Imran Khan’s Pakistan diary: Taliban ups the ante“The Taliban’s tactic now, according to many analysts here, will be to attack as many of Pakistan’s cities as possible”, writes Khan. It’s all about pressuring the government into a ceasefire deal.
Pakistan
Taliban blasts kill at least 8 in north-west Pakistan
The Taliban has fought back in Peshawar, the capital of North West Frontier Province, an area where the government has launched a massive operation against the militants. This comes after it claimed responsibility for an attack in Lahore that killed at least 27 people.
Taliban warns Pakistanis, then detonates four bombs
Three bombs detonated in Peshawar, north of Pakistan’s capital, and one in Dera Ismail Khan, in the country’s troubled west on Thursday, killing at least 11 people and wounding dozens.
As Taliban rises, life gets worse for Pakistan’s women
If you need proof that Pakistan’s Taliban are rising, just ask the women and girls, who are increasingly under threat from a “fear campaign” as a result of the growing militant presence.
Fatima Bhutto: I thought we were friends!
If the US wants to give money to unstable nuclear regimes like Pakistan’s, maybe it should cozy up to others as well — North Korea could use a little all-American can-do support, writes Fatima Bhutto.
Taliban’s popularity rises after massacre of the Pashtuns
Thousands of injured and starving Pashtuns fell in droves from the mountains of the Hindu Kush this week. Benjamin Gilmour listens to their stories.
Inside Pakistan’s Jalozai refugee camp: an eyewitness account
Jalozai refugee camp is once again packed with destitute people. Shakira Hussein remembers visiting the camp in 2000 and 2001, to interview its previous inhabitants.
30% chance of coup in Pakistan, say analysts
A top private risk analysis firm gave embattled Pakistan a three-in-ten chance of a military
coup even before the latest offensive by Taliban rebels.
How the Taliban could out-manoeuvre the US
Despite sending in 20,000 new troops to Afghanistan, the Taliban’s stronghold on the Pakistan-Afghan border could still prove insurmountable for the US.
Pakistan will give no quarter
With a showdown between the Taliban and Pakistan looming in Swat Valley, residents are fleeing: they know Pakistan’s army will use maximum firepower and overwhelming force.
World Press Freedom Day: Australian needs to lift its game
On Monday, we mark World Press Freedom Day, which should give us pause this year as we reflect on how precious freedom of expression can be, and how easily it can be denied, writes Chris Warren.
The big steal: looking back at a famous Pakistan win
A flashback to 15 years ago, when Pakistan famously put one over Australia in Karachi.
Pakistan hired cooks and drivers as guards for Oz series
The private security guards hired by the Pakistan cricket chiefs for Pakistan-Australia One-day series in United Arab Emirates may have only been a bunch of car drivers and cooks.
Taliban just 70 miles from Islamabad
Taliban militants are pushing deeper into Pakistan, established control of a strategically important district just 70 miles from Islamabad.
Abu Dhabi police, Pakistan happy with security … err… cricket preparation
The Pakistan Cricket Board is reportedly “delighted” with security assistance provided by the Dubai and Abu Dhabi police for the Chapal Cup.
It’ll cost more than $5 billion to save Pakistan
The $5 billion in aid pledges collected in Tokyo on Friday was $1 billion more than the US had expected. But Richard Holbrooke, special envoy to Afghanistan and Pakistan, says it might be only a tenth of what the nation actually needs.
Democracy revitalised by Pakistan’s Chief Justice
By demonstrating the importance of functioning and accountable institutions, Pakistan’s lawyers may well have paved the road upon which the long road from its present hell may be charted, writes Mustafa Qadri.
Pakistan’s Sharif an unlikely poster boy for democracy
Pakistan’s elected leaders have a habit of descending into the kind of authoritarianism that makes it hard to be too upset when the military takes over — yet again, writes Shakira Hussein.
Sri Lankan cricket attack: a Crikey media wrap
The wider fallout from yesterday’s terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan cricket team in Lahore is still surfacing. Here is what the world is saying.
Ul-Haque case gives ASIO licence to play rough
The failure of Mr. Carnell to take a similar view as Justice Adams did about the mistreatment of Mr. Ul-Haque by ASIO officers is disturbing, writes Greg Barns.
Making the Pakistani Taliban
Why would insurgents sit idle watching US Army commandoes take advantage of this holy month of fasting for cross-border operations, writes Benjamin Gilmour.
Terrorism, American style
But rules governing barbarians don’t inhibit the Empire, and so George Bush has casually authorized ground forces to launch attacks on Pakistani soil, writes Jeff Sparrow.
