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Pakistan's Afghan policy after Soviet intervention in Afghanistan in December 1979 was not a simple reaction to that event. Soviet action had far reaching repercussions for Pakistan as well as for the region as a whole. Nor Pakistan's reply to Soviet occupation of Afghanistan neither Soviet decision to send its troops in small neighborly country could be seen while separating it from changing regional as well as international scenario. It also could not be seen without taking into consideration the historical background of the events that had led to the destabilization of Southwest Asia.

This paper elucidates the significance of the role and behavior of a core member - occupying a central position and politically, militarily, and economically superior to others – and the outside great or superpower for the success of the process of regional cooperation especially in the developing world. The core state plays a vital role in either success or failure of any regional cooperative arrangement. Outside powers, especially the great or superpowers can also affect the fate of regional schemes. Moreover, the nature of relations between the core member state and an outside great or superpower also affects in diverse ways the process of regionalism. Under this theoretical framework, this paper investigates why the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline proposal could not materialize. The paper explores internal and external factors that halted the progress of the project with special reference to the role and behavior of India and the United States. It illuminates how the Indo-US strategic partnership and nuclear deal overshadowed a crucial project that was designed to create interdependence between three states, especially India and Pakistan and establish peace in the region. The study finds that India emphasized its connections with the United States to realize its ambitions of becoming a key player in world affairs. The paper shows how the US distracted India from pursuing a crucial regional cooperation project by providing payoffs and incentives that jeopardized the process of regionalism in South Asia.

The paper aims to highlight some drawbacks in the approach of a section of Muslims leaders, scholars, and masses towards the idea of nationalism. They view it as a Western concept implanted in the Muslim world as a conspiracy to divide and subjugate them as well as to undermine Islamic teachings. The paper elucidates the existence of the socio-economic conditions and political situation in the Muslim world that offered apt milieu to the growth of nationalism. Rise of nationalism has not been exclusively responsible for fragmentation of Ottoman Empire. Instead, the religious elements in the Arab world and oppressive rule and suppressive measures of the Turk rulers also contributed to the process. Fairly, nationalism served as a driving force against the imperial rule and helped gain Muslims emancipation from the West. The study also illuminates the difference between territorial and Muslim nationalisms and that how Islam replaced the secularism. The study is qualitative and employs historical and content analysis methods to collect and scrutinize the data.

The paper aims to highlight some drawbacks in the approach of a section of Muslims leaders, scholars, and masses towards the idea of nationalism. They view it as a Western concept implanted in the Muslim world as a conspiracy to divide and subjugate them as well as to undermine Islamic teachings. The paper elucidates the existence of the socio-economic conditions and political situation in the Muslim world that offered apt milieu to the growth of nationalism. Rise of nationalism has not been exclusively responsible for fragmentation of Ottoman Empire. Instead, the religious elements in the Arab world and oppressive rule and suppressive measures of the Turk rulers also contributed to the process. Fairly, nationalism served as a driving force against the imperial rule and helped gain Muslims emancipation from the West. The study also illuminates the difference between territorial and Muslim nationalisms and that how Islam replaced the secularism. The study is qualitative and employs historical and content analysis methods to collect and scrutinize the data.

Pakistan faced severe challenges of violent extremism and terrorism after US invasion of Afghanistan. The successive governments pursued both political and military means to bring an end to this problem but to no avail. The war against terrorism was highly unpopular among the people and it was the main cause of failure to combat terrorism. In 2013, the newly formed government led by Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif decided to give peace a chance after a decision of an All Parties Conference (APC). Consequently, the dialogue process, through the committee members nominated by the government and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), ensued that kindled the hope of peace and stability in the country. However, the process was crippled after a few months and government launched a military operation against TTP and other militant outfits in the country. The paper explores the factors that lead the government to start peace talks with TTP and analyzes the challenges that dialogue process faced and ultimately caused its failure. Finally, it highlights the benefits, particularly the national consensus to combat terrorism that dialogue process produced despite its failure to bring peace in the country.

In today's globalized world, it has become a necessary norm to be part of a regional integration process for neighbouring countries in any region of the world. Central Asia is a good example to understand with its rich past and unexplored perspective. This phenomenon can be better understood by examining the quest of Central Asian republics (CARs) for regional integration and the role of BRI in this process. ‎For that, this paper explores the historical dynamics and drivers of regional integration in Central Asia with a special focus on the role of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) which aims to improve regional infrastructure, commerce, and investment, has the potential to redefine the direction of regional integration in Central Asia in the face of shifting global power dynamics. Furthermore, Liberal Intergovernmental theory helps explain the Central Asian Republics' core actions and the impact of their domestic policies providing a details view of what drives regional integration in Central Asia. The study explores the historical dynamics and drivers of regional integration in Central Asia, focusing on the role of the BRI in reshaping these dynamics at domestic and external levels, using qualitative and thematic analysis of secondary sources.

Since 2014, India's domestic and foreign policies have reflected violent religious fanaticism and hyper-nationalism. If elected to power, Modi often stated that India would pursue a tough stance against Pakistan and would put Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK) directly under the control of the Indian central government. This did not paint a positive picture. Since 2014, India's primary goal in foreign policy has remained to encircle Pakistan on all of its borders and isolate it from the rest of the world. Nearly all of the world's superpowers and the Muslim nations have encouraged diplomatic relations with India. India strategically employs all of the regional nations and global powers it has close ties to fight Pakistan. Without any regional or international pressure, it unilaterally changed the special constitutional status of Indian-occupied Kashmir. The reactionary foreign policy of Pakistan, on the other hand, did not rely on pre-emptive measures to fight India's foreign policy, which is primarily built on plotting against Pakistan. India consistently takes advantage of Pakistan's weak and nebulous international policies. This study aims to give a detailed analysis of the elements, in particular the internal or domestic ones that were responsible for influencing foreign policy decision-making in India and Pakistan between 2014 and 2020. Using Allison's models of foreign policy has identified the factors accountable for Pakistan's unproductive and responsive external policy in contrast to India's proactive and forceful external strategy. One of the crucial findings that this study identified is that the democratic system and political continuity in India are the significant elements providing a strong base for effective policy making and building strong institutions as compared to Pakistan where the absence of both these elements are contributing to institutional crisis as well as weak and passive decision making.

Right to Information regime is considered a strong commitment towards good governance. This commitment supports fairness in laws, rules and regulations. In Pakistan, the best RTI laws are of the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa; hence KP RTI Act 2013 and Punjab Transparency and Right to Information Act 2013 have taken as a case for this paper. This paper aims to analyze how far certain Right to Information laws remained successful in terms of proactive disclosure of information and institutional measures. Categorically two dimensions are examined (a) proactive disclosure of information by the public bodies and (b) Institutional Measures under clause 5 and 4 of Right to Information laws in both provinces respectively. Based on desk review and telephonic discussion a comparative assessment has taken randomly selected departments such as Elementary and Secondary Education, Health and Local Government Department. Comparatively, in Punjab public bodies are more actively engage with respect to proactive disclosure of information. As per provisions of RTI laws, complete information is not available on sampled websites of public bodies that deviating international best practices. This paper highlights the necessary measures to be considered by decision-makers and provides way to improve regime of RTI laws in Pakistan.

Pakistan is an ethnically diverse country. Therefore, a federal system has been introduced after the independence. However, powers may not be fully decentralised to the federating units which created sense of deprivation particularly among the people of smaller provinces and less developed areas. To alleviate their concerns and grievances, the 18th Constitutional Amendment has been brought about and more autonomy has been given to the provinces. However, the amendment could not address the problems of ethnic minorities living in different provinces. This article explores the prospects of creation of a Saraiki or South Punjab Province. The article uses a qualitative research technique employing historical and descriptive methods. The data has been collected mostly from secondary sources. The findings show that Punjab is the largest province in terms of population, and it is difficult to manage its affairs efficiently from the Capital, Lahore.The provincialgovernment faces difficulty to address the grievances of the people living in far-flung regions such as South Punjab. The growing inequalities led to the revival and intensification of the movement for the creation of Saraiki Province.

The Afghan people suffered a lot from war on terror, security issues, and political and economic instability since US invasion in 2001. Pakistan being an important neighbouring country of Afghanistan can play a vital role in bringing amity and stability through facilitating peace process. Both the US administration and Afghan government demand Pakistan to influence and bring the Taliban to the table talks. In this context, this study aims to explore Pakistan's role in the ongoing peace process that has so far created an understanding among the stakeholders that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of the region. The study finds that there are greater issues to be dealt with carefully e.g., the governance system of the country, the constitution, and a viable power-sharing formula to be acceptable to all the stakeholders. Any successful peace deal needs a strong commitment on the part of all the stakeholders. Peace is the need of the hour not only for Afghanistan but for the whole region as well. Pakistan needs to continue her support to the Afghanistan's stability and play its due role in the peace negotiations in the greater regional interests.

Pakistan is an ethnically diverse country. Therefore, a federal system has been introduced after the independence. However, powers may not be fully decentralised to the federating units which created sense of deprivation particularly among the people of smaller provinces and less developed areas. To alleviate their concerns and grievances, the 18th Constitutional Amendment has been brought about and more autonomy has been given to the provinces. However, the amendment could not address the problems of ethnic minorities living in different provinces. This article explores the prospects of creation of a Saraiki or South Punjab Province. The article uses a qualitative research technique employing historical and descriptive methods. The data has been collected mostly from secondary sources. The findings show that Punjab is the largest province in terms of population, and it is difficult to manage its affairs efficiently from the Capital, Lahore.The provincialgovernment faces difficulty to address the grievances of the people living in far-flung regions such as South Punjab. The growing inequalities led to the revival and intensification of the movement for the creation of Saraiki Province.

The Afghan people suffered a lot from war on terror, security issues, and political and economic instability since US invasion in 2001. Pakistan being an important neighbouring country of Afghanistan can play a vital role in bringing amity and stability through facilitating peace process. Both the US administration and Afghan government demand Pakistan to influence and bring the Taliban to the table talks. In this context, this study aims to explore Pakistan's role in the ongoing peace process that has so far created an understanding among the stakeholders that a peaceful and stable Afghanistan is in the interest of the region. The study finds that there are greater issues to be dealt with carefully e.g., the governance system of the country, the constitution, and a viable power-sharing formula to be acceptable to all the stakeholders. Any successful peace deal needs a strong commitment on the part of all the stakeholders. Peace is the need of the hour not only for Afghanistan but for the whole region as well. Pakistan needs to continue her support to the Afghanistan's stability and play its due role in the peace negotiations in the greater regional interests.

Challenges to globalization have grave implications for the worldwide liberal order that emerged with the end of the cold war. These challenges began to ascend from the West. The occasions like Brexit, ascent of radical rightist political groups in Europe, recognition of isolationist policies, choice of former US President Donald Trump (Originator of isolationist policies), and the strive towards confinement of manufacture and services have altered the contours of global liberal order. The objective of this examination is to find the factors that prepared ground for anti-globalization accounts as well as to discover its effect on the global liberal order by applying the content analysis method. This study will assume qualitative methodology utilizing both primary and secondary data i.e., government documents, annual reports, speeches of leaders, books, journal articles and newspapers etc. The findings of the study concludes that anti-globalization narratives are translating into the electoral processes, progressing hyper-nationalism over liberal order; multi-polarity above Uni-polarity; and Isolationism above free market economy. All such changes have critical repercussions for the global liberal order, hence, should be observed cautiously. If the pattern proceeds, the world pioneers ought to think about modifying the worldwide associations, alliances, as well as national security procedures.

Pakistan has been on the 'Grey List' of the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) – the international money laundering and terror-financing watchdog. Pakistan's engagement with the task force is not new, the country faced FATF indictments during 2008 and 2012 to 2015. Despite Pakistan's efforts to curb AML for CFT and huge diplomatic commitments, the task force retained Pakistan on the 'Grey List' on account of its Risk Profile. Though other countries get clearance after fulfilling 80 percent compliance but Pakistan has been pressurized for a hundred percent compliance with the action plan. There are severe drawbacks for being remained in the grey list for banking system, export and imports, remittances, international lending and foreign investments but the most severe would be its dropping into blacklist. The September, 2020 Legislation would help gathering diplomatic support in the forthcoming settings. The supportive role-played so for by China, Turkey, Malaysia at the task force has worked in averting Pakistan from blacklisting. Therefore, the study suggests that powerful diplomacy can break the FATF clutches and get Pakistan out of the 'strategic deficiencies list' or grey list. Explorative, historical and analytical conclusions have been brought in content analysis format.

The idea of Eurasian integration has come up as a strategic goal of major powers in recent years. Russia's Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the European Union's (EU) Eastern Partnership Program(EPP) with the objective of expanding a sphere of influence and China's Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to create economic integration through transportation infrastructure and trade are three major strategies for this purpose. This study highlights that China's growing presence in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) is a clear indicator of its growing influence. Therefore, the article aims to appraise China's rise in Eastern Europe through its BRI and Eurasian integration strategy. Secondly, it presents a comparative analysis of multiple Eurasian integration strategies. Through a prism of "New Regionalism Theory," this study delves into exploring the factors behind China's effort to create regional integration in the whole Eurasia. The findings of the study show that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a unique idea in the sense that it aims at not only the integration of geographically adjacent regions but also creating physical connections in faraway regions. This convergence will not only bring more financial opportunities for the regional states but also manifest a great probability for China's emergence as the greatest Eurasian power.