Israel’s prime minister ordered the military to go on high alert for a looming attack on Iran’s nuclear program two years ago, but backed off following strong objections from senior security officials, a respected Israeli news program reported The report exposed a deep rift between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his top security officials over the wisdom of attacking Iran but also indicated that Isra ...

By Zaheerul Hassan Pakistan’ 7th Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) opened at Karachi Expo Centre Wednesday show casing locally manufactured military equipment. Some of the major indigenously developed products being showcased in IDEAS-2012 include main battle tank Al Khalid, JF 17 Thunder fighter aircraft, jet trainer aircraft and UAVs in addition to other armaments and communication equipment. While i ...

Posted By Zaheerul Hassan Dear Mr. Obama! Don’t belie the hopes of the ecstatic world, When you sit on the mighty American throne; Try to change your country into a sacred place, Make it shine with piety, as once it shone. I know you inherit the legacy of a devil, Whose hands are full of ravages and blood; Who exulted over the wails and shrieks, Who ruined the peace like a miserable flood. Have an intent ga ...

Posted By Zaheerul Hassan Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal today advocated strengthening trade and commerce ties between India and Pakistan as these could be catalytic in opening most difficult barriers between two brother countries. Speaking at the official luncheon meeting hosted by Chief Minister of Easter Punjab Province Shahbaz Sharif here at his residence today, Badal said that India a ...

By Asif Haroon Raja Although India’s borders are not contiguous to Afghanistan, it has always vied to maintain friendly ties with Afghanistan and to keep Pak-Afghan relations frosty. To India, ties with Kabul mean new trade routes, access to Central Asia’s vast energy reserves and a way to stave off the rise of Islamic militancy. It gives an opportunity to India to undermine Pakistan, as it nurtures its sup ...

By Sajjad Shaukat New debate has started in our media, after the statement of Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani who said on November 5 that no individual or institution has the monopoly to decide what is right or wrong in defining the ultimate national interest, adding that armed forces draw their strength from the public support. Therefore, any effort which draws a wedge between the people a ...

Asif Haroon Raja   Historically Pak-US relationship has always been marked by convergence and divergence of national interests that kept on switching from friendship to friction. The US gained more during the times of convergence of interests but periods of divergence outweighed the former.  Although Pakistan earned the title of ‘most allied ally of USA’, it is also the most sanctioned country in the world. ...

 By Sajjad Ashraf         Synopsis Pakistan is rent by regional resentment, ethnic-linguistic divisions and provincial enmities, while stuck in a quagmire of criminality and terrorism. It faces the prospect of another redrawing of its boundaries unless it can resolve the internal conflicts and restore credible and honest leadership. Commentary MORE THAN 30 years after the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Pak ...