The town hall event, featuring Obama as a professorial host, was a moment of unscripted public diplomacy as he sought to bridge the divide between two bitter rivals.

Films and art are not designed to be a substitute for political strategies but can instead be used to challenge stereotypes and emphasise on the human experience even with a critical approach; thus they become a major cultural export in transcending prejudice, xenophobia and differences.

A new study by the World Bank’s Jishnu Das and Pomona College’s Tahir Andrabi titled In Aid We Trust: Hearts and Minds and the Pakistan Earthquake of 2005 reiterates that humanitarian aid can win local favour. The study shows that those Pakistanis who interacted with aid workers after the 2005 earthquake retained positive impressions and high levels of trust in westerners four years after that calamity.

When it comes to the United States, Pakistan is an oft-spurned lover. In Islamabad, no discussion about Pakistan-US relations can be complete without a blow-by-blow account of the occasions on which Pakistan, the supple and whimsical bride, has been left at the altar by the American groom...

A tape of a man claiming to be Osama Bin Laden threatening France appears to be authentic, the French Foreign Ministry said Thursday. Bin Laden warned France to get its troops out of Afghanistan and not to oppress Muslims at home in a tape broadcast by the Al-Jazeera network Wednesday.

The United States has stepped up public diplomacy to win hearts and minds of people establishing direct contacts with youth especially through advertisements for jobs.

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Qamar Zaman Kaira has said Pak-US strategic dialogues will bring good news for Pakistan. Talking to Radio Pakistan from Washington, the minister said ways of implementing various proposals agreed between the delegations of the two countries in previous meetings will be discussed during fourth meeting of Pak-US strategic dialogues...

The US Consulate General in Lahore is pleased to welcome a new team of officers working in its Public Affairs section. Bringing extensive experience from previous diplomatic posts,as well as prior experience in the private media and education sectors, the three public diplomacy officers will work with the media, initiate American cultural programming and increase educational opportunities...