South Asia

A Salute across the skies, from Air Commodore Pervez Akhtar Khan

The tragic death of 37-year-old Indian Air Force (IAF) pilot, Wing Commander Namansh Syal, who lost his life on Friday, November 21 when a Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCA Mk-1) crashed during a demonstration at the Dubai air show, brought this moving response from Pakistani Air Commodore Pervez Akhtar Khan from across the border

After India’s ‘limited strikes’ on Pakistan, de-escalation, restraint, diplomacy needed to avoid war

In similar highly tense situations in the past, both sides have been able to avoid war and work their way back to near normal conditions, and this can happen again

Pahalgam: Voices of peace and reason in times of war

This piece written before India’s air strikes on its neighbour, Pakistan on May 7 remains relevant today

Poonch Victims: Civilians as targets of shelling

Four minors fell victim to the shelling while a hymn singer, tabla player, shopkeeper and homemaker were also killed and a gurdwara was also struck and suffered damage to its wall; hasty irresponsible reportage included slurring of an innocent civilian killed as a ‘terrorist’; preliminary reportage has counted the victims in Poonch alone to be 15 though numbers are expected to rise further

From Trenches to Trust: Reimagining South Asia’s Dividends of Peace

Generations have been raised on trauma and banality of wars and hostility; it is time to trade $72 billion defense spending for solutions to poverty, illiteracy, and healthcare deficits.

The ‘Harijans’ of Bangladesh: Victims of constitutional neglect and social isolation

From the use of the word ‘Harijan’ alone, to the absence of acknowledgement of structural discrimination within Bangladesh (and Pakistan) the Dalit movement has a long way to go in both Islamic countries

Pakistan: Farmers Protest Govt’s Corporate Farming Plan

To invite big corporate investments into the country’s agriculture sector, Pakistan has announced the building of six canals on the Indus River.

Bangladesh: Why Indian Muslims’ voice against anti-Hindu violence matters

It is reassuring to see some noted Indian Muslim intellectuals and scholars including a few Ulema come out and call spade a spade.

Indian Muslims strongly condemn attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh

Communalism is a sub-continental malaise and must be fought across borders

Lessons from a ‘Democratic Revolt’: Prevent the slide into majoritarianism

Images of thousands if not hundreds of thousands of...

Bangladesh Situation Tumultuous, But Does Not Signify Islamic Extremist Dominance

Longstanding Bangaldesh Observer and Senior journalist Suvojit Bagchi analyses...

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