South and Central Asia
First Wednesday: In the Picture with Abbas – Documenting Iran from 1970
Magnum photographer Abbas will be joining us to show and discuss his extraordinary body of work on Iran. Spanning from the 1970s to his return in 1997 after 17 years of exile, his photographs capture every level of Iranian politics and society – from the Shah and his men to the streets of Tehran.
First Wednesday: After the Deal – Iran, the Region and the West
After years of negotiating world powers have reached a historic deal with Iran, limiting their nuclear activity in return for the lifting of international economic sanctions. For the first First Wednesday after the summer break we will be debating what the Iran deal means for the country, the region and relations with the West.
From Military Rule to Democracy: The Changing Face of Myanmar?
On 8 November, the people of Myanmar will go to the polls in an election that is being seen as a step towards full democracy, after nearly half a century of military rule. With a panel of experts we will explore what life is like in Myanmar, the political and ethical divisions and what change the election will bring.
Insight with William Dalrymple: Return of a King
The London Press Club and the Frontline Club are proud to present a talk from award-winning writer and historian William Dalrymple.
Now based in Delhi, Dalrymple joins us for a special event to discuss his most recent, acclaimed book Return of a King: The Battle for Afghanistan, 1839-42, the definitive analysis of the First Anglo-Afghan War. He will discuss parallels with current events in both Afghanistan and the UK, before taking questions from the audience.
Afghanistan: The Lessons of War
In late October, Camp Bastion – Britain’s biggest overseas base since World War Two – was handed over to Afghan control, marking the end of 13 years of British combat operations in Afghanistan. We will be joined by those who served in Afghanistan and the journalists who covered the country, to take a comprehensive view of the conflict from its inception after 9/11 to the withdrawal. Looking at the decisions that were made and the consequences of those actions, we will be examining the lessons that should be learned by British and Coalition forces.
Thailand: A Kingdom in Crisis
In May 2014, Thailand underwent its 12th successful military coup since the establishment of a constitutional monarchy in 1932. This time, there has been no promise of a quick return to civilian rule; a spokesperson for the National Council of Peace and Order has stated that in Thailand’s current situation, normal democratic principles cannot be applied. We will be joined by a panel of experts to examine the root causes of Thailand’s ongoing political crisis and what actions, if any, can be taken to resolve it.
Insight with Ramita Navai: Love, Sex, Death and the Search for Truth in Tehran
The politics of Iran is frequently analysed and debated on the international stage but rarely do we glimpse what everyday life is like in Tehran. In her new book City of Lies, Ramita Navai returns to the city where she was born to explore the lives of its residents. She will be joining us in conversation with the BBC’s Middle East Editor, Jeremy Bowen, to talk about her exploration of modern day Tehran and what life in the city signals about how the country will develop.
Iran: A New Chapter?
In June 2013, Hassan Rouhani was elected president of Iran, running with a mandate of “moderation and wisdom”. He promised to free political prisoners and guarantee civil rights, to return “dignity to the nation”. As dialogue with the US and other world powers continues to improve, we will be exploring the changes this new leader is enacting both on the international stage and within Iran.
The Afghanistan Debate
This event is in association with BBC Service for Afghanistan. It will be held at the Shaw Theatre, 100-110 Euston Rd, London, NW1 2AJ.
As the final stage of the withdrawal of foreign troops from Afghanistan begins, we will be bringing together leading experts to look at the country’s roadmap and the legacy of the past 12 years.
Insight with Wendy Law-Yone: A Daughter’s Memoir of Burma
Ed Law-Yone, was founder of The Nation newspaper and a major player within the political elite in Burma until the military coup of 1962. He was imprisoned and eventually became an exile in the US where he died in 1980. He did not live to see the Burma he dreamed of but he entrusted his daughter, Wendy Law-Yone, to tell his remarkable story. She will be joining us in conversation with the BBC’s diplomatic correspondent Bridget Kendall to talk about the unique portrait of Burma she discovered in his manuscripts.
First Wednesday: Pakistan goes to the polls
As Pakistan gears up for critically important elections, we are joined by a panel of experts who will be discussing the significance of this election and analysing the candidates, their alliances and policies.
In the Picture: Brave New Burma with Nic Dunlop
Photographer and writer Nic Dunlop will present images from his book, Brave New Burma, and speak about the changes he has witnessed in the two decades he has spent covering the transformations taking place in Myanmar.
FULLY BOOKED On the frontline: Refocusing on Afghanistan
October this year will mark 12 years since the US-led invasion of Afghanistan and with the 2014 deadline looming join us with author and award winning journalist Christina Lamb, Afghan American author Tamim Ansary and others, as we look ahead at the path to troop withdrawal.
Insight Tarun J. Tejpal: The Story of My Assassins
Named one of India’s most influential people by The Guardian, Businessweek and Asiaweek, Tarun J. Tejpal is an acclaimed journalist, publisher, novelist and founder of Tehelka, a news organisation that has become renowned globally for its aggressive public interest journalism. He will be joining us in conversation with Shahzeb Jillani, South Asia Editor at BBC World Service News to talk about his work and the media landscape in India today.
India Rising: An entrepreneurial revolution?
Join us to discuss the rise of India and what the future might hold for he world’s largest democracy with a population of over 1.21 billion people.
FULLY BOOKED Sri Lanka: reconciliation and justice
Nearly three years after the end of the 26-year civil war in Sri Lanka that reportedly left an estimated 80,000-100,000 dead, questions are still arising about alleged war crimes and how they will be addressed.
Join us at the Frontline Club to discuss the impact of Sri Lanka’s Killing Fields and the situation today in Sri Lanka.
FULLY BOOKED Insight with Ahmed Rashid – Pakistan on the Brink: The Future of America, Pakistan, and Afghanistan
As we approach the one year anniversary of the death of Osama Bin Laden, Ahmed Rashid will be joining senior BBC presenter and special correspondent Lyse Doucet to discuss the future for Pakistan, Afghanistan and the United States.
FULLY BOOKED First Wednesday: The problems facing Pakistan and its leadership
Political tension are rising in Pakistan following the the Supreme Courts decision to charge Prime Minister Yousef Raza Gilani with contempt for failing to re-open corruption cases against President Asif Ali Zardari.
We will be bringing together a panel of experts to discuss the deepening political crisis in Pakistan and ask what lies ahead.
Insight with Fawzia Koofi: Running for president of Afghanistan
Fawzia Koofi has lived a life defined by struggle, the 19th of 23 children born, as a baby she was left in the sun to die because she was a girl. Now a Member of Parliament, she continues her struggle to improve women’s and children’s rights and plans to run for President of Afghanistan in 2014, despite death threats and assassination attempts.
Join us at the Frontline Club with Fawzia Koofi and the co-author of the book that tells her story The Favored Daughter: One Woman’s Fight to Lead Afghanistan into the Future, Nadene Ghouri, award-winning journalist and BBC correspondent.
Kashmir: South Asia’s Palestine?
The former Princely State of Jammu and Kashmir, is seen by many as South Asia’s Palestinian counterpart. Bordered by Pakistan, India, China and Afghanistan, each country has laid claim to the territory that lies in the foothills of the Himalayas. It has been caught between continuous contestation of borders and autonomy since the partition of British India.
Join us at the Frontline Club with an expert panel to discuss where Kashmir stands in its fight for freedom and the options that lay before it.
First Wednesday: Where has war left the people of Afghanistan?
How do the Afghan people view the last ten years since the US-led invasion and how have their lives have been changed?
Is it just another chapter in nearly half a century of conflict and instability? Is civil war avoidable? Is there any hope for the future and what might that future look like?
Another opportunity to join in a lively public meeting, hosted by Paddy O’Connell of BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House, bringing together experts and commentators and mixing their views with contributions from our audience.
FULLY BOOKED A safer world? What does Osama bin Laden’s death mean for Pakistan, Afghanistan and the West?
View in iTunes After the tracking down and killing of Osama bin Laden by a U.S. special operations team the questions have come thick and fast. At our May First Wednesday we are hoping to throw light on some of them: What impact will the death of Osama bin Laden have on Al Qaeda and […]
Insight with Zarghuna Kargar: The women of Afghanistan
Zarghuna Kargar will be at the Frontline Club in conversation with Afghanistan researcher for Human Rights Watch, Rachel Reid to discuss the stories of the hidden lives of women of Afghanistan that she heard while working on the popular radio show, Afghan Woman’s Hour.
First Wednesday: Natural disaster and political turmoil in Pakistan
Paddy O’Connell of BBC Radio 4’s Broadcasting House will be in the chair as the Frontline Club’s First Wednesday discussions return after a summer break. These lively public meetings bring together experts and commentators and mix their views with contributions from our audience.
Sri Lanka: could the West do more about human rights and press freedom?
Part 1 Part 2 View in iTunes The appointment of Mervyn Silva, a politician with an established record of hostility towards journalists, as deputy minister of Information within the Sri Lankan government in April this year was met with calls for his removal by press freedom organisations. What can be done to protect journalists working […]
FULLY BOOKED Insight with Fatima Bhutto
Fatima Bhutto, writer, political commentator and outspoken critic of Pakistan’s current regime will be at the Frontline Club in conversation with Owen Bennett-Jones, BBC Pakistan correspondent between 1998 and 2001 and author of Pakistan: Eye Of The Storm, to talk about her new book Songs of Blood and Sword and her vision for the future of Pakistan.
Media Talk: Pakistan, the Eye of the Storm
Owen Bennett Jones will be at the Frontline Club to discuss Pakistan’s turmoil in the light of its troubled beginning and the key events of its 60-year history.
The presenter of Newshour and The Interview on the BBC World Service and former Pakistan correspondent for the BBC, will be discussing his newly updated book examining the roots of Pakistan’s turmoil with the head of the BBC’s Urdu Service, Aamer Ahmed Khan and Aamer Ahmed Khan and Aamir Ghauri, a London-based journalist of Pakistani origin who has worked in senior roles at Dunya TV and Geo TV, Pakistan’s most-watched news channel.
Media Talk: Pakistan The Roots of Turmoil
Join us at the Frontline to discuss Dr Farzana Shaikh’s claim that uncertainty about Pakistan’s identity lies at the heart of its social and political decline and that its leaders will only be able to combat terrorism once the country’s vexed relationship with Islam is resolved.
Insight with Ahmed Rashid: The War against Islamic Extremism
Ahmed Rashid talks about his latest book – Descent Into Chaos – How the War Against Islamic Extremism is being lost in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Central Asia.
In the picture with John Moore – Pakistan on the Brink FULLY BOOKED
John Moore has spent most of the last year photographing Pakistan’s slide into instability and in December 2007 was one of the few photographers present at the assassination of Benazir Bhutto. Tonight, for one night only, he presents his work and talks in the context of the events in Pakistan over the last twelve months.