Ishaal Zehra The attacks in Mumbai in November 2008 - designated as 26/11 - left 162 people dead in a traumatic event that some people described as India's 9/11. Extensive media coverage has created the impression that all the relevant facts on this audacious operation have been reported. Unfortunately, this impression is false, says Elias Davidsson in his book on the 2008 attacks that occurred in Mumbai, I ...

By Sajjad Shaukat The role of Pakistan Army in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has again come to limelight, as Pakistan decided to send more troops in that country. Many Indian newspapers and media anchors started spreading disinformation that Pakistan Army would be used by Riyadh in case of war against Yemen and Iran. In one way or the other, even some politicians and media analysts of Pakistan also misperceiv ...

نغمہ حبیب پاکستانی معاشرہ اس وقت جن مسائل سے دو چار ہے اُن میں دہشت گردی اور انتہا پسندی سر فہرست ہیں بلکہ اگر دیکھا جائے تو دہشت گردی کی وجوہات میں بھی انتہا پسندی کا حصہ سب سے زیادہ ہے ہم دوطبقات میں تقسیم ہیں ایک جدت پسندی کے نام پر حد سے نکلے ہوا ہے اور دوسرا مذہب کو آڑ بنا کر دوسروں پر طعنہ زن ہے۔ ہم کہنے کو کہتے ہیں کہ اسلام روا داری کا مذہب ہے لیکن اسے عملاََ ماننے پر آمادہ نہیں ہمارے ہاں جتنا ارزاں ...

By Sajjad Shaukat On the midnight of 18-19 February 2007, India-Pakistan Samjhota Express train was bombed in which 68 Pakistani nationals were killed. A Hindu extremist leader Swami Aseemanand, a leader of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has confessed that he was involved in several bombings incidents. He also claimed to have been a part of the incident. In fact, ideology of Hindutva (Hindu nationalism) ...

By Asif Haroon Raja Imran Khan (IK) and senior party leaders were seen huddled together at Bani Gala with utter dejection written on their gloomy and long faces after the announcement of NA-154 by-election results of Lodhran on the evening of February 12. What was most disturbing for them was that this seat was lost to PML-N’s little-known candidate Pir Iqbal Shah. It was the hometown of Jahangir Tareen (JT ...

By Asif Haroon Raja The foundations of MQM was laid by mercurial and firebrand Altaf Hussain in 1984 on the pillars of violence, terrorism and fascism. The facade of a political party of middle and lower middle class was built as a smokescreen to hide the crimes of party leadership and to build the image of Altaf Hussain, popularly called as ‘Altaf Bhai’, as an icon and a hero. In order to gain full control ...

Book Review By Brig Asif Haroon Raja (Retired) I was invited by Muslim Institute Islamabad as one of the speakers to attend book launching ceremony of a book titled “Separatist Movements in India” (in Urdu) authored by eminent Tariq Ismail Sagar. Let me at the outset compliment Mr. Sagar for his commendable effort in writing this well-researched book “Separatist Movements in India”. What is heartening to no ...

Ishaal Zehra The US war in Afghanistan has entered into its 17th consecutive year of dismay. It is learnt that this winter, Afghan security forces have intensified their operations against the rogue elements despite heavy snow and bitter cold instead of a usual slowdown in fighting during Afghanistan's harsh winter tide. Would it prove effective or not will be reckoned with time however the cause of fretful ...