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Release of the Pashtun knot (Region)

Locked in their nation-state dogmas, will the citizens of Southasia be able to control the cancerous spread of violence from the Pashtun region?

Hail, caudillos!

Seculations abound yet certainty falters in anticipation of the Indian election miracle.

Rohingya, not Bengali (Burma)

From national disgrace to regional shame. ASEAN leaders have to take responsibility of the problem.

'Death not foretold'

What this used to be to those who still are.

Southasian Briefs

Round-up of regional news

Voices

Opinions from the region

Analysis

Over to the lok

The predictions have begun on the outcome of the world’s biggest elections and four women seem to hold the key.

Polarised spring

As Nepal’s ‘season of discontent’ rolls up, the building political acrimony is set to derail its peace process.

Burmese selection

The generals are keeping a wrap on the election plans, as a way to force the results overwhelmingly in their favour.

Cover

Afghanistan unravelling

A date for presidential elections has finally been agreed upon, but little else about the country’s near future is clear.

The Taliban primer

Who is Baitullah Mahsud?

The establishment of a Taliban emirate

Under the terms of the ‘peace deal’ in PATA, the militants have gained everything and the government nothing.

Mullah Radio

By using illegal FM radio broadcasts, militants in Pakistan are gaining the stature of a parallel government, yet with no credibility.

Stunted development

The only ones that seem convinced of the efficacy of international aid to Afghanistan are the aid agencies themselves.

In the shades of grey

Amidst the conflict and chaos, one US soldier sees hope in Afghanistan.

Special Report

Keeping devolution alive

It is clear that without power-sharing and the recognition of the rights of all communities, Rajapkse's regime will only further alienate Sri Lanka’s minorities.

Interview

The collapse and after

How has the LTTE come to this current point of near defeat?

Essay

Violence as nation-building

The issue is not who should rule Afghanistan, but rather how. And the answer is devolution of power and local governance under a constitution that can be owned by all.

Report

Balochistan breaking point?

With the Zardari government evidently breaking two critical promises for resolving the Balochistan conflict, the people of the province seem to have finally accepted that Islamabad will not be their solution.

Palaces on sewage

As environmental concerns take centre stage, the traditional houseboats of the Kashmir Valley may be forced to stop plying the lakes.

'Pure' ideology

Southasiasphere

The hopelessness of things

Mediafile

Tidbits of the region's media

Reflections

Rehman Baba's kin

Being Pashtun does not have to mean being Taliban, a writer finds in faraway Karachi.

Time and a place

Camping in Kabul

Hippies, Russians, the Taliban – Afghanistan has always had a little something for everyone. Now a land in crisis is getting reacquainted with tourists.

Bookshelf

Reviews of the latest books from and on Southasia

Review

Fatherland: 'Stranger to History:A son's journey through Islamic lands' by Aatish Taseer

Rural Dalit ghetto: 'Khairlanji' by Anand Teltumbde

On the way up

PL-480 and the infidel weed

Photo Feature

Wed in Kabul