During the weeks I spent preparing to bring a delegation of 12 women from Pakistan to the US to talk about one of Washington’s hottest issues—extremism—I couldn’t help but be filled with a slight sense of dread. Let’s be frank; relations between the US and Pakistan are far from ideal. A Gallup survey done last year […]
The following is a letter I sent to the US Embassy in Islamabad this morning to thank them for sponsoring a US visit of 12 Pakistani women. Salaam from Kabul! I hope you all are well. I wanted to thank you for supporting the delegation of 12 Pakistani women for their exchange visit. Of course, […]
This article was originally published by Global Post. It was a unique Christmas party. Eight madrassah students in Peshawar, Pakistan took giant homemade cards, cake and flowers over to the US Consulate last year. The students and diplomats sat and talked for four hours, facilitated by teachers who provide English language and computer skills to […]
In this clip, Pakistani journalist Naziha Ali explains why she joined Citizens for Democracy Pakistan in January 2011 after the assassination of Pakistani politician Salmaan Taseer, who was killed for his religious beliefs. This experience inspired her and others to come together to work to reform the blasphemy laws.
[View the story “Pakistani Women Peace Delegation Visits the US” on Storify]
This article was originally published by Huffington Post. Sameena Imtiaz, a soft-spoken, educated Pakistani social worker, operates in the midst of U.S. drone strikes and Taliban suicide bombings. She regularly travels to remote parts of her country in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) and the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province, infamously known for the safe […]
This article was originally published by Global Post. It was when children began painting ambulances, hospitals and dead bodies in art class that Bushra Hyder decided it was time to actively work towards healing. That was 2009, and there were almost daily blasts in Peshawar, a Pakistani city not far from the border of Afghanistan, […]
Sameena Imtiaz holds many roles in her native Pakistan. She is a social worker, education reformer, mother, and peacebuilder. By working in the most conflict-affected areas of Khyber Pakhtunkwa (KPK) and the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), she was able to change the mindsets of young people who would otherwise turn to violent extremism. Eventually, […]
Why The United States provides more foreign aid to Pakistan than to any other country, with the exception of Afghanistan. A significant portion of those funds is intended to reduce violent extremism through the provision of aid to civilians. Still, thousands of Pakistanis die each year due to ethnic, sectarian, and political clashes motivated by […]
This article was originally published by Huffington Post. As the weather warms and tourists descend on the nation’s capital, 12 Pakistani women will be among the thousands of visitors in DC this week. But they aren’t here to see the cherry blossoms or tour the White House. They’re here to meet with US policymakers to […]
