From the National Geographic archives, a look back at the Citroën-Haardt Trans-Asiatic Expedition. By BILL JONES   GEORGES-MARIE HAARDT was one of those latter-day explorers who completed the first journey on wheels across Central Asia. Covering 8,000 miles, the trip’s purpose was to open up the Silk Road to cars. “Across desert wastes and windswept plateaus, over snow-clad mountain passes, …

In this article, Amir Hussain has tried to provide an alternative perspective of the post-colonial nation-state, the contradiction of nationalist movements, fragmentation of identity politics and ecology. It is a relevant read to those interested in history, identity politics, law and ecology of Gilgit-Baltistan. The postcolonial nation-state, from Africa to Asia, is an artificial geographical division of landmass which has not …

Herald Report In a series of eight exceptional videos released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on the 100th day of a blackout on all communications in the Indian Occupied Kashmir Valley, RSF’s local correspondent interviews nine local journalists about the terrible constraints they have had to work under as a result of this blackout. “Imagine a journalist waking up with …

By Ghulam Amin Beg On Tuesday, September 14, 2010, I had written this article and published on the Simurgh Institute blog, which received several comments and further elaborations. The article analyzed the opinion post by Selig S. Harrison published in the New York Times in August the same year under the title, ‘China’s Discreet Hold on Pakistan’s Northern Borderlands’. Today, …

At least 22 arrested after demonstrators clashed with police near Tatrinote village in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. News Desk Police have arrested at least 22 people at a pro-independence protest in Pakistan-administered Kashmir after clashes broke out between authorities and demonstrators, police and activists told media. The clashes took place on Saturday near the village of Tatrinote, about 80km south of the capital of Pakistan-administered Kashmir, …

Call upon peoples of South Asia to work together for the rights of oppressed nations   Herald Report An alliance of Pakistani Left parties, civil society and peace activists condemned the Modi-led Indian government’s move to annex Jammu and Kashmir warned that the humanitarian crisis in Indian-controlled part of the Himalayan state can spiral into a dangerous conflict between the …

Herald Report Islamabad: Left parties and women organizations of Pakistan have condemned the Indian government’s revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s autonomy. In a statement, it will escalate tensions in the region and will affect tens of millions of working class and women in the two countries. AWP: The Awami Workers Party AWP), a Left party, condemned the Indian government move, saying, …

OHCHR blasts India and Pakistan for failing to improve the situation in the contested Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan   Herald Report The UN human rights office on Monday blasted India and Pakistan for failing to improve the situation in the contested Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan, while renewing calls for an international probe into violations in the disputed Himalayan region. Last year, the …

Arley Titzler India and Pakistan were separated at birth, established in 1947 when they gained independence from Britain. Since then, these two countries have been engaged in a violent, 70-year-long dispute over control of Kashmir, waging three wars, countless skirmishes, attacks, and subsequent retaliations. Today, India occupies 45 percent of Kashmir, Pakistan occupies 35 percent, and China occupies the remaining 20 percent. …

Awami Action Committee Baltistan chapter to launch movement against GB division, revival of Numbardari system Herald Correspondent SKARDU: The Awami Action Committee Baltistan chapter has opposed division of Gilgit-Baltistan and revival of the numbardari system described it a move to grab public land and resources and to strengthen the bureaucratic system in the disputed mountainous region. “A conspiracy is being …