June - Mid-July 2007
Last 2 weeks of July
September 2007
October / November 2007
My Holiday season
Music shop blown up in Pakistan's Sherpao village PESHAWAR, Suspected militants blew up a music shop in a grenade attack in Sherpao village, 25 kilometres outside Peshawar, late Monday, police said Tuesday.Senior police officer Feroz Shah said two militants on a bicycle lobbed a hand grenade into the shop and fled. A police squad on motorcycles chased and arrested one man, while the other escaped. A dental clinic and a computer shop were also damaged in the blast, he added.
Musharraf, Aziz review law n' order, economy: President General Pervez Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz on Tuesday held discussions here and reviewed the state of economy, law and order, and political environment in the country. Prime Minister Aziz who called on President Musharraf here briefed him about his recently concluded visit abroad and his parlays with world leaders.
Ten oil tankers destroyed in Torkham rocket attack : Ten oil tankers waiting to cross Pak-Afghanistan border to take oil supplies for US-led coalition troops in
Cleric ready to die instead of closing down illegal FM channel: Mingora Swat.Owner of illegal FM channel in Swat and son-in-law of Safi Muhmmad, the chief of defunct Tanzeem Nifaze Shariat Mohammandi (TNSM) Maulana Fazulullah reiterated his commitment to render sacrifice of his life instead of any compromise on the FM channel. Following the possible military operations against the Jamia Hafsa in
Two Killed in Hub blast: BOLUCHISTAN,
Thankfully, the knowledge that UNHAS, (the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service) will only allow me 30 kilos to fly into
I also now have 3 new scarves, 2 new Kameez (the Pakistani long top) from FNKASIA, the hottest local designer, and countless hair accessories.
I am turning into a girl, somebody stop me!
Country Risk Rating High
Advisory I- Supreme Court Official Killed in
A senior Supreme Court official was killed by gunmen early on 14 May at his residence in
According to the official's wife, two or three gunmen shot him and immediately fled the scene in what appears to have been a targeted killing.
Meanwhile, shops across the country closed in response to a strike called by opposition parties
Troops in
Roads leading to North Nizamabad, North Karachi, Site and Orangi town in
The Marriot, Avari and Sheraton hotels in
Pakistan International Airways (PIA) has advised passengers to check with the airline for any changes in schedule for domestic and international flights out of
Violence erupted in
The killing of a Supreme Court official comes in the wake of Chief Justice Chaudhry's petition hearing in the Supreme Court, which was scheduled for 14 May but was subsequently halted. Chief Justice Chaudhry's lawyers announced that they planned to protest in
With the involvement of coalition member MQM in the violence, there are speculations that President Pervez Musharraf's government has been weakened and there may be early elections. President Musharraf, however, has declared that both presidential and general elections will take place as scheduled.
There has been some visible downgrading of physical security measures in
SBI P advises its staff members to defer non-essential travel to
Staff members travelling to and from the country should check with their respective airlines about internal security mechanisms and changes in flight schedules.
Country Risk Rating High
Advisory II-Pakistani and Afghan Forces Clash
Pakistani authorities claim that six Afghan soldiers were killed while Afghan officials said that two Afghan civilians were killed in the fighting.
Both sides traded accusations of unprovoked firing which led to a two-hour battle. According to reports, the fighting affected Kubki village and several persons were injured in Gul Ghundi.
The latest incident will further impact on the troubled relationship between the two countries.
The 1510 mi (2430 km) border shared by the two countries is a contentious issue.
Taliban offensives in
Increased clashes on the Pakistan-Afghan border are likely.
Yesterday was a long day. I took the day off and went with my Peace Corps friends to visit Djenne, where one can see a traditional mosque, which is both a part of the world’s historical heritage and the world’s largest mud structure (see the above header?).
We sat under a straw hut and had drinks with other Peace Corps girls, talked about
I have been procrastinating for the last 2 days my work on the Mali report. This is my chance to shine, and I am about to blow it if I don’t do something soon. I guess I was a bit over ambitious – I also think the stifling heat and my overall fatigue are getting in the way. Hopefully, my boss’ arrival this evening will put a bit of pressure on and I will be ready to give him stuff by working overnight and stuff.
I’ve taken here the habit of wearing my hair up in a loose turban. It has several advantages: it hides my hair (which is somewhat gross at the moment since I ran out of shampoo), shields it from the dust and protects my head from the sun. It also makes me look like a hippy, not a negligible asset if you ask me.I don’t think I am afraid to die. Maybe I a little bit afraid of the pain. For sure, I don’t want the people who have done me the privilege of caring for me to suffer. Their pain scares me probably more then my own. Death itself, however, does not scare me. Once it will have happened, I will cease to exist, or go where ever it is dead people go. I might see again my father, my grandparents, my uncles, and old friends who already passed on. Or I might see no one at all because there is no after life. One way or the other, I will not suffer. I don’t believe in Hell. More importantly, should it exist, I don’t believe there will be a spot for me there. I may be inconstant in my faith, but I am not Evil. So I am not afraid to die.
I am, however, very unready to die. I am hungry. Hungry for life, for love. Hungry for pleasure, experiences, knowledge, exploration. I wish I could live forever. If there was no end to my existence, I would probably become an incredibly knowledgeable being. I would read all there is to read. I would travel the world, as I really wish I could. Take time to stay places and become one with the foreign lands. I feel the world is a wondrous place.
After 18 months of roaming the Earth, having gone around the globe, been to four continents, 18 countries, met and adapted to many cultures, people, foods, landscapes, I feel unsated. If anything, my hunger is stronger then it was in September 2004 when I left for
I don’t want to die. I just turned 30, and it feels like a death sentence. I wish I didn’t have to deal with the inevitable questions that I have been pressed with for the last few months. What of my destiny? I have been asked to make some decisions. Will I settle down or pursue my military service in the humanitarian industry? Will I trade my chains for other ties?
It is so frustrating to think that alas, I am mortal. That I love life, the Earth and the humans who live and die on it so much the thought if leaving it all one day aches in my chest. My late father used to have a strong appetite for life and when he passed, this appetite passed on to me. He, of all the people I knew, was fully aware that we, mere mortals, are given so little time in this world. As he did, I intend to make the most of what I’ve been given, though for now, I do not know how.
