How Afghanistan was lost on an Installment Plan By CHRISTINE FAIR | August 2021 On 7 October 2001, the United States entered Afghanistan under the aegis of “Operation Enduring Freedom.” The invading party was a small group of special operators entering Afghanistan from Tajikistan. Their goal was to shore up…

Fiction by C. Christine Fair He could have taken their dilapidated car to the co-op. It would’ve been quicker, but he rather savored the idea of an excuse to be outside for an extra 40 minutes. It was one of those six days in Chicago when one could enjoy walking…

De-linking demonetisation and stone-pelting There have been many reported links between protesters pelting stones at security forces in Kashmir and the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), with Indian intelligence reports that stone-pelters were paid money by the ISI, and often went on to become militants. This was an important motivation behind the demonetisation of currency…

Balwant Gargi’s original short story — ‘Kaani Vand’ was written in Punjabi. Rulia arranged his sons’ weddings for the same day. The brides-to-be were sisters. The older son would marry the older sister and the younger son would marry the younger one. Both families were happy with this relationship. It…

New Stuff Yellow Laddoos — by Balwant Gargi (tr. C. Christine Fair) Puro was about to leave for the fields when she said to Jangir, “Will you come with me? I’ll give you laddoos to eat.” Jangir had been playing with a soapnut in the lane. …

by C. Christine Fair To you, I was always “Bob’s bastard,” A reminder that someone touched her before you. My body remembers your grease-stained, gnarled fists smashing my pink flesh to bone. My body remembers your steel-toed shoes ploughing into my belly and back. Sometimes mom begged you to stop. Sometimes she sobbed, immobile. Sometimes she looked away…

By C. Christine Fair | April 4, 2021 While many Pakistanis ascribe the myriad terrorist attacks in Pakistan to an Indian-Afghan saazish, deep down I suspect most know that this is not the case. In fact, these are the bitter fruits of seeds which were planted long before Partition and…

Poetry by C. Christine Fair — I called Safina today to check on her invalid mother in Pakistan. Rather than being sad or even worried, she was joyous and exuberant. I feel so guilty. But, honestly, I’m on my honeymoon! She explained that she ran into her delicious ex, stocking up on produce at the Giant. …

C. Christine Fair There was nothing notable about the Afghan woman known as Farkhunda Malikzada while she was alive. No one would have read about her in local or international papers. She wasn’t a politician, a grass-roots organizer, or one of few liberal activists demanding more rights for women and…