Scientific cooperation between Islamic countries has a lacklustre record, marked by a shortage of resources and a lack of political will for investment. The few countries that have invested heavily in recent years — including Iran, Pakistan, Qatar and Saudi Arabia — have chosen to work instead with scientifically advanced countries in North–South collaborations that offer more obvious benefits than partnerships among themselves.

For years, this unfolding tragedy was explained away through Indian charges of Pakistani involvement in the freedom movement. Much of this was true, as official and unofficial players supported an armed insurgency. But what is happening now in the Valley has nothing to do with cross-border incursions by jihadi militants.

India said on Tuesday that arch-rival Pakistan had accepted its offer of flood aid, but analysts say this piecemeal attempt at disaster diplomacy will not help improve relations between the two sides.

While India and Pakistan continue their difficult political discourse, Track II diplomacy still seems to be rolling with artistic collaborations, despite musicians Rahat Fateh Ali Khan and artist Khalil Chishti being denied visas to enter India recently. At his concert yesterday at the Siri Fort auditorium organised by Routes2Roots and ICCR, popular Pakistani singer Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan and his band Fuzon did their bit to further the cause of camaraderie between the two nations.

Confusion reigns about a solution for Pakistan's internal problems. International opinion oscillates between the need to apply more pressure on the country, or else to help it more generously. Yet increased aggression or abandoning the country to deal with its difficulties are not very sensible options, as both could unleash severe destabilisation within Pakistan and beyond.

Webster, Oxford and other dictionary merchants are yet to define "mango diplomacy", but when that day dawns the origins of the term would be sub-continental, with Pakistan and Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh featuring as its pioneers.

As the contradictions of Asia’s water challenges have been laid bare this summer—with millions affected by flooding while others are hit by droughts—one thing has been made clearer: the coming water crisis could exacerbate already simmering domestic and regional tensions.

Why did the world, particularly U.S. individual donors, give so much for Haiti but show so little concern for Pakistan? The two most common answers are the poor economy and donor fatigue. While they are certainly playing a role, these two factors provide an incomplete picture.