The writer is executive director news and current affairs at Aaj TV syed.talat@tribune.com.pk On the face of it, the furore in Pakistan seems pointless. British Prime Minister David Cameron has not said anything new. All he has done is to repeat the standard script that the Washington-London-Delhi-Kabul Quartet has been releasing in fragments for a long time. The alleged duality of Islamabad in tackling internal sources of global terrorism has been a refrain with every single important dignitary who has spoken on the subject anywhere in the world. But what makes Mr Cameron’s utterances particularly galling is the choice of … Continue reading Islamabad’s weakest link

Gul looks on as Hafiz Saeed addresses a rally in Lahore in June. PHOTO: EPA KARACHI: General (retd) Hamid Gul, a former Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) chief, has been named in the reports released by WikiLeaks as a vital cog in the planning of attacks by the Afghan Taliban and al Qaeda against Nato forces in Afghanistan. Gul is notorious for his pro-Taliban and anti-American views but the reports accuse him of playing a far more insidious role. The role of Hamid Gul ‘Make the snow warm in Kabul’ The information contained in the WikiLeaks reports is, if true, damning. An entry … Continue reading Hamid Gul’s spy games

The writer is a former morning show host naveen.naqvi@tribune.com.pk As Fatima Bhutto or @fbhutto said on Twitter on August 2: “And the president… off to Europe on a five-star jaunt. Typical. Violence hits Karachi this evening too.” I would not put it in exactly the same words, and I am not a great fan of the author/aspiring Daughter of the East, but it must be said that she has a point. President Asif Ali Zardari’s trip to Europe is exactly the sort of thing that makes Pakistanis wary of their political leaders. That, and a massive unrelenting propaganda campaign vilifying … Continue reading Karachi — and Normandy

The writer is a columnist, and TV and radio anchor When the offensive Danish cartoons were first published, very few took notice. In fact, not much happened until two Danish imams toured the Middle East to strum up awareness and support. What followed was an estimated 100 people who died in the protests, mostly poor Muslims. The protests didn’t really hurt those who they were intended against. Because of Facebook and several other controversies, it is easy to see the beginnings of the wellspring of Muslim anger. It’s obvious the cartoons and Draw Muhammad (pbuh) Day were initiatives rooted in … Continue reading In defence of Salman Ahmed

The writer is Professor Emeritus at the University of Louisville, US There has been much discussion on what ‘khimar’, mentioned in Surah 24: An-Nur: 31, denotes. Having enjoined believing women to lower their gaze and to be mindful of their chastity, the Quran commands them “not to display their charms (in public) beyond what may (decently) be apparent thereof: hence, let them draw their head-coverings, ‘khimar’, over their bosoms”. With reference to the first part of the last injunction, Dr Fathi Osman states: “Women are required not to display the charms of their bodies in public beyond what decently be … Continue reading The Quran on women’s public conduct

Kama Sutra shortcomings solved by publication as an audiobook Press play for readings from sex manual by actor Tanya Franks, who says only the cigarette afterwards was missing Helen Pidd guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 4 August 2010 18.19 BST Article history Actor Tanya Franks is the voice of the Kama Sutra, now published as an audiobook. Photograph: Tristram KentonIt is the world’s most famous sex manual, but the Kama Sutra has always had a flaw: it is impossible to follow the instructions while keeping the book propped open. Now an enterprising British publisher has solved the problem by releasing a new version … Continue reading Kama Sutra MP3

Blaming WikiLeaks for destabilising Afghanistan shows the twisted neocon approach to domestic and foreign affairs Sunny Hundal guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 3 August 2010 16.00 BST Article history Julian Assange’s WikiLeaks has been called “a terrorist organisation” by Fox News. Photograph: Andrew Winning/ReutersAs soon as the WikiLeaks Afghanistan exposé came to light, it was obvious the usual suspects would start attacking the messenger than discussing the message. David Aaronovitch was quick off the mark, with others following soon enough – implying WikiLeaks was seriously damaging the war effort in Afghanistan. The rhetoric has now reached absurd levels. The US defence secretary said … Continue reading Neocons are hypocrites on WikiLeaks

Japan: ending the culture of the ‘honourable’ suicide Reducing the growing suicide rate in Japan will require tackling the cultural interpretation of it as a noble act Andrew Chambers guardian.co.uk, Tuesday 3 August 2010 17.37 BST Article history A group of Japanese kamikaze pilots bowing during the second world war. Photograph: MPI/Getty ImagesA recent report by the Royal College of Psychiatrists has noted “strong evidence of a link between economic hardship and suicide”. In 2009 there was a 24% year-on-year increase in suicides in the Republic of Ireland, while the most recently available figures in the UK show that the … Continue reading Japan: ‘honourable’ suicide?

When heroes get religion I was upset when Anne Rice found God, and Beck turned out to be a Scientologist. What is it about their faith that puts me off? Jessica Reed guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 4 August 2010 12.06 BST Article history Prince performs onstage on March 28, 2009 in Los Angeles, California. Photograph by Kristian Dowling/Getty ImagesThis doesn’t make me especially proud, but last week’s announcement that Anne Rice was to “quit being a Christian” while remaining committed to Christ made me smile. Rice made the annoucement on Facebook: “In the name of Christ, I refuse to be anti-gay. I … Continue reading Wtf? Who has found God?

Women’s mass awakening A visible rise in feminist activism, publishing and legal challenges gives me hope against the odds Bidisha guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 4 August 2010 12.33 BST Article history Many years ago I interviewed the head of nonfiction at a major publishing house. She told me regretfully that “the bottom [had] dropped out of the market for books about gender”. Since then we have had bestselling books by Ariel Levy, Jennifer Baumgardner and Amy Richards, Natasha Walter, Kat Banyard, Virginie Despentes and many others. These join the scores of classic and still (depressingly) relevant feminist works by Germaine Greer, Andrea … Continue reading Women awaken!