Where sufism stands Pro-Sufism Barelvis dominate Pakistan’s religious landscape Sufism is a complex and cross-cutting belief system in Pakistan. Even Deobandis believe in Sufism. Naqshbandi, the major Sufi cult in Pakistan, is mainly comprised of the Deobandis. It may interesting that Maulana Masood Azhar, head of the major terrorist group Jaish-e-Muhammad, is also believer of Sufism and has restricted his followers to the practices of the Naqshbandi cult. To further complicate the intermingling of beliefs and practices, the Barelvis, who are considered representatives of Sufism in Pakistan, are not free from pro-militant jihadi tendencies. In the Kashmir insurgent movement during … Continue reading Sufism stands

Music and love mark the 758th urs of Lal Shahbaz Qalandar HYDERABAD: Prayers were shared and love was expressed amid explosions of sound and colour at the 758th urs of Lal Shahbaz Qalander. Saturday marked the first day of the saint’s birth anniversary celebrations. The small town of Sehwan Sharif, located to the north-west of Hyderabad, is jolted awake for these three days in which at least half a million people flock to the shrine from all over Pakistan. Swaying with emotion and dancing to the intoxicating beat of drums, hundreds of devotees perform the dhamaal, a devotional dance performed … Continue reading To the beat of one hundred drums

Garland of Arabia: the forgotten story of TE Lawrence’s brother-in-arms He was a mentor to Lawrence of Arabia, a maverick explosives expert who played a pivotal role in the Arab insurgency against the Ottoman Empire. By Richard Alleyne, Science Correspondent telegraph.co.uk Herbert Garland was a maverick explosives expert who played a pivotal role in the Arab insurgency against the Ottoman Empire Major Garland was admired by TE Lawrence for his daring and cleverness. But the part that Major Herbert Garland, a British scientist turned soldier, played in the First World War has largely been ignored, airbrushed from history in the … Continue reading Herbert Garland of Arabia

The PM wants Britain to punch above its weight, but fiscal constraints mean hard decisions over outposts like the Falklands Randeep Ramesh guardian.co.uk, Saturday 31 July 2010 17.00 BST Article history Liam Fox has been told he needs to find £20bn from his own defence budget to keep Trident. Photograph: Christopher Thomond for the GuardianAre we approaching an “east of Suez” moment in British history? A crisis of international confidence in the nation’s finances back in the late 60s saw Harold Wilson’s Labour government forced to abandon most of the chain of overseas military bases Britain had formerly maintained from … Continue reading Britain’s ‘south of Gibraltar’ moment

Orwell may yet survive Elton John’s high-kicking pig chorus Elton John’s West End musical of Animal Farm could be the biggest thing for the dystopian satire since the CIA Marina Hyde guardian.co.uk, Friday 30 July 2010 22.00 BST Article history There are headlines that force the reader to check the date. And then there is this week’s “Elton John working on Animal Farm musical“, which would seem to elevate the spaghetti harvest to the status of a Walter Cronkite report. Yet rigorous factchecking confirms we are not in early April. Along with Lee Hall, with whom he collaborated so successfully … Continue reading Orwell may yet survive Elton John

Chelsea Clinton’s $3m not quite royal wedding Obama’s not invited, Oprah is, and security’s tight. US holds its breath as First Daughter weds Ed Pilkington in Rhinebeck guardian.co.uk, Friday 30 July 2010 19.15 BST Article history Former US president Bill Clinton walking in downtown Rhinebeck, New York, a day before his daughter Chelsea Clinton’s wedding. Photograph: Andrew Gombert/EPAThe entrance to the town of Rhinebeck, a tiny rural idyll about 100 miles north of New York, is marked by a sign reading “Mulch for Sale”. The local paper, the Hudson Valley News, is packed with such reports as an account of … Continue reading Chelsea Clinton’s wedding

The Australian founder of the whistle-blowing website WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, on July 26. July 27, 2010 Julian Assange, the founder of the whistle-blower website WikiLeaks, says his work is based on the “ancient vision” of uncovering the truth. And he says sources would rather turn over their information to him than to traditional news outlets because he can protect them better. Assange spoke with RFE/RL’s Ron Synovitz and Christopher Schwartz on July 27 by phone from London. RFE/RL: What is your response to those in Pakistan who doubt the veracity of WikiLeaks’ “Afghan War Diary?” In particular, Hamid Gul, the … Continue reading Interview: WikiLeaks Founder Julian Assange