Home >> South Asia India, Pakistan & Bangladesh India: Environmentalists to Campaign 'Ride A Cycle
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 11/20/2009
As the campaign for climate change is gaining momentum and talks to cut down carbon emission is reaching its crescendo, a humble attempt is being made in southern India to push the cause of the good old peddle bicycle. Voice of Separatism once again heard in India
Tanveer Jafri - 11/17/2009
The day of November 9 this year was certainly a historical and great day for the united Germans. Twenty years ago, on the same day, the people of East and West Germany felled the dividing Berlin wall. That’s why the 9th of November has such a great importance for the entire world. But unfortunately, while the Germans were celebrating the 20th anniversary of their unification on November 9, on the same day, some selfish chauvinist elements in India were planning to create a ‘wall’ of hate on the name of language. Fatwa on Vande Mataram and Politics vs. Fatwas
Tanveer Jafri - 11/17/2009
The ‘veterans’ of communal politics in India have once again got a golden opportunity for the time being. A few days back, the Jamiat Ulama-e-Hind adopted a resolution at its 30th general session in Deoband asking Indian Muslims not to recite 'Vande Mataram', an Indian national song. Upto what extent Indian Muslims will follow this resolution, this resolution applies on how many sects of Islam, Do Jamiat have the right to issue fatwas or other religious instructions for all the 73 sects of Muslims? Without giving a thought to all these important aspects, the staunch followers of communal polit... Misleading statements can end Pakistan’s credibility
Tanveer Jafri - 11/17/2009
If we go by the recent statement of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Ban Ki Moon, the two most dangerous countries on this planet are Pakistan and Afghanistan. This statement of Moon is neither prejudiced, nor does he belong to any enemy country of Pakistan or Afghanistan rather this statement is the harsh reality of the world today. The question is that who is responsible for notoriety of these two neighbouring countries? This is clear that the decisions of the political bosses of these countries and the misleading statements of Pakistani leadership are behind the current scenario. Taliban now out of control of Pakistan
Tanveer Jafri - 10/28/2009
Pakistan, notorious in the world for patronising and nurturing terrorism, has today itself become prey to it. There is nothing new about terrorist activities on Pakistani soil. But the way last few days, the Pakistan based terrorist organisation Tehrik-e-Taliban has acted, it now clearly seems that perhaps no place in Pakistan is out of reach of these Taliban terrorists. The recent attacks by the Taliban at the headquarters of Pakistan Army and the ISI have in a way warned the Pakistani administration that a nationwide mission of Tehrik-e-Taliban has started. During last month, Tehrik-e-Taliba... ‘Love Jihad’ controversy rages in India
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 10/28/2009
Indian mass-media insinuating reportage under the suggestive heading “Love Jihad” is yet another example of bad journalism in the largest democracy of the world. Leftist-Islamist notoriety
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 10/23/2009
Islamists and leftists have alligned in South Asia for some years, and now they have started flexing muscle, which stands as a potential threat to region’s security issues. It was already reported in the media that, Al Qaeda was finding new base in Nepal under the hidden alliance with the Maoists there. Osama Bin Laden, visited Nepal a number of times, while, there was also report of a number of Al Qaeda kingpins secretly visiting Bangladesh and meeting local Islamists. Journalists to discuss issues of ‘Climate Change’ in New Delhi
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 10/21/2009
The UN convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) meeting in Copenhagen in December 2009 (the COP15), negotiations on a post 2012 agreement have greatly intensified. However, there is absolutely no consensus even within and between industrial countries on these issues, while the divide between industrial and developing countries has grown wide. Taliban’s War on Pakistan
Walid Phares, Ph.D. - 10/20/2009
The war between the Taliban and Pakistan continues to accelerate. Just last weekend, Pakistan’s army responded to a long string of Taliban attacks by launching a massive ground operation in Waziristan. Unholy things under holy mask
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 10/20/2009
A group of ruling party men has set a very nasty example of ‘unholy’ task under the garb of holy reason. Cine Actors and Journalist in Chennai on Collision Course
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 10/20/2009
A news editor of a popular daily was arrested in Chennai for clearing a sleaze story alleging that many south Indian actresses are running sex shops in the city. Cine Actors and Journalist in Chennai on Collusion Course
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 10/13/2009
A news editor of a popular daily was arrested in Chennai for clearing a sleaze story alleging that many south Indian actresses are running sex shops in the city. The story invited a strong reaction from south Indian film chamber leading to the arrest of the editor, which in turn triggered instant protests from the journalists. The editor though was released on unconditional bail within forty eight hours; the journalist described his arrest an infringement on the rights of expression and muzzling of the freedom of press. Indian Festivals establishing Communal Harmony and World Record
Tanveer Jafri - 10/12/2009
Mumbai, India’s financial Capital has become more united against terrorism after the 26/11 terror attack. 183 people lost their lives in that terror attack and hundreds of people were critically wounded. Such terror attacks have also occurred in the past in festival season. Though the main objective of these inhuman elements is to disturb peace during the festivals, but the festivities of different religions are in full swing irrespective of terror threat. Last days, the Hindus organized their religious festival Ganesh Pooja with full devotion whereas the Muslims were busy in its pious month of Ramazan. Political Objectives of the Pakistani Taliban
Raza Khan - 10/12/2009
ISLAMABAD: The radical Pakistani so-called Taliban groups that emerged a few years ago in the country’s borderlands, widely believed to help ousted Afghan Taliban regime fight ISAF and NATO forces, after slowly and gradually organizing themselves into a strong movement, have set about establishing a puritanical ‘Islamic’ state in the country, rendering Pakistan highly unstable and raising fears in the neighbouring states. Corruption, no less dangerous than Communalism
Tanveer Jafri - 10/11/2009
While India, the world’s largest secular democracy, on one hand, is rapidly moving towards becoming a developed nation and on the other hand, there are some manmade problems facing this country which are creating obstacles in its development. While the spread of communal forces in the country is a problem, the corruption throughout the country is no less dangerous than the problem of communalism. We Indians can thank God only for the fact that probably hitherto our Prime Ministers, Presidents and Chief Justices and Lok Sabha speakers have never been charged of corruption. Otherwise, we couldn’t have known the spread of the limits of corruption. Shameles and senseless leaders in Bangladesh
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 10/11/2009
As a nation Bangladeshis are always proud for their rich culture and heritage, which is thousand years old. People of this country showed their unimaginable courage when they fought for Mother Language in 1952. Again, the same nation fought in 1971 for the independence of Bangladesh. Each time, naturally, Bangladeshis won. Misreporting minority persecution cases
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 10/11/2009
For those who work in defending rights of religious minorities, it is extremely important to cross check each and every information they share with local and international community while any case of minority persecution take place. China-Pak Joint Mission—Destroy India
Monotapash Mukherjee - 10/10/2009
After the resounding success of the China-Pak joint anti –LTTE enterprise, the two nations are doubly encouraged to besiege India from all corners. In fact Pakistan is alleged to have supplied to Sri Lanka the fighter jets while china is said to have supplied the fire arms and other logistical systems. China, apparently, in exchange of its help to rout the LTTE, has secured a port at Hambantota. The Pak-Sri Lanka military co-operation is growing. China’s aim to contain India’s march into the Indian Ocean as well as to encircle India has been fulfilled. Besides, the recent disclosure that Myanm... Bangladesh in danger!
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 9/24/2009
While a very powerful earthquake struck Himalayan region, causing at least 20 deaths and destruction in the small mountaneous nation of Bhutan, for two days, there had been several earthquakes in Bangladesh, while meteorologists are giving warning of massive earthquake in the country within a week, which may destroy more tha 30 per cent buildings within Dhaka, Sherpur, Sylhet, Nilphamari, Netrakona, Faridpur, Rangpur, Sirajganj, Sunamganj and other parts of the country. In Bangladesh on September 21, 2009, the tremor - measuring 7.2 on the Richter scale - shook Dhaka, the capital city of the c... Shameful Adieu for Advani
Tanveer Jafri - 9/16/2009
Lal Krishna Advani, though much controversial and always targeted by his opponents during his entire political journey, at the end of his political career, is facing the wrath and charges of other leaders of his own party, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its patron organization, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Born in 1927 in Karachi city of undivided India, Advani’s political life became controversial figure just after partition. His critics still ask about the role of Advani in the nation’s freedom struggle, the man who projected himself as the ‘Prime Minister in Waiting’ for the 15th Lo... Bangladesh: Time Then and Time Now
Mac Haque - 9/1/2009
For those of us in the anti-establishment fringe living in rejection of the Bangladesh political system’s grounded status quo of 36 years, events that began on the first week of January 2007 (referred to as 01/11) left us bemused. We thought we are witnessing a dejavu, sort of - seeds of our quiet and peaceful revolt being planted by men in uniform, our beliefs and hopes, and hearing things that we had said all along and were traditionally shunned and pooh-poohed even marginalized, now blossoming into unrestrained reality right in front of our eyes! Indian politics: Jaswant Singh saga would haunt for long
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 8/27/2009
Jaswant Singh’s book 'Jinnah: India, Partition, Independence' that interprets events leading to India’s independence and Partition differently than the official NCERT version has triggered a huge debate in the country. India: BJP refusing to read the writing on the wall
Tanveer Jafri - 8/24/2009
The main opposition party of India, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), besides struggling to come out of the shock of defeat in recent general elections, is now facing another problem. The Party called a three days ‘Chintan Baithak’ (brainstorming session) in the hill station of Shimla, to discuss the causes of defeat in the general elections and also plan future strategy. The discussion on the causes of defeat was yet to start, on the very first day of the session; the party President Rajnath Singh announced a decision of the party’s parliamentary board to the media. He declared that the party’s p... India-ASEAN scale new frontier following FTA
Pranamita Baruah - 8/20/2009
On August 14, 2009, after six years of intense negotiations, nine economic ministers of the ten-nation regional trade bloc ASEAN and Indian Minister of Commerce and Industry Anand Sharma finally inked the long-awaited free trade agreement (FTA) for duty-free import and export of 4,000 products over a period of eight years. The remaining state Vietnam would sign the pact once it is formally recognized by India as a ‘market economy’. The historic signing of this pact under the comprehensive economic cooperation agreement (CECA) took place during the meeting of the 41st ASEAN Economic Ministers (... Action against Musharraf- An Invitation to Political Instability
Tanveer Jafri - 8/20/2009
The former President of Pakistan General, (Retd.) Parvez Musharraf is once again in the limelight of international media. For Musharraf, it is said that he is one of the most popular leaders of Pakistan globally. On the other side, the internal opposition which Musharraf had to face in the last days of his office is too unmatched. It can be said that though he faced criticism and opposition, Musharraf was equally popular as well. His style of conversation, art of giving to the point replies, sense of humour and administrative capability, were behind his popularity. US policy on Kashmir can ratchet up anti-Americanism in India
Susenjit Guha - 6/18/2009
If the Obama administration wants to know why anti-Americanism gets ratcheted up in different parts of the world, it need not look anywhere else, but look hard at the dangerous Af-Pak policy it is toying with at the expense of India and the inevitable fallouts that might result. Strategic Aid in Pakistan
Yossef Ben-Meir, PhD - 6/5/2009
Depending on how and for what international aid is administered in Pakistan, the hearts and minds of its people, and which of the opposing forces they collaborate with, hang in the balance. Recent polls indicate that the majority of Pakistanis consider economic and political conditions of greater priority than terrorism, suggesting a real opportunity to gain control over the global threat that the Pakistani situation poses. Indo-Bangla Relation: A Strategic Analysis
Shah Mohammed Saifuddin - 5/20/2009
The independence movement under the leadership of Congress was for establishing independent undivided India through the eviction of British rulers from the soil of India, but the degeneration of Hindu-Muslim relation into hostility and the demand of Muslim league for a separate state for the Muslims of the region thwarted the dream of an independent undivided India and made the partition of subcontinent inevitable. While the initial proposal for the partition met with steep resistance as most of the senior leaders of Congress namely, Mahatma Gandhi, Jawharlal Nehru, and Moulana Abul Kalam Azad... Will the Army policies break up Pakistan?
Reza Hossein Borr - 5/19/2009
Unintended consequences of mass migration of civilian residents of Sawat and the neighbouring regions will be very grave in very new future. The people who have been uprooted by the military operations of Pakistan's army will create immense problems. The Taleban will move with them in disguise in different areas of Pakistan which are closer to the capital of this country. If they could not move freely before, now they can freely travel everywhere they want in search of job and a better life. Wherever they go they will carry their ideology with them. They were confined before in small area... Flag bearers of ‘Ram Rajya’ in secular India
Tanveer Jafri - 5/13/2009
Due to the ill health of the former Prime Minister of India & senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Bharatiya Janata Party declared it’s another senior leader Lal Krishna Advani as its Prime Ministerial candidate. This is also not true that Advani was undisputedly declared the Prime Ministerial candidate of the party. Even though no differences seem to be there during the election campaign, but the questions raised by another senior party leader Bhairon Singh Shekhawat regarding the candidature of Advani, that too just before the announcement of elections, can’t ... Ruling party and instigation by pro-AL writer
Sunita Paul - 4/8/2009
President of Bangladesh Awami League, ward number 48, Haji Torab Ali told interrogators that the conspiracy to make army officers hostage inside the BDR headquarters were designed at his residence and office in presence of his son, a leader of the student front of the ruling party and a notorious terrorist named Leather Liton. Proliferated democracy may give chance to militancy in gaining strength
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 3/27/2009
In today’s world, the democracy stands for an atmosphere, where governments are elected by people with the mission of serving the country and the nation as well as doing everything for the betterment of the society while being completely loyal to country’s independence and sovereignty. Bangladesh: Ruling party’s fear in allowing Court Martial to BDR Massacre case
Sunita Paul - 3/27/2009
Pro-Awami League lawyer Advocate Anisul Huq (who is also the chief counsel in Bangabandhu murder case), told vernacular daily Amader Shomoy that, trial into the massacre, murder, rape and lootings inside the Bangladesh Riffles (BDR) headquarters cannot be held under Court Martial. Leaving Crocodile tears for the killers in Bangladesh
Sunita Paul - 3/24/2009
Human Rights Watch (HRW), a New York City based non-governmental organization, which sent a letter to Bangladeshi Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina Wajed only few weeks back with the plea of dismantling Forces Intelligences of Bangladesh Armed Forces, has issued a fresh statement on the February Massacre, which took place inside Bangladesh Riffles (border security guards) headquarters in Dhaka, killing large number of Army officers, thus leaving numerous wounded and abused. Inconsistent Politics, Unstable Pakistan
Tanveer Jafri - 3/24/2009
Last week was a time of great upheaval in the politics of Pakistan. The entire world watched Pakistan politics curiously. On all side, the expectation was that Pakistan army can overpower the government any time. During the guesses, the discussions among the Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani, President Asif Ali Zardari & Army Chief General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani went on continuously. At one time, there was a media speculation that due to the fear of overturn of rule, President Zardari has gone underground. At that time it seemed that the next moment, democracy in Pakistan will breathe its last &... India-EU Free Trade Agreement: Should India Open Up Banking Sector?
Kavaljit Singh - 3/24/2009
Since 2007, India and European Union (EU) are negotiating a free trade agreement (FTA). The negotiations not only cover trade in goods but also services, rules pertaining to intellectual property rights, cross-border investments, competition policy, government procurement and regulatory issues. Storms are Strong Enough
Tanveer Jafri - 3/24/2009
India, the world’s largest secular democracy is going to face the general elections for Lok Sabha (House of the People) between the coming April 16 & May 13. In India, since the last two decades the rule of any one national political party is not in vogue so the politics of the alliance parties is in practice everywhere. A party that wins 272 of the 543 seats of the Lok Sabha can only constitute the government. But as because of the alliance politics, the leaders such as I.K. Gujral, Chandrashekhar, H.D. Devegowda & V.P. Singh became Prime Minister; so many leaders of the country have begun to... When the State patronizes terror
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 3/24/2009
Armed hooligans chased the car of Dhaka’s front ranking editor, Nurul Kabir, couple of days back and tried to stop the vehicle at a highway connecting the international airport. What was the motive behind? Many people may argue the matter as mere actions of some criminals, but, my own experience says something else. This was a clean case of state patronized terror! Bangladesh peace activist and the Nobel Peace Prize
Sunita Paul - 3/24/2009
Professor Dr. Sami Alrabaa an ex-Muslim, is a professor of Sociology and an Arab-Muslim culture specialist. Before moving to Germany he taught at Kuwait University, King Saud University, Michigan State University and an eminent writer of many books on hard-hitting topics, commenting on Bangladeshi journalist and peace activist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury said “Mr. Choudhury is fighting radical Islam in one of largest Muslim countries of the world (150 million). If the West does not support Choudhury’s struggle, a whole society will increasingly drift to Islamism. Bangladesh is being Talibanized day after day.” Pakistan is not a governable country
Reza Hossein Borr - 3/18/2009
Pakistan is not a governable country. Every kind of ruler has tried that. Politicians failed in governing Pakistan. Military men failed to govern Pakistan effectively and properly. All of Pakistan's leaders have either been killed or ended in a disgraceful manner. Different systems have been tried. All of them have failed. Pakistan People's Party have introduced socialist policies and failed. Other rulers of Pakistan introduced capitalist systems and failed too. Bangladesh: February Massacre & Operation Rebel Hunt
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 3/18/2009
Members of Armed Forces are called by the government, which will come into effect from Monday morning to nab each and every rebel, their instigators and patrons, who were behind the February Massacre, killing more than 135 heroic officers of Bangladesh Army as well as their friends and family members. Experts opine that, Bangladesh Army has complete sympathy and support of the people of Bangladesh in nabbing the culprits. The entire nation is heavy with shock and pain. They want to see trial of the killers and their perpetrators without wasting even a second. New conspiracy against Bangladesh
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 3/3/2009
Right after the mutiny by Bangladesh Riffles [BDR] troops, which is partially resolved by now only at its Head Quarters in Dhaka, some vested interest groups are becoming increasingly active in putting bad names on Bangladesh Army by saying, “they are corrupts, violators of rules and abusers of human rights”. Such campaign is aimed at stopping the participation of Bangladesh Army in the United Nations Peace Keeping Force. India: Citizens and Watchdogs can strive for Good Governance
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 3/3/2009
There is an electrifying atmosphere in India with the announcement of the 15th parliamentary elections to be held in April-May, 2009. This time as many as 671 million people are eligible for vote for 543 seats of the lower house of the Parliament. Lies about Bangladesh Army, conspiracy and responsibility of the Nation
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 3/3/2009
Since the mutiny renegade Bangladesh Riffles [BDR] troops, a number of private television channels, mostly owned by questioned people started broadcasting various news, commentaries and interviews, aimed at maligning the image of the armed forces of Bangladesh. Most interestingly, only a few reporters of television channels were receiving phone calls from the renegade troops from inside the Pilkhana BDR headquarters. Here is the first question and doubt! How the renegade troops got the mobile phone numbers of those reporters belonging to questioned television channels? These Tears Are The Language Of My Heart
Tanveer Jafri - 2/23/2009
India, the largest democracy in the world is soon going to face the general elections of its Loksabha (House of the People). Election strategy is being prepared by all the regional & national political parties throughout India. Many political parties have started to declare the candidates of their parties. Just as the previous elections, this time too, the unsatisfied leaders, who didn't get the candidature, are on the way to change their parties. At some places, some fundamentalists are searching chances to be the guide of liberals & somewhere orthodox are in lookout to show themselves as "Ga... Ruling party getting set to try Bangladesh Generals
Sunita Paul - 2/23/2009
When the entire world was busy in welcoming another new year, a small nation in South Asia, Bangladesh was busy in electing a new government, thus coming out of 2-year old rule by a military controlled interim government. Bangladesh on Trial
Sunita Paul - 2/23/2009
It was March 27, 2008, when prestigious Wall Street Journal published an editorial titled 'Bangladesh on Trial' to describe the intimidation of internationally known award winning journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury. Anti-Radical, Pro-Peace Muslim Journalist Savaged in Broad Daylight
Dr. Richard L. Benkin - 2/23/2009
Dhaka, Bangladesh—At 10am today, local time, internationally-acclaimed journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, who has written for the Global Politician, was attacked as he was working in the office of his newspaper, Weekly Blitz, by “a gang of thugs” claiming to be from Bangladesh’s ruling Awami League. I spoke by telephone with Choudhury as he awaited medical treatment for eye, neck, and other injuries suffered in the attack. The renewed violence marks the first against him since he was abducted by Bangladesh’s dreaded Rapid Action Battalion a year ago. Creeping Talibanization in Pakistan's 'Paradise' Valley
Rahil Yasin - 1/28/2009
LAHORE, Pakistan—People in Swat - once called the 'paradise' on earth or Switzerland of Pakistan - are living in tense times. The Pakistani Taliban have stoked fear in parts of the valley, and their control is growing. They gave demolished schools and bombed bridges; political workers are assassinated, journalists are tortured, girls are forbidden from going to school. Even dead bodies have been exhumed from their graves and put on gallows. The power of the government has shrunk to a limited area in the district. War Clouds Hovering over South Asia
Rahil Yasin - 1/28/2009
LAHORE: The Mumbai terrorist attacks pushed the peace process between India and Pakistan to the back seat. Both neighbors asked their people not to visit the other side of the border. Even the cricket series was cancelled by the Indian Cricket Board. Confidence building measures were chopped down to their lowest level. India needs to redefine democratic pluralism
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 1/28/2009
India celebrates its 59th republic day on 26th January 2009. However, even after such a long time, India is unable to define a correct roadmap of nation building. Societal brakes are pulling down the rapid scientific advancement and communal tension is kept alive. Indian Republic needs Communal harmony
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 1/27/2009
On 26 January 2009, India would be celebrating its republic day with great fanfare on the Rajpath in New Delhi . Millions of Indians will be watching the Republic day parade on their TV sets that would showcase India ’s progress as a nation in different spheres of activities. On the surface of it all that would look very grandiose indeed and many may yell Mera Bharat Mahan (My India is great). But does that give the complete picture of India , I have my doubts. India’s future political masters
Priyanka Bhardwaj - 1/12/2009
The run up to India’s general elections in summer 2009 requires a legislative majority within the democratic idiom. Most analysts agree that the ‘pack of three’, Rahul Gandhi, Mayawati and Narendra Modi will play crucial roles in the world’s biggest democracy India. 'The India Doctrine' - Book Review
A.K. Zaman - 1/11/2009
It is almost two years since the first edition of The India Doctrine appeared on Bangladesh bookshelves to wide acclaim and appreciation. The newly revised edition now titled The India Doctrine (1947-2007) is an astonishing work of exceptional depth and analysis and is probably the first book of its kind not only in Bangladesh but also in South Asia as a whole. It is indeed a stupendous effort by Barrister MBI Munshi. While I had a few words of criticism for the original version of the book which appeared to me to be fragmentary and a little disjointed this revised edition is an exceptional wo... India's Other Terror Threat
Prof. Asoka Bandarage - 1/8/2009
In the aftermath of the horrific attacks in Mumbai, global attention is on the threat to India from Islamist Jihadists in the north and the west. In the mean time, the threat from the Tamil secessionists in the south receives little attention. How India deals with its southern terrorism and the Sri Lankan situation has a direct bearing on her ability to take a strong and consistent stance against terrorism. How Far Is War Between Pakistan and India
Tanveer Jafri - 12/31/2008
The war clouds seem overcasting the two nuclear equipped countries India and Pakistan. It all started between two big giants of Asia after the terror attacks of nuclear 26, 2008 on Mumbai. This is not a mere blame that persons who attacked Bombay were Pakistani. It is true and is being accepted by America, Britain, many prominent leaders of Pakistan and even by some media agencies that the only arrested person in Mumbai attacks, Ajmal Amir Qasab, who was arrested by Indian security agencies on 26th November is a citizen of Pakistan. Ajmal himself has pleaded that he is a Pakistani national an... Transition to Democracy or Autocracy?
Sunita Paul - 12/29/2008
Eight Million voters in Bangladesh are now set to cast their votes on Monday to elect the next government thus making a new journey towards democracy. This is the general perception in Bangladesh and in the world that the people of the country are already fed up with the military controlled regime in Dhaka for a number of reasons. One of the key reasons is their failure in controlling the exorbitant rise in the price of essentials. Pakistan and the Challenge of Islamist Terror
Prof. Isaac Kfir - 12/22/2008
This article examines Pakistan's role in the "war on terror" in light of the transition from the Musharraf presidency to that of Zardari. It opens with Musharraf's tenure and proceeds to discuss some of the key challenges faced by the current administration in this respect. Mumbai Attack- Blame Game Moving in Circles
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 12/18/2008
The November 26, 2008 attack on Mumbai that killed nearly 190 people is the most recent episode in long string of high-profile terrorist attacks in India. Pakistan's Misunderstanding
Tanveer Jafri - 12/15/2008
The two nations, India and Pakistan which are equipped with the nuclear equipments, usually seen active in the directions of increasing mutual cooperation in the SAARC's annual meetings, but misfortunately, these two countries often frown at each other at the same time. However the public of these two countries do not like mutual tension. The journalists, literates, persons concerned with sports, films, music, trade, industry and specially those that have mutual relationships on both the sides of the border do not wish the tension to be present anywhere. But in reality, not only among the poli... India's Options
Prof. Barry Rubin - 12/9/2008
India's government faces difficult choices and no one should interfere in that hard process. Still, it is worth describing the alternatives New Delhi must ponder and what it might ask the rest of the world to do. Political Governance in Indian Politics of Development
Panchanan Bhoi, Ph.D. - 10/12/2008
In a democratic set up the explicit of political governance is specified objectively in the management of a country’s economic and social resources for development. It is significant because it determines human societies’ ability to equip themselves with systems of representation and social agents that are capable of managing interdependencies in an amicable way. Both governance and democracy are independent constructs. So in the absence of an accepted political congruence grounded on a people's choice of the form of their governance, governance and democracy do not in any way imply a similar construct or practice. A challenging task for Zardari
Rahil Yasin - 10/12/2008
LAHORE: After February 18 elections, people were expecting their problems would be solved because their representatives are now in the parliament and dictator's government has ended after a long period of nine years. But after winning the elections, they did not seem to have any clear agenda and proper planning to get people out of crisis. Shares in Pakistani companies have crumbled, losing one-third of their value since April, as investors have fled a country mauled by political upheaval and a violent Islamic insurgency. Why Zardari has been vilified?
Reza Hossein Borr - 9/29/2008
Corruption in Pakistan is widespread. There is no sense of shame and guilt about it. Political leaders, civil servants, army generals, security forces, businessmen, and even ordinary people have been so much corrupted that there is hardly any high ranking person in Pakistan who has not been involved in some kind of corruption. Corruption has become popular, acceptable and recognised by all people and all Pakistani institutions. All of them accuse each other of corruption and all of them claim to be clean and descent people with a great sense of integrity. All of them dismiss allegations of ... ULFA and Bangladeshi media
Sunita Paul - 9/29/2008
Couple of months back, I wrote an article, which was published in American Chronicle, Global Politician, Daily People's View [in Bangladesh], Weekly Blitz [Bangladesh] and other newspapers and sites around the world. Subsequently, Mr. Kalyan Barooah, correspondent of The Assam Tribune published a report quoting some of the excerpts of my article. Later, another journalist in Assam, Nava Thakuria wrote a report for Newstrack titled 'ULFA money in Bangladesh media', link http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/13406, where he categorically mentioned how people in the questioned newspaper and m... Humanity On Trial In Bangladesh
Sunita Paul - 9/1/2008
August 31 and September 1, are two closest days, when the most courageous Muslim Hero of today's world in Bangladesh, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury will stand in front of a judge in court to face trial of sedition, treason and blasphemy? What is his 'crime'? He speaks against rise of radical Islam, confronts culture of jihad and killing innocent people in the name of religion, he advocates inter faith understanding and above all, he demands relations between Israel and Bangladesh. For this 'crime', Choudhury should face the trial, which may conclude in several months, resulting in either death ... Baluchistan consumes enemies
Reza Hossein Borr - 8/26/2008
Baluchistan consumes enemies. As I look today at the line history of Baluch and Baluchistan, I clearly can see that all the conquerors and dictators who captured Baluchistan and used excessive forces regarding the Baluch, became the victims of their own atrocities. Baluchistan has some miraculous manifestations. These manifestations elevate those who do good to Baluch and Baluchistan to high positions and eliminate those who do bad things to Baluch and Baluchistan. This seems to be repeated again and again in the history of the region. It is almost a historical pattern. Fog Of Deception In Islamabad
Ahmed Quraishi - 8/26/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—The circumstances surrounding the impeachment of President Musharraf are downright suspicious. After a failed attempt to please Washington by destroying the ISI, the PPP government decides to seize the Presidency. Obviously, controlling two of the three centers of power in the country – presidency, premiership and the military – will ensure the government’s success in a future attempt and will send a clear signal to the nation’s security establishment that the plan to topple the Pakistani military, which entered its decisive phase last year, is complete. An open letter to Mr Asif Zardari
Reza Hossein Borr - 8/26/2008
If you know what will happen to you after you become the president, you have to look at the fate of those who have become president before you. What happened to them will happen to you. There is no exception in history of Pakistan. Pakistan swallows its Presidents and Prime Ministers. If you want to be hanged like your father in law, if you want to be killed in an aeroplane crash like general Zia, If you want to have the disgraceful fate of General Musharaf, then become the president or Prime Minister. India's Inflated Policies
Panchanan Bhoi, Ph.D. - 8/26/2008
The life of the common people is becoming increasingly difficult because of comprehensive price rise across the country. Day by day inflation crisis in India is looming large and the continuing increase in prices of all essential commodities are slowly going out of common people’s reach. There is a steep increase in the prices of food grains, pulses, vegetables and edible oils. Further, the repeated price hike of petroleum products has a cascading impact on the prices of several commodities. Instead of working on the modalities to check the price rise, the central government is throwing tantru... Bangladesh's new game plan
Sunita Paul - 8/18/2008
Bangladeshi government, which has heavy Islamist influence as well anti West and anti Semitic notion for years has silently changed strategy in handling the case of courageous Muslim journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury. Leaders without a sense of dignity
Reza Hossein Borr - 8/13/2008
Pakistan is a country of abundant dignity and generosity and shortage of shame and grace. Abundant dignity and generosity can be found among the ordinary people wherever you go and shortage of shame can be found among the elite classes, specifically the top brass. I have observed these two characteristics in many people years and after years. Once I went with few friends to the defence beach in Karachi. The friend who hosted us had lived in Pakistan for many years. He knew many people. While we were walking on the beach we saw a man with a turban carrying a long wood over his shoulder. On... Pakistan’s leadership vacuum
Abid Mustafa - 8/3/2008
After almost eight years of military rule, Pakistan faces a myriad of challenges that threaten its very existence. American threats of unilateral action in the tribal area, Indian backed insurrection in Balochistan, a dramatic increase in suicide blasts, and the economy in tatters are some of Pakistan’s woes. But perhaps, the most significant issue is the leadership vacuum that pervades all segments of society. A manifestation of this void is the antics of the current coalition government, which over the past six months has struggled to define its purpose and chalk out a concrete programme to ... Pakistan Nuclear Reactors & the Terrorists
Tanveer Jafri - 7/16/2008
In the last days, a big military operation was started by the Pak army against the Talibani activists in Peshawar, the capital of North West boundary state of Pakistan & its nearly Khyber region. In this operation, worked in Bora town, near the boundary of Afghanistan, Pakistan military used heavy weapons like tanks & air-attacks. America understands that this North tribal territory of Pakistan is a secret & safe asylum of the Talibani extremists. This is the area where extremist tribal leader Baitullah Mahsood has a strong hold. It is taken that there is reasonable atmosphere in the favour of the terrorists in this territory. If Al Qaida is already in Bangladesh
Sunita Paul - 7/16/2008
Experts speculate widely about the composition and tactics of the next generation of Jihadists. This speculation stems from the fact that transnational groups are harder collection targets than nation-states. Such ambiguity and imprecision is likely to endure indefinitely, and is particularly worrisome concerning "next-generation" terrorism Indian Investors Enter the Caribbean
Loro Horta - 7/16/2008
NEW DELHI: As an emerging economic power, India finds that its companies expand into remote territories well in advance of its diplomats or other government agencies. Distant places like the Caribbean are fast becoming a major destination for business and major investments from India and the competition that pits India against its giant northern neighbor China, too, has spread to the islands. Despite China’s growing diplomatic clout, the private nature of India’s business expansion may give it an edge. Nuclear deal –Indians in a fix
Tanveer Jafri - 7/16/2008
Because of well known and controversial nuclear deal between India and America, the ruling United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government has fallen in the danger zone. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who has made it a question of dignity, has decided to go on with this deal, even at the cost of the existence of central government. On the other side, the left parties, that are constituents of the government, without taking part in its council of ministers, have decided to withdraw their support because of being against this deal. The left parties have 59 members in Lok Sabha of 542 member's India... India Obsessed with Nuke Deal and Murder Mystery
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 7/16/2008
In New Delhi there are two dramas that are currently being staged. One of course is the nuclear deal and second is the twin murder mystery that rocked the neighborhood of the national capital some two months ago. Thanks to the national media the entire country is forced to follow the two dramas scene by scene frame by frame. It seems both the media and the government are consciously engaged in diverting the peoples attention of the people on controlling the prices of essential commodities that’s hitting the roof. Bangladesh: Government is silent on Al Qaida presence
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 7/7/2008
After publication of a report in vernacular daily Amader Shomoy, quoting Detective Branch [intelligence wing of Bangladesh police] on Al Qaida kingpin Ayman Jawahiri’s coming to Bangladesh in 2006 and staying at a ‘Guest House’ at country’s capital city. Tales from the Raj: Nostalgia at its Best
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 7/6/2008
On my way back to Chennai after the last Christmas holidays, I boarded the train for Kolkata at Jamalpur, a sleepy railway junction on eastern railway in Bihar, that once use to hub of railway activities when steam and coal driven iron horses use to crisscross the country. Potential Israeli-American Operation To Kidnap A. Q. Khan
Ahmed Quraishi - 7/6/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—Dr. A. Q. Khan, Pakistan’s notorious nuclear scientist, is under threat of being kidnapped and bundled out of the country in a joint Israeli-American operation that could take the lid off Pakistan’s massive nuclear and strategic arsenal. India’s Search for a Foreign Policy
Harsh V. Pant - 7/6/2008
India has at various times been described as a rising giant, a superpower and by Indian leaders themselves as a “bridging power,” but a closer look at the shambles that pass for India’s foreign policy dispels such notions. Are Pakistani nukes in safe hands?
Rahil Yasin - 7/6/2008
LAHORE, PAKISTAN. Political uncertainty, deals with militants, judges movement, army's falling morale, and AQ Khan's so-called network about the alleged selling of nukes technology to Iran, Libya and North Korea raises new concerns among the world leaders about the possible theft of Pakistan's nuclear assets by religious extremists which might be resulted in real threat to the United States and the West. However, Pakistani officials have assured time and again over the safety of its nuclear weapons. Sharing his views with the US Senate, Stephen P Cohen, Senior Fellow at Foreign Policy, told that Pakistan's nuclear capabilities present at least four challenges to American policy: Saint Yunus
Rashidul Bari - 7/6/2008
Tears were rolling down from Surma Begam’s eyes. Naion, her only son was diagnosed with kidney disease. Both of his kidneys had been completely damaged and he would need a transplant immediately. In Bangladesh, it costs a lot of money for replacements. Surma Begum does not have a Penney. Population Increase Movement among Extremists
Tanveer Jafri - 7/1/2008
'Small family is a happy family', a slogan given by the government of India in favour of population control is not only a slogan but it is a truth. Undoubtedly the increased number of children is a cause of division of property of a family. At the same time, provision for their bringing up, education & health is not an easy task. It is also the moral duty of the parents to give them all the facilities required so that they could spend the life independently. But most of the people mainly from the low & middle groups in India find it difficult to fulfill their responsibility. Whatever happened... Caution, Not Optimism, Will Save Pakistan
Ahmed Quraishi - 7/1/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—The operation on the outskirts of Peshawar notwithstanding, Pakistani military leadership should refrain henceforth from any operations in our tribal belt without the full endorsement of the government and the parliament. For the sake of our stability, this should be a shared responsibility. At worst, the elected government’s decision to abrogate this responsibility is a trap. If things get ugly, this decision will ensure that all blame rest with the military for ‘killing our own people,’ in a repeat of the outcry that followed the Red Mosque operation last July. Is Pakistan Ready For Another 9/11?
Ahmed Quraishi - 6/27/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—Brahmdagh Bugti, a terrorist recruited and sheltered in Afghanistan, is planning a spectacular operation in Balochistan. The information coming from intelligence intercepts paints a picture of an attack on Pakistani Balochis by terrorists pretending to be soldiers of the Pakistani military. The objective is to spark a separatist uprising in the province. The timing of the plan is perfect. All ground reports indicate that terrorists armed and financed by unidentified backers in Afghanistan have strengthened their positions since March, exploiting political instability in the country. Movie Dasaavatram is the Flavor of the Season
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 6/27/2008
Lord Vishnu has incarnated in various life forms through different ages in situations where Hindu religion was in danger. In Hindu mythology, there are ten incarnation of Lord Vishnu; Tortoise, Fish, Boar, Narasimha, Parasurama,Vamana, Krishna , Rama, Buddha and Kalki. Gandhi: Freedom and Democracy
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 6/27/2008
Being a great statesman, thinker, humanist and an apostle of peace of the 20eth Century, Mahatma Gandhi was one of those personalities whose theory and practice had similarity and one was supportive of the other. The basis of his theory and practice, as all know, was non-violence. You probably know that credit of coining a new word ‘non-violence’, in English goes to him as he used it in South Africa for the first time and was accepted as a synonym of ‘Ahimsa’. Prior to it, non-violence had not been mentioned in any dictionary. I am not going to discuss here why he coined this word and the reas... Pakistan: Reconciliation, the Best Option
Abdul Ruff - 6/27/2008
Talk of impeachment of Pakistan's president Pervez Musharraf has been in the air for quite some time now causing uncertainty and contributing to the stability of the nation. Democracy talk is Ok, but it seems PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif depends too much on the lawyers to help him oust President Pervez Musharraf and he thinks if the currently available chance is missed, he might not get another opportunity to make his sweet dream come true: to remove Musharraf form Presidency and, if that comes to him, to assume the post himself. It seems Sharif is trying to use his political strength to coerce t... Government’s attitude should be equal
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 6/27/2008
Military backed interim government in Bangladesh has definitely shown the brilliant example of humanity by releasing former Prime Minister and chief of Bangladesh Awami League, Sheikh Hasina on bail for 8 weeks for getting treatment abroad. It is well understood that the former Prime Minister, who pronounces to be ‘Jananetri’ [People’s Leader] does not either have confidence in Bangladeshi doctors or treatment facilities, for which her treatment was only possible abroad. On the other hand, she continues to consider Bangladesh as an ‘unsafe’ land, for which, she already pushed her son and daugh... War Against Pakistan
Ahmed Quraishi - 6/18/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—Now the Mayor of Kabul wants to invade Pakistan. Six years of Pakistani appeasement in the face of gradual loss of our legitimate security interests in the region have come down to this: the weakest leader in modern Afghan history warns Islamabad he will not only invade Pakistan but will also “rescue” the Pakistani Pashtun population—a thinly veiled threat to claim our northwestern regions as part of Afghanistan. Is Pakistan Heading towards an Emergency?
Abdul Ruff - 6/18/2008
It seems PMLN supremo Nawaz Sharif depends too much on the lawyers to help him oust President Pervez Musharraf and he thinks if the currently available chance is missed, he might not get another opportunity to make his sweet dream come true: to remove Musharraf form Presidency and, if available to him, himself to assume the post. Sharif is trying to use his political strength to coerce the PPP-led government in order to settle score with his arch enemy who now occupies presidency. PMLN has already withdrawn its ministers from the government protest against the delay in restoring the judges. On Musharraf, In All Fairness
Ahmed Quraishi - 6/18/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—An educated, presentable, and nationalistic middle class Pakistani citizen cannot lead Pakistan. Our ‘democracy’ won’t allow it. Unless, of course, he comes through a military coup like President Pervez Musharraf did. As a Pakistani citizen, I will vote anytime for a Pakistani leader who does not own a house and a list of bank accounts abroad. These days, only President Musharraf fits the bill. For all his real and imaginary sins - and embroiled in what is supposed to be his toughest moment in power - he continues to outshine those feudal lords, wealthy industrialists and family-run political parties that want to see him out. Will Bangladesh Return to Normalcy?
Abdul Ruff - 6/18/2008
The Bangladesh government, charged with cleansing the nation’s polity and bring vigor to its economy by streamlining the countries various institutions, has allowed the former prime minister and opposition Awami League leader Sheikh Hasina Wajed - who is being held on corruption charges - to leave detention for eight weeks. This step looks like an important step in government’s efforts to bring settled peace by meeting the political crisis in the country. Sheikh Hasina has left the country following her temporary release from prison to get medical treatment abroad. She left on a flight to London on her way to the US. She is due to have treatment for hearing, eyesight and blood problems. Gender No Bar in India
Geetanjali Jha - 6/18/2008
The much talked about and passionately debated women's bill once again hit the headlines in India. The bill which proposes to reserve 33.3 percent seats in the parliament and state legislatures was first introduced in the Lok Sabha in 1996. More than a decade later, nothing much has been achieved on giving the Indian women legislative powers and the bill which was in news recently, yet again receded to the background as recent and burning issues like inflation and oil took precedence. Women's reservation issue is, as a matter of fact, more significant as it has been plaguing the nation for so... Crumbling Relations between U.S. & Pakistani militaries
Tanveer Jafri - 6/18/2008
Pakistan is understood as one of the main ally of America. The sweet relations of America & Pakistan were clear when there was a two week war in 1971 between India & Pakistan & when there was a rise of Bangladesh. It is a separate matter that then Prime Minister of India, Mrs. Indira Gandhi, under her powerful leadership, ignored America & fought a decisive war with Pakistan & gave recognition to Bangladesh as an independent state. Since then, America has been helping Pakistan at economic & military level, in every day. India Doctrine and Regional crises
Abdul Ruff - 6/8/2008
Indian ambitions for a world power status are too great to actualize them, but, neverthless, India does not want to give up it efforts, by effectivley making use of emerging opportunities. India's greed for regional supremacy has caused enough problems and confusion in its neighborhoods. Today the enitre South Asian region is undergoing serious turmoils and Indian role in these is a known fact. After The Collapse In Pakistan
Ahmed Quraishi - 6/8/2008
The dangerous internal tension in Pakistan prior to the Feb. 18 general election inspired commentaries in the West about the imminent collapse of the Pakistani state. Like Iraq, some U.S. strategists even called bluntly for putting U.S. soldiers on the ground in Pakistan. An Innocent India!
Abdul Ruff - 6/8/2008
Indian tricky journey towards an “innocent” country, being "troubled" by its “terrorist” neighbors, including Kashmiri “terrorists”, is indeed interesting. Soon after it gained independence from Great Britain , India went on to annex its neighboring Jammu Kashmir on fictitious pretexts and hurriedly brought the free nation of Kashmiris into the Indian Union and started its empire building spree. Sikkim Kingdom was later coerced to join Indian Union as a state. Bureaucracy killing a prospective project in Bangladesh
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 6/8/2008
Following completion and handing over of Bangladesh’s first hard rock mining project at country’s Dinazpur district, vested interest groups and corrupt bureaucracy are active in sabotaging the project thus screwing up Bangladesh’s immense prospect of saving huge amount of foreign currency as well opening new vista of opportunity of import earning by exporting world-class highest grade Granite Tiles. Bangladesh undermines WTO rules
Sunita Paul - 6/8/2008
According to rules of World Trade Organization (WTO), none of its member countries are allowed to maintain total ban on another member country. Bangladesh is a member of WTO and continues to undermine such rule, thus in other words, violating international law. Because of this specific rule of WTO, country like Saudi Arabia even lifted trade embargo on Israel. Bangladesh: Let the dark forces fall behind and be forgotten
G.M. Solaiman - 6/8/2008
Last few days, I was somewhat unsettled by the news coming from Bangladesh. It seems like we went back to 2006 era. At least that's what the news headline suggested. For a moment I thought, all the newspapers are running old headlines to celebrate some kind of anniversary. But in reality, these are not old headlines. They look like old headline, because these are coming from same old heroines Khaleda Zia and Sheikh Hasina. Two begums are brought in front of justice and given their chance to defend themselves. But they are nicely abusing the freedom of speech to give us the glimpse of an era that ended by 1/11. 'Minus' formula never works
Sunita Paul - 6/7/2008
Since political changes in Bangladesh, media is continuing to speculate the 'minus' formula anticipating exclusion of two of the former Prime Ministers from politics, who headed two largest political parties namely Bangladesh Awami League and Bangladesh Nationalist Party. Military backed interim government in Dhaka (capital of Bangladesh), are possibly taking steps with the ultimate dream of seeing both Bangladesh Nationalist Party and Bangladesh Awami League being completely eliminated from politics or at least grabbing the command of these parties with some picked up 'leaders' such as Major ... Bad taste of a Shylock
Sunita Paul - 6/1/2008
Since publication of my article on controversial Nobel laureate and founder of Grameen Bank, an organization continuing to suck blood of people in Bangladesh, I started receiving numerous mails from bunch of unknown 'people' who most possibly are planted by Yunus and his well-organized gang in Bangladesh and elsewhere. Situation turning fluid in Bangladesh
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 6/1/2008
Although the military backed interim government began much awaited ‘dialogue’ with minor political parties in the country, it is greatly anticipated that large political parties such as Bangladesh Awami League [BAL], Bangladesh Nationalist Party [BNP] and Jamaat-e-Islami Bangladesh [JB] may not join such dialogues, keeping their leaders inside prison. Indian Tolerance: A Curt Reply for Terrorists
Tanveer Jafri - 6/1/2008
On May 13, 2008 once again, there was a terrorist attack on the famous tourist city Jaipur, which is also known as the Pink City of India. The serial bomb blasts by the terrorists in Jaipur moved the city that is known for the communal harmony. The terrorists made all the blasts within the radius of one & half kilometre at 8 different places, within the time gap of 15 minutes. Bicycles were used for the blasts. Ten cycles were used for these blasts but one of these cycles didn't explode. It is told that last year these types of cycles were used for blasts in the Court Premises of Lucknow, Faiz... Bangladesh: Justice is only for the little people
G.M. Solaiman - 6/1/2008
I read news and opinion piece in Bangladesh newspapers related to corruption and people's perspective toward it. I read with a great amusement how some people stay cool and not even bother by the mountain of corruption. If media reflect any percentage of views in real ground, it is almost shocking how they show tolerance toward corruption. Some people took it as part of the life very well. Now that's a compliment. One probably will go crazy if he would not or can not take this as business as usual. Isn't Bangladesh a part of this civilized world? Is there any respect for justice in any part of... The Current Indian Policy in Kashmir
Abdul Ruff - 6/1/2008
Since 1947 when India tactically annexed Kashmir, added it to Indian Union and began militarizing Kashmir, New Delhi's pollicy for Kashmir has been focused on strategies to keep Kashmir under its custody. This article examines the recent trend in Indian policy, which is deadly desutrous, in occupyed Kashmir. 'Born to Dare' – A story of Lt. Gen. Inderjit Singh Gill
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 6/1/2008
Well I am not a soldier, some of my friends are, I had nursed that desire to be a soldier at certain point of time in life but as it moved on the idea vanished into the blue. However when I heard Mr S. Muthiah, speaking about Lt. Gen. Inderjit Singh Gill, a soldier’s soldier that idea again brushed my heart The other side of Jeffrey Archer you must know
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 6/1/2008
On Saturday the May 24, 2008, a man who calls himself the greatest story teller on this planet was in Chennai. The celebrated author was none other than Jeffrey Archer, who was in the city to promote his latest book 'A Prisoner of Birth.' Bangladesh: A rush to the election, but then what?
G.M. Solaiman - 6/1/2008
The head of the caretaker government in Bangladesh disclosed the plan for general parliamentary election in December of 2008. Voting was due in January last year. It was postponed until late 2008 after months of political violence and weeks of bloodshed in the streets. The political parties ran into a deadlock and the country was headed to a civil war. The End Of President Musharraf: How Soon? How Bad?
Murtaza Shibli - 6/1/2008
In May 2006 while sitting at the house of Kashmiri resistance leader, Syed Ali Shah Geelani in Srinagar on the Indian side of Kashmir, Geelani told me about his interesting meeting with President Musharraf at Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi. After talking about the lack of international support for Kashmir, Musharraf sought Geelani’s support for his new Kashmir policy. Irritated by his lecturing, when Geelani asked about the viability of his new policy, Musharraf retorted, “Bush and Blair are with me and they support this formula”. To Geelani’s further remark that it would not be accepta... India: New JK Governor should be pro-Kashmir
Abdul Ruff - 6/1/2008
Governors as constitutional heads of states, though not elected by the people of the concerned states, play an important role in getting the aspirations of the people of the concerned state fulfilled by advising the state governments run with cabinets, but in case of Jammu Kashmir they have played destructive role to ruin the Kashmiris and make them slaves and beggars in Indian cities even during Holy Ramadan. Without any identifiable causes the Kashmiris are being brutally punished, killed and buried secretly by Indian forces and their henchmen in Kashmir. It is JK that offers sumptuous sadis... Questioned Amnesia Report
Sunita Paul - 6/1/2008
This week, once again, questioned human rights group named Amnesty [which Bangladesh's most influential newspaper, Weekly Blitz terms as Amnesia] International has released a report of 'human rights abuse' in Bangladesh. In every case, Amnesia follows certain tactics of suppressing several important issues or even turning complete deaf on seeing some issues of urgent concern. It is well documented that, this organization continues to maintain anti-Semitic and in some cases even anti-US notions in making such report. Reason behind is, one of the most influential figures in this organization is ... Pakistan: Our Type of Democracy?
Safdar Jafri - 6/1/2008
We have often heard our leaders, specially dictators, that Wesminster-style democracy is not for Pakistan. Putting our bias aside, the theory is not entirely pointless. Pick up any democracy in the world and it will be different from another. Even the two most widely known democracies in Pakistan, the UK and the US, are not the same. In fact, some aspects of their democracies are simply incompatible. One is a Prime Ministerial system where 51% majority in the Parliament is sufficient to push almost any bill through and the other is a Presidential system in which a President is more of a select... Notes from Islamabad
Abdul Ruff - 5/25/2008
In world where there has been a lot of antagonism towards Islam and Muslim nations, Pakistan, a prominent Islamic country which is also the only nuclear power in the Islamic world, has been undergoing turmoil of a serious nature with anti-Islamic forces fueling sabotage activities even from across the borders and trying to halt its economic and social progress. Back To Square One Once Again for Pakistan
Ahmed Quraishi - 5/20/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—While Pakistan is unwilling to challenge the rapid erosion of its sovereignty by repeated U.S. attacks; Hezbollah completes its coup against all the U.S.-backed forces in Lebanon. America’s response? President Bush issues a new round of dire warnings that sound good on television but change nothing on the ground. Jail Reforms in Pakistan: Guidance for world
Abdul Ruff - 5/20/2008
Global terror wars have complicated the life of ordinary people very badly every where. And any one who is brought to jail could be tortured the way the authorities and their henchmen in jails want, more so the so-called "suspected" or "potential" "terrorists". There has been outcry over the inhuman conditions prevailing, like in any other country, in Pakistani jails. US, Democracy and Pakistan
Safdar Jafri - 5/20/2008
Is the US serious about restoration of democracy in Pakistan ? There is certainly no shortage of rhetoric. But the super powers' track record in sabotaging and undermining democracies is far more prominent than promiting them. It conspired for years against democracies in South America ranging from Chile to Brazil. In Chile, the CIA spent millions to topple the elected government of Allende. US has been the most hated foreign government across the South American region - a sentiment that is now also reflected across the Middle East - if not the entire world - where it consistently backed the m... Indian New Designs in militarized Kashmir
Abdul Ruff - 5/20/2008
India keeps inventing new tactics to fool the Kashmiris, both patriotic-freedom fighters and the pro-India elements and its intelligence outfits are good at generating new false hopes to both these stream Kashmiris about a possible re-independence for them. River Linking Project of India
Tanveer Jafri - 5/14/2008
Two third part of the earth is covered with water yet there is a dark future for the usable water in the world. The ocean water is salty, pungent & polluted & at some places it is even poisonous & can kill a being. Despite all the efforts, the scientists have not been able to make it worth drinking & usable for agriculture & industry. That's why, with the increase in population in the world, the demand for clean water is also increasing. Some farsighted analysts are of the view that if there is no solution for the drinking water, it will not astonish that next world war is for the control of w... Indian hidden agenda: Joint cricket excercises
Abdul Ruff - 5/14/2008
There is a historical great game along the ancient Silk Road , but the concept is being played out in new disguises in many parts of the world today, the era of so-called terrorisms, state and private. Slamming Islam and tracking Muslims have become order of the Western civilization shred by countries like India for selfish reasons by contributing to the total tally of Muslim murders in their "backyards", Palestine and Kashmir , etc. India has gone all out of try the great game even in sports, in cricket, more precisely. The Conspiracy In Pakistan
Ahmed Quraishi - 5/14/2008
Since the judicial crisis in March 2007, a Pakistani citizen has lost around Rs. 10,000 for every Rs. 100,000 he had in his bank account. Democracy in Bangladesh: of the criminals, by the criminals, for the criminal
G.M. Solaiman - 5/14/2008
Abraham Lincoln has said "Democracy is the government of the people, by the people, for the people". We were taught this in 7th grade. Little I realized what that supposes to mean. Is it really possible? Well, may be in a dream land. A dream land it is! Years later, in a 2003 August afternoon, holding my wife's hand in front of the gigantic statue of Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC, I recited those words to myself. I started to question myself. What does it really mean? Is it mean only to line up for vote and "choose" a less scary monster? Did Bangladesh have democracy? Did she ever have a government which is "of the people, by the people, for the people"? Pakistan: Enter a New Crisis?
Abdul Ruff - 5/14/2008
Judges in Pakistan seem to lost their case. Annoyed with government’s delay tactics on restoration of judges sacked by President Pervez Musharraf during last year's emergency, Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN), a key constituent of Pakistan ’s ruling coalition, has decided on 12 May to withdraw its ministers from the Cabinet. However the coalition partners have, albeit for the time being, have averted any explosive crisis with the PMLN deciding to continue to support the government from outside. Failing leaders are failing Pakistan
Reza Hossein Borr - 5/14/2008
"You may now thousands of ways how to fail, but you don't know even one way to succeed." This was said by a delegate who was invited for forming a coalition of the Iranian different political groups. The speakers in the conference blamed that particular delegate for his parties past behaviors one after another and when he left he uttered this remarkable sentence. "You cannot form coalitions by insulting one side constantly." He added and he left the conference hall. Is It True?
Sunita Paul - 5/11/2008
Repression of religious minority, be it anywhere in the world, will certainly rock the minds of conscious people of ever religious beliefs. In recent days, suddenly a story of repressing a Christian woman named Mary Mondol came into media's attention when undeterred Canada Free Press published the report of her, who was reportedly forced to religious conversion to Islam and finally oppressed by her husband (no one said, what the name of her husband is). I read the report in Canada Free Press, and was considering it rather as a normal incident taking place in my own country as well as in South ... Fortune seeking pro-India Kashmiris and Indian Illusion
Abdul Ruff - 5/11/2008
New Delhi is still keen to make Kashmiris totally pro-India by hooks or crooks. The way India has annexed and occupied Kashmir and began destroying the killing innocent freedom fighting Kashmiris on “terrorism” plank and claims to be democratic and wants all pillars so Indian systems to support its nasty actions, keeps reminding one of a rogue parent, a thief, criminal- all in one- claiming to be a democrat and a Indian great, while the children support their dirty parent as a matter of loyalty without caring for logic. Children have to survive and so they project their criminal parent as a gr... Pakistan’s New Tack on Fighting Terror
Ashley J. Tellis - 5/11/2008
ISLAMABAD: While the election of a civilian government in Islamabad has been universally welcomed as part of Pakistan’s democratic transition, the new government’s approach to counterterrorism has evoked misgivings in Washington. Reacting to what is viewed as President Pervez Musharraf’s US-backed militarized effort to defeat terrorism, the elected government headed by Syed Yousaf Raza Gillani has sought a more balanced policy combining force with a “civil dialogue” with misled extremists. Instead of dismissing this as yet another bound-to-fail approach, Washington should be patient and let Gillani recover the legitimacy of Pakistan’s counterterrorism policy. Nationalist, Not Regionalist
Tanveer Jafri - 5/11/2008
Amitabh Bachchan is the name of that hero of Indian Cinema Industry who had achieved great heights of international fame because of his unmatched acting that can't be compared to any actor of India rather world Cinema Industry. Bangladesh is showing a brilliant performance in a difficult time
G.M. Solaiman - 5/11/2008
Bangladesh has been victim of devastating flood twice is last two years. A severe cyclone (Sidr) swept through Bangladesh in November 2007 which left over 10000 dead and half a billion USD damage. Yet economic data shows that Bangladesh in on track in its expected growth. That's almost like a miracle. Repression of press and paid agents in Bangladesh
Sunita Paul - 5/11/2008
In my entire journalistic career, possibly I never saw a section of paid journalists opposing publication of reports and articles on repression of journalists in a country. But, it happens in Bangladesh! And such nasty attempts are from a journalist working with Associated Press (AP) and the other belonging to a minor English language daily newspaper, which is owned by ousted and extremely controversial advisor of the military emergency government. Justice must be served in Bangladesh for two Ex-PMs
G.M. Solaiman - 5/11/2008
In Bangladesh constitution, it is said that every one is equal in the eyes of the law. Bangladesh has been ruled by two democratically elected women for last 15 years. However, both of the former prime ministers have accused the other one for serious corruption. In every meeting they attended, in every press conference they attended, both of them have said that the other one took billions of dollars in corruption. They also have said that if they were elected, they would prosecute the other one. Well, both Hasina and Khaleda got their chances. But they never kept their promises to either prose... Tamil Nadu Shows the Way to Transgenders in India
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 5/11/2008
"Ippadikku Rose" (Yours, Rose), the half-hour TV show on Star Vijay part of Star TV group owned by Rupert Murdock is drawing huge attention in Tamil Nadu. This is not because of its content but more due to its anchor Rose, who has become India 's first transsexual celebrity to host a TV show. Pakistan: Sharif’s Tirade against Musharraf
Abdul Ruff - 5/11/2008
If any one in Pakistan who hates president Pervez Musharraf from his core of heart, that is undoubtedly former premier and Quaid Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and with his own solid reason. It was General Musharraf who removed him from power in 1999 when Sharif was reigning in full speed in Islamabad. His own father later repented for his son’s immaturity in rubbing wrong shoulders with the military establishment. Sharif seeks revenge and wants to punish Musharraf. The Hijacker: A Plane In 1999, A Nation In 2008
Ahmed Quraishi - 5/11/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—Nawaz Sharif allegedly hijacked a plane in 1999. Nine years later, he hijacks a nation. Today he is a junior coalition partner. If he plays his cards right he will be the boss after the next election. This explains his contempt for a by-election. Who needs a pathetic provincial government when you can get the real deal? Press under attack in Bangladesh
Sunita Paul - 5/2/2008
Case of a female journalist: Sumi Khan, a 34-year-old journalist working with local and national magazines and based in the city of Chittagong, was attacked and received death threats as a result of her investigative journalism against corruption. She was stabbed in an attack in 2004, and her attackers remain at large. Indian democracy in Action: Secret Grave-yards in Kashmir
Abdul Ruff - 5/2/2008
A few lines on what has been happening to Kashmiris would, perhaps, throw some light on the impact of Indian policy in Kashmir life since India occupied the valley in 1947. Not only India converted Kashmir valley into a well-knit cantonment of New Delhi, it has also unleashed terror on the defenseless Kashmiris and killed thousands and thousands of Kashmiris, including the freedom fighting ones. Now freedom fighters are called the “terrorists”. Yaba mystery of RAB-3
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 5/2/2008
Look into press reports of past one year. Almost every week there is news of RAB-3 members arresting some people and recovering banned YABA tablets from the possession of those people. Only during April, number of such ‘recoveries’ and arrests were more than 15 [on an average one case every other day]. The most interesting part of the YABA episode is, RAB-3 men never found more than 90 tablets, while the average ‘recoveries’ range between 10-20 tablets in almost all the cases. The Big, Bad Brand of Bollywood
Naseem Javed - 5/2/2008
There is really nothing wrong with the brand "Bollywood", except that the Indian film industry has become far more powerful and far-reaching than any thing else like this in any other country of the world, and even larger than Hollywood. In hindsight, decades ago, who in the right frame of mind would have picked up a blatant sidekick named "Bollywood" as a cheap copy of "Hollywood", a theme that has already been further diluted and abused by hundreds of other adventurous film industry brands all over Asia, from "Ollywood" to "Jollywood", creating confusion and ripping away the original centrality of the true brand? Pakistan Won’t Survive? This Is How To Rebut Skeptics
Ahmed Quraishi - 5/2/2008
In his article published in The New York Times dated Feb. 1, 2008, American academic Selig S. Harrison has claimed that “the existing multiethnic Pakistani state is not likely to survive for long unless it is radically restructured.” Latest from Bangladesh
Sunita Paul - 5/2/2008
News from Dhaka does not show anything positive. Rather it leaves a very clear signal to everyone that the country is becoming gradually agitated and it may ultimately witness sudden explosion either in the format of mass movement or even civil war. Political pundits are even predicting a 'November 7, 1975' style joint revolution by civilians and armed forces. And, very interestingly, authorities in Dhaka seem to be extremely reluctant or even unaware of any unwarranted situation. Some Pakistani Pride
Ahmed Quraishi - 5/2/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—Adnan Babur Mirza would have been a real prince today had his family fortune lasted. His great-great-grand uncle was Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last king of the Mughal dynasty in what used to be Muslim India. Today, this handsome, 25-year-old Pakistani is in a Texas jail under a 25-year sentence in a confusing case that FBI links to terrorism but his family links to Washington’s Pakistan paranoia. True story of Grameen Bank and Yunus
Sunita Paul - 5/2/2008
Professor Muhammad Yunus, after receiving the Nobel Peace Prize came into focal point of global media and now he is pretending to be the neo 'Mother Teresa' of today's world. But, most of the world citizen shall never know the real stories of this man's crockery and how he is continuing to swindle poor people's money for decades. What’s happening in Bangladesh?
Sunita Paul - 4/29/2008
Bangladesh is possibly heading towards the path of becoming the third nuclear nation in South Asia within next couple of years. It is learnt from various sources that the topic came in discussion table during close-door meeting between Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi, who visited Bangladesh on four day tour and Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, foreign advisor in Dhaka military backed regime. My Moslem friends in Bangladesh
Sunita Paul - 4/29/2008
Here on the auspicious moment of Jewish Passover, I must make a confession to my millions of readers on how my personal concepts about Islam, Islamists, Islamic and Moslem were greatly changed when I encountered at least a number of decent Bangladeshi Moslems from various sections of life. Prior to knowing them, I too were filled with the misconception of Islam is a rogue religion provoking killing of innocent people in exchange on 70 virgins in paradise and Moslem are rotten people with heart poisoned with religious hatred. People in the west as well in non-Moslem nations generally consider M... India: Cricket or Politics? Entertainment or Deception?
Abdul Ruff - 4/29/2008
In relations with Muslims, India plays double-standards, in relations with neighbors Pakistan and Bangladesh it says one thing but does totally the opposite; with regard to Kashmir it follows a clear ambiguity confusing the Kashmiris about the time and nature of re-independence they would gain. RAB-3: Story of blackmailing and extortion
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/29/2008
Finally name of one of the top criminal officer with Rapid Action Battalion’s Unit-3 has been revealed through extensive investigations of our reporters, who led the armed hooliganism at the office of Weekly Blitz on March 18, 2008. According to facts, name of the officer is Shafiqul Huq Bhuiyan, who was deputed to Rapid Action Battalion [RAB] from Ansar. Shafiqul is infamous for corruption, womanizing and alcoholism. He has turned into a millionaire in just couple of years by misusing his power being the Deputy Director of RAB-3. Extreme audacity of RAB
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/29/2008
Most notorious organization in Bangladesh, Rapid Action Battalion [RAB] has already earned the bad name of being one of the worst violators of human rights in the world. It was already claimed by a large number of politicians that this group was established by the BNP-Islamist Coalitions government in repressing political opponents as well as for secret killing of various people in the country. Bangladesh: Power Crisis Annoys Nation
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/29/2008
Series of human rights violations are continuing in Bangladesh by members of Rapid Action Battalion [RAB] under silent instigation or even state patronization. Although to me, at least, few months back it was just an allegation, now it is more than reality. State patronized terror in Bangladesh
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/29/2008
Series of human rights violations are continuing in Bangladesh by members of Rapid Action Battalion [RAB] under silent instigation or even state patronization. Although to me, at least, few months back it was just an allegation, now it is more than reality. Rapid Action Battalion [RAB] was established on March 26, 2004 and since its establishment a total of 472 alleged criminals have so far been killed in the name of "crossfire" or "encounter" between associates of the criminals and RAB members. Bangladesh: Anger may explode anytime
Sunita Paul - 4/29/2008
Just few hours back, news from Bangladesh virtually rocked my heart. What is happening in the small South Asian neighbor, which reportedly is experiencing silent famine, power crisis, human rights violations and lack of governance for past several months due to either ego driven attitude of the military interim government or country's new policy of slipping towards anti American block. Pakistan's Foreign Policy Under The Newly Elected Government
Safdar Jafri - 4/29/2008
Despite an inconsistent system of rule, Pakistan has almost surprisingly followed a consistent foreign policy. China has been an all-weather friend while the US a fair-weather one. However, the past few years, particularly since 9/11 and Pakistan's shift in its policy of supporting the Taliban rule in the neighboring Afghanistan and subsequent surge of militancy in its own backyard, has caused some long-term shifts in Pakistan's foreign policy, particularly with regard to its neighboring countries. Under the new democratic set up, which faces daunting economic and political challenges at home,... Choosing The Future of Gas Pipelines in South Asia: IPI or TAPI
Safdar Jafri - 4/29/2008
The upcoming gas-related meetings in Islamabad and Delhi (starting 23rd April 2008) will be crucial for the future of gas delivery to Pakistan and India. The outcome of these meetings will determine the future course of economics, politics, inter-state relationships, economic cooperation and security status of the region as a whole. The stakes are high not just for India and Pakistan, the two roaring but short of energy economies of South Asia but also the economies of the Middle East and Central Asia while indirectly affecting the economies of China, Russia and the US. The first notion of bui... Bangladeshi government in boobytrap
Sunita Paul - 4/29/2008
If someone of you are aware of what is happening in Dhaka under the military backed interim government, all of you might at least raise your eye borrows to imagine the possible fate the country may bear in the days to come. Bangladesh should realize consequences
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/29/2008
Just in two days from the visit of Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi’s Dhaka visit. On April 24 Yang to Bangladesh, advisor for foreign affairs in the military backed interim government, Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said that China is willing to see Bangladesh as a key actor in regional and international affairs and would provide its support for the purpose. Bangladesh revolts against West
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/28/2008
Finally Dhaka has opened its mind. Foreign Advisor in the military emergency government in Bangladesh, Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said, "There is a new Asian era beginning, and Bangladesh needs to adjust her foreign policy to these new circumstances," Indian democracy in Action: Secret Grave-yards in Kashmir
Abdul Ruff - 4/28/2008
A few lines on what has been happening to Kashmiris would, perhaps, throw some light on the impact of Indian policy in Kashmir life since India occupied the valley in 1947. Not only India converted Kashmir valley into a well-knit cantonment of New Delhi, it has also unleashed terror on the defenseless Kashmiris and killed thousands and thousands of Kashmiris, including the freedom fighting ones. Now freedom fighters are called the “terrorists”. Changing contours of Pakistan politics
Abdul Ruff - 4/28/2008
Pakistan is slowly but steadily moving away from routine turmoil towards achieving economic and security ends to help the people live and work in normal ways. The present government and the political parties are aiming even at greater goals by evolving consensus on major issues. This is indeed a positive development. Bangladesh: Realizing the consequences
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/28/2008
Just in two days from the visit of Chinese foreign minister Yang Jiechi’s Dhaka visit. On April 24 Yang to Bangladesh, advisor for foreign affairs in the military backed interim government, Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said that China is willing to see Bangladesh as a key actor in regional and international affairs and would provide its support for the purpose. Is Bangladesh heading towards anti-US block?
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/28/2008
Military backed interim government in Bangladesh seems to be finally moving towards anti-American block. At least it is evidently proved in some of the recent actions of this government’s ‘important’ players. Question of the time
Sunita Paul - 4/24/2008
Severe controversy is continuing in the small South Asian neighbor on the point of whether next general election, which the present military backed interim government is committed to hold by December 2008, could be held under State of Emergency. A large number of local and foreign experts have already expressed their opinion stating that election within State of Emergency is impossible. But, one man, like many of the lap dogs of the present interim government sees no problem in letting the next general election be held keeping the State of Emergency very much active. Why such stand against the... Pakistan’s Small Leaders
Ahmed Quraishi - 4/24/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—Standing next to Pakistan’s rising geopolitical challenges, most Pakistani politicians appear pygmies. Take the federal minister for sports, for example. China overrides opposition in international circles to letting the Olympic torch pass through our country. Yet the honorable minister refuses to receive the torch because he hates the president. The Rise of Islamist Extremism in Bangladesh
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/22/2008
Many will raise one question whenever someone would meet a journalist willing to know about rise of radical Islam in Asia – is Islamist extremism on rise in Bangladesh? Over recent years, Islamist schools have proliferated and extremist groups have become more vocal in Bangladesh, the world's third most populous Muslim country. Internationally acclaimed writer Bertil Lintner says. Exit, escape, retreat or surrender
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/20/2008
Bangladesh is under an interim government backed by army. Since postponement of much anticipated general election in the country on 11 January 2007, a State of Emergency was declared and on 12 January 2007, an interim government with Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed was installed in power. Since then, the government has declared all out war against corruption and nepotism. A large number of heavyweight politicians were arrested, many of whom are already either facing trials or convicted to various terms on different allegations. Is Bangladesh becoming Islam hater?
Sunita Paul - 4/19/2008
It should be like a fresh breeze for the anti-religion, secular, Communists and non believers in the world to note that, for past several weeks, Bangladesh government is continuing to push an issue related to women's rights, which according to religious clergies and believers are against the commandments of Koran. But, it must frighten a larger section of the global family to think that such tendencies only would open new avenues for Islamist militancy to grow as well as militancy in the name of religion. Gilani for a Stable Pakistan
Abdul Ruff - 4/19/2008
Upon assuming office of the topmost executive power of Pakistan , Premier Yousaf Raza Gilani, seems to have already begun his job quite earnestly. His chief concern has been to make the country a stable nation and is trying to bring the economy back into rails. In order to achieve maximum success in his initiative, Gilani is keen to secure a unified political class committed to national rebuilding. In this context, the announcement by the prime minister to cut down the size of the PM House budget is a welcome development. He rightly say austerity is the solution to all economic problems. Pri... Anatomy of the Economist report on Bangladesh
Sunita Paul - 4/19/2008
Do they really understood exact situation in Bangladesh, or were just convinced to published rather a biased report by an unnamed reporter who wrote a story on present realities in Bangladesh under the caption of 'A different sort of emergency'? Why not Pakistani currency also be used in Kashmir?
Abdul Ruff - 4/18/2008
India occupying Kashmir, shamelessly militarizing that nation with an iron-hand, killing thousands and thousands of Muslims, including women and children, forbids the Kashmiris to have any cordial relationship with Pakistani, while it promotes the same with Indian politicians, media-persons and other “select” people who support the Indian case in Kashmir . Recently, Kashmiris have demanded their own currency as prelude to gaining sovereignty back from India but that was resented not only by New Delhi but, amazingly , by the pro-Indian Kashmiris in and outside Kashmir. Now a few politicians ... Bangladesh's playboy politician
Sunita Paul - 4/18/2008
After assassinating President Ziaur Rahman, through a silent conspiracy, army chief Hussain Muhammed Ershad assumed power in a bloodless coup in March 1982. Like his predecessors, Ershad suspended the constitution and--citing pervasive corruption, ineffectual government, and economic mismanagement--declared martial law. The following year, Ershad assumed the presidency, retaining his positions as army chief and CMLA. During most of 1984, Ershad sought the opposition parties' participation in local elections under martial law. The opposition's refusal to participate, however, forced Ershad to abandon these plans. Behind Indian Olympic Glamour
Abdul Ruff - 4/18/2008
India, a nation of contradictions not only in words and deeds, but in reality and propaganda, could be proud of the fact, notwithstanding its tall claims of economic recovery and nuclear missile capability, that it accounts for about 40 per cent of the world poor. That is, this democratic and secular nation has kept the wedge not only between Hindus and Muslims for Mosque and vote reasons, but also maintianed clear distance between the rich and the poor. Bardoli Satyagraha: A Milestone of the Way of the Indian Freedom Movement
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 4/18/2008
Under the leadership of Vallabhbhai Patel in 1928, the Bardoli Kisan Satyagraha proved to be the best example of the practice of Gandhian principle of non-violence as well as a milestone of the way of India’s freedom movement. There is not another Satyagraha in my view that could be compared with it. During the course of struggle, a journalist of a then-government supported newspaper “The Times of India” wrote: A Train for Dhaka
Abdul Ruff - 4/18/2008
It is heartening to note that the passenger train service between Kolkata ( Calcutta ) in India and the capital of Bangladesh , Dhaka , has resumed after an interval of more than 40 years. The service was suspended in 1965 following that year's war between India and Pakistan , of which Bangladesh was then the eastern province. The train service between the two countries was stopped during the India-Pakistan war in 1965 when Bangladesh was the erstwhile East Pakistan . Bangladesh gained independence in 1971 but the two countries only agreed to resume the train link in 2001. However, owing to di... Pakistan‘s Lingering Crisis
Abdul Ruff - 4/17/2008
One feels like looking back: a bitter poll campaign was fought by the PPP-PMK (N) and removal of President Pervez Musharraf was on the top of opposition campaign agenda once polls were announced by President Musharraf. But less than two-thirds majority obtained by the opposition combine against their bigger expectations and the follow-up government formation strategies have shifted the focus of the opposition leaders from anti-Musharrafism to more important issues concerning Pakistan ’s security, economic strength and common problems faced by Pakistanis. Pakistan’s Dreadful Moment: Beijing Or Washington?
Ahmed Quraishi - 4/16/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—For Pervez Musharraf’s critics in Pakistan who see him as some kind of a secret U.S. agent, here’s a news flash: If anything, your President is a Chinese stooge. There’s no capital in the world he visited more than Beijing. In recent years, he’s been to China at least eight times. More if you count his entire military career. Rise of Islamist extremism in Bangladesh
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/14/2008
Many will raise one question whenever someone would meet a journalist willing to know about rise of radical Islam in Asia – is Islamist extremism on rise in Bangladesh? Over recent years, Islamist schools have proliferated and extremist groups have become more vocal in Bangladesh, the world's third most populous Muslim country. Internationally acclaimed writer Bertil Lintner says. Pakistan On Tightrope
Prof. Isaac Kfir - 4/13/2008
This article examines Pakistan following the assassination of Benazir Bhutto and the recent parliamentary elections within the confines of the challenges that arise from the need to embrace democracy. The article accepts that Pakistan must contend with a powerful military, rising Islamism, tribalism, an unstable political system, quarrelling leaders, and difficult foreign policy issues while it strives to continue to play its role in the global war on terror. The author concludes that only by uniting the different actors and seeking a stable Pakistan can the Islamist threat be defeated. Bangladesh: Hub of international terror?
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/13/2008
During her recent visit to Bangladesh, the British home secretary, Jacqui Smith, said there was a ‘terrorist linkage’ between Bangladesh and the United Kingdom and iterated her government’s commitment towards cooperation with Dhaka on countering terrorism and extremism and further boost in top-level engagement between the two countries. Bangladesh Election 2008 – Possibilities and confusions
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/13/2008
Ask anyone in Bangladesh. What they are looking for on an urgent basis. Politicians will tell you about their priority. They want election by December 2008. While, the remaining major sections of the society will ask for resolving the existing problems. Food shortage, power crisis and rise of religious extremism! Bangladesh warming up
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/13/2008
April 11, 2008 could have been a very regular Friday in Bangladesh if the situation in the capital wouldn’t have flared up the previous day when members of Al Qaeda linked Hizb Ut Tahrir [HT] and Khelafat Majlish went into massive battle with law enforcing agencies, thus creating the surrounding areas of the national mosque in Dhaka into mere battle ground. Was 1/11 inevitable to save Bangladesh?
Sunita Paul - 4/13/2008
Ask anyone you know from Bangladesh, a small island in South Asia, what would happen if the much controversial general election in 2007 (January 22) could not be stopped by imposing State of Emergency under military backing. Everyone will possibly tell you the destructive fate Bangladesh would suffer – a civil war. And, in case of breaking of a civil war, what would happen to the entire nation? Complete devastation and emergence of militant Islamist forces. There is possibly no room to have any doubt that members of Bangladesh Armed Forces took highest risk in taking this most critical decisio... Man proposes, God disposes
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 4/13/2008
In a very ridiculous step, the interim government in Bangladesh tried to know the possible reactions from United States government if the anticipated general election is not held within the revised time frame in 2008. Such question was raised during a meeting between Bangladeshi ambassador in United States, M Humayun Kabir and official of United States National Security Council, James Jeffrey. In response, Mr. Jeffrey told the Bangladeshi ambassador that the general election must be held within time frame [December 2008], and international community won’t accept any further excuse in this regard. The Inevitable Formation of Jinnahpur
Syed Jamaluddin - 4/12/2008
A "failed state" is one that has a "shattered social and political structure". In the words of former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Boutros Boutros-Ghali: 'A feature of such conflicts is the collapse of state institutions, especially the police and judiciary, with resulting paralysis of governance, a breakdown of law and order, and general banditry and chaos. Not only are the functions of government suspended, but its assets are destroyed or looted and experienced officials are killed or flee the country. This is rarely the case in inter-state wars. It means that international inter... Indo-Pak Relations: Sarabjit's Release may prove a Milestone
Tanveer Jafri - 4/12/2008
Indian Citizen Sarabjit Singh has been waiting for his safe release for the last 18 years from Kot Lakhpat jail in Lahore, Pakistan. The death warrant of Sarabjit Singh has been sent to this jail by Pakistan government. According to this warrant, Sarabjit was to be hanged on April 1 but on the request of Government of India, the hanging was postponed for a month. It is known that there were four different bomb blasts in 1990 in Lahore & Multan, the cities of Pakistan, 14 Pakistani citizens died in these bomb blasts & several other were injured. Indian citizen Sarabjit was arrested in Pakistan during that time. He was accused of playing a main role in those blasts. Impact of Kosovo Independence: Focus on Democratic India
Abdul Ruff - 4/12/2008
On 17 February 2008, the Serbian Southern province of Kosovo in South-eastern Europe declared independence from Republic of Serbia and proclaimed itself new Republic of Kosovo. New Republic of Kosovo was later recognized by few sovereign states, mainly the USA. Kosovo now has to become a member of the EU, the UN, OSCE, IOC, IMF, and many other vital world bodies. Kosovo will remain a sovereign nation and a part of UN very soon. This should show to the world that seeking legitimate independence or “secessionism” or separatism”, to use the expression in vogue from colonial and imperialist powers... ‘Tare Zamen Pe’- There are Stars on Earth
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 4/12/2008
The Hindi movie ‘Tare Zamen Pe’ starring Amir Khan dealing with the subject of a talented young child who is unable to cope up with the studies due to some curable disorder must have moved many hearts. At least I can say with certainty that I was inspired by this movie and felt helping one such talented star on earth who can achieve greater heights, provided she get right attention at the right point of time. Bangladesh: Nation in Confrontation
Sunita Paul - 4/11/2008
Some say, it is an international conspiracy to destabilize country's internal situation, while others say, it is a mere madness of some opportunists who are always willing to turn Bangladesh into a failed state. But, a number of organizations in Bangladesh, mostly led by some atheists and leftists are continuing its campaign to hold trial of war criminals of 1971 war of independence. A Small Stove With Big Ambitions
Margot Cohen - 4/8/2008
SULEBHAAVI, India: As India's richest families race to outfit their kitchens with the latest European trappings, thousands of village entrepreneurs are discovering how to squeeze profits from a squat $17 stove locally designed to reduce global warming and preserve women's health. Dhaka under unique martial law
Sunita Paul - 4/8/2008
People may try to argue with the fact that the small nation in South Asia is under a civilian government, which enjoys support from the army. They may even argue that both the President and the Chief Advisor (chief executive) of the country are non-military figures. And it is a fact too. In that case, how someone could define Bangladesh being ruled under an unique form of martial law? Let us take some glimpse over some of the facts. Dhaka's Military Rulers
Sunita Paul - 4/7/2008
World's second largest Moslem populated country Bangladesh's capital Dhaka is under military backed government since January 11 last year. It is known to the world that the much anticipated general election in the country was postponed due to massive confrontation between two rival political parties, Awami League and Islamist Coalition led by Bangladesh Nationalist Party. When the civilian government of Ms. Khaleda Zia handed over power to the 'neutral' caretaker government led by President Iajuddin Ahmed, it was expected that a person acceptable to all political parties would become the Chief... Al Qaeda-Famine grabbing Bangladesh
Sunita Paul - 4/6/2008
Latest news in Dhaka's press mostly is filled with sufferings of people due to recent famine, which broke silently in the country of 150 million people. A vernacular daily named Naya Diganta (New Horizon), published a photograph of a dead body of an unknown man in Dhaka. Seeing this photograph, someone may assume, it was taken from Somalia. But, no, it is from Dhaka. It is quite understandable that, when people in the capital are dying due to lack of food, there should be numerous deaths in the rural parts of the country. But, despite such serious situation, authorities in Dhaka are yet to acc... Behind the 1940-41 Ban on the Khaksar Tehrik
Nasim Yousaf - 4/6/2008
On March 19, 1940, the Khaksar Tehrik (Movement) was banned by the Government of Punjab in British India, and Allama Mashriqi, his sons, and a very large number of Khaksars were imprisoned. In 1941, the Movement was banned on an all-India basis. Investigative research reveals that the ban on the Khaksar Tehrik and Mashriqi’s imprisonment were the result of mutual interest of the anti-Khaksar elements, including the British and the All-India Muslim League (AIML). Both saw Mashriqi and his Movement as a threat and sought to secure themselves. The following briefly sheds light on British and AIML motivations and the subsequent banning of the Khaksar Movement. BD rulers and politicians
Sunita Paul - 4/6/2008
Most of the donor nations are putting special emphasis on holding free and fair general election in Bangladesh within December 2008. Although the present regime in Dhaka, which enjoys support from the armed forces is continuing to promise of holding the election within 'road map', no one can tell with certainty whether such intention is genuine or not. Earlier, the same rulers with former World Bank official Dr. Fakhruddin Ahmed as the Chief Executive promised of holding the election by December 2007. But, in fact they didn't. The government brought an excuse of preparing National Identity car... Multiple Diseases of Detained Bangladeshi Politicians
Sunita Paul - 4/6/2008
Since the political change in Bangladesh in 2007, a large number of politicians and businessmen had been arrested and numerous charges were also brought against them. But, the prison authorities failed to ensure proper medical facilities for the detainees, which resulted in deterioration of their physical conditions. According to confirmed reports, youngest son of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, Arafat Rahman Koko is now in virtual death and life state. He is suffering from heart ailment and other serious complications, which may result in anything bad anytime. The government is reluctant i... Dhaka suppresses facts
Sunita Paul - 4/5/2008
Despite the fact that Bangladesh is under acute food shortage and a number of reports evidently prove that silent famine has already breaking in various parts of the country, an advisor to the military backed interim government in Dhaka declines to accept the fact of famine, rather he said that the country is experiencing 'Hidden Hunger'. Gilani’s Emergency Plan for a Future Pakistan
Abdul Ruff - 4/4/2008
Upon winning the confidence vote in parliament on March 29, 2008 , new Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani's’s policy speech came as a long-awaited beacon of hope for the people of Pakistan who seemed to have lost all faith in the politicians and the so-called democratic process which only means elections. Not only the entire National Assembly unanimously reposed its confidence in the leadership of Prime Minister Gilani, but perhaps for the first time in Pakistan ’s history, the opposition members too voted for the Leader of the House. The opposition leaders did all this just to proclaim thei... Bangladesh's next destination
Sunita Paul - 4/4/2008
Some people say it is the next terrorism gator. Some say, a future land of Taliban and extremist Islamists. Some say, a failed nation. Some even say a country possibly under the greedy eyes of neighbors. What fate waits really for this second largest Moslem populated country in the world? Hypocrisy Galore In Islamabad
Ahmed Quraishi - 4/4/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—There are things you can’t talk about these days or the new pro-democracy brigade in Pakistan will bake you alive. Since our politicians are dealing with one another with some civility for the first time, skeptics like me are forced to give them the benefit of the doubt. But not too much. You see, there still is a lot of hypocrisy in the air. Musharraf to stay?
Muhammad Shafiq - 4/4/2008
President Pervez Musharraf's future has been under discussion in the country and abroad, especially after 'unexpected' results in the February 18 general election, which saw a landslide victory for opposition parties. The Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) of the late Benazir Bhutto, now led by her widower, Asif Ali Zardari, and the Pakistan Muslim League of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif now enjoy a two-thirds majority in parliament and they are in a position to impeach the president. There are also reports indicating that the president may quit after the completion of the election process when governments in all the four provinces are installed. Islamization of Bangladesh?
Sunita Paul - 4/4/2008
In recent years, Al Qaeda linked notorious Islamist group named Hizb Ut Tahrir is continuing to strengthen its network within Bangladesh and even during the present State of Emergency (SOE), this international terror group is allowed by the authorities. Led by Mohiuddin Ahmed, Hizb Ut Tahrir holds regular orientation and recruitment courses inside the premises of a private school in Dhaka almost openly. Intelligence agencies are aware of this fact, but there is possibly instructions from the high ups in the government of not interfering activities of this notorious militant group for reason unknown. Silent Famine Hits Bangladesh
Sunita Paul - 4/3/2008
People of Bangladesh are possibly witnessing the come back of horrific days of 1974, when the entire country was affected in a devastating famine killing numerous people. There are numerous reports in the press that during those worst days of the people of the newly born nation (Bangladesh became independent in 1971), even there had been severe shortage in conducting proper religious rituals in burying dead bodies. In many cases, dead bodies were wrapped in Banana Leafs. Hungry faces were seen everywhere in the country. But, that happened when country's population was 75 million. Now, it has doubled. Bangladesh now has more than 150 million people, mostly living under the poverty level. The Election Campaign Heritage of Nepalese Politics
Prakash Bom - 4/3/2008
Just as humans inherit their genetic make-up and socio-familial collective consciousness in course of their upbringings so as the nation and its political entities carry on their influence as their heritage from the contemporary socio-political processes. How sensibly an individual responds to other individual (s) in public interaction determines his or her competence for survival because earning a humanly decent livelihood depends on public-relation. Similarly, the success and failure of political parties in democracy depends on their democratic heritage that they have inherited from else wh... Gandhian View on Morality and Ethics
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 4/3/2008
Morality and Ethics are inter-related to each other in the sense that both are concerned with the behaviour of man. Although many times both are interpreted as synonymous to the other, they are different in their meaning and scope, and thus need to be explained separately. They also need to be applied differently in the day-to-day practices of man. Furthermore, their application in individual and public life remains separate. Simultaneously, as per the demand it is the subject of time and space; it is a subject of wide discussion and minute analysis. Bangladeshi RAB: Licensed to kill!
Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury - 3/31/2008
This is not a new episode of James Bond 007 movie. This is a true story about the most notorious terror organization in Bangladesh, enjoying official status and termed as ‘elite force’. Rapid Action Battalion [RAB] was established on March 26, 2004 and since its establishment a total of 472 alleged criminals have so far been killed in the name of "crossfire" or "encounter" between associates of the criminals and RAB members. China-Tibet Conflict: Tibet Time Bomb Ticking For India?
Monotapash Mukherjee - 3/31/2008
Much have written about the recent emotional outburst of the Tibetans, their violent protests, the rise of the more aggressive Tibetan youth, the Dalai Lama's helplessness, the Tibetans' march towards Tibet, the punitive measures inflicted by the Chinese army on the protesters, the Tibetans' call to the world to boycott Beijing Olympics and so on. But the unforeseen desperation of the Tibetans has led me to several disturbing questions and apprehensions. Is it just the Olympian flare engineered to draw the world attention to the Tibetan Cause? Or is it the tip of the iceberg which lies buried ... Bangladesh: They hate US and the West here too
Sunita Paul - 3/30/2008
Bangladesh, although demanding to be a moderate Muslim nation, is in reality a notorious Jew hater and anti West and anti American nation. This was proved when a front ranking leader of Bangladesh Caliphate Movement, Kazi Azizul Huq was asked as to what are the basic reasons for many of the Bangladeshis to be anti American, anti West and anti Semitic? Who are responsible for such tendency? Mr. Huq replied, "People of Bangladesh in general dislike Anglo-American Occupation of Afghanistan and Iraq. At the same time most of them would like to see their children to go to Europe and US to earn mone... Pakistan’s Temporary Premier: Non-Confrontation?
Abdul Ruff - 3/28/2008
The new democracy wave unleashed in Pakistan by the February poll has created a temporary premier. Son of Alamdar Hussain Gilani who served as a provincial minister in the 1950s, the 55-year-old Yusuf Raza Gillani, a post-graduate in Journalism and former minister and Speaker of Pakistan, has been elected prime-minister of Pakistan on 24 March 2008, possibly for 3-4 months until the leader of PPP Asif Ali Zardari becomes constitutionally eligible for the top executive job. That would include Zardari winning a parliamentary seat in a by-election. Ms Bhutto's widower is still the PPP's most powerful figure, say analysts. Pakistan Beware, They Are Cornering China
Ahmed Quraishi - 3/28/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—Next to her bad Collagen-injected facelift job, Nancy Pelosi has given us one of the worst lessons in deceitful diplomacy on behalf of the United States. Pelosi, who is third in line of power in Washington after George Bush and Dick Cheney, flew halfway around the world to our neighborhood last week. Her mission? To further stoke the fire in China’s Tibet. Our ally in war on terror in trouble
Steve Johnson - 3/26/2008
It might sound ridiculous, but it is a fact! Al Qaeda pals and Islamist elements are gradually getting planted in many of the sensitive positions in Muslim Bangladesh’s administration and law enforcement agencies. On the other hand, Rapid Action Battalion [RAB], a group formed by former Islamist Coalition government in the country has by now crossed many records of human rights abuse and extra judicial killings. It is learnt from various sources that on an average, more than hundred people are killed by this notorious group, while rape in custody is a regular phenomenon. RAB, a force formed wi... India: Check Sexual Assaults on Foreign Tourists
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 3/26/2008
The death of a British girl Scarlett Keeling, 15, on a Goa’s beach, suspected to be of 'foul play' has once again caught the attention of the nation towards the growing crime against foreign tourists in India . Thanks to the media, the darker side of Incredible India’s is at full display on our TV sets. Indian Terrorism in Kashmir
Abdul Ruff - 3/26/2008
Close on the heels of US revelation about the deaths of American sponsored terrorists in Iraq , India has also come out with its shabby account of genocide in Kashmir under Indian continued occupation and destructive operations. Challenges for new Pakistani Prime Minister
Muhammad Shafiq - 3/26/2008
The first orders of the newly-elected Prime Minister, Yousaf Raza Gillani, for the release of all deposed judges set the tone for the future politics of Pakistan. However, it is yet to be seen whether he has become another prime minister or has some real powers to provide relief to the people of the country. Bangladesh Patronizing Terror?
Steve Johnson - 3/25/2008
What’s going on in the tiny island named Bangladesh in South Asia? It is for obvious reason that this country does not come in global press very often because it is neither a global player nor a moderate Muslim nation actively participating in War on Terror. Whenever Bangladesh comes as a topic in Western press is because of corruption, lawlessness, military intervention or various problems. In recent months, Bangladesh is appearing in global media as it is government by a military backed interim government, which is continuing efforts in cleansing politics and politicians in the name of comba... Anti-Islamist Muslim Journalist Taken by Paramilitary Goons in Bangladesh
Dr. Richard L. Benkin - 3/23/2008
DHAKA (MARCH 18, 2008) At approximately 7:00pm, Dhaka time, members of Bangladesh's Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) stormed the office of anti-jihadist Muslim journalist, SALAH UDDIN SHOAIB CHOUDHURY. A para-military arm of the government, RAB is notorious for its crackdowns on dissidents and wholesale violations of human rights. They ordered all employees out of the newspaper and interrogated Shoaib , seizing his phones and not allowing him any communication with friends, family, or legal counsel. After more than an hour and a half, RAB claimed to find a controlled substance in Shoaib's desk-... Cracks Deepen: PPPP And Nawaz Part Ways
Moin Ansari - 3/23/2008
As expected the cracks between the PPPP and PML(N) are deepening by the minute. Rather belatedly Chaudhary Nisar Khan of the PML (N) , in the understatement of the year stated the obvious–that his party would not join the government, and preferred instead to give PPP "political space" to fulfill "our common agenda". A New Beginning For Pakistan
Muhammad Shafiq - 3/23/2008
The oath-taking of the new National Assembly was peaceful, unlike its past experience, but a quite beginning, one fears, does not seem to match the stormy sessions it will witness in days and weeks to come. It is the first assembly that wants to change the status quo in the country, so a fierce battle is expected between the establishment and genuine political parties of the country who have an agenda to break the establishment and work for democracy. India's Missle Revolution
Monotapash Mukherjee - 3/16/2008
Though India, perhaps is the first country in the world where missiles were used in war (by Tipu Sultan against the British), India woke up to its potential much later. China, in order to ascertain its No. 1 position in Asia, created a strategic black hole for India—Pakistan. It utilized the pathological Pak-hatred against India to its full advantage. China helped Pakistan in its missile and nuclear programs. Pakistan bartered its nuclear know-how for North Korea's long range Nodong missile technology. Pakistan began to develop sophisticated missiles. India, on the other hand, was reeling unde... Pakistan: It’s Revenge, Not Democracy
Ahmed Quraishi - 3/16/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—In Pakistan, return to democracy is threatened by a return to chaos. Revenge is apparently the first order of business for some of the new winners in the election. Frivolous confrontation is not in Pakistan’s national interest. Remember: At present, Pakistan can afford a flawed political system, but not a weak one. Bhutto Party Dilemma
Muhammad Shafiq - 3/16/2008
LAHORE, PAKISTAN. Though hopes of a bright future of Pakistan are very high after unexpected results in the February 18 general elections, it is the toughest test of democratic forces and politicians that would not only determine the future of democracy but also of the country, which has been under covert or overt military rule since its inception in 1947. Jinnah to sit in Indian Parliament
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 3/13/2008
Indian Parliament will soon have Mr Jinnah as one its members. The ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) in Tamil Nadu has cleared his name of A.A. Jinnah along with another nominee Vasanthi Stanley as its party’s nominee. India’s Forgotten Farmers
Prof. Tarun Khanna - 3/9/2008
Can India’s burgeoning economy lead to prosperity for all of its citizens, urban and rural alike? Thus far, India’s economic growth has been concentrated almost exclusively in urban centers, while rural areas remain largely mired in appalling poverty. Since 70 percent of India’s population lives in rural communities, the vast majority of Indians find themselves cut off from their nation’s economic boom. Rural Indians generally depend upon agriculture for a livelihood and are trapped by a political system that privileges sharp-toothed middlemen over poor farmers. A law requiring farmers to sell... All The Tough Questions: Why Musharraf Is A Safer Bet For Pakistan
Ahmed Quraishi - 3/6/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—The fairest election in Pakistan’s history has restored respect for the Pakistani military, transferred the rising burden of governance to politicians, cut Musharraf’s false allies to size, and empowered the coming parliament to guard Pakistan’s strategic interest in the wider region. Nagaland - Dreamers under the Dark Tunnel
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 3/5/2008
Nagaland is back on national radar for the simple reason that elections are being held there. I was seeing a long news clip that brought out different facets of this state. One that makes me to comment on this issue is about the youth of Nagaland who to me seem look like belonging more to the globalize world than to any tiny geographical entity that’s sandwiched between India and Burma . Interview with Pakistan's Maj. Gen. Rashid Qureshi
Ahmed Quraishi - 3/4/2008
Ahmed Quraishi: If you read Senator Joseph Biden’s statement you get the impression than now even Washington is calling for a safe exit for Pakistan’s Pervez Musharraf and that the Pakistani president should not complete his five-year term and should instead cut it short and resign. Democracy in Pakistan Might Bring Tension with Washington
Husain Haqqani - 3/3/2008
BOSTON: The decision by the opposition parties that won Pakistan's February 18 parliamentary election to work together offers the hope of bringing democratic stability to a dysfunctional nuclear state. The army has dominated Pakistan's politics for most of its 60-year existence as an independent country. In the past, coup-making generals, like President Pervez Musharraf, have taken advantage of differences among politicians instead of allowing politicians with popular support to negotiate compromises and run the country according to its constitution. Why Musharraf Is A Safer Bet For Pakistan
Ahmed Quraishi - 2/26/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—The fairest election in Pakistan’s history has restored respect for the Pakistani military, transferred the rising burden of governance to politicians, cut Musharraf’s false allies to size, and empowered the coming parliament to guard Pakistan’s strategic interest in the wider region. Real Politik of Pakistan
Iqbal Latif - 2/26/2008
PPP has emerged as the largest party closely followed by PML (N) as the second largest. However, contrary to general perception, a surface deep analysis reveals that PML (Q) and allies plus independents, who supported the presidency, have secured second position on the National Assembly seat chart with nearly 84 seats – just short of PPP. India, Hindu-View, Tolerance and Gandhi
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 2/22/2008
A section of scientists dealing with human affairs believes the emergence of man on earth occurred approximately one million years ago. This particular section of scientists has divided the process of evolution of man in different ages: Primitive-Age, Stone-Age, Bronze-Age, Iron-Age and Modern-Age. A section of archaeologists has also accepted the arguments of the above scientists dealing with the human affairs particularly in context of their division of ages of evolution. Undoubtedly, this section of archaeologists has its own arguments in this context and the basis of their evidence is the digging work undertaken time-to-time. Analysis of Pakistani Elections
Iqbal Latif - 2/20/2008
Pakistan observed its crucial polls in a fairly peaceful manner yesterday in total contradiction to all the media hype and speculation on violence and 'mass rigging.' President Musharraf has been true to his word. Although international media treats him like a dog, there is good reason why major world leaders, Bush, Sarkozy, Brown, respect and endorse the Pakistani President’s power. For a “dictatorial tyrant,” as accused by many a world press, Musharraf has acted every bit the salt he is worth - fairly and in line with his promises to ensure free and fair elections. He is fully aware of his r... Elections Alone Won't Help Pakistan
Ahmed Quraishi - 2/20/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—If Pakistan ever uses a nuclear device, civilians will have more hand in it than the military. Six out of the top ten men authorized to push the button are civilians. The military is in the minority with four votes. But its input is strong and acknowledged. An Indication of Lack of Commitment towards the Nation!
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 2/14/2008
Although it is necessary for citizens of any country of the world to be committed towards their nation’s unity and solidarity, for a country like India--which has unity in diversity and diversity in unity--it is absolutely necessary. History bears evidence that due to the narrow-mindedness and selfish motives of a man or a group of men, some Indians were filled with false hopes and thus lagged behind in their commitment towards their nation overall. This weakened India internally and consequently its unity and integrity could not remain intact, which ultimately affected everyone negatively. The Shameful Suicide Incidents of Indian Farmers
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 2/13/2008
India is the land of peasants. It is peasantry which has existed in more than sixty thousand villages for centuries, and has given added dimension to the social, political, cultural and economic development of India. It not only maintained the secular character of Indian society; it also strengthened its composite culture. We need not to carryout any research work to describe the importance and significance of peasantry in the political fields of contemporary and modern India. We may just look at the pages of history regarding India’s national liberation movement, especially pertaining to the Gandhian Era; and everything about the vital role played by peasants will become clear. Democratic Destabilization Of Pakistan
Ahmed Quraishi - 2/13/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—“The Pakistanis,” says former U.S. president Richard Nixon, “are straightforward and sometimes extremely stupid. The Indians are more devious, sometimes so smart that we fall for their line.” Back To The Troika In Pakistan?
Ahmed Quraishi - 2/12/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—The anti-Musharraf, one-point agenda driving Pakistani politicians and their parties can hardly resolve the challenges facing the Pakistani state today. If Mr. Musharraf is a source of tension, those clamoring to replace him hardly evoke any confidence in their ability to meet Pakistan’s multilayered domestic and external tests post-Feb.18 election. Tales from India - Sex, Kidneys and More
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 2/12/2008
During the World War II days British Prime Minister Winston Churchill used to begin his speech on the radio saying – Ladies and Gentleman lend me your ears … The same call is needed for some disturbing news that has come out from the different parts of the country very recently. The World's Most Dangerous Place
Iqbal Latif - 2/10/2008
The Economist have recently dedicated cover page stories to Pakistan with a bold title “The Most Dangerous Nation in the World – It’s Pakistan.” Portraying a melodramatic picture of a hand grenade in the colours of Pakistan's national flag, the world's possibly most reliable journal has smeared Pakistan as "the world's most dangerous place." Islamabad’s Straight Talk With Washington
Ahmed Quraishi - 1/30/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—I am not the only one in Islamabad using dramatic language to describe the current trust deficit between Pakistan and the United States. There is someone else in this city doing it far better: Ann W. Paterson, Bush administration’s envoy to Pakistan. Indo-US Nuclear Deal—Ripples So Far
Monotapash Mukherjee - 1/30/2008
As expected and calculated, the Indo-US Nuclear Deal, till date, has its multi-dimensional ramifications. The Indian foreign policy has come under heavy shadow of the deal. The Indian government has been careful enough not to displease Washington in its conduct of international relations. As a result the Deal has some visible and invisible consequences for the foreign, defence and trade policies. Let us examine some of the consequences of the deal: Space Militarization—India in Double Dilemma
Monotapash Mukherjee - 1/29/2008
Post nuclear situation, India is being visited by a pre-nuclear weaponization dilemma—to be or not to be a space-weapons state. The territorial warfare is not a thing of the past yet, but once again the shadow of space weaponization is looming large. Gandhi and the Quest for Self-Realization
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 1/29/2008
I always wondered why an international political leader like Gandhi was addressed as Mahatma, an honorific frequently used for a spiritually elevated soul. To find an answer, I think it is essential to review his life not in parts, but as a whole. Pakistan’s Return To Democracy
M. H. Koya, Ph.D. - 1/18/2008
With the growing internal dissatisfaction and what seems to be a heavy tilting towards the Al Qaida type of Islam, Pakistan is thirsting for a return to democracy. It is a wrong call. They will have to be clear in their head whether to have democracy or the Islamized Pakistan. India's food diplomacy: The other face of a friend
Mohammad Zainal Abedin - 1/17/2008
It is very strange to note that India's food business with Bangladesh is directed not only to minimize her strategic importance, but also to undermine her sovereign and independent identity. To create famine India in mid September of 2007 banned exporting 5.5 lakh tons of rice to Bangladesh though the Bangladeshi importers paid the total price of the consignment. After the debacle cyclone of mid-December, when other friendly countries of Bangladesh like America, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, etc., stood beside Bangladesh with abundant assistance, Indian foreign minister Pronab Mukharjee went to Bang... Bastardization of History: Blame It On Pakistan
Iqbal Latif - 1/17/2008
Let me tell you why Pakistan and Mush are so unpopular. Lets take Mush first, it is because he calls a spade a spade; he is executing a designed programme to bring these areas within the domain of civilised world. This is part of the war on terror, and it is not a 10-second instant gratification programme. Mush is the number one target for OBL. Pakistan’s Nukes Are Here To Stay
Ahmed Quraishi - 1/17/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—Last November, The New York Times published what many analysts in Islamabad described as a planted story, claiming that the United States had spent up to $ 100 million over the past five years to help Pakistan secure its nuclear weapons. INTERVIEW: Air Commodore Khalid Banuri - "Don't Mess With Pakistan"
Ahmed Quraishi - 1/17/2008
Pakistani officials in charge of the nation’s vast nuclear and strategic arsenal have spent the past few months quietly laughing at the doomsday scenarios that American politicians and media organizations have been spinning for months now. These Pakistani officials say they are calm because of their confidence in their capabilities. However, this Pakistani calm should not be mistaken for weakness. “My message is: Don’t mess with us,” says Air Commodore Khalid Banuri, with pride. Benazir Bhutto's Death Was Pre-Ordained
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 1/12/2008
The tragic assassination of Benazir Bhutto in December 2007 is one of the most powerful events in contemporary South Asian history. The other parallels to this event could be assassination of Rajiv Gandhi in 1996 and Indira Gandhi in 1984. Even as Scotland Yard sleuths are investing her case and looking for security lapses and her probable assassins there seems some preordained force to be behind her killing. It reminds me of an Arabian Night story that I heard long ago.It goes like this... Bhutto: Why Al Qaeda Didn’t Kill Her And The Pakistani Military Did?
Ahmed Quraishi - 1/8/2008
ISLAMABAD , Pakistan —The confidence of the slain Pakistani prime minister’s aides is amazing. You can’t change their minds. Mrs. Bhutto, they say, was definitely killed by bullet wounds and not the fracture in the skull, as confirmed by Pakistani doctors at a major government-run hospital. Benazir Bhutto: A Victim Of American Meddling
Ahmed Quraishi - 1/3/2008
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—In 1988, the United States actively helped Benazir Bhutto’s rise to power in Pakistan. Nineteen years later, Washington has seriously botched a second attempt. Mrs. Bhutto is killed in the process. Writer on Prominent Radical Islamic Web Site Gloats Over Bhutto’s Death
Jeremy Reynalds, Ph.D. - 1/2/2008
A writer on a radical Islamic web site forum gloated over slain Pakistani People's Party leader Benazir Bhutto's recent tragic death. The article headline read, “Another sworn enemy of Allah hit the dust.” The Profession Of Death
Prof. Barry Rubin - 1/2/2008
Much will be said about Benazir Bhutto’s assassination; little will be understood about what it truly means. I’m not speaking here about Pakistan, of course, as important as is that country. But rather the lesson—as if we need any more—for that broad Middle East with Pakistan at one end and the Atlantic Ocean coast on the other. 126 MRF — an Indian Master Card
Monotapash Mukherjee - 12/26/2007
India's declining combat ratio with regard to air force with Pakistan has been a cause for concern in the Indian strategic community. But like every crisis, it has brought a golden opportunity for India. In fact, it can be a master card for India if handled with proper consideration. Lest we fail to understand Indian design
Mohammad Zainal Abedin - 12/26/2007
On December 16, 2007 Bangladesh entered 37 years of its existence. But during this long span of time Bangladesh could not reach its cherished goal of independence for which we fought, it rather faced unthinkable impediments and predicaments. This happened due to our utter failure of identifying our friends and foes, mending our stupidity and zeal for personal interest and power. It is our ill luck that we considered and some of us still consider our arch rival and foe as our friend. Can A Democrat Like Mr. Aitzaz Ahsan Answer These Questions
Ahmed Quraishi - 12/21/2007
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—You have to wonder which side of Mr. Aitzaz Ahsan’s personality is more sinister: the politician? Or the lawyer? India's Nuclearisation Program —a Scrutiny
Monotapash Mukherjee - 12/18/2007
As India is going to celebrate the first decade of nuclear weapons, several questions come to my mind. Were the pacifists right in opposing weaponization? How far has India achieved? Has it secured the status that comes with nuclearization? The Waziristan Accord
Evagoras C. Leventis - 12/18/2007
The Waziristan Accord between Pakistan's government and tribal leaders in that country's Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) has failed not only to curb violence in the immediate region but also to restrict cross-border militant activity--including resurgent Taliban and al-Qa'ida cadres--between Pakistan's "tribal belt" and Afghanistan. The purpose of this article is to examine the Waziristan Accord and to indicate why agreements of this nature will continue to fail unless there is a substantial modification in Pakistan's internal and regional policies. Taslima Nasreen vs MF Hussein
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 12/14/2007
There is certain degree of similarity between Taslima Nasreen and MF Hussein; the first has hurt the religious sentiments of the Muslims the later the sentiments of the Hindus. What could have been a rallying point of hurt sentiments has turned out to be a case of mud slinging between the two dominant faiths in India. U.S. Diplomat To Pakistani Journalist: You’re Spreading Anti-Americanism
Ahmed Quraishi - 12/11/2007
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan —For all those who thought the Pakistani State is a soft punching bag, I have breaking news: No More. India’s Dilemma: Farmer’s rising suicide rate
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 12/9/2007
In the eyes of the world, India is poised to be the world’s next great economy. While that principle is widely applauded, the details tend to be problematic. The changes in the Indian economy have been ‘all pain, no gain’ for most of its small farmers. Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel-A Born Satyagrahi
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 12/9/2007
Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel always remained bound to constitutional and democratic values. History has borne witness to his commitment to these principles. Vallabhbhai Patel was a born Satyagraha-a seeker of Truth. It was in his nature to launch Satyagraha-the pursuit for Truth-to ensure justice would be served. In his childhood, youth and even in the declining phase of his life, we see his struggling nature. Even so, he was a true follower of Gandhian principles. Gandhiji was his ideal. The Other Side of Babasaheb Ambedkar - The Maker of the Indian Constitution
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 12/6/2007
Babasaheb Ambedkar is principally known for his voice raised for upliftment of Dalits and down-trodden section of society and the work he did for them. Secondly, he is remembered for his ability and competence as the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly, formed to frame the Constitution of India. Indeed, his both of these works were of great importance and every right thinking and righteous Indian is proud of his performance and had profound regard for him. The Jacobins of West Bengal
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 12/6/2007
A lot has been written on the ‘intra-proletariat struggle’ being witnessed at Nadigram, some 90 miles from the eastern metropolis of Kolkotta. Some described it as a clash between the agrarian forces and those who favor industrialization. Other said it was a revolt against the dictatorship of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) that rules West Bengal for last four decades. Many others blame it on the opposition in West Bengal particularly Trinamool Congress that attempted to cash on the discontentment of the people of Nandigram. Inchoate Images of Changing India
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 12/2/2007
Ever since the liberalization of India’s economy in the early nineties there have been few things that have been happening simultaneously in the country. The obvious is the shift towards the capitalist model of economy and the spectacular rise in the rate of the Gross Domestic Product. The second glaring feature is the rise of Hindu religious nationalism spearheaded by Bhartiya Janata Party, a right wing Hindu political outfit. The third trait is the explosion of media particularly electronic that’s having a huge bearing on the social and the cultural scene of the Indian society. Pakistan: Is A Bad Dictator Really Good?
Iqbal Latif - 12/1/2007
An emotional Pervez Musharraf relinquished his post by handing over his ceremonial baton Wednesday to his successor, Gen. Ashfaq Kayani, who is widely expected to maintain the army's pro-Western policies Balkanization, Not Talibanization, is the Real Threat Facing Pakistan
Yousuf Nazar - 12/1/2007
Pakistan’s establishment and sections of its media have perfected the art of projecting the most irrelevant topics as national issues of paramount importance. Uniform is one such example. Some newspapers even published comments to the effect whether it was the beginning of a drastic transformation. Really; transformation to a completely failed state from a ‘failed state’? Another general? So what? Popular Movement Threatens Musharraf's Applecart
Muhammad Shafiq - 11/27/2007
After the return of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif and his family to Pakistan on November 25, the process of "national reconciliation," initiated by President General Pervez Musharraf was completed. However, his unhindered arrival, despite some 'friendly' baton-charge on his party workers at the Lahore airport, indicates a change of hearts on both sides, especially after his forcible re-exile to Saudi Arabia on September 10. Only 3,000 workers turned out to receive him, but the next few months will determine his future course of politics in the country. Poll Rigging In Pakistan
Muhammad Shafiq - 11/25/2007
After the installation of a partial caretaker setup in the country, called an extension of the outgoing ruling PML-Q by PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto, the stage is set for massive rigging in the general election, scheduled for January 8, 2008. The fate of the polls was sealed after martial law was imposed in the name of emergency to tame the judiciary, the media, especially independent TV channels and the opposition, to pave the way for the success of the king's party in the upcoming election. Gandhism In Response To Conflicts
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 11/21/2007
Before initiating discussion pertaining to conflict resolution and Gandhism, we must first firmly keep in mind that Gandhism revolves around non-violence; Gandhism maintains its existence through non-violence and cannot stray from its domain. Plan to Turn the Tables on Pakistan Military
Ahmed Quraishi - 11/21/2007
This is not about Pervez Musharraf anymore. This is about clipping the wings of a strong Pakistani military, denying space for China in Pakistan, squashing the ISI, stirring ethnic unrest, and neutralizing Pakistan’s nuclear program. The first shot in this plan was fired in Pakistan’s Balochistan province in 2004. The last bullet will be toppling Musharraf, sidelining the military and installing a pliant government in Islamabad. Musharraf shares the blame for letting things come this far. But he is also punching holes in Washington’s game plan. He needs to be supported. A Voice from Pakistan: Mr. Negroponte, Please Go Home
Yousuf Nazar - 11/18/2007
The US Deputy Secretary of State John Negroponte is in Islamabad to ask Musharraf to lift emergency and hold free and fair elections in Pakistan, according to the state department sources. His real purpose is to revive Musharraf- Bhutto negotiations in order to find a way out of the stalemate caused by General’s illegal and unconstitutional actions that have forced Pakistan's opposition leader and former prime minister Benazir Bhutto to take a firm stand and demand Musharraf’s resignation. Mr. Negroponte called Musharraf an ‘indispensable ally’ only a few days ago and it is clear that the US... Afghanistan Lost and Pakistan on the Brink
Yousuf Nazar - 11/15/2007
The statement of US Defense Secretary Robert Gates that Pakistan’s unrest could distract its War on Terror appalls me. The people of Pakistan with their country under martial law and thousands of freedom loving lawyers and activists in jail, are worried about their country’s future, put at stake due to the blunders of a US-backed military general. They consider the insurgency on their northern frontiers – War on Terror for the US – just a distraction and a disaster brought upon them by a thoughtless American-designed and American-funded military campaign. Senator Joe Biden likens Pakistan to I... Pakistani Emergency: A Failure To Be Grown Ups
Iqbal Latif - 11/15/2007
How much can a Chief Justice interfere with the executive arm of the country? A democratic country has fundamental and defined lines of jurisdiction. Pakistan’s dismissed Chief Justice, Chaudhry Iftikhar, should have exercised some semblance of sensibility and prudence after being reinstated. Releasing 61 terrorists was hardly evidence of that. How much did the US Chief Justices, William Rehnquist, or the present John G. Roberts, interfere in the Guantanamo Bay inmates case despite being inundated with applications? Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru-The First Prime Minister of India
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 11/15/2007
Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru [1889-1964] was among those few on the forefront, who struggling under the leadership of Mahatma Gandhi for 22 years [1920-1942], achieved freedom from the shackles of British Empire. It was he who presided over four sessions of the Indian National Congress [1929, 1936, 1937 and 1946] before country’s independence. Undoubtedly, he possessed multi-dimensional personality, and no one, even from his critics or opponents, can be doubtful of this fact. It was in June 1920 that an attractive youth Jawaharlal Nehru educated from Harrow and Cambridge Universities and who was a... Benazir's Bad Bargain
Muhammad Shafiq - 11/10/2007
PPP Chairperson Benazir Bhutto faces the toughest test of her political career after she has cut a power sharing deal with President General Pervez Musharraf, as she will have to wage a dedicated and long struggle, not only to keep her pro-people image in the country intact, but also save herself from the fate of General Musharraf who is heading fast to history's dustbin, like previous military generals of Pakistan. Terror Reigns In Pakistan
Muhammad Shafiq - 11/9/2007
Pakistan 's military rulers imposed martial law in the country in the name of emergency to give it a soft look to avoid the world pressure. A martial law in the 21st century can only be imposed in Pakistan which, common people believe, was created for generals and politicians to advance a US agenda in the country and the region. The latest military action was the most dubious in the history of the country, because the rulers not only shattered their so-called 'enlightened moderation' image, but also staged a coup against their own government, targeting the judiciary and media, which were showing increasing independence and pro-people stance. Capital Account Convertibility: Don't Bell the Cat!
Ashish Goel - 11/8/2007
While there is no formal definition of CAC, the Tarapore committee (1997) defined it as “the freedom to convert local financial assets into foreign assets and vise-versa at market determined rate of exchange. It is associated with changes of ownership in foreign/domestic financial assets and liabilities and embodies the creation and liquidation of claims on, or by, the rest of the world”. At present there is partial CAC in India . As a part of India ’s external economic policy, Capital Account Convertibility has remained a controversial issue for quite sometime. The committee[1] on Capital Acc... Bangladesh: Why are Voters Nonchalant About Elections?
Badrul Islam - 11/7/2007
Turkey, recently, through elections overcame a political crisis that ensued because the Military and the Opposition secular Party, both, blocked the nomination of its Foreign Minister, Abdullah Gul, whose wife wears a headscarf. They felt that country’s secularism was in danger. The ruling Islamist-oriented Justice and Development (AK) Party refuted this claim and also denied that it wants to turn Turkey into an Iranian style theocracy. In the Election campaign Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Eurodan, Turkey’s most popular politician, urged voters to grant him a fresh five-year mandate, “to conti... Gandhi and Conflicts of Democracy
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 10/22/2007
Just like being simple in his individual life, Mahatma Gandhi was equally simple in his work and ideas. His personality was neither of the kind of perpendicular nor was it angled. His appeal to the people was always direct. That is why; during his entire lifetime he neither was considered an eminent intellectual in the academic sense of the term, nor was he accepted as a great scholar, thinker and philosopher. However, it is another matter that after his passing away, he became a centre of study and research for so many scholars and intellectuals of both-the East and the West; perhaps the larg... After The Blast: 10 Questions For Benazir Bhutto
Ahmed Quraishi - 10/20/2007
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—Benazir Bhutto’s husband Asif Zardari accuses our intelligence agencies from his home in Dubai of orchestrating the attack on his wife, while Mrs. Bhutto, sitting in Karachi, pointedly refuses to blame the spooks even when reporters mention her husband’s statement. Indian Inroads Towards Global Culture
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 10/19/2007
It was on Thursday, for the first time in U.S. history, the United States Senate opened with a Hindu prayer. Rajan Zed, a U.S. citizen originally from India and chaplain of the Indian Association of Northern Nevada, was invited as a guest chaplain through the introduction of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. President Musharraf, Why The Political Opportunism?
Abd al-Hameed - 10/16/2007
LAHORE, Pakistan. We are in despair, Mr. President. You have de-focused the bright picture that you had created in our minds about yourself. Now we see dark clouds on the horizon. The Ultimate Money Laundering In Pakistan
Ahmed Quraishi - 10/15/2007
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—First the good news: The ‘deal’ is not as bad as one feared, but very unfortunate nevertheless. It will damage Mrs. Benazir Bhutto-Zardari more than General Pervez Musharraf, though she gets what she really wanted – our money that she had allegedly stolen – some $1.5 billion of it according to her former President Farooq Leghari. Pakistan Needs Restructuring, Not Elections
Ahmed Quraishi - 10/14/2007
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—There is a reason why you can’t find better alternatives when talking about a post-Musharraf Pakistan. Pakistani political parties never developed into viable institutions capable of generating leadership. And you can’t blame this one on the Pakistani military. Gandhi's Philosophy of Ahimsa and Its Application to Current International Conflicts
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 10/14/2007
The best or essential part of Gandhi’s philosophy as a whole can be grasped from his own statement: “The whole gamut of man’s activities…constitutes an indivisible whole. You cannot divide life, social, economic, political and purely religious, into watertight compartments…” The Crisis Of Pakistan: A Dangerously Weak State
Prof. Isaac Kfir - 10/13/2007
This paper explores several key elements undermining the viability of the Pakistani state: Islamism, tribalism, ethno-nationalism, and quasi-secularism. The demands of each of these movements are difficult to reconcile with the needs of the others. At the same time, these movements exert pressure on a very weak government and state system. Hence, the author argues that unless the current regime undertakes substantial structural reforms, Pakistan may come apart at the seams, with dire consequences for regional and international stability. Satyagraha, Conflict Transformation and Sustainable Culture of Peace
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 10/11/2007
Satyagraha means pursuit of Truth. For Mahatma Gandhi it is a restless search for Truth and determination to reach Truth. In practice, Satyagraha is an Ahimsak-the non-violent struggle of Mahatma Gandhi, perhaps the most courageous and glorious experiment ever made by a person in the entire human history. Generally, it can be legitimately offered by a person, who respects rule of law and otherwise obeys law, but, in fact, a Satyagrahi refuses to obey the law, which he feels is wrong and immoral. After breaking such a law, by accepting the extreme penalty set for the so-called offence, he respe... Pakistani jets pound militant stronghold in Waziristan
Iqbal Latif - 10/11/2007
“Those who can win a war well rarely make good peace and those who could make good peace would never have won the war.” Gandhi On Value Education
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 10/10/2007
Mahatma Gandhi’s name requires no introduction because of his invaluable contribution to the national liberation movement of India. It was he who awakening crores of people on the strength of non-violent activities, engaging them to an action, challenging the mighty empire of the world, ultimately threw the yoke of slavery. Those who believed that not a single country in the world history had achieved its freedom except by violent means, the action of Mahatma Gandhi compelled them to re-think and also to change their mentality. His reputation as a true nationalist as well as an internationalis... Managing Presidential Elections in Pakistan
Rahul Bhonsle - 10/10/2007
The cat is now out of the bag on Pakistan’s Presidential elections. Pakistan Muslim League (PML) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain in a press conference at Prime Minister’s House on 7 October stated that the National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) of 2007 was a master stroke to divide the opposition and get President Musharraf elected. “We wanted to gain political mileage from [the NRO], and we were successful because President Musharraf got votes from all parts of the country and the opposition could not make the election controversial,” said Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz as per a report in th... Remembering Gandhi On The 60th Anniversary of India's Independence
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 10/9/2007
Role and contribution of Mahatma Gandhi in the freedom movement of India is noteworthy, extraordinary and exemplary. And those who are familiar with the whole series of events of the national liberation movement of the county know how he awakened the masses on the strength of Ahimsa-the non-violence; made them realized the value of independence and accorded Satyagraha-the best and infallible weapon and called them cut down their centuries old chains of slavery. People of India, crores in number, came to the forefront and ultimately in the year 1947 India became free from the political rule of the English. Making Movies About Mahatma Gandhi
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 10/8/2007
On the eve of India’s 60eth independence a film ‘GANDHI: MY FATHER’ by famous actor Anil Kapoor has been released which explicates rift betwixt Mahatma Gandhi and his son Harilal over a certain matter. It is said that the Mahatma did not help his son in getting a scholarship with the fear that he would be accused of nepotism. The producer of the film claims that through this story he has brought to the limelight an untouched aspect of Mahatma Gandhi’s life. However, it is not true as many amongst his contemporaries were aware of it; people like me know it. Not only had this, the Mahatma’s differences with his youngest son Devdas were also known to many. Bin Laden Declares War On Musharraf
Iqbal Latif - 10/6/2007
Al-Qaida chief Osama bin Laden called on Pakistanis to rebel against President Pervez Musharraf in a new recording released on Thursday, saying his military's siege of a militant mosque stronghold makes him an infidel. Bashing Musharraf is a global past time of ‘much ado about nothing liberal media.’ The authoritarian is a great ‘democrat,’ a day does not pass by where three dedicated 24 hours new services run the most libellous and scandalous news about the ‘tyrant.’ Disparaging Musharraf the tyrant and admiring Mulla Omar and OBL the benevolent democrats is a national Pakistani past time. Shivers go down my spine when I think of a Pakistan where Omar/OBL liberals rule the country. Patel, the Iron-man and maker of United India
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 10/5/2007
It is fifty-seven years since Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s death. He is still a topic of socio-political discussions in India. It is not something unusual. It is in consequence of the achievements he had made for the Indian society and the nation. They are unique and will ever be remembered. Today he is regarded as a very practical man of his time on one hand and on the other he is considered as a statesman having comparatively superior and practical ideas than his contemporary national leaders. Relevance of Gandhism To Society
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 10/4/2007
Although during his entire lifetime Mahatma Gandhi neither wrote any particular book on society nor he contributed constantly with a series of articles to express his views systematically on it, even then he had vast knowledge of ground reality of society and its functioning through its different parts; and through that knowledge he went to the root of those social problems, particularly concerning to the Indian Society, which were the most serious in his time, and some of them are still problem-oriented, and then he also accorded suggestions to make the society on the basis on equality, fraternity, mutual trust and understanding. The next Chief ? Safe keeper of the strategic assets!
Iqbal Latif - 10/4/2007
Why does ‘The Newsweek’ have to carry a major story on the next chief of Pakistani Army, many a senior statesman or Junta leaders from the third world would envy for such a recognition? An unwritten preamble for continued strategic relationships between western geo strategists and Pakistan Army is grounded on continued dialogue on security affairs in the North where Al Qaida is holed in. In this milieu an Islamic nuclear country facing renewed intensity of suicide attacks by the Al Qaida militants, a strong, effective, smart, tough, talented commander—and pro-Western leaning chief is a must fo... Sword of Damocles hanging over the Presidents head is removed
Iqbal Latif - 10/1/2007
Pakistani Supreme court in a land mark decision has allowed President Musharraf to continue the office and contest the forth coming election in uniform, the decision was based on a majority of 6 to 3. Supreme Court of Pakistan today (Friday) in its epoch-making short verdict dismissed all the constitutional petitions declaring them not maintainable and, therefore, President General Pervez Musharraf could contest the presidential election. The majority comprised of Justice Javed Iqbal, Justice Abdul Hameed Dogar, Justice Muhammad Nawaz Abbasi, Justice Faqir Muhammad Khokar, Justice Falak Sher, ... Why Rama and Ramayana remained ideal for Millions, and Especially for Gandhi
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 10/1/2007
Ramayana is neither an epic nor it is a treatise which is composed in rich diction and a grand style. In fact, it is delineation of the life and deeds of Maryada-Purushottama Rama. The main characteristic of Ramayana is its universality. Therein almost all aspects of life have been vividly depicted. According to PA Barannikow, idealism, realism, humanism and catholicity have been fully incorporated in it. The significance of Ramayana has not faded with time. It has found a place in the hearts of all rich, poor, scholars or illiterates alike. Millions of people not only in India but also in ot... India In The 21 Century
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 9/27/2007
In 1995, Prof. M.K. Bryski, the then Ambassador of the Republic of Poland in India was invited to Meerut City by me for a memorial lecture. Prof. Bryski explained Indo-European relations and mainly discussed the role and contribution of India in 21st Century. Not only as an Indian, but as a citizen of the world, I listened to his views. Many truths about India which cannot be denied by anyone - general or particular - had been touched by Prof. Bryski, therefore, today, I too would like to express my views under the title: India and the world : With special reference to 21st Century in the same manner as done by Prof. Bryski. Uncertainty grips Pakistan
Muhammad Zain - 9/27/2007
Pakistan has reached a critical juncture of its history, where developments on political and judicial fronts in the next few days and weeks will define its future as a progressive and democratic state or a country doomed to military rule. The situation is uncertain, not only for President General Pervez Musharraf who is seeking his re-election in uniform from the present assemblies on October 6, but also for the opposition which has failed to evolve a joint strategy for resignations against his re-election. However, both parties are anxiously awaiting a Supreme Court verdict on a petition against his two offices – President and Chief of Army Staff. Judge suppressing the freedom of the Press in India
Binod Ringania - 9/25/2007
Guwahati, India - India’s Delhi High Court sentenced four journalists to four months in jail because of their work uncovering alleged corruption involving a former India Supreme Court chief justice. Indian Culture and Social Life
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 9/21/2007
Indian Culture is one of the ancient cultures of the world and due to certain unique features; it is still before us in its original form. Similarly, Indian social life has had an identity of its own and for centuries, it has taught many lessons to mankind. Many of these are not only important but worth adopting today. What are the unique features of Indian Culture? How it is still in its original form before us? And what are the lessons that Indian social life has taught to the human world which are important and worth adopting? Before discussing these questions, it would be better to know the meaning of culture. Musharraf’s Million Woes
Saberi Roy - 9/20/2007
Pakistan President General Pervez Musharraf seems to be facing too many pressures even though there are speculations that he will relinquish his army post to become a more acceptable civilian president. But does this assurance help in improving Musharraf’s image? And will the people of Pakistan still accept him after elections? There were reports of Musharraf negotiating with Bhutto and Sharif expressing his desire to hold on to the throne of the President and the Bhutto camp may not accept this. So like Nawaz Sharif will Bhutto be sent back too when she attempts return to Pakistan? Probably she will be allowed to return and if so, will that change the dynamics of the situation any further? People-To-People Relations in Indo-Pakistani Relations
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 9/20/2007
In these days of globalization when healthy relations in every walk of life and based on mutual cooperation among the all nations of the world have become inevitable for genuine progress, it is the demand of time that political and economic relations betwixt India and Pakistan are set right; and in this regard people-to people contact, as wished by Mrs. Sonia Gandhi, the Chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance and the President of the Indian National Congress, can prove to be effective to a large extent. Adams' Bridge- Faith Verses National Interest
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 9/15/2007
The case of "Adams' Bridge", a mythical barrier situated south-east of Rameshwaram in Tamil Nadu, India, connecting Talaimanar coast of Sri Lanka has snowballed into a faith verses national interest controversy. The Supreme Court of India is hearing a public interest litigation petition on the multi core Sethusamundram canal project that involves dredging of a sea channel cutting across the Adams' Bridge across the Gulf of Mannar . Gandhi: The Embodiment Of Indian Cultural Heritage
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 9/15/2007
Speaking in a conference at Allahabad on April 5, 1936, Mahatma Gandhi said about India Culture, “Many of us are striving to produce a blend of all the cultures which seems today to be in clash with one another. No culture can live if it attempts to be exclusive. There is no such thing as pure Aryan Culture in existence in India Today. Whether the Aryans were indigenous to India or were unwelcome intruders, does not interest me much. What does interest me is the fact that my remote ancestors blended with one another with the utmost freedom and we of the present generation are result of that blend.” Relevance of Gandhism in Modern Polity
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 9/14/2007
Presently a big portion of the world happens to be under Democratic system of Government. Theoretically, this system stands out to be the best up to now. This is a truth. It is the best because people are connected with it directly or indirectly at every level. Not only this, it is this very system, which provides maximum opportunities of public progress and development. People can themselves decide in this system the mode of their welfare. However, even though being theoretically the best system of government, if we peruse the democratic nations, we first of all find that there is non-equal d... There is no light at the end of this tunnel in India
Geetanjali Jha - 9/13/2007
The birth of a daughter, grant it elsewhere, here grant a son". That is a saying from a sacred scripture in India. It illustrates the attitude of Indian society towards womankind. It is a heartbreaking realization that the gender bias, deep-rooted prejudice and discrimination against girls, which have been plaguing the society for centuries, are now found to begin in the mother's womb itself. While the Media is rejoicing the economic growth in China and India, these nations suffer the worst form of violation of human rights. A recent report by UNICEF said India kills almost 7,000 girls everyday by abortion. Caste, Class and The Problem of Establishment of Peace In The Indian Subcontinent
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 9/13/2007
Needless to dwell in the remote past, but till today the division of human society on the basis of caste and class distinctions, has yet been subsisting as the main hurdle in t he way of establishment of perpetual peace on earth. It is a world-wide problem. It is just possible that its form may be discerned differently in different parts of the world. It is also possible that the ultimate result or effect of this problem may appear to us somewhat distinctive in various regions. Nawaz Sharif – Triumphant return or betrayal of a promise?
Iqbal Latif - 9/12/2007
For the guarantors of the agreement, it was considered a betrayal, but for Sharif it was a triumphant return. Unfortunately, neither was there a million-man crowd waiting to greet him at the airport nor was there a mass movement against the Musharraf government. His idea and body language over the course of last week showed as if he were given a mantle of a Pakistani Mandela, or Imam Khomeini. He wanted to recreate the scenes of Tehran and repeatedly argued that no jail was big enough to keep him in. Regrettably what Sharif failed to understand is the hard lesson of history, what you put i... Nawaz deportation raises duststorm in Pakistan
Muhammad Zain - 9/12/2007
Former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was deported to Saudi Arabia by a special plane, but the take-off left a long trail of black clouds over the situation of rule of law and Pakistan's future as a democratic country. Nawaz Sharif: A Good Man, Maybe, But No Hero
Ahmed Quraishi - 9/12/2007
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—Mr. Nawaz Sharif’s latest move scores him some points but does not make him a hero. It is also a reminder for Pakistanis that they need to generate new leadership for the future instead of recycling old faces from the past. Gandhi and Higher Education
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 9/10/2007
Mahatma Gandhi in his article titled ‘National Education’ published in Young India on 1 September, 1921 has written that it might be true regarding other countries but in India where 80% of the population is occupied with agriculture and 10% of it with industries, it is an offense to make education merely literary. It is apparent from these lines that according to Mahatma Gandhi, education is not limited to gain literary knowledge. Although he has tried to confine his above mentioned statement within the Indian perspective, in my opinion education cannot be restricted to the knowledge of lett... Gen. Pervez Musharraf, and the Demise of One More of America’s Client Dictators
Timothy Brown - 9/9/2007
Previous foreign policy has seen the United States cooperate with, support, and engender dictatorial leaders at the expense of democratic development and reform for geo-strategic interest. Ferdinand Marcos, the Shah of Iran, Papa and Baby Doc Duvalier, Manuel Noriega, Saddam Hussein, Augusto Pinochet, and President-General Pervez Musharraf are a sampling of the client dictators that the United States has used in order to stave off regional communist expansion, contain Islamic revolution, and combat global trans-national terrorism. The United States has accommodated the above although they rule... Pakistan 's political crisis worsens
Muhammad Zain - 9/4/2007
Pakistan 's political crisis has deepened after exiled former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto announced returning home even if she failed to strike a power-sharing deal with President General Pervez Musharraf. Her announcement came on the heel of another exiled former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's scheduled homecoming on September 10. The situation has left President General Pervez Musharraf, a key US ally on its so-called war on terror, facing a double-edge sword, honed by a proactive judiciary. India’s Largest Naval War Game in Bay of Bengal
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 9/3/2007
The largest-ever war game hosted by the Indian Navy, codenamed Malabar CY 07-2, kicked off in the Bay of Bengal from 4-9 September. However, this has stirred a hornet’s nest in the country. Opinions remain divided for and against New Delhi’s military engagement with the US. Selective Elimination Of Female Fetuses In India
Iqbal Latif - 9/2/2007
Ultrasounds are taken to monitor the health of unborn children, so doctors always know their sex. Doctors tell parents, a practice that is illegal in India, yet common. Then they exercise their "right to choose." Sex selection is a violation of law and unethical. But our patriarchal society continues to turn a blind eye towards it or offer perverted excuses to justify its existence. Metathesis of Indo-Pak Relations
Panchanan Bhoi, Ph.D. - 9/2/2007
For the past several years predominantly the pro-Pakistan secessionist and foreign mercenaries have been very active in the Jammu and Kashmir and rest of the parts of India indulging in the brutal acts of suicidal killings, explosion, arson, espionage, sabotage, and subversion. The militants are not only dictating their terms to the people but also to the security agencies, even in some areas they run parallel government and hoist foreign flag. People feel helpless as militants have upper hand in clashes with the security agencies so their call for hartal and bandh are promptly carried out. In... Gandhi On The Problem Of Communalism
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 9/2/2007
Communalism is one of the most serious problems that India has to face after her freedom from colonial rule in the mid of 20eth Century. This problem, which has existed among the followers of two principal religious communities- Hindus and interests of whole society, then it may be termed as communalism. Malabar CY 07-2 Undeterred By Criticism
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 9/2/2007
The largest-ever war game hosted by the Indian Navy, codenamed MALABAR CY 07-2, kicks off in the Bay of Bengal from September 4 to 9, 2007. However, this has stirred a hornet’s nest in the country. Opinions remain divided for and against New Delhi’s military engagement with the Washington. India and China: Sore Need For Trust Required For Real Results
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 9/1/2007
After the historical nuclear deal betwixt India and the United States, the outcome of the recent visit by Japanese Prime-Minister Shinoz Abe in New Delhi can be a matter of concern for some countries for their own different reasons, and particularly the People’s Republic of China, especially in view of Japan’s willingness to work for the success of the Indo-US deal which experts in China see might further develop the quadripartite relationship among India, Japan, Australia, the US and others too. Pakistan’s Political Quandary
Angelique van Engelen - 9/1/2007
Pakistan’s more immediate political situation is finally beginning to stabilize somewhat. Yet it’s far from likely whether turmoil will soon end. The latest reports citing politicians close to President Musharraf and Pakistan Peoples’ Party leader Benazir Bhutto indicate that Musharraf is beginning to book successes, watering down the wine. He has reportedly agreed to finally discard his uniform, emblem of his rule as a military dictator. India's Communists Need Retrospection
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 8/31/2007
Generally I should have no reason to question the integrity and patriotism of the Indian Communists. Rather, I should admire them when they talk of downtrodden and raise issues related to commonmen on the one hand, and express their confidence in democracy and its process on the other. But, when many a times, leaving aside the gospel of nationalism, which itself is the first and basic step of internationalism, and national interest, they, guided by external elements, talk of internationalism, they in fact flee from the national cause, or in other words keep at distance from the welfare of commonmen. Pertinence of Vivekananda’s Apotheosis in Indian Social Diaspora
Panchanan Bhoi, Ph.D. - 8/29/2007
Every pursuit of wisdom and knowledge bears the marks of its origin. In this milieu British, American, French and German philosophies are generally empirical, pragmatic, rationalistic and speculative in nature, but in that vein Indian philosophy can be adumbrated as meditative because it bobs up as the upshot of a kind of meditation on the holy powers of the soul and nature. However today Indian philosophy is very much anxious to retain the forces of centuries of its tradition through which it has grown and yet it can’t afford to overlook the ‘scientific facts’ and ‘the empirical attitude’ of the present day society. Making Films On Mahatma Ghandi
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 8/29/2007
On the eve of India’s 60eth independence a film ‘GANDHI: MY FATHER’ by famous actor Anil Kapoor has been released which explicates rift betwixt Mahatma Gandhi and his son Harilal over a certain matter. It is said that the Mahatma did not help his son in getting a scholarship with the fear that he would be accused of nepotism. The producer of the film claims that through this story he has brought to the limelight an untouched aspect of Mahatma Gandhi’s life. However, it is not true as many amongst his contemporaries were aware of it; people like me know it. Not only had this, the Mahatma’s differences with his youngest son Devdas were also known to many. Indian View Of Peace
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 8/28/2007
India, the land of ancient culture and civilization, holds a comprehensive, extraordinary and unique place in context to peace. Thousands of years ago the message of peace conveyed by this country had a deep impact on the entire world. The main reason behind this influence is that approach towards peace that has directly or indirectly been built by contribution of knowledge obtained and deed and of course real experience. It may be clarified by the following Shloka from an old Indian treatise in which Nachiketa says: Indian Civilization At The Close Of 20th Century
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 8/25/2007
Indian civilization is an ancient one, I am not the one to say so but world history testifies it. World history also tells us that Indian civilization has had a unique identity of its own. While other civilizations have become extinct with time Indian civilization has remained evergreen and continues to propagate the message of humanity. This prompted a poet to say: “Greece, Egypt, Rome, All have vanished from this world, But still there are left, Signs of our existence”. Mr. Chief Justice, Pakistan Is Not The Netherlands!
Ahmed Quraishi - 8/24/2007
ISLAMABAD , Pakistan —Fresh from a legal and political battle that pitched him against the country’s military strongman, the restored Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr. Iftikhar Mohammad Chaudhry, is a man on a mission. After his highly politicized case, in which he sometimes appeared to be tacitly accepting support from political parties opposed to the Musharraf administration, it was natural that questions would be raised about his ability to deal fairly with cases involving the incumbent President. Mounting US meddling in Pakistan
Muhammad Zain - 8/22/2007
US interference in Pakistan's internal affairs, as US media reports said it was prodding President General Pervez Musharraf to enter into a power-sharing deal with Benazir Bhutto, has reached a point, where many Pakistanis believe the 'friendly' country has not only undermined the sovereignty of their homeland, a frontline state in the so-called war on terror, but also shattered their hopes for return to real democracy in near future. Indian Ceasefire Sine Die?
Chiranjib Haldar - 8/19/2007
The ceasefire between the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN -I/M) and the government of India has been extended sine die on July 31, 2007. If we turn the clock back, the truce in Nagaland has been extended every 12 months since 1997, except in 2005, when it was renewed for just six months at the insistence of the rebels and further prolonged by another six months in February 2006. It was endorsed for another year on July 31, 2006 in Bangkok giving a fillip to the peace process. As of now, it is a war of rhetoric, bravado and threats of resorting to the extreme, aimed at making the o... Relevance of Gandhi's Ahimsa and Satyagra Today
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 8/16/2007
The acid test of relevance of works and views of a great man is definitely the application of them in prevailing conditions of time and space. Mahatma Gandhi is fortunately among those few great men in the entire human history whose individual life, works and views, also known as Gandhism, not only had proved to be great and exemplary during his own lifetime but there relevance and significance remained intact after his passing away. Political Summersaults in Pakistan
Muhammad Zain - 8/15/2007
The so-called secret meeting between former Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto and President General Pervez Musharraf in Dubai heralds the beginning of a new power sharing deal in Pakistan. However, it remains to be seen what General Pervez Musharraf has in store for her, as her desire to come to power by any means matches the longing of General Musharraf for prolonging his rule, as long as possible, at all costs. Pakistan: Are General Musharraf’s Days Numbered?
Angelique van Engelen - 8/11/2007
Analysts are feasting on recent developments in Pakistan which is a complicated case scenario of a country on the brink of disintegration at best and literally a ticking time bomb at worst. Pakistan has nuclear weapons and some say it is increasingly falling into a state of anarchy. Meanwhile, the US is pondering taking action against terrorists near its border with Afghanistan. Time To Ponder Hindu-Muslim Relations
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 8/10/2007
On August 15, 2007, India celebrates its 60th year of Independence. The day also marks the beginning of the centenary celebrations of India’s first war of Independence in 1857. These two events undoubtedly have a symbiotic relationship as far as national independence is concerned, but it also throws open a challenging question about Hindu- Muslim relationship that has drifted apart during the course of ninety years of history. Is Musharraf’s Boat Sinking?
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 8/10/2007
“The dogs bark, but the caravan moves on.” Pakistan ’s military caravan has seemed recently to be in danger of being pushed off track: it still, as the Arab saying decrees, moves on. Since last month’s Mosque invade, massive Taliban attacks, and more importantly after the restoration of the Chief Judge by the Supreme Court, the regime has faced serious setbacks. Indian Opposition Comes Out Against Indo-American Nuclear Deal
Jit Mukherjii - 8/9/2007
There was a time when domestic objections to the India-US nuclear deal were on specific grounds. It was generally agreed that the deal, which lifted the technology ban on India and ended its status as a nuclear untouchables was a good one in the form agreed by the Indian Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and US President George Bush in July 2005. America's Nuclear Deal With India
Dr. Ravindra Kumar - 8/8/2007
Firstly, it was a great event in histories of India and the US, especially from strategic point of view, when on July 18, 2005 the proposed Indo-US Nuclear deal was signed between the Indian Prime Minister Man Mohan Singh and the US President George W Bush during formers visit to the White House; secondly, with signing a new bill to this effect by the US President George W. Bush in December, 2006 to allow the US nuclear trade with India was the beginning of a new era of economic and political relations between the two great nations of the world all together as President Bush after signing the ... "Pull Theory" & Marshall Plan for Pakistan Will Eliminate Terrorism
Moin Ansari - 8/1/2007
Violence begets violence. "He who lives by the sword, dies by the sword"ť.Few political scientists have fully identified the inherent risks of direct US action in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan . Not only will this generate a tsunami of anti-Americanism, it will also push the miscreants to the urban areas of Pakistan destabilizing the country. Al-Qaeda will thrive in chaos and threaten the government and the people of Pakistan . CHT on Historical Outline with Special Reference to Its Current Situation
Dr. Prajnalankar Bhikkhu - 7/31/2007
THE CHITTAGONG HILL TRACTS covering an area of approximately 14,000 square kilometers shares border with Myanmar in the South, Bangladesh in the Southwest, and India in the Northeast and Northwest. It is a traditional home to the eleven different ethnic groups who collectively identify themselves as 'Jumma people'[1]. Among these ethnic groups, the Chakma is the dominant and largest in terms of population (approximately 400,000). The Jumma people speak different languages belonging to Tibeto-Burman and Indo-Aryan families. They follow Buddhism, Hinduism and Christianity vis-ŕ-vis their indigen... Pakistan On The Precipice
Ross G. Kaminsky - 7/26/2007
There is a substantial political risk to Pakistani President President Pervez Musharraf, and thus to US interests in Pakistan, now that he stormed the Red Mosque to kill the fanatics holed up there - though they surely needed killing. The mosque was stormed and a leader of the fanatics killed, following which, according to this report from BBC News, pro-Taliban islamo-fascists in northwestern Pakistan, which borders Afghanistan, have terminated their cease-fire with the government and have killed over 60 people and wounded many more. Musharraf’s Bloodbath At The Masjid
Abid Mustafa - 7/9/2007
The intensification of fighting between the students of Lal Masjid and the Pakistani army has left hundreds dead and many injured. This has prompted President Musharraf to issue the following provocative statement: “If they do not surrender so I am saying here today that they will be killed. They should not force us to use force. They should come out voluntarily; otherwise they will be killed…” Even before Musharraf’s ultimatum, his government was swift to attribute the entire blame for the current crisis on Abdul Rashid Ghazi—the principal of the seminary. However, a close examination of the ... Pakistan: Maulana Abdul Aziz Arrested In Burqa Trying To Escape
Iqbal Latif - 7/6/2007
According to reports, on Wednesday night a group of some 400 female students came out of Lal Masjid. Maulana Abdul Aziz was also among them trying to escape wearing burqa. More than 800 male and female students of Lal Masjid and Jamia Hafsa surrendered themselves to the officials. The surrendered students were shifted to various jails and police stations. Wanted: A Bold Musharraf
Ahmed Quraishi - 7/1/2007
ISLAMABAD, Pakistan—To the dismay of the hawks in the Pakistani strategic community, we have a military dictator who refuses to be what he’s really supposed to be: a military dictator. In his seven years in power, he has put up with more dissent and criticism – mostly from his supposed allies – than all of the Pakistani democratic regimes combined. New Bangladeshi Government Continues Injustice Against Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury
Dr. Richard L. Benkin - 6/30/2007
Shoaib had another day in court Thursday. The result was disappointing to say the least. After more assurances that this time justice would be done, the Bangladeshi government decided to do nothing—again! The court set another date for Shoaib, this time July 18th. More ominous than that, however, the Public Prosecutor stated his willingness to proceed with this scurrilous action against Shoaib—after everything the government has been telling individuals and international officials. The action only raises more questions about the new government's alleged anti-radical commitment. Every day... Tea Estates Closure Lead To Mass Starvation And Death In India
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 6/13/2007
India has seen a lot of changes in the last two decades. During the past twenty years India has achieved progress at an impressive pace. It has achieved gain in health, transport, and education. But despite the vast opportunities created by the technological revolution, rural unemployment, as it was then is yet the most important challenge facing the modern India. Democracy: The Big Topic Of Discussion In Pakistan
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 6/12/2007
At home and abroad, things have never looked murkier for Pakistan’s president, Pervez Musharraf. The question is will it fade or will it smolder on and on? It is hard, looking back over the past few weeks or so, to imagine a worse few weeks for the Pakistani president. Since September 11th, Pervez Musharraf has done a lot to make the West like him. He has embraced the American – led anti- terrorist coalition and by doing so has given new dimension to the Pakistani politics. Will the Bombs Threaten the India-Pakistan Deal
Amit Pyakurel - 5/22/2007
It seems that whenever the negotiating arms of Pakistan and India warms up a little and it gives sense of having a little breakthrough on resolving the historical enmity between these two nations, soon we are alarmed to witness a terrorist attack killing a number of innocents in a very marketplace, roadside, bus station, or railway station in India. The attempts looks to be ostensibly carried out by the terrorists in the intention of sabotaging the peace initiative taken by the both countries, while the representatives from both sides have been holding a series of talks relating to the issues... Southern Transnationals: The New Kids on the Block?
Kavaljit Singh - 5/22/2007
The mid-1990s witnessed the dramatic emergence of transnational corporations from the developing world. Although much of the investment by these corporations is concentrated in other developing countries (South-South), they are increasingly investing heavily in developed countries (South-North) as well. The South-South and South-North FDI flows are growing much faster than the traditional North-South FDI flows. However, 87 per cent of the total outward FDI flows in 2004 originated from just 10 developing countries. Uttar Pradesh Election- A Postmortem
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 5/21/2007
While doing the postmortem of the Bahujan Samaj party’s victory in Uttar Pradesh, many writings have analyzed the electoral verdict in terms of the subaltern movement in the state. There is no denying of the fact that a great deal of Dalit resurgence taking place at the grass root level in India's heartland, but there is little evidence to suggest that the victory of this pro low caste party owes to any revolutionary trend in the making. Rising Maoists Insurgency in India
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 5/13/2007
India is divided in many ways: by caste, religion, language, and region. But recently it has become to look as though the most visible divide in the days ahead will be marked by the Maoists movement, which according to media reports, has spread to nearly 40% of the country's geographical area and is a major political force in poor tribal states such as Chhattisgarh, Jharkand and Orissa. Protests Against Taliban-style Radicals in Pakistan
Iqbal Latif - 4/23/2007
Many of the over 1000 students at the mosque and madrassa Jamia Hafsa recently waged a 'morality campaign,' arresting supposed prostitutes and "un-Islamic" female car drivers, as well as threatening owners of CD stores. The National Common Minimum Program in India
Chunnu Prasad - 4/22/2007
India is a country of largest population of heterogeneous nature. In a population wise it is just after China. Since independence different programmes has been formulated by different government, and every five year, new five year plan being implemented, but particularly after the emergence of coalition politics, the picture changed its nature of development. This article focus on the UPA's Common Minimum Programme (CMP) which passed by the UPA to give more attention on developmental issue to all the sections of the society as well as to all the areas including states and union territories of ... The World Cup of Cricket And India's Gambling Industry
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 4/22/2007
As the World Cup cricket championship in the Caribbean is reaching its crescendo, the betting industry in India too is on its peak. On every match huge money is put on stake and its volume is going to go up to unprecedented heights as the championship is reaching the final stage. Envisioning a New South Asia
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 4/4/2007
John Lennon’s fans pat your back and croak; ‘You may say I'm a dreamer, But I'm not the only one, I hope someday you'll join us And the world will live as one.’ Well this was the sentiment that was echoed at the conclusion of the international seminar ‘Envisioning a New South Asia’ at the Andhra University, Vishakapatnam on March 29- 31, 2007. US House Demands Drop Of Charges Against Bangladeshi Journalist
Dr. Richard L. Benkin - 3/16/2007
In a rare show of bi-partisanship, the US Congress today passed House Resolution 64. HR 64 makes it the “sense of the US Congress” that charges against crusading Muslim journalist, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury be dropped and all harassment against him ended. Choudhury is the Bangladeshi Muslim jailed and tortured after exposing the rise of radical Islam in Bangladesh, urging relations with Israel, and advocating interfaith dialogue based on religious freedom. Though it earlier released him from prison, the Bangladeshi government has pursued his prosecution on charges of “sedition, treason, and blasphemy,” which carry a possible death sentence. Hizb ut-Tahrir Target Bangladesh
Dominic Whiteman - 3/16/2007
The hate-inciting Islamist sect Hizb ut Tahrir has three clear goals: to establish a community of like-minded Hizb ut Tahrir members in host states, to sway public opinion in one or more host states to facilitate change of government, and, finally, to install a new government that implements Islam generally and comprehensively, carrying (its particular brand of) Islamic thought to people throughout the world. Holi Hola Party: Oh Boy Is This India!
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 3/14/2007
The news flashed on the front pages of the major dailies on Monday, March 5, 2007 about the arrest of some 280 Holi party revelers at a Farm House in the outskirts of Pune city for drug abuse is an opener to many Indians accustomed to reading starvation deaths, farmer suicides, and female feticides in the newspapers of the country. Persecuted Bangladeshi Journalist Faces Trial Setback
Dr. Richard L. Benkin - 3/3/2007
Dhaka, Bangladesh—Crusading Muslim journalist, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, suffered a major setback in the government case against him for alleged “sedition, treason, and blasphemy.” The current government of Bangladesh had recently given explicit assurances to several US and other officials that the admittedly false charges would be dropped and done so “within the framework of Bangladeshi laws.” US Congressman Visits Persecuted Bangladeshi Journalist
Dr. Richard L. Benkin - 3/1/2007
Dhaka, Bangladesh—Republican Congressman Steve Chabot of Ohio held a thirty minute meeting with dissident journalist, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury at the US Embassy in Bangladesh. Chabot, whose district includes the city of Cincinnati, became taken with Choudhury’s plight after a resolution supporting him was brought before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on which Chabot serves. Pakistan: The Eye of a Coming Storm?
Paula R. Newberg - 3/1/2007
Pakistan's foreign policy, constructed for short-term survival, is as fragile as a deck of cards. Bordering China, India, Afghanistan and Iran, the nation with nuclear weapons and a literacy rate that approaches 50 percent, has been led by General Pervez Musharraf since 1999 when he assumed power in a coup d'état. After the 9/11 attacks, Musharraf became both strategic partner in the US-led war on terror and a procrastinator who shelves democracy in the name of stability. To maintain power on the home front, the president-general juggles demands from all manner of special interests – sectarian... Samjhuta Express blasts: Introspection needed
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 2/22/2007
The twin bomb blasts that killed 67 passengers in the Indo- Pak Samjhuta Express train on Sunday midnight once again exposed the vulnerability of the people in the country. It also exposed the callousness of the intelligence and the security forces that refuses to accept that they are a national burden. Once the contrary it has established the smartness of the terrorists outfits that they can strike anywhere in India according to their chosen date, time and place. Reasonable Radicals: Islamists and anti-Islamists Meet in Bangladesh
Dr. Richard L. Benkin - 2/7/2007
Richard Benkin was refused three times previously when he tried to see the man who calls him “his dearest brother” in Bangladesh. In January, he succeeded and stood with Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury in the capital of Dhaka. Choudhury has been facing continued persecution since 2003 for exposing the rise of Islamist radicals, calling for relations with Israel, and advocating religious equality. He has been beaten, tortured and imprisoned for his efforts, and mobs have been allowed to attack him and even bomb his newspaper with impunity. Benkin has been his champion. Window of Opportunity to End Journalist’s Persecution in Bangladesh
Dr. Richard L. Benkin - 1/31/2007
Bangladesh—On January 8 Richard Benkin of Chicago, the man who more than anyone else has kept journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury out of prison and alive, finally embraced his spiritual brother outside Zia International Airport in the Bangladeshi capital. Choudhury was arrested and tortured in 2003 after exposing the rise of radical Islam in his country, urging Bangladesh-Israel relations, and advocating interfaith dialogue based on religious equality. After 17 months, Benkin and US Congressman Mark Kirk (R-IL) secured his release. Since then, Choudhury has worked closely with Benkin, re... Profile of the Terrorist Insurgency in North East India
Isha Khan - 12/19/2006
Formation: Asom Sanjukta Mukti Morcha or the United Liberation Front of Asom (ULFA) was formed on April 7, 1979 by Bhimakanta Buragohain, Rajiv Rajkonwar alias Arabinda Rajkhowa, Golap Baruah alias Anup Chetia, Samiran Gogoi alias Pradip Gogoi, Bhadreshwar Gohain and Paresh Baruah at the Rang Ghar in Sibsagar to establish a "sovereign socialist Assam" through an armed struggle. International Human Rights Attorney, Irwin Cotler Joins Defense of Bangladeshi Tried For Converting To Christianity
Dr. Richard L. Benkin - 12/18/2006
Chicago, IL -In a development that underscored the growing seriousness of the Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury case, noted International Human Rights attor-ney, Professor Irwin Cotler, has joined the Muslim journalist's defense team as international legal counsel. Choudhury was imprisoned and tortured by Bangla-deshi authorities after writing about the rise of radical Islam in that country, promoting peace with Israel, and advocating interfaith dialogue. Choudhury is now faces charges of "sedition, treason, and blasphemy" for which he could be put to death. Cotler's has previously acted as counsel for Nelson Mandela, Andrei Sakharov, Natan Sharansky and Saad Edin Ibrahim, among others. India Grappling with Million Mutinies now
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 12/13/2006
How safe are Indians in India is a pet subject of discussion all over the country. There is a total unanimity that the fear and insecurity looms large on every one's psyche, and each one of us is vulnerable unsavory incident, no mater where we live in the country. Musharraf attempts to resuscitate the plan for Kashmir
Abid Mustafa - 12/12/2006
On 5/12/06 speaking before Indian TV channel, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf said that his country was prepared to give up its claim to Kashmir, if India and Pakistan agree on the four-point solution (a solution in which boundaries are not changed and India does not have to give up any territory). When pressed on Kashmiri Independence, Musharraf reasserted his objection. He said," Yes, we are against independence." Jumma: The First People in the Chittagong Hill Tracts
Dr. Prajnalankar Bhikkhu - 12/6/2006
Mohammad Zainal Abedin's article, "Stop propaganda on Chittagong Hill AIDS Threatens India’s Prosperity
Pramit Mitra - 12/4/2006
December 1 marked World AIDS Day, and by some reports, the world’s second most populous nation – India – has more AIDS cases than any other country in the world. The percentage of cases in India, at 0.09 percent, is miniscule compared with rates of 30 percent in some African nations, but the size of the nation’s population – 1 billion, with two out of five people illiterate – raises concern among world health experts. The population is young, with 35 percent under the age of 15, and mobile, too, with the booming economy. A growing epidemic will devastate families, a struggling public-health sy... Is India Emerging as France of Asia? Warming Sino-Indian relationship tells the US that India is not an unconditional ally
Alyssa Ayres - 11/24/2006
The current India visit by China’s President Hu Jintao to celebrate fifty years of relationship between the two countries will be watched closely by India’s newest friend the United States. The two Asian giants have shaken off their frosty relations since their 1962 border war and in the past five years their economic ties have blossomed. But so has the relations between the US and India, shorn of the Cold War baggage and finding convergence of economic and strategic interests. Most importantly, the driving force in the new relationship has been a shift in American perception of China from a s... Bangladeshi Voters In The Thorn Of a Dilemma
Badrul Islam - 11/23/2006
Thirty-five years passed since Bangladesh became independent and yet our elected Representatives, have failed to provide for the Voters, their Constitutional right for "Democratic Government" and an "Electoral Body" that will formulate procedures for a "Free and Fair Election". Today the Voters find themselves in "the horns of a dilemma" in respect of three major points; (1) will there be an Election? (2) Will they be able to Vote? (3) Will they be able to trust their elected Representatives, collectively (in power and in opposition) to follow democratic principles to the letter, in formulating policies that will assure them of an enriched and secured life? Bangladeshi Facing Death Penalty For Praising Christianity and Judaism
Dr. Richard L. Benkin - 11/18/2006
DHAKA: Bangladesh—Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, the editor of the “Weekly Blitz” and practicing Muslim, goes on trial for his life on Monday, November 13, on counts of sedition, treason and blasphemy. Since 2003, he has been beaten, tortured and imprisoned for his work in fostering peace and opposing radical Islamists in his country. Uncertainty, Hope as Transitional Government Assumes Power in Bangladesh
Dr. Richard L. Benkin - 11/7/2006
On October 28, the Bangladesh Prime Minister, Begum Khaleda Zia, addressed the nation and ceded power to a caretaker government after five volatile years. She also dissolved the parliament, led by her Bangladesh National Party (BNP) and its 14 party coalition. Her action was in accordance with Bangladeshi law, which mandates that a caretaker government will rule the county until national elections (held every five years) in January 2007. That orderly power succession is a testimony to the strength of Bangladeshi democracy. The upcoming elections will be the fourth of its kind since the nat... Partition refugees targeted as Bangladeshi infiltrators
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 11/1/2006
In the cacophony of jingoistic nationalism against the Bangladeshi infiltrators many Bengali Hindu refugees that had migrated to India during the 1947 Partition are being targeted for lack proper documentation and face the specter of deportation to the place they had left some sixty years ago. Is honeymoon with peace over in Nagaland?
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 10/31/2006
Somehow, the northeastern part of India seems to be never in the news radar. The situation in Nagaland seems to be getting complex by the day. Over 4,000 people have fled their houses in Zunheboto district in the state after a gun battle broke out between the rival militant factions — National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Isak Muivah) and the National Socialist Council of Nagalim (Khaplang). Bangladesh: Will Voters Pull The Trigger
Badrul Islam - 10/17/2006
David S.Broder, 0p-Ed Columnist, Washington Post, under this topic describes that, "A fundamental and welcome change in the political environment is possible - but only if the Voters pull the trigger." This was published on Thursday 0ctober 12,2006 and relates to the pre-election polls in United States; "When you examine the latest round of pre-election polls, what is striking is the stability of public attitudes over the preceding months. In this week's Post-ABC News poll, for example, President Bush has a job approval score of 39 percent, with 60 percent disapproving. Eleven months earlier, in November 2005, the scores were identical." Globalization Hits Road Bumps in India
Prof. Pranab Bardhan - 10/6/2006
The economic integration of a country requires that it open to foreign investment, adhere to flexible labor laws and practice careful fiscal policies. In a country with severe poverty and economic inequality, however, such reforms do not win many votes for politicians. Well aware of this fact, India’s politicians play to what economist Pranab Bardhan calls “anti-reform populism.” Many voters fear that development only displaces India’s poor. Fraud that has marred past development projects confirms such suspicions, casting any government efforts to free the economy in a negative light. Reform a... In line of fire - Musharraf autobiography
Iqbal Latif - 9/25/2006
I think this is a great book. With the benefit of hindsight, one can safely say Musharraf had very similar options like Omar, Saddam and Nasrullah. Going by Saddam, Omar and Nasrullah's politics of stubbornness he could have helped wipe out Pakistan as it is today from the map of the world. The politics of shock and awe is ruthless; but post 911, Indians across the border would have been very satisfied to see increasing prospects of a militarily defeated Pakistan. That would have neutralised the nuclear threat that Pakistan imposes. If Yugoslavia could balkanize, what would have saved Pakistan... Bollywood and the Indian Muslims
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 9/24/2006
Bollywood mirrors India, so goes the saying. If any one wants to see the real face of India, all one has to do is to randomly pick up few flicks of a decade and see the changes taking place in India over a period of time. In this context the representation of Muslims is something interesting to focus at as this succulently portray the changing face of the community since independence of the country. Indian Intelligence Involvement In Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh
Mohammad Zainal Abedin - 9/5/2006
Indian intelligence outfit Research & Analysis Wing(RAW) is deeply involved in the problem of Chittagong Hill Tracts of Bangladesh.Some admissions: Vande Matram - It's A Horse Or A Cow!
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 9/1/2006
Is Vande Matram a horse or a cow? Well how can a song become an animal? It can! That's the reason its an Indian patriotic song and not of any other country in the world. What's the logic in calling it a horse! Its simple the day Binkam Chander Chaterjee wrote this song in 1906 in protest of the Partition of Bengal in 1905, the Hindu right has been riding over it in the quest for power. Book Review: "India Doctrine"
Isha Khan - 8/29/2006
Adorned in a saffron red jacket and embellished with a detailed map of South Asia the concept of an India Doctrine has been introduced to the readers in Bangladesh recently. The book 'India Doctrine' has been published by the Bangladesh Research Forum and edited by Barrister M.B.I. Munshi and is priced at Tk. 300. Munshi's contribution to the book constitutes the largest section with several other writers from Bangladesh, Nepal and Sri Lanka providing some useful and informative chapters. India's diplomatic gains at St. Petersburg G8 summit
Panna Lal Chowdhury - 8/27/2006
At the Group of eight (G8) summit of July 2006 India was a special invitee to the meeting along with China, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Kazakhstan and Congo. The G8 comprises the world's top industrialized nations like the US, Russia, Britain, France, Japan, Italy, Germany and Canada. Russia has now taken on the presidency of G8 for the first time after its joining the group. Book Review: Indira By Katherine Frank
Geetanjali Jha - 8/23/2006
'Indira' is an unprejudiced and complete biography of one of the world's most prominent woman Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. Indira, lovingly called Priyadarshini, was the third prime minister of independent India. Her prime ministerial tenure witnessed several changes in the world and in India, many of which were brought about by her. 'Indira' is Katherine Frank's third book. She has to her credit, biographies of Mary Kingsley, Lucie Duff Gordon, and Emily Bronte. Born and educated in the United States, Katherine Frank spent six years traveling and researching for 'Indira'. How are the children going to eat in India after the ban?
Bhuwan Thapaliya - 8/22/2006
The pathetic sight of poor children carrying sacks, polishing shoes, selling newspapers or washing dishes in the roadside inn is one of the most common sights in India, home to the largest number of child labourers in the world. According to government figures, nearly 13 million children work in India and considering this social disparity, the Indian government is banning the employment of children under age 14 as domestic servants or as workers in hotels and restaurants in its desperate attempt to save the children from being exploited. Justice After Mass Violence: Indonesia and India Compared
Jemma Purdey, Ph.D. - 8/9/2006
I was recently struck by the similarities in the headlines featured in two newspapers from different cities and different countries. In The Jakarta Post the headline read 'Life goes on for riot victims - with painful memories'; and in The Times of India, 'Life goes on - but the grief remains'. Events of mass violence and rioting between and against different communities within these two countries in recent years have similarly left behind victims seeking justice for the crimes against them. The responses and capabilities of the respective judicial and political systems in India and Indonesia are however, producing different outcomes. RAW: An Instrument of Indian Power
Isha Khan - 8/6/2006
The Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), created in 1968, has assumed a significant status in the formulation of India's domestic and foreign policies, particularly the later. Working directly under the Prime Minister, it has over the years become and effective instrument of India's national power. In consonance with Kautilya's precepts, RAW's espionage doctrine is based on the principle of waging a continuous series of battles of intrigues and secret wars. Nagaland peace talks still elusive
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 8/5/2006
The National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Issac-Muivah) has once again announced the extension of the ceasefire for one year following three days parleys with the Indian negotiators at Bangkok on July 31, 2006. The Role Of Nehru-Gandhi Dynasty In Indian Politics
Shri Ganeshai Naman - 8/5/2006
India has followed the multi-party system from the beginning but the balance always tilted towards the Congress. It was natural. The people were still under the influence of freedom struggle and have not forgotten the role of Congress in this struggle. The people adore Nehru, Gandhi, Sardar Patel and others. Bangladesh: On Chittagong Hill Tracts
A. K. Zaman - 7/24/2006
CHT is the integral part of Bangladesh. Its total area is 5 thousand and 93 square miles. The three hill districts Rangamati, Bandarban and Khagrachari cover the one-tenth area of the country. CHT was under the rule of Bengal during Mughal dynasty. It was included with East Bengal during British era and was within East Bengal during Pakistan period. And now naturally CHT is the inseparable part of Bangladesh. CHT was considered as barren hilly region. Its administrative authority was also under control of Chittagong during British period though it was upgraded as a district in 1860. Indian actresses’ temple entry sparks raging debate
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 7/20/2006
Call it publicity, identity crisis or a social issue; two actresses stirred a hornet▓s nest in South India when they entered two separate temples in Kerela. They incurred the wrath of the temple priests, who termed their acts as 'defilement' of the shrines and asked for its ▒purification▓ through elaborate rituals. Indian move to establish United India through United Bengal
Khodeza Begum - 7/14/2006
Some activities prejudicial to national independence and territorial integrity of Bangladesh have drawn the attention of all conscious persons. A demand has been raised to establish an undivided sub-continent by holding a press conference at a restaurant in Dhaka on December 29, 1991 . 'Upamahadesh Punorujjibon Andolon' (movement for revival of the sub-continent) is the name of this outfit. In an Iftar party hosted by them, the speakers delivered speech at a seminar held in Dhaka on 31 December, 1991 . In that seminar a Congress scholar who came from India commented that none but Zinnah is res... Book Review: 'The Chittagong Hill Tracts: A Victim of Indian Intervention'
A. K. Zaman - 7/13/2006
Zainal Abedin in his informative and research-based book has reflected the problem of insurgency in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) of Bangladesh from multi-dimensional points of view. A number of books on CHT issue are available in the realm of publication, but this book makes a distinctive and analytical approach to rethink about the long-term desire and interest of some vested quarters at home and abroad. Anglo-Indians: Part Of The Great Indian Dream
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 6/21/2006
“…14 August 1947. We turn up the radio near the hotel bar before the midnight and listened as Viceroy, Lord Louis Mountbatten, and the first Prime Minister of the new Dominion of India, Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, announced jointly that, at the stroke of twelve, the old Indian Dominion would cease to exist and two independent Dominion would come into being. In the background we had much cheering and shouting and martial music, and next morning an air of euphoria prevailed in the streets, among the coolies and the beggars, among the tonga drivers and the hotel staff. The elation, almost giddiness ... Outsourcing of Indian Education
Pratap Bhanu Mehta - 6/17/2006
In many breathless foreign reports about India’s outsourcing clout, the nation’s education often gets high marks for being the source of so much success. But the reality is that – while in absolute numbers, with a population of a billion plus, the country is ahead of others with total graduates – Indian higher education is not responding to the challenges posed by globalization. Bollywood churning out sexed up scripts
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 6/12/2006
Bollywood that symbolizes Indian cinema follow a horde mentality. It always looks for a set recipe to churn out intoxicant to make viewers glued on their seats in the dark room of the talkies ogling at the sliver screen. The hit formula is rare to strike upon but once it’s bumped on, there is a beeline of filmmakers jumping into the bandwagon to exploit it to its hilt. The whole effort then goes on to package it in all its permutation and combinations to cater to the entertainment hungry Indian audiences. Aamir's Fanna and Gujarat
Syed Ali Mujtaba, Ph.D. - 6/7/2006
The row over screening of the Aamir Khan starrer film ‘Fanaa’ in Gujarat seems to have been getting straitened out with the actor believed to have agreed to issue a "clarification" through the media that he never intended to hurt the sentiments of the people of Gujarat when he joined the Save Narmada movement camp in Delhi last month. American Influence Over Indian Politics And Its Consequences
Abid Mustafa - 4/10/2006
Eager to retake her parliamentary seat in the forthcoming local elections on May 8th 2006, Sonia Gandhi has finally brought her resignation tally to a halt. In the past three weeks, she has resigned as the Chairperson of Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and tendered her resignation as head of Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, Jawahar Bhavan Trust, and, Gandhi and Jallianwala Bagh National Trust. But the most important of all her resignations came on March 23rd, when she quit her parliamentary seat and also stepped down from the post of Chairperson of National Advisory Council. Resolving The Political Crisis in Bangladesh
Badrul Islam - 2/26/2006
Bangladeshis heaved a sigh of relief when Leader of the 0pposition joined the Parliament after the absence since September 15,2004, and the ruling party cordially welcomed them. In her speech, Sheik Hasina on behalf of AL and 14-party Alliance placed “Reforms proposals for fair polls”. The BNP Secretary General responded that Government is also ready to discuss ways to make future elections more credible, free and fair. We all should, indeed, feel proud of these positive out come and, this brings, the political position, from confrontation to the level of “Deuce”(a term used in Tennis to indicate that both players are at equal 40-40 points). Will BJP's new leader prove to be any different than his predecessors?
Abid Mustafa - 1/24/2006
The unexpected departure of Vajpayee and the forced resignation of Advani as BJP's President have paved the way for Rajnath Singh to be appointed as the party's new President. Singh is now charged with the task of providing the party a much needed political direction, as well as increasing Baharti Janta Party's (BJP) popularity amongst Indian voters. Attitudes Needed To Advance Bangladesh
Badrul Islam - 1/23/2006
Former President of the African National Congress and receipient of Nobel Peace Prize in 1961, Albert Luthuli, in his biographical book "Let MY People Go" mentioned "The People of Groutville have found democratic methods effective and satisfactory. They have used these processes not only to elect chiefs, but on two occasions to replace them when their rule was felt to be not in the community's interest. This has the advantage that the tribe need never chafe under harsh rule, the standard of rule must be reasonably high, chiefs need not fear the more traditional elimination by assassination or revolt, and the people understand the process fully.” Bangladesh: Bamboo Staves at ready
Mac Haque - 12/9/2005
The bomb attacks in Bangladesh and loud condemnations as this being work of the ever shadowy Islamist militant outfit the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen-Bangladesh (JMB), being the all-credibly ‘incredible show’ in town – thinking people were aghast that I am probably the only ‘highly odd’ skeptic in town, who does not believe either ‘suicide bombers’ or the JMB exists. Exactly who is in charge of the Indian cabinet?
Abid Mustafa - 12/2/2005
The long awaited reshuffle of the Indian cabinet failed to produce the sweeping changes many had expected. Instead, minor amendments were made to the composition of the cabinet, while major changes were deferred till after the Bihar election. The prevailing view in the Indian media was that Lalu Prasad Yadav, the leader of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had prevented Singh from undertaking a complete overhaul of his cabinet. Yadav a major ally of the Congress party wanted RJD to be given a portfolio in any cabinet reshuffle but due to RJD's preoccupation with the elections in Bihar, the Congress party decided to put back the reshuffle. South Asian Leaders pledge to expand economic cooperation and fight poverty & terrorism
Panna Lal Chowdhury - 11/29/2005
The leaders of the seven South Asian nations concluded their Dhaka summit on 13 November 2005, with a promise to intensify efforts for peace, poverty alleviation and progress for 1400 million people of the region. The present member countries of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) are Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. However, in this Dhaka SAARC Summit, the member countries agreed to include Afghanistan also as a new member of the Association. Exactly who is in charge of the Indian cabinet?
Abid Mustafa - 11/28/2005
The long awaited reshuffle of the Indian cabinet failed to produce the sweeping changes many had expected. Instead, minor amendments were made to the composition of the cabinet, while major changes were deferred till after the Bihar election. The prevailing view in the Indian media was that Lalu Prasad Yadav, the leader of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) had prevented Singh from undertaking a complete overhaul of his cabinet. Yadav a major ally of the Congress party wanted RJD to be given a portfolio in any cabinet reshuffle but due to RJD's preoccupation with the elections in Bihar, the Congress party decided to put back the reshuffle. Kashmir And Survival of Earthquake Victims
Amit Pyakurel - 11/20/2005
The Kashmiri province that adjoins both India and Pakistan woke up to the grim reality of the ever catastrophic earthquake in the history. The suffering will be shared by rivals, India and Pakistan. Pakistan 73,000 dead and the similar number, more than 69,000 injured. The death toll from the Indian side is about 1,300. The calamity has left many others homeless, compelling them to live under the open sky through the cold, shivering nights of winter, risking more vulnerable lives with the increasing pace of chilly gust of the mountains. RAW-3: Nationalism - Bangladeshi and Bengali
Mohammad Zainal Abedin - 11/15/2005
RAW strategists have cleverly created disagreement and division even over the issue of national ideology. A debate has been going on whether the country should adopt Bangladeshi nationalism or Bengafee nationalism. Unfortunately RAW has succeeded in making this fundamental issue an aging controversy. Bangladeshi nationalism relates to all the people living in Bangladesh. It is a description of the fee1ing of political cohesion which inspires Bangladeshis to be proud of their separateness. Since Muslims constitute more than 85% of the country's population, thererfore, Bangladeshi nationalism in... RAW-1: India's Attack on Bangladeshi Culture, Ideology and Existence
Mohammad Zainal Abedin - 11/14/2005
The Ananda Bazar Patrika of Calcutta recently published a long feature on the so-called crippled economy and political instability of Bangladesh and shamelessly advised Bangladeshis in the following way: Realizing the cruel truth Bangladeshis should rather raise the demand to merge with India'. Getting similar message from her masters in RAW Taslima Nasreen, a derailed writer, wrote in a poem: RAW-2: Taslima Nasreen
Mohammad Zainal Abedin - 11/14/2005
Taslima Nasreen, the blasphemous and controversial writer from Bangladesh owes her sudden rise to fame and prominece to RAW. On instigation from RAW she has been writing novels and poems against Islam, morality and independence and sovereignty of Bangladesh. Since many years RAW has been using her for spreading poisonous and preposterous material against Muslim culture. RAW's " love for Taslima N areen is indicated by conferring of an award by the Anandabazar Group of Calcutta, India, for her book 'Nirbichito Column'. US Intelligence Helped To Extradite India's Most Wanted
Jit Mukherjii - 11/13/2005
It was on the fateful Friday of March 12, 1993 that Abu Salem, allegedly carried out the massacre of 300 innocents in Mumbai, India. Finally, on 11th November, another Friday, India's dogged endeavor to bring the suspected killers to book, bore fruit. India's second most wanted don, Abu Salem, was handed over to CBI officials in Portugal, where they were held back in prison. Initially, Portugal was reluctant to hand over because of European Union mandatory laws which states that a guilty cannot be handed over to a country, which has got capital punishment. Incidentally, India has got capital p... Initiative To Unionize India Service Sector Rejected
Jit Mukherjii - 11/13/2005
Recent decades have seen profound changes in the political and economic environment, which have had a negative effect on the position and influence of trade unions. The interrelated factors, which contributed to this situation, may be listed as follows. First, globalization has led to intense competitive pressure in product markets, accelerated the mobility of capital, and added to the vulnerability of labor. Second, technological changes have made it possible to reshape production through new forms of industrial organization, including sub-contracting and the spatial reorganization of product... The Calcutta Conspiracy: No Sovereignty for Bangladesh?
Mohammad Zainal Abedin - 11/6/2005
It is astonishing and pitiful that a foreign national dared to speak against the sovereignty, separate identity and existence of Bangladesh in the very presence of a Bangladeshi, who claims himself a vanguard of the spirit of independence. One Indian national Sriti Kumar Sarkar addressing a discussion meeting in Calcutta of India on October 1, made an insane comment saying that Bangladesh does not need to have separate existence or sovereignty. US Reaffirm Nuclear Deal With India
Umesh Rajan Malhotra - 10/25/2005
The United States has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the July 18 nuclear agreement between Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and U.S. President George Bush in Washington. US Under-Secretary of State Nicholas Burns, who is in New Delhi, to discuss implementation of the civilian nuclear deal between the two countries, said the Bush administration was working "very hard" and looking forward to the Congress passing the historic resolution. AIDS Threat to Bangladesh from India
Mohammad Zainal Abedin - 10/24/2005
Indian demand for corridor, under the guise of transit must be thwarted to keep it free from HIV/AIDS, as it will spread the menace in the country rapidly. India is now the largest AIDs and HIV contaminated country in the world. According to Feacham, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, India has outstripped South Africa and has more people living with AIDS than any other country. Being the second largest populous country in the world, it will not be strange if India have already outstripped South Africa. While UNAIDS puts the Indian figure at 5.1 mill... Indian Expansionism: Harmful for Peace in South Asia
Hari Bansha Dulal - 10/9/2005
The encroachment of Nepalese land in Susta VDC, Nawalparasi clearly demonstrates how India is trying to take advantage of current political mess in Nepal by encroaching Nepalese territory. While Indian embassy's staffers in Kathmandu keep themselves busy trying to paint India's friendly attitude by providing funds to build bridges and inaugurating school buildings in terai, their government in New Delhi makes Nepalese pay for the financial aid provided to Nepal by ripping off their national identity. However, what could be the better time than this to encroach a smaller state's territory? Political parties are wrestling with King to grab the power and king is Propaganda of the Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council
Mohammad Zainal Abedin - 10/3/2005
It is very unfortunate that a rootless and signboard-oriented organisation named Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council (BHBCUC), is engaged in subversive acts of defaming Bangladesh at home and abroad. BHBCUC acts as a tool of neighbouring countries of Bangladesh to implement its ulterior design. One of the burning examples of its notorious activities, are the letters sent to the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and to Bill Clinton's Global Institute. US thanks India for its support in IAEA vote on Iran nuclear issue
T.C. Malhotra - 10/3/2005
India's vote at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in aligning itself with the United States and the European Union over Iran nuclear issue has started a debate in Washington and New Delhi, while Tehran has threaten to review its economic and trade ties with all those countries which voted against it. Another Look at Mahatma Gandhi
Sam Vaknin, Ph.D. - 9/11/2005
Many myths abound about Gandhi, Mohandas Karamchand known as Mahatma "Great Souled") Gandhi (1869-1948). He was not born to a poor Indian family. His father was dewan (chief minister) of Porbandar, the capital of a small principality in Gujarat in western India under British suzerainty. He later became dewan of Rajkot. Why India Is Blamed For All The Debacles In Bangladesh
Mohammad Zainal Abedin - 9/9/2005
India is blamed for the well-knitted and unprecedented bombings of August 17 and all other debacles occurred in Bangladesh. Some blame India by directly mentioning its name, while others accuse her indirectly without mentioning her name. Whenever any untoward incident occurs in Bangladesh "a neighbouring country acted from behind the screen" is pointed to. They do not mention India in name. They adopt this tactic out of fear. One should really be worried for his personal security, since the security and existence of one's homeland is under threat. None can predict when, where, how and from which direction he will face mishap. Iran - Pakistan - India Pipeline Under Attack Before It´s Even Built
Angelique van Engelen - 7/26/2005
Pipelines traversing international territories often get played up at moments as opportune as their location is strategic. You wonder why so far international terrorists haven't really cottoned on to this, because an attack on one of the pipelines would not be misplaced in any analytical study on how terrorists conduct their acts of barbarism. An attack on a major oil or gas pipeline might not be as outlandish as it sounds, but in fact might be rather logical. Exploitation in Northeastern India
Mohammad Zainal Abedin - 6/22/2005
A section of the Indians have been co ntinuously propagating that Bangladesh is providing shelter to the insurgents of the Northeastern India in general and the ULFA in particular.But Bangladesh repeatedly declared that there is no camp of Northeast insurgents in her soil. But some Indian columnists repeatedly and deliberately beat the same drum to make the people in and outside India that Bangladesh designs to secede its Northeast region though Bangladesh rejected the allegations and even does not hesitate to nab the Northeast dwellers whenever they were found in Bangladesh territory. Fake Stories of Bangladeshis Intruding Into India
Mohammad Zainal Abedin - 6/8/2005
It is observed that it has become a fashion for some of the Indian politians and columnists to make allegation of illegal immigration of Bangladesh nationals into the northeastern states of India in general and Assam in particular. Recently the Assam Gvernor alleged that about 6000 Bangladesh nationals enter Assam everyday. The effort was made to divert the attention of the exploited and deprived people of Assam to such an issue ' foreigners' which is popular to the ethnic Assamese. Some in the media also jumped on the issue. South Asian Parliamentarians' Initiative For Regional Cooperation And Peace
Panna Lal Chowdhury - 6/6/2005
Parliamentarians representing all the major political parties in South Asia met in a conference in the Pakistan capital of Islamabad. The conference had eight sessions from May 16 to 20 on various topics, including economic cooperation, water issues and energy grid, a South Asian human rights code, and right to know and independence of media. There was also suggestion to initiate steps for regional parliamentary union for South Asia. India's Designs to Harm Bangladesh Using Islamic Militancy as Pretext
Mohammad Zainal Abedin - 5/30/2005
During the recent Awami League rule (1996-2001), India began a propaganda war which claims Islamic terrorists are becoming active in Bangladesh. A section of Dhaka-based dailies frequently made reports about the existence of the militancy in Bangladesh. They repeatedly alleged that the Muslim terrorists were being trained deep in the jungle of Chittagong Hill Tracts, or Sundarbans or different madrashas of the country. Security forces instantly rushed to those spots mentioned in the dailies, but found the reports fake and baseless. To provoke the America-led western power India deliberately la... Democracy in Bangladesh Can Overcome Challenges
Panna Lal Chowdhury - 5/17/2005
Bangladesh achieved its independence in 1971 through a liberation struggle. The Peoples Republic of Bangladesh started its journey with a democratically elected government. But the representative government was removed in 1975 through a military uprising. Military generals ruled the country till 1990, initially through martial law and later through the civilian governments. However, massive political movements by the people of the country successfully restored the democracy there effective from 1991. There have been multiparty parliamentary elections in 1991, 1996 & 2001. Governments were chan... India-Pakistan Peace Process Important for South Asia
Panna Lal Chowdhury - 5/2/2005
The year of 2005 started with unexpected events for the region of South Asia. Massive natural disaster Tsunami affected Sri Lanka, Maldives and part of South India before five days of the starting of the new near. Devastating waves of Tsunami crushing life and property over the costal areas of Indian Ocean, was the grim scenario on the first day of the year. Next it was the political development in Nepal. The Nepalese King Gyanendra dismissed the Prime Minister and his cabinet and also dissolved the parliament on 1 February 2005. Indeed it was a Palace coup. The monarch accused that the ruling... Branding Pakistan and Promoting Its Economy and Businesses
Naseem Javed - 4/21/2005
How can the identity and development of the top 100 name brands in Pakistan be helped by the government and private forces? While the challenges of building a finer image of Pakistan is on the forefront, the first question is, can a nation be branded? A country can pick and choose certain dynamic activities and commercial projects and products to create world class brands. The best would uniquely be associated with Pakistan and deliver a message of quality. This remedy is readily available as a lot of corporations are ready to take off. President Musharraf's Visit to India
S K Modi - 4/19/2005
It is almost amazing how well President Pervez Musharraf was received in India. In fact, if Bill Clinton sees video-recordings of the way the Pakistani President is being treated, he is quite likely to go green with envy. In spite of being the then incumbent President of the United States, the reception he got in India during his official visit can, when compared to the reception received by Musharraf, at best be described as lacklustre. In a manner of speaking, Musharraf is being treated the way the British traditionally treat their royalty. US Refusal of Visa to Indian Politician: Irrational Arrogance or Insipid Ignorance?
S K Modi - 3/22/2005
Imagine if those running for their lives out of WTC on September 11, 2001 were prevented from coming out of the burning and collapsing buildings by a group of Muslims. Had that happened, how would the Americans have reacted to local Islamic population? What would have been the magnitude of hate crimes in such a situation? How many would have been killed? How many mosques would have been burnt? It is very difficult to imagine a situation like this. But this is precisely what happened at Godhra in the western state of Gujarat in India on February 27, 2002. A train was forced to stop by pulling t... A new policy outlook guides the Indian Budget
Panna Lal Chowdhury - 3/7/2005
The new Indian budget for fiscal 2005-06 was presented on the last day of February 2005. It deserves special attention from the business circles, economists and the politicians. The present Indian Government is formed with the coalition of a number of parties. The main coalition partner, the Indian National Congress, initiated the economic liberalization and reform programs since early nineties. The present Prime minister and the present Finance minister is the architect of this economic liberalization and globalization polices of India since 1991. But unlike the past, the present government a... India and Pakistan: The Unsolvable Conflict
S K Modi - 2/18/2005
India and Pakistan, or at least their respective leaderships, are trying hard to improve relations with each other. Diplomats and ministers are shuttling between the two capitals and joint statements are being issued, as well as a recent announcement of new road and rail service. George Bush and Tony Blair are throwing appreciative glances and hopes are running high once again, but the real issues continue to be ignored by the policy makers. Similar attempts have been made in the past, but failed to produce any tangible results. Indian View of Iraqi Elections and Increased Support for Bush
S K Modi - 2/7/2005
Like elsewhere in the world, the US attitude towards Iraq has become somewhat more acceptable, or less unacceptable, in India too. An official statement described the elections as "a noteworthy development." Editorials in leading dailies did offer some applause by calling the voter turnout "surprisingly large," though most went on to caution against excessive optimism. High School Students May Change Government in Indian State of 85 million
S K Modi - 1/30/2005
The Indian polity is about as diverse, interesting and intriguing as the socio-cultural conditions in India are. Whether India's sense of pride about the huge diversities is justifiable or not is debatable but the diversities, by themselves, are awesome. In economic terms also, India has a great deal of diversity. Per capita income, house ownership, usage of household appliances like washing machines and refrigerators, population of automobiles and even consumption of food items vary vastly from region to region. It is not merely a question of a society having some very poor and some very rich... |
