http://pakistan.foreignpolicyblogs.com The World Affairs Blog Network Thu, 04 Mar 2010 04:51:54 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en I have realized that whenever I need ironic humor, I look up Pakistani papers and almost always, there is something that puts a smile on my face. For example, I was looking at Dawn today and read this mind boggling headline: ‘Demand for Pakistani weapons increasing rapidly.’ Imagine, a country like ... http://pakistan.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2010/03/03/demand-for-pakistani-weapons-increasing-rapidly/ [caption id="attachment_1418" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Futility of Military Motivated relations Minus Democratic Input"][/caption] While working in D.C. some years back almost every Congress person, Think Tank and academic I came across was certain on one thing on nuclear proliferation: if an atomic bomb ever goes off again, it’s going to happen in ... http://pakistan.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2010/02/26/south-asian-smart-power/ Nawaz Sharif present flowers to Justice Khawaja - daylife Saturday February 13 – The Chief Justice of Pakistan defied Presidential orders through a suo moto action against the Presidential notification for appointment of certain judges. Chief Justice, in a rare nightly emergency session, formed a ... http://pakistan.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2010/02/15/the-rightist-judicio-politico-mafia/ Every objective analyst who follows Pakistan has come to the same conclusion – Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry is becoming a serious threat not only to the country, but also to the entire democratic system that is already under tremendous stress. In fact, it is pretty much established that some behind ... http://pakistan.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2010/02/13/why-is-iftikhar-chaudhry-destroying-pakistan/ [caption id="attachment_1741" align="aligncenter" width="198" caption="Joe Biden Says Pakistan is a BIgger Concern than Afghanistan"][/caption] Vice President Biden was on Larry King this week slating Pakistan as America’s larger concern than Afghanistan. He explained“Pakistan is a big country…has nuclear weapons that are able to be deployed and has a real significant minority of ... http://pakistan.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2010/02/12/bidens-biggest-concern/ It is heartwarming to see India and Pakistan start talking, again. For years, both sides have realized that they have to deal with each other, but domestic political pressure forces leadership in both countries to instead engage in bravado, which is obviously pleasing the hawks on both sides of the ... http://pakistan.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2010/02/11/india-paksitan-peace-process/ [caption id="attachment_1401" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Are the Drones Worth the Cost of Cooperation ?"][/caption] Read Part 1 - Reconciling CIA Drones In Pakistan Read Part 2  - Concessions & Collateral Damage The most provocative piece I’ve seen on drones in Pakistan was published last week. Not the most detailed, well researched article (the New ... http://pakistan.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2010/02/11/welcoming-the-war-drones-in-pakistan-part-3/ I have been struggling for a while now to find something positive, if not uplifting about Pakistan, but despite my consistent efforts, I have been largely unsuccessful in my quest. I called friends, journalists, government officials and private citizens across Pakistan but all of them shared horror stories about life ... http://pakistan.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2010/02/10/who-will-change-pakistan/ Two years ago - February 2008 - Pakistan began its transformation to democracy with a general election that brought Benazir Bhutto's PPP (Pakistan People's Party) into power. The party decided to continue its policy, introduced by its slain leader Ms. Bhutto, of reconciliation with all political players. It formed a ... http://pakistan.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2010/02/10/reconciliation-is-no-silver-bullet/ [caption id="attachment_1357" align="aligncenter" width="450" caption="Bush & Obama : Identical Policies to Pakistan?"][/caption] Similar to his ratings drop at home, abroad President Obama is being accused of not living up to expectations. In DAWN news this week there’s an article entitled: “Obama’s Changing Tone” suggesting our President is reverting to foreign policy reminiscent of the ... http://pakistan.foreignpolicyblogs.com/2010/01/26/the-hawk-some-didnt-see-coming/