With all its tragedies, unprecedented complexities and uncertainties, the coronavirus pandemic should focus minds on the inadequacies in our healthcare and social security systems that need rectification at the earliest. Consider.

The current COVID-19 illness gripping the world is caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, the second severe acute respiratory syndrome virus to emerge since 2002. As a result of its rapid spread, whole cities, regions, even countries are in lockdown, with

Pakistan Day, March 23, 2020, passed this year in novel fashion. The coronavirus pandemic caused the cancellation of the traditional military parade on the day as well as the proliferation of symposia to reflect on the importance of the anniversary of the

Three bits of news last week became the focus of a lot of attention in the media, social media and public exchange. First came the news of the arrest by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) of Mir Shakilur Rehman, owner and Editor-in-chief of the Jang

Despite the threats and attempted intimidation by the retrogressive forces in politics and society, the Aurat (Women's) march was held on March 8, 2020 in many cities throughout Pakistan. Rallies were held in Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore, Multan, Peshawar,

The signing of the 'peace' deal between the US and the Taliban in Doha on February 29, 2020 has been touted by Pakistan as proof of its role as a peace maker and facilitator in ending the 19-year-old Afghan conflict. But even the quietly triumphant note i

The partial truce/ceasefire in Afghanistan that kicked in on February 22, 2020, if it holds, is expected to lead to the signing of a deal between the US and the Taliban on February 29, 2020 to allow the withdrawal of US forces from their longest foreign w

The insecurity and paranoia of the establishment increasingly on display is about to 'conquer' new heights (or lows, if you prefer). Having muzzled and gagged the mainstream media through financial strangulation (reduction of government advertising) and '

Maulana Fazlur Rehman, chief of the Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), is a frustrated man. Two rounds of a sit-in in Islamabad and highly ambitious attempted blockage of highways throughout the country last year failed to find traction and had to be ab

US Special Envoy for Afghan Peace and Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad is once more treading the well worn path of a political settlement of the Afghan war that would allow a defeated US a face-saving exit while saving as much of the Afghan government of A

An unprecedented in recent times countrywide mobilisation of students across the state-run and private elite institutions of higher education was witnessed on November 29, 2019. Some 60 cities and towns all over the country became the site of protest rall

US Assistant Secretary of State for South Asia Alice Wells virtually put the cat amongst the pigeons in a speech at the Wilson Center in Washington on November 22, 2019 in which she cautioned and warned Pakistan about the pitfalls of the China Pakistan Ec

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) government of Imran Khan has shown a rare talent for shooting itself in the foot again and again. The whole handling of the Nawaz Sharif health issue is the latest and perhaps most egregious example of this habit. Despi

Surveying the national and regional landscape yields a plethora of issues of concern with profound implications for the future. Let us take up the regional aspect first.

Maulana Fazlur Rehman's 'Azadi' (Freedom) March is off and running. Starting from Sohrab Goth in Karachi, the Jamiat-i-Ulema-i-Islam-Fazl's (JUI-F's) rally set off for upcountry on October 27, 2019 as scheduled. Other opposition parties, including the Pak

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) government, amongst all its other failings, suffers from impetuosity and lack of forethought. An example of these traits has recently been on display in the federal cabinet's 'decision' to set up media tribunals to hand

The people of Pakistan are at their wit's end after one year of Imran Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaaf (PTI) government. Inconsistent and contradictory economic policies have rendered industry and trade in free fall, unemployment is rising (including the

The difficult, tortuous peace process in Afghanistan through talks between the US and the Taliban in Doha, Qatar, has come to an abrupt and unexpected halt. At this point, it is difficult to say whether the talks have been permanently halted or will begin

The silence of the graveyard has descended over Indian-occupied Kashmir. Having illegally and unconstitutionally robbed Kashmir of its special status under Article 370 of the Indian Constitution and reversed the protections against outsider influx into th

The combined opposition's no-confidence move against the Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani ended in complete disaster for its authors. In a house of 103 Senators, 53 votes were required to remove the Chairman. At first glance, and especially when the full st