My latest external publication is an article on ForeignPolicy.com that discusses the plight of President Asif Ali Zardari. An excerpt is at the end of this post.
I have been blogging less frequently in the past two months, but you can catch me regularly on the John Batchelor Show, Saturdays at 9:30PM EST (770AM-NY, WABCradio.com, [...]

On Monday, Chief of Army Staff Gen. Ashfaq Kayani visited Siachen Glacier, the world’s highest battlefield. It was his second publicized visit to the line of control since assuming leadership of Pakistan’s army.

KAYANI: A “NATIONAL CONSENSUS” ON KASHMIR
Both visits occurred after controversial statements from President Asif Ali Zardari regarding the Kashmir conflict.  On both occasions, [...]

The cease fire is apparently over. Earlier today, a suicide bomber attacked the vehicle of Lt. Gen. Mushtaq Ahmad Baig, the surgeon general of the Pakistani Army, killing him and eight others–including five civilians. There is no reason to believe he was personally targeted by the bomber. Inter-Services Public Relations [...]

Pakistan continues along a mixed, though largely negative trajectory as the spate of urban suicide bombing continues and insurgents make bold moves in South Waziristan, while the army strengthens its control over Swat and leaders flinch toward national reconciliation. The army’s immediate workload increases, but Gen. Ashfaq Kayani takes clear steps to depoliticize [...]

For the third time in recent months, military targets in Rawalpindi — the nerve center of Pakistan’s army — have been hit by militants likely affiliated with the neo-Taliban.
On September 4, two suicide bombers killed approximately 25 people in attacks on an ISI personnel bus and a market area.
On October 30, a single suicide bomber [...]

Musharraf: Uniform off by end of month; doesn’t budge on emergency rule (ER)
White House: Free and fair elections not possible under ER; Negroponte arrives on Friday
Army support of Musharraf appears to remain strong
Swatting Swat: Full-scale army-led operations in effect; Internally-displaced persons in the thousands
Caretaker prime minister to be appointed on Thursday; Muhammad Mian Soomro leads [...]

Developments in Pakistan in recent days further the view for both insiders and outsiders that the country is a perplexing bowl of contradictions and political intrigue.
KSE RISES
The Karachi Stock Exchange closed at all-time highs on Monday and Tuesday. Investor confidence boosted due to Pervez Musharraf’s re-election as president (pending the validation of [...]

Aaj TV has just reported that Lt. Gen. Ashfaq Kiyani (alt spellings: Ashfaq Kayani and Ashfaq Kiani) has been promoted to four-star general and appointed as the vice chief of army staff (VCOAS). This paves the way for his succession of Gen. Pervez Musharraf as chief of army staff when the latter retires from [...]