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Pakistan must fight antisemitism as it takes on key mediating role

As Pakistan inched closer to mediating a deal between the United States and Iran in Islamabad last weekend following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire, an inflammatory, antisemitic and ill-timed tweet from Pakistan’s Defense Minister Khawaja Asif generated a strong backlash, ultimately leading to its deletion.
The post was also subsequently removed from his Facebook and Instagram accounts after, as sources claim, the civil and military leadership expressed dismay. In his remarks, Asif — w...
Photo by Muhammad Adil on Pexels

Pakistan, Abraham Accords and the radical Islamist right

As US President Donald J. Trump announced the 20-point peace plan for Gaza in a presser alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on September 29 and invited world leaders in Sharm El Sheikh later to formalize the ceasefire, he mentioned a list of Muslim and Arab countries on board that backed his initiative for “peace in the Middle East.” A country to make it to the list, whose leaders also received a mention from the US President, was Pakistan. Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif...
Medium •

I lost goodwill for people who abuse animals and stay silent about it

In the Muslim world where I come from and in a country like Pakistan where I spent my formative years, dogs, especially strays, are hated, ridiculed, abused and poisoned. They are seen as “unclean” and “impure” and a lot of it has to do with the twisted religious upbringing which portrays them as such. This hostile attitude is not just restricted to some distorted long-held beliefs, it also transforms into vile systemic abuse against dogs every waking day on the streets. Stray dogs get bullied b...
Paradigm Shift •

Is India Losing its Standing as a Respected Global Power? - Paradigm Shift

Written by Allia Bukhari• June 8, 2025•
6:32 pm•
Articles, Pakistan, Published Content

Much to Delhi’s chagrin, its accusations of Pakistani meddling in Kashmir received little to no support from neighbours and Western capitals during recent tensions. Is India losing its standing as a respected global power?


It did not take long for India’s ruling BJP government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi to resort to drastic measures and downgrade the already fragile ties with Pakis...
Middle East Monitor •

As Pakistan labels Israel’s PM a ‘terrorist’ it must keep its own extreme elements under control

The Pakistani government has officially decided to recognise Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as a “terrorist”, stating that Tel Aviv is an “entity committing war crimes.” Urging the international community to do the same, Islamabad cited the mass civilian casualties in Gaza, made up mainly of women and children, since October last year.
The move came after the radical Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan Party (TLP) held protests in the country, with activists protesting in the twin cities of Is...
The new Arab •

Meet the Palestinian chef feeding ancient veganism to Europe

For 38-year-old Jerusalemite Izzeldin Bukhari, Palestinian food is always on his mind. First a tour guide now a chef, Izzeldin's passion for Palestinian culinary history prompted him to set up , a supper club-cum-cooking class in Jerusalem's Old City. Now he's taking it on tour to Europe.

"My main goal is to share Palestinian food, especially vegan and vegetarian food," Izzeldin tells "I speak a lot about food history in what I do. It's important to teach my guests how dishes are created. Falaf
The new Arab •

Udi Raz: Berlin stepping up repression of pro-Palestine Jews

The German government and establishment are stepping up the repression of pro-Palestine Jews including Israelis, but it's all about anti-Arab/Muslim racism by proxy, says Udi Raz, a Jewish activist who spoke to in Berlin.

“Germany is very much engaged in an attempt to self-define itself through the exclusion of other minorities. In the 30s and 40s, it was the Jews, and now it is Muslims,” explained Raz, adding that Germany is eager to protect Jews but only to the extent that those Jews are also
The Express Tribune •

‘She’s alive in our protest’: Women’s bike rally pays tribute to Asma Jahangir

Paying rich tribute to the late rights activist and lawyer Asma Jahangir, women, students and activists participated in a bike rally going from the Quaid's Mausoleum to Nursery on Sunday.Organised by members of the Aurat March community, the rally aimed to empower women and help them reclaim space in public areas. It was also an attempt to mobilise participants for the upcoming Aurat March, scheduled for March 8 at Frere Hall."The presence of women on the roads is considered unusual and even loo
The Express Tribune •

Plastic predicament: Karachi-based entrepreneur takes initiative to do away with throwaway carriers

They came, they saw and they conquered.An environment-friendly stall set up by around 12 men and women from EcoPak rose to fame on social media and received hundreds of visitors during the recently concluded three-day food festival, Karachi Eat, reaffirming the need to step up efforts to curb the detrimental effects of throwaway carriers.This year, they introduced biodegradable cutlery at Karachi Eat, in a bid to promote its use over much notorious yet still widely popular single-use plastic pro
The Express Tribune •

Europe’s discrimination against non-white refugees

The influx of refugees escaping war and persecution was projected as some kind of ‘Muslim invasion’

In the wake of the escalated tensions between Ukraine and Russia, at least one million Ukrainians have fled the country since the start of the Russian attacks, crossing into Poland and other Central-Eastern European states. The ramifications from the incursion of Ukraine are anticipated to be huge with the refugee crisis taking centre stage in Europe in the times to come. Some are considering it
The Express Tribune •

Can the rise of unions solve students’ problems?

On November 29, thousands of young men and women, teachers and activists took to the streets in a countrywide march, voicing their demands for the return of student unions to Pakistan and speaking up for the concerns of students in educational institutions. The massive mobilisation, with demonstrations in at least 50 cities across the country, brought the matter to the consideration of lawmakers and subsequently paved the way for a long-awaited breakthrough - particularly in Sindh, where the pro
The Express Tribune •

A Walk Through Magnificent Zürich

The very ‘European’ metropolis is a must-visit destination for a regal city escapeSwitzerland is well known for its natural beauty, studded with Alpine lakes and grassy landscapes but another aspect that often attracts visitors is its quality of life. One of the most dynamic and largest Swiss cities, Zürich has a lot to offer besides being a hub of the country’s business and economic activities. Extravagant, ancient and exquisite, this quintessential town offers an enriching experience to travel
The Express Tribune •

Right to live: Can women in Pakistan reclaim public spaces through their voice?

In Pakistan, women do not enjoy the same privileges as men when it comes to recreation. Despite multiple platforms created for leisure purposes, women and their needs are not always considered, let alone prioritised. Think of a recreation space that is solely dedicated to women - there are hardly any. And even when you stumble across the few that have been created in an attempt to incorporate all sections of society, they too come with their own challenges, constraints and limitations.At the Wom
The Express Tribune •

‘Country will not move forward if 50% of its population is ignored’

Speakers at a panel discussion on Monday at the Aga Khan University's "Time is Now - Gender Equity and Women in Leadership" conference, underscored the challenges faced by women at workplaces, while also highlighting opportunities that can help them excel for the betterment of their institution and the country. Prominent industry leaders took part in the discussion which was moderated by journalist and fiction writer, Bina Shah.Speaking on the occasion, founder of Circle Women Association, Sadaf
The Express Tribune •

SOS Pakistan to launch app to rescue stray animals in danger

Save Our Strays (SOS) Pakistan, an animal welfare community, is launching a mobile phone application to make animal rescue efforts a lot quicker and efficient. According to the makers of SOS Animal Rescue, Pakistan’s first-ever rescue app for the strays, will detect the exact location of animals in danger and provide immediate aid through the nearest volunteers and vets.The app will be launched on March 23, 2020 in a bid to provide relief and end violence against stray dogs, cats, donkeys and ot
The Express Tribune •

Mahmood urges steps to end educational inequality

Federal Minister for Education, Professional Training and Heritage Shafqat Mahmood on Friday said the government is striving to remove disparity in the education sector and taking initiatives to introduce a single national curriculum to cater to students from all backgrounds.“In our country, private schools cater to the elite, whereas students from lower and middle class backgrounds opt for government schools. Madrassas on the other hand, cater to the poor,” he said during a session titled ‘Educ
The Express Tribune •

Men cannot use Johnny Depp’s case to trivialise women’s suffering

Many South Asian men cherry-pick events simply to serve their own narratives

Much like in the rest of the world, Amber Heard and Johnny Depp’s defamation trial is garnering considerable attention in South Asian countries and communities too. However, it seems that many South Asian men are proudly referring to Depp’s situation in an attempt to claim that women can be abusive too. Let us look at this post for instance:

“A domestic survivor is finally taking her abuser to court. This poor woman h
The Express Tribune •

Plight of the vulnerable

In a world where people get killed for holding dissenting views and offending the sacrosanct societal values and where issues like curbing militancy and inflation remain top agendas of our political discourse, animal rights seem quite a trivial matter to pay heed to.Bring the plight of strays and abandoned animals, the immediate rebuttal you get is nothing short of excuses, and the human brigade presents a myriad problems they, being the ‘superior beings’, face, conveniently disregarding the ani
The Express Tribune •

Tales of resilience: Ida Rieu students shine at art galore

For 20-year-old Muhammad Ehsan, art is an escape from the usual, the mundane and the ordinary. It is his pastime and passion. It gives him solace and a sense of purpose. Pulling together cheerful colours to depict joy and gratitude through his paintings, Ehsan doesn’t feel the need to include faces or expressions in his drawings. Nonetheless, he still conveys his message - a message of life, hope and resilience.After having made his mark among his peers for top-notch, artistic capabilities, he w
The Express Tribune •

Fight against gender-based violence stressed

Violence is an excruciating ordeal, experienced by countless women in many forms - ranging from physical, psychological to sexual abuse. Conspicuously, what adds to the misery is victim-shaming and victim-blaming, which despite greater calls for awareness, is still practiced to a large extent in society.Many victims do not come forward out of fear of being judged and scrutinised where instead they should be heard. And as the world comes together to demand an end to abuse and discrimination again
The Express Tribune •

Aspiring citizen journalists lauded for digital storytelling

Journalists in Pakistan continue to face immense challenges in the quest to seek the truth. From receiving death threats to reporting in perilous, war-torn regions and facing censorship issues, the prolonged list of challenges is a ghastly reality that haunts the future of journalism in the country.Pakistan is among the states where journalists get murdered, ranking 142nd out of 180 on the World Press Freedom index. The issues have even more severe implications when there are rural and tribal ar
The Express Tribune •

Escape to Shakespeare’s Verona — the city of love

Set out of a fairy tale, in the heart of Italy’s Veneto region lies the medieval and majestic Verona. Often overshadowed by its neighbour Venice in the east, Verona is lesser-known in our part of the world. The quaint town does not see many tourists from Pakistan compared to Rome and Milan but that does not diminish the fact that this jewel of Italy enjoys so much of character and beauty. Travel folks in the country can include the city in their next itinerary.Famous for its Romanesque architect
The Express Tribune •

Spectre of antimicrobial resistance and its implications

The 21st century has seen greater reliance on antibiotics to fight diseases worldwide but there have been increasing cases where bacteria or microbes in question tend to survive, minimising the effects of the medicines partially or completely, thus becoming 'resistant'. Likewise, in Pakistan, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is becoming a major health issue resulting in a startling rise and spread of various infections due to multidrug resistant viruses. Despite the availability of antimicrobial m
The Express Tribune •

Karachi’s future development hangs in balance, say panellists

The bustling metropolis and the largest city in Pakistan is often under scrutiny for its growing crime rate, burgeoning population and deteriorating infrastructure.A myriad of issues prevailing over Karachi has, to an extent, affected the development process and marred a potential yet to be fully explored. And as if the existing problems weren't enough, the recent monsoon season wreaked havoc on Karachi.The 7th Annual Karachi Conference on Saturday discussed Karachi's future development in the w
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MORE WORK

BRICS: A much needed counterweight to Western dominance?

“We value the interest of other countries in building a partnership with BRICS. We have tasked our Foreign Ministers to further develop the BRICS partner country model and a list of prospective partner countries and report by the next Summit,” said South Africa’s President Cyril Ramaphosa during the BRICS meeting as his country hosted the three-day summit in Johannesburg last month.

Russian President Vladimir Putin notably skipped the much anticipated gathering of the BRICS leaders and attended

Seeing Berlin through its past and Jewish heritage

Berlin, the constantly evolving German capital, has been the epicenter of notable events in history and continues to be shaped by their remnants. Even though it is rapidly expanding with its population, diversity and multiculturalism, countless landmarks bear witness to incidents from the past, such as the Holocaust and the Cold War. Having been here twice before finally moving, Berlin invariably stood out to me as the place to be in Europe. Career prospects, the ease of travel, cosmopolitanism

In Prague, Shoah stones matter more than you think

It was during a night stroll in Prague’s old town when I first came across a small brass plaque, almost looking like gold, fitted into a cobblestone pavement bearing the name Marek Frauwirth “born 1911” on it. The rest of the text was in Czech, featuring a one-line description, another date and a name of place. The stone was covered in grime and rain droplets preventing visibility in the dead of the night, but the details were sufficient to give an idea that they were describing someone’s area o

Terezin, 80 years after first transfer to concentration camp

It was on November 24, 1941 when the first batch of Czechoslovak Jews was transferred from Prague to Terezin, a town about 50 kilometers North of Prague, which the Nazis declared to be a Jewish ghetto and concentration camp during the Second World War. About 150,000 Jews were brought here in total from German-occupied Czechoslovakia, Austria, Germany, the Netherlands and Denmark, including famous painters, writers, and literary scholars. Statistics also show that the number of children among the

Pakistan: Where there is no end to antisemitic rhetoric

In Pakistan, antisemitic discourse is not always a consequence of any escalation in the long-drawn conflict between Israel and Palestine. Where such clashes definitely garner considerable attention and certainly fume sentiments in favor of the Palestinians and lead to anti-Israel demonstrations — with antisemitic slurs and banners being a visible, appalling reality of them all; digitally in today’s world and otherwise—anti-Jewish hate and bigotry remains deeply entrenched in the country’s social

Holocaust distortion and antisemitism: Two sides of the same coin

On the 1st of April, news came out that Germany had sent a 93-year-old notorious Holocaust denier, Ursula Haverbeck, to jail for another term. Also referred to as the “Nazi Grandma” by the German media, Haverbeck refuses to acknowledge the murder of over a million Jews at the Auschwitz concentration camp. The Neo-Nazi woman had been previously sent to prison in 2017 and 2020 and has been fined for hate speech numerous times.

A post related to this news shared on a Pakistani Facebook group (most

A rendezvous with a Ukrainian refugee in Prague

“I can’t even bury my mother, there are no remains left” were the words of 50-year-old Aliya Hryhorichenko, a Ukrainian refugee woman in Prague, who witnessed a calamity hit home in the Ukraine-Russia war when she received the news of her mother-in-law’s tragic demise in a bomb attack. In March, Aliyah’s mother-in-law — whom she describes as her beloved mum —was driving from Poltava to Sumy, running errands and carrying humanitarian aid, when her vehicle got hit by a Russian bomb. She shared her

Muslim women’s double whammy: Systemic repression and toxic Islamophobia

Jin, Jiyan, Azaadi (women, life, freedom) is, safe to say, the chant of the moment echoing in Iran’s fierce protests as they enter their fifth week in the wake of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini’s death post her arrest by the morality police over an alleged breach of dress code —failing to properly wear a hijab — imposed in the Islamic country for women. The latest tally indicates at least 233 people have been killed in various crackdowns, according to a US-based human rights group, as President Ebrahim

Ukraine war to Finland’s accession to NATO: A divided world in the making

“Today is a historic day. In a few hours, we will welcome Finland as the 31st member of our alliance. This will make Finland safer and NATO stronger…removing Moscow’s miscalculation about NATO’s readiness.”

The aforementioned words were from North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on the 4th of April, the day the US-backed military alliance commemorated its 74th anniversary, and officially welcomed Finland as its 31st member. The NATO chief further said that

Russia-Ukraine war: The Wagner march on Moscow

When Wagner mercenary group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin declared mutiny against the Russian military as his troops marched towards Moscow this weekend, the world watched with bated breath at what seemed like the biggest internal threat to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s rule to date. The Russian leader in a televised address on Saturday declared the coup attempt as “a stab in the back” and vowed a tough response to the mutiny.

A former ally of the long-serving president, Prigozin had been at od

What explains the terror resurgence in Pakistan?

Pakistan is seeing a surge in terrorist attacks. On Friday, at least 50 people were killed and dozens more injured when an explosion ripped through a religious procession in Balochistan province’s Mastung district. The incident took place on the occasion of Eid Miladun Nabi, a religious event and a national holiday in the country that marks Prophet Muhammad’s birthday.

The second suspected suicide bombing on Friday took place in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that killed at lea

Gaza war to deter Pakistan-Israel rapprochement

Since the formation of the State of Israel in 1948, Pakistan has maintained a pro-Palestine stance, refusing to establish diplomatic relations with the Jewish nation until a sovereign Palestinian state is created on the basis of pre-1967 borders with Jerusalem as its capital. Amidst the recent escalation in violence between Hamas and Israel, resulting in over 9,000 Palestinians killed — the number mounts as the war in Gaza continues— and 1,400 Israelis massacred and 240 taken as hostages, Islama

TRANSLATED WORK

AssoConnect •

« La musique comme message de solidarité

La musique réunit les gens et constitue un formidable instrument d’apaisement ; les gens peuvent s'y reconnaître et ressentir des émotions indescriptibles, selon Jalal, qui s'inspire d'artistes et de poètes tels que Mahmoud Darwish, Rumi, le Trio Joubran ou Jowan Safadi.

De nombreux mots utilisés dans la poésie et la musique de Jalal symbolisent la nature, la terre, la vie en Palestine et les menaces qui pèsent sur les Palestiniens. Le nom de la chanson "River of Joy" de l'album récemment sorti
Agence Media Palestine •

«La musique comme message de solidarité»

La musique réunit les gens et constitue un formidable instrument d’apaisement ; les gens peuvent s’y reconnaître et ressentir des émotions indescriptibles, selon Jalal, qui s’inspire d’artistes et de poètes tels que Mahmoud Darwish, Rumi, le Trio Joubran ou Jowan Safadi.

De nombreux mots utilisés dans la poésie et la musique de Jalal symbolisent la nature, la terre, la vie en Palestine et les menaces qui pèsent sur les Palestiniens. Le nom de la chanson « River of Joy » de l’album récemment sor
Kapitalis •

Les Allemands musulmans craignent la montée de l’islamophobie

Lorsque le Hamas a massacré 1 200 Israéliens le 7 octobre lors de la plus grande attaque contre la communauté juive depuis l’Holocauste, l’Allemagne a fait preuve d’une solidarité sans faille avec l’État d’Israël, soutenant son droit «inaliénable» à l’autodéfense. Il a condamné à juste titre les pertes de vies humaines et la capture d’otages tout en appelant au retour immédiat et sain et sauf de ces derniers. La porte de Brandebourg de Berlin a été illuminée aux couleurs du drapeau israélien et