By Asif Haroon Raja The US and the Western world’s deep-seated interest in the strategically important and oil-rich Middle East are well known. In order to maintain control over oil wells and to keep sea lanes and choke points in Indian Ocean open, the British Empire in line with its policy of divide and rule, split up the Ottoman Empire in 1918 into small Muslim States and installed puppet rulers. By 1923, ...

By Zaheerul Hassan Kakul , Chief of Army Staff (COAS), General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani reviewed an impressive Passing out parade of 128th PMA Long Course, 25 th Technical Graduate Course , 47 th Integrated Course , 11 Ladies Cadet Course  and 2nd  Mujahid Course at Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul, as the chief guest on Saturday. The passing out parade of Pakistan Army’s 128th long course was held at the Milit ...

By Abu Ezaan In Pakistan, often an argument in favour of extended Chinese involvement in Afghanistan is proffered on the pretext that any such development would be in our strategic interests in the region.  Presumably, greater Chinese involvement in Afghanistan is reckoned as a rational to offset negative US presence that consistently advances Indian interests.  Here, it is assumed that Pakistan and China w ...

 By   Mohammad Jamil The leader of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in a television interview invited representatives of the government to meet on its controlled territory for serious talks about bringing peace to the country. Hakimullah Mehsud told a BBC journalist that he would guarantee the protection of government negotiators in order to start a discreet dialogue rather than trying to negotiate through the me ...

  By Sajjad Shaukat Debate continues between various political and religious leaders in relation to peace dialogue with the Taliban.  In this regard, after obtaining consensus of the mainstream political parties in the All Parties Conference (APC), held on September 9, 2013, the government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif had decided to start peace process with the militants, especially of the Tehreek-e-T ...

   By Sajjad Shaukat Some analysts see terror-attacks on various religious communities, sects and ethnic groups in isolation, while these are part of a perennial wave of subversive acts in the country, arranged by the anti-Pakistan foreign countries, and followed by a deliberate propaganda to destabilize and denuclearize it. In this respect, Indian aggressive designs could be judged by its civil and militar ...

 By Mohammad Jamil Recent terrorist attacks in Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK), targeting a Police Station and a Military Camp, killing a Lieutenant Colonel and fourteen others including Police and Army officers, are indeed condemnable. The terrorists had disguised using Indian Army uniform and managed to enter Heera Nagar Police Station in Samba. Later hijacking a truck, they attacked the Base Camp of a Cava ...

 (The article below constitutes a good analysis of the challenge  in making the right decision in selecting the next COAS. However, the same  analysis makes me reach somewhat different conclusion. General Haroon Aslam may  be appointed the next Chief of Joint Services Staff, General Rashad Mahmood the  next COAS, and General Tariq Khan promoted to four start rank and appointed the  Governor of KPK to overse ...