Infocus Topics

US Elections 2008 Primaries

Both Democrat and Republican candidates get ready for 2008 presidential elections.

Pakistan General Election 2007-2008

President Musharraf has declared that general election will be held on January 8, 2008.

Benazir Bhutto Assassination

Benazir Bhutto, the two-time ex-Prime Minister of Pakistan, was assassinated in Rawalpindi on December 27, 2007. Benazir was the first woman elected as leader of an Islamic republic.

Pakistan State of Emergency

On November 3, 2007 General President Pervez Musharraf declared state of emergency in Pakistan. The reasons provided were increase in terrorist attacks, strong hold of extremists and non

Bomb Blasts on Benazir Bhutto's Return

A rally of over 100,000 was organized by PPP (Pakistan People's Party) to greet Benazir Bhutto's return to Pakistan on October 18, 2007. Two bomb blasts halted the

Judicial Crisis in Pakistan

A conflict has been brewing between the lawyer community and ruling administration in Pakistan ever since Justice Chaudry was suspended in March 2007. He was reinstated in July

Lal Masjid Seige

Lal Masjid is a Deobandi mosque affiliated with Jamia Hafsa madrassa. On July 3, a stand-off began between Armed forces and students/occupants of Lal Masjid in Islamabad, Pakistan.

May 12 2007 Karachi Riots

Riots erupted in Karachi when MQM organized a rally on the same day as the suspended Chief Justice Chaudary was arriving in Karachi to address a city bar

Virginia Tech Shooting

A student killed 32 people on university campus and wounded many others before killing himself. This incident sparked a debate in the US on gun laws and mental

Cricket World Cup 2007

Both India and Pakistan performed poorly in the much anticipated World Cup 2007. Pakistani coach Bob Woolmer died in Jamaica under suspicious circumstances post Pakistan-Ireland match.

July 2006 Lebanon War

A conflict erupted between Israel and Lebanon based Hezbollah forces in July 2006. Hezbollah was accused of attacking and kidnapping 3 Israeli soldiers. Israel responded with a massive

July 11 Bombay Train Blasts

Seven bombs blasted in 11 minutes on different parts on Mumbai Railway system killing 209 and injuring 700. Pakistan based Kashmiri militant group took responsibility. India-Pakistan relations once

July 7 London Bombing

A series of bombs hit the London transportation system killing 52 people and injuring 700. Al Qaeda in Europe took responsibility of this attack as a response to

Kashmir Earthquake

On October 8, 2004 a 7.7 Richter earthquake hit South Asia with epicenter in Pakistan administered Kashmir. Close to 75,000 people died and over 100,000 were injured. The

Indian General Elections 2004

On May 13, 2004 BJP lost elections to Sonia Gandhi led Congress party. BJP's India Shining campaign failed to connect with rural India. To avoid an internal crisis

Tsunami

On December 24, 2004 an undersea earthquake occurred in the Indian Ocean killing 225,000 people in 11 countries. Most badly hit were Indonesia, Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and

Vote of Confidence

January 2004 Musharraf won the Vote of Confidence allowing him to serve his presidential term till end of 2007.

India Pakistan Peace Process

In 2003 India-Pakistan relations saw improvement - ceasefire was agreed and India began fencing the LoC. Bus, train and air links reopened between India and Pakistan.

US-Iraq War

This ongoing conflict started in March 2003. The US (Bush administration) and UK (Tony Blair) accused Iraq (Saddam Hussein) for possessing Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMDs) and undermining

Kalabagh Dam Controversy

Kalabagh dam is a proposed mega water reservoir on Indus river in Punjab, Pakistan. The dam will have major environmental impact as well as displace people. This plan

Higher Education Commission Criticism

In 2002-2003 Pakistan government has significantly increased budget for HEC for purpose of making Universities of Pakistan world class centers of education. However this program has been severely

Karachi Oil Spill

On July 28, 2003 Greek tanker Tasman Spirit ran aground near Karachi city spilling 12,000 tons of oil in Arabian Sea. It was the worst environmental hazard in

Mukhtaran Mai Rape

Pakistani woman, Mukhtaran Bibi, from Meerawala, Punjab was a victim of gang rape as a form of honor-revenge. The Pakistani media brought national and international attention to this

Gujarat Riots

In May 2002 the worst communal violence since partition took place in Gujarat, India. Over 2000 people (mostly Muslim) were killed and tens of thousands displaced. Several independent

Indian Parliament Attack

On December 13, 2001 Kashmiri militants infiltrated the Indian Parliament. The 5 gunmen and 5 policemen were killed in an explosion, no parliament member was injured. India blamed

War in Afghanistan

War in Afghanistan was launched on October 7, 2001 in response to September 11 terrorist attack on US soil. The mission was to capture Osama bin Laden and

September 11 Attacks

Nineteen suicide bombers attacked the Twin Towers in New York, USA. The tragedy that led to the invasion of Afghanistan and later Iraq by a US led coalition.

Dot com

The dotcom bubble of 1997-2001 gave birth to several internet companies setting records in stock exchanges. Year 2000 was the peak of this bubble in Silicon Valley. This

Pakistan Coup of 1999

The Kargil conflict left Pakistan politically unstable and General Musharraf took over Pakistan in a bloodless coup ousting Nawaz Sharif on October 12, 1999.

1999 Kargil Conflict

Kargil conflict between India and Pakistan from May to July 1999 led to heightened tensions between India and Pakistan, both nuclear states by then.

1998 Nuclear Weapons Testing

In May 1998 first India and then Pakistan performed Nuclear Weapons Testing. India conducted 5 test explosions at Pokhran, 3 on May 11 and two on May 13

Remembering Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan

With over 50 albums to his name Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan (Oct 13, 1948 - Aug 16, 1997) was undoubtedly the most famous qawwal ever. He will

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