PTI vs PDM: Why Imran Khan Will Win Whether He Stays PM or Not
All eyes were on Imran Khan during his historic jalsa in Islamabad on the 27th of March. In Pakistan’s recent political history, Imran Khan’s party has been the only one that has consistently garnered massive numbers, and this jalsa exceeded expectations. It transcended others not just because of the sheer volume of people but due to the impetuous political context that surrounds it. The author, Sarmad Ishfaq, believes that in either case, Imran Khan will win — and that the vote against him could embolden him more.
The Juvenile Justice System Act, 2018 in Pakistan
To safeguard the rights of the children allegedly involved in criminal activities, Pakistan passed the Juvenile Justice System Act (JJSA), 2018. The act specified the age limit of juveniles, established a mechanism to verify the age of the alleged offender, categorized offenses, and called for the establishment of observation homes and juvenile rehabilitation centers to provide a safety net for the children. The author, Rida Zaman, notes that the JJSA is far from perfect. By highlighting the shortcomings of the act, she argues that the juvenile justice system of Pakistan has room for improvement. However, this improvement requires the state to first overcome the hindrances in its path to the provision of justice.
The Fourth Agricultural Revolution: Reframing the Farming Industry
The author, Muhammad Bilal Farooq, delves into the world of agricultural developments — or what we would technically refer to as precision agriculture. The fourth agricultural revolution encompasses the use of GPS, GIS, remote sensing, and drones, among others. The author also charts the progress made and the use of these digital tools in Pakistan.
Assessing the Political System in Pakistan Amid the No-Confidence Vote
Prime Minister Imran Khan’s public support holds great promise, but it might not be enough to survive the vote of no-confidence. The author, Muhammad Mustafa Ahmed Khan, examines PTI’s failures, the opposition’s attempts, the apprehensive public, and the untended democratic infrastructure.
The Russia-Ukraine War: Putin, Zelensky & the Economic Impacts
The statements of Russia’s Vladimir Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, before the Russia-Ukraine war officially started, offer an insight into the reasons and motivation behind the war. The author, Afifa Iqbal, notes that whatever the causes may be, the Russia-Ukraine war is bound to have severe economic implications for the parties involved, and for the world’s energy-dependent states, namely Pakistan. She asserts that the imposition of harsher sanctions on a petrostate like Russia will have far-reaching effects, one of which will be the surge in global oil prices.
Pakistan’s Politics: A Tedious History of Affections & Defections
The political instability in Pakistan, evident from the no-confidence motion against Prime Minister Imran Khan, has a long-winded history dating back to the Mughal era. The author, Afifa Iqbal, notes that the Mughal dynasty and the British rule in the sub-continent embedded a personalist element and heavy reliance on patron-client networks into the political institutions of post-independence Pakistan. For centuries, defectors have benefited from the political imbalance created by the nature of politics in the sub-continent, while simultaneously consolidating it. The author argues that the current situation of politics in Pakistan is not a new phenomenon, rather, it’s a common occurrence that won’t collapse the political structure of Pakistan.
The Conflict in Syria & Its Brutal Effects on the People
What started off as protests against the authoritarian regime of Bashar al-Assad in 2011, has turned into a decade-long war involving international and domestic actors. The author, Amna Shaukat, applies the conflict tree model to explain the deep-rooted causes of the conflict and the effects of this war on the people of the state. Since the war first broke out, almost 400,000 Syrians have lost their lives while millions have been displaced—internally and externally. It has left Syria devastated in every way. The economy itself will take years to recover, but that too, requires the war to end.
Addition of J-10C Fighter Jets in Pakistan Air Force
The signs of China and Pakistan’s defense and military cooperation has strengthened after the induction of the multi-role fighter aircraft by the Pakistan Air Force. The author, Syed Haris Shah, believes that the introduction of the J-10C aircraft made by one of China’s leading military and aviation companies, the Chengdu Aircraft Industry Group, is an important measure taken by Pakistan’s security and political leadership to deal with potential security threats to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan.
The No-Confidence Motion Against Imran Khan: Pakistan’s Political Tribulation
The author, Afifa Iqbal, illustrates the process of the no-confidence motion in Pakistan before delving into PM Imran Khan’s miscalculations. The uncertainty in the domestic political arena is disquieting as it is, but what will become of the democratic framework if the no-confidence resolution were to pass?
Putin’s War on Ukraine: Why and What Now?
In a televised address on February 24, Putin declared war on Ukraine. War is a diplomatic failure, a tragedy, and a crime. Although Putin’s actions are not defensible, America and NATO cannot be vindicated as innocent players in this crisis either, as the ongoing Russia-Ukraine confrontation stems from the US-Russia tensions over NATO expansion.
The author, Palwasha Aftab, concludes that in view of the sensitivities and far-reaching implications of the current security crisis in Europe, it is imperative to carve out balanced and sustainable peace in Europe, for the achievement of which a speedy and consensual settlement of the Russia-Ukraine war in particular and the build-up of a new European security order in general, remain intrinsic.
Trafficking of Drugs: The Implications of a Porous Border Between Afghanistan & Pakistan
Pakistan’s close proximity to Afghanistan has caused it to become the perfect target for drug trafficking. Rooha Javed explains that Afghanistan – one of the largest producers of opium in the world – has taken advantage of Pakistan’s transit route to not only acquire precursor chemicals for drug manufacturing but also for smuggling illegal drugs to the international market. Though Pakistan has adopted measures to counter this illegal drug trade, the number of Pakistanis suffering from drug addiction and overdose is increasing every day.
The Pakistan-Russia-China Bloc: A Consequence of US Actions?
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has stirred up bloc politics once again, pitting the West against the Russia-China bloc. Pakistan’s current government is clearly leaning towards the idea of a Pakistan-Russia-China bloc, but that foreign policy truly rests on the domestic political situation of the country. Amid the political uncertainty. the author, Mr Sarmad Ishfaq, illustrates how future policies pivot on the results of the no-confidence vote.
The Great Gamble: The Soviet War in Afghanistan (Book Review)
“The Great Gamble: The Soviet War in Afghanistan” provides an overview of the Soviet Union’s direct and indirect involvement in Afghanistan. Gregory Feifer, the author of the book, traces the events that led to the Soviet invasion in 1979 and analyzes the war itself. In doing so, he aptly explains the role of Pakistan in bringing the Soviet war to an end, and how the US’ uncalculated actions in Afghanistan led to intensifying extremism and terrorism.
Relevance of the Marxist International Relations Theory
Today’s global politics revolve around the industrialised world. Therefore, the Marxist international relations theory is relevant to a great extent in analyzing contemporary global politics. The goal of this theory is to radically modify the current social and political order by relying on Karl Marx’s philosophy.
The Foreign Policy of US as Dictated by the Israel Lobby
The Israel lobby is one of the strongest lobbying groups in the United States. Through it, the state of Israel has been able to influence every aspect of US foreign policy and molded it according to its needs. The author, Muhammad Osama Asghar, notes that the US’ unconditional support for Israel – despite the atrocities being committed in the Israel-Palestine conflict – is the result of this lobbying. It is this very support that has caused the US to lose its prestige among the Muslim states, mainly in the Middle East.
The Shadow Commander: Soleimani, the US, and Iran’s Global Ambitions (Book Review)
Arash Azizi’s “The Shadow Commander: Soleimani, the US, and Iran’s Global Ambitions” is a wonderfully comprehensive book that honors the life of Iran’s greatest soldier, General Qasem Soleimani. Known as the Shadow Commander, General Soleimani’s life within and beyond Iran is recounted as well as the legacy he left for his people and country.
What Is Happening in Sudan?: The Coup & Abdalla Hamdok
In October 2021, the prime minister of Sudan, Abdalla Hamdok, and his cabinet were arrested in a coup d’etat led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. The coup was followed by domestic and international condemnation, as a result of which, the general later signed a deal with Hamdok, reinstating him as the interim prime minister. The author, Ayesha Waseem, explains that General Al-Burhan had, simultaneously, appointed himself as the chairman of the new Sovereign Council – the main decision-making body in Sudan. This decision ultimately caused the protests in the country to intensify.