Akbar Ahmed
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Two books open windows into the Pakhtoon culture and history
By Sahibzada Riaz Noor The tradition of scholar-administrators in British India did dwindle after partition, but totally extinct it did not become. Despite the censorious cavilling about civil servants from various quarters for being high browed mandarins...December 23, 2020 1383 0 -
Poem of the week: “What is it that I seek?”
A force of such might it sets me free A light so bright it blinds me I heard it in the voice of the nightingale I know it was in the hearts of the wise I...December 5, 2020 1444 1 -
Why Napoleon provides Macron the way to bridge-building with French Muslims
As I write these lines, it appears that Emmanuel Macron, the president of France, has declared war on Islam after the tragic and unacceptable beheading of Samuel Paty, the French teacher. As a teacher myself, I...October 30, 2020 1175 0 -
Why an Andalusian novel on human bonding with Nature is relevant to COVID times
The story of Hayy ibn Yaqdhan is as unlikely as is its impact on the world centuries after it was written. The twelfth century novel was written by Abu Bakr Ibn Tufail, advisor to the ruler in Marrakesh,...August 25, 2020 783 0 -
Remembering the Wali of Swat
Wali of Swat with Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh at the Wali’s palace in Saidu Sharif, 1961 The Wali of Swat was the stuff of legend. Edward Lear wrote a nonsense rhyme about his...June 24, 2020 3368 2 -
The Battle for Pakistan and the US Relations
“In 2008,” Shuja Nawaz writes in the preface to his recently published book, The Battle for Pakistan: The Bitter US Friendship and a Tough Neighborhood, “I began working on the event that led to The Battle...June 13, 2020 1208 1 -
A poem on discovering attributes of compassion in the time of pandemic
Religion in the time of the pandemic The signs are all around The lessons before us: Something so small That we cannot see it Has brought the mightiest nations Of the world With their mighty nuclear...April 17, 2020 1319 4 -
In changing times, US needs to reframe its engagement with Afghanistan and Pakistan
The historic Khyber Pass route connecting Pakistan and Afghanistan, Image: James Mollison / Wikimedia To say the least, the United States has had a complicated relationship with South Asia over the past two decades. As a student...April 11, 2020 798 0 -
William and Kate carry forward Princess Diana’s love for Pakistan
The Queen complained of a “bumpy” year with the behavior of some members of her family in mind. She will find this article uplifting for the positive impact other members have had. In October 2019, Prince...January 5, 2020 2657 2 -
Young leaders must strive for dialogue among civilizations
By Anjali Singh, Mayra Bokhari What is the purpose of life? Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, former Pakistani High Commissioner and Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University, raised this question in his class World of...October 31, 2019 1968 0
