The forces of globalisation are indiscriminate – they enable those who pursue good and those who pursue evil. The changes brought about by globalisation affect all segments of society, all walks of life, all political parties, all religions, all ethnic groups, and all countries. Sometimes they occur in the most unexpected ways and yield complex results that appear to be mystifying and intractable, at least on the surface. This book describes how the forces of globalisation have descended upon Karachi and exacerbated local and regional problems to the point where the city is teetering on the brink of chaos. Karachi is geographically, politically, and culturally situated in the context of modern Pakistan, but is a global city affected by global forces, many of which challenge the state’s power and authority. The lessons of Karachi are important for both its present and its future, and they can serve as a cautionary tale for other global cities. Karachi is vitally important to Pakistan. While Islamabad is the country’s capital, Karachi is the most important financial centre in the country. It is the centre of banking, industry, economic activity and trade. Many of Pakistan’s largest corporations are based in Karachi, including entertainment, arts, fashion, medical research, the automotive industry, shipping, textiles, advertising, publishing, and software development. Karachi is also home to Pakistan’s main seaport and two of the largest ports in the region, the Port of Karachi and Port Bin Qasim.

Karachi the financial capital of Pakistan and its largest city is an active player in the financial system of the world. Despite the deteriorating law and order situation over the last three decades Karachi had not acquired the notoriety as a key conduit for terror financing until the turn of the century. The event of 9/11 brought Karachi into the limelight as investigations concluded that substantial portion of funding for the attack had routed through Karachi. It had inadvertently become a part of the terror threat the West was confronted with. While much academic attention has focused on the roots of terrorism, not enough study has been undertaken to analyze the factors that have bred criminal and terrorist organizations in Karachi that operate at both the domestic and international arenas. This dissertation examines the elements of Karachi's development which has turned it into a haven for terrorist and criminal activities.

This book historically maps and examines the evolving, contemporary geostrategic and geopolitical imperatives of the United States within Pakistan and the South Asian region, especially after September 11, 2001. It offers a detailed and theoretical account of the rapidly changing context of US foreign policy towards Pakistan after 2001. The history of the US-Pakistan relationship has been a complex and inscrutable mix of cooperation and conflict has turned even more challenging after 9/11. This book covers the latest developments and relevant themes from world politics as it discusses the impact of the unprecedented rise in religious extremism in Pakistan, stemming from the US War on Terror as well as Pakistan’s economic vulnerability and military dictatorship, India’s offer to support the US in its war in Afghanistan, Pakistan’s nuclear capability, and the US administration’s decision to end financial aid to Pakistan. The study highlights the fact that, from the receding of British influence in the region through the Cold War and post-Cold War phases to the post-9/11 period, US-South Asia policy has been informed by the theoretical paradigm of the grand strategy of primacy. This topical book will be useful to scholars and researchers of international relations, politics, political studies, strategic and defence studies, security and peace studies, foreign policy, area studies, and South Asian studies. It will also interest diplomats, politicians, policymakers, security experts, journalists, and think tanks interested in India, Pakistan, and the United States on issues of international politics, world affairs, and terrorism.

The growth in Pakistan's economy has increased the pressure on energy resources. As demand for energy exceeds supply, power outages and planned power cuts (euphemistically termed `load-shedding') are common. In addition to economic costs, energy shortages can also foster political instability. Repeated power failures have already touched off street demonstrations, rioting, and coup rumours. This unrest may be only a foretaste of things to come. --