Playmobil: Acclimating Your Child to the Global War on Terror

I am currently working on a pretty elaborate article related to the UK-Pakistan terror path, (i.e. requiring me to use more than two sources, none of which include the beloved Wikipedia), but a friend sent me this Amazon product link that I thought made a pretty hilarious buffer post, particularly given how the war on [...]

Read Full Post »

Well It’s About Time…

If you didn’t get a chance to watch U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s rather refreshing testimony before Congress last week, here is the clip:

Ultimately, Clinton recognizes the U.S. role in funding the Pakistani mujahideen, the fighters sent to Afghanistan to fight the Soviets in the 1980s. She asserted,

Let’s remember that [...]

Read Full Post »

Insight into Pakistan’s Conflict: Q&A with Khalid Aziz

Image Credit: WWICS

This past week, tensions within Pakistan escalated after Taliban militants consolidated power in Buner, just 70 miles from the capital of Islamabad. Although these elements began to withdraw from the area last Friday, the developments raised fears within the country and the international community about the increasing influence of the Taliban in Pakistan [...]

Read Full Post »

Taliban Pulling Out of Buner

Today, the Taliban announced they are pulling out of Buner, the district just 70 miles from Islamabad, [see left image]. According to the NY Times, “Some 400 to 500 insurgents consolidated control of” the strategic district, “setting up checkpoints and negotiating a truce similar to the one that allowed the Taliban to impose Islamic law [...]

Read Full Post »

Happy Earth Day!

Not too long ago, I interviewed Roland Stevenson of RiverIndia, a company that leads kayaking expeditions in India and throughout the subcontinent. This past November, Roland led a team on an expedition down the Indus River in Pakistan, the longest river in the country and the 21st largest river in the world in terms of [...]

Read Full Post »

An Interview with Faiza Shaikh: Artist, Philosopher, Visionary

Faiza Shaikh, a London-based artist from Karachi, is groundbreaking in her work, [click images above to see enlarged pieces of her art]. Using strong, bold colors, her art fuses modernity with religious philosophy. Each of Faiza’s paintings impart a message of religious tolerance and peace in a world torn apart by division and polarization. Her [...]

Read Full Post »

Snapping out of this State of Denial

On Sunday, Sufi Mohammed, head of Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat [TNSM], told a large rally, “The fifteen year struggle of the TNSM for the implementation of Sharia in Malakand is now bearing results,” adding, “Now any appeal against the Qazi courts’ decisions can be made only through the Darul Qaza [Sharia court]. There is no room for democracy [...]

Read Full Post »

MTV Iggy Presents Change: Kashmir

MTV Iggy, a recently launched global pop culture initiative from MTV Networks, is currently showcasing a wide-angle view on the Kashmir conflict entitled, MTV Iggy Presents Change: Kashmir. The series is a comprehensive multimedia survey of the conflict’s current status and history, featuring on-the-ground clips of everyday Kashmiris on both sides of the Line of [...]

Read Full Post »

Children of the Taliban

On Tuesday, PBS [Public Broadcasting Service] Frontline/World aired a half hour documentary by Pakistani filmmaker/correspondent Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy, who traveled across the country to explore the growing popularity of the Taliban, as well as its impact on the next generation. I know many feel over-saturated with news regarding FATA and Swat, but I highly recommend watching [...]

Read Full Post »

Attending Coke Studio’s Press Conference – Batool

According to its official website, Coke Studio “embodies a musical fusion of exciting elements and diverse influences, ranging from traditional eastern, modern western and regionally inspired music.” The unique initiative provides a platform for Pakistan’s wide range of musicians, bringing them together to celebrate their industry, artistry, and diversity through live recordings and performances. After [...]

Read Full Post »