Detailed SUMMARY of “Unlearnt Lessons,” Maleeha Lodhi, Dawn, October 9th, 2023

Pakistan’s tumultuous political history holds numerous lessons that must be learned to break free from its troubled past. While some lessons have been absorbed, several crucial ones remain unlearned, leaving the country deeply divided and in a state of persistent political instability and economic fragility. There are at least five unlearned lessons that have significantly impacted the nation’s destiny.

The first lesson revolves around intensely antagonistic politics characterized by bitter feuds and relentless confrontations among political leaders and parties. The zero-sum mentality in politics treated opponents as enemies to be eliminated, rather than competitors, leading to a lack of tolerance for democratic norms. Such behavior has distracted from governance and public welfare, ultimately creating conditions » Read More…

Detailed SUMMARY of the Article, “Mutual Mistrust,” Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry, Dawn, October 8th, 2023

This article delves into the longstanding issue of mutual mistrust between Afghanistan and Pakistan, which has roots dating back to the pre-independence era of 1947. The author explains that Afghanistan’s desire to revise the Durand Line, leading to the Pashtunistan movement, and its initial opposition to Pakistan’s entry into the United Nations set the stage for mistrust. Over the years, various geopolitical events, including the Pakistan-India war of 1965 and the Soviet and US invasions of Afghanistan, shaped the complex relationship. Pakistan hosted millions of Afghan refugees and supported Afghan mujahideen, hoping for a friendly Afghan government. However, this expectation remained largely unfulfilled, even during the Taliban’s recent rule in Kabul. The article explores ways for Pakistan to navigate this challenging relationship, emphasizing the need to treat Afghanistan as a sovereign state, maintain political contact with the Taliban without formal recognition, engage ideologically through religious scholars, work militarily with Afghan authorities to curb terrorism, boost economic ties, and coordinate » Read More…

Detailed SUMMARY of “Privatising Discos,” Dawn Editorial, October 8th, 2023

The caretaker government’s decision to transfer loss-making power distribution companies (Discos) to the private sector through long-term concessions lacks clarity. This proposal was one of three options presented by the energy ministry at a recent meeting of the Special Investment Facilitation Council. The decision to choose this option is unclear, and details about the mechanism for transferring the companies to the private sector and the concessions are shrouded in secrecy. The power minister did not provide any clarifications during a recent news conference. Discos have been a persistent concern for successive governments due to distribution losses, revenue leaks, low bill recovery, electricity theft, and supply constraints. Past discussions on solutions like privatization and provincialization have faced » Read More…

SUMMARY of “Is Pakistan unusual?” by Pervez Hoodbhoy, Dawn, October 7th, 2023

In this article, Pervez Hoodbhoy explores Pakistan’s unique position among Muslim-majority countries. While some aspects differentiate Pakistan from others, it shares similarities, especially regarding authoritarianism, underdevelopment, and ongoing conflicts. Turkish author Ahmet Kuru’s research highlights that Muslim-majority countries tend to experience higher levels of violence. Pakistan’s history reflects this with recurrent Muslim-Muslim violence, such as recent suicide bombings during a religious celebration. Hoodbhoy emphasizes that non-Muslims often face discrimination, citing incidents of church burnings and desecration of non-Muslim places » Read More…

 SUMMARY of "Targeting Afghans," Editorial, Dawn, October 5th, 2023 The Pakistani government has given a deadline for all illegal immigrants, including 1.73 million undocumented Afghans, to return to their homelands…

SUMMARY of Life on the brink, Rafia Zakaria, Dawn, October 4th, 2023

Pakistan is facing severe economic challenges with rising inflation, a devaluing currency, and a lack of foreign exchange. The government’s attempts to purchase LNG (liquefied natural gas) on the international market have been unsuccessful, indicating the country’s risk profile. However, in July, commodities trader Trafigura submitted a bid, offering a glimmer of hope. The government has recently issued new tenders for LNG and expects better results due to improvements following an IMF agreement. High inflation remains a concern, reaching an all-time high of 31.4%. Still, a reduction in petrol and diesel prices provides some relief, suggesting a slightly less grim future. However, economic challenges persist, impacting housing prices, » Read More…

SUMMARY of “Open-ended conflict,” Mahir Ali, Dawn, October 4th, 2023

Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg revealed that in 2021, Russian President Putin sent a draft treaty to Nato, requesting a promise of no further Nato enlargement as a precondition to avoid invading Ukraine. This revelation sheds light on the provocation behind Russia’s military actions. Despite knowing that Nato’s eastward expansion was a red line for Moscow, Western diplomats, including those at the US State Department, allowed Nato membership offers to Georgia and Ukraine, leading to heightened tensions. While Russia’s aggression in 2022 is not justified, Nato’s rejection of diplomatic solutions adds complexity to the » Read More…