Peshawar

By Kamal Hyder in Asia on February 28th, 2011

 

Even at the best of times, Pakistan-US relations have been marred by mistrust.

Historically, the United States has gravitated towards Pakistan when it has needed to in terms of its strategic interests. In the late 1950’s, for example, the US not only supported a military dictator (General Ayub Khan)  but also operated airbases inside Pakistan to be used against the growing military power of the Russia. 

In 1962 a U2 long range reconnaissance aircraft took off from Badaber, on the outskirts of Peshawar, for a spying mission over Russia. The plane was due to fly all the way to Norway, but was shot down by the Russians, who then triumphantly put the pilot, Gary Powers, on display to the world.

By Sohail Rahman in Asia on October 15th, 2010

The world is a funny place, the media is fickle.

They focus on a natural disaster and the oohs and aaahhhs of the tragedy when they're in the middle of the throes of it and, like the media, conveniently forget it ever happened when the next set of bad news rears up from another part of the world.

It was described as a slow tsunami by Ban Ki Moon, the UN secretary-general, and the Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie recently visited the country to keep the plight of the victims in the limelight hoping international help would not wane.

According to some sources, Jolie was upset at the expensive lifestyle Pakistani politicians enjoyed and the lavish banquet laid out in her honour when millions were destitute and hungry across the country.

Yet nearly three months on where is the aid effort and where is it being concentrated?

I can only speak about what I have seen and the stories I have been told by those affected as I returned to North West Pakista

By Kamal Hyder in Asia on August 2nd, 2010
Photo by AFP

The Swat I saw last is not the same anymore.

Pakistan's north-bound motorway, the M1, that links Peshawar and others parts of the north west looks like a calamity zone as thousands of villagers who fled the ferocity of the floods now live on both sides without a roof over their heads.

They have lost everything.

A wailing woman said she had lost whatever little she had, her gold she got for her wedding and her buffaloes.

Asked what she wanted most, she replied "my home". Despite her ordeal, she was still lucky to be alive as others were swept away by the waters.

The city of Nowshera - also a military garrison and home to the country's cavalry units on the banks of the river Kabul - was completely inundated. For many it was the race to the top of their second-story home and eventually on the water tanks located above that.

By Alan Fisher in Asia on January 18th, 2010
Photo by AFP

On Thursday, the rumours circulated widely that the Americans had got their man - the leader of Pakistan Taliban had been killed in a drone attack. From Peshawar to Islamabad, officials speculated Hakimullah Mehsud was dead.

There's no doubt he was the main target of Thursday's attack by the unmanned drone strike on a compound on the North/South Waziristan border. Ten militants were killed but the Taliban insisted that Hakimullah Mehsud had left the area more than forty minutes before and was safe and well.

However sources in the area that night reported that the Taliban was blocking access in the area, which led to suggestions that their leader was, if not dead, then seriously wounded.

By Josh Rushing in Asia on November 30th, 2009
Photos by Josh Rushing

Barack Obama, the US president, will this week announce a new strategy for Afghanistan that is expected to involve more troops and a greater effort to turn responsibility over to Afghans. This, of course, should sound familiar to anyone who has followed the war in Afghanistan. Just last summer, Obama sent thousands of US Marines into Helmand province to provide security for the impending national elections. I embedded with those Marines. 

Embedding clearly has its challenges. I have done it a number of times, both in Iraq and Afghanistan. You only see what the military allows you to see and if things get difficult - and they usually do - you depend on those you are covering to provide for your safety and well-being. That dynamic creates something similar to the Stockholm syndrome. In other words, it may be hard to report critically on the guys that may have to save your life and who are providing you food and water.

By Imran Khan in Asia on October 28th, 2009
Photo by AFP

The news came just hours after the US secretary of state touched Pakistani soil.

A massive bomb blast in the north western city of Peshawar, in a central market place. I have visited that marketplace on many occasions.  It's a rabbit warren of tiny streets, shops stacked up on each other, traders touting their wares, each one with a better price than the others.

By Alan Fisher in Asia on October 23rd, 2009
The earthquake struck just before 2am local time in Pakistan.  I know because it woke me up.  The bed started shaking.  It was being moved quite violently side to side – the doors and windows rattled.  It took me a second to realise what was happening.  The first tremor lasted around 8 -10 seconds.  As it eased, I jumped out of bed, pulled the curtains open to see nothing unusual.  The lights were on across Islamabad.  Then the shaking began again.  Windows and doors rattled once more.
 
The epicentre may have been on the Afghan side of the of the Hindu Kush mountains, but the shockwaves spread out and touched many parts of Islamabad. 
By Kamal Hyder in Asia on September 28th, 2009
Photo by Getty Images

Amidst a renewed wave of suicide bombings in the North West Frontier province, the Pakistani army is gearing up for its long awaited offensive in South Waziristan - an area dominated by the Mehsud tribesmen.

Despite the death of Baitullah Mehsud, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban, the organisation’s ability to operate outside its region and sometimes across the country has not been entirely neutralised  - evidenced by the launching of two vehicle-borne attacks in one day, both detonating up to 1,000kg explosives each.

Intelligence and forensic experts have found clear traces of RDX used in the devastating wave of attacks in Lahore, Islamabad, and even the PC Hotel in Peshawar. Suspicions are high that the explosives are coming from across the border in Afghanistan.

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