Opinion

President Barack Obama imposing tougher standards for authorising drone strikes is a welcome step.

We may see rotation of political parties through elections, but we're far from seeing a new vision or positive change.

UN peacekeeping continues to evolve and remains a relevant tool to address modern conflict.

Why do people expect different results when everything remains the same, from distributing party tickets to campaigns.

The public has begun to weigh performance and problem solving and over patronage politics and ideological illusions.

Rickshaws offer mobile advertisement which gives far greater reach, visibility to the message being disseminated.

Change will not come through one election or one campaign, but through concerted, long-term efforts and endurance.

It’s time to confront an obvious truth: actions in faraway places can produce reactions on streets at home.

Pakistan must carefully study the evolving situation across its northern border as the US withdraws its troops.

We may be able to combat a nuclear war, but the Taliban issue is our weakest spot, an Achilles’ heel for Pakistan.

The process of life in Pakistan is slow to turn and no cataclysmic tsunami can wash away its daily grind.

President Zardari needs to look back and see what went wrong given the PPP’s poor showing on May 11.

While “leadership” is too often the reason given in explaining away Pakistan’s problems, it seems the case for...

Cities need to secure their water supplies by better understanding their catchments, diversifying water resources.

In the early 1960s, it was the letters column in daily newspapers that, in a sense, described the pulse of the people.

List of bills, CANs, questions asked in 13th NA reveal that govt, opposition kept raising wide range of issues.

Both Gandhi and Edhi were ignored by the Nobel Committee, to its shame.

There is a coming of the full historical circle, as Nawaz Sharif assumes the PM slot while Musharraf is in custody.

IPL is no longer just cricket; it was entertainment with Bollywood stars, music, drugs, parties all rolled into one.

Sharif is a known figure to the Indian elite and Delhi knows it can do business with him.

Democracy has now struck back with real vengeance; this time, throwing out the entire ruling political hierarchy.

May 11 marked a huge democratic transformation and we need to deal with it.

That people voted for the PTI in what are considered the MQM’s strongholds set off alarm bells.

May the new governments complete their tenures so that they have enough time to implement their manifestos.

As a mother and a Pakistani, I stand by my conviction that milk is not a luxury or a privilege, but a right of all.

The fact that some parties could not campaign or hold public political activities in 3 provinces is totally forgotten.

Government must gain military advantage over jihadists to be able to dictate terms so that negotiations lead to peace.

3 issues deserve the government's attention in first 100 days: load-shedding, load-shedding, net outflow of capital.

We need to end the cycle of those who die of murderous negligence and heinous incompetence in our health system.

As much as we would like to convince ourselves that the opposition counts for something, it doesn’t.

Nawaz must remember that this time, there is little room for taking odd shortcuts for increasing his relative power.

With a new playbook, PTI can build upon their modest success in 2013, and prepare for a bigger, national victory.

Pakistani people must be commended for their ability to pull the proverbial rabbit out of a hat in difficult times.

It is time to not be a sheep and become aware of the fact that we are not as powerless as we think we are.

In post-conflict situations globally, it is role of militaries to stabilise an area, start rebuilding, rehabilitation.

No matter how one looks at it, one can’t find the bargaining space so essential for negotiations to succeed.

Destroying agriculture, preventing tax culture, high tariff walls, smuggling, we are the world’s most famous beggars.

Pakistan remains the one country that China can count on, in an increasingly uncertain regional scenario.

Those who got PTI over the finish line are residents of K-P, a different segment from elites of Lahore and Karachi.

Many of Imran's policies were noble, but he always remained mum on how ideas would translate into substantive policy.

Don’t forget the youth, recent political awakening and trust in the political process — signs of a changing Pakistan.

If PTI wants to survive as a party, not just in K-P, but also nationally, it must put up a good performance in K-P.

The government should develop a stabilisation programme of its own and return to the IMF by the end of the year.

There is urgent need to be on alert and remember lessons emerging from the previous years of disaster management.

The 60 per cent voter turnout signifies that the people of Pakistan have given legitimacy to a democratic state.

Karachi will continue to confound and frustrate whichever government comes to power.

Civilian, democratic rule in Pakistan can be secured by legal remedies and self-restraint rather than agitation.

Election 2013 was the worst managed ballot in which I have participated since 1970.

You could not have access to or money for shelter, education, health or food & still be considered not poor in India.

Road ahead needs to be paved with sound policies, failing which, one would expect problems of militancy to continue.