BY Asif Haroon Raja The First World War (1914-18) was fought in Europe by the Allies comprising Britain, France, Russia against Central Powers Germany and Austrian-Hungary in which over 17 million people including 9 million combatants died. The US joined the war in 1916 and the Allies won the war, reducing the four great powers – Germany, Russia, Austro-Hungarian and Ottoman Empires into non-entity. The lat ...

By Zaheerul Hassan Strategically vital, rich in natural resources, land of courageous and traditional inhabitants, “Balochistan” is an indispensable component of Pakistan. Baloch masses and leaders out rightly supported 1940 resolution, played pivotal and active role in creation of Pakistan. The resolution demanded that Muslim majority needs a separate homeland in Indian subcontinent. Therefore, like other ...

By Muhammad Daim Fazil Eradicating polio has been primary objective of World Health Organization (WHO) and all the states of the globe. Efforts to eradicate polio started in 1988 when Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) program was launched by international community. Years of efforts and onerous work has brought this egregious disease on the brink however, despite exhausting work, polio still exists ...

By Asif Haroon Raja 1948 Kashmir War. We must not overlook the fact of history that when Maharaja Hari Singh Dogra forces augmented by Patiala forces and RSS were massacring Muslims in Kashmir in 1947 and the then British C-in-C Gen. Gracey refused to dispatch Pak troops as demanded by Quaid-e-Azam, the tribesmen from FATA formed a lashkar at their own and captured Muzaffarabad and area right up to Baramula ...

by Asif Haroon Raja Liberals and seculars calling themselves modern and progressive were in high spirits during Gen Musharraf’s rule because the Islamic militants and those sporting beards dubbed by them as bigoted, obscurantist and uncouth were continuously bashed from 2002 onwards. Several Jihadist groups were banned and extremists were hounded and Madrassahs raided. Many christened as terrorists were han ...

  By Sajjad Shaukat As a result of the general elections 2013, the government led by the nationalist leader Chief Minister Balochistan Dr Abdul Malik Baloch was established in Balochistan, while on December 7, 2013; local bodies elections were largely held in a peaceful manner in the province. However, these elections proved that majority of the Baloch are loyal to the federation, and do not favour separati ...

By Asif Haroon Raja Some of the reasons that have given rise to religious extremism in Pakistan are as follows:- Early demise of Quaid-e-Azam resulted in leadership crisis, which persists to this day. Uneven development of provinces and growth of regionalism gave rise to fissiparous tendencies and strengthened centrifugal forces in smaller provinces. Insensitivity and callous attitude of the elites towards ...

By Asif Haroon Raja Unlike late Hakimullah Mehsud who disfavored talks, his deputy Waliur Rahman favored dialogue and had convinced sizeable number of TTP Shura members to make an offer of dialogue to the government.  His group suggested Maulana Fazlur Rahman, Munawar Hassan, Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan to act as guarantors to preclude possibility of backtracking from the agreement. The offer was not taken ...