Suchergebnisse

"This book critically examines the Baloch nationalist narrative and explores the causes of the increase of insurgent violence in Balochistan, Pakistan. Using the historical analysis method, the author explores the relations between the national government of Pakistan, or "The Centre", and the province of Balochistan from 1947 to 2013 to argue that both sides use a standard narrative when dealing with each other. According to the Baloch narrative, Islamabad exploits Balochistan's natural resources without giving Balochistan its due share and has never accepted and granted Balochistan equal rights. The Centre's narrative emphasizes the tribal character of Baloch society and suggests that the Baloch elite hinder Balochistan's integration with the federation. This book demonstrates that both narratives are inherently flawed and present a precipitous picture of the problem of insurgent violence. It also shows that Baloch leadership is divided along tribal lines, and lacks a unified voice and proposes that the Baloch elite only uses the narrative of enduring injustice as a source of politicization of Baloch ethnicity when an actual or perceived injustice is taking place. An important addition to the literature on ethnopolitcal conflicts, this unique analysis of the importance of narrative in the imagination of political movements will be of interest to scholars in the field of South Asian Studies, Ethnic Conflicts, Separatist and political movements and Asian Politics"--

The US Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) has been an important document detailing the US administration's policy preferences since its first issuance in 1994. Biden administration released its NPR in October 2022, which identifies nuclear rivals and focus areas examining the role of nuclear weapons in overall US strategy. Using the historical research method and open-source information, the paper provides an overview of the US strategic calculus on nuclear weapons since 1945, focusing on post-Cold War developments and how its nuclear policy and strategy evolved. The paper argues that despite advocating for nuclear disarmament, US presidents stayed within lip service and kept enhancing the US nuclear stockpile. It also highlights that President Trump's decisions adversely affected US nuclear weapons policy and global security and that President Biden's NPR would follow the route rather than fulfil his campaign promises. The paper has three parts: the first deals with US nuclear policy during the Cold War; the second looks at the policy during the post-Cold War era from President Bush Senior to President Biden. The third and final part critically analyses the overall nuclear policy challenges faced by the Biden Administration and how it might address them.

Bibliography Entry
Zeb, Rizwan. 2023. "Biden Administration's Nuclear Posture Review and American Nuclear Policy: A Critical Overview" Margalla Papers 27 (1): 53-66.

As the American withdrawal is approaching, the future stability of Afghanistan and its effects on the region are increasingly being debated. The predominant view is that due to the mishandling of the situation by the Americans, post 2014 Afghanistan would be unstable and the whole region especially Pakistan will face the consequences of this failure. A stable and peaceful Afghanistan is in Pakistan's interest as it will ensure that no more drugs, extremism and refugees pour into the country. Islamabad is of the view that like in 1989, the Americans would once again be leaving Afghanistan without finishing what they have started. This coupled with the increasing Indian influence in Afghanistan brings back the historical fear, which has been the driving force behind its Afghan policy since 1947, of being sandwiched between two hostile neighbours. This article flags five points: first, Islamabad has legitimate security concerns in Afghanistan; second, historically, Pakistan's security concerns regarding India are a major factor in deciding Pakistan's position in and about Afghanistan; third, Pakistan supported the Taliban government in Kabul due to its geostrategic and security concerns; fourth, there can be no solution of the Afghanistan problem without Islamabad on board; fifth, the solution to the Afghan problem lies not only in Afghanistan but also around it, in the region; therefore, a regional approach is a must.