The Pakistan Update

By Dr Manzur Ejaz

We can appreciate the military’s flood relief work but if this disaster is partly man-made, the military has to take responsibility because it has been ruling the country most of the time

The Pakistani military’s help during these devastating floods is appropriate but not outstanding because people have complained about its delayed response. The military’s flood relief work is not exceptional because no other institution in any country has such a large and organised force that it can take care of a disaster of the scale where one-fifth of the population is affected. Even the US had to bring in army engineers during Hurricane Katrina. The only difference is that in democratic countries, (more…)

Tags: Army, Benazir Bhutto, Democracy, Dictatorship, disasters, Featured, floods, Martial Law, Military Rule, musharraf, Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan Army, PML, PPP, Zia ul Haq

Posted in Blog | 832 Comments »

By Wajid Shamsul Hasan

Why Pakistan needs strong institutions is amply demonstrated in recent events of monumental importance. However, these events did not get enough attention either because of indifference from analysts or their lack of comprehension about these issues. It is a tribute to democracy that, despite the challenges of security and economic downturn due to the fight against extremism and terrorism, the government of Pakistan has succeeded in meeting major challenges. Of course, in doing so it enjoyed the support of the masses and the major political forces in the country.

Let us talk about those monumental events at an international and national level, events that have been taking place ever since the democratic government came to power in March 2008. Seven such major events and developments are discernable. (more…)

Tags: Afghanistan, Asif Zardari, Democracy, Hamid Karzai, Khyber-Pakhtunkhawa, Martial Law, Military, musharraf, nfc, Security, Taliban, War on Terror

Posted in Blog | 1,921 Comments »

By Raza Rumi

Many decades ago, our Governor General-President Iskander Mirza had rather contemptuously stated that democracy does not suit the genius of Pakistani people. Immediately after these words of wisdom were uttered, direct military rule not only exiled Mirza but also became a norm rather than aberration. For the last six decades or so we have not been able to overcome this political reality. The unelected institutions of the state are not willing to give up the power they inherited from the might of the colonial state. At best, they are willing to share power to a degree that they deem fit.

It is now clear that within a few months Pakistan is due for another political upheaval. Barely two years after an election took place, the political elites are back in business (more…)

Tags: Asif Zardari, Democracy, Dictatorship, Judiciary, Kerry Lugar Bill, Martial Law, Nawaz Sharif, NRO, Pervez Musharraf, PML (N), PPP, Ziaul Haq

Posted in Blog | 403 Comments »

By Saqlain Imam

The marriage of convenience between Pakistan and the USA has faced hick-ups from the very onset of their relations in the early 1950’s.

The inauspicious nascent relations between both the countries turned into a close association in the years to come. The United States had a very little interest in Pakistan after it was carved out of united India in 1947. This standoffishness lingered despite the fact that the Cold War had begun. America’s indifference towards Pakistan is evident by the little-known fact that when Pakistan asked for economic assistance from the USA during the life time of the founder of the country Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the U.S. embassy in Karachi only offered words of encouragement and some pedestal fans.

(more…)

Tags: Featured, History of relations, India, Martial Law, Military dictatorship, Military Rule, Pak US relations, Pakistan, Pakistan Army, Pentagon, South Asia, War on Terror, Ziaul Haq, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto

Posted in Blog, News | 1,592 Comments »