Pakistan

A CIA operative will be extradited to Italy for kidnapping a terrorist

A former CIA operative is to be the first to be extradited to face court over the Bush administration’s heavily criticised policy of kidnapping terror suspects and smuggling them to third countries for interrogation. In the latest twist in a decades-long transatlantic espionage scandal, the Portuguese Supreme Court has upheld a request from Italy to extradite […]

The Most Dangerous Place on Earth: A nuclear Armageddon in the making in South Asia

Undoubtedly, for nearly two decades the most dangerous place on Earth has been the Indian-Pakistani border in Kashmir. It’s possible that a small spark from artillery and rocket exchanges across that border might — given the known military doctrines of the two nuclear-armed neighbors — lead inexorably to an all-out nuclear conflagration. In that case […]

Inside the CIA’s Secret Drone War

In 2001, the White House concluded that it was legal to use armed drones to kill senior al-Qaeda leaders. Within weeks of the 9/11 attacks, then-US President George W Bush signed off on an order which authorized the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to capture and kill al-Qaeda operatives. For some, drones are the greatest weapon ever […]

Windfall For Russian Arms Manufacturers?

If Russia spent $500 million on its military operations in Syria, all indications are it’s about to get that back–in spades. Because the Kremlin has done a good job of selling its successes, it just might receive a multi-billion-dollar windfall in new revenue. That is thanks to potential arms sales of it’s latest and greatest […]

Pakistan to launch paramilitary crackdown in Punjab after bomb kills 70

Pakistan will launch a special paramilitary crackdown in Punjab, the country’s richest and most-populous province, after an Easter Day bombing in the eastern city of Lahore killed 70 people, government and military sources told Reuters on Monday. The move represents the civilian government once again granting special powers to the military in order to fight […]

The Drone That Stalked Usama Bin Laden

As time passes, we learn more in hindsight about the massive team effort which led to the demise of who used to be our nation’s number one enemy, Usama bin Laden. Thanks to timely and well-placed shots fired by a Navy SEAL, that particular problem no longer draws breath. Leading up to Neptune Spear, however, […]

F-16s To Be Produced In India?

Editor’s Note: Discussions have been flying under the radar in reference to Lockheed-Martin transferring all of its production of F-16s to India. A curious development, given all of the recent discussion of Block 52 Viper sales to Pakistan. The subject was mentioned during the Singapore Air Show by Mr. Phil Shaw, the head of Lockheed-Martin’s […]

Pakistan F-16 Sale Survives Senate!

Editor’s Note: As we’d previously noted, Pakistan’s desire to upgrade its fleet of Block 52 F-16s has been approved by the State Department’s DSCA, but the Senate became a battleground over the deal.  Pakistan has been operating the Block 52+ F-16 for several years, as well as a number of Vipers which are older and in […]

Congressman questions Obama’s decision to sell fighter jets to Pakistan

Accusing Pakistan of playing “double game” with the US, top American lawmakers have questioned the Obama administration’s decision to sell eight nuclear-capable F-16 fighter jets to the former. “I’m concerned that Pakistan continues to play a double game, fighting terrorism that has a direct impact inside the country, and supporting it in places like India […]

What America Leaves When It Leaves Afghanistan

This month, the outgoing commander of America’s military effort in Afghanistan told Congress that the country the United States invaded more than 14 years ago was at “an inflection point.” The Taliban reportedly holds more territory than at any time since 2001, and civilian casualties are at record levels. Ethnic minorities are especially vulnerable; some fear that peace talks […]

Afghan intel and Taliban spar over captured commander ‘dressed like a woman’

The Taliban has rejected Afghan press reports that one of its commanders was captured in the eastern province of Paktika while wearing a woman’s dress. Additionally, the jihadist group denied reports that its forces clashed with a rival faction in southwestern Afghanistan. The reports and Taliban denials are part of an ongoing information war being […]

DSCA: Sale Of Block 52 F-16Cs To Pakistan Approved

Editor’s Note: Pakistan has been operating the Block 52+ F-16 for several years, as well as a number of Vipers which are older and in dire need of upgrades. India has protested this transaction pretty loudly over the last few days, but that is to be expected as the two nations continue to take shots at […]