Afghanistan: Modernization Versus Obstruction

Afghanistan: Modernization Versus Obstruction.   Afghanistan's long history of tribalist structure and warlordism is not a  simple nor easily defined condition that leaves itself open to ready change or modernization. Both are early human concepts of societal...

The McChrystal Departure

"50 years after General MacArthur was retired the US Commander in Afghanistan General David Mckiernan was relieved of his command, and now, in the third such instance in the midst of war, General McChrystal has been removed and the command in Afghanistan has been given to the...

The Evolving Environment

" Spearhead Analysis Pakistan’s Army Chief spelt out the reality in a talk to the foreign media. He stated that ‘a stable and secure Afghanistan was the real strategic depth for Pakistan’. This kills the oft repeated suspicions about Pakistan’s sinister designs in...

2010 (2010 started badly with horrendous attacks)

Spearhead Research Analysis2010 started badly with horrendous attacks---the attack on a Shia sect mourning procession and follow up arson attacks in Karachi and a suicide bombing attack on a village volley ball match in the western area. There have also been four drone...

The Surge

As the ‘surge’ in Afghanistan gets underway two tragic incidents are noteworthy. The US air attack in Afghanistan’s Farah province on civilians a few weeks ago and the latest drone delivered missile attack in Pakistan’s South Waziristan area on a funeral procession....

Peeling the Onion: The Taliban in Pakistan

“The Taliban are no longer a single movement with a single cause, The Taliban have become a phenomena, a hydra with different heads and no centre of gravity, an organizational structure with commonalities but different goals and objectives depending on locations and...