31st March

Push Forward

The article explains the two-pronged strategy of US to resolve the Af-Pak crisis and insists that having set the correct approach, Obama must deliver it as well.

While reinstatement of Justice Iftikhar Chawdhry has been projected as interregnum, it is business as usual in Pakistan. The Taliban incursion in the region becomes profound as evident from the suicide attacks in Lahore and the attack on Police school in the Lahore outskirts. The increase in the intensity of the attacks after unveiling of Af-Pak policy by Obama is no coincidence. All Obama needs to do is to push his two-pronged strategy to turn the tide. The first is the unprecedented internationalist approach to the Af-Pak problem. Involving India, China, Russia and Iran could be strategically important. India has an obvious interest to resolve the crisis in its neighborhood. China, being Pakistan’s big brother de facto is essential. Russia could prove an important interlocutor with vital Central Asian nations and an alternate supply route could be vital. Iran has an obvious interest in its neighbor’s stability from the security point of view as well as to suppress the increasing command of Saudi in the region. US has been able to involve Iran in spite of its differences which is commendable. The second facet of the strategy has been a correction in dealing with Pakistan. With open condemnation of ISI nexus with Taliban and Al-Qaeda, Obama has called for better cooperation from Pakistan and linking civilian aid as important to survive for it along with verifiable action against insurgents.

As the war enters the vital stage it should be kept in mind that this is the same Taliban that harbored the men responsible for 9/11. Obama has the vision to solve the problem. Now he has to deliver it.

Brains Thrust

The article talks about the path-breaking invention made by scientists at Ashton University, Birmingham to develop a tiny artificial brain in the lab and its capabilities to find cures for several diseases in the world.

Dementia is one of the most common diseases around the world yet hugely underfunded for research. However, the scientists at Ashton University were still able to produce an ace as they were able to reprogram cells from cancerous tumor to create a tissue identical to that found in human nervous system. In a way they developed a tiny human brain in a lab. According to Michel Coleman, the leader of the team, what they have developed is an artificial brain capable of functioning at most basic level. But the breakthrough will help in majorly in understanding dementia and how neurodegenerative diseases develop and ultimately its cure. It would also prevent testing of medicines on animals since animals react differently then humans which can lead to possible side effects of the final medicine on humans. With this advance it is believed that cure of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s is few years away.

However, another community that would be hugely interested in this invention would be researchers of cognitive and computer sciences as it would give them a powerful tool to understand the origin of individual conscience, one of the greatest mysteries of science and humanity.