Author: Admin
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September 2019
Overview. A challenging month for PM Khan – continued terrorist attacks by various groups in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Balochistan, and Islamabad, and India’s revocation of Jammu & Kashmir’s Special Status both added to an already full agenda, punctuated by Eid-ul-Adha and Pakistan Independence Day. On the plus side, PM Khan extended the Chief of the Army…
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September 2019
Overview. Diplomatic moves around the G7 raised hopes of direct US-Iran talks, but initial positive noises from Iran were rolled back as conservatives applied pressure to the Reformist government. The Iranian tanker held in Gibraltar Grace 1 was released, while Iran still holds UK-registered vessel Stena Impero. Domestically, anti-corruption arrests look increasingly politically-motivated and are…
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September 2019
Overview. Repatriation of Rohingya refugees continues to be a difficult issue, as attempts to start sending them back to the Rakhine state continue to hit bumps, with Myanmar blaming Bangladesh for the problems. The IMF has projected a 7.6% GDP growth for Bangladesh in this fiscal year, slightly less than the government’s projections, but still…
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August 2019
Overview. The Opposition continues to accuse the government of eliminating rivals through corruption cases, whilst PM Khan’s visit to the White House was largely a triumph for him. The population is beginning to feel the pinch of price hikes. Events in the senate have been fractious this month, which this article summarizes well.…… Read the…
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August 2019
Overview. Once again, Europe finds itself in a difficult position, as it tries to uphold the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) in the face of the American policy of maximum pressure on one hand, and Iranian misbehaviour on the other. Iran no longer feels compelled to comply with enrichment and storage constraints imposed by an agreement…
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August 2019
Overview. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina visited China and signed nine agreements during the trip. Remittances have been reported at record levels in the past fiscal year, with the depreciation of the Taka against the US dollar being one of the main reasons. ADB has projected Bangladesh to grow at 8 percent over the next couple…
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July 2019
Overview. The opposition remains in disarray. Pakistan experienced a slight uptick in terrorist and militant related incidents, primarily in KPK and Balochistan. The words and actions of the Chief Of the Army Staff (COAS) were significant this month, and would appear to be symptomatic of some important change in the collective Pakistani mindset towards its…
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July 2019
Overview. This reporting period has seen the Iran-US dispute rise to international prominence with oil tankers attacked, a US unmanned aircraft shot down by Iranian air defences, strong rhetoric on both sides and newly-imposed economic sanctions. Under the strategy of maximum pressure being applied by the US, a cornered Iran is lashing out, using the…
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July 2019
Overview. The annual budget was announced this month, and dominated the news cycle. The political and security situation appear to be stable. The Rohingya refugee crisis remains in limbo. UN agencies insist that Bangladesh should not force refugees to relocate to Bhashan Char. Bangladesh is discontent at the lack of international pressure on Myanmar.…… Read…
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June 2019
Overview. The security situation took a violent turn in May with a series of terrorist incidents in different parts of the country. The ever present and widespread anger against India, lack of effective institutional structures, sectarianism, lack of adept leadership, discontinuity in political structures, difference among provinces, ineffective policies, economic disparities, ethnic differences, poverty, population…