by Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro The people of Gayal village in Darel valley of Gilgit-Baltistan use intricate decorations for an ancient mosque, writes anthropologist Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro Pillared verandah of Gayal Mosque, Darel, Gilgit-Baltistan. Photo by the writer Gayal village in Darel valley of Diamer district is believed to have been established about two centuries ago when the descendants of Dudu …

British colonial officer John Biddulph’s book is considered as one of the pioneering works in English that provided an insight to the secluded societies, lifestyles, languages,  customs, marriages, festivals, ruling families and general characteristics of the many tribes that inhabited the Hindu Kush region Reviewed by Basharat Wakhani Tribes of the Hindoo Koosh written by British colonial officer John Biddulph is considered as one of the …

Gilgit-Baltistan Youth Action Committee expresses its commitment to struggle for the achievement of the 15-point demands. | by By Anayat Baig & Adnan Hassan Gohar | KARACHI: Gilgit-Baltistan’s youth have called on the government to revive ancient routes and repair all important roads connecting their region to Pakistan, and Kashmir, provide modern air and land travel services to the people …

Herald Report   The US invasion of Iraq was aimed at setting up permanent military bases there and to benefit energy corporations and weapons industry, comments Professor Noam Chomsky, an internationally acclaimed American linguist in a conversation with Hassan Mirza, published in The Express Tribune Blogs section. The conversation is based on correspondence between the two over a period of …

Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro on the ornate and unique graves that tell a story of timber, power and upheaval   by Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro   here are many carved wooden grave railings in Tangir and Darel in Diamer district of Gilgit-Baltistan. Such monuments are also located in many areas of Indus-Kohistan, Dir-Kohistan and Swat-Kohistan in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa where I am doing research for …

Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro on a transformation in material culture and society that has taken just a few decades by Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro Darel valley is noted in Gilgit-Baltistan for its power structure and culture where tribal leaders hold sway over individual villages. The neighbouring Tangir valley has also the same tribal system. But in past few years both valleys have …