Azeem Ibrahim Research Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School’s International Security Program On paper, Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab — the twenty-three year-old who tried to blow up a plane over Detroit on Christmas day with 80g of PETN crystals in his trousers — had everything to live for. He was the son of a wealthy Nigerian financier, he had a good education, studying mechanical engineering at the University College London and living in a luxury apartment. His religious observance — he was the chairman of the university’s Islamic Society — could also have been a source of inspiration and stability to him, … Continue reading A Successful Way to Prevent Future Terrorist Attacks?

Nick Spencer Received wisdom over recent years has seen the Iraq war as having irreparably damaged relations between the Labour government and British Muslims. The way in which Tony Bair worked so closely with George Bush’s Republican administration, coupled with his government’s relentless focus on security, which many feel has helped create an atmosphere of Islamophobia, is supposed to have alienated many British Muslims. By way of response, Labour’s attempt to pass legislation outlawing religious hate speech was seen by some commentators as merely a desperate sop offered to their disenchanted Muslim supporters. The received wisdom, then, seems sound. Yet … Continue reading Is New Labour the natural home for British Muslims?

My generation need to be heroes Those of us reaching adulthood in the 21st century are more conventional than our parents – and we have a serious job to do Laurie Penny guardian.co.uk Today’s young people are, apparently, uniquely godless. Studies released this week by the Pew Forum have revealed that 25% of young Americans born after 1980 self-define as “atheist”, “agnostic” or “nothing in particular”, as opposed to 19% of the previous cohort. A similar decline is taking place in Britain, with the British Humanist Association reporting a 10% decline in religious faith among young people in less than … Continue reading This generation needs to be the heroes!

The three virtues we need Courage, modesty and intellectual curiosity can go a long way in cultivating delight in daily life, and protecting our liberties Philip Pullman guardian.co.uk At first sight, of course, vice is more attractive. She is sexier, she promises to be better company than her plain sister virtue. Every novelist, and every reader too, has more fun with the villains than with the good guys. Goodness is staunch and patient, but wickedness is vivid and dynamic; we admire the first, but we thrill to the second. Nevertheless, I want to say a word in praise of virtue: … Continue reading Virtues of Courage, Modesty and Intellectual curiosity will bring us closer together

Here comes everybody By Hajrah Mumtaz dawn The video, uploaded by an anonymous source and of indeterminate veracity, created a furore that eventually resulted in the public recognition of and anger against the brutality of the Taliban. — File photo The rise in recent years of internet media, and the subsequent ease with which the average citizen can publish news and views, has become quite controversial in journalistic circles. One side argues that this is not ‘true’ journalism: that the barrage of information means that the significant is drowned by the pedestrian, that there is no way of independently substantiating … Continue reading YOU ARE THE MEDIA NOW!

Smokers’ Corner: To Sir, with love Nadeem F. Paracha Some Sirs are always trying to defend hatred and historical concoctions in the name of patriotism: NFP. — Dawn I was buying a pack of cigarettes at Karachi’s Boat Basin area when someone patted me on the back. I turned around, and it was a teenager with longish hair, a T-shirt and faded denims: “My name is Ayman, and I hate you.” “That’s nice to know, Ayman,” I smiled, offering him a cigarette. He took the cigarette, and I lit it for him. “Why are you always trying to put down … Continue reading I hate America…. but want to go there to study!

View from US: An affair to remember Anjum Niaz Charlie Wilson became a friend of Zia’s because Joanne so told him to: Anjum Niaz. — Dawn This is a triangular story of platonic, sensual and long distance love between a woman and two men as different as day and night. One man being a boozer, a womaniser, the other a paragon of piety (so he led us to believe). And in the middle was a woman — attractive and steamy. At first, there was a visible tilt in the direction of the Army House in Rawalpindi, which the woman frequented. … Continue reading General Zias affairs with Joanne Herring and Good time Charlie

By Huma Yusuf   A Policeman in plain cloth showcase a handcuffed and blindfolded suspected militant to the media in Karachi.—Reuters There has been a definite shift in Pakistan’s counterterrorism policy. And once again Pakistanis are the last to know. The disclaimers issuing from Islamabad since the arrest of Afghan Taliban commander Mullah Baradar have reached new highs of dissimulation. Rather than continue to stoke the suspicions of the polity, the Pakistan government should make its policy towards the Taliban — both Pakistani and Afghan — transparent. Baradar’s arrest, followed by the capture of other Al Qaeda-linked militants, indicates that … Continue reading Officialdom’s doublespeak in Pakistan

By Anwar Syed If the National Assembly is still to be regarded as stable, one may wonder what good stability is. — File Photo Dawn The government of Pakistan has reportedly told American officials that their assistance should be focused on stabilising democracy and economic development in this country. The idea of the stabilisation of democracy is not self-explanatory and we have to figure out what it means and how the US can help in this regard. An institution may be considered stable if it is not subject to abrupt and frequent changes. Continuity is reassuring to those who do … Continue reading Balancing democracy with Mullahs and Corrupt Politicians on either side

By Izzuddin Pal For India, the solution to the conflict will allow it to play a meaningful role in the region. — Photo by AFP dawn During the twenties the western powers had an opportunity to decide about the future of conquered territories, and during the forties they had to cope with decolonisation of their subject nations. In both cases they followed what some historians of imperialism call the policy of strengthening post-colonial links. The goal of this policy was to link the conquered territories or the post-colonial regimes with the emerging international political economy in order to protect their … Continue reading Despite South Asians Egos – Is India-Pakistan entente possible?