Pakistan’s other fault lines —Sanaullah Baloch Islamabad’s unkind approach and over-centralised political and discriminatory policies have resulted in massive despair among the Baloch masses. Conflict in the region has resulted in killings, displacement and human rights crises well documented by reputable organisations Predominantly, the fear of the Taliban and al Qaeda, and the rise of religious militancy has become Pakistan’s hallmark. In fact, there are numerous other fault lines and factors behind Pakistan’s gradual fall into fundamentalism, sectarianism, rise of ethnic conflicts and mounting political instability. Pakistan’s colonial rule and policies, ethnically structured institutions, over-centralisation, inflexible constitutional arrangements and lack … Continue reading Pakistan’s other fault lines – how Baluchistan is suffering the mullahs

Terrorism and the denial problem —Dr Hasan-Askari Rizvi The most serious threat to Pakistan’s political stability and economic development is the growing terrorist attacks by the various Taliban groups and other militant Islamic groups that use violence to pursue their narrow-based religious and political agendas Pakistan’s societal harmony and political stability is threatened by the complex challenges of religious intolerance, Islamic-sectarian violence, militancy and jihadi culture against the backdrop of the regional and global environment that is not always helpful. These domestic ailments have compromised Pakistan’s capacity to cope with global pressures and improve its bargaining position in international diplomacy. … Continue reading Terrorism in Pakistan and the denial problem

Gay Muslim scholar shunned by own community By Elise Stolte , Canwest News Service Muslim Junaid Bin Jahangir realized he was gay while a student at the University of Alberta. He decided to throw his energies into educating the Islamic community about the topic. Photograph by: Greg Southam/Canwest News Service, EDMONTON — Junaid Bin Jahangir was such a devout Muslim that when he arrived in Canada he ate only yogurt for two days until he was sure which food followed halal dietary rules. The university student prayed five times a day, and joined a local mosque. Then one day, at … Continue reading Muslim Scholar and Gay? – Junaid Bin Jahangir

ABOUT EARTH HOUR Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks such as the, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The CN Tower in Toronto, The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, and Rome’s Colosseum, all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour. In March 2009, hundreds of … Continue reading Earth Hour – an awakening begins?

FIA post-race press conference – Australia 1st Jenson Button (McLaren), 1h33m36.531s; 2nd Robert Kubica (Renault), 1h33m48.565s; 3rd Felipe Massa (Ferrari), 1h33m51.019s. Q: Jenson, an incredible race. 50 laps plus on a set of soft tyres. You made the early gamble for the slick tyres and that was the game changer. Was that your call? Jenson Button: It was. I think it is a lot easier for the drivers… 28 Mar 2010 Button wins Melbourne thriller for McLaren Defending world champion Jenson Button clinched his first victory of 2010 – and his first for McLaren – in Australia on Sunday. An … Continue reading Formula One / 1 update site

Web of intelligence gets more complex Keeping online jihadists where you can see them is one thing – but the ethics of creating honeypot sites are far more debatable Tim Stevens guardian.co.uk Last weekend, the Washington Post reported that in 2008 the US department of defence closed down a “honeypot” website created by the CIA and the Saudi government to attract and monitor Islamist extremists in Saudi Arabia. Military officials decided that the intelligence value of the site was less important than their belief that extremists were using it to plan attacks on American forces in Iraq. Much backroom wrangling … Continue reading ‘al-Hesbah’ US and Saudi Jihadist website and the story behind it…

Filed under: Uncategorized — aacounterterror @ 3:54 pm By Anas Abbas Syed Zaid Zaman Hamid, a darling of Pakistani elite, a motivator for Pakistan army officers, an absurdity for Pakistani liberals and an idol for Pakistani conspiracy theorists, has been in the headlines of Pakistani media for almost three years now. During this time, he has been popular because of his motivational and turbulent rants against the Jews and Hindus and his extraordinary defence of Pakistan army and its oppressive policies. Even prominent journalist Seymour Hersh recently reported that Pakistani army officers were increasingly influenced by his philosophy. He was … Continue reading GAME OVER: Zaid Hamid Lost, Zia ul Haq Won. By Anas Abbas

Posted by Rehan Ali Does Adolf Hitler ring a bell? Historian and analysts attribute his rise and fame to the geopolitical situation facing Germany. Hitler found Germany in a social and political mess, infighting for power and control of parliament was the only goal of each faction, with the military holding the system together. The economy was in shambles and people found it extremely difficult to make their ends meet, life was very harsh for them. On the global front communism was gaining currency and posed a severe threat to the German elite, the rich exorbitant and industrialists. Hitler exploited … Continue reading Let History be our Mentor