Supping with the Taliban By Irfan Husain The British prime minister would probably not have used the same words had he been in London. –Photo by AFP Recently, the Guardian carried a story on the alleged ISI links with the Taliban based on the Wikileaks bombshell. Written by Declan Walsh, the report bore the headline: ‘Whose side is Pakistan on?’ I doubt if the reporter — a friend and a very well-informed journalist — wrote the headline because the answer to the question is self-evident: Pakistan is on its own side, as is every country in the world. While Wikileaks … Continue reading Tea with the Taliban?

Imam ‘X Factor’ reaches finale Malaysia’s television search for its next religious leader using an X Factor style format came to a conclusion on Friday night. By Barney Henderson in Kuala Lumpur telegraph Muhammad Asyraf Bin Muhammad Ridzwan performs during the grand finale of “Young Imam” Photo: REUTERS “Young Imam” has taken the country by storm and the production company is now in talks with television channels in several other Islamic countries, including Egypt and Turkey. In the show, 10 aspiring young imams aged 19 to 27 have been given various tasks each week, such as reciting the Koran, washing … Continue reading Imam ‘X Factor’

By Cyril Almeida dawn.com The homepage of the WikiLeaks.org website. –Photo by AFP The gods must really hate us. There is no other explanation for the tough few days Pakistan and Pakistanis have suffered. Floods, rains, plane crash, another indispensable in uniform, Wikileaks, Americans wondering yet again whether we are friend or foe, Cameron suggesting we are foe after all — and all the while the usual tamasha continuing in the background, what with fake degrees still doing the rounds and judges still hung up over a system of appointment. Oh, and Karachi and Balochistan are in the throes of … Continue reading Chasing shadows

VIEW: Your turn, Mr Pillai —Naeem Tahir Mr Pillai must have yielded to the Hindutva pressure. He rushed to embarrass his own external affairs minister by blaming Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence of being behind the Mumbai terror attacks This comes as no surprise for those who have studied the strategies of the Indian Sangh Parivar. Once again India and Pakistan wanted to talk sense, look at ways to improve relations and behave as civilised neighbours. But would the Hindutva groups let it happen? Of course not! Their agendas have nothing to do with those of the foreign ministers. They have perfected … Continue reading Your turn, Mr Pillai

VIEW: Idealism versus pragmatism —Mohammad Jamil Pakistan is at war with terrorists and there are internal and external threats to its security. In such circumstances, extension of the army chief is justifiable. The Pakistan Army has avoided politics and one should appreciate an army chief who performs his duties within the parameters of the constitution If idealism is pursued, no extension of extension of service should be given to the army chief, but for continuing the counter-terrorism measures, the extension can be looked upon as logical and inevitable. Ideally speaking, ad hoc judges should not be appointed, as it is … Continue reading General Kayani

July 30, 2010 by Ali Abbas  There have been very few times when I have not found the right words to express my grief, sorrow, anger or passion for something and today is one of those days as I write for my man, Prem Chand – A Pakistani Hindu, a true patriot, a social worker who spent his life trying to uplift the condition of his fellow countrymen, he gave sweat and tears to this land of pure. An elected member of PILDAT’s Youth Parliament, whose fellow YP’s say the following about him: He greeted muslims with a warm Assalamo … Continue reading Prem Chand We Are Ashamed!

The latest outbreaks of paranoia and anti-Muslim sentiment around the construction of new mosques, particularly the one proposed in lower Manhattan, is propelling American society down the same road it has traveled many times before, to its own detriment. By Asma T. Uddin, July 21, 2010 Stopping more than a mosque Washington, DC Writers, philosophers, professors, and politicians have referred to the United States of America as “a nation founded by immigrants.” This fact can hardly be refuted – especially considering the existence of the term “Native American.” America has dealt with the question and issues resulting from immigration since … Continue reading How can we view Muslims as Americans?

Islam, the media and meaningless language The use of reactionary language in place of context when covering issues related to Muslims is simply lazy journalism. But there is more at stake than that conclusion implies. These hollow phrases fail to portray Muslims as human beings or to accord Islam the same stature as other global faiths. By Ali H. Mir, July 28, 2010 Clear as mud Los Angeles, California Islamist, orthodox, jihadist, conservative, Islamism, hardliner, Moslem, extremist, insurgent, fundamentalist, freedom fighter, infidel, moderate, liberal, progressive. All of these words mean nothing and everything at the same time – a testament … Continue reading Muslims and the use of reactionary language

More than a coach Famed UCLA basketball coach John Wooden, who died last week at the age of 99, was an inspiration to me as a child and gave me valuable lessons in how to succeed in life. By Tarik Trad, June 7, 2010 The author with Coach Wooden Glendale, California John Wooden, who died recently at the age of 99, was best known as a college basketball coach. His UCLA basketball teams won 10 NCAA championships in 12 years, earning him the nicknamed “The Wizard of Westwood.” He coached many college All-Americans and future NBA Hall of Fame players, … Continue reading John Wooden

Israeli rabbis clamp down on burka Israeli rabbis are to clamp down on the growing number of devout Jewish women wearing the burka by declaring the garment an item of sexual deviancy. By Adrian Blomfield in Jerusalem telegraph.co.uk The move was prompted by the husbands of some burka-wearing women Photo: Tim Whitby / Alamy At the insistence of the husbands of some burka-wearing women, a leading rabbinical authority is to issue an edict declaring burka wearing a sexual fetish that is as promiscuous as wearing too little. A small group of ultra-orthodox Jews in the town of Beit Shemesh chose … Continue reading Israeli Jewish women wish to wear burkahs!