nothing is still very certain; anything may happen to a shaky ceasefire negotiated by the UN, it is a hopeful sign that both sides are willing to observe truce as much as possible. Like the earlier UN resolutions, the current resolution also may

The Height of Higher Education

Pakistan studies should become a part of the study of world history without recourse to jingoism and ‘patriotic excesses’. By doing so, two major sources of confusion and non-critical thinking will be removed from the domain of universities

Would India be a Threat to the Islamic Conference?

What is the true motive behind India's eagerness to join the Organization of Islamic Conference? If it wants to do anything positive for its Muslim population, then the first place to start would be Kashmir and Gujarat

Counterfeit Medicines: A Public Health Policy Failure

The responsibility to tackle this problem does not only lie with the government. All stakeholders must be involved and should join forces against this menace

And Dr. Shahid Hussain Bokhari Quits…

Why another world famous researcher and a dedicated teacher left Pakistan while HEC claims that its policies are supporting higher education and research in the country.

Bye Bye NAM, Hello Realpolitik!

India’s change of policy towards Iran must have been one of the most deliberate, albeit agonizing, decision by the Indian government.

Why Democracy?

Almost half of the world’s population is living under one or the other form of democracy. Interestingly, however, no one seems to have a convincing argument for it.

New Murree - New Ways to Ruin Water Supplies

But to put so much effort into providing 'safe' expensive bottled water -- that is mostly consumed by the elite -- overlooks the serious neglect of the water sector as a whole in Pakistan.

HEC Juggernaut and Pervez Hoodbhoy

Instead of criticizing Hoodbhoy, the HEC should welcome debate about its projects and should apologize for acting in such a reprehensible manner.

Confronting Terror

A successful confrontation of terror will have to include addressing its deep-rooted psychological and socio-economic origins. This can only be done via a comprehensive economic and political partnership between the Muslim world and the West.

Pakistan-Afghan Relations in Murky Waters

Because of intense past interference in the Afghan factional conflict, Pakistan has conceded most of its neutral ground and is branded as an active partner in the existing militancy.

Doomed If They Do, Doomed If They Dont

Since the issue at hand is so complicated and steeped in strategic considerations and nucular, sorry, nuclear jargons, let us try to understand the situation with the help of an allegory, “The Largest Singh Meets the Longest Sam, A True Sad Story.&#

The Elusive Peace of the Middle East

With its bias, ideological distortions, complete distrust and utter disregard for human values, Israel is not helping in creating an atmosphere conducive for peace in the Middle East.

Reforms! What Reforms?

Pervez Hoodbhoy, a leading thinker and educationist in Pakistan is the latest target for the mindless policy makers running Pakistan. It shouldn’t come as a surprise, the same people, after all, have tried to stifle the voices of many others –

Central Asian Backlash Against US Franchised Revolutions

After a meeting on 5 July in the Kazakh capital Astana, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (China, Russia, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan with India, Iran and Pakistan as observers) in a statement called on USA to spell out a deadline for withd

Re-evaluating the First United States—Pakistan Alliance

US-Pakistan alliance during the early Ayub era

Boom-Box Mentality

Foreign Aids and Remittances can play a minute role in the careful management of the economy but can rarely be considered as the definitive factor in pursuing high productivity growth rate and significant increase in the employment.

America’s Frankenstein Monsters

Not long ago Mujaheedin-i-Khalq were branded as terrorists in the US, whereas presently they have a safe haven in Iraq and are allowed to pursue their disruptive activities against the lawful, legitimate, democratic and popular government in Tehran.

Selling the Family Silver

Privatization in Pakistan is seen as the strategy that will correct all past wrongs of the public sector. But two questions arise: Is the wholesale privatization good for the country in the long run and whether there is a role for public sector enterprise

Violation of Personal Space

Email scans are not just conceivable but they are a sad truth which most of us are unable to come to terms with. Evidently, Big Brother has already sneaked his way into Pakistan and is here to stay, whether we like it or not.

From Photo Sessions to Reality

For once the eloquent ex- City Banker Prime Minister was at a complete loss for words. He stood stunned and speechless ... after all Mukhtaran Mai was the first rape victim that the Prime Minister had ever seen or met.

Censorship

There are no organized measures or standards by which these arts are being banned. Any one who has an objection need only to voice their concern, before the “offending” artwork is banned from public display.

F-16s to Pakistan—Why Now?

Conventional wisdom says it’s a ‘reward’ for General Musharraf’s loyalty to George W. Bush’s ‘cause’ in this part of the world. The question is why now?

Iran at the Crossroads – Bombs or Butter?

If any sticks and carrots policy is to become credible and viable for Iran, it must include effective and transparent curbs on Israel. Israel is a greater potential and perceivable threat to Iran and its neighbors than the U.S.

Iran’s Nuclear Triangle

Encircling Iran by maintaining its military presence in five of the seven countries sharing borders with Iran, the US seems to be working overtime to neutralize Iran’s ‘nuclear triangle’

A “Cedar” Revolution to Counter Russian Missiles for Damascus

The sale of missiles to Syria was finalized during Syrian President Basher Assad’s recent visit to Moscow. But it could ignite the most inflammable tinderbox in the region, Lebanon...

Rice was no Turkish Delight

Iraqi Kurds Flex Muscles

Conflict over Foreign Investment in Indian Press

Is it a threat of further invasion of our values, culture and life by foreign opinion makers or would it simply bring in financial investment, editorial quality and transparency. A heated debate amongst editors, publishers, and politicians in India.

Flouting International Laws-What is Dubyas Rationale?

There were two articles in the news today. “Charles Graner sentenced to 10 years for the abuse of the Abu Ghraib prisoners.” The second was “A Bosnian Serb, Savo Todovic, deputy commander of the Faco concentration camp in the 1990s wher

Reforming Pakistan’s Universities -- II

Three years ago the first serious effort to deal with Pakistan’s chronically ill universities was finally initiated. Unfortunately, this effort by the Higher Education Commission has now become mired in an intense, growing controversy.

Reforming Pakistan’s Universties -- I

In this article I will look at the problems in our higher education system and why the HEC reforms are set to make a bad situation worse rather than better.

Engaging India

If Nawaz Sharif is portrayed as...a mugger “who was holding a pistol to his head and threatening to blow his brains out if you didn’t hand over your wallet”, LK Advani is an ominous figure dwelling fondly on a South Asia under Indian heg

Would 30 January Elections Make or Break Iraq?

Like Pakistani military did not allow a Bengali to become the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Iraq’s Sunni leadership, with enough funds and experienced and trained men at its command is not going to give up its long established right of being the rulin

Demining Starts Healing War-torn Northern Sri Lanka

The ongoing efforts in Sri Lanka have lessons for both India and Pakistan. The borders of the two countries have seen huge swathes of territory being rendered useless and dangerous by landmines -- India alongwith the US, China, Russia and Pakistan is not

In Ukraine, a franchised revolution

2 million anti-war demonstrators who streamed the streets of London and New York against the war on Iraq in March 2003 were politically ignored, but some tens of thousands in central Kiev are proclaimed to be 'the people'.

Settling The Kalabagh Issues

The problem is not just of whether the Kalabagh dam is a feasible project. The absence of any meaningful debate on such a sensitive subject is worrisome.

US Elections Concern for India

Kerry has made ‘American Jobs’ one of the core issues in his campaign...He has given an outline for his economic plan which is biased against the companies which are presently outsourcing or which might plan to further relocate services to for

Libya yesterday, Syria today and Iran tomorrow

Syrian troop movement indicates that Damascus is also flirting with joining the Yankee dance.

Musharraf and Bush—A Symbiotic Thing?

General Musharraf is on his annual safari to U.S. at a time when both he and his mentor, George W. Bush are up against a credibility battle.

Bush Off the Track

The only way to hold Bush accountable for his policies that have gone off track is to vote him out.

What Should be the Top-10 S&T Policy Priorities for Pakistan?

It is critical that we build upon these successes of the past few years to create a more permanent and sustainable foundation of technology-led growth for the future.

Needed: A National Dialogue on Science, Technology, Research and Higher/Basic Education

The Importance of NADRA’s Swipe-able ID Card

A case for Pakistan's new computerised national identity card

A History of US- Pakistan Relations

While Pakistanis are stuck with a love-hate relationship with the US, for Americans it is business as usual

Should Pakistan, too, Dump the Commonwealth?

Leaving the Commonwealth arena all to India by walking out from it would be a big blunder. Why give India a walk-over?

Outsourcing Torture

I too was born in a Muslim country. Should I carefully try to recall who I came in contact with during my 35-year stay in Canada and be careful not to transit through an American airport?

Why Bush Will Fail in Iraq

Why did the Iraqis not welcome their ‘liberators’ as such? Because they have always detested foreigners coming in as their liberators and benefactors.

The changing face of America

At lunch a steward asked me if the “Halal Meal” was mine? Without waiting for my answer he dumped the food on my table, took two giant leaps and disappeared to the next section of the airplane.

The In-Security Council: Dump it or Grow it?

Is the UN Charter just a piece of paper to be stored on a musty shelf, or is it supposed to safeguard the “rights of men and women and of nations, large and small” to discursive, negotiated settlement of disputes and equality of all member st

Dear Mr. Gaddafi

What should I tell Mr. Gaddafi, if he allows me? What I told Saddam.

Unsettling Precedents for Pakistan

From the ‘success’ in Iraq, it appears that launching preemptive strikes with overpowering force can vanquish enemies without appreciable collateral damage.

Pakistan and Israel: Through the prism of realities

Despite some striking ideological parallels between Pakistan and Israel, rightly summed up by General Ziaul Haq that both Pakistan and Israel are products of ideologies — and this incontrovertible fact that Pakistan does not have any border or polit

Call to Action for Oil Spill

Please cut and paste the following text and email it to the Karachi Nazim, the Prime Minister and the Presidents offices. This is a call to sign a petition

The Razor’s Edge

The United States seems to be losing the proverbial battle for the “hearts and minds” of the Afghans. The biggest problem was that the United States was not prepared for the post-war situation and had no plans to tackle the problems

On the Picket Line in Islamabad

It is Islamabad’s best-known secret. The picket lines at KFC and Pizza Hut are well into their second month and there has not been a word about it in the local press

The Beginning of the End of the Kashmir Problem

Do not underestimate either the love or the hatred that the peoples of the two countries are capable of having towards each other

When Democracy Failed: The Warnings of History

The 70th anniversary wasn't noticed in the United States

The Great Game for Central Asian Oil

The Imperialist Ring from Yugoslavia to Afghanistan

Pakistan The Land of the pure - A Myth or Reality

Land of the Pure

Three Arguments Against a War

As America prepares for war, I want to present three arguments for peace:

The Urdu Press in New York

We never thought we would flee America

The March of Folly

Is It A War On Islam?

What, then, should be the strategy for all those who believe in a just world and are appalled by America's war on the weak?

All The Bridges Are Burning

The United States’ foreign policy has historically oscillated between recklessness of unilateralism and the cautious nature of multilateralism.

Standing Up to a Bully

America has all along, despite Iraq’s acceptance, said it is highly sceptical of Saddam Hussain’s assurances or promises

Khaki wisdom -- One-way ticket to Hell

the world came closer to a nuclear exchange during the recent standoff between India and Pakistan than at any time since the 1962 Cuban missile crisis

Imran Khan Needs Money

Wake up and smell the coffee, Imran

Kissinger of Death

Bush may as well have chosen Osama bin Laden to head the commission

Mexico to Support United States

Fox and Bush, 'langotia yar ... '

Sobho: the struggle continues

I still believe in the revolution, in a society that provides justice for all

Myopic, Malevolent, Megalomaniac

Musharraf knows that PPP (P) and PML (N) would not like to join hands with MMA because it displeases USA

Who is Responsible for Nepal’s Corruption, Poverty and Failed Development?

Story of a middle class family of Nepal

Road Blocks in Normalising Relations

If cross border terrorism ceases, facilitating a dialogue between India and Pakistan, will a dividend of long term peace follow?

Organized Irrelevance

Are Muslims hopeless? With the OIC, they are...

The Right To Bigotry

as long as government and courts and police and diplomats and moralists approve of it

The Pattern of Violence

if the man at the helm sees the larger picture

The Panel of Vendettas at UC Berkley

A true hero would make a radical notion and never back track

An Interview with Noam Chomsky

I don’t feel that I have important messages to convey

The Wages of Obedience

The systemic failure of a whole class of people to think honestly and seriously, in short a failure to do their job as political analysts

The Place of Debate

He said there was also a need for debating on the concept of secularism, whether it is contrary to Islamic teachings and concept?

Empty Vessels And All That Jazz

do you think he is up to task to rid us of feudals next?

Pakistanis in Afghanistan, Nothing New

The more the government cuts back on the opportunities available to the Mullah to interact with the citizen, the more the government is cutting back on the Mullahs sources of revenue

Taliban : An Analysis

an ideal Islamic society.

Is Jehad Passe’?

it is too early to say that the military has changed its spots

Muslims and The West After 11th September

America has exacted blood revenge for the Twin Towers

An International Failure

do the Pakistanis know who they are themselves

The Clash Of Un-Civilizations And Osama-ism

It is misleading to think and give an impression that these issues will just disappear if Osama is captured or killed today.

The Laying to Waste of the World: a Memory of I.H Burney

Anything is better than Bhutto, he said

Whither Democracy?

Musharraf appears to have killed two birds with one stone

Benazir Bhutto in Sacramento

the terrorist’s greatest fear is the spread of information, social equality and democracy

A Decision to Regret

the Afghans have always resisted a government imposed from abroad

Afghanistan Reflections

big mistakes were made

Jihad: Paradoxes and Defining Moments

There will always be a lunatic fringe in the Muslim society

Explaining it to an American Friend

godspeed and prudence in this time of grieving

Implications for India

India needs to show maturity

Just the End of the Beginning

... will the arraignment of Osama BL be the end of the story?

A Medley of Internal Contradictions

Shedding tears for the plight of Indian Muslims is also a case of internal contradictions

The Countdown Begins

... the contours of Pakistan’s emerging political scenario point to the first signs of an uneasy coexistence between the military regime and the political forces ...

An Eulogy For The Hawks

Your administrations’ talks with President Musharraf

The Quest for Power

It took General Zia 14 months after the July 1977 coup to assume the Presidency, while General Musharraf waited 20 months to do the same

Talking to Vajpayee

Vajpayee has demonstrated that he can be different

The Winds of Change

When the world’s only superpower changes direction, smaller states, especially those located on the periphery of potential conflict, have to be nimble in adjusting their policies.

The Chicken Hawks Of Pakistan

The military should accept the fact that it is a dictatorship

Our Blind Nuclear Prophets

why did Indian and Pakistani defence budgets go up, rather than down, after the May 1998 tests?

A World Upside Down

can the United States honestly determine the reasons behind the tragedies in Washington

Democracy in Pakistan: The Missing Link?

Democracy has long been a buzzword in Pakistan

Education Reforms: Yet Another Sham

In the hands of a semi-literate bureaucracy, which couldn’t care less about education

Elections, Pakistani Style

One moment we were leading, the next we fell behind

A Different Story

The winds of change are slowly whispering their way across the South Asian sub-continent

Should Pakistan Honor the Lahore Resolution?

why Pakistan failed to become a confederation in accordance with the spirit and content of the Lahore resolution?.

Defend the Country, not its Government

What are the responsibilities of citizens when governments lie to them?

The Imperatives of Power

A physically injured leader has won hands down against the leader of a psychologically injured nation in the world of diplomacy

Al-Quds Divided: The Politics of Hatred

The Arab-Israeli conflict is multi-dimensional

1971 in 2000

... this singular event is consigned to the dustbin of history.

Where Mountains Move

The Story of Chagai

Pakistan, India and the Spirit of Chowk

a time when civility ruled Chowk and personal attacks were rare

The Flip Side of Democracy

The US public allows its government to make decisions that can alienate a billion people

The Menace of Education

We cannot entrust the future of our country to those who cannot write a single straight sentence

Negotiating Peace in Kashmir

President Clinton should also exhort the Indian leaders

A Rumor Of Lies

Pakistan, as a nation, seems to have entered a political terra incognita from which it is unlikely to return

ALIF - The Way Ahead?

to build the Kingdom of God out of scraps

The Millenium Manifesto or ’Ikeesween Sadi Dastoor’

Kashmir does not belong to Pakistan regardless of historical events during partition...

Twosome Troubles of Troublesome Two

The adolescent behavior of both the Indian and Pakistani elites and their awry management of bilateral relations has become a matter of international notoriety

The Case for De jure Legalization

A Rs.1000 excise tax on an imported bottle of Scotch could easily net additional daily revenues

Pakistan: Rapprochement with India ‘unstoppable’

One thing is clear: people want peace with India

Compilation of Opinions on the Military Takeover in Pakistan

Peoples opinions and reactions

Text of Speech by Gen. Pervez Musharraf

The choice before us on Oct 12th was between saving the body - that is the nation, at the cost of a limb - which is the Constitution, or saving the limb and losing the whole body

Diary of a Coup

A coup d’etat had taken place and everything was going on as if nothing had happened?

Time for a fresh start

Where do we go from here?

Connected to: Harsh Kapoor

SPIDER talks to Cyber Warrior Harsh Kapoor about his stance on the recent blocking of the Dawn Internet Edition in India

Kargil: A view from Pakistan

What gives in the mountains?

Citizenship Rights for a Better Future

The autocracy established in colonial India is alive and well in contemporary Pakistan

Falsehoods Galore

Pakistan has thus turned into an oligarchy well versed in the art of making things disappear

India’s Failure of Imagination

No one in India, it seems, has a clue what people across the border in Pakistan are thinking

The Dark Tower

The editor of Pakistani most outspoken English weekly was arrested in a most undemocratic manner for going abroad and saying what we all say in our living rooms

The Decline and Fall of Pakistan

Pakistan on the crossroads of a dilemma

WW III? An Analysis of Yugoslavia

The media has been lying to the world about the crisis in Kosova

The Battle For Kosovo

An argument for the use of NATO ground forces in Kosovo

Don’t Worry Mr. Milosevic, America is With You

the killers of Guclukonak will...punish the killers of Racak

Chip on the shoulder economics

Prejudiced thinking and economic blunders

Why Vajpayee’s Trip to Lahore Was a Failure

Vajpayee’s bus trip can be described in one word: nothing

A Matter of Principle

Anatomy of the governments vendetta against a leading newspaper in Pakistan

Honoring the Greats

Should all Prime Ministers be on postage stamps?

A Forgotten Incident

India and Pakistan go to war!

A Line Runs Through It

Siachen-Kargil: India, Pakistan, Kashmir and forgotton lessons of history

Agenda for Pakistani Press

The press has no credibility

India is South Asia’s Natural Hegemon

Pakistan is more an army with a state than a state with an army.

Muslims should take control of their own image

Whining about caricatures only shows an unwillingness to face reality.

Talking of Talks

...the Prime Ministers have had a telephone talk

Changing of the Guard

Price for dissent?

Giving Way to Intolerance

During the last many years, religious intolerance and sectarian fanaticism have created a war-like situation in Pakistan

Communists and Congress Should Give Birth to ’Red Indians’

The Communist parties and the Congress (I) are toying with the idea of coming closer to form an alternative political dispensation

Wake up Deluded Muslims

A plea to Muslims across the world to recognize the oppression they endure.

Wag the Dog

A war between the lackeys of capitalism claiming to represent the free world, and violent, fascist mercenaries

Dow and NASDAQ set new records

A bull market that bears watching.

The Control-Loving Economist is Coming Out of the Closet Again

The control-junky in the Pakistani economist that the recent liberalization had bottled up is now out of the closet again.

Onwards to the Nuclear Abyss

India, Pakistan and the March of Folly

Getting to Yes

Not to test was to permanently accept Indian domination.

The Hard Choice

A Pakistani physicist’s view on the eve of the Pakistani N-tests

Statesmanship Needed

Mr. Bhutto’’s decision to go nuclear would prove pivotal quarter of a century later

Say No to Indian and Pakistani Bombs

...against the ideologies of hate created and promoted by our governments

The New Education Policy

Policy in Pakistan is the mere announcement of a fantastic wish list that has been compiled on the fly ...

The New Education Policy -Two Suggestions

Can the new education policy deliver what is needed?

Raj and I

A complete sense of certainty prevails in our country. There is nothing to panic about.

Imperatives For Economic Development Of Pakistan

So how can we hammer out a consensus around the proposition that we have to rapidly raise the standard of living of the people in Pakistan?

Economic Development Conference at MIT

Integrating Pakistan Into the New Global Economy conference to be held at MIT Sloan on March 07: the event to be covered live at the Chowk Chatroom.

Christians of Pakistan

The constitution defines Pakistan as an Islamic nation and guarantees freedom to all other religion. Are we doing justice in implementing this all important social tolerance act?

Funding Lower Education

On the eve of the announcement of a new Education Policy by the Nawaz Sharif Govt. comes a sequel to Educational Apartheid.

Opposing the Land Mine Ban Treaty

Every year an estimated 60 million to 100 million minesare in place in 69 countries, and they kill or mutilate more than25,000 people every year.

The Overlooked Problem of Pakistani Racism.

Discrimination based on ethnic and provincial loyalties is eating away at our country. Why has it not become the issue that it should be?

Gender and Literacy in Pakistan

By looking at agendas and practices of some organizations involved with women’s literacy in Pakistan this paper attempts to clarify ideas related to gender, assumed or consciously advocated in their various approaches.

Chowkwalas Interview Pak. Law Minister

Chowk readers conduct a cyber interview with Law Minister Khalid Anwer

A Way Beyond Failed S&T Policies

The author reviews how national institutions have failed to present a viable vision for the Pakistan’s S&T sector. More active involvement of expatriot Pakistanis is suggested.

From the Continuum

Get an omniscient alien race’s view of our little world in general and of the land of the pure, in particular.