8:15 pm Afghanistan on the Brink

A large number of visitors came to attend the last session of the second day of the Lahore Literary Festival. The panelists were Maliha Lodhi, Hina Rabbani Khar, Ahmad Rashid and Vali Nasir who partook in a heated discussion on Afghanistan.

All speakers, including the moderator, Rashid Rehman, were of the collective view that until Afghanistan fails to take responsibility of its action, it would be impossible to determine the future of the country. They said nothing can be predicted about the transition of power there, which should be held peacefully and the locals should be given a chance to decide their destiny.

Ahmed Rashid said Pakistan and Iran should stay out of the Afghan elections.

On the other hand, he said Pakistan should curtail its military to within the country’s borders and develop a national security strategy.

Khar also spoke saying Pakistan had not learnt its lesson from the past as far as relations with neighbouring countries were concerned, adding that nation building could not be dictated.

Furthermore, Nasr asked if Pakistan had the military capacity to defeat the Taliban?

He added that the dialogue between TTP and the government was not a solution and that the Taliban should understand that they did not have the upper hand. – Text by Maryiam Pervaiz

6:00 pm – 8:00 pmSessions for the day have ended. Sachal Orchestra performance will begin at 8:00 pm. Watch this space for the pictures!

"There no genuine peace lobby in #TTP unlike afghan taliban " Ahmad Rashid #LLF2014 #LLF

— shariq (@shariqiq) February 22, 2014

6:00 pm Afghanistan on the Brink

Key question is, does Pakistan has the military capacity to defeat TTP? – Vali Nasr

A country that doesn't have control of its borders is not a sovereign country & is a perceived threat to neighbors. - Hina Rabbani Khar #LLF

— Nadia Naviwala (@NadiaNavi) February 22, 2014

5:45 pm Afghanistan on the Brink

There's no proper national security strategy and the decision made in Islamabad are totally opaque. – Ahmed Rashid

5:30 pm Afghanistan on the Brink

Pakistan opposes the violent take of Taliban on Afghanistan. – Maleeha Lodhi

"We are a fat people" Zia Moheyuddin. "Even our musicians are fat. Even our movie stars are fat with large posteriors and shiny cheeks" #LLF

— Nur R. (@nuratthedisco) February 22, 2014

5:15 pm Afghanistan on the Brink

Let the internal dynamics of Afghanistan determine its future prospects. Nation building cannot be dictated. – Hina Rabbani Khar

People who push the boundaries of satire in difficult times:Jugnu Mohsin & Ali Aftab Saeed of Beyghairat Brigade #LLF pic.twitter.com/8aIVCPf1u4

— HELLO! Pakistan (@HELLO_Pak) February 22, 2014

5:03 pm The Making of Political Satire

In Pakistan, satire is laughing about tragedies because of the quality of leadership inflicted upon us. – Jugnu Mohsin

"LLF 14: The Making of Political Satire: Jugnu Mohsin" https://t.co/Ct13zqDqqt @NJLahori @lhrlitfest #LLF2014

— Saad Sarfraz (@saadsarfraz) February 23, 2014

4:52 pm The Making of Political Satire

Increasing conspiracy theories is a tragedy. – Jugnu Mohsin

The hilarious jugnu mohsin on political satire #LLF pic.twitter.com/yTqxVLyGNB

— Tehmina Rashid (@tehminarashid) February 22, 2014

4:15 pm Fault-Lines across the Middle East

"Fault Lines across the Middle East" was one of the most talked about sessions as Vali Nasr focused on the most controversial issues that countries in the region are faced with. He said sectarian problems were on the rise and in some regions on their peak in the Middle East.

Nasr said the region’s Shias were resisting and demanding full citizen rights and Muslim citizens. He added that America did not care about Saudi Arabia but it was possible that it may shake hands with Iran. Nasr said Pakistan should not agitate Iran, as it would serve in the negative interests of the country in the long run.

Nasr said there was no doubt that extremists were recruiting people and training them. This scenario would badly affect the economic system in these countires. Conversing with Ahmed Rashid, Nasr said Pakistan needed to sort out its energy and other crises for which the country should get into an alliance with the right side. – Text by Maryiam Pervaiz

Cowasjee panel at LLF best so far. Fantastic speakers and wonderful moderators. #LLF

— Pashmina Khan (@pashminakhan) February 22, 2014

4:00 Filming The Reluctant FundamentalistInternational Film Director, Mira Nair and writer Mohsin Hamid, lead the audience through the entire journey of making The Reluctant Fundamentalist.

According to Hamid, it took him seven years to complete his monologue, which Nair later converted into a film script.

Nair revealed that most of the creative work on the film was done in Pakistan, but it was unfortunate that she could not shoot the film in Lahore.

Hamid added during the discussion that the strongest political thing about the movie is that people from different cultures came together for this project.

The project nearly fell apart twice due to the challenges faced during the production. However, Nair said, "Faiz Sahab's poetry gave me courage and that is the reason why I am here (in Lahore) today".

While going through the characters of the film, Nair said that the character of Changez depicts some personality traits of the writer.

Answering a question about the film, Hamid replied "Film made from my book, made me uncomfortable in the best possible way".

However, he also said that a film made out of his book was a dream come true. – Text by Maryiam Pervaiz

3:32 pm Filming The Reluctant Fundamentalist

A film made from my book made me uncomfortable in the best possible way. – Mohsin Hamid

3:30 pm Filming The Reluctant Fundamentalist

Faiz's poetry is the reason I am home (Lahore). – Mira Nair

3:30 pm Filming The Reluctant Fundamentalist