South Asia’s political stage is perhaps one of the most interesting in the world, characterised by struggling democracies, a heavy and unstable mix of religion and politics, and the presence of political dynasties. As Nawaz Sharif returns to Pakistan after years of exile in the United Kingdom amidst controversy after controversy, it is perhaps worthwhile to take a look at the different political dynasties in South Asia and their dynamics in their countries…

So, contrary to the scepticism of some Pakistani experts, shared by the author of this article, general elections to the lower house of the central parliament (the “National Assembly”) as well as to four provincial parliaments were held in this country. Moreover, on 8 February this year, the date “finally fixed” (after a number of postponements). It should be noted that this scepticism was also based on the fact of initiating…

General elections were conducted in Pakistan on February 8, 2024. People and analysts around the world were seeing the elections with skepticism due to the alleged role of non-democratic forces in these elections. Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) were incarcerated before the elections due to the charges of vandalism that the party workers committed on 9^th May 2023. This resulted in shifting the tilt of the country’s establishment in favor of Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N)…

Since the country’s inception, democracy in Pakistan has been facing numerous obstacles. The main reason behind the failure of the democratic system is the political ambitions of the country’s leading political elite. Ironically, none of the incumbent top political leaders of Pakistan hold a purely democratic history. The leaders of the top three political parties have been conspiring with the non-democratic forces in the country to gain power. The forefathers of the country chose democracy as the best suitable form of government for Pakistan, given its ethnic and religious diversity…

The year 2023 ended with many persisting wars and conflicts around the world. People and analysts around the world see the prevailing genocide by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in Gaza shifting into a protracted conflict with an uncertain end. Israel’s massacre threatens the peace across the Middle Eastern region and imperils global trade…

Military and political tensions in the Middle East around the Palestinian-Israeli conflict are gaining new momentum with a bias towards the expansion and internationalisation of the conflict – from local to regional. On the one hand, pro-Iranian forces in Lebanon, Yemen, Syria and Iraq are creating a belt of high tension for Israel and the targets (military, diplomatic and commercial) of its Western allies. On the other hand, the military forces and intelligence services of the Israeli-Western…

At first glance, 2024 should be a significant commemoration of the concept of democracy, which was first introduced by the Greeks over two thousand years ago. In the coming months, elections will be held in countries that collectively represent over half of the world’s population, which is more than 4 billion people. These include some of the world’s most populous and influential nations, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Russia, India, and Pakistan. However, history teaches us that simply sending people to the polls is not enough to guarantee the upholding of democratic principles…

Recently, the world has seen unprecedented tensions between Iran and Pakistan. Both countries have conducted strikes over each other’s territories amidst the surging tensions across the Middle Eastern region and beyond. Iran has conducted strikes over Syria, Iraq, and Pakistan due to multiple factors. However, what caught the world’s attention was Iran’s missile attacks on Pakistan, as the latter is a nuclear power known for its military capabilities…

The year 2024 will be marked by national electoral processes in dozens of countries. The outcome of each election will contribute to the transformation of the world order in one way or another. In this context, associations naturally arise with the upcoming presidential and congressional elections in the United States this fall, as it is the leading world power. However, in these troubled times, it is appropriate to say the sacramental “we must live to see it”. In the coming days, weeks, and months, we should closely observe the preparation, course, and outcome of elections in several countries…

Pakistan is set to conduct general elections on 8^th February 2024. Following the internal political instability in the country, and the regional and global geopolitical events, these elections hold seminal significance. The results of these elections will be highly consequential for the future of Pakistan. Although the results of the elections are highly predictable, the upcoming government will have to face formidable challenges ahead…

Very soon, Pakistan will be forced to cease any ideas of adopting a so-called “hedging” strategy to survive and thrive in the new multipolar world. With China, Russia, and the growing BRICS contingents in focus (particularly Iran), it should be clear that critical Indo-Asian nations and a handful of smaller states will soon hop on the Russo-Chinese bandwagon. The U.S. and its allies have but one chance to remain key partners and maintain economic and geostrategic security. Acceptance of the rising multipolar world community and cementing policies…

As Pakistan struggles with yet another round of loans from the IMF, people are keen to ask how we got here in the first place. The answer seems simple. Unrestricted and unsustainable spending by the state is compounded by a painfully low tax base. The lack of sufficient and good-quality domestic production leads to an overdependence on imports and a lack of exports, especially in intermediate to high-value goods. Interest payments on past debts are racking up. In short, everything is moving in the same direction: a negative balance of payments.