Latest Articles about South Asia

DONORS PLEDGE MORE AID, BUT WORRY HOW KABUL WILL SPEND IT

A two-day conference on Afghanistan wrapped up on February 1 with commitments by major donor countries for rebuilding Afghanistan. About 70 countries took part in the conference, and UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, British Prime Minister Tony Blair, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and U.S. Secretary of... MORE

Internet Mujahideen Analyze the Latest Bin Laden Audio Tape

The rarity of an Osama bin Laden commentary (one year after the last broadcast in December 2004) is stirring a wealth of commentary in the world's media. The focus is on its veracity and on the implications for the West of the truce offer coupled... MORE

Islamists Pose a Growing Threat to Stability in Bangladesh

Between August and December 2005, a series of attacks hit Bangladesh, collectively killing 12, wounding hundreds of others and involving the country's first suicide strikes. In the most audacious assault on August 17, 434 homemade bombs were set off in 63 districts over the course... MORE

Inside Pakistan’s Madrasas

In the northern hills of Quetta, girls from the ages of eight to their early twenties study the holy Qur'an in Madrasa Tul Banat (literally, an all-girls seminary), the oldest religious school for girls with nearly 900 students. Established in 1989 by a graduate from... MORE

FORMER RESISTANCE LEADER TO LEAD AFGHANISTAN’S NEW PARLIAMENT

Afghanistan's new parliament convened on December 19 in the presence of U.S. Vice-President Dick Cheney. Among the items on the opening agenda, the legislators had to select chairmen for each chamber of parliament, and they opted for two former resistance leaders. The upper house elected... MORE

UPPER HOUSE OF AFGHAN PARLIAMENT BEGINS TO TAKE SHAPE

This week Afghan President Hamid Karzai announced his choices for 34 seats in the upper house of parliament (Mishrano Jirga), completing a process that began with the September 18 parliamentary elections. Afghanistan's new bicameral parliament is made up of a 249-seat lower house (Wolose Jirga)... MORE

ARE THE TALIBAN RECEIVING OUTSIDE HELP IN THEIR RESISTANCE EFFORTS?

As insurgent attacks increase in Afghanistan, observers have begun to wonder whether the anti-government forces are receiving foreign training and aid. Recent attacks by the Taliban, such as suicide and multiple bombings and kidnapping foreign workers, increasingly resemble the tactics currently employed in Iraq. While... MORE