
The Pakistan army’s divide-and-rule strategy may have created another monster, one that has more resources and resonance and causes more bloodshed.

Pakistani religious minorities live in fear. This fear can only abate through the Pakistani government’s consistent and tough policies directed at the softening of the blasphemy law and cracking down on any attempts of vigilante justice.

The new head of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence, Lt. Gen. Rizwan Akhtar, is unlikely to make big changes in the organization’s strategic orientation or operations.

It remains to be seen if the Afghan National Army will be able to resist the Taliban, which has already rejected President Ghani’s invitation for peace talks.
As the deadline for withdrawal of U.S. troops in Afghanistan approaches, Afghanistan’s neighbors will have a greater impact on shaping the country’s uncertain future.

Russia certainly seeks to further its strategic partnership with India and to continue to develop its relations with Pakistan. However, its moves will face growing mistrust in New Delhi and Islamabad if Moscow remains silent on South Asia’s hot-button issues.

South Asia is more vulnerable to a possible nuclear conflict than any other region. It is necessary to take a number of urgent steps to stabilize relations between India and Pakistan and prevent a nuclear threat.

Pakistan has been in turmoil for more than 40 days: protests headed by Imran Khan and Tahir-ul-Qadri have taken the country by storm. Yet the protest movement seems to be running out of steam. The weakening of the protest movement has much to do with Prime Minister Sharif’s decision not to crack down on the protests.

The recent crisis in Pakistan has shown that the army does not need to seize power to be recognized as the most powerful institution in the country.

Indian jihadists have operated for decades, with and without support from Pakistan.