Category: Pakistan

Overview. A fairly stable month in security terms, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and United Nations’ Secretary General Antonio Guterres visited during the month, and there were some political rumblings that undermined the stability of the PTI’s coalition. The ruling government’s coalition is shaking somewhat. In Punjab Province, the Pakistan Muslim League (Q) has attracted…

Overview. Pakistan wisely chose to remain neutral regards the confrontation between the US and Iran. Major terrorist incidents in KP and Balochistan Provinces and series of isolated terrorist attacks in the border regions featured during the month. Politically there was no major agitation against government. An FATF plenary on 16th February will be important for…

Overview. The last month 2019 proved testing for Pakistan on several fronts. There was a slight increase in terrorist activity by previously quiet organisations, coupled with various threat alerts issued by the National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA). The Special Court’s death sentence verdict against ex-President Pervez Musharaf and subsequent concerns shown by the armed forces…

Overview. A fractious month in political terms with a rarely united opposition forming a coalition and holding sustained protests against the government. Whilst the protests largely failed in their purpose, the unity of the opposition, the timing of the release on bail of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, and a challenge to the extension of…

Overview. The majority of terrorist incidents in October occurred in Balochistan and were predominantly targeted at security forces or rival groups. The country has seen widespread protest demonstrations against inflation, unemployment, and Indian activities in Kashmir. Relief was found in the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and international cricket matches between Pakistan…

Overview. Whilst Pakistan Defence Day celebrations and country-wide Shia religious processions by passed without incident, there were a number of terrorist attacks in Balochistan throughout the month. PM Khan remained focused on Kashmir and spoke on the topic at UN General Assembly session in the New York.       Kashmir. Kashmir Solidarity rallies continue to be…

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…

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…

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…

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…