Posted by Javed Iqbal The challenging relationship between Pakistan and Afghanistan has long been locked in horns. There have been too many ups and downs to call the relationship anything but one that is sustainable, mature and long lasting. While the two-day mid-April Afghan military visit to Pakistan indicated thawing in relationship, a series of cross border incidents and Afghanistan’s severe official re ...

By Brigadier (r) Iftikhar Ayub Khan For a Government as well as a soldier peace is the ultimate desire. No war plan is complete that fails to see through and beyond the end game. And all horrors of war must culminate into peace and that is what the 16th Century jurists believed that end of war must bring peace under conditions acceptable to both sides irrespective of winners and losers. The message was lost ...

By Brigadier (Retd) IftikharAyub Khan The senseless killings of the civilians by Egyptian Armed Forces reminds me of three Pakistan Army brigadiers who refused (and preferred to resign) than to fire at the civilians during agitations at Lahore that ultimately saw the demise of ZA Bhutto. And till to date Pakistan Army is holding this tradition. Well we are not comparing the two Forces i.e. one that has beco ...

Posted by Javed Iqbal Prime Minister Manmohan Singh called him “a brave son of India”; his dead body was flown in from Lahore in a special Air India aircraft chartered by the Government of India to Rajasansi Airport Amritsar where political leaders including Indian Punjab deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and minister of state for external affairs Preneet Kaur, were present to receive the body. Then ...

Posted by Javed Iqbal WHILE brazen attack on Hazara Shia community killing at least 89 people and more than 200 others seriously wounded on February 16 at Kirani Road near Hazara Town of Quetta Balochistan has once again descended the country into sectarian chaos, it has also called for immediate need to revisit Madrassa reform strategy that allows all the religious sects to live together peacefully. In Pak ...

  By Javed Iqbal Pakistan occupies a unique location vis-à-vis trade and transportation of Central Asian States’ energy resources down south through Gwadar Port. Whatever strategic routes are contemplated for the purpose by outside powers, they crisscross the province of Baluchistan. Sequel to handing over of Gwadar Port’s operations to Chinese authorities on contract, a surprising disquiet on part of ...

Posted by Javed Iqbal Filing of corruption charges against ex Indian air chief (2004-2007), Air Marshal Shasi Prakash Tyagi in a mega defense scandal, has once again, brought under sharp focus the endemic corruption pervading highest levels of political and military leaderships. It has also bared the quiet , but humongous induction of weapon systems that threaten to inject instability not only in South Asia ...

Posted by Javed Iqbal Many of the contenders in the recently concluded parliamentary elections had wittingly or unwittingly shied away from owning the war against extremism and terrorism taking place on our own soil. Whether it was an election gimmick to win votes or ignorance of the issue on their part, it did not bode well for the country and the army that is in the forefront in taking on the terrorists h ...