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angel-with-paper-wings · 1 year

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The Siren’s Song

A super quick one-shot I threw together after being inspired by this amazing art done by nipuni!

This takes place while Erik the siren/merman is in Persia and working for the Shah, and Nadir is charged with making sure he is cared for and ready to suit the Shah’s whims. I hope you all enjoy and thanks again to nipuni for the incredible art and idea!

Rating/Warnings: rated T, tiny amount of gore, references to murder

The sun dipped just below the west horizon, painting the Mazenderan sky a bright blood-red. From the window of the great Persian palace overlooking the Caspian Sea, the sunset’s glowing splendor made for a breathtaking view. A single figure stood at the window; Nadir watched the light disappear below the horizon with a heavy sigh. With the end of the day came one of Nadir’s most important duties, one that he either found mildly enjoyable or extremely unpleasant. The probability of either outcome was as unpredictable as the waves in the sea below him.

Nadir tipped the last of his cup of tea into his mouth, letting the flavors cradle his tongue for a moment before turning away from the window. He then walked through the halls of the fine palace towards the kitchen. The Shah had spared no expense in the construction of the lavish building, which served as His Majesty’s personal home in the region of Mazenderan. Nadir Khan held authority of the property when the Shah was not present, and as such was in charge of the strange rituals that occurred within the building. Or, more accurately, below it.

In the kitchen, Nadir prepared two small baskets of sustenance, then took them and proceeded to the entrance to the palace’s cellars. Down the dark stone steps he treaded, so accustomed to the path by now that he could walk it without the aid of a lantern. He arrived outside a large wooden door with a ruby-encrusted doorknob. Willing his heart to stop beating so fast, he turned the doorknob and opened the door.

Inside was an enormous room, with dark stone walls lit intermittently with torches. The floor of the room was almost entirely missing, replaced instead with a great pool of black water. The surface of the liquid was eerily still and presented no indication of how deep it was. The stillness, coupled with the obtrusive feeling of unknown, gave any who entered it a chill along their spine.

Nadir felt the feeling wash over him again, but let it pass with a practiced air of calm. He stepped forward from the doorway onto the stone platform that formed the edge of the pool. The platform extended forward about three meters, before stopping at the water’s edge. However, a thin stone catwalk, wide enough for a single person to stand on at a time, extended out along the surface of the water, stopping in the center of the great pool. Simply standing on the platform near the door was terrifying enough, but many enemies of the Shah had found themselves being urged out onto the slippery catwalk to meet a ghastly fate. No one in their right mind would step foot on that catwalk, even if they were unaware of what lay beneath the water’s surface; even now, Nadir felt his primal defenses tensing and urging him not to step forward. But he had done this many times before.

He closed the wooden door and let the loud slam echo off of the stone walls. He then stepped forward across the platform with purposefully heavy footsteps: one, two, three, four, five. With a deep breath, Nadir then stepped forward onto the catwalk. He kept his movements slow and scanned the water carefully with his jade-green eyes.

Once he was almost at the edge of the walkway, he became aware of a strange sound surrounding him. It was so faint he did not notice it at first, but by each passing second it grew into a low droning note, half-breath and half-music. It seemed to rise from the water itself, the surface of which remained smooth and black as ink. The soft humming wove itself into Nadir’s mind, pulling him closer and closer, but he fought to keep his legs steady on the platform and his eyes fixed on the water. His voice called out into the chill air of the room, breaking through the humming with a single word.

“Erik?”

At once the humming stopped. Nadir looked around for any sign of movement below the murky water.

“You’re late,” a voice called from behind Nadir. The Persian man jumped and almost slipped on the stone catwalk, hissing out a curse. He turned around to see the figure of a man—well, a man’s head and torso—sitting atop the edge of the stone platform. Where his hips would have begun, the pale skin faded into black scales: the beginning of a long black tail that at the moment remained hidden beneath the surface of the dark water. The top half of the siren’s face was covered by a sculpted white mask, and the bottom half was curled up in an unsettling grin, his yellow eyes unblinkingly fixed on Nadir.

“I had to finish my tea,” Nadir muttered. “But I am not one to forget my duties.” He held up the pair of baskets in his hands.

The yellow eyes shifted to rest on the basket. Erik’s eerie grin widened, his thin lips pulling back to reveal two rows of razor-sharp fangs. Without warning the siren plunged himself into the water, barely leaving a ripple in his wake as he disappeared beneath the surface. The room became deathly quiet again, until Nadir saw a shimmering out of the corner of his eye. He turned to look down at the water next to him, and watched the spiny points of fins dragging along just under the surface. The whiplike tail then flipped out of the water, sprinkling Nadir with a spray of droplets. The man grumbled and wiped his face bitterly.

He whipped his head around to the other side and saw the siren’s head poking out of the water a few feet off of the catwalk, the sly grin frozen in place. Nadir knelt down on the stone walkway and said, “You make this quite difficult. Although I’m sure that is the intention.”

Erik scoffed. “You offend me, Daroga. It is always my intention to make guests feel comfortable when they visit my home.” He brought his bony elbows up to rest on the stone catwalk and craned his neck to see what Nadir was rummaging with in the basket. “What have you brought for me to break my fast with today, hmm?”

Nadir let out a huff as he extracted a large fish, freshly caught. He avoided meeting Erik’s eyes as the siren’s tongue poked out from between the thin lips, dragging across the dagger-like teeth. In the other basket, Nadir revealed his own meal: seasoned lamb kebab with rice and flatbread. At the sight of the “human” food, the siren turned up his nose. “You’ll spoil my appetite, Daroga,” he whined, inching himself further away.

Nadir gave Erik an amused glare while he sat and took a bite of the bread. The siren made a face of disgust before turning his attention to his own meal.

The strange pair began to eat together; at one point, Nadir looked up at the siren, but immediately wished he hadn’t. Erik’s mouth was rimmed with blood, and Nadir’s stomach turned as he watched the long tongue swipe hungrily over his fangs, wiping them clean of fish. “How is your new invention coming along?” Nadir asked, attempting to distract himself from the rather frightening image.

Erik’s yellow eyes sparked. “Perhaps you could tell me,” he said mischievously. At Nadir’s questioning look, he added, “I just tried it on you.”

Nadir frowned. “The humming?”

The siren nodded. Behind him, the fins of his long black tail splashed excitedly in the water. “I have found a frequency of sound that most humans find relaxing, even intoxicating. Amplifying this signal allows it to pass through water with relative ease, reaching their ears without them realizing the source…until it is too late.” The fang-filled grin flashed across his face again.

Nadir nodded in understanding. He wouldn’t lie, it made him a bit disappointed inside to know that Erik was capable of such ingenuity and artistry, only for it to be exploited in the name of causing torture and death. He sighed to himself.

“What about you, Daroga? How are things faring in the world above?” Erik asked as he set aside the bones of the fish and began picking at his fangs with one slender finger.

“Well, the Shah is having trouble finding a replacement vizier, one that he finds more trustworthy than the last.” Nadir couldn’t help his eyes from glancing over to where the scaly black tail shimmered and swished beneath the water. The last vizier, after his betrayal to the Shah was discovered, had found his death in this very room not a week prior, his neck snapped within the elastic force of that same strong tail. Nadir inhaled a deep breath to clear his thoughts. “As such, His Majesty has found himself under a lot of stress. He questions the loyalty of almost everyone around him. Because of this, I imagine you’ll be getting more…visitors soon.”

At Nadir’s last statement, Erik’s eyes darkened. “Visitors,” he spat the word with disdain. He pushed himself off of the stone catwalk and sunk lower into the water. He began to effortlessly swim in a circle before Nadir as he spoke impatiently. “There is no need for petty euphemisms, Daroga. I know what my role is to the Shah. I am his royal executioner; he sends me those he hates the most, the ones he wishes to see die the most agonizing deaths. And much like you, I am not one to forget the duties assigned to me.”

Nadir met the siren’s burning yellow gaze. “That is not the only role you fulfill, Erik,” he assured firmly. “You are an architect, the greatest Persia has ever seen. Your creations have brought wonder and beauty to many, not just terror and destruction. Trust me, you are valued much more than as a simple executioner.”

Erik’s tail lashed through the water, and he practically leapt forward until he was in front of Nadir. “Then why does the Shah keep me in a shallow tank and feed me like an exotic pet? Do not dare lie to me, Daroga, for I know my true worth in this country.” He slowly slid back into the water, turning his black-spined back to Nadir. His hand drifted up to touch the edge of the porcelain mask that hid half of his face. “I know my true worth…in this world.”

Nadir watched Erik with great pity within his noble and generous heart. After a quiet moment, he reached a hand into the inner pocket of his coat. “I believe you requested this a few days ago,” he said softly.

Erik turned his head around, and his eyes widened as he looked upon the object in Nadir’s hands. It was a large book, leather-bound with gold letters forming a title across the cover. He eagerly swam closer to find out what it said. “Italian Architecture of the 16th Century,” he read. His fingers reached up and snatched it from Nadir’s offering hands; he opened it up and began looking through it quickly, paying little attention to the small drops of water from his wet hands soaking through the pages. “Fascinating.”

Nadir smiled at his eagerness. “I suppose I’ll leave you to it, then. Enjoy your evening.” He have a small bow before standing and waking back along the catwalk to the stone platform.

Just as he reached for the door handle, he heard the voice behind him again say, “Daroga.” Nadir paused, before turning back around.

Erik slowly swam forward, cutting through the water like glass without leaving a single ripple. He reached the edge of the pool and pushed himself out with his wiry arms, resting the base of his tail on the stone platform. In the torchlight, Nadir could see the scars that slashed across his chest and shoulders, the way his ribs and joints protruded plainly from under his greyish pale skin. Despite the nocturnal darkness that rimmed his golden pupils, Erik’s eyes appeared soft as they focused on Nadir. “You have my thanks,” he whispered timidly.

A warmth erupted in Nadir’s chest as he took in Erik’s quiet words. With the corners of his lips turned up in a smile, Nadir gave Erik one final nod before opening the door and climbing back up to the world above.

#phantom of the opera #poto #Phantom of the Opera #Erik #Daroga #Daroga/Nadir Khan #erik x daroga #platonic erik x daroga #you can read this as romantic or platonic #I didn’t really specify either way #my writing #one shot #fanfiction #poto fanfiction #mermay

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cyarsk52-20 · 7 months

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JEWISH

What is Rosh Hashanah and how is it celebrated?

Rosh Hashanah, meaning "head of the year" in Hebrew, is the celebration of the Jewish New Year. It’s commemorated with prayers, food and gatherings.

By Danielle Abreu • Published 6 hours ago •Updated 5 hours ago

Rosh Hashanah is a two-day holiday celebrating the Jewish New Year and kicks off the start of the Jewish High Holiday season. Here’s everything you need to know about this important holiday celebrated by people around the world.

The two-day holiday known as Rosh Hashanah kicks off the beginning of the Jewish "High Holidays," a ten-day period of repentance and reflection that culminates with Yom Kippur, also known as the Day of Atonement, the holiest day of the Jewish calendar.

But what exactly is Rosh Hashanah and how is it celebrated? Here's everything you need to know:

What is Rosh Hashanah?

Rosh Hashanah, meaning "head of the year" in Hebrew, is the celebration of the Jewish New Year. During Rosh Hashanah, Jewish people around the world ask God for forgiveness for mistakes they’ve made over the past year and remind themselves not to repeat those mistakes in the coming year.

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What is Yom Kippur?

Yom Kippur comes on the last of the 10 days of repentance that began with Rosh Hashanah. The day is usually observed with fasting and extended time in deep prayer, before ending with the sounding of a "shofar," a trumpet made from a ram's horn.

When is Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur 2023?

Rosh Hashanah is observed on the first day of the month of Tishrei on the Hebrew calendar, which falls in September or October on the Gregorian calendar, the calendar commonly used throughout the world.

This year in 2023, Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset on Friday, Sept. 15, and ends at sunset on Sunday, Sept. 17. Yom Kippur will begin next week on the evening of Sunday, Sept. 24, and ends the evening of Monday, Sept. 25.

How is Rosh Hashanah celebrated?

Rosh Hashanah observances include special foods, traditions and mitzvahs, or commandments, and celebrations can vary from family to family. Many people attend services at a temple or synagogue, where a special service is held with messages of hope and atonement in the new year.

A hollowed-out ram’s horn, called a shofar, is blown during services to awake any spiritual slumber and remind worshipers to return to God and reflect on their sins.

Another important part of Rosh Hashanah is Tzedakah, or giving back to those in need. The belief is that by carrying out good deeds, God will notice these efforts and bless them with a fruitful new year.

Some Jewish families toss bread crumbs into bodies of water to symbolize the discarding of their sins, a tradition that dates back centuries.

APR 15, 2022

What Is Passover Seder? The Meaning Behind 6 Jewish Food Traditions

MAY 16

Biden Welcomes Hosts Reception to Mark Jewish American Heritage Month

What Do People Eat During Rosh Hashanah?

Fish is a traditional meal at Rosh Hashanah as it symbolizes fertility and abundance. Some people will eat the head of the fish to express the desire to be leaders and not followers in the year.

Many Jewish families also eat challah bread and apples dipped in honey, symbolizing the sweet hopes for the New Year.

Some families will also eat pomegranate fruit as its many seeds represent the many blessings in the coming year.

What Are Rosh Hashanah Greetings?

Because Rosh Hashanah celebrates the Jewish New Year, the most common greeting is "Happy New Year." The equivalent in Hebrew is "Shanah tovah," (pronounced shah-NAH toe-VAH) which literally means "good year."

Shanah tovah is the condensed version of a longer greeting L’shana tovah u’metukah, which means “for a good and sweet year.”

You can also say "chag sameach" (pronounced KHAHG sah-MEY-akh) which means "happy festival," the Hebrew equivalent of Happy Holidays."

This article tagged under:

JEWISHROSH HASHANAHYOM KIPPUR

SHANA TOVA to my fellow Jewish people around the country and the world

#Rosh Hashanah #jewish #elul #jewish holidays #high holidays #yom kippur #what you need to know #jewblr #forgiveness #heal #trust #understanding #honesty #believe #forgiveness of sins #forgiveness quotes #apples and honey #Sweet new year

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realhousewives-fan · 1 year

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Searching for a New Alliance?

If Kyle Richards was so offended that Reza Farahan called her the most overrated housewife and wanted Lisa Vanderpump back, I wonder what she feels now.

Maybe someone should check in on her.

According to Kyle, she claims to be friends with Sutton Stracke (I have yet to see some actual proof of that), unlike Reza, and I wonder how mad she’s by this little meeting in Paris.

Sutton has been a little messy with her lunches lately. Will Kyle view this as a betrayal?

Sutton posted a photo of herself with none other than Vanderpump!

Like I’ve said before, Sutton knows exactly what she’s doing by posting these pictures.

Both she and Garcelle Beauvais has been doing this lately.

First she was posting pictures of herself on lunches with Denise Richards in Beverly Hills. Now she’s posting pictures with Vanderpump too!

While Sutton was hanging out with Vanderpump, Garcelle has been filming with Vanderpump for the upcoming season of Vanderpump Rules!

Are they trying to bring Vanderpump back on RHOBH?! As we saw with Reza’s comment on WWHL, a lot of fans agree with him.

And as bothered as the other women gets over the slightest mention of Vanderpump, they cannot be happy with this.

Erika Girardi and Lisa Rinna had such dramatic reactions to Garcelle telling them that her son had started working for Vanderpump in season 12.

At Bravocon it became apparent that Garcelle and Sutton were among the most popular housewives on RHOBH, and it might have bothered some of the ladies.

According to Page Six, Harry Hamlin was overheard blaming Sutton for Rinna getting fired!

Is he sure it wasn’t because of the uproar from the fans, petitions to get her fired, her flipping off the fans at Bravocon, creating a war on Kathy Hilton or all the mess she made on social media last year?

But the Fox Force Four has been known to attempt to rewrite reality.

So, I’ll bet you anything, that the women are going to blame Sutton for Rinna’s departure.

Is that why she’s meeting up with Denise and Vanderpump?

#Real Housewives of Beverly Hills #RHOBH #Kyle Richards #Reza Farahan #Shahs of Sunset #WWHL #Lisa Vanderpump #Sutton Stracke #Garcelle Beauvais #Denise Richards #Vanderpump Rules #Erika Girardi #Lisa Rinna #Kathy Hilton

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loife1m · 19 days

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Let’s go back to this summer night, when we met eyes it’s like a movie line~

⋆☀︎｡

-> Hi! I’m Loife. I’m Indian (Tamil more specifically!), I go by she/her pronouns, im bisexual, and im a minor, so please please please dni if you aren’t unless you ask my permission to talk to me and i grant it. I’m very insane and unhinged lol 😭 epitome of sunsets too, as some of my friends call me! I just really like sunsets-

you can find my writing blog here - @loife-writes

𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔

“DO NOT INTERACT IF”

-> you are a pro-israel/zionist, homophobe, transphobe and the government

𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*

“FANDOMS:”

-TPQ FANDOM

-TIG FANDOM

-PJO FANDOM

-KOTLC FANDOM

𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔

“MY PERSONAL TAGS:”

#the loife show- episodes or parts of episodes of the loife show

#loife updates- shitpost

#loife answers- I answer asks

#thefivemusketeers <3- my irl friend group, often associated with #the loife show

#lemon dude <3- my (BLEH EW EW EW EW) boyfriend (YUCK STFU)

#loife writes- self explanatory

#TLEOT <3- my book TLEOT

#100%|an aru shah au- my book 100%

𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*:･𖤓°⋆.ೃ࿔*

masterlist ⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊ moots ⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊ wattpad ⁺₊⋆ ☀︎

->…recent addition: nothing rn <3

⋆☀︎｡

#intro post #blog intro #introduction #the loife show #loife updates

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bb25hater · 7 months

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The final cast of 21 reality stars and “celebrities” who flew out to Scotland and will be filming the traitors US season 2, Peacock will be releasing the cast officially later today

Row 1: Christopher "CT" Tamburello (The Real World & The Challenge), Larsa Pippen (The real Housewives of Miami), Peter Webber (The Bachelor), Janelle Marie Pierzina (Big Brother and The Amazing Race)

Row 2: Dan Gheesling (Big Brother), Phaedra Parks (The Real Housewives of Atlanta & Married to Medicine), Deonty Wilder (Boxer), Tamra Judge (The Real Housewives of Orange County)

Row 3: John "Johnny Bananas" Devenanzio (The Real World & The Challenge), Ekin su culculoglu (love island UK), Marcus Jordan ( Larsa’s boyfriend and Michael's Jordan son), Sandra Diaz Twine (Survivor)

Row 4: Maksim Chmerkovskiy (Dancing With the Stars), Parvati Shallow (Survivor), John Bercow (Former Member of Parliament of the United Kingdom), Trishelle Cannatella (The Real World & The Challenge)

Row 5: Kevin Kreider (Netflix Bling Empire), Sheree Whitfield (Real Housewives of Atlanta), Peppermint (RuPaul's Drag Race), Carsten "Bergie" Bergersen (Love Island USA), Mercedes “MJ” Javid (Shahs Of Sunset)

#bb25 #survivor 45 #the challenge usa #the challenge 39 #dwts #RHOA #rhom #RHOC #bling empire #the bachelor #love island uk #love island us #rpdr #the traitors us2 #the traitors us #the traitors

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mariacallous · 2 months

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MIRAN SHAH, Pakistan—Mohsin Dawar’s campaign for re-election to Pakistan’s parliament was almost cut short before it began in early January when his convoy was ambushed in a village just a few minutes’ drive from his home in Miran Shah in Pakistan’s North Waziristan district, near the lawless borderlands with Afghanistan. As his car came under attack from militants armed with automatic weapons, sniper rifles, and rocket-propelled grenades, he and his team were lured into a compound by residents who promised them safety.

It was a trap. Once the gates closed behind Dawar, the attack intensified. For almost an hour, he said, they were pinned down. Police and Pakistan Army backup finally arrived but not before two of Dawar’s team had been shot and injured. The vehicle took more than 80 bullets, and the windows show just how accurate the attackers’ aim was: Either one of the shots to the windshield or passenger window would have struck and likely killed him if he hadn’t been protected by bulletproof glass.

The Jan. 3 attack on a popular, outspoken, liberal leader in one of the most vulnerable regions of a country fighting a growing insurgency by extremist militants hardly registered in Pakistan, where most believe the military attempted—and failed—to manipulate the Feb. 8 election in an effort to install Nawaz Sharif as prime minister for a fourth time and where media operate under tight government control.

The election wasn’t quite the foregone conclusion that had been expected, with candidates aligned with the jailed cricket star-turned-populist leader Imran Khan winning more votes than each of the major parties—the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) and the Pakistan Peoples Party—forcing them into a coalition to get the majority needed to form a government. PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif nominated his brother, Shehbaz Sharif, to become prime minister and his daughter Maryam Nawaz as chief minister of Punjab province, ensuring the dynastic line continues.

Candidates across the country, not only those loyal to Khan, alleged that the results had been rigged against them and in favor of military-backed candidates. Two days after the election, with his seat still undeclared amid growing concerns nationwide about vote rigging, Dawar and about a dozen of his supporters were injured when security forces opened fire on them as they gathered outside the official counting room.

At least three people died of their injuries; What Dawar had believed was an unassailable lead, according to polling by his secular National Democratic Movement party, had disappeared. In the count that was listed as final by Pakistan’s Election Commission, the seat went to Misbah Uddin of the Taliban-aligned Jamiat Ulama-e-Islam-Fazl party. Dawar is still recovering from a serious leg wound.

Dawar’s hometown is, once again, the battleground of what he calls “Project Taliban”—a war against the Pakistani state.

The Taliban’s transnational ambitions are threatening security beyond the borders of Afghanistan, and nowhere is this more evident than in Pakistan’s northwest, where the militant presence has been growing since the terrorist-led group came back to power in August 2021. Attacks on civilians, soldiers, and police have soared. The region bristles with checkpoints and hilltop outposts and is heavily patrolled on the ground and in the air by the Pakistan Army and armed border police. That’s during daylight hours, Dawar told Foreign Policy. Once night falls, it’s a different story.

“The Army checkposts you will only see during the daytime. Before sunset, they go to their barracks, and the people of Waziristan are at the disposal of the militants. Everyone has to secure himself or herself for their own protection,” he said. “It is militarized, and I believe it is a continuation of a proxy war that was started long ago. ‘Project Taliban’ is still continuing.”

The roots of militancy and terrorism in Waziristan go back to colonial times, when the mostly Pashtun people here were characterized as fearless fighters and pressed into service for the British. The stereotype stuck; the region became a center of recruitment and training for young men to fight the Soviets after Moscow’s 1979 invasion of Afghanistan.

After the United States led an invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 in retaliation for the 9/11 attacks, leaders of the Taliban and al Qaeda moved over the border and for the following 20 years enjoyed the protection of the Pakistani military’s intelligence wing, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency.

The ISI wanted a tame Taliban-led Afghanistan to thwart the ambitions of archrival India to become the dominant regional power. The Taliban had different ideas. The group’s return to power has inspired affiliated and like-minded groups worldwide, as the extremist regime provides safe haven for dozens of militant groups, according to the U.N. Security Council. They now openly use Afghanistan as a base to train fighters seeking to overthrow governments from China and Tajikistan to Iran and Israel. Among them is Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which, Afrasiab Khattak, a former Pakistani lawmaker and now a political analyst, said, is “just Taliban, there is no difference.”

Earlier this month, the Taliban reiterated the group’s stance on the international border between Afghanistan and Pakistan when the acting foreign minister, Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanikzai, said the government doesn’t recognize the Durand Line that has delineated the two countries since 1893. The line runs through the tribal regions, dividing ethnic Pashtun and Baloch tribespeople. Recent bilateral tensions have often focused on the border, with tit-for-tat closures impacting cross-border trade.

In comments that Pakistan’s foreign ministry later called “fanciful” and “self-serving”—and which underlined the simmering hostility between Pakistan and the Taliban it helped put in power—Stanikzai said: “We have never recognized Durand and will never recognize it; today half of Afghanistan is separated and is on the other side of the Durand Line. Durand is the line which was drawn by the English on the heart of Afghans.”

The Security Council said in 2022 that the TTP had up to 5,500 fighters in Afghanistan. That number has likely risen, Dawar said, as neither country, mired in economic mismanagement and crisis, can offer its youthful population an alternative livelihood. Victory brought strength, Dawar said, and the Taliban “can attract the youth because money and power is what attracts youth the most.”

The simmering conflict threatens to return Pakistan’s northwest to the wasteland of less than decade ago, when the TTP controlled the region: Dissenters were routinely killed. Terrorists turned the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), now part of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province after an administrative merger in 2018, into a death zone. Millions of people were displaced as those who could leave fled to peace and safety.

Those who stayed lived in fear and poverty until the Army finally took action in 2016 and ended the TTP’s 10-year reign by simply killing them, often in attacks that also killed civilians, or pushing them over the porous border into Afghanistan, where they joined Taliban forces fighting the U.S.-supported republic until it collapsed in 2021.

The TTP wants an independent state in these border regions. It broke a cease-fire with the government in November 2022 and has demanded that the merger of the FATA with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa be reversed. Attacks on the military and police have escalated alarmingly, presenting what a senior government official, who spoke anonymously, called “not only an existential threat to the state but also to the common man”—a recognition that what Dawar calls “Project Taliban” not only threatens to engulf the northwest but, if not contained, poses a potential threat to a fragile and barely stable state.

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar disagreed, telling reporters before the Feb. 8 vote that the military had the upper hand in the region, by virtue of numbers alone. “I don’t see that they pose an existential threat to the state of Pakistan,” he said, while nevertheless conceding it was a “big challenge” that could take years to dislodge.

He could be right. After the failure of peace talks, ironically brokered by the Taliban’s acting interior minister, U.N.-listed terrorist Sirajuddin Haqqani, Pakistan stepped up pressure on the TTP. Asfandyar Mir, an expert on South Asian political and security issues, said this appeared to have made a “marginal” difference.

“For instance, we haven’t seen a complex or suicide bombing attack by the TTP or one of its fronts for a couple of months now,” he said. “In that sense, it appears the Taliban is sensitive to pressure,” though “smaller-scale attacks and the erosion of Pakistani state authority in parts of the northwest continue.” Things could change, he said, once a new government is installed and, perhaps, brings some stability to the political landscape.

For the people of Waziristan, struggling to survive unemployment, a lack of development, and government neglect of basic services such as roads, electricity, clean water, and education—coupled with a downturn in vital cross-border trade with Afghanistan—priorities have again switched to peace. “The local people have learned through their own bitter experience of devastating war” what a Taliban resurgence means, said Khattak, the political analyst. The security establishment is playing a dangerous game, indulging the TTP so that “local people become so desperate they want the military to come in and help them,” he said.

Hundreds of thousands of people have marched through the streets and bazaars of North and South Waziristan over the past year, demanding action against terrorism and an end to state violence. Yet it continues. “No one is safe. Everyone is a target,” said a man in his 30s as he rolled off a list of potential victims: politicians, business people, teachers, doctors, journalists, civic activists, women’s rights advocates, anyone deemed “un-Islamic.” Even barbers are not immune from extremists who ban men from shaving: The day before the Jan. 3 attack on Dawar’s convoy, the bodies of six young hairdressers were found in the nearby town of Mir Ali.

Another local resident pointed to a “Taliban checkpoint” on the road between Miran Shah and the bustling town of Bannu. The long-haired, kohl-eyed, gun-toting youths in sequined caps stand outside their roadside hut in the shadow of an Army post on the hill above. Around the clock, the resident said, they randomly stop vehicles to shake down the drivers. “It’s just for money,” he said. “Money and power.”

But it’s killing, too, “on a daily basis,” said a government worker who left Miran Shah with his family at the height of the TTP terror and visited in early February from Peshawar so he and his wife could vote for Dawar. The aim, he said, is “to create an atmosphere of fear so that people leave and what is here is theirs.”

Dawar said the turning of the Taliban tables on Pakistan “was predictable.” The Taliban “are now a threat to Central Asia. They are now a threat to Iran, to Pakistan, and to even China. All of them thought we will control the Taliban after the takeover. The problem is it didn’t happen,” he said.

In 2011, then-U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton warned Pakistan’s leaders that they couldn’t keep “snakes,” as she called the Taliban, in their own backyard and “expect them only to bite your neighbors.”

“There used to be a time when people were sent from here to Afghanistan. Now they are coming around, they are biting,” Dawar said.

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tawaifeddiediaz · 2 years

Photo

FAVOURITE CHARACTERS + a color that suits their vibe

for @pscentral‘s event 06: favourite characters/performers

(image description below the cut)

[Image ID: seven rectangular gifs of multiple characters from different movies and TV shows. Each gif is two blended gifs: a zoomed image of the character on one side, and a gif with movement on the other. The gifs are colored vibrantly, with the name of the character in the center in bold, color font and lowercase letters. Above the center text is the media title in white, uppercase letters. Below the center name is a prominent quote from the character in white, lowercase letters:

GIF 1: A purple-themed gif of Eddie Diaz. The right gif is Eddie looking up at Linda in 5.13. The left gif is him twisting around as he laughs at ridiculous notion of jinxes in 4.06. The center text reads "Eddie Diaz". The top text reads, "9-1-1 (2018-)" and the bottom text reads, "I'm going to be better...for myself."

GIF 2: A pink-themed gif of Aasiyah Qazi. The right gif is Aasiyah spinning around in slow motion, a wide smile on her face as her hair flares behind her and her skirt flares around her. The left gif is Aasiyah standing with a blue scarf on her head, tilting her head fondly at Raees' antics. The center text reads "Aasiyah Qazi." The top text reads, "Raees (2017)" and the bottom text reads, "shah jahan bana phirta hai...battery sala. phaati gayi na?" The translation of this means, "You roam around like you're Shah Jahan...a freaking battery. Scared you, didn't I?"

GIF 3: A red-themed gif of Veer Pratap Singh. The right gif is Veer, kindly bidding Zaara well-wishes at the train station. The left gif is Veer dancing during the Lodi celebrations. The center text reads "Veer Pratap Singh." The top text reads, "Veer-Zaara (2004)" and the bottom text reads, "Sarhaad paar ek aisa shaks hai, jo aapke liye apni jaan bhi de dega" The translation of this means, "Across the border, there is a person, who will give even his life for you."

GIF 4: A green-themed gif of Gangubai Kathiawadi. The right gif is of Ganga spinning and dancing during the celebrations. The left gif is her lying on her side in her white sari, smiling wryly at the politician who came to ask for her help. The center text reads "Ganga Kathiawadi." The top text reads, "Gangubai Kathiawadi (2022)" and the bottom text reads, "jab shakti, sampatti, sadbuddhi, yeh teeno hi auratein hai, toh inn mardon ko kis baat ka guroor" The translation is, "When women are the embodiment of strength, wealth and intelligence, then what makes these men so arrogant/superior."

GIF 5: A blue-themed gif of Leela Sanera. The right gif is of Leela playfully holding a gun out at Ram during the Holi celebrations. The left gif is of Leela spinning and dancing during Navrati. The center text reads "Leela Sanera." The top text reads, "Goliyon Ki Raasleela Ram-Leela (2013)" and the bottom text reads, "besharam badtameez khudgarz hota hai...par pyar toh aise hi hota hai." The translation is, "It's shameless, mannerless and selfish...but that's just how love is."

GIF 6: An orange-themed gif of Bucky Barnes. The right gif is of Bucky rolling his shoulder to reset his prosthetic arm. The left gif is of him staring out into the sunset with a slight smile on his face. The center text reads "Bucky Barnes." The top text reads, "The Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2022)" [this is a mistake, it should read (2021)!] and the bottom text reads, "i am no longer the winter soldier. i am james bucky barnes, and you're part of my efforts to make amends."

GIF 7: A yellow-themed gif of Taani Gupta. The right gif is Taani smiling widely after winning the initial dance competition. The left gif is Taani dancing among the other ladies. The center text reads "Taani Gupta." The top text reads, "Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008)" and the bottom text reads, "jab ek ladki ko khuli aankhon se sapne dikhne lagte hai na...toh phir uski duniya badal jaati hai." The translation is, "When a girl starts seeing dreams with her eyes open, then her world chanages."

/end ID]

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bright-holidays · 4 months

Text

7 UNESCO Heritage Sites of India by Bright Holidays

Introduction:

India is a country with a lot of different cultures, a long and interesting history, and beautiful natural scenery. It has many places that tourists from all over the world find interesting. Whether it’s amazing buildings or places of worship, India’s tourist spots provide a wide range of experiences. Here, Bright Holidays presents a curated list of seven UNESCO World Heritage sites that encapsulate India’s unique charm.

UNESCO World Heritage Sites of India:

1. Taj Mahal:

Undoubtedly one of the most iconic symbols of India, the Taj Mahal stands as a testament to eternal love. Located in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, this pristine white marble mausoleum was commissioned by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal. Its intricate architecture, intricate carvings, and the mesmerizing play of light during sunrise and sunset make the Taj Mahal a must-visit destination for any traveller.

2. Red Fort:

Situated in the heart of Delhi, the Red Fort, or Lal Qila, is a historic fortress that served as the main residence for Mughal emperors for nearly 200 years. Constructed using red sandstone, the fort is a remarkable blend of Persian, Timurid, and Indian architectural styles. The Red Fort hosts the annual Independence Day celebrations of India on August 15th.

3. Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park:

Located in Gujarat, this UNESCO World Heritage site encompasses the archaeological remnants of a medieval capital and the hill fortress of Pavagadh. Recognized in 2004, it showcases a harmonious blend of Hindu-Muslim architecture and culture. Highlights include the Jami Masjid and intricately carved temples on Pavagadh Hill, offering a glimpse into the historical and cultural significance of this unique site.

4. Qutab Minar:

Delhi, with its rich history, is home to the Qutab Minar, the tallest brick minaret in the world. Built-in the 12th century, the Qutab Minar complex includes various historical structures and ruins, such as the Iron Pillar of Delhi. The intricate carvings on the minaret narrate the history of its construction and the dynasties that ruled over Delhi.

5. Konark Sun Temple:

Located in the state of Odisha, the Konark Sun Temple is a mesmerizing architectural marvel dedicated to the sun god Surya. Built in the 13th century, the temple is renowned for its intricate stone carvings that depict scenes from daily life, mythology, and the celestial world. The temple’s chariot-shaped design and the precision of its artwork make it a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

6. Ajanta Caves:

The Ajanta Caves, located in India, are a fascinating historical site with a lot to offer. These caves are known for their ancient rock-cut architecture and beautiful paintings that depict scenes from the life of Buddha. Visiting the Ajanta Caves provides a unique and captivating experience, allowing you to explore the rich cultural and artistic heritage of India.

7. Ellora Caves:

In the western state of Maharashtra, the Ellora Caves comprise a series of rock-cut temples representing Hindu, Buddhist, and Jain traditions. Carved between the 6th and 10th centuries, the caves showcase the artistic and architectural prowess of ancient India. The Kailasa Temple, dedicated to Lord Shiva, is a highlight, featuring a monolithic structure carved from a single piece of rock.

Conclusion:

Embark on a journey through these seven iconic UNESCO World Heritage Sites, each narrating a unique story of India’s history, cultural diversity, and architectural brilliance. As you explore the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Golden Temple, Qutab Minar, Konark Sun Temple, Ajanta Caves, and Ellora Caves, witness the timeless beauty that invites you to discover the magic within India’s borders. Bright Holidays invites you to embrace the richness of India’s past and present, offering a profound and unforgettable travel experience amidst these UNESCO treasures.

About Us:

Bright Holidays proudly holds the title of the best tour and travel agency in Ahmedabad, offering unparalleled travel experiences that cater to your every wanderlust desire. Whether you’re dreaming of international adventures, exploring captivating domestic destinations, or seeking personalized travel itineraries, our dedicated team is committed to creating seamless, remarkable journeys that transform your dreams into unforgettable memories.

#travel #tourism #tour #tourist #india

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