Tarry a little, there is something else. This bond doth give thee here no jot of blood; The words expressly are “a pound of flesh.” —Portia, The Merchant of Venice, Act IV, Scene II Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has turned on his former One Belt, One Road (OBOR) allies, arrogantly demanding a pound of …
Continue reading A Pound of Flesh: Why is India Trying to Sabotage the Silk Road Initiative?
A scandal is raging in Pakistan over a report claiming that the PM’s daughter, Maryam, forged documents for an investigation into illegal offshore properties using a Microsoft Word font introduced years after the documents were allegedly created. The papers she submitted were for a team looking into unlawful offshore properties mentioned in the leaked Panama …
The poorest of the poor pay 80% of taxes collected in Pakistan while the rich, whose total contribution to overall tax revenue does not exceed 5%, enjoy special rights or privileges and a concessionary regime under the country’s unethical tax structure. The poor pay huge indirect taxes on utilities, petrol, and mobile communication which come to …
Continue reading Rich Pakistanis Pay Little Under Country’s Unjust Tax System
On June 26 of this year, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi arrived in Washington on a working visit, during which he held talks with the new US President Donald Trump that culminated in the signing of a Joint Statement. This noteworthy event fits into a series of events that have been held in recent …
The regional tour of Pakistan and Afghanistan earlier this week by a «bipartisan» delegation of United States Senators gives some clues about the Trump administration’s strategy in Afghanistan which is expected to be unveiled by the middle of the month. There have been contradictory statements made by the leader of the delegation, Senator John McCain, …
Continue reading US Eyes India as Junior Partner in Afghan War
We've reached half-time in what has been a very eventful year. It's revealing to compare the stories that have made the headlines in the western media in the first six months of 2017, with those that haven't. There's been saturation coverage of alleged Russian interference in the US presidential election — and Russian state "hacking" in general — even though …
Continue reading The Top Ten Underreported News Stories of 2017
Less than a year into his role, Pakistan's new army chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, sets a fresh course for the country's defence diplomacy in the Middle East. News that Pakistan chief of army staff General Raheel Sharif was taking over the newly formed, Saudi-instigated, Islamic Military Alliance to Fight Terrorism (IMAFT) – nicknamed the …
Continue reading Pakistan Army to the GCC: No Longer Your Gun for Hire
Washington is downsizing its diplomatic efforts in Afghanistan. The US special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan had his last day in office on June 23 amid speculation that Washington plans to eliminate the post of Special Representative to Afghanistan and Pakistan - commonly known as SRAP. This post was created during the tenure of President Obama with …
Continue reading Russia, China and Pakistan Will Have to Clean up the US-Created Mess in Afghanistan
Two Chinese teachers based in Pakistan’s southwest province of Baluchistan were reportedly abducted and murdered by militants from the self-proclaimed “Islamic State” (ISIS). CNN, in an article titled, “‘Grave concern’ over Chinese teachers reportedly killed by ISIS in Pakistan,” would attempt to portray the act of terrorism as a random strike aimed at China’s expanding …
Continue reading ISIS “Coincidentally” Appears Along China’s One Belt, One Road
