COMMENT 213 – Pakistan: development calls for freedom and democracy!
Introduction
Chinese and Pakistani authorities celebrated on the past 21st of May the 70th anniversary of their diplomatic relations. A series of events and ceremonies included the launching of the song ‘Pakistan has stolen my heart’, which reportedly instantaneously ‘became viral’ (Global Times, 21st of May, 2021), a commemorative coin...
Comment 229 – The end for Khan?
Pakistan is witnessing a most severe political crisis, as the government is strongly challenged by both state and society. It is not the first time that Imran Khan, as Pakistan’s Prime Minister (PM), is facing severe criticisms; it is not the first time that a wide array of oppositional...
SADF NEWSLETTER 3 – Bangladesh’s Energy Crisis in Perspective
From our podcast on Bangladesh's Energy Crisis, a conversation with Mr. Amit Bhandari.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYW2jV_-nk0
On 07.01.25, SADF held a podcast with Mr. Amit Bhandari, moderated by Dr. Rayhan Rashid, about The Current Energy Crisis In Bangladesh. Mr Bhandari is an energy expert, with nearly two decades of experience in public policy...
Focus 59 – Uzbekistan: India’s Strategic Gateway to Central Asia
Abstract
India and Uzbekistan possess a shared history since ancient times, when trade and commerce between the two nations flourished through the Silk Route. Considering the current situation and future probabilities there has been a lot of political, economic, and cultural exchanges between the two countries. This bilateral partnership, expressed...
COMMENT 165 – 2020 – False start for democracy in Pakistan
For many observers, the year 2019 ended with a ‘twofold big bang’ in Pakistan’s unhealthy civil-military relations. The death sentence of a former army head (Wolf, 2019, January 19) and the interference into the re-appointment process of the Chief of Army Staff (COAS) by the country’s judiciary (Wolf, 2019,...
Focus 50 – China and Pakistan: Original Sinners of Gilgit-Baltistan and the ‘Azad Jammu...
Abstract
Recently, after abrogating Kashmir's semi-autonomous status, India declared a new domicile law for Kashmir. Pakistan has reacted strongly against this new law accusing India’s Hindu-nationalist government of harbouring schemes to alter the demography of Kashmir in order to change its Muslim-majority character. In this article, it is argued that...
WORKING PAPER 18 – Covid-19 in South Asia: Space Matters
Abstract
Covid-19 undoubtedly poses challenges to our world. The first, being the protection of human lives, a pursuit which will influence and take a toll on economic recovery and trust. Through the implementation of a policy of ‘social distancing’, governments have tried to delay the spread of infection to help...
COMMENT 187 – Social media in Pakistan and GSP+ compliance under stress
In the shadow of the corona virus pandemic and hardly noticed by international observers, the government of Pakistan is attempting to establish a sweeping state-oversight over the social media sector (CPJ, 2020, February 13). In order to do so, Islamabad envisaged a set of new regulations called the ‘Citizens...