Pakistan’s gutsy decision to continue building its share of the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline against the warnings of possible sanctions by the US has made its way into the headlines. Within the next two years (and 1.5 billion dollars later), Pakistan plans to finish the construction of 781 km of the…
Category: South Asia
INDIA: Cybercrime Response is Crucial to Cameron’s Agenda
British Prime Minister David Cameron’s recent three-day visit to Mumbai and New Delhi- the first visit from an English premier in 20 years — is ripping across Asian subcontinent. Accompanied by the largest entourage of British business officials ever to travel overseas with a prime minister, Cameron had a myriad…
PAKISTAN: The Debate Drones On
Debates concerning the use of drones in Pakistan, and other countries, by the CIA are not new. Recently US Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, in an AFP interview, was forced to defend the policy and practice; “The whole purpose of our operations were aimed at those who attacked this country and…
PAKISTAN: Lessons on Courage
Author Maya Angelou stated, “One isn’t necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential.” If this is true, Malala Yousafzai was born with an unlimited amount of potential for courage. Quite frankly she has shown more courage in her first 15 years of life than most adults ever…
PAKISTAN: True Story in ‘Zero Dark Thirty’?
The new movie about the successful hunt to find and kill Osama bin Laden will surely cop a few Academy Awards. It is well done and worth seeing. But this is not intended to be a movie review. Rather, ‘Zero Dark Thirty’ raises difficult issues about the morality of America’s…
INDIA: China’s Passport to Trouble
China is at it again! Existing territorial conflict between New Delhi and Beijing over Arunchal Pradesh is no concern of the past. The controversial issue has been revived as China recently took matters into its own hands, launching new e-passports in which it showed the regions of Arunachal Pradesh and…
PAKISTAN: World Condemnation of Taliban Bullies’ Attack on a 14-Year-Old Girl Education Crusader
SPECIAL FROM LATIFAH RAHMDEL AT UNITED ARAB EMIRATES UNIVERSITY IN AL AIN, ABU DHABI — Not only in Pakistan, but from all over the world people have been following the case and sending prayers for Malala Yousafzai, the brave 14-year-old girl targeted and shot in the head last week by…
INDIA: A Techno Solution forTouchy India/Pakistan?
The recent blowup of the Innocence of Islam and the detrimental effects that the provocative video (or is it a mere trailer?) is forcing many to question the power of technology. However, a new program in India may redeem hope that technology, the media, and entertainment can also be a…
SRI LANKA: New Nuclear Plant from India Has Neighbor Up in Arms
The Indian government says Sri Lankan opponents of its newest nuclear power plant have resorted to a campaign of propaganda and media misinformation to keep the facility from going live. All the same, the anti-nuke effort is making an impact: New Delhi said it will enter into a “broad dialogue”…
INDIA: Who Loves Ya, You Poor Journo???
During a recent protest in Assam, a northeastern state of India, journalists became the target of the protestors – and they are now up in arms about it. On August 29th the Daily News Analysis (DNA) India reported on a twelve-hour protest held the day before by the All Assam…
IN REVIEW – Shamini Flint’s INSPECTOR SINGH: A CURIOUS INDIAN CADAVER
Most of us have heard the story of the Runaway Bride, but probably not one told quite like this! Shamini Flint’s fifth installment of her bestselling book series, Inspector Singh Investigates: A Curious Indian Cadaver, goes far beyond the tale of a missing bride, chronicling the mind of a sweaty,…
INDIA: Cartoon Version of Free Speech?
How dangerous can a cartoon be? This seems to be the question many are asking themselves after Professor Ambikesh Mohapatra from the Jadavpur University was arrested for posting a political cartoon. The cartoon is a spoof in which Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Railway Minister Mukul Roy are featured talking about how…
PAKISTAN: Forced Conversions or Cultural Assimilation?
Of the 180 million population in Pakistan, little more than one percent are Hindus. But increasingly they are said to be fearing for their religious identity — and lives — as more and more coerced conversions have been reported. The Independent Human Rights Commission in Pakistan (HRCP) claims that the…
INDIA: From Porn to Secret Cellphone Recording
There has recently been quite a bit of commotion during house sessions in India, and the Tamil Nadu Assembly has taken steps to alleviate the problem. Following recent cellular related scandals – one in which ministers in Karnataka were caught watching porn on their cellular device, and another recent incident…
PAKISTAN: Zardari Meets with Indian PM for a ‘Play Date’
This past week, President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan flew to India to meet Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to discuss the countries’ volatile relationship. Tension has accumulated over the past half century, starting with the military three conflicts since independence from British rule in 1947 and the ever-present nuclear threat…
BANGLADESH: Media Turn Up the Volume for Independence Celebrations
Forty-one years ago, Bangladesh gained independence from Pakistan in the bloody nine-month Liberation war. Now, with the help of its media, the country honors this day. On March 26, 1971, the Bangladeshi government informed the public via radio that the Liberation War had reached its conclusion. On Monday, March 26,…