The election commission has started making necessary preparations and the political parties are already out on the hustings. But the road to elections is not without hitches.

• Post Bahadur Basnet
• June 24, 2013
• IDSA Comments

The assertions of the new Pakistan government of Nawaz Sharif to de-radicalise the society by engaging the Radical Islamists (RIs) in a dialogue and accommodation with them in reality means, to many observers, a meek surrender to Islamic radicalism of Deobandi variety.

• P. K. Upadhyay
• June 14, 2013
• Issue Brief

The Taliban spring offensive is aimed at exploiting the situation and driving home the advantage. The present lull in coalition operations and indecision on the future outlook of international forces is adding to the Taliban’s advantage.

• Rajeev Agarwal
• June 03, 2013
• IDSA Comments

It will be unrealistic to expect any drastic change in the foreign policy orientation of Pakistan, because Pakistan’s geopolitical interests will not allow the new government to bring about radical change

• Sumita Kumar
• May 28, 2013
• IDSA Comments

Nawaz Sharif’s political comeback has resulted in a fresh sense of optimism within the Indian industry. But it has to be seen whether it will it help in normalizing relations and bringing people together.

• Tridivesh Singh Maini , Manish Vaid
• May 27, 2013
• IDSA Comments

Afghanistan seems to be torn between hope and despair. The fate of ‘New Afghanistan’ will largely depend on the commitment of the international community to support the ongoing process of transition and stabilization.

• Arvind Gupta , Ashok K. Behuria
• May 23, 2013
• IDSA Comments

Nawaz Sharif’s sentiments for better relationship with India are laudable in spite of being still premature. There are constituencies within Pakistan for whom Kashmir continues to remain the core issue but the bigger challenge is whether Sharif will be able to bring the army on board.

• Smruti S. Pattanaik , Arvind Gupta
• May 16, 2013
• IDSA Comments

Nawaz Sharif having expressed his intentions of improving relations with India will try to give trade a big push. Yet, one should not expect policy changes related to terrorism targeted at India or its aversion to India’s presence in Afghanistan.

• Sumita Kumar
• May 13, 2013
• IDSA Comments

The new government to be led by Nawaz Sharif will have to tread a very difficult path to manage, if not solve, the monumental problems that confront the Pakistani state and society.

• Sushant Sareen
• May 13, 2013
• IDSA Comments

What we are seeing in Pakistan is the ushering in of an anti-democratic Islamic order through the ballot box. What is more, the Pakistan Army has decided to also indirectly ensure that Islam is never “taken out of Pakistan”.

• P. K. Upadhyay
• May 10, 2013
• IDSA Comments