Syed Saleem Shahzad ISLAMABAD – Over the past few years the Palestinian issue, which has seen the rise of the fundamentalist Hamas in Gaza, has in many respects been downgraded from an international conflict into a complex local issue. Israel’s deadly attack on Monday on an unarmed Turkish aid ship trying to break the Israeli blockade of Gaza has overnight changed this, sparking protest rallies across the Muslim world. Even the biggest facilitator of the Gaza siege, Israel’s ally Egypt, reacting to the protests, opened the Rafah border crossing into Gaza. The incident has also turned the spotlight on the … Continue reading Israeli strike echoes in Pakistan

Too many French willing to fit the xenophobic cliche A survey confirming the casual racism of many French people highlights how mainstream prejudice is in the country Nabila Ramdani guardian.co.uk, Jean-Marie Le Pen is often portrayed as a plain speaking representative of the still beating heart of provincial France. Photograph: Stephane Danna/AFP/Getty ImagesThose who perpetuate Gallic cliches about moody waiters, femmes fatales, and bolshie trade unionists will be delighted by the results of a new survey highlighting the enduringly xenophobic nature of the French. According to the influential research institute BVA, one in seven admits to being “at least a … Continue reading French willing to fit the xenophobic cliche?

A muted response to minority killings by Sana Saleem dawn.com Incomprehensible. That is the only word I can use to express my feelings about the indifference of people, the authorities, and the media towards the attacks against the Ahmadi community in Lahore on Friday. Attacks that were carried out in broad daylight, killing over 90 people and injuring many others. Attacks that turned into a hostage situation with over 1500 people at risk of being killed or fatally injured. I am disappointed that there is no one to protest and lament the killings, especially since the Ahmadi community seems to … Continue reading Are Ahmadis better Pakistanis than Mullahs?

By Irfan Husain dawn.com Protesters hold Palestinian and Turkish flags during a rally to denouncing Israel’s attack on an aid ship bound for Gaza. – AP Photo For Israel, the tectonic plates shifted on Monday when its ham-fisted attempt to prevent the Freedom Flotilla from reaching Gaza blew up in its face. The fallout from its lethal commando raid on the Mavi Marmara is still spreading around the world as it scrambles to escape the consequences of a public relations disaster of the first magnitude. Judging from the enormous negative coverage the incident is receiving here in the UK and … Continue reading Turkey holds Israel to account

By Nasir Jamal and Shakeel Ahmed dawn.com “Most analyses have acknowledged the presence of strong sympathies for Jihadi and sectarian elements in south Punjab,” anIslamabad-based security analyst said. — Photo by Reuters Provinces Shahbaz assails police, security agencies Shahbaz assails police, security agencies LAHORE: The Shahbaz Sharif government appears to be reluctant to take action against the banned sectarian and Jihadi organisations operating in Punjab in spite of evidence that these may have been involved in many terrorist attacks in the province recently and may have strong links with the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). The Sharif government’s unwillingness to deal with … Continue reading Punjab ignoring CID report on terror groups

Book Review: Europe in another light –By Dr Amjad Parvez Nai Aalami Taaqat By Ansar Mahmood Bhatti Akaas Publishers Islamabad; Pp 372 When we look at the original composition of the European Union (EU), it comprised Germany, France, Luxemburg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, United Kingdom, Finland, Sweden, Spain, Portugal, Austria, Ireland and Greece. In 2004, the additions were Poland, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Slovenia, Malta and Cyprus. In 2007, Romania and Bulgaria were added. The candidate countries are Turkey, Croatia and Macedonia. Ansar Mahmood Bhatti has written a book titled, Nai Aalami Taaqat, which comprises his articles written … Continue reading Nai Aalami Taaqat

Our tolerant society –Farrukh Khan Pitafi Many of us journalists were continuously receiving e-mails from the Taliban and the Asian Tigers. One such e-mail congratulated Muslims on the Friday attacks on the Ahmedis and invited them to kill more Ahmedis and even Shias Last week I expressed my concern over the rising intolerance in our society and how the antics of the powers that be would essentially add to the general disquiet. But today I need not press that point again. The very same week, terrorists attacked Lahore again and ruthlessly killed nearly 100 Ahmedis during their prayers or Friday … Continue reading Our tolerant society

VIEW: US-Karzai marriage of convenience –S P Seth There was some rethink in Washington about Karzai’s relative importance in the US scheme of things. And this was judged to be pretty high The US relationship with President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan has taken a full turn from berating to smooching — politically speaking. Not long ago, President Obama visited Karzai in Kabul to tell him some home truths about the sorry state of his country under his leadership. Obama wanted Karzai to lift his game. Around that time, a number of American high functionaries had expressed their impatience with the … Continue reading US-Karzai marriage of convenience

VIEW: The cost of double standards –Sheharyar Malhi When the likes of non-state actors such as Faisal Shahzad engage in an act of terror, Senator Clinton warns Pakistan of “very serious consequences” but when a state-sponsored terrorist act takes place in international waters killing innocents, there seems to be an awkward silence from the corridors of power I consider myself a moderate Muslim. Almost all the people I know and have grown up with seem to me liberal, temperate and tolerant citizens. That is how most people are in Pakistan, apart from, of course, the insignificant minority of fanatics, who … Continue reading The cost of double standards

COMMENT: Fear of mirrors — I –Dr Mohammad Taqi The neo-con thirst for oil is so extreme that they are willing to undermine the sacrifices of the brave men and women from the forces fighting the Taliban and the jihadist menace worldwide “But she had slipped on the old mask and I knew she was concealing the truth. What memories was she trying to suppress, and why?” — Fear of Mirrors, Tariq Ali. While reader response to my article, ‘Two faces of fear’ (Daily Times, May 11, 2010), was overwhelming and extremely positive, a minority — on the extreme right, … Continue reading Fear of mirrors