The ‘Big Story’ of the September issue of the Melange International Magazine authored by the Editor-in-Chief Amna Malik addresses Pakistan’s pivot from ‘geopolitics’ to ‘geo-economics’. The article is a timely analysis into the effectiveness of Pakistan’s geo-economics vision and traces how Pakistan’s Central Asia Vision and Look Africa policy would serve to achieve short, medium and long-term national interest goals of Pakistan. In addition, this volume cover issues related to Kashmir, foreign affairs, global politics, economic and security dynamics of South Asia.
From Pakistan’s lens, sitting at the crossroads of South, Central, and West Asia makes it one of the key actors in the realm of regional multilateral affairs. To take full advantage of its geographic presence, Pakistan aims to shift its focus from geo-politics to geo-economics through interest maximization based on enhancing connectivity and paving the path for all-encompassing development. The reflection of the envisioned economic policy of inclusive growth and development can be witnessed in Pakistan’s civil, military leadership’s initiatives toward non- non-confrontational neighborhood policy. Normalization of ties with India is one major step towards realizing the shift from geopolitics to geo-economics.
Khalid Latif, Editor of the Melange International Magazine addresses the synthetic account of cyber warfare and highlights associated threats and challenges. The commentary examines how nation states might use cyberspace to shape opinion of their civilian populations or that of others and how adversaries might attempt to do the same. The author recognizes that cyber warfare is discussed through primarily financial or military perspectives, however, the “spooky” aspects of cyber warfare such as perception management aspects of cyber warfare are not much addressed. The global elite and even America’s own national elite are experts at mischaracterizing, fabricating, omitting and trivializing issues. We’ve entered the age of the Sound Byte where people are no longer educated nor interested in education. They’re constrained by time and thus settle for whatever the media dishes out.
Rear Admiral (R) Saleem Akhtar’s article on “Pakistan and the Blue Economy – Challenges & Prospects” highlights Pakistan’s efforts towards sustainable blue-economy. It further reflects on global trends that demands a shift from a brown economy to “blue economy”. In this regard, CPEC provides an excellent opportunity for strengthening of maritime sector and full utilization of all imperatives of Blue economy. In another piece on “Kashmir under siege” Syed Mushahid Naqvi highlighted the Indian flagrant violations of human rights led to the Indian Illegally annexation of Jammu & Kashmir after the revocation of article 370 and 35 (A) of the Indian constitution . His piece also traces the implications of India’s abrogation of article 370 and 375 (A) illegal action on the Pakistan-India relations and regional security.
This edition provides diverse views, perspectives and recommendations on a range of issues related to foreign affairs and global politics such as Ramzy Baroud’s ‘US Foreign Policy Adrift: Why Washington is No Longer Calling the Shots,’ Yousef Aljamal’s analysis on ‘Humanitarian Crisis in Palestine’, Zeeshan Shoukat’s article titled, ‘Israeli Interests Vis-à-Vis Kurdish Region’ Faraz Naqvi’s analysis on “Pakistan-Iraq Ties: From Historical Irritants to Present Opportunities’ and Furkan Halit Yolcu’s article on ‘Turkey’s UAV Breakthrough Creates Another Path to MENA.’
Sobia Khursheed in her article “Hindutva: Religious Fascism in India and its impact on region” examines religious fascism in India and its implications. Saima Zaman contextualizes Pakistan’s vision to promote tourism and its impact on Pakistan’s economy. Lastly, Alessandra Casareggio’s piece on “The Gamesmanship of Straits in Global Politics” presents insightful analysis on the impact that narrow sea straits have on international politics and economy.
Finally, this issue delivers an impartial analysis in contributing to the reader’s understanding of developments of global politics.