Tajikistan has opened a criminal investigation after 14 prison inmates died of food poisoning while being transferred from Tajikistan’s northern Sogd region to prisons in Dushanbe, Norak, and Yovon in southern Tajikistan on July 7. “During transportation, one of the prisoners shared three pieces of bread with another 15 inmates in Varzab Valley,” the Justice Ministry said in a …
The recent opening up of trophy hunting, at very high prices for very few permits, of the markhor mountain goat has led to advantages for the villagers, and better protection for the animal, in Gilgit-Baltistan By Zofeen T. Ebrahim The good news is that the trophy hunting programme for markhor, the wild goat that is Pakistan’s national animal, has led to an …
Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro on the distinctive aesthetic to be found in Gojal valley, upper Hunza of Gilgit-Baltistan By Zulfiqar Ali Kalhoro The Wakhi are known for their distinctive way of life, music, traditional food and festivals. Tracing their origin to the Wakhan region, in the north-east of Afghanistan, this ethnic group now live in many remote valleys of Gilgit-Baltistan. In recent …
Haider Ali questions the role of South’s elite class in running community organizations and marginalization of GBC By Haider Ali Shakespeare in his two classic masterpieces Hamlet and Merchant of Venice has exposed the aristocracy and upper classes’ corruption, immorality, their oppressive behaviour towards the middle and lower classes, their victimization, exploitation, and commodification of the poor through rituals. The …
Fatehul Mulk Ali Nasir reflects on Chitral’s place in what was once a largely Buddhist region Fatehul Mulk Ali Nasir Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa was once Gandhara, one of the earliest centres of Buddhism. The Peshawar Valley, in particular, has several archaeological sites dating to the Buddhist era with Takht Bhai in Mardan and Ranigat in Swabi being among the most well known. …
Last year over 17,000 tourists flocked to Kalash valley which is comprised of three valleys with 4,000 population. Herald Report In remote Kalash valley of Chitral, the Kalash minority community has preserved their unique culture, traditions, and lifestyle in the face of growing threats from external intrusion and coercion. Kalasha, a primitive pagan tribe, have a unique religion, culture, rituals …
American climber died Monday on the descent from the summit of Mount Everest, bringing to nine the number of dead or missing climbers on the Nepali side of the world’s highest mountain in this season Herald Report The fatal debacle on overcrowded Mount Everest has continued. An American climber reached the top but then died at the South Col on …
Herald Special In remote Tajik mountains, Pamiris keep unique culture alive. The Pamir mountains of northern Tajikistan are sometimes known as “Baam-e-Jahan” (the roof of the world) or High Asia. Isolated by the rugged terrain, the Pamiri people who live there have preserved some of the Zoroastrian traditions that preceded the advent of Islam. They claim that they are descendants …
Representatives of over a dozen indigenous peoples of mountainous regions discuss challenges, opportunities, and strategies at Bahrain conference Farman Ali The adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on the 13th of September 2007 was a major step towards addressing the human rights violations against 400 million Indigenous peoples in over 70 countries. The Declaration …
Farman Ali The High Asia Herald and Baam-e-Dunya media group is proud to announce the launching of two songs of Wajahat Shah Aalmi, a young multitalented songwriter, composer and singer from Yasin valley of Ghizer district in Gilgit-Baltistan. ‘Aamad’ Wajahat’s much-awaited debut video song ‘Aamad’ (Arrival in Persian) will be launched on Saturday, April 27, at the office of …
