Ayesha Siddiqa

Pakistan cannot finish off the Islamic State and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan without doing the same to groups the government is comfortable with

Supporting Pakistan-based groups in Kashmir reeks of old policy, but can’t be fully abandoned too. Lone wolf attempts at peace also won’t work.

American snarls drive Pakistan into leaning heavily on China. Yet, more US boots in Afghanistan might require a rapprochement with Rawalpindi.

The SC’s hasty removal of Nawaz Sharif robs a chance to truly nail him. With a canny establishment planning its moves, Pakistan may return to political chaos.

India-Pakistan war-talk is now done by the armies, backed by a jingoistic media

A deeper design can be read in China’s cosseting of Masood Azhar

Gen Bajwa may be less of a military triumphalist, but, with his limited manoeuvrability before Islamists, he’ll continue to clean his yard and pet the useful jehadis.

On the first handshake between Moscow and Islamabad

The Balochistan insurgency is riddled with inner contradictions, interruptions and capacity issues. India will be over-exposed by investing in it.

Pathankot has put another obstacle in the way of peace initiatives between India and Pakistan and prudence is the only remedy in sight