· February, 2010

Stories about War & Conflict from February, 2010

India: Terror Strikes Pune

  14 February 2010

At around 7:30 pm on Saturday a bomb blast at a restaurant popular with tourists in India's western city of Pune killed 9 people and left 57 people injured. Emotions are running high as the Bloggers and the Twitterati react.

Darfur: Youth Keep Crisis in the Spotlight

  13 February 2010

Though the major conflict has ceased in Darfur, in western Sudan, the continuing instability and ongoing attacks have been particularly harmful for the region's young people. But youth both within and outside of Sudan have been vital in raising awareness and funds and trying to bring change to Darfur.

Pakistan: The Taliban Succession

  11 February 2010

Kalsoom at CHUP: Changing Up Pakistan discusses the controversial demise of several Taliban leaders and the battle, drama and rumors about their successors.

Azerbaijan: Book review

  10 February 2010

Scary Azeri in Suburbs comments on Artush and Zaur, a homo-erotic novel telling the love story between an Armenian and Azerbaijani man. The blogger says that while the book is a brave attempt to overcome taboos, she found it more funny than touching in its depiction of various sexual encounters.

Arab World: Should the New York Times Reassign Ethan Bronner?

  9 February 2010

Over the past couple of weeks, a much-discussed topic in the broader Arab blogosphere has been a news story that broken by a member of the blogosphere itself. On January 25, the Electronic Intifada (EI) reported that the son of Ethan Bronner, New York Times' Jerusalem bureau chief, had recently been inducted into the Israeli Defense Forces. Arab bloggers discuss the case.

Nepal: Gun Culture On The Rise

  8 February 2010

Ujjwal Acharya at The Radiant Star informs – “thanks to the Maoists’ People’s War and the rise of armed groups in Terai along with the lack of impunity, the gunture (gun culture) is on the rise in Nepali society.”

Afghanistan: Why so optimistic?

  7 February 2010

Joshua Foust criticizes General McChrystal, a top U.S. military commander in Afghanistan, who offered a hint of optimism on the situation in this country by declaring it is no longer “deteriorating”.

Pakistan: Karachi Under Attack

  6 February 2010

On February 5, 2010, twin suicidal blasts hit mourners of the Shia sect in Karachi. The attacks came 40 days after the Ashura bombing that killed over 40 people. Bloggers discuss the history of violence in Karachi and the inability of the authorities to gain control of the situation.

Pakistan: The Dr. Aafia Siddiqui Verdict

  5 February 2010

Teeth Maestro comments on the Dr. Aafia Siddiqui Verdict : “I and many Pakistanis may not actually like the overall decision, but we must draw the line. [..] Being a staunch believer in supremacy of judiciary we must accept this verdict, without possibly burning down the American Embassy in sheer...

Bangladesh: BRAC In Pakistan

  5 February 2010

Malik Rashid at BRAC Blog describes how BRAC, the Bangladeshi NGO, is teaching children in the town of Haripur in North West Frontier Province (NWFP) in Pakistan.

Sri Lanka: Reason For Rajapaksa's Landslide Victory

  3 February 2010

Serendipity comments on the reason for the landslide victory of Mahinda Rajapaksa in the Sri Lankan presidential election – namely gratitude for ending the war against LTTE: “living in fear of the LTTE for so long, left a permanent scar on the psyche of the people, which only the end...

Armenia-Azerbaijan: Twitter Diplomacy

  2 February 2010

With a peaceful resolution to the conflict over Nagorno Karabakh as elusive as ever, Armenians and Azerbaijanis are unable to visit each other’s country or communicate through traditional means such as telephone or mail. Can new and social media step in to fill the gap to break the information blockade?