Are We Behind South Asia On Women's Rights?

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Wednesday March 10, 2010 · 8:53 AM PST

2010/03/10 · 08:53

Interesting political changes in South Asia this week. The Prime Minister of Pakistan announced a 10 percent quota for women in civil service hiring. Now, the Pakistani President, Asif Ali Zardari, has signed into law the Protection Against Harassment of Women at Workplace Bill making it a criminal offense to engage in a broad range of actions that create a hostile work environment. Are we quickly moving behind South Asia on women's rights?

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Friday September 18, 2009 · 10:55 AM PDT

2009/09/18 · 10:55

Back in May, Sen. Kerry and Sen. Lugar introduced a bill to triple non-military aid to Pakistan. The bill passed the House and Senate in June (unanimously in the Senate). It's time for Congress to reconcile the bills and send to Obama to sign.

southasiawatch

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Monday August 03, 2009 · 11:25 AM PDT

2009/08/03 · 11:25

The latest violence in Pakistan has targeted not the state, but religious minorities in the country. Over the weekend, Christian residents of Gojra were targeted by an angry mob of Islamic activists who sought revenge for alleged acts of desecration of the Qur'an. When the dust cleared, there were at least seven dead and dozens of homes burned to the ground. Amidst the destruction, one person has been strangely silent -- Nawaz Sharif.

southasiawatch

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Thursday July 23, 2009 · 7:58 AM PDT

2009/07/23 · 07:58

Economic protectionism does more than threaten economic recovery these days, it also threatens national security. Economists agree that economic protectionism is a losing strategy for strengthening GDP. Barriers to free trade and commerce actually harm native economies by proliferating protectionism globally as nations respond by passing defensive barriers of their own.

But the domestic economy is not the only thing threatened by some protectionism under consideration in the US Congress right now. The Kansas City Star reports, a new trade measure proposed by the White House would provide for "Reconstruction Opportunity Zones" in Pakistan, a lynchpin in the war on terror.

southasiawatch

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Friday June 19, 2009 · 9:16 AM PDT

2009/06/19 · 09:16

Pakistani journalist Nadeem Paracha, in a superbly referenced post on The Dawn Blog, takes his colleagues in the Pakistani media to task for their self-serving coddling of Islamic extremists.

It is a rather stunning experience watching certain TV talk show hosts, journalists and assorted ‘experts’ continuing to find newer and more bizarre ways to stick to an obviously reactionary and, if I may, paranoid line in this respect, especially at a time when a majority of Pakistanis, including well known religious scholars, have started to freely exhibit anger and bitterness towards phenomenon like the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

The question arises, is this a matter of defending an ideology for which these TV and press men are ready to face ridicule? Or is this peculiar attitude about something else?

southasiawatch

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Wednesday May 13, 2009 · 6:28 AM PDT

2009/05/13 · 06:28

The Pakistan government is claiming that over 700 of the Taliban have been killed. The authorities are ordering the Army to "eliminate" Taliban fighters. It is creating a unstable situation in Pakistan, and Pakistan bloggers have created a Human Appeal International Fund for the 350K+ refugees.

southasiawatch

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Monday April 13, 2009 · 11:30 AM PDT

2009/04/13 · 11:30

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal highlights the point around which peace and stability hinge in South Asia: Pakistan. The threat of the Taliban and Al Queda using Afghanistan as a refuge and launching points for attacks against the United States is governed primarily by what happens in Pakistan.

southasiawatch

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Friday April 10, 2009 · 10:23 AM PDT

2009/04/10 · 10:23

When a country asks for help in developing its economy and fighting terror, what should donor nations do?

Should they attach endless and intrusive requirements that not only make it difficult for the aid to have the intended impact, but also impinge on the sovereignity of the receiving nation?

This was the question discussed by Ambassador Hussain Haqqani at a recent gathering of American and South Asian intelligentsia.

southasiawatch

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Tuesday April 07, 2009 · 10:33 AM PDT

2009/04/07 · 10:33

The recent media coverage in Pakistan regarding the film of a young woman being beaten by religious fanatics of Swat district has shocked and angered many around the world and within Pakistan. As a nation, Pakistan is a study in modernity and backwardness existing side by side, and coming into contact and conflict. The plight of the woman is one where the Taliban have come to dominate her area, and she was beaten for being in unescorted by a male family member while in the presence of an unrelated male. Of course, this was after she refused the marriage offer of a Taliban fighter. Her refusal and the beating are likely related.

southasiawatch

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Friday April 03, 2009 · 9:58 AM PDT

2009/04/03 · 09:58

Washington Affirms Support for Pakistan

The U.S. State Department has affirmed that it supports the democratic government of Pakistan.

"The United States said on Wednesday it is working closely with the democratically elected Pakistani government led by President Asif Ali Zardari in wide-ranging areas of common interest and that American officials maintain contacts with the opposition parties in Pakistan just as they do in other countries."

The government of Pakistan has a lot of challenges in front of it, and it is good to hear that the U.S. government is behind them. International support for Pakistan, not just from the United States, but from the entire community of nations is vital in supporting the efforts for peace and stability in this region of the world.

Cross posted at MyDD

Nawaz Sharif: Anti-Semitic on a level with Iran's Ahmedinejad?

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Thursday April 02, 2009 · 10:00 AM PDT

2009/04/02 · 10:00

When Iran's Mahmoud Ahmedinejad was running for President of Iran, he was fawned over in Iranian and regional media as a simple man, a man of the people, and a real populist. In short, no critical examinations of his policies or beliefs occurred, much to the later dismay of the Iranian people and the the international community. Rather than pursue policies to build an effective Iranian state, Ahmedinejad pursued funding international terrorism, a spewing virulent anti-semitism directed towards Israel, and the jewish community in general. He turned out to be hostile to the West, and posing a serious threat to regional peace and stability.

southasiawatch

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Monday March 30, 2009 · 10:23 AM PDT

2009/03/30 · 10:23

Ambassador Hussein Haqqani has several very interesting video's out where he speaks about the challenges and opportunities facing Pakistan and the region in general.

Ambassador Haqqani has an impressive biography, and has included journalism, and teaching assignments at prestigious universities. But, one of his greatest contributions is his ability to talk about the history and nuance of Pakistan. He has worked with the late Benazair Bhutto, and has also worked with Nawaz Sharif, so his perspectives on the current strife that Sharif is bringing upon Pakistan are particularly valuable.

Cross posted at http://www.mydd.com/...

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Are We Behind South Asia On Women's Rights?

Kerry-Lugar Will Pay Huge Dividends

Nawaz Sharif's Silence on Religious Violence

Economic Protectionism Threatens National Security

Pakistan's Media Out of Touch

Pakistan and Swat update

Success or failure in Afghanistan all depends on Pakistan

Using Foreign Aid to Fight Terror in Pakistan

Problems and Opportunity in Pakistan

Washington Affirms Support for Pakistan

Nawaz Sharif: Anti-Semitic on a level with Iran's Ahmedinejad?

Ambassador Hussain Haqqani of Pakistan - great video!