Beardless folks – Shazia Gulzar: Beard holds a significant importance in the Islamic Society. It plays a pivotal role in how people should perceive you. You are instantly known as a Sufi or Ustad ji, even if you aren’t one. It definitely changes
Narrative building in Pashtun society: It is ominous to make predictions these days. Predictions aside, detecting the currents and threads that underlie events and analysing causation and consequences is a futile exercise. But events needs to be dissected and the behaviour it generates should
A dose of Reality- by AZ: All aspects should be taken into account and covered in the agreements when creating affiliates, subsidiaries, or contractual relationships even if the counter-party seems fully under control when the relationship is established. Sometimes it can lead to consequences that
PTI and PMLN support Taliban – by Shahid Shigri: An attack on School in Peshawar in Pakistan took a total of 146 lives which included 136 children and injured more than 125 children. Taliban has taken the responsibility of this crime against humanity. It was the darkest
In Pictures: Ashura observed amid tight security in Kabul: Thousands of people, cutting across sects and tribes, took part in the massive mourning processions on Muharram 10 (Ashura) in Kabul and demonstrated their desire and willingness to co-exist peacefully and foil the sinister plots of mischief-mongers who
ایران و پاکستان کا ’مہنگا‘ اطمینان: اکتوبر کے پہلے ہفتے سے جاری تنازعے میں اب تک ایران اور پاکستان کے درمیان سرحدی جھڑپوں کے کئی واقعات ہو چکے ہیں، تاہم یہ خبر نہایت غیر معمولی اور دونوں ممالک کے درمیان اس علاقے میں بڑھتے ہوئے
دیوبندی تکفیری فتنے کی چند مثالیں – از عبدلقادر: عصر حاضر کے دیوبندی سلفی فتنے کو سمجھانے کے لئے کچھ مثالیں عرض کرتا ہوں 1)- 1996 تا 2001 صرف 5 سال حکومت ملنے پر دیوبندیوں نے افغانستان میں بدھا کے 1800 سال پرانے عظیم مجسموں کو مسمار کر
Taliban cut hair, beards to flee Pakistan army assault: BANNU: Hundreds of Taliban fighters rushed to disguise themselves with new haircuts in the weeks before a Pakistani army assault, it has emerged, as refugees revealed details of life under the militants — and their taste for
IDPs from N Waziristan recall nightmares with Taliban: NEW YORK: Displaced people from North Waziristan agency have spoken out against Pakistani Taliban’s nightmarish hold of their tribal region bordering Afghanistan, saying they destroyed their social structure and traditions. Some of the tens of thousands of people from
The mega follies: POLITICS is all about perception. If people believe that a policy is detrimental to their interests, not even a deluge of spin, arranged news conferences, full-page advertisements and assurances by its advocates is going to change that perception. A
Fighting Pakistan’s War – by Khaled Ahmed: Early last month, Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan confessed that “peace” talks with the Pakistani Taliban had been derailed and the committees chosen by both sides had either grown impotent through resignations or become too empowered with
Pro Taliban General Kayani wanted by Ansar e Taliban: Please refer to this tweet of Ansar Abbasi and his recommendation of Former DG ISI and Former Chief of the Army Staff, General Kayani. And yet some people would have us believe that there is a principled struggle
The ISI’s Great Game in Afghanistan – by Omer Aziz: On the evening of March 20, two teenagers entered the buffet area of the luxurious Serena Hotel in Kabul. The well-guarded establishment was a popular meeting place for politicians, diplomats, and journalists; a kind of refuge away from the
US to end presence in Afghanistan by end of 2016 – Bill Roggio: Yesterday, President Barack Obama formally announced the US’ plan for basing troops in Afghanistan after the International Security Assistance Force mission concludes at the end of 2014. Previously, the administration had floated the idea of a “zero option,” or no troops
Foreign militants seeking ‘safe passage’ – by Hassan Abdullah: MIRAMSHAH: As the government team prepares for another meeting with the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan Deobandi (TTP), many of the foreign militants based in and around North Waziristan feel they are facing an uncertain future and are not only seeking assurances from