Crunch Time in Pakistan

Crunch Time in Pakistan

It’s crunch time in Pakistan. Resolving Pakistan’s financial crisis is likely to require newly appointed prime minister Imran Khan to not only accept an International Monetary Fund (IMF) straightjacket but tackle his and Pakistan’s convoluted relationship to militancy. With the breeding ground for militancy built into the country’s DNA and Mr. Khan owing his electoral…

America’s Pakistan Policy Shows White House Ignorant of Major Geostrategic Shift

America’s Pakistan Policy Shows White House Ignorant of Major Geostrategic Shift

While observers point to similarities in the rise of Donald Trump and Pakistan’s new prime minister, Imran Khan, that’s where they end as relations between the US and Pakistan enter into a serious period of political uncertainty. The Trump administration recently froze some $255 million in aid to Pakistan for continuing to harbor “terrorists” –…

Russia Could Aid China’s TAPI Plans and “Zip” Together Eurasia

Russia Could Aid China’s TAPI Plans and “Zip” Together Eurasia

China expressed an interest in joining the TAPI gas pipeline. Pakistan’s Daily Times reported that China would like to build a branch line through the neighboring country once the original project is completed, which would apparently be less costly than constructing another one directly from Turkmenistan. In the event that it comes into fruition, which…

China Should Work with Pakistan to Stop Disinformation about Xinjiang’s Uighur Population

China Should Work with Pakistan to Stop Disinformation about Xinjiang’s Uighur Population

China’s Muslim Uighur majority Xinjiang province has long been a target of manifold information wars designed to demonise China in the eyes of the wider Muslim world in which China has many successful partnerships and looks to make many more such partnerships in the context of the One Belt–One Road initiative. There are no prizes for…

Pakistan at a Crossroads as Imran Khan Is Sworn In

Pakistan at a Crossroads as Imran Khan Is Sworn In

Criticism of Pakistan’s anti-money laundering and terrorism finance regime by the Asia Pacific Group on Money Laundering (APG) is likely to complicate incoming Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan’s efforts to tackle his country’s financial crisis. Addressing the criticism of the 41-nation APG, which reports to the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), an international anti-money laundering…