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CONVENTIONAL WISDOM SUGGESTS that international development helps defeat militancy, create stability, and promote U.S. security. Stability through development has emerged as a principle of U.S. policy in the fight against [...]

The article discusses civil-military relations in Pakistan after dismissal of Nawaz Sharif as Prime Minister of Pakistan. Topics include diplomatic and unbalanced relations between armed forces and civilian government; attempt made by People's Party for placing Inter-Services Intelligence under Interior ministry; and attempts made by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi for isolating Pakistan.

The article focuses on the conflict between India and Pakistan over territorial claims in Kashmir. It mentions the visitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kashmir which has become an integral part of India. It notes that Pakistan maintains Kashmiris' right to self-determination through a plebiscite and the promised plebiscite should be allowed to decide the fate of the Kashmiri people.

The article offers information on the terrorists attack made on the students of the Army Public School in Peshawar, Pakistan by militants from Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Topics discussed include Pakistan's crisis of urban violence, weaknesses in intelligence apparatus and need of strengthening counterterrorism capabilities.

The article focuses on Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman who addressed his nation via a video message from Germany where he is allegedly receiving treatment for colon cancer as of December 2014. Topics discussed include the ailing health of the sultan and its impact on the future of Oman and the leadership transition, the economic growth of Oman under the sultanate of Qaboos, and the challenges and threats to the country's stability.

The article reports on the two anti-government marches which plunged Pakistan's fragile democracy into another period of turbulence on the eve of its 68th Independence Day. The marches were led by Imran Khan and his Pakistan Tehrik-e-Insaaf (PTI), and by Tahir-ul Qadri and his Pakistan Awami Tehrik (PAT). PTI claimed that elections were not free and demanded Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's resignation, while PATcalled for the dissolution of the national parliament and provincial assemblies.

The article reports on the survival of journalist Hamid Mir from an attempted assassination in April 2014, which he claimed was committed by the Pakistani military's Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate (ISI). Topics discussed include the apology made by Mir's employer, Geo to its accusations against ISI, tye protests held by the religious groups against Geo's allegations, and the challenges brought by the onslaught for Geo.

The article reports on the promotion of public-private partnerships by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in high-risk markets. USAID programs funded by private capital are mentioned including Private Capital Group for Africa, African Agricultural Capital Fund and two private equity funds via the Pakistan Private Investment Initiative. It discusses factors driving USAID to support such partnerships which include tight budgets and decline in overseas development assistance.

The article discusses the legacy of reform to be left behind by Pakistan's army chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani when he retires on November 29, 2013. These include transforming the army to better cope with emerging security threats, distancing it from politics after ten years of military rule and proclaiming homegrown militancy as Pakistan's biggest security risk. It also discusses the possibilities that these policies will continue under his successor, Lieutenant General Raheel Sharif.

The article reports that the composite index indicates overall poor readiness of South Asia to cope with change. The index assesses and ranks countries depending on their scores across sub-indexes to measure their ability to respond to social changes. It mentions that India ranked 65th, Pakistan 69th and Nepal 82nd in the international ranking of 90 nations.

The article examines the first 100 days of Nawaz Sharif as prime minister of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) after being elected in May 2013. It recalls the major promises made by Sharif during the campaign which covered the economy, energy shortages, U.S. drone strikes, terrorism and positive international relations. It notes that the economy saw both negative and positive developments during the period. It discusses the foreign policy of Sharif towards India, China and Afghanistan.

The article cites political developments in November 2012 that indicate new cooperative efforts by Pakistan, Afghanistan and the U.S. to bring the Taliban leadership into the negotiation process. The countries agreed on a list of at least 20 Taliban leaders to be taken off the United Nations (UN) sanctions list and Pakistan released 13 Taliban members. A commission also met to discuss the transition of security and border control before the foreign troops' withdrawal in Afghanistan in 2014.

The article examines the role of the regional element, particularly Pakisan, in achieving sustainable peace in Afghanistan. It highlights the invitation of Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari to participate in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) summit to discuss the re-opening of NATO supply lines in Pakistan. The author suggests that U.S. diplomatic efforts should focus on encouraging compliance of regional countries to a policy of noninterference.

The article focuses on how the strategic depth strategy of Pakistan in Afghanistan has changed from its 1990s version. Pakistan wants a coalition government in which the Taliban and other Pashtun groups are represented instead of allowing the Taliban to rule Afghanistan. Pakistan's own goals in Afghanistan have changed from creating instability in an effort to impose a client regime, to seeking stability in both Afghanistan and Pakistan's own northern territory.