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Stereotyping Baloch youth

EDUCATED Baloch youth face an image problem in urban Pakistan, mainly in Punjab which controls the country’s sociopolitical narratives. Security institutions, the intelligentsia, the media, even educationists and civil society…

Explosive revelations — really?

WHAT is an explosive revelation? In Pakistan, it is when we hear straight from the horse’s mouth something almost every Pakistani knows, such as the contemptuous disregard of the Constitution…

The ‘aubash’ hand in India’s pain

‘AUBASH’ is a Persian word whose meaning, if grasped correctly, could help explain the runaway success of Hindutva as an Indian phenomenon. Japanese scholar Hiroshi Kan Kagaya’s insightful work on the…

Education for all?

PAKISTAN is a signatory to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), one of which obligates the country to provide inclusive and equitable education for all. Once again, the question has…

Getting rich on YouTube

EVERYONE is into it. Before leaving, your dadi’s friend grabs you by the arm and whispers “Beta aap bhi meri subscriber banein na” she says as she adjusts her glasses,…

Kashmir: facing multiple assaults

Just about every aspect of life for Muslims in occupied Jammu and Kashmir is under assault by India’s ruling BJP. The year 2022 saw Indian actions aimed at disempowering its…

Cultural challenges of adoption

IN recent years, child adoption has increased across all sections of society. However, the practice often remains concealed, and couples are compelled to live with a web of lies. The…

Pakistan, Islam & education

WHEN a patient’s condition turns critical, doctors often say it is time for dua (prayer) more than dawa (medicine or treatment). Current Pakistani conversations across all classes about the state…

Why the TTP is undefeatable

AS the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) ramp up their murderous attacks on Pakistani soldiers, ISI officers, police, and ordinary citizens, the men who run Pakistan’s security establishment are trotting out the…

New year, ancient clichés

A NEW year begins, though in Pakistan we are already braced for old issues, older than just a few months. This was brought home by the new army chief’s statement…