Kiran Bhat's blog

The Wall Street Journal is reporting that General Ashfaq Kayani, who took over the reins as Chief of Army Staff when Pervez Musharraf shed his uniform in late 2007, played a crucial role in ending tensions between President Asif Ali Bhutto Zardari and opposition rival Nawaz Sharif over the reinstatement controversy. The WSJ article also highlights the strong relationship between Kayani and Chairmen of the American Joint Chiefs of Staff, Adm. Michael Mullen. full story »

Pakistan's government has reinstated Ifthikar Chaudhry as Chief Justice of its Supreme Court. The move was long overdue, but is not a cure-all for Pakistan's problems. full story »

South Asia was shocked yesterday by an unconventional terrorist attack that struck at perhaps the one thing the subcontinent has solidly in common - Cricket. The Sri Lankan national team was attacked by eight gunmen on route to Gadaffi Stadium in Lahore yesterday, where they were to play a Test match against Pakistan. Since yesterday, 15 suspects have been brought in for questioning. full story »

President Bush ducked two shoes that were thrown at him by a journalist during a news conference in Iraq today. This blogger is not sure if he is more impressed by the journalist's considerable boldness or by the President's cat-like reflexes. full story »

Aside from his seven-foot stature, David Ngaruri Kenney's life as an immigrant in the United States appears to be quite standard. He seems to be a first-generation pioneer who came to this country to work and is doing so successfully. Yet underneath the surface there is so much more to his story, and that is precisely why it needed to be told. full story »

An absolutely exhilirating fight between Mexican Antonio Margarito and Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto ended last night with a new man atop the World Boxing Association's Welterweight table. The fight also made this writer think about the reasons why boxing, once arguably among the most universally appealing of all sports, has fallen so far. The reason may have more to do with the general topic of this blog than it does at first glance. full story »

India and Pakistan seem set to fight another round in their decades-long conflict. full story »

As an American of South Asian descent, dynastic politics at the highest levels of government is something I've grown quite accustomed to. As far as I can remember, a Bush or a Clinton has sat at the top of American politics. In India, the Nehru/Gandhi family has dominated, interrupted only a few times since independence. And even with its history of military leaders and democratic turmoil, the trend towards dynasty has emerged in Pakistan as well. full story »

Things have finally come to a head in Pakistan. The violence and agitation which has poured into Pakistan's streets over the past few months has led President (and de facto dictator) Pervez Musharraf to declare a state of emergency. The consitution has been suspended, and all real power placed in the hands of the military and by extension the army chief, Musharraf himself. full story »

Just as both western and domestic support for his absolute rule waned, Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf pulled off a political coup by sending his military into Islamabad's Red Mosque to crack down on Taliban-linked militias. Mosque leader Maulana Abdul Aziz was arrested yesterday as he attempted to escape, following a raging shootout that left twelve dead. full story »