Blog site of iVarta.com » Pakistan
Caliphate Mania
Following topics are discussed Introduction Aiding and Abating Insurgencies Motives of Overt Operators Digital Revolution and Consequences of Two US Wars Motives of Covert Operators Unintended Consequences Impact of Demographic Changes Caliphate Dream Victims of New Muslim Political Reality Conclusion Reference and notes Introduction In an Op-ed, “Harsh lessons from regime change,” Irfan Husain commented on the state of political upheaval caused by the Arab Spring revolutions and arrival of Islamist militants’ leaders to replace previous dictators. Mr Husain is against Islamist militancy and he observed, “The path to hell is indeed paved with good intentions.” Mr Husain has covered obvious parts played by various international actors. The Islamists have filled the political vacuum to set the stage for political upheavals in the Middle East (ME) that is home to the ideological Islamic states. By its constitution Pakistan (PK) is an ideological Islamic state. … Read entire article »
Economies and Political Ideologies of Democratic vs Welfare States
The article focuses on economic impacts of the political ideologies used by Muslim welfare states and market economies of constitutional democratic capitalist nations. It suggests that recent actions of TTP (Tehrik-Taliban-Pakistan), TMQ (Tehrik-i-Minhajul Quran headed by Dr Muhammad Tahirul Qadri or TQ), the army and political establishment may be contributing to internal destabilization of PK (Pakistan). The destabilization may be detrimental to on-going peace process in South Asia. The following topics are presented. Rocky Peace Process Youth in Welfare States Welfare States Economy and Institutions Dynamic and Static Political Ideologies References and notes: star (*) means see references and notes Rocky Peace Process The killing of Pakistan and India soldiers starting Jan 6, 2013 on both sides of LoC is fueling war hysteria in South Asia and making it harder for the peace process to remain on tracks. Politically … Read entire article »
Filed under: America, China, Christianity, Economy, India, Islam, Pakistan, Politics
Religion, Arts and Understanding Life
The following topics are considered: Introduction Religion and Politics Political Ideologues Numerous Dichotomies God and Justice The Force, Energy and God Scriptures and Psychology Arts References and notes: Star (*) followed by a bracketed number (#1, etc) identifies applicable specific reference and notes. Introduction Comparative religion, arts and science are tools for understanding life. Terrorism was examined from social and cultural angles in previous article. Second article on introduction to Understanding Life series of four articles discusses how religious dogma is exploited by political establishments. Life is dynamic and ever changing or evolving. Known is history, unknown is future and present is what counts. Understanding life challenges mind. Life revolves around belief systems, arts and material world. Tools for understanding life include comparative studies of religions, art and science. The tools define the various people groups – cultures and societies – across the world. Religions and Politics We have … Read entire article »
Filed under: Hinduism, India, Islam, Pakistan, Politics, Vedic Knowledge
Terrorism, Cultural Wars and Understanding Life
This is first of a four parts series on Understanding Life The following topics are covered: Introduction Cultural Wars References and notes Star (*) followed by a bracketed number (#1, etc) identifies applicable specific reference and notes. Introduction Comparative religion, arts and science are tools for understanding life. Terrorism is examined from social and cultural angles. Some references and introductions to contribution of ancient Vedic people and scientists of Indian origin are identified in the second article of this series. The third and fourth articles of the series introduce accomplishments of the pre-17th century sciences and modern science, respectively. Identifying relevance of science in improving knowledge for humanity through religions, arts and science is a comprehensive subject; this series is an introduction to it. Domestic terrorism* (#1) is being blamed on two recent (August 2012) crimes by hate mongers in the US. … Read entire article »
Filed under: Christianity, Islam, Pakistan, Politics, World
Tides of Ideas
Note: The article is follow up to “Golden age of Muslims by Saeed Mirza” 0716 2012. Following topics are discussed: Inclusivist Progressives vs Exclusivist Orthodoxy Historical background and Tides of Ideas Proselytizers and Loss of Scholarship Cultural Wars Modern Science and Humanity Hope and Future References and notes Inclusivist Progressives vs Exclusivist Retrogressive Orthodoxy Successes and failures run in cycles depending on the maturity of political, social, cultural and economic institutions. The inclusivity accelerates human progress and retrogressive orthodoxy divides people and inhibits scholarship. The Muslim golden age was followed for 600+ years by a retrogressive political ideology by establishments of Muslim orthodoxy. Muslim dictators helped by orthodoxy of Arab tribal customs adopted discriminatory policies against women and non-Islamic followers to deny human rights, equal opportunities and equal justice in occupied lands. In such environment of exclusivity free flow of … Read entire article »
Non-state Actors, Miskeen, Education, Economy and Chalta Hain
Pakistan is like an imperfectly crafted cubic zirconia diamond. It is the nation born (1947) based on religion. On global stage in last four decades it has evolved as an epicenter of too many things vile including terrorism. Its additional imperfections include a complex political reality. Politically it is managed as fiefdom of the army, the DPC (Defense of Pakistan Coalition) and elected but weak politicians. DPC is a coalition of many non-state actors cultivated by the army. Want-to-be Arabs and non-Arabs are characterized as Miskeen (poor). Given poorly educated population incapable of generating above average to high economic growth rates and preoccupation with a regional power status using non-state actors the national economy is on a slippery slope and poverty is on increase. Wide spread public cynicism is at … Read entire article »
Filed under: America, Economy, Islam, Pakistan, Politics, World
Special Ops Military Strategies
A star (*) after a sentence means references and notes should be consulted for additional info on the subject. The blog covers following topics. Introduction Contractors for and Goals of the US and Pakistan Armies Co-dependencies of Pakistan and the US Women Scorned The US Special Ops and the Obama Plans Concluding Remarks References and notes Introduction The blog focuses on special ops military strategies of two nations in last 50 years. A primal instinct is to dominate and for ambitious rulers and nations to dominate the world. A goal of warfare is to achieve dominance over enemy at minimum possible costs. The US special ops forces in the Af-Pak war (2008 to present) use highly skilled soldiers to conduct low cost high tech warfare to hunt down and decapitate leadership of the al Qaeda and its co-linked … Read entire article »
The US: A decade after 2001
A star (*) indicates more information is available in the references and notes. President Obama in his latest State of the Union Address reported to the US Congress that after nine years of war the withdrawal of all US troops from Iraqis completed and in more than two decades Osama bin Laden (OBL) is not around to threaten the US security. President has in three years resolved major issues related to theUS security except that associated with the Af-Pak area terrorist Taliban and intransigent warlords of Pakistan. President has asked theUS and NATO generals to set up by 2014 a 350,000 strong Afghan army capable of neutralizing threats to its sovereignty from its neighbors. The US is committed to providing necessary military and economic aid to the Afghanistan to defend and sustain … Read entire article »
Asymmetric War and Financial Bets
The blog present following topics: Introduction Asymmetric Bets The Big Short and Bubble Economies The Obama Factor Pakistan Big Short Option The Afghanistan’s Future References and notes Introduction The political soap opera now being staged inPakistanindicates that it may be plunging into one more political crisis in its short history (1971 – present). If constitutional remedies are applied for the resolution of political crisis may strengthen basic institutions of the fragile democracy. The weak government institutions continue to support army and intransigent warlords managed proxy wars even though its fragile economy lacks resources to sustain the annual costs at an estimated $1 bbl for maintaining 100,000 proxy warriors. Using the mercenary proxy warriors a goal appears to be to dominate South Asia with economic and military aid from theUSand Arabs interested in the regional hegemony. TheUSsupport for the … Read entire article »
Pakistan Palestine Sufism and Terrorism
Pakistan Palestine Sufism and Terrorism Introduction The star (*) represents more information can be found in references and notes. This blog with following topics is concerned with select Op-eds of Pakistani scholars. International Political Opportunists Hate and Intolerance Palestine State and Khilafat Movement South Asia Developments Death of Humanism Hopes for Future References and Notes for Islamic History International Political Opportunists Irfan Husain a respected Pakistani Op-ed writer in defense of a case for Palestine state presented interesting arguments based on select history to counter the firestorm ignited by a flame thrower and a want-to-be GOP nominee, American Newt Gingrich. Prof Gingrich had recently claimed that Palestinians were invented people. Before Mr Gingrich’s claim, Mr. Zuhair Mohsen stated that “The Palestinian people do not exist.”* Here are some factors and questions to consider: Prof Husain may have … Read entire article »
Filed under: America, Hinduism, Islam, Pakistan, Politics, World
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