There seems to be no end to terror strikes within Pakistan. The Taliban’s retributive violence hasn’t spared any institution, city or region, the North West Frontier Province taking the brunt of it all with bombs and bombers blowing up in army cantonments, hotels, crowded bazaars, police stations and outposts. [Read more]

Here’s a question for those who oppose dialogue with Pakistan and are votaries of military solutions to our problems with that country: Sir, if you know not with whom to talk in Pakistan, then how’d you know with whom to fight in a country ravaged by terrorist violence? [Read more]

I’m no admirer of B S Yeddyurappa. But I respect the fact that he’s an elected Chief Minister who cannot be trifled around by moneybags and mining mafias.

There indeed is a factional dimension to the crisis arising out of the Bellary mining syndicate’s rebellion against the Karnataka CM. [Read more]

My friends in Pakistan tell me that careers of two key figures are at stake in their country:  President Asif Ali Zardari and Army Chief Ashfaq Pervez Kayani. The latter’s future will be determined by the outcome of the South Waziristan operation and the former’s on the view Parliament and the judiciary take on the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO). [Read more]

President Barak Obama has signed the Kerry-Lugar-Berman Bill named after its sponsors and passed by the US Congress. In the statute book, it’s titled Enhanced Partnership with Pakistan Act of 2009.

The new law triples non-military US aid to Pakistan to $ 7.5 billion over the next five years at the rate of 1.5 billion dollars every year towards healthcare, education and creation of infrastructure in the social sector. [Read more]