Shahid R. Siddiqi

Stories written by Shahid R. Siddiqi
Shahid R. Siddiqi began his career in the Pakistan Air Force. He later joined the corporate sector with which he remained associated until recently in a senior management position. Alongside, he worked as a broadcaster with Radio Pakistan and remained the Islamabad bureau chief of an English weekly magazine ‘Pakistan & Gulf Economist’. In the U.S. he co-founded the Asian American Republican Club in Maryland in 1994 to encourage the participation of Asian Americans in the mainstream political process. He now writes columns and can be reached at shahidrsiddiqi@gmail.com.

How Active Is Blackwater in Pakistan?

Blackwater founder Eric Prince giving testimony during a House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing in October 2007.

Reportedly, about 180 US Cobra operatives, including Xe personnel, have recently been secretly positioned in Islamabad, Lahore, Karachi, and Quetta, and more are expected to join them.

Aug 30 2010 | Posted in Analysis,Featured | Read More »

Afghan Intel Leaks And After

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange (Andrew Winning/Reuters)

WikiLeaks founder, Julian Assange, an Australian journalist and a computer hacker, has begun to draw intense fire over his leaks of Intel files related to Afghan war from the Amnesty International, Human Rights Commission (AIHRC), Obama administration and the US military. Julian is pledging to continue with his crusade against censorship. Human Rights groups are [...]

Aug 18 2010 | Posted in Afghanistan,Analysis,Featured,International Law / Human Rights,Media / Propaganda,Pakistan,Politics / Government,Shahid R. Siddiqi,United States,War / Terrorism | Read More »

Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence: Why do the US and India demonize it?

Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence agency, or ISI as it is popularly known, is seen as their nemesis by those who have tried to undermine the security interests of the country one way or the other. It is no wonder then that in past few years the Americans have unleashed a strong ISI-bashing campaign, with India [...]

Aug 2 2010 | Posted in Afghanistan,Analysis,India,Pakistan,Shahid R. Siddiqi,United States,War / Terrorism | Read More »

KASHMIR – The Dispute That Continues to Rock South Asia

Protests against Indian rule in Kashmir erupted earlier this month after a 17 year old girl was killed by a police teargas shell (AFP)

The unresolved Kashmir conflict has rocked South Asia for six decades.

Jul 20 2010 | Posted in Analysis,Featured,History,India,International Law / Human Rights,Pakistan,Politics / Government,Shahid R. Siddiqi,United States,War / Terrorism | Read More »

Shouldn’t General Petraeus Hold His Dogs Of War?

The McChrystal saga is over. A change of command has taken place amid a disastrous Afghan war that tore that country apart, destabilized the region, brought America to the brink, exposed the civil-military divide and intensified the anti-war sentiment. As the storm dies down, it is time for the White House and Pentagon to take [...]

Jul 3 2010 | Posted in Afghanistan,Analysis,India,Pakistan,Politics / Government,Shahid R. Siddiqi,United States,War / Terrorism | Read More »

A General Gone Rogue

One reason why Obama acted so promptly to boot out McChrystal was his fear that the McChrystal episode symbolized a far more serious problem that threatened the effectiveness of U.S. military and lay at the bottom of a failed war in Afghanistan

Jun 25 2010 | Posted in Afghanistan,Analysis,Featured,Pakistan,Politics / Government,Shahid R. Siddiqi,United States,War / Terrorism | Read More »

Is Karzai Heading For The End Game?

U.S. President Barack Obama with Afghanistan President Hamid Karzai in March (Charles Dharapak/AP)

During the last few weeks a barrage of criticism for the West, NATO, and the United Nations has poured out of Kabul. The man roaring in anger and giving vent to his frustration was none other than the darling of the West until about a year ago – Mr. Hamid Karzai.

Apr 29 2010 | Posted in Afghanistan,Analysis,Featured,Politics / Government,Shahid R. Siddiqi,War / Terrorism | Read More »

Why Insurgency in Balochistan Cannot Succeed

Bugti tribal militiamen in the Pakistani province of Balochistan. (Getty Images)

Balochistan, Pakistan’s south western province, has evoked much interest among players of regional politics. The US, India, former Soviet Union and even Afghanistan have toyed with the idea of Balochistan becoming an independent state in their geo-strategic interests.

Mar 30 2010 | Posted in Analysis,Featured,India,Pakistan,Politics / Government,Shahid R. Siddiqi,United States,War / Terrorism | Read More »

Threats to Pakistan’s Strategic Nuclear Assets

It is now up to the US to walk its talk and prove its claim that it wants to see a secure and stable Pakistan. It must pull the plug on conspiracies to destabilize Pakistan.

Feb 17 2010 | Posted in Analysis,Asia,Featured,India,Pakistan,Politics / Government,Shahid R. Siddiqi,United States,War / Terrorism | Read More »

View from Pakistan: A Very Cozy U.S.-India Relationship Can Destabilize South Asia

When the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets President Obama during his visit to the US this week, the two leaders will discuss the strategic dialogue framework between the two countries.When the Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh meets President Obama during his visit to the US this week, the two leaders will discuss the strategic dialogue framework between the two countries.

Nov 30 2009 | Posted in Analysis,Featured,India,Pakistan,Politics / Government,Shahid R. Siddiqi,United States | Read More »