Religious intolerance and violence against minorities may be on the rise in Pakistan, but authorities in the deeply conservative northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province are hoping for a tourism boost -- thanks to the area's rich Buddhist heritage. KP is increasingly being viewed as the heartland of militants who have killed thousands in recent years and it is also home to some of the most important sites of Mahayana Buddhism. Last year a group of around 20 Buddhist monks from South Korea made the journey to the monastery of Takht-i-Bahi, close to the tribal areas that are a haven for militants.

Opinion

Editorial

Weathering the storm
29 Apr, 2024

Weathering the storm

THE year 2023 is a sobering reminder of the tumultuous relationship Asia has with climate change and how this change...
Afghan repatriation
29 Apr, 2024

Afghan repatriation

COMPARED to the roughshod manner in which the caretaker set-up dealt with the issue, the elected government seems a...
Trying harder
29 Apr, 2024

Trying harder

IT is a relief that Pakistan managed to salvage some pride. Pakistan had taken the lead, then fell behind before...
Return to the helm
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Return to the helm

With Nawaz Sharif as PML-N president, will we see more grievances being aired?
Unvaxxed & vulnerable
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Unvaxxed & vulnerable

Even deadly mosquito-borne illnesses like dengue and malaria have vaccines, but they are virtually unheard of in Pakistan.
Gaza’s hell
Updated 28 Apr, 2024

Gaza’s hell

Perhaps Western ‘statesmen’ may moderate their policies if a significant percentage of voters punish them at the ballot box.