Pakistani Prime Ministers, in two different types of confinementIn Pakistan, a former Prime Minister sits angry and brooding in jail while the current one sits cornered and trapped by a failing economy; India’s move in Kashmir and an opposition that refuses to be silenced
Sitting behind bars in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, Nawaz Sharif, businessman, politician and former Prime Minister of Pakistan, is fighting the toughest battle of his life against the country’s security establishment, writes Imad Zafar.
But, says Zafar, the same can be said for Pakistan’s establishment, which is facing the most difficult challenges of its 70 years of hegemony.
The Pakistani establishment, which is trying hard to end the country’s diplomatic isolation while facing multiple other challenges – including India’s move to annex Kashmir, a shrinking economy and rampant inflation – wants to cut a deal with Sharif.
Sharif gets released from jail but agrees to then go into exile in London.
But Sharif, writes Zafar, has indicated he intends to stay in Pakistan and instead wants certain members of the establishment and the judiciary to confess publicly that they ousted him from power deliberately and rigged the ballot to keep him out of office.
‘Probably Khan and a few people from the security establishment will come hard at Sharif in a bid to regain the lost battle, but it is too late,’ argues Zafar. ‘If Sharif did not surrender in the toughest of times, he will never do it now when the writing is clearly on the wall that it is all over for Imran Khan and his backers in the establishment.’
Ali Salman Andani says it in far stronger terms. Pakistan, says Andani, after the completion of Imran Khan’s first year in power, 'is standing on the brink of an economic collapse.' And Khan, says Andani, must think that putting 'the entire opposition behind bars will be enough to hide his incompetence, ignorance and highly authoritarian mindset.’
Sagarneel Sinha writes here that Kashmir is an issue that Khan will try to use to ‘boost his own image after his failure to implement the dreams of "Naya Pakistan" (New Pakistan) that he sold before last year’s election.’
Sinha argues that Kashir has been an emotional issue for Pakistanis and ‘their governments over the years have milked this issue to divert the attention of the public from internal issues and turn them against "anti-Muslim Hindu-supremacist India.” The present approach of Imran Khan is no different.’
But despite the emotional rhetoric, Sinha says Imran Khan should already know the truth.
‘India under his friend Modi,’ writes Sinha, ‘has checkmated Pakistan on Kashmir. However, Khan has no other option but to make as much noise as possible on the issue of Kashmir. This, concludes Sinha, is because he ‘doesn’t want to become another Nawaz Sharif.’
Read the full stories on Asia Times
Pakistani establishment facing historic challenge by Imad Zafar
Occupant of Pakistan’s Prime Minister House is a tyrant by Ali Salman Andani
Imran stressing Kashmir to save his own position by Sagarneel Sinha
Sitting behind bars in Kot Lakhpat Jail in Lahore, Nawaz Sharif, businessman, politician and former Prime Minister of Pakistan, is fighting the toughest battle of his life against the country’s security establishment, writes Imad Zafar.
But, says Zafar, the same can be said for Pakistan’s establishment, which is facing the most difficult challenges of its 70 years of hegemony.
The Pakistani establishment, which is trying hard to end the country’s diplomatic isolation while facing multiple other challenges – including India’s move to annex Kashmir, a shrinking economy and rampant inflation – wants to cut a deal with Sharif.
Sharif gets released from jail but agrees to then go into exile in London.
But Sharif, writes Zafar, has indicated he intends to stay in Pakistan and instead wants certain members of the establishment and the judiciary to confess publicly that they ousted him from power deliberately and rigged the ballot to keep him out of office.
‘Probably Khan and a few people from the security establishment will come hard at Sharif in a bid to regain the lost battle, but it is too late,’ argues Zafar. ‘If Sharif did not surrender in the toughest of times, he will never do it now when the writing is clearly on the wall that it is all over for Imran Khan and his backers in the establishment.’
Ali Salman Andani says it in far stronger terms. Pakistan, says Andani, after the completion of Imran Khan’s first year in power, 'is standing on the brink of an economic collapse.' And Khan, says Andani, must think that putting 'the entire opposition behind bars will be enough to hide his incompetence, ignorance and highly authoritarian mindset.’
Sagarneel Sinha writes here that Kashmir is an issue that Khan will try to use to ‘boost his own image after his failure to implement the dreams of "Naya Pakistan" (New Pakistan) that he sold before last year’s election.’
Sinha argues that Kashir has been an emotional issue for Pakistanis and ‘their governments over the years have milked this issue to divert the attention of the public from internal issues and turn them against "anti-Muslim Hindu-supremacist India.” The present approach of Imran Khan is no different.’
But despite the emotional rhetoric, Sinha says Imran Khan should already know the truth.
‘India under his friend Modi,’ writes Sinha, ‘has checkmated Pakistan on Kashmir. However, Khan has no other option but to make as much noise as possible on the issue of Kashmir. This, concludes Sinha, is because he ‘doesn’t want to become another Nawaz Sharif.’
Read the full stories on Asia Times
Pakistani establishment facing historic challenge by Imad Zafar
Occupant of Pakistan’s Prime Minister House is a tyrant by Ali Salman Andani
Imran stressing Kashmir to save his own position by Sagarneel Sinha
Pakistan’s Kashmir hypocrisy
Michael Rubin | Washington Examiner
Pakistan has little authority to complain about India’s decision to change Kashmir’s status.
Michael Rubin | Washington Examiner
Pakistan has little authority to complain about India’s decision to change Kashmir’s status.
The Great Game Reinvigorated:
Geopolitics, Afghanistan, and the Importance of Pakistan
By Mark Gilchrist, Strategy Bridge: "As a peace agreement in Afghanistan becomes increasingly plausible it is important for America to focus on maximising long-term interests to retain a position of relative advantage and enduring influence in the region after the Afghan mission is complete."
Geopolitics, Afghanistan, and the Importance of Pakistan
By Mark Gilchrist, Strategy Bridge: "As a peace agreement in Afghanistan becomes increasingly plausible it is important for America to focus on maximising long-term interests to retain a position of relative advantage and enduring influence in the region after the Afghan mission is complete."
U.S., AFGHANISTAN:
As U.S. Presses Negotiations, Taliban Promotes Training of Fighters and Attacks
By Bill Roggio, FDD's Long War Journal: "In the Taliban’s latest video, which was released today on its official Website, Voice of Jihad, the group shows its fighters training for war as well as a montage of attacks on Afghan and Coalition forces."
As U.S. Presses Negotiations, Taliban Promotes Training of Fighters and Attacks
By Bill Roggio, FDD's Long War Journal: "In the Taliban’s latest video, which was released today on its official Website, Voice of Jihad, the group shows its fighters training for war as well as a montage of attacks on Afghan and Coalition forces."
The (Other) Continent We Can’t Defend
By Elizabeth Buchanan, the interpreter: "China has no real incentive to practice restraint on a continent it invests billions in (from technical expertise, personnel training, to new icebreakers) and on which it recognises no territorial claims."
By Elizabeth Buchanan, the interpreter: "China has no real incentive to practice restraint on a continent it invests billions in (from technical expertise, personnel training, to new icebreakers) and on which it recognises no territorial claims."
Net Assessment: Explaining Mission Creep in Afghanistan
by Rick Berger, Bryan McGrath, and Christopher Preble
by Rick Berger, Bryan McGrath, and Christopher Preble
Afghanistan peace talks: U.S. pushes toward “face-saving way out"
(Axios) The ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and the Taliban are a “charade” designed simply to provide the U.S. a “face-saving way out of Afghanistan,” former CIA deputy director Michael Morell tells Axios.
(Axios) The ongoing negotiations between the U.S. and the Taliban are a “charade” designed simply to provide the U.S. a “face-saving way out of Afghanistan,” former CIA deputy director Michael Morell tells Axios.
Pakistan wants to create a self-reliant, self-sustained defense industry
(Defense News) The Pakistani government is promoting aims to increase public-private cooperation and develop a self-reliant, self-sustained defense industry. But the private sector is skeptical.
(Defense News) The Pakistani government is promoting aims to increase public-private cooperation and develop a self-reliant, self-sustained defense industry. But the private sector is skeptical.
Afghanistan, Counterinsurgency, And The Indirect Approach
mentioning Thomas H. Henriksen via Readings
In exploring Counterinsurgency and the Indirect Approach, Dr. Thomas Henriksen assesses several cases where the United States has employed an Indirect Approach toward achieving strategic objectives, and he suggests where this concept has landed short of expectations.
mentioning Thomas H. Henriksen via Readings
In exploring Counterinsurgency and the Indirect Approach, Dr. Thomas Henriksen assesses several cases where the United States has employed an Indirect Approach toward achieving strategic objectives, and he suggests where this concept has landed short of expectations.
Anthony H. Cordesman writes: Much of the analysis of these three options has focused on the possible terms of the peace, the immediate progress in the fighting, and/or the coming Afghan election and Afghanistan’s immediate political problems. These are all important issues, but they do not address the basic problems in Afghan security forces that will limit its military capabilities indefinitely into the future, or the scale of the civil problems in Afghanistan that have given it failed governance and made it the equivalent of a failed sate, and that will shape its future in actually implementing any peace or in attempting to continue the war. – Center for Strategic and International Studies
Islamic State has been battered in Iraq and Syria and declared defeated by President Donald Trump. But the terrorist group and its predecessor, al-Qaeda, are finding ample room to rebuild in other places with weak central governments, officials and analysts warn. – Bloomberg
RSS Feed