Is the Pak-US marriage of convenience heading towards a bitter divorce?
With new regional players and geo-strategic dynamics, Pakistan can now afford to go on an equal footing with the US.
Blog Directory
RIP Masood Ahmad Barkati – the unsung hero of my generation, the voice of patriotism, morality and equality between all Pakistanis
He dedicated 65 years of his life to Naunihal and never missed an edition. I remember going numb. Silent. Static.
PML-N’s claim of ending load-shedding is as true as Nawaz Sharif being “sadiq” and “ameen”
There they go, trying to fool the public again. Demand is less in winter – the real test will be in March and beyond
From a potential game-changer to a right-wing ally, is this the “tabdeeli” Imran Khan was referring to?
It is believed that Imran bowled better in partnerships, today, the same cannot be said about his political alliances.
Junaid Jamshed taught me the importance of humility, positivity and staying true to oneself
His transition was gradual and reflected that of Pakistan as it went through a semi-coup and 9/11.
How many Zafirs, Zains and Shahzebs will it take for Pakistan to stop bowing down before the Khawars, the Kanjus and the Jatois?
We're victims to urban terrorists – products of the VIP culture who continue to play Holi with the blood of our youth.
In Pakistan, we tackle gun violence by banning... art?
Our truck art depicts our culture and society. The depiction of guns and drugs just means we have a bigger problem
Like Ayub Khan and Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Nawaz Sharif can’t see the writing on the wall
50 of his party members didn't turn up to vote in the NA, while at least 10 lawmakers have resigned from the party.
Who controls the Islamic Republic of Pakistan?
A precedent has now been set; similar tactics can and will be used in the future to pressurise the government.
The Islamabad sit-in is a reminder to Pakistan that you reap what you sow
While NAP says that religious seminaries will be regulated with checks,the state’s curriculum offers them the opposite
Of Afrazul’s brutal murder and India’s love(less) jihad
For intellectuals, it's easy to reject love jihad as a figment of imagination or political tool but it's a real threat
Is the Pak-US marriage of convenience heading towards a bitter divorce?
With new regional players and geo-strategic dynamics, Pakistan can now afford to go on an equal footing with the US.
Nawaz Sharif will not go out without a fight, but is he willing to sacrifice a few pawns in this selfish game of politics?
I guess the ‘N’ in PML-N is there to stay and will not be becoming an ‘S’ anytime soon, sorry Shehbaz Sharif.
History shows that the rejuvenated ‘right’ will prosper, and Pakistan will be the inevitable sufferer
The recent news of PML-N members resigning from the party and joining TLP is a red flag that we cannot afford to miss.
Would you invest in Bitcoin, the future of global currency?
Yes, there is no central authority or government regulating Bitcoin, but that is the very idea behind it.
The perfect opportunity was presented, and all Khadim Hussain Rizvi had to do was seize it
Rizvi didn’t just become an overnight sensation – the storm had been brewing for at least the past two years.
How Saudi women will soon be the driving force of Saudi Arabia’s economy
At 32.8%,the unemployment rate for women is not only much higher than that of men but is also the highest in the world
If Pakistan can take action after the APS attack, what is stopping the US from stricter gun control laws after another school shooting?
Pakistan’s children were mercilessly targeted & shot, and the nation decided “never again”, so what’s stopping the US?
The Iraq intervention ensued and we said “never again” – yet here we are, silent, when it comes to intervention in Myanmar and Yemen
We deem the lives of one group worth less than those of another; worth less coverage, less attention and less sympathy
Champions League Round of 16: Xabi Alonso gives us some nerve-racking encounters, and boy, oh boy, are we in for a ride!
Real Madrid were not on the receiving end of Xabi Alonso’s kindness as they were paired with nouveau riche PSG.
Shoaib Akhtar was never just a name – he was a brutal phenomenon
The man who couldn’t walk until the age of six went on to become the fastest bowler in the history of the game.
Manchester United vs Manchester City, Jose Mourinho vs Pep Guardiola – Are you ready for this Sunday’s Manchester Derby?
If there is one team which could come close to getting some points off Manchester City, it is Mourinho’s Red Devils.
India may not consider its smog a health hazard, but that does not give them the right to mock the Sri Lankan team for refusing to play
Sri Lankan players were seen wheezing and visibly struggling to breathe, while some were vomiting on the ground.
You can criticise him all you want, but the fact remains that Najam Sethi is the most successful PCB chairman yet
No PSL or international cricket, possible disqualification from the 2019 WC – PCB was in shambles until he came along
BCCI snubbing Pakistan from its opponents list only confirms their insecurities and fears
While some consider it a malicious plan to isolate Pakistan from the world cricket arena, some have been mocking BCCI.
5 moments of pure magic that prove the Pakistan cricket team is a force to be reckoned with
We whitewashed Sri Lanka, all the new faces promise talent, and cricket is surely coming home – the times are changing
These 10 cricketers from the National T20 Cup are the reason why the future of Pakistan cricket excites me
At such a young age, Danish Aziz is taking on the likes of Saaed Ajmal successfully, proving he has buckets of talent.
PSL 3: Was Azam Khan selected for Quetta Gladiators based on merit or because he is Moin Khan’s son?
Moin claims that Azam was picked based on his talent; ironically his talent only attracted attention from 1 franchise.
Pixar reclaims its place atop the animation throne with its powerful and emotional ‘Coco’
Coco is a reminder of just how impressive Pixar can be when they create an imaginative, poignant project.
‘Fukrey returns’ is neither logical nor thought-provoking, but is definitely an all-out entertainer
With its fresh and gooni-sh humour, political satire and natural dialogues, the writers deserve to be appreciated.
The Sinner: A cinematic equivalent of a literary page-turner
It proves to be a decent addition to a different direction that the worn-out mystery genre has taken in recent times.
With its emotionally-charged story of inclusion and #ChooseKind, ‘Wonder’ is what the world of today needs
The movie highlights the social obstacles children with rare disorders go through and focuses on breaking each of them
A case of ‘whydunit’, Mindhunter enters the dangerous minds of notorious serial killers, leaving our inquisitive minds piqued
What makes the story so different, not to mention compelling, is the fact that the mystery is more about the motives.
With its lingering scent of cinnamon and fresh sweet apples, this easy apple crumble is the perfect winter fix!
Irresistible desserts don't need a lot of ingredients or an elaborate preparation, and this tempting crumble proves it
‘Victoria and Abdul’ wittily and poignantly portrays the bond between an authoritative British queen and her Indian-Muslim munshi
Some elements can be considered to be historical revisionism, which, from a South Asian point of view, is problematic
Justice League is a work of two different directors and it shows
With the whole Avengers mimicry, what should have been a moment of triumph for DC turns out to be a painful obligation
Have you heard about the “Chinese” dish called Chicken Manchurian? Because people in China haven’t!
I thought perhaps it’s pronounced differently so I tried pronouncing it in their accent, but neither had heard of it.
Amir Khan’s sexist comments on ‘women belonging in the kitchen’ are nothing but a reflection of our misogynistic attitude towards gender roles
Men who do jobs traditionally done by women become objects of ridicule. My friends mock me for doing all the cooking.
Pakistan’s fashion and advertising industries can learn a thing or two from Saheefa Jabbar and Shahnaz ki shaadi
Shahnaz didn't dye her hair, proving that age is just a number, while Saheefa did not have a circus-like wedding.
Our reaction to Muniba Mazari vs Khurram Shahzad is proof that in Pakistan, we’ll believe any allegation as long as it’s against a woman
Had it been merely a case lodged against her, without the money, perhaps my view would be different.
Terming liberals as “khoonis” only further exposes Imran Khan’s Taliban-apologist tendencies, lack of knowledge and right-wing mindset
Imran's assertion that liberals are anti-war and anti-military action is fallacious. He's deliberately misinforming...
Pakistan has missed many opportunities regarding software development but ‘open source’ is too big to miss out on
Pakistan is stuck in a vicious cycle where it doesn’t get bigger projects since it's not a mature market.
India’s ongoing Padmavati controversy is engrained with ulterior motives
If minor appeasement baits to Padmavati protestors swings a small portion of Rajput votes to BJP, then it's worth it.
Did Ahsan Iqbal and Imran Khan not get the memo about not using Twitter? Or was the ban only for the general public?
If the gvnt had banned social media to fix its own failures, then it should have the decency to follow its own policy.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Comedy: Creating ripples by reviving improv comedy that Pakistan so desperately needed
With 13 shows so far, they are constantly attracting audiences through their family-friendly, yet hilarious content.
Did you think Kamlesh’s “soluchan” was funny?
Kamlesh's story was going viral, yet for all the wrong reasons, as people laughed at his plight & turned it into...
Dear Yoda, would dad approve of my decision to sign his code status as ‘Do Not Resuscitate’?
I was the son at his father’s bedside, deciding his fate. How do I let dad go easily without feeling guilty?
Pakistan is my home, but it is not a country for my disabled daughter
Imagine a life where there was no school for you. Imagine not having a wheelchair when you never learned to walk.
Emotional abuse may not leave scars like physical and sexual violence does, but words can hurt more than punches
“Do you really think you look nice?” or “Women like you should sit at home and look after children” is emotional abuse
It took me 15 long years to quit smoking, and today, it’s been 16 months since my last drag
I used to go smoke-free from two days to six months but would give in and always end up having that “one drag”.
For Pakistan’s women, the false promise of safety in return for compliance is a double-edged sword
If compliance & noncompliance have the same outcome,then there's no logic or purpose in our unending sacrifice&silence
With its Basant-like aura, the #CokeFest transported me to the old Lahore of the 90s
With over 90 eateries &performances by Strings, Ali Sethi,the crowd was dancing to the beats of the nation’s heartbeat
As a man, I was oblivious to the reality of women getting harassed in public spaces, until that one night at Data Darbar changed everything
They surrounded us, and each man moved towards us in turns while my friend shouted “peechay ho” and “choro”...
Islam has and always will be a religion of women
Islam isn't a religion of parted mosques&patriarchal judgment.Without us,you wouldnt have the faith you use against us
The only tabdeeli Imran Khan is successful in bringing is to tabdeel himself into yet another untrustworthy disappointment we call a politician
Imran would be up in arms if it happened in PML-N’s jurisdiction, but his awakening is limited to parties not his own.
Why in the world is Donald Trump undoing decades of US policy on Jerusalem?
Jerusalem remains a mobilising issue, one that Iran and militants can use to garner support against the US and allies.
Varanasi: The city of the living dead and nirvana
Although known as the City of Light, death is a thriving industry here,ensuring Varanasi is not for the faint of heart
Is it really the end of the Islamic State?
Like the second Gulf War, power vacuums do not guarantee stability. IS’s “end” ignores how they have built a presence.
Dubai – a city of countless distractions and all the pleasures money can buy, yet no sense of congruity
You can feel the pretence of it all – even Lego blocks can turn into impressive structures in the hands of children.
A life sentence for Ratko Mladic, the ‘Butcher of Bosnia’, is no cause for celebration
Muslim Bosniaks, mainly men & boys, were starved, raped & crucified in thousands, to ethnically cleanse the country.
Announcing a bounty for beheading Deepika Padukone proves that India is not as ‘democratic’, ‘liberal’ and ‘tolerant’ as it claims to be
The political language of the BJP at the moment is making Saudi Arabia look more moderate and liberal in comparison.
The truth about why Saudi Arabia and Israel are forming an alliance to destabilise Lebanon
There’s a reason KSA & Israel began bonding publicly since Trump or why Israel had its largest militry drill in 20 yrs
Kathmandu: The city of dogs, falafels, singing bowls and unexpected magic
Nepal's heavenly food, rich culture & welcoming people have left an emblem on my soul in the most unexpected of ways.
A year after the most important election: Donald Trump and a series of unfortunate events
It's been a sad & shockingly eventful year in the not-so great America, & the next three years will only make it...
‘Jurassic World: The Fallen Kingdom’– the good, the bad and the Goldblum phenomenon
The fact that the sequel is bringing back the most beloved character from the original, Dr Ian Malcolm, is pure genius
Can the biopic ‘The Mercy’ do justice to Donald Crowhurst’s intriguing story of travelling around the world in a boat?
We already know the choices Crowhurst made in desperation, but that doesn’t diminish how compelling the movie seems
Mohsin Ali’s Chupan Chupai tackles unemployment with a comical kick, as the trailer leaves viewers in laughing fits
Mohsin Ali has generated high expectations amongst viewers when displaying creativity and situational comedy on screen
‘Avengers: Infinity War’ just might be the ultimate superhero crossover
It teases some unlikely team-ups that fans have been waiting for, given that every famous person ever is in the cast
‘12 Strong’ is a cliché post 9/11 war movie glorifying the US military we’ve been seeing for the past 16 years
12 strong introduces us to a more human Hemsworth, who's got some realistic, real world stakes when it comes to war.
With its fresh talent and catchy music, Maan Jao Naa seems like a complete entertainment package
With stellar performances & electrifying dances, the rom-com looks like a roller coaster ride of joy, sorrow & drama.
Did Disney just ruin our childhood with its adaptation of A Wrinkle in Time?
This isn’t how we visualised it when we read Madeleine L’Engle’s fantasy novel, especially not a blonde Oprah Winfrey
The Disaster Artist: The best movie about the creation of the worst movie ever?
The film, which is about the aspirations of a talent-less narcissist, looks as hilarious as it feels depressing.
Steven Spielberg, Meryl Streep, Tom Hanks and more – everything about ‘The Post’ screams spectacular!
The hard-hitting historical drama exposes the controversial cover-up & publication of govt secrets of the Vietnam War
Do I even belong at all?
I am a set of eyes, I see the sun drowning, relief turns to fear; the sun is leaving. Will it come back again? Will I?
This was no usual pain – this was a pain of loss
His parents insisted that Emily changed her name to “Maliha” because they didn’t like calling her Emily.
Nusrat and her dupatta
Nusrat lifted her face and met his eyes. Brown to black. Innocent to predatory. Virgin to impure.
Will anyone remember Lady Constable Shabaana?
Shabaana’s blood ran cold when she realised the woman was armed & was probably aiding an attack inside the imambargah
All it takes is one man’s belief
Abandoning all thought of his own safety; heaved his axe up and cut away what felt like a part of himself.
Yousafzai’s children weren’t children at all
“I don’t want his sweets, khuda (God). I want my sister. No more sweets for me, khuda. Only my sister.”
Irfan Bhai and his solar eclipse
Just like the sun and the moon, which were also created together, they were not made to be together. So he waits...
That night she became Riffat Bai and everything changed
When she served as a prostitute, they came to her. But now that she has died, how many shall attend her funeral?


