Category Archives: South Asia

A bitter goodbye to Pakistan’s 2011 World Cup campaign

Posted on March 31, 2011 by Asif Saeed Memon

Before the tournament I had said that I would be happy if Pakistan made it to the semifinal. That within the context – 4 years of turmoil, the loss of our first-choice opening bowlers, the waning pace and bro ken … Continue reading →

Posted in Pakistan, South Asia | 3 Comments

Addressing Pakistan’s energy problems

Posted on March 7, 2011 by Asif Saeed Memon

Two pieces in the Express-Tribune address Pakistan’s ongoing energy worries today. Targeting the gaping hole in energy finance, which has led to the infamous circular debt problem, Shoaib Hamid argues for reducing line losses as opposed to increasing tariffs. He … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Pakistan, Policy, South Asia | Leave a comment

Pakistan and India: divided by commerce

Posted on February 22, 2011 by Asif Saeed Memon

The Washington Post’s Karen Bruilliard presents a brief, but telling, analysis of Pakistan-India trade (or the lack thereof): “Pakistan and India share language, culture, history and an 1,800-mile border; they are South Asia’s largest economies. What they barely share is … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Foreign Policy, Pakistan, South Asia | Leave a comment

Pak-Afghan Transit Trade agreement on hold

Posted on February 16, 2011 by Asif Saeed Memon

Implementation of the Afghanistan-Pakistan Transit Trade Agreement (APTTA) is on hold indefinitely. According to an official at the Ministry of Commerce (Pakistan), the hold up is because of a disagreement between the two sides about how to guarantee goods imported … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Pakistan, South Asia | Leave a comment

Battle lines in Kabul

Posted on August 9, 2008 by Asif Saeed Memon

“There is wide acclaim today among Indian strategic analysts and diplomatic editors that New Delhi has scored a major diplomatic victory in Afghanistan and that its “influence” in Kabul has “peaked”. This victory has come on the back of Washington’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Foreign Policy, South Asia | Leave a comment

A lack of South Asian Cooperation

Posted on August 1, 2008 by Asif Saeed Memon

THERE may be some awkward pauses this week in Colombo, where South Asia’s leaders are due to meet to discuss, among other shared concerns, terrorism. It is not that they will be unprepared. Terrorism, with food security and energy, was … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, South Asia | Leave a comment

Al-Qaeda’s report card

Posted on July 18, 2008 by Asif Saeed Memon

The Economist evaluates Al-Qaeda’s progress: “THESE days in Peshawar, where al-Qaeda was founded 20 years ago, the only glimpse of Osama bin Laden comes on little green packets of safety matches strewn around town by American officials (see picture). They … Continue reading →

Posted in Pakistan, Politics, South Asia | Leave a comment

Dealing with the Taliban of the ‘acceptable’ variety

Posted on July 13, 2008 by Asif Saeed Memon

Syed Saleem Shahzad writes in the Asia Times Online: “June (28 US combat deaths) was the deadliest month for coalition troops since they invaded Afghanistan in October 2001 and fatalities have increased steadily since 2004, when 58 soldiers were killed … Continue reading →

Posted in Pakistan, Politics, South Asia | Leave a comment

The changing war on terror

Posted on June 26, 2008 by Asif Saeed Memon

Saleem Shahzad writes about the changing dynamic between Afghanistan, Pakistan and the United States in the Asia Times Online: “Since signing on for the “war on terror” in 2001, Pakistan has received approximately US$10 billion in aid from the United … Continue reading →

Posted in Pakistan, Politics, South Asia | Leave a comment

The New Republic

Posted on May 29, 2008 by Asif Saeed Memon

“The Himalayan nation of Nepal has become the world’s newest republic, ending 240 years of monarchy. A constituent assembly meeting in the capital, Kathmandu, overwhelmingly voted to abolish royal rule. The Maoists, the largest party after laying down arms and … Continue reading →

Posted in Politics, South Asia | Leave a comment