Israel’s Heinous Targeted Killing Programme
The ongoing Israeli war in Gaza has brought to the fore the violations of international law committed by Israel. Sarmad Ishfaq discusses one such violation—Israel’s targeted killing program—and the moral and legal debates surrounding it. Highlighting the historical context and prominent operations, he outlines Israel’s use of targeted killings to eliminate perceived threats, including Palestinian leaders and Iranian nuclear scientists.
Pakistan’s Diplomatic Tapestry: Unraveling the Threads of Foreign Policy in Support of Palestine
Mishayam Jan Ayub explores Pakistan’s enduring support for Palestine, tracing its diplomatic positions and public sentiments. She highlights Pakistan’s unwavering backing for Palestine in the country’s foreign policy, one rooted in historical and cultural ties as well as geopolitical considerations.
The Indian Economic Model: A Story of Progress & Paradox
Jana Awez provides a critical analysis of India’s economic growth, revealing the harsh realities that exist beneath the surface of its impressive economic achievements. Despite economic gains, citizens grapple with debt, inflation, unemployment, and poor infrastructure. India’s dream of becoming an economic superpower clashes with existing social issues.
Singapore’s Giant Digital Economy
Despite the global economic hiccup, a tiny island nation often termed the “Lion City,” Singapore remains one of the world’s strongest economies.
Its robust “smart nation” initiative, which mobilizes advancements in digital technologies to create smooth, tech-driven actions, has firmly put Singapore in a good position to develop a strong digital economy and a force to reckon with in the tech-oriented society.
Artificial Intelligence and National Security: A Way Forward for Pakistan
Noman Ali Kalhoro identifies the loopholes and shortcomings in the draft national AI policy by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, a document that has the potential to shape Pakistan’s roadmap towards a competitive posture in this technological era.
By examining the US’s National Artificial Intelligence Initiative and China’s New Generation Artificial Intelligence Development Plan, he showcases their guiding principles, ideology, and implementation methods while investigating the influence of AI in the national security paradigm.
Canada-Philippines Defence Agreement and the South China Sea Dispute
The recent defence agreement signed between Canada and the Philippines is focused on cooperation in military education, information sharing, training exchanges, peacekeeping operations, and disaster responses regulated between the military and defence establishment of both countries.
Although it doesn’t mention a direct aim of safeguarding the claims of the Philippines in the South China Sea, the defence agreement would surely play its role in the ongoing dispute.
The Israeli War in Gaza: Where Climate Change Meets Conflict
The highly anticipated COP28, held in Dubai in December 2023, took place amidst the ongoing war between Israel and Palestine. The authors examine the conference’s agenda and achievements through the lens of the conflict-climate intersection.
They discuss how these two concepts are deeply interconnected and highlight that the COP’s exclusion of the conflict, primarily the Israel-Gaza war, from the agenda makes it challenging to achieve climate goals in the region.
Women’s Rights in the Era of Artificial Intelligence
Huzaifah Sehgal dissects the detrimental impact of AI technologies on women and their rights.
He critically evaluates the various forms of prejudices that may be directed toward women, and the added hurdles in realization of women’s rights due to digital and AI driven technologies.
Additionally, he also evaluates the impact of AI-driven technologies on women who work.
Efforts to Curb the Drug Menace in KP
Nothing hampers economic growth more than a disorderly and chaotic society, especially where illicit drugs run free in the market.
Syed Salman Mushtaq Gilani focuses on the Anti-Narcotics Act 2017 and its impact on drug control within the KP province, especially on the youth.
From Legislation to Implementation: Evaluating the KPK Police Act, 2017
In 2017, the KPK Police Act was introduced as a step towards reforming the institute. The act was further amended in 2021; however, its effectiveness remains in question. Though additional reforms have also been introduced within the KPK Police, Arham Zahra analyzes the 2017 Act and addresses the challenges in its implementation.
The 27th GCC-EU Joint Council in Oman
The 27th Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) – European Union (EU) Joint Council and Ministerial Meeting took place in Muscat, Oman on 9th and 10th October 2023.
Chaired by H.E. Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi, Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, and H.E. Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the European Commission, the meeting aimed to strengthen the strategic partnership between the two organizations.
From Manifesto to Mandate: Understanding the Road Ahead for Argentina
Muhammad Karam delves into Argentina’s recent political landscape, focusing on the 2023 general elections that resulted in the election of Javier Milei, a far-right anarcho-capitalist, as the new president.
With his landslide victory, Milei’s unconventional approach and economic promises are analyzed in depth, along with an exploration of his background, campaign strategies, and the challenges his administration may face.
The Pakistan-Iran Border: A Conduit of Culture, Trade, and Geopolitical Dynamics
The Pakistan-Iran border of about 900 kilometers serves more than just an average natural barrier function; it’s an energetic artery for economical, traditional, and geo-political significance.
In fact, the contemporary contacts with Iran date back to ancient migrations of Persian monarchies, Mughal emperors, and Safavid shahs who laid the historical borders that persist to this day.
Examining Iran’s Missile Offensive Against Pakistan
Iran conducted missile strikes about 50 Kms deep into Pakistan on 16th January, 2024, striking Panjgur. The news was first broken on social media and then by the international press with a public statement made by Iran. Pakistan then retaliated within 48 hours and undertook a drone attack on Saravan in Iran along with other stand-off weapons and loitering munitions.
Coloniality of the P5: Decoding the Power Dynamics in the UNSC on the Israel-Palestine Conflict
Fatima Arshad Warraich shares how the permanent membership status and the absolute and unaccountable power to veto wielded by the P5 nations in the UNSC undermines democratic principles of the majority. She also adds that it compromises the Council’s ability to impartially address and maintain global peace and security.
She illustrates this by citing how the US, one of the P5 members of the UNSC, vetoed the resolution that demanded immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza on grounds of inadequate condemnation of Hamas and the ceasefire’s inability to create durable peace in the region.
Why Is the Middle East Such a Complicated Region to Study?
A culturally, politically, and historically diverse area, the Middle East has been quite an enigmatic region for scholars to study. This is mainly because of past and present complexities in the region itself and also due to the obscure picture painted by the methodologies employed by scholars in the past. Although there are copious amounts of problems, Mr. Ishfaq has only briefly elucidated several major ones i.e. history, definitional issues, Islam, the West-dominated field, orientalism, and a lack of theoretical focus.
Privatization of Government Schools in the Suffocating Educational System of Pakistan
Protests over the government’s decision to privatize schools have erupted across Pakistan, a nation already grappling with the world’s second-largest population of out-of-school children.
The interim Punjab government initially dismissed the news as a rumor, but details about the schools slated for privatization had already been released.
This essay explores the prospects of privatizing government schools, highlighting why it may not be the opportune time for Pakistan and suggesting alternative measures until the country is better prepared.