Pak-US Strategic Partnership in the War on Terror to Curb Militant Bloodbath

Pakistan’s involvement in the US war on terrorism was a tragic decision. No option was left for the ruling elite of Pakistan except to join the global war on terrorism and to take a U-turn from the support of Taliban’s regime in Afghanistan which was duly recognized by Pakistan’s government in 1996. It was expected by the policy-makers of the US that the alliance with Pakistan would provide extraordinary strength in combating the Al-Qaeda and other affiliated conglomerates in Afghanistan as well as in borderland area. However, after fifteen years of war, the alliance has enfeebled despite their mutual understanding regarding the objectives envisaged in the Strategic Partnership. The war on terrorism has now been escalated from Afghanistan to Pakistan and it has provided space to religious extremism, militancy, intolerance, ethnic division and sectarianism. There is no denial to the fact that religious extremism and terrorism are common threat and have damaged both the countries yet Pakistan has sacrificed more than the US in terms of human and material loss. Nevertheless, blame game and trust deficit is on the rise from both sides. This article focuses first on the joint ventures that the US and Pakistan mutually initiated to curb militant bloodbath in Afghanistan as well as in the border region. Secondly, it will explore factors responsible for increasing trust deficit between the partners. The study will not only provide deep understanding about the prevailing issues between Pakistan and the US but will also give true pictures to streamline the methodology for negotiating with each other in  future.

Diagnostic Efficiacy of Immunochromatography Technique for Detection of Viral Hepatitisinfection in Suspected Serum Specimens

A prospective study was conducted in order to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of immunochromatography assays for qualitative detection of hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C virus antibodies, using commercially available rapid test devices. Rural population of district Chakwal visiting primary care hospitals for screening of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections was selected as study population. Coagulated blood specimens were collected from a total of 500 individuals; serum was separated and stored at -20 C till analysis. Necessary demographic information with previous exposure and screening history of each individual was also recorded in pre designed performa. The stored serum specimens were analyzed for detection of hepatitis B surface antigen and hepatitis C virus antibodies through immunochromatography technique (ICT) and enzyme linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) using commercially available ICT rapid test devices and ELISA kits. Out of total 500 specimens analyzed through ICT for HBs Ag detection, 15 exhibited positive outcome for the infection whereas analysis of the same specimens through standard ELIS test revealed 16 true positives. One of the ICT tested specimens was therefore recorded as false negative. The sensitivity of rapid test device for HBs Ag detection was therefore 93.75% with 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value and 99.8% diagnostic accuracy. Similarly 34 of the 500 ICT tested specimens exhibited positive outcome for hepatitis C virus infection whereas 37 true positives were recorded when same specimens were analyzed through standard ELISA test. The sensitivity of ICT rapid test device for HCV Ab detection was therefore 91.89% with 99.57% specificity, 94.44% positive predictive value, 99.35% negative predictive value and 99% diagnostic accuracy. The findings indicate that the rapid diagnostic immunoassays, in spite of requiring minimum time and equipment, are not comparable with standard ELISA for screening of hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus infections.