Pakistan
A Quest for Relevance
Since Kabul’s fall, Pakistan has struggled to maintain strategic relevance and its attempts to reengage the U.S. have been largely unsuccessful. Domestic political turmoil, the popularity of former Prime Minister Imran Khan and a rise in militant attacks have complicated this engagement, as have the country’s ties with China.
A Glacial Threat
With over 7,200 dotting its three mountain ranges — the Hindu Kush, the Karakoram and the Himalayas — Pakistan is home to the most glaciers outside the polar regions. Due to climate change, they are melting rapidly, creating unique challenges.
Young Pakistani Women Are Reclaiming the Sari as Their Own
Young women in Pakistan are exerting their agency by embracing the sari, which is often met with backlash in the country because of its association with India and Hinduism.
Why Baloch Women in Pakistan Led an Unprecedented March
The recent protest march, led by women, against enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in Balochistan province in Pakistan was unprecedented, not only in its size but also because it is rare for Baloch grievances to gain national limelight.
Horror Films Help Pakistanis Process Modern-Day Anxieties
In recent times, both Pakistani cinema and TV have been experimenting with horror, trying to address the complexities of living in modern-day Pakistan, such as the rising discourse about feminism, the fear of Western influences, the evolution of the family system, and the role of religion in everyday life.
Women Suicide Bombers and the Changing Trajectories of Pakistan’s Baloch Insurgency
Two suicide bombings by educated, middle-class women have sent shockwaves across Pakistan, and mark an apparent shift in Baloch insurgents’ recruitment patterns and tactics.
Why Karachi’s Indigenous Coastal Cuisine Finds Itself on the Margins
Karachi’s popular culture, centered on its food, carries an incredible fusion of local flavors from across the subcontinent. But there isn’t a single place in the city that serves its indigenous coastal cuisine, which can only be found in the homes of the fisherfolk communities.