For Foreign Policy: In a wide-ranging counter-terrorism speech in May, President Barack Obama indicated that he would be scaling back the war that the United States has engaged in since 9/11. And he said the targeted killing program that has become a major component of this war is aimed at “al Qaeda and its associated forces,” and “specific networks of violent extremists that threaten America,” using a legal standard put forth in the 2001 Authorization to Use Military Force to justify the strikes. The President…Continue Reading “Mission creep? The scope of Obama’s drone war”
For the Christian Science Monitor: Despite the Pakistani Taliban’s recent deadly attack on 10 foreign climbers, many Pakistanis still want to hold talks with the group to end a decade long conflict that has killed more than 50,000 people, mostly civilians. Pakistan has a broad consensus in favor of talking to the Taliban. A May 2013 Pew survey found only 35 percent support using the military against the Taliban, and 64 percent saw the US as more of an enemy than a partner. Anecdotal evidence…Continue Reading “Pakistan wants to talk to its Taliban, but doesn’t know what to say”
For the Wall Street Journal: According to the United Nations Development Program, more than 60% of Karachi’s residents live in illegal housing areas, many in unplanned slums like Orangi. These settlements are off the grid and often the scene of deadly shootings between rival gangs. Orangi’s residents are now turning to confront who owns the land they live on and OPP has expanded its work to help residents get rights to land and clean water. But by widening the focus, the NGO says it has…Continue Reading “In Asia’s Largest Slum, Development, Danger”
For the IRIN News Agency: LAHORE, 10 May 2013 (IRIN) – On the frontline in the fight against dengue fever in Lahore, Pakistan’s second largest city, the authorities have a sharp eye for spare car tyres. “When the police show up, we will throw all these tyres into the basement,” said Rohil Ayub, 18, who runs a downtown repair shop. “The police fine us a lot, thousands of rupees every time,” he said. Every few days, police inspectors fine anyone who leaves tyres outside –…Continue Reading “Marshalling smartphones, gravediggers to fight dengue in Pakistan”
For The Globe and Mail: Imran Khan, Pakistan’s charismatic populist candidate for prime minister, tumbled 4.5 metres from a platform at an election rally this week, three days before the country’s historic elections. But his ambitious campaign may still see his party through the polls on Saturday. Unable now to glimpse Mr. Khan on stage – his injuries are said to be not serious, but they have kept him off the campaign trail – thousands of well-wishers instead await him outside a hospital in Lahore….Continue Reading “Injured Pakistani politician Imran Khan still holds followers in thrall”
For the Christian Science Monitor: The Pakistani government is working with the US to make sure a key ingredient for bombs stays away from insurgents in Afghanistan, but that effort may be having an unintended casualty. Read more here.
For the Wall Street Journal: Rights groups welcome Pervez Musharraf-era reforms to Pakistan’s electoral system, which helped put religious minorities on an equal footing with Muslims. But Ahmadis say they were left out, and some other religious minorities say they still don’t have adequate representation in Parliament. “We want to be part of the mainstream, but they [the government] won’t let us. They are keeping us out of elections,” a spokesman for Pakistan’s Ahmadi community said. Muslim extremists in Pakistan persuaded the government to pass…Continue Reading “The Pakistanis Who Won’t Vote”