Hasan Zafar

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Articles

From 'The End of History' To The End Of A Unipolar World

Nov 16, 2024 | thefridaytimes.com | Hasan Zafar

Consider two pivotal years in recent history: 1991 and 2014. The Berlin Wall fell in 1989, and the world changed profoundly a few years later with the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. American political scientist Francis Fukuyama celebrated this moment by writing The End of History and the Last Man. For Fukuyama, the emergence of the United States as the sole superpower following the Soviet Union's demise symbolised the defeat of communism and all ideologies that challenged Western ideals.
Jaishankar And His Baggage In Islamabad

Oct 15, 2024 | thefridaytimes.com | Hasan Zafar

"The era of uninterrupted dialogue with Pakistan is over" This was the proclamation made by Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, India's External Affairs Minister, nearly a month ago. At the UN General Assembly, he once again spewed venom against Pakistan, harping on his favourite theme of Pakistan's involvement in terrorism.
October 7 Aftermath: Who Wants An Iran-Israel War?

Oct 7, 2024 | thefridaytimes.com | Hasan Zafar

It began a year ago, on October 7, 2023, when Hamas guerrillas breached Israeli security, attacked a music concert, and killed and kidnapped Israeli citizens from various locations. The world was quick to condemn this action; no one of sound mind, regardless of their anti-Israeli sentiments, could celebrate the killing of innocents. Ironically, the casualties in Gaza resulting from a year-long Israeli campaign are also predominantly innocent civilians—almost 50,000.
Dr Zakir Naik’s Visit To Pakistan: A Flop Show

Oct 7, 2024 | thefridaytimes.com | Hasan Zafar

The announcement that Dr Zakir Naik’s would be visiting Pakistan ignited a wave of mixed reactions. For some, it was welcomed as a visit by a scholar renowned for his mastery of interfaith dialogue and comparative religion, who had inspired numerous non-Muslims to embrace Islam. For others, it was an unnecessary gesture to invite a televangelist to Pakistan, a country where 96% of the population is Muslim. Do Muslims, already in the overwhelming majority, need to become more devout?
India Cannot Walk A Diplomatic Tightrope Any Longer

Aug 28, 2024 | thefridaytimes.com | Hasan Zafar

In my previous article, I argued that India is walking a precarious diplomatic tightrope, attempting to balance its relations between Iran and Israel, Russia and Ukraine, and the US-NATO alliance. Traditionally, India has maintained a policy of being amicable with all nations - Pakistan being a notable exception - a strategy developed during the Cold War through its involvement in the Non-Aligned Movement.
India’s Foreign Policy Dilemma

Aug 4, 2024 | thefridaytimes.com | Hasan Zafar

Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi made his visit to Moscow in July 2024, his first since Russia invaded Ukraine. CNN reported this visit with the following words: “Trade between the two countries was worth nearly $65 billion in 2023-24, primarily due to strong energy cooperation, but most of that total flowed toward Russia, Jaiswal said.
The Second World War And The Creation Of Pakistan

Jul 29, 2024 | thefridaytimes.com | Hasan Zafar

The manner in which Pakistan and its history have been conceived, written about, taught, and understood out of context will continue to complicate any effort to define what this country means and how its people understand and perceive themselves.
What Is The End Game?

Jul 23, 2024 | thefridaytimes.com | Hasan Zafar

In recent months, I have engaged with leading economists, political analysts, and security experts on my program "Talking Politics," on Federal Post. The outcome of these discussions is bleak, with little hope for improvement if the status quo persists. Let us outline some indisputable facts before analyzing the potential outcomes. Fact 1: Pakistan faces a severe economic crisis. One of the salient reasons for the perennial crisis are energy tariffs linked to the independent power producers (IPPs).
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Southern Districts Surrender To TTP

Jun 25, 2024 | thefridaytimes.com | Zalmay Azad |Meher Rana |Hasan Zafar |Saad Hafiz

In recent months, the southern districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have seen a dramatic and alarming rise in militant activity. The Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), a formidable insurgent group, has reasserted its presence, effectively undermining the state's control in these regions. This resurgence has coincided with the tenure of the Ali Amin Gandapur-led provincial government, raising critical questions about the government's ability and willingness to counter this growing threat.
Batsman No. 6

Jun 24, 2024 | thefridaytimes.com | Hasan Zafar |Sabih Ul Hussnain |Beelam Ramzan |Kamran Khamiso Khowaja

Anyone who understands cricket knows what the batsman at number six is like. This position, known as the late middle order, is typically where an all-rounder comes in to bat. This is where Imran Khan played at the peak of his cricketing career. His peers, England's Ian Botham and India's Kapil Dev, celebrated all-rounders of their time, also batted at this position. A close examination of these players reveals a common trait in their batting style – they were all aggressive players.