Mar
7
Pakistanis are STILL Dying: For What? For Whom? Why?
Filed Under Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Peace, US Policy, United States | 2 Comments
by Imran H. Khan
Little did I know when I first posted this that there would be a number of drone strikes and suicide explosions immediately after wards. I know of no nation in the world that willfully allows another nation to attack and kill its citizens, specially when it has the resources to stop it. The current civil and military leadership of Pakistan needs to be held accountable for allowing Pakistani citizens to be killed, on a nearly daily basis, by its people. I had recorded a talk show on US policy in Afghanistan and Pakistan in April 2009. It discussed the anticipated change in the US policy brought about by the new Obama administration. Read more
Mar
4
Accelerating High Tech/High Margin Industries in Pakistan
Filed Under China, Entrepreneurism, Pakistan, Technology, education | Leave a Comment
by Imran H. Khan
Pakistan’s current export of engineering goods stands at around $243 million out of total exports of $19 Billion. If we are to also include $300 Million in defense oriented exports and $169 Million in Software products and services exports, the total high margin high tech industrial export is a meager $712 Million for last year.
Views: 81ShareMar
1
F-6s at War
Filed Under China, PAF, Pakistan, Technology, US Policy | 1 Comment
by Air Cdre M Kaiser Tufail (Retd) 
The US embargo on military sales to Pakistan at the outbreak of 1965 Indo-Pak War was received with dismay and disbelief by the PAF, whose combat and training aircraft were totally of US origin. Already starting to get outclassed by more modern aircraft, the F-86Fs, F-104s and B-57s were now plagued by spares support problems that rendered them virtually worthless in the PAF. The C-in-C of the PAF, Air Marshal Nur Khan who had cannily led the force during the war, sensed the criticality of the situation and started an immediate search for suitable aircraft from new sources. Read more
Views: 626ShareFeb
27
Three Heroines of Pakistan
Filed Under PAF, Pakistan, Sports | 13 Comments
by Imran H. Khan
Pakistan has been blessed with many amazing women whose stories have been largely untold. Shahla Haeri wrote about some of them involved in the social sphere in her book “No Shame for the Sun“. OPEN’s chapters have also held conferences and forums highlighting the role of Pakistani American women in the US. In the recent years three Pakistani women have defied all odds and achieved remarkable success in achieving some of the highest goals typically associated with men. These achievements are specially significant taking into account their economic and geographic origins. Read more
Feb
21
Musings on Current Topics
Filed Under China, India, Pakistan, US Policy, United States | 2 Comments
by Izaz Haque
With so much to talk about these days, a lot of good opinions get left out there unheard. So lets get them out…right here on Imran’s blog.
I can start with a few leaders…
Views: 148ShareFeb
10
Golfing in Pakistan
Filed Under Golf, Pakistan, Sports | 5 Comments
by Imran H. Khan
Rawal Pindi Golf Course
If there ever was a place on the planet where you could play golf like a lord and pay like a knave, it would be Pakistan. Pakistan is the most well kept secret golfing destination as it has some of the most spectacular courses that are open year round. The alluvial soil of the Punjab plains coupled with the Himalayan backdrop provides a natural ecosystem for an interesting golf course layout. Pakistanis are also naturally talented as golfers as they on the average tend to have very good fine motor control and an Asian mindset that marries competitiveness with a balanced inner calm. The fine motor control and good hand eye coordination has been shown by Pakistani athletes in the fields of squash, field hockey, cricket(yikes) and badminton.
Read more
Jan
15
Seminar on “Commercialization of Ideas” at NUST, Islamabad-Pakistan
Filed Under Entrepreneurism, Pakistan, Software, Technology, United States, education | 1 Comment
by Imran H. Khan
January 5th., 2010
National University of Science and Technology is a combination of many colleges that were setup to take care of defense needs, as well as some others. Its main sprawling campus occupies a complete Islamabad sector of H-12. I had the opportunity to visit the campus in my recent visit to Pakistan and had the privilege of speaking at a seminar titled “Commercialization of Ideas”. There is a growing sensitivity at NUST to translate research being done there into the commercial domain. The three main speakers covered the subject from different perspectives.
Views: 97ShareNov
29
Visual Story of Flight at Smithsonian Air and Space Museum
Filed Under Photography, Technology, United States | 2 Comments
by Imran H. Khan
The Air and Space Museum in Washington DC holds some of the most historic air and space crafts in the history of flight. The invention of flying machines is quintessentially American and this museum is a testament to that fact. I was recently visiting DC to see my daughter and had a few hours to kill. So I moseyed over to this museum with my camera and took some photos of these amazing machines that I am sharing here with you. Read more
Views: 75ShareNov
17
Saga of PAF in East Pakistan – 1971
Filed Under China, India, PAF, Pakistan, Uncategorized | 9 Comments
An informal account by Air Marshal Inam-ul-Haque Khan (Retd), HJ, Former Air Officer Commanding East Pakistan
President Yahya Khan held fair and free elections in December, 1970 in which Awami League of Shaikh Mujibur Rahman won a majority largely due to his Six-Point manifesto. National Assembly was to hold its first session in Dacca on 2nd March, 1971. It was, however, sabotaged by vested interests of West Pakistani establishment and some leading politicians, who were not willing to accept a Bengali-led government. Postponement of National Assembly strengthened the secessionist movement in East Pakistan, duly supported by India. Violent civil disobedience ensued through out East Pakistan immediately, resulting in casualties including death of students in a Dacca hostel due to shelling. Army was forced to retreat to cantonments for avoiding bloodshed. The situation was bad demanding careful and intelligent handling. After about a week, when the disobedience had simmered down, Yahya and advisors reached Dacca and held final talks with Mujib on around 20th March for a couple of days. It was then agreed that Yahya will retain the Presidency and, honouring the outcome of election, he will transfer power to Mujib. Yahya, vacillating as ever, swayed by the ill-advice of leading politicians of West Pakistan and his own military junta, to ‘sort out these bloody Bengalis’, resorted to use force in starting on 25th March, 1971, instead of implementing political solution as reached with Awami League – a complete betrayal of trust. Read more
Views: 161ShareNov
16
In Pursuit Of Peace For This One World We All Live In and Share, Our World Our Home
Filed Under Peace | Leave a Comment
by Myra Chaudhary
Myra is a student at Brandeis University studying International Global Studies and Global Economics
“Whosoever kills an innocent human being, it shall be as if he has killed all mankind, and whosoever saves the life of one, it shall be as if he had saved the life of all mankind.”
(Quran 5:32)
“Seek peace, and pursue it.”
(Bible Psalms 34:14)
“Do naught to others which if done to thee would cause thee pain.”
(Hindu Mahabharata 5.1517)
“I am committed to cultivating compassion and learning ways to protect the lives of people, animals, plants, and minerals. I am determined not to kill, not to let others kill, and not to condone any act of killing in the world, in my thinking, and in my way of life”
(Five Mindfulness Trainings of Buddhism)
“You shall not murder.”
(God’s Revelation in the Jewish Old Testament)