Pakistan earthquake

Irfan Khawaja has been keeping track on some of the aftermath of the Pakistani earthquake, in particular some of the oddities or points worth noting amid the tragedy.

For example, in Pakistan Earthquake (6), Irfan recommends a column with,

Some unpalatable but accurate thoughts on the donor response to the Pakistan earthquake from Irfan Husain of the Pakistani newspaper, Dawn (Karachi). Husain's columns are worth bearing in mind as a handy counter-example to the loose talk about the "lack of self-criticism" in the Muslim world. Not that the Muslim world couldn't use more criticism (and more internal critics), but it's worth giving credit where it's due.

And from Pakistan Earthquake (5) come these questions:

[Why is it that] American relief efforts are widely interpreted in conspiratorial terms, whereas Islamists efforts are not so interpreted. Why the double standard? If Americans have ulterior motives in sending help, do Islamists have only pure ones? Bear in mind that Islamists have said that the earthquake was punishment for Pakistan's sins. Why the acquiescent receptivity for so troglodyte a message?

From Pakistan Earthquake (4) comes:

A very informative piece at Slate by Mahnaz Ispahani on the workings of private relief efforts in Pakistan in the wake of the earthquake.

And Pakistan Earthquake (3) points to a Pakistan Daily Times editorial meditating on, first, the TV footage of pain and suffering that was often repeated needlessly and in contradiction to the needs of acccurate reporting -- and these images themselves apparently persuaded local politicians that the relief operation was less coordinated than the reality, and in consequence persuaded them to separate their own efforts from the coordinated relief that had been happening.

Highly recommended.