Price Of A Deal
Musharraf may have bent backwards in a bid to make his country the standard bearer of the US in the region. Of course, there are financial rewards for Pakistan, but the fear of a fundamentalist backlash continues to keep the nation on tenterhooks.

Circle Of Death
Violence fuelled by bigotry and foreign money brought the Taliban to power. Now as things come full circle the Islamic militia may meet an equally brutal end.

Afghanistan 1978-2001
Its women once enjoyed social freedom, and there was joy and peace. It is now a country perverted by the missionaries of a grim utopia. A social history in pictures.

METROSCAPE

Fashion Freeway

VALAYA: Back to the bride		VARMA: Seen that before?		DUGGAl: Suede and leather specials

Tarun Tahiliani at the Grand Hyatt, Delhi: The men's line was classic, classy and different, the designer at his best. Then came womenswear patterned on the men's clothes, also smart and slick. There were also some unexciting traditional ladies outfits along the way.

Suneet Varma at the French Embassy, Delhi: Pretty stuff ... like the shimmery sari, the short-fitted kameez and the floor-length skirt ending with a swirl of fabric around the ankles. But is Suneet Varma getting predictable?

J.J. Valaya at Le Meridian, Delhi: None of the saucy skimpywear he gave us last season. This time J.J. Valaya did what he usually does, with some really rich bridalwear at the end.

Simar Duggal at Ogaan, Delhi: Screen printing on suede and other design experiments from the model-turned-designer. She looked as good as her clothes.

Malaysian fashion show, Mayfair Room, Mumbai: A promo by their Tourism Ministry had a clutch of Malaysian designers offering batiks, Chinese brocades, organza and silks crafted as songkets, sarongs and tie-ups.

Bodyline lingerie show, Surya Crowne Plaza, Delhi: An attempt to elevate a domestic brand to modish desirability. About 150 poker-faced dealers assessed the relative merits of "White Angels" (a lace line) and "Valentine" (translucent nightwear) on brassy models.

TAHILIANI: Customary chic		LINGERIE: The right impact		MALAYSIAN FASHION: Sarong surfeit

MetroScape

Fort Of Arms
In the 16th century, a Portuguese governor fortified a strategically located house to defend ships in the harbour of an island on the west coast of India acquired from the Sultan of Gujarat. Mumbai grew first into a fort and then into a city from here.
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Looking Glass

Delhi Photography:
Pradeep Bhatia

Delhi Music Concert: Pandit Ram Chatur Mallick Dhrupad Foundation

Delhi Sculpture: Sculpter Hemi Bawa