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In the Upper Chitral region of Pakistan, communities in Harchin and Broke practice distinct craft traditions tied to their environment and daily life. In Broke, apricot wood is carved into musical instruments like the sitar, a craft now carried forward by only two artisans known as Sitar sauziyek. The sitar features in a local folktale […]
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In Broke, Laspur Valley, Upper Chitral, Pakistan, apricot trees are grown widely. The fruit is used in various forms, and the wood is carved into utensils and musical instruments, including the sitar. The carving is traditionally done by a few skilled men known as sitar sauziyek. The sitar is also central to local storytelling, such […]
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In Baleem, Laspur Valley, Pakistan, families rear yaks and use their wool to make ropes and tents. Yak hair is plucked once a year, typically by men, and spinning the wool into rope is often a collaborative family activity. Due to limited market availability, most families make their own ropes, which are valued for their […]
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In Laspur Valley, Upper Chitral, Pakistan women traditionally weave Qaleen carpets, often given as gifts or dowry and used in households. This craft, passed down through generations, is demanding and locally referred to as “Dhagay ki dewaar” (wall of thread). Carpet weavers are known as Qaleen Korak Aurat, reflecting their dual roles in domestic and […]
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This video documents the Lachka cap from Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir. Traditionally made by women, the Lachka was sent by the groom’s family to the bride’s family to formalise marriage alliances. It held cultural value as a symbol of dignity and identity, particularly among Gujjar and Bakerwal communities. Production has declined as the cap is […]
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This video presents an overview of khamta weaving, a traditional craft practiced in Rajjar, Charsadda, Pakistan. Khamta weaving has a long history in the region and is carried out in homes, where most families have one or two handlooms. While men historically managed the weaving, women have also contributed to the process due to the […]
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This video documents khamak embroidery, a traditional craft practiced in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Khamak is a detailed whitework embroidery created using geometric satin stitches on fine cotton or linen cloth. It was historically used to decorate floor-length shawls for men and burqas (head coverings) for women. Most Pashtun women learn khamak embroidery at a young age […]
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This video presents a brief overview of Gabba-making practices in Poonch, Jammu and Kashmir. Gabbas are coarse, brightly embroidered carpets used for everyday purposes and are sometimes referred to as the “poor man’s carpet” in contrast to Qaleens. The production process is labour-intensive and time-consuming. Respect for tools used in crafting is observed through specific […]
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This video documents traditional craft practices in Harchin, Laspur Valley, Upper Chitral, Pakistan. It highlights the role of older women, particularly grandmothers, in spinning thread – a communal activity where one individual can produce enough thread for nearly four carpets in a single night. Livestock such as sheep, goats, and yaks are commonly reared by […]
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In this video, we explore the rich cultural heritage of rug weaving among nomadic communities in Afghanistan. Woven entirely by hand, these rugs are not sold but traded for essential goods. Their intricate patterns – passed down through generations of women – are thousands of years old, preserving ancestral knowledge and storytelling. These rugs serve […]
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This video delves into the intricate embroidery traditions passed down through generations of women in the Gandhara region. More than just a craft, embroidery is a form of social bonding, where women gather after daily chores to sew, sing, and share stories – often finishing each other’s work. Seasonal garments like embroidered ‘palos’ and salampur […]
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This case study shares the experience of Shafeeqa, a master artisan from the Anchar Lake area of Srinagar, who has worked in traditional Sozni and Tilla embroidery for over four decades. Despite living through persistent poverty, political instability, and conflict-related disruptions in Kashmir, she used her skills to support her family and train other women […]
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This case study documents the experience of Basanti, a displaced woman from Kashmir who has navigated multiple challenges linked to conflict, displacement, and economic insecurity. Following her relocation to Jammu in the early 1990s, Basanti and her family experienced prolonged instability across various refugee camps, with limited access to essential services and economic opportunities. Drawing […]
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Afghanistan: Researching Shifting Landscapes (2019–2024) follows the work of the Afghan Solidarity Coalition, a global partnership of scholars and practitioners, and the resilient women artisans of Afghanistan as they navigate profound environmental, social, and economic changes. Through these intimate vignettes, woven together by a dedication to women’s peace, participation, and cultural heritage, the documentary reveals […]
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People on the Move is a short animated film from the Gender, Justice, and Security Hub that synthesises field research in Afghanistan conducted between 2019 and 2024. It outlines the Hub’s mandate to document conflict, discrimination and violence against marginalised communities, demonstrates how political instability and repeated crises create a self-perpetuating cycle of local conflict, […]
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In this video, Afghan refugee children reflect on their disrupted education during COVID-19 and how the Sikhao Saathi program helped them get back to learning. Despite lacking Pakistani ID cards, many have rejoined government schools – some already in Grade 6 – and even discovered a passion for teaching. They share the ongoing challenges of […]
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This “visual minutes” sketch mirrors our research on Afghan women’s cultural resilience in conflict. It traces the arc from forced displacement – marked by trauma, isolation and urgent needs for shelter, food, water and healthcare – to longer-term recovery through education, skills training, job access and collaboration with host communities. Central to this process are […]
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In this podcast episode of When the Taliban Returned, Academics Turned First Responders, Michelle Callender from SOAS speaks with Sobia Kapadia and Neelam Raina about their transformative work on the Culture and Conflict Project, running from 2019 to 2024. This initiative, part of the Global Challenges Research Fund Gender, Justice and Security Hub, focused on […]
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This session of the UK House of Commons Defence Committee explored the UK’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, the collapse of the Afghan government, and the performance of the Afghanistan Citizens’ Resettlement Scheme (ACRS) and ARAP (Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy). Key points raised included: Click the image below to watch the full video, or follow this […]
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This chapter looks at the lived realities of Islam in Kashmir. It looks at the Muslim women in Kashmir who struggle to cope in a post conflict environment. Conflict is known to present an unequal burden on women. This chapter examines the impact of conflict on women in Kashmir. Kashmiri Muslim women were traditionally protected […]