All Asia: South & Central
Pakistan high court to charge prime minister with contemptPakistan鈥檚 highest court said on Feb. 2 it would charge Prime Minister Yousaf Raza Gilani with contempt of court for refusing to reopen a corruption case against President Asif Ali Zardari.
Mistreatment of Afghan women caused by far more than TalibanThe recent murder of an Afghan woman for giving birth to a daughter, rather than a son, has captured international attention and serves as a reminder that mistreatment of women is culturally tolerated.- New to Pakistan's Taliban-heavy tribal areas: political campaignsPakistani President Zardari lifted a 64-year ban on political party activity in the federally administered tribal areas, saying the reforms would help defeat the 'militant mindset' there.
Taliban talks: Another Karzai tiff with the US?Afghan President Hamid Karzai says he will personally attend a meeting with Taliban figures in Saudi Arabia, working around Western efforts to coordinate the peace process.聽
Afghanistan women: 'Give us a seat at the peace table'Given the Taliban's history, women say it's critical that they're at the table to make sure concessions aren't made at their expense.- Kidnapped US aid contractor reportedly held by militants in PakistanSome five months after Warren Weinstein was kidnapped, the US aid contractor is reported to be in the custody of a Pakistani Al Qaeda affiliate, McClatchy Newspapers reports.
- Who is Mansoor Ijaz? The US businessman behind Pakistan's 'Memo-gate'A whistle blowing hero to some, a villain doing the Pakistan military's dirty work to others, Ijaz is above all a mysterious anomaly.聽
Possible coup in Pakistan? 4 key questionsPakistan鈥檚 government is facing a period of prolonged uncertainty about its future, four years after the country returned to democratic rule. Here are four key questions to explain the issues.
Pakistan PM Gilani wins key backing in ParliamentPakistan's Parliament passed a key resolution Monday that backed Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani as he faces pressure from the Army and the Supreme Court.
From the MagazineIn India, the challenge of building 50,000 collegesTo become an economic powerhouse, India needs to educate as many as 100 million young people over the next 10 years 鈥� something never done before.聽- Taliban says urination video won't harm peace talks. Why not?A video showing what appear to be US forces urinating on dead Taliban fighters the group has drawn only muted reaction, with many Afghans saying they're now inured to US abuses.
Pakistan's growing civilian-military showdownPakistan has avoided another military coup - so far - but tensions are rising between Prime Minister Gilani and the military establishment.
Pakistan's civilian government and Army in war of wordsPakistan's Army warned of 'grievous consequences' after the prime minister challenged its place in the constitutional order, raising concerns of another coup.
Why Musharraf is risking a return to PakistanPakistani prosecutors say former President Gen. Pervez Musharraf will be arrested the moment he returns, but the Army might prevent his arrest.- What the execution of 15 kidnapped Pakistani soldiers meansIn an apparent surprise to the Pakistan military, insurgents executed 15 soldiers who had been recently kidnapped 鈥� a blow to talks between the government and the Pakistani Taliban.
- Taliban talks: Does Mullah Omar speak for his footsoldiers?Taliban leaders have agreed to set up an office in Qatar to facilitate peace talks with the West. But it's unclear how well the Taliban communicate among themselves.
