Preemptive Self-defence in the Age of Terror: an International Law Perspective

This is an important topic and very relevant for Pakistan's ongoing undeclared war. The work is grounded in the mainstream literature on international law and it elaborates different perspectives on international law. The historical development of the concept of preemptive self-defence under international law that is traced leaves no doubt that prevailing interpretations are in fact political interpretations of our existing legal framework justified by reliance on socially constructed natural law. This descriptive work exposes gaps in current international law that needs to be addressed for realities of our complex twenty- first century. Without such updating international law will continue to be a tool in the hands of the dominant and will not promote ethical and just practices, it intends to uphold. Dr. Robina Bhatti (Professor), Institute of Global Studies, California State University.