The author is a  a lawyer based in Islamabad.
One of our most persistent national myths — put forward by both the state and its detractors — is that Pakistan was created in the name of Islam.
It is said that Pakistan was created with the use of the slogans “Islam in danger” and “Pakistan ka matlab kya, La illaha ilallah”, both slogans which — ironically — were never used by Quaid-e-Azam himself. Indeed Jinnah ruled out “Pakistan ka matlab kiya, La illaha illallah” when he censured a Leaguer at the last session of the All India Muslim League after partition in these words: “Neither I nor the Muslim League Working Committee ever passed a resolution — Pakistan ka matlab kiya — you may have used it to catch a few votes.”

Nevertheless, the fact that Pakistan was created as a result of a group’s nationalism, which was based — in whatever watered down form — on common religious beliefs, has damned Pakistan to a perpetual i....... Read More

HUNZA (Online) – The water level at landslide-triggered lake in Atabad area of Hunza, has fast risen to 353 foot level and overflowing of Hunza lake looks on the cards.
According to Focus Foundation sources, people residing in the danger zone are being stressed to migrate to safer places, as the lake has risen to a threatening level of 353 foot level owing to the rapid meltdown of glacier in the last two days. It is worth mentioning here that 18 to 22 feet cusecs of water is falling into the lake while, water flowing out of the lake at seven different points is recorded at 80 to 84 cusecs.
The water is fast approaching to the lake’s mouth, where a spillway has been constructed for water outflow. The water will start pouring out of the spillway within a couple of days and this will be the moment when a massive flood is being feared as a result of huge outpouring of water or breakdown of spillway under severe pressure.
According to the survey, some experts voiced ap....... Read More

The writer is a graduate of Boston University.
Pakistan-India relations since independence have revolved around mutual distrust, uncertainty, disappointments, tensions and fear of conflict.

We should seriously think as to why it`s so, especially when both countries gained independence from a single colonial power through a political process, negotiated between the Indian National Congress and the Muslim League. While we often hear people from both sides say, had the two countries been one, we would have been a force to reckon with, both in might and economy, I wonder why India and Pakistan can`t draw strength from each other as friendly and stable neighbours, sharing a common past, heritage and civilisation.

Bilateral disputes between them remain unresolved, their cooperation bounded by severe limitations. India thinks Pakistan is an irritant impeding India`s emergence as a key player in the world economy and Pakistan feels that India has been trying to destabilise ....... Read More

SENDING back both references of Azad Kashmir Judicial Commission, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani has constituted a new Judicial Commission which would look into the matter of Chief Justice Manzoor Gilani and deposed CJ Riaz Akhtar. The Prime Minister has directed the body to review the matter and prepare recommendations to resolve the judicial crisis. According to a private TV channel, Justice Khawaja Shahhad has been appointed as caretaker Chief Justice of Azad Kashmir who would also head the new Judicial Commission. High Court Chief Justice Mustafa Mughal is also included in the body.
http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-news-newspaper-daily-english-online//Politics/11-May-2010/New-AJK-Judicial-Commission-constituted
‘Four-point plan on Kashmir’s future lacks legitimacy’: The Daily Times, May 11
ISLAMABAD: The entire four-point plan on Kashmir’s future lacks legitimacy, Kashmiri participants of a round-table conference said on Monday, rejecting all claims ma....... Read More

By Patrick Cockburn in The Independent, Apr 16
The Pakistani army has fought successfully to control mountainous frontier areas once ruled by the Pakistani Taliban, but it remains reluctant to attack the cross-border safe havens of the Afghan Taliban despite American pressure.

Pakistani soldiers in Bajaur district on the Afghan frontier are eager to demonstrate what they have already achieved, showing off captured tunnels dug into the hillside by the local Taliban to protect their fighters against air and artillery attack. On display are some rockets and shells and a broken sign put up outside a building serving as a court house in the last days of Taliban rule reading: “Don’t bring any more cases.”

In Bajaur, a heavily populated area of mountains and well-watered terraces and valleys, the Pakistani army is once more very much in charge. Col Nauman Saeed, commander of the 3,500-strong Bajaur Scouts, said: “I want to end the m....... Read More

By Abdul Rashid Malik in The Nation, Apr 16
MUZAFFARABAD – Raja Farooq Haider Prime Minister Azad Kashmir has said that the reference filed by him against dysfunctional Chief Justice Riaz Akhtar Chaudhry in Supreme Judicial Council could be withdrawn only on his dead body.
Addressing a reception of lawyers and political workers here, Farooq said that he would abide only by the action taken under the Law and the Constitution.
He said he is determined to establish the authority of Law and Constitution in Azad Kashmir and would go to any length to wipe out corruption and malpractices.
Meanwile, Nawaz Sharif and Sardar Sikandar Hayat talked to Raja Farooq Haider on telephone and assured him their support in his efforts to establish the rule of law and abiding by the judgement of Supreme Judicial Council.
He asserted that he had filed the reference against Riaz Akhtar by acting in line with the Constitution. He regretted that some people ....... Read More

The writer is co-chairman of Pak-India Citizens Friendship Forum

For the people of this subcontinent who are sick and tired of wars, territorial claims, security issues, mutual suspicion, unresolved disputes, hostile rhetoric and propaganda, unproductive peace dialogues and an unrealistic visa regime, Aman ki Asha is indeed a breath of fresh air. The two sovereign nations, which share common borders and which should sensibly and naturally be interlinked and inter-dependant on each other for the common good of their people, are unfortunately arch-rivals.

In this background of hostility which has prevailed over the past 62 years,

the highly commendable and praiseworthy initiative taken by the Jang Group with The Times of India to set up a crossborder collaborative peace project is an unparalleled shot in the arm. Smaller organisations on both sides of the border have been making endeavours to achieve a similar purpose, but a project as large as this can only be ach....... Read More

India, along with China, is the economic engine that will drive global economic growth for possibly decades to come. The whole world is keen for a slice of that action. Are we — who ironically are best placed to take advantage (both directly and indirectly) — to be the only ones to reject such a golden opportunity?

Many readers are probably watching the Indian Premier League (IPL) matches these days. Like it or not, the event is now firmly established, is clearly a big success, and likely to go from strength to strength in the coming years. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), and our own cricketers, must be green with envy. The top international stars are playing, except those from Pakistan. Is that not a great pity?

Anyway, even if we will be unable to attract international stars, or compete with the IPL extravaganza, should the PCB not at least be organising our own mini-version of the event?

How wonderful would it have been had Karachi and Lahore had franchise....... Read More

By Praveen Swami
Four weeks ago, when the Federal Bureau of Investigation charged Pakistani-American jihadist David Headley with having played a key role in the terrorist attack on Mumbai in November 2008, India was hopeful of a breakthrough that would lead to the identification of key perpetrators. Instead, the investigation has run into a brick wall.

Despite sustained diplomatic pressure on Pakistan, government sources in New Delhi have told The Hindu, the United States has failed to secure the arrest of Sajid Mir — the top Lashkar-e-Taiba operative alleged to have tasked Headley with reconnaissance of the targets.

Mir is also alleged to have used Headley to carry out surveillance for an assault on the offices of the Jyllands Posten newspaper in Copenhagen. FBI investigators, the sources said, now believe Headley was a relatively minor cog in the Lashkar’s machinery. During hours of questioning, Headley was unable to cast light on who in the Lashkar hierarchy ....... Read More

By Dr Shabir Choudhry
The author is a Spokesman of Kashmir National Party and Director, Institute of Kashmir Affairs.

1965 War
Yes, it is time for a change. We have always opposed the status quo in the hope that change will bring better results –freedom, peace and prosperity; and now that change is in the offing I am apprehensive as to what it might bring. I don’t know what this change will bring to us. Will we, as a nation forcibly divided be any better off or worse?

At one time it was only the India side of Jammu and Kashmir that was viewed as dispute; and more or less everyone from the Pakistani side of the divide wanted to liberate that side which had better living standard, better infrastructure and more political, economic and social rights.

Although Pakistan, their agencies, political parties pro Pakistan Kashmiris on both sides of the divide and some ‘nationalist parties’ who are considered ‘B’ team of Pakistan wan....... Read More