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May 2009
After two years, Dr. Sen was finally released on bail by the Supreme Court. See Free Dr. Binayak Sen and, somewhat related, New Prisons for Old.
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Action for a Progressive Pakistan, a group of like-minded folks (I am a proud member) has just published an op-ed in Dhaka’s Daily Star concerning the actions of West Pakistan’s army against the people of (now) Bangladesh: We Apologize. On May 13th, Bangladesh’s Foreign Minister Dipu Moni asked that Pakistan formally announce an apology for [...]
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You have so many interlocuters here, here, here and here that to respond to your answer to my earlier comment, I am afraid that I have to move it up here above the fold. We finally come to the nub of the matter. Your response makes it crystal clear that in your reading Taliban = [...]
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The Swat offensive continues to generate humanitarian crisis. A crisis which the Army or the state are failing to deal with. In Karachi, MQM – the major political party and social group – has adopted the language of TALIBOTHRA to deny safety and comfort to the IDPs. Tensions between the Pashtun and the Muhajir (basically, [...]
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“Americans can text the word “SWAT” — to the number 20222 and make a $5 contribution that will help the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees provide tents, clothing, food, and medicine to hundreds of thousands of affected people.” – Secretary Clinton, May 19th, 2009. You can make up to 5 such contributions. Now, this last [...]
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K. K. Aziz, 82, one of the most renowned historian of Pakistan, is gravely ill in Lahore. He is one of those cherished individuals who dare speak truth without the fear of consequence. He acted as the nation’s conscious for a long while [See especially, The Pakistani Historian: Pride and Prejudice in the Writing of [...]
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Above is a big hall full of bearded Muslims. Not just any Muslims, but members of the Jama’at-e Ulema. They are gathered, and this is where it becomes a little scary folks, to condemn the Taliban. I know, right? Apparently, this has been going on for some time. At this particular gathering, they denounced the [...]
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The humanitarian crisis caused by the displacements of hundreds of thousands of Pakistanis needs your attention. After all those headlines about failing Pakistan and advancing Talibans, I hope that this immediate after-effect of the Pakistani military’s actions also gets due attention. Please donate at: UNCHR’s Pakistan Page. Mercy Corps, Pakistan. Checks can be written to [...]
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In 1806, James Mill (1773–1836) – father of John Stuart Mill – began writing his monumental History of British India. It was finally published in 1817, in 3 vols, and he claimed, in his preface, that it was the first such comprehensive history to have dealt with India. The preface of this history is one [...]
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“(The New York Times put him on a retainer for several months after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, when he was working as a journalist, to help its correspondents better understand Pakistan.)” (emphasis mine.) Oh NYT, why do you always fall for those “silver-tongued interpreters“.
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I know, the ubiquity is bothersome but bear with me. I. Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez were kind enough to host me this morning on their show, Democracy Now!: Manan Ahmed on the Politics of US “Hysteria” over Pakistan II. The excellent UAE National gave me space to develop my argument about the Pakistani “failed [...]
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The future histories of empire will have to focus on the American penchant for building “secure embassies”. Take the 2009 Supplemental Appropriations for Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Pandemic Flu (pdf) [i love that list, btw]. Pakistan gets $2.3 billion (more than Iraq, Afghanistan or Flu). But towards what end, you ask? Well, it has $897 [...]
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I actually have a post on the cinemas of Pakistan, including the Capital hall and the insane cultural war they represent. (No, it’s not what you’d think). In any case, Sabrina Tavernise in the NYT on the contradictions of Pakistan.
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Gentle readers, I am off to beautiful SF. If you are in the area, I would love to see you there. Expect some food fotos next week. In the meantime be nice to swines and laborers on this fine May Day.
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You can purchase, for delivery around the world,