Rahimullah Yusufzai All who matter in Afghanistan are talking about reconciliation with the Taliban, but on the Afghan government’s terms. Strangely enough, though, the offers of peace talks are being made at a time when 37,000 fresh US and Nato troops are on their way to the country in a desperate attempt to bring the conflict to a military end. This is a turnaround from statements from Western capitals in the past that the Taliban are terrorists and not worthy of being engaged in political talks or reconciliation. President Barack Obama took the lead by emphasising the need for a … Continue reading Could the Taliban reconcile with Kabul?

Elf Habib Religion is no longer the decisive or dominant factor in growing secular and pluralistic global trends. The world through repeated bitter, bloody and marathon religious conflicts has learnt the futility of religious wars Even if it is assumed that the revival of the Caliphate as some supranational institution parallel to the president of the European Union (EU) is possible, its entire edifice would have to be built on an elected representative basis. But most of the present preachers and proponents of the Caliphate cannot even succeed in local council elections. Still, despite the impossibility of reversing the current … Continue reading Shattering the myths of mullah lovers

Syed Mohammad Ali Teachers hardly encourage reading habits in students and lay no foundation at the primary and secondary level for inculcating the habit of reading books. University libraries are largely subjected to neglect A sound education is a basic human right and a crucial asset for overcoming poverty, improving health, and reducing human rights abuses. It is also a prerequisite for full citizenship and participation in democracy and society. Conversely, an illiterate person is less effective in securing survival in the current world, or to provide for one’s family effectively. It has been estimated that every two-percentage point increase … Continue reading Value of reading

Ishtiaq Ahmed Abdul Ghaffar Khan was a man of peace. He approached Islam in the hope of finding a complementary message to Gandhi’s interpretation of Hinduism as Ram Raj and ahimsa (non-violence) and he found it A question that keeps popping up in discussions on violence, terrorism and the Taliban is the following: is the use of force and violence intrinsic to Pakhtun culture? Superficially it seems that it must be so because the Pakhtuns, known as Pathans in the rest of the South Asian subcontinent, have been bearing firearms since a long time. They were producing firearms much before … Continue reading Abdul Ghaffar Khan, Islam and non-violence

By Qalandar Bux Memon The shrine of Data Gunj Bakhsh in Lahore. – APP (File Photo) Myths and miracles It is often assumed that Sufism stands opposed to Wahhabism. Wrong. Sufism and Wahhabism, in fact, share a fatal characteristic – they are religions of the status quo.  In Pakistan, Sufism legitimises barbarities of inequality and starvation – ‘do nothing, it’s god’s will’ – while at the same time justifying structures of oppressive power, Pirism and landlordism, rather like Wahhabism in Saudi Arabia.  Contemporary Sufism, rather than being a solution to Pakistan’s problems, is the cause. I was sitting at the … Continue reading The bad, naughty Sufi

Dawn Editorial PML-N Chief Nawaz Sharif condoling with the parents of Shazia. – Photo by APP. Outrage in National Assembly over maid’s murder The death of 12-year-old Shazia, who worked as domestic help for an affluent Lahore family accused of beating her frequently, is a crime on multiple levels. According to the autopsy report, Shazia died as a result of severe physical torture. The police have now taken into custody the principal accused and three members of his family who were nominated in the FIR, as well as the couple who originally put the family in touch with Shazia. It … Continue reading Maid’s death – lawyers the new mullahs?

By Kamran Shaf We are a quite unique people as we well know too, who prey on the weak and the vulnerable, and all in the name of God. –Photo by AP First things first then, and it is highly fitting that our chief election commissioner should have been barred by the government from visiting India to attend a “function in honour of democracy”. For, what has Pakistan got to do with democracy anyway? Below, without comment a list of Pakistan’s various governments and the approximate periods of their rule, or misrule if you will. ‘Caretaker’ governments or those such … Continue reading Of this and that – preying on peoples weaknesses

Retired Brigadier Sultan Tarar, better known as Colonel Imam. — File photo RAWALPINDI: The United States should talk to the Afghan Taliban leader Mullah Omar if it wants to resolve the conflict in Afghanistan, a former ISI officer who is believed to have trained Omar, said in an interview to a US-based news group. Retired Brigadier Sultan Tarar, known as Colonel Imam, said Mullah Omar was open to talks. He said if a sincere message came to him from the Americans, it will be heard. “If a sincere message comes from the Americans, these people (the Taliban) are very big-hearted. … Continue reading Mullah Omar open to talks: Colonel Imam

“Hell-o,” a deep sultry voice responds on the other end of the line when I call. I mentally prepare myself to speak to one of the most controversial, love-to-hate figures in the entertainment industry, Meera. My task: to organise the interview and accompanying photo shoot that was just published in Dawn’s Images on Sunday. The team who worked on the shoot were expecting that Meera would be completely untraceable at the scheduled time for the hair and make-up. She wasn’t answering her phone, local hotels did not have her listed as staying with them, and a frantic phone call to … Continue reading “I am a ‘s-a-x’ symbol, I have always been a woman never sax changed” – Meera

Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. — Photo by AFP ISLAMABAD: Respected by both Pakistan’s powerful military and Washington, Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani may be the best chance of bringing political stability to Pakistan. A Supreme Court ruling last month throwing out an amnesty for unpopular President Asif Ali Zardari, several top aides and thousands of activists and government figures, triggered a political storm and expectation that Zardari was on his way out. Political turmoil in the South Asian country worries the United States. Washington is pressing Islamabad to focus on eliminating al Qaeda and Taliban militants along the border … Continue reading Yousuf Raza Gilani may be best hope for stability