Baitullah Mehsud: Dead?

News sources are reporting that Baitullah Mehsud, the elusive head of the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) [also known as the Pakistani Taliban] died of kidney failure. According to CNN, “An unnamed Islamabad-based source with connections within the Mehsud tribe in South Waziristan said Mehsud died about 1 a.m. Wednesday. Military officials in the field confirmed to CNN [...]

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The Status of the Bajaur Conflict

On Monday, BBC News cited the United National High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), which stated that 20,000 people have fled Pakistan’s tribal area of Bajaur for Afghanistan “amid fighting between troops and militants in recent months.” The BBC added, “The UN’s refugee agency says almost 4,000 families have crossed north-west into Afghanistan’s Kunar province.”
UNHCR spokesman [...]

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Debating on Pakistan

So the first U.S. presidential debate just ended, and initial post-debate polls have indicated that it was a victory, albeit a narrow one, for Democratic candidate Senator Barack Obama. However, as is now expected in a debate on U.S. foreign policy, the  question of Pakistan was a source of disagreement between the candidates. So what [...]

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Zardari Tells Palin She’s ‘Gorgeous’

Today, Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari met VP Republican candidate Sarah Palin in New York City. According to CNN, who called the meeting “an eyebrow raising exchange,” Zardari reportedly called Palin, “gorgeous.” The news agency reported,

On entering a room filled with several Pakistani officials Wednesday, Palin was immediately greeted by Sherry Rehman, the country’s [...]

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Recalling the Marriott Hotel Bombing – Perspectives from Islamabad

The Marriott Hotel bombing last Saturday was an immense tragedy for the people of Pakistan, particularly those from Islamabad. The tragedy is perhaps more telling when we take into account the innocent civilians killed and injured by the blast. CHUP interviewed four people from Islamabad on their reactions to the bombing, in order to provide [...]

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Terrorists Claim Responsibility for Marriott Bombing

According to several media outlets on Monday, an unknown militant group, Fidaeen-e-Islam, [despite some media outlets noting it translated to, "Partisans of Islam," it actually translates to "Freedom Fighters of Islam" or the "Guerillas of Islam"], claimed responsibility for Saturday’s Marriott Hotel attack, [see related CHUP post for coverage] which killed 57 people and wounded [...]

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Making Ourselves Accountable – Shaheryar Mirza

Saturday’s bomb blast at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad was devastating, [see related CHUP post], with media outlets now reporting that at least 40 were killed and hundreds were injured. Below, Shaheryar Mirza, a freelance journalist from Rawalpindi, Pakistan who recently completed his masters degree in journalism, comments on the significance of such an attack [...]

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BREAKING NEWS: Bomb Blast in Islamabad

Wire services reported that there was a bomb blast outside the Marriott hotel in the nation’s capital of Islamabad today. The Associated Press reported, “A huge explosion ripped through part of the heavily guarded Marriott Hotel in Pakistan’s capital on Saturday. Many people, including foreigners, were seen running out, some of them stained with blood.” [...]

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Pakistan Addresses its Economy

The U.S. financial crisis has been a major story in the Western press this week. Of course, this story is merely a part of the overarching global crisis affecting the international community. On Friday, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) “told President Zardari that Pakistan’s economy is facing severe challenges on twin deficits (fiscal and current [...]

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Reminder: Pakistani Journalists’ Event!!

Just a reminder that today’s Woodrow Wilson Center event with five visiting Pakistani journalists will be at 3:30 – 5:30 pm [EST] TODAY, [see past post for more details]. The event will also be webcast live, please click here for the live streaming video at the time of the event.
I can assure you that won’t [...]

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