Author Archives: Syed Irfan Ashraf
22nd April, 2013
Farcical debate
WITH a congressional hearing in the United States on the drone issue set for April 23, some groups in that country are making efforts to create a consensus for bringing an end to drone strikes in Pakistan and elsewhere.
WITH a congressional hearing in the United States on the drone issue set for April 23, some groups in that country are making efforts to create a consensus for bringing an end to drone strikes in Pakistan and elsewhere.
12th February, 2013
Manufacture of the militant discourse
FOLLOWING an embedded visit to the terrorism-hit Waziristan last December, an Islamabad-based journalist broke a story about cracks appearing in the leadership of the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
FOLLOWING an embedded visit to the terrorism-hit Waziristan last December, an Islamabad-based journalist broke a story about cracks appearing in the leadership of the outlawed Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).
30th December, 2012
The Malala effect
MILITANCY may have been overcome to a large extent in Swat, but the disruption it caused in the lives of so many families, individuals and institutions has yet to be replaced by normalcy. For this, both the militants
MILITANCY may have been overcome to a large extent in Swat, but the disruption it caused in the lives of so many families, individuals and institutions has yet to be replaced by normalcy. For this, both the militants
21st October, 2012
Predatory politics and Malala
THE attack on Malala Yousufzai’s life was shocking for people around the world, but I see no reason to be surprised.
THE attack on Malala Yousufzai’s life was shocking for people around the world, but I see no reason to be surprised.
17th August, 2012
Military-media relationship
THE world over, the media and the military have never had an easy relationship.
THE world over, the media and the military have never had an easy relationship.
11th June, 2012
Weak security apparatus
IT would be wishful thinking that in future, our security institutions will prevent the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan or other militants from repeating something such as the Bannu jailbreak two months ago.
IT would be wishful thinking that in future, our security institutions will prevent the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan or other militants from repeating something such as the Bannu jailbreak two months ago.
21st February, 2012
Drone strikes: boon or bane?
DURING a visit to Tank, a Mehsud tribesman surprised me with some blunt remarks. Supporting drone attacks in Fata, the young tribesman from South Waziristan Agency said, “We see in the drones our only hope to go back home.”
DURING a visit to Tank, a Mehsud tribesman surprised me with some blunt remarks. Supporting drone attacks in Fata, the young tribesman from South Waziristan Agency said, “We see in the drones our only hope to go back home.”
1st February, 2012
Hard times for journalists
“I AM already on their hit list. I don’t want to win a race against a natural death by writing something about the Taliban,” said Mukarram Khan Atif, with a reluctant smile as he tried to put off my request to publish something from his vast repository of information on Fata.
“I AM already on their hit list. I don’t want to win a race against a natural death by writing something about the Taliban,” said Mukarram Khan Atif, with a reluctant smile as he tried to put off my request to publish something from his vast repository of information on Fata.
17th January, 2012
Understanding militancy
DOES poverty have anything to do with militancy in Pakistan`s Pakhtun belt? This question attracted much focus a few years ago when the insurgency inflicted the Malakand division in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
DOES poverty have anything to do with militancy in Pakistan`s Pakhtun belt? This question attracted much focus a few years ago when the insurgency inflicted the Malakand division in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
1st January, 2012
TTP losing its clout?
FOR many militant commanders of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan who operate from Fata, reconciliation with the government appears to have become a priority.
FOR many militant commanders of the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan who operate from Fata, reconciliation with the government appears to have become a priority.
20th December, 2011
Cost of self-censorship
JOURNALISTS in Pakistan are familiar with `pre-censorship`. However, few focus on self-censorship and the harm that does to the ideal of the public`s right to know.
JOURNALISTS in Pakistan are familiar with `pre-censorship`. However, few focus on self-censorship and the harm that does to the ideal of the public`s right to know.
6th December, 2011
Heroes of Swat
“I curse my name Malala — mournful — which keeps happiness away from me,” she said.
“I curse my name Malala — mournful — which keeps happiness away from me,” she said.
10th November, 2011
The Kurram blockade
A DAY before the Thall-Parachinar road reopened, I was at the Peshawar Airport along with other passengers climbing aboard an eight-seater Cessna belonging to a…
A DAY before the Thall-Parachinar road reopened, I was at the Peshawar Airport along with other passengers climbing aboard an eight-seater Cessna belonging to a…
6th April, 2011
Fallen by the wayside
A couple of years before his death, the legendary Urdu poet Ahmed Faraz visited his native Kohat district to attend a mushaira. Addressing a gathering…
A couple of years before his death, the legendary Urdu poet Ahmed Faraz visited his native Kohat district to attend a mushaira. Addressing a gathering…
