大象传媒

Alan Johnston introduces insight, wit and analysis from 大象传媒 correspondents around the world.

In this edition: amid speculation over the ISI's role supervising Pakistan's media, Aamer Ahmed Khan remembers a past brush of his won with the security services; and Guy Delauney ponders the bond of friendship which grows up quickly between bicyclists - wherever they might be on their travels.

A "VIP" visit to ISI headquarters

One day last week, in north-eastern Pakistan, a body was pulled out of a canal - that of a journalist called Saleem Shahzad. The Pakistani intelligence agency, the ISI, has been widely linked with his killing - but denies any involvement.

Shahzad had recently written about alleged Al Qaeda infiltration of the military. And he'd complained in the past of coming under intense ISI pressure. 大象传媒 Urdu's Aamer Ahmad Khan has been telling us that he knows what it feels like to have the ISI breathing down your neck...

Bikes break barriers in Cambodia

There was a time when the roads of south-east Asia swarmed with bicycles - the transport of choice of millions of people. Now, though, these societies are wealthier - so the streets are full of cars and motorbikes. But even as the humble bicycle has fallen from favour among the locals, the popularity of cycling tours has grown among foreign visitors.

As Guy Delauney explains, a bike makes it possible to pedal your way into connections with all sorts of unlikely people.