Columnists

Husain Haqqani

The writer is director for South and Central Asia at the Hudson Institute in Washington DC. He served as Pakistan’s ambassador to the US and is author, most recently, of ‘Magnificent Delusions: Pakistan, the United States and an epic history of misunderstanding’

A judicial coup

Mon, Jul 09, 2018

Nawaz Sharif’s conviction confirms that a politician can’t be corrupt and anti-military at the same time in Pakistan

Islamabad’s self-goal

Fri, May 19, 2017

It can ignore ICJ’s injunction in the Jadhav case, but doing so will extract a price in international goodwill.

Zero sum game is up

Fri, Jan 27, 2017

As its friends befriend India, Pakistan’s ruling elites must come to terms with new regional, global realities

Talk, but without illusions

Wed, Jan 13, 2016

Suspending the dialogue each time there is a terrorist attack gives jihadis a veto over talks.

Not like Nixon to China

Wed, Dec 30, 2015

For now, the best outcome of the ‘Modi to Lahore’ foray comprises only modest possibilities.

Reach out to the other side

Mon, Sep 21, 2015

After the nuclear deal, the Arab world fears a better funded Iranian campaign will exert more influence across the Muslim world than in the past. The US needs to reassure the region

Go on, break the cycle

Sat, Aug 29, 2015

Things can change between India and Pakistan if one side simply refuses to play the well-worn game

Pakistan’s greatest enemy is denial

Thu, Dec 18, 2014

December 16 attack is the result of a sustained national policy gone wrong.

A foreign economic policy

Tue, Sep 23, 2014

Modi’s success with China, US depends on ability to bring economics to the centre.

A bubble called Pakistan

Fri, Aug 08, 2014

Another elected government is sought to be destabilised. Beneath the noisy political chaos is a country in denial about its loss of direction

If the generals have changed their mind

Wed, Jul 23, 2014

To be credible, their promise to fight terrorism will need to be accompanied by a realignment of Pakistani nationalism.

Reworking the idea of Pakistan

Thu, Jun 12, 2014

Nawaz Sharif must revise his country’s notion of India as ‘permanent enemy’ to reach out to India’s new government.

An old story of new beginnings

Tue, May 27, 2014

Nawaz Sharif’s participation in Narendra Modi’s swearing-in is a first. The two leaders must now overcome past failures

The slow end of ideology

Mon, May 19, 2014

India has rejected the politics of loyalty and legacy. Can Pakistan move on too?

Politics is a good word

Wed, Mar 12, 2008

The March 9, 2008 agreement between Pakistan’s largest political parties to form a coalition government...

State versus Nation (contd)

Wed, Feb 06, 2008

Recent reminders by the Pakistani authorities that the media should stay ‘within limits’ reflect...

Talking the talk

Tue, Jan 29, 2008

Most heads of state paint a positive picture of their nation. During his recent tour of Europe...

Let the healing begin

Tue, Jan 15, 2008

Pakistan is in need of healing. The last one year has highlighted the many fissures...

A credibility deficit

Tue, Jan 08, 2008

Asked by a journalist if he had “blood on his hands,” General Pervez Musharraf...

It takes a Bhutto

Tue, Jan 01, 2008

Benazir Bhutto, the outstanding icon of Pakistan’s struggle for democracy, is gone. For those who only saw her as a distant political figure...

Alone in his labyrinth

Tue, Dec 18, 2007

A politician usually knows when his support has worn out. A general, however, must wait for intelligence reports or the siege of his command post to realise that he has lost the battle.