Source: CounterPunch An Interview with Tariq Ali by Mara Ahmed and Judith Bello November 30, 2009 Mara Ahmed and I were given the opportunity to interview Tariq Ali when he spoke at Hamilton College in Upstate New York on November 11, 2009, during his recent speaking tour of the United States. Tariq, a native of Pakistan who lives in [...]

The Toll on Pakistan’s Poor by Dan Pearson and Kathy Kelly October 22, 2009 Five months ago, shortly after the Pakistani government had begun a military offensive against suspected Taliban fighters in the northernmost area of the country, we arrived in Islamabad, the capital, as part of a small delegation organized by Voices for Creative Nonviolence (www.vcnv.org). Our [...]

Pakistani forces accused of hitting civilians Up to 260,000 people may flee battle against Taliban by Declan Walsh in Dera Ismail Khan October 19, 2009 The war in South Waziristan started early for Ghufran. As Pakistani warplanes pounded the Taliban stronghold of Ladha last week, in preparation for the ground offensive now under way, the 11-year-old boy and [...]

by Mahir Ali July 21, 2009 EVEN a tentative sigh of relief would probably be premature, but the trickle of refugees back to their towns and villages in Swat is a hopeful sign. The exodus was rapid; the return, inevitably, is much slower. And it ought not to be misconstrued as a vote of confidence in official [...]

by Salman Masood and Pir Zubair Shah July 7, 2009 ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — Two missiles fired from a remotely piloted American aircraft struck a militant base on Tuesday in the South Waziristan tribal region, killing 16 militants, according to intelligence officials and residents reached by telephone.

By PIR ZUBAIR SHAH and ALAN COWELL Published: July 3, 2009 ISLAMABAD, Pakistan — At least 13 people were killed Friday in what was suspected to be an attack by an American drone in a remote village stronghold of the Pakistani Taliban, according to two residents reached by telephone.