Petraeus's proposed Afghan militias risk restoring the conditions that led Afghanistan to civil war in the 1990s. This, the Kabul conference and other initiatives have no hope unless civilian command of the military mission in Afghanistan is asserted, argues Carlo Ungaro.

By Camilla Canocchi

Often known as ‘Europe’s last dictatorship’, Belarus rarely makes the headlines other than for restrictive measures introduced by the government or attacks on press freedom. For all its mystery, Belarus isn’t a country that springs to mind when talking about contemporary art, but a new art gallery is working on representing and promoting Belarusian artists, not only in Belarus but the rest of Europe.

On Tuesday, July 20, Ambassador Hussain Haroon and the Pakistani Peace Builders Initiative hosted the 1st Annual NY Sufi Festival, a free three-hour concert held in the city’s Union Square. According to the NY Times, the Pakistani Peace Builders, an organization formed after the failed Times Square bombing by Faisal Shahzad, “seeks to counteract negative images of Pakistan by presenting a longtime Pakistani Islamic tradition that preaches love, peace and tolerance.” Below, Sehar Tariq, who just completed her Master’s in Public Policy from Princeton University (and is about to return home to Pakistan) and blogs at Sehar Says, discusses her experience at the concert:

By Tehmina Kazi

During the last fortnight, various newspapers have reported on a BBC London News investigation which showed that some Muslim pupils were being withdrawn from music lessons. Last week, a Daily Mail headline screamed: “Council FORCES schools to re-arrange exams and cancels lessons to avoid offending Muslims during Ramadan” – relating to guidance received by headteachers at Stoke-on-Trent Council in Staffordshire.

By Caroiline Jaine

Last year I stood in London’s Frontline Club amidst a lively audience having just watched a short film about British extremists who pervert Islam to justify their violent acts.

By Pinaki Roy in Dhaka

Bangladesh’s Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) this week pressed charges against Tarique Rahman, the elder son of former prime minister and present leader of the opposition BNP Khaleda Zia, and his business partner Giasuddin Al-Mamun in connection with alleged money laundering.