Author Archives: Huma Yusuf
13th August, 2012
A new low
IN the matter of Pakistan’s treatment of its religious minorities, each week brings new shame.
IN the matter of Pakistan’s treatment of its religious minorities, each week brings new shame.
6th August, 2012
Dearth of research
I RECENTLY heard about a young Western academic who spent a decade in rural Punjab conducting ethnographic research for his PhD.
I RECENTLY heard about a young Western academic who spent a decade in rural Punjab conducting ethnographic research for his PhD.
30th July, 2012
The Rohingya and Pakistan
RECENT clashes in western Myanmar between Buddhist Rakhines and Muslim Rohingya have polarised Pakistan’s public sphere.
RECENT clashes in western Myanmar between Buddhist Rakhines and Muslim Rohingya have polarised Pakistan’s public sphere.
23rd July, 2012
UK and Afghan endgame
IN Kabul on a surprise visit last week, British Prime Minister David Cameron warned the Afghan Taliban: “you cannot wait this out till foreign forces leave in 2014 because we will be firm friends and supporters of
IN Kabul on a surprise visit last week, British Prime Minister David Cameron warned the Afghan Taliban: “you cannot wait this out till foreign forces leave in 2014 because we will be firm friends and supporters of
16th July, 2012
Religion in politics
IN the run-up to general elections, the findings of a new survey by the Pew Research Centre sheds light on Pakistani attitudes on the role of religion in public life.
IN the run-up to general elections, the findings of a new survey by the Pew Research Centre sheds light on Pakistani attitudes on the role of religion in public life.
9th July, 2012
No room to breathe
IN an increasingly intolerant and violent Pakistan, diverse media platforms have offered members of religious minorities a safe outlet to network, share their perspectives, document abuses against them,
IN an increasingly intolerant and violent Pakistan, diverse media platforms have offered members of religious minorities a safe outlet to network, share their perspectives, document abuses against them,
2nd July, 2012
Large gaps in soft power
LAST week, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf asked the impossible of our Foreign Office — project a soft image of Pakistan abroad through public diplomacy, cultural exchange, trade and people-to-people
LAST week, Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf asked the impossible of our Foreign Office — project a soft image of Pakistan abroad through public diplomacy, cultural exchange, trade and people-to-people
25th June, 2012
Communications strategy
AGAINST all odds, this government may yet complete its term in office — a historic achievement in the Pakistani context.
AGAINST all odds, this government may yet complete its term in office — a historic achievement in the Pakistani context.
18th June, 2012
Overlooked news
MARYAM Nawaz termed it a clash of titans. But the mudslinging among political talk-show hosts that has dominated our TV screens in recent days is far paltrier than that.
MARYAM Nawaz termed it a clash of titans. But the mudslinging among political talk-show hosts that has dominated our TV screens in recent days is far paltrier than that.
11th June, 2012
Through an economic lens
ON Wednesday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna will meet in Washington for the third annual US-India Strategic Dialogue.
ON Wednesday, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Indian External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna will meet in Washington for the third annual US-India Strategic Dialogue.
4th June, 2012
Need for local responses
LAST week, the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly issued a ‘Code of Conduct’ aimed at stemming sectarian violence in the region.
LAST week, the Gilgit-Baltistan Legislative Assembly issued a ‘Code of Conduct’ aimed at stemming sectarian violence in the region.
28th May, 2012
Media for peace
IT is a shame that Pakistan declined at the last minute to sign a pact on a new liberalised visa regime with India. Although the governments agreed in principle to ease restrictions on business travellers,
IT is a shame that Pakistan declined at the last minute to sign a pact on a new liberalised visa regime with India. Although the governments agreed in principle to ease restrictions on business travellers,
21st May, 2012
The youth factor
AS the next general elections draw near, I hear increasingly about Pakistan’s growing appetite for democracy.
AS the next general elections draw near, I hear increasingly about Pakistan’s growing appetite for democracy.
14th May, 2012
Fallout of gender imbalance
THANKS to Aamir Khan, the issue of India’s skewed sex ratio is making headlines again. In the debut of Satyamev Jayate — his take on Oprah Winfrey’s iconic issue-based talk show — the Bollywood star
THANKS to Aamir Khan, the issue of India’s skewed sex ratio is making headlines again. In the debut of Satyamev Jayate — his take on Oprah Winfrey’s iconic issue-based talk show — the Bollywood star
7th May, 2012
The meaning of sovereignty
SINCE parliament completed its review of US-Pakistan bilateral relations, there have been two drone strikes in North Waziristan. The strikes have occurred despite repeated US assurances that it respects Pakistani sovereignty.
SINCE parliament completed its review of US-Pakistan bilateral relations, there have been two drone strikes in North Waziristan. The strikes have occurred despite repeated US assurances that it respects Pakistani sovereignty.
30th April, 2012
Has the threat diminished?
POLITICAL hysterics resulting from the prime minister’s conviction and an equivocal Supreme Court sentence are currently overshadowing discussions about Pakistan’s security challenges.
POLITICAL hysterics resulting from the prime minister’s conviction and an equivocal Supreme Court sentence are currently overshadowing discussions about Pakistan’s security challenges.
23rd April, 2012
An inadequate response
LAST week, like many others, offered reminders of Pakistani society’s increasingly extremist tendencies. In Hyderabad, the leftist Sindh Progressive Committee (SPC) clashed with the Sunni Tehrik
LAST week, like many others, offered reminders of Pakistani society’s increasingly extremist tendencies. In Hyderabad, the leftist Sindh Progressive Committee (SPC) clashed with the Sunni Tehrik
16th April, 2012
At ease with their heritage
EN ROUTE from Balat to Sultanahmet in Istanbul during a recent vacation, my taxi driver kept pointing out major historical sites.
EN ROUTE from Balat to Sultanahmet in Istanbul during a recent vacation, my taxi driver kept pointing out major historical sites.
2nd April, 2012
A flawed narrative
COAS General Ashfaq Kayani recently decried the rampant criticism of the military and intelligence agencies within Pakistan and urged critics to let the security establishment fulfil its mandate without interference.
COAS General Ashfaq Kayani recently decried the rampant criticism of the military and intelligence agencies within Pakistan and urged critics to let the security establishment fulfil its mandate without interference.
26th March, 2012
Works of fiction — and truth
CAN one solve a problem without discussing it first? Is there a way to reconcile multiple perspectives without first articulating them?
CAN one solve a problem without discussing it first? Is there a way to reconcile multiple perspectives without first articulating them?
