Al-Awlaki, a new public enemy As reports claim would-be plane bomber Abdulmutallab may have met Anwar al-Awlaki, the radical’s profile grows Zahed Amanullah When Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, a 23 year-old Nigerian Muslim, failed in his attempt to detonate explosives smuggled aboard Northwest Airlines flight 253 on Christmas Day, the trail leading back to Yemen brought a familiar name back into the spotlight. “Informed reports” indicated that Abdulmutallab met Anwar al-Awlaki, a 38 year-old American-born imam who studied and preached in the US before leaving in 2002 to reside permanently in Yemen, escaping the FBI scrutiny that followed his close contact … Continue reading Is Al-Awlaki targeting or is he a target?

Detroit bomber: British university ‘complicit’ in radicalisation University College London, where Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab was recently president of the Islamic Society, has been accused of being “complicit” in the radicalisation of Muslim students by “failing grotesquely” to prevent extremists from giving lectures on campus. By Gordon Rayner, Chief Reporter Published: 8:00AM GMT 30 Dec 2009 Umar Farouk Abdul Mutallab is the alleged terrorist behind the failed attempt to bomb a passenger jet over Detroit on Christmas Day. Photo: EPA UCL has been heavily criticised in the past for its relaxed attitude to radical preachers, and security agencies are investigating whether … Continue reading Is UCL a hotbed of Radicalisation?

Gain trust to stop terrorism Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab’s father warned authorities about him. It’s a good reminder of the best way to prevent terrorism Inayat Bunglawala guardian.co.uk, Friday 1 January 2010 14.00 GMT As Barack Obama takes his security services to task for their “systemic failure” in the case of Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, it is worth recalling that Umar’s own father was the person who first alerted the US embassy in Nigeria to his concerns regarding his son. The reported warning by Umar’s father is an important reminder that very often our best defence against would-be terrorists and their ambitions … Continue reading Passing the buck?

A stab in the back for police from Straw Jack Straw’s remarks about lazy coppers are politically driven and imply he knows little about the nature of grassroots policing John O’Connor guardian.co.uk, Friday 1 January 2010 15.00 GMT If I was still a serving police officer I would take great exception to the remarks made by Jack Straw, the justice minister, about lazy coppers who would rather stay in a warm police station than patrol their beats. At the very least the police have the right to expect unequivocal support from that quarter and they must be dismayed at what … Continue reading British Police, Jack Straw – clashing Egos

Pakistan suicide bomber kills dozens at volleyball Explosion near north-western town of Lakki Marwat may be retaliation for citizens trying to push out militants guardian.co.uk, Friday 1 January 2010 14.40 GMT Children march under armed guard in Karachi during a protest over Monday’s suicide attack on Shia Muslims. Photograph: MK Chaudhry/EPA A suicide bomber has killed at least 25 people at a volleyball tournament near the north-west Pakistan town of Lakki Marwat as militants hit back at a government offensive against the Pakistani Taliban. “We have confirmed a figure of 25 deaths. There are many more wounded who are being … Continue reading Mullahs kill dozens at volleyball event

The scholar, the sufi, and the fanatic Posted by Nadeem F. Paracha in Featured Articles on 12 31st, 2009 Roughly speaking, the political and social aspects of Islam in Pakistan can be seen as existing in and emerging from three distinct sets and clusters of thought. These clusters represent the three variations of political and social Islam that have evolved in this country: modern, popular and conservative. The modern aspect of Islamic thought in Pakistan has its roots in the ‘Aligarh Movement’ – a nineteenth century effort launched by Sir Syed Ahmed Khan. His analysis convinced him that the Muslims … Continue reading Scholar, Gentleman, Mullah

The hazards of air travel Irfan Husain // <![CDATA[// // <![CDATA[// The recent terror attempt in Detroit has shaken the country.— Photo from Reuters/File During the Inquisition in the Middle Ages, papal investigators would insert a pointed stick into the rectum; this interrogation technique became known as questioning somebody in ‘the Spanish fashion’. I was reminded of this arcane bit of history by the recent arrest of a suspect who was trying to blow up the Delta Airline jetliner as it approached Detroit airport. The Nigerian passenger is supposed to have been carrying the deadly explosive PETN in a strap … Continue reading Air travel, Mullahs and exploding bottoms!

Demystifying mysteries By Ayesha Siddiqa Friday, 01 Jan, 2010 // // “Every other day there is some news of suspicious cars being stopped by the Punjab police and the passengers being interrogated and then released under pressure from unknown and unnamed people in the government.” – Photo by APP. The Pakistani media is playing its role by informing citizens about the threat posed by the American security contractor Blackwater. Every other day there is some news of suspicious cars being stopped by the Punjab police and the passengers being interrogated and then released under pressure from unknown and unnamed people … Continue reading Demystifying mysteries

India-Pakistan: military angle Capital suggestion Friday, January 01, 2010 Dr Farrukh Saleem The Himalayan ranges have shaped the culture, politics, religion, mythology, climate and military doctrines of all six countries — Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan — that the ranges stretch across. The Great Mountain covers an area of about 650,000 square-kilometres and the width varies from 180 kilometres to 350 kilometres with a total glaciation area of over 33,000 square-kilometres. The Great Mountain Arc, from the Indus River all the way to the Brahmaputra River, encircles five countries — India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Bhutan — and … Continue reading India-Pakistan: military angle