Author Archives: Razi Azmi

Marshal of all he surveys

Posted on February 8, 2014 by Razi Azmi

Whereas in Egypt there is a developing tradition of promoting army chiefs to field marshals to keep them in good humour, in Pakistan Ayub Khan’s self-elevation to the rank of field marshal has an interesting background

Posted in Current Affairs | 2 Comments

Motherland changeth, but changeth not

Posted on January 31, 2014 by Razi Azmi

Not only had the sights and sounds which greeted me at Karachi airport not changed, but they were a world apart from the many countries I had just been to, including my last two stops, namely, Iran and UAE, both … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Affairs | 5 Comments

Reality, realpolitik and religion

Posted on January 26, 2014 by Razi Azmi

Religious, political and ideological identities are façades which people, parties and nations wear only as long as their core interests do not dictate otherwise. But when vital interests clash, friendships, coalitions and alliances go out the door and the protagonists … Continue reading →

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Muslims, Islam, West and the rest

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Razi Azmi

(The following article was published in five instalments in the Daily Times of 14, 21 and 28 August and 4 and 11 September 2013.  Here it is reproduced in full.)

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Soccer, pickpockets and a people’s president

Posted on October 9, 2013 by Razi Azmi

As I mentioned in an earlier column, our only trouble in La Paz (Bolivia) was on account of a bad cook, not with conmen or pickpockets, the warnings in my travel book notwithstanding.  We were, however, to come very close … Continue reading →

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End of the world, “land of fire”

Posted on October 2, 2013 by Razi Azmi

It is hard to say which was the highpoint of my trip.  But probably the most exciting part was the trip to Ushuia, the world’s southern-most town, near the tip of the South American continent, “the end of the world” … Continue reading →

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Across the Andes, to Buenos Aires

Posted on September 25, 2013 by Razi Azmi

About two hundred kilometres south of the flight path of my plane, on the Argentinian side of the border with Chile, had occurred one of the most tragic air disasters and an amazing tale of human survival.  A chartered Uruguayan … Continue reading →

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Over Atacama Desert and Andes Mountains

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Razi Azmi

As our plane took off from Bolivia’s El Alto airport for Santiago, the capital of Chile, my excitement soared just like the plane did.  We were flying out of the world’s highest airport and over a fascinating land, the most … Continue reading →

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Muslims, Islam, West and the rest – V

Posted on September 11, 2013 by Razi Azmi

Male Circumcision:  Islamophobes are now ranting against male circumcision, attacking Islam by association, although it was practiced by Jews long before Muslims. Circumcision rate among Israeli Jews is close to 100 per cent and it is a far more ritualistic … Continue reading →

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Muslims, Islam, West and the rest – IV

Posted on September 4, 2013 by Razi Azmi

If you really believe this “sword in one hand and Quran in the other” propaganda, ask yourself which Muslim army ever invaded Indonesia, the largest Muslim country in the world, composed of islands, all separated by vast oceans from the … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Affairs | 7 Comments