Karachi violence: What have you seen?...
On Wednesday, at least 25 people were killed and 40 injured while 20 vehicles were torched in different parts of Karachi. Trouble began in North Karachi when armed men opened fire on Zarina Colony, leading to an alteraction with Rangers personnel. Incidents also occured in Surjani Town, New Karachi Industrial...
Free speech versus security...
Journalists reporting on the ongoing violence in the North West Frontier Province have once again been caught in the crossfire. On Tuesday, a Peshawar-based journalist reporting on military operations in Buner was detained by a state intelligence agency. The following day two of his colleagues who visited...
Representation or vision?...
India’s political landscape has long been dominated by coalition politics. This happened because of the rise of regional parties, particularly in the country’s south, and later by the increasing influence of politics based on caste. Now, scores of political parties are contesting the elections...
What can be done to placate the Baloch?...
Long-simmering tension in Balochistan is once again boiling over. On Sunday, another strike was observed across the province as Baloch nationalists continue to protest the murder of three of their leaders in Turbat earlier this month. Meanwhile, a low-intensity insurgency rages on with security...
Buner: Swat part deux?...
On Thursday, the government announced that eight platoons of paramilitary troops have been sent to Pakistan’s Buner district, which has been infiltrated by the Taliban. Frontier Constabulary platoons have been dispatched to protect government buildings and bridges in Buner. In recent days, Taliban...
Militant infighting: A new curse?...
Dawn.com invites its readers to debate current affairs in this forum. On Sunday, three workers of the Tehrik Nifaz-i-Shariat Muhammadi (TNSM) and one Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant were killed during an exchange of fire between the two sides in Mamond tehsil, Bajaur Agency. The clash erupted...
The proliferation problem...
Dawn.com invites its readers to debate current affairs in this forum. On Thursday, United Nations nuclear inspectors in North Korea left the country amid an escalating standoff over the regime’s April 5 rocket launch. Earlier this week, North Korea withdrew from an international nuclear disarmament...
What will determine India’s elections?...
Phase one of India’s month-long parliamentary elections kicks off on April 16. The 714-million-strong electorate appears to be split between myriad parties and their competing platforms, with the result that analysts predict a new government hamstrung by coalition politics. What do you think are the...
Sufism under attack?...
Dawn.com invites its readers to debate current topics on this forum. Sufi Islam has recently been coming under attack across the country. A number of shrine caretakers in Sindh have been mysteriously murdered. Last week, in Buner, Taliban militants locked down Pir Baba’s shrine and continue to guard...
How would you spend non-military aid?...
Dawn.com invites its readers to debate current affairs in this forum. US Senator John Kerry arrived in Pakistan on Monday to discuss a proposed bill envisaging US$1.5 billion of economic assistance per year to Pakistan over the next five years. During his visit, Senator Kerry, who is also the Chairman...

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