This week in Himal
Sanjoy Hazarika writes about the unifying legacy of Assamese musical icon Zubeen Garg, bringing together Hindus and Muslims, and the rich and poor across India in
The editor of Zan Times describes the racism underlining Iran’s maltreatment of Afghan refugees during deportation and the crisis they face back in Afghanistan
The Tablighi Jamaat’s orthodox Islamic preaching has gained mass popularity in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwah, where many Pashtuns complain it is transforming their culture and creating the potential for radicalisation and militant recruitment
This week in Himal
This week, Zahra Nader writes about the escalating deportations of Afghan refugees in Iran, with Afghans navigating growing hostility, systemic neglect and violence while being forcibly
Nearly a million Afghan refugees have been deported from Iran in 2025 – many after brutal detention and abuse – to face uncertainty and a humanitarian crisis in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan
Pakistan’s flawed domestic and foreign policies – especially its mishandling of Afghanistan – have led to a deterioration in its relations with both the rival superpowers of China and the United States
While trying to secure their competing interests, India and China will both help bring investment into Afghanistan and legitimacy to the Taliban government
India wants to normalise ties with Afghanistan even with the Taliban in power, which threatens Pakistan’s security and fight against cross-border militancy
Attack on Shia convoy, part of ongoing sectarian bloodshed in Kurram district, shows how Pakistan’s government, Sunni majority and Islamist militant groups have left Shias dehumanised and fighting for their lives
Syed Irfan Ashraf’s ‘The Dark Side of Journalism’ and Saad Mohseni and Jenna Krajeski’s ‘Radio Free Afghanistan’ show how local journalists became both victims and agents of geopolitical conflict and an exploitative global media – and looked to push back
The Pakistani state has always tried to define itself as against ethnic identities, particularly the Pashtuns, and the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement is pushing back, says socio-political commentator Hurmat Ali Shah
