Remembering Shahbaz Bhatti, an unsung hero of Pakistan
It has been over three years that Pakistan lost a brave Christian citizen Shahbaz Bhatti for his relentless advocacy of human rights and in…
Pakistan silently watches the rise of Narendra Modi
My analysis – Pakistan: Cautiously pessimistic about Modi’s expected rise to power – first published here: A decade of UPA-Congress rule in India ends…
Rannikot II
Salman Rashid muses on the ancient site of Rannikot in Sindh and prefers that it is”enigmatic, inscrutable, inviting” One thing is certain about Rannikot: it…
Khushwant Singh: The last Pakistani living on Indian soil
My tribute to KS (first published in DAWN on March 30) IT is difficult to evaluate the legacy of writer, journalist and an icon…
Enhancing Pak-India Trade Ties
Notwithstanding Pakistan’s internal challenges or the ‘war on terror’ in its backyard, the troubled relationship with India continues to drive its internal and external…
Raza Rumi says Pakistan should see its interest in Iran Pakistan gas pipeline, says it will shorten
The gas crisis worsens in Pakistan. Raza Rumi says Pakistan should see its interest in Iran Pakistan gas pipeline.…
Pakistan, Taliban and Karzai
My piece for ANN (link) where I argue how Pakistan’s Prime Minister is struggling to taking charge of the country’s security policies, away from…
The future of Afghanistan – towards a regional solution
Here is a video podcast I did for the Pak-China institute. The transcript follows the video. The situation in Afghanistan, especially as its unfolding…
Raza Rumi says other Muslim countries have adopted birth control
Raza Rumi’s opinion on increasing population rates in Pakistan. He illustrates how Muslim countries across the globe have been promoting birth control measures.…
Hassan Rouhani: Iran’s New President Will Build Alliances With India and Afghanistan
Here is something I wrote for policymic An unprecedented number of Iranians at home and abroad participated in the 11th presidential elections in the…
Displacement & Discontent – Basti by Intizar Husain
THE publication of Basti’s translation is an important literary milestone. The author, Intizar Husain, is perhaps the greatest living Urdu writer and his genius…
Siavash Mahvis – Artist from Iran
“Siavash Mahvis” is a contemporary Iranian artist and a university professor. He owes his acquaintance with the world of line and design to realist…
Cultural Assets of the Communities of District Multan and Bahawalpur, Pakistan
“South Punjab, in particular, the districts of Multan and Bahawalpur…, have a vast range of cultural assets. the living culture of the communities carries…
Tahrir square eastward?
February 2011 saw the iron fist of Hosni Mubarak being wrenched open after three decades of repressive rule. During this period, the Egyptian secret…
Taliban suicide bomber dressed as schoolboy kills 31 army cadets
By Andrew Buncombe, Asia Correspondent, The Independent Pakistan’s army suffered a damaging blow after a suicide bomber believed to be in his teens and…
China: Braving the Storm
China has so far braved many storms. However, this time it will be a test of its political leadership and economic managers to set…
Why a Pakistani Ambassador is not acceptable to Saudi Arabia
Now this is truly funny – Saudis have rejected the credentials of our Ambassador designate on not-so-flimsy grounds Read here -The post at Cafe…
Sub-Continent’s Berlin Wall
I am posting Shivani Mohan's article where I have been quoted with reference to the recent folklore festival held under the aegis of SAARC.…
Itihaas : Was Hussaiyn bin Mansour Al Hallaj inspired by India?
By Akhilesh Mittal In the third century of its advent Islam and its world were in ferment about forms of polity such as the…
Extracts from Empires of the Indus by Alice Albinia
From The Guardian In a land where it seldom rains, a river is as precious as gold. Water is potent: it trickles through human…