Kamal Alam

Pakistan's ISI as a counter-terror fighting force — is it worth the hype?

Pakistan's premier intelligence agency is labelled as an obstacle to peace in Afghanistan and blamed for a host of other issues affecting South Asia. Does it deserve its reputation, or is the media hype misguided?

Can Imran Khan moderate Saudi Arabia’s influence in Pakistan?

Saudi Arabia, has long held sway in Pakistan's internal affairs but Prime Minister Imran Khan has promised a "New Pakistan". Will this apply to its relationship with Saudi Arabia?

Can Turkey and Pakistan turn historic ties into a strategic partnership?

With close bonds forged from birth, Turkey and Pakistan stand to gain everything from building enduring strategic ties. The question is not why, but when.

Jalaluddin Haqqani: from Reagan’s freedom fighter to America’s most wanted

The death of Jalaluddin Haqqani is not operationally significant, but the man's life contains within it the story of the last three decades of war in Afghanistan.

Will the real Taliban please stand up?

Every major stakeholder in Afghanistan is now open to talking to the Taliban. But who exactly is 'the Taliban'?

Deja vu in Pakistan: Cricket, India, the Generals and the Sharifs

In Pakistan, the centres of power haven't shifted much despite the political upheaval leading up to this year's elections. Can elections challenge the status quo?

Ahmad Shah Massoud: the man who saw tomorrow

Remembering Ahmad Shah Massoud's predictions for Afghanistan, Pakistan and the brutality that would come from groups like Al Qaeda and eventually, Daesh.

Is Saudi Arabia Israel's protector?

Saudi Arabia has long been accused of ignoring Palestine, and even working with Israel, to the detriment of the Palestinian struggle. A look at Saudi Arabia's history shows that this accusation is not without merit.

The Pakistan Army and Iran: a new dawn or a messenger for the Saudis?

The Pakistan Army has been drawing closer to Iran under its new chief General Qamar Bajwa. Is Pakistan moving out from under Saudi Arabia's orbit?

Is a Turkey-Pakistan partnership brewing in Afghanistan?

Turkey could rise to greater prominence in Afghanistan as trust in the United States' capability to fix the situation in Afghanistan has eroded. Pakistan and Turkey's historical ties means a natural partnership may be on the horizon.

Should Pakistan cut military ties with Myanmar?

Pakistan hosts a large number of Rohingya refugees and is arguably the most powerful Muslim country in the region. Why doesn't it pressure Myanmar on what the UN is calling an "ethnic cleansing" of the Rohingya minority.