Why does al-Qaida kill? The fact that most of its victims are Muslim prompts fundamental questions about the violence committed in al-Qaida’s name Eric Randolph guardian.co.uk, When western governments are not being sidetracked into thinking up new irritations for airline passengers, they occasionally profess an understanding that the struggle against al-Qaida is a war of ideas. Unfortunately, they have never formulated a clear strategy for how this war might be fought. One of the few weapons they wield consistently to discredit al-Qaida is the fact of how many Muslims are killed in its attacks. Hence the recent report from the … Continue reading The fact that most of its victims are Muslim prompts fundamental questions about the violence committed in al-Qaida’s name

In making an enemy of Hosni Mubarak’s regime, George Galloway has taken a lead western governments should follow Ajmal Masroor guardian.co.uk, George Galloway was deported from Egypt on Friday as “persona non grata” by the Egyptian authorities, accusing him of undermining Egyptian security. What a bizarre, twisted and demented accusation from a dictatorial regime that has ruled Egypt for over 30 years and which has been an accomplice with Israel to the Gaza blockade causing untold suffering of the Palestinian people. Let me declare my interest from the outset, I am not a great fan of Galloway, in fact I … Continue reading Galloway right to relish Egypt expulsion

Gina Ford says the Lib Dems should get a new leader after Nick Clegg criticised her advice – but many parents agree with him Joanna Moorhead guardian.co.uk, At last, some common sense from the Lib Dems. No, not their decision to shelve their policies on free childcare and free care for the elderly – all said and done, that doesn’t matter enough to make it worth writing home about. But the really exciting news from Lib Dem HQ is this: their leader, Nick Clegg, a father of three young children including a 10-month-old, has decided to ram childcare guru Gina … Continue reading Clegg v Ford? I know who gets my vote

Marrying someone from another faith and race can involve huge familial strain – it’s not something to be fetishised by liberals Pathik Pathak guardian.co.uk, My engagement present was a book of pocket psalms, with yellow highlighter streaked through passages that warned of the eternal damnation that non-believers face. It was presented to me in the small, dark room of a village house on the outskirts of Nairobi by my future father-in-law, a lay preacher. I had gone there to ask for my girlfriend’s hand in marriage, and to meet her family. I’m a Hindu. That’s why I read Anushka Asthana’s … Continue reading Cross-cultural marriage is no picnic

By Nadeem F. Paracha By late 1979, markets in the tribal regions of Pakistan were flooded with AK-47s, smuggled across by Afghan refugees. – File photo The famous Russian assault rifle, the Kalashnikov, also called the AK-47, or Klashni in the street and campus lingo of urban Pakistan, has become a permanent feature of the Pakistani landscape. The weapon of choice during student movements, ethnic and sectarian clashes, kidnappings, government raids, and militant uprisings, the AK-47 continues to feature in most acts of violence committed in this country. It’s almost hard to believe that the weapon was a scarce commodity … Continue reading Mullah-Klashnistan!

Pakistani Taliban chief Hakimullah Mehsud, left, sits with his comrade Waliur Rehman during his meeting with media in Sararogha of Pakistani tribal area of South Waziristan along the Afghanistan border on Oct. 4, 2009. – Photo by AP. A video purporting to show a Jordanian suicide bomber, who killed several CIA agents in Khost, seated next to Hakeemullah Mehsud, the leader of the TTP, raises some very troubling questions. While the authenticity of the video has not yet been established, the initial consensus seems to be that it is genuine. Even if it is not, what is clear is that … Continue reading Khost bomber – Al Qaeda, Taliban and TTP joint operation?

Religion and the state By Iqbal Ahmad Khan The Quaid never referred to Pakistan as the Islamic Republic. It did not take the religious lobby too long to collude with civil and military officials to have the name of the country changed from the Republic of Pakistan to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. It is not merely in Pakistan that the judiciary has adopted an uncharacteristically activist role; in other countries of South Asia too it is involved in charting new courses. A decision taken by the Bangladesh Supreme Court a few days ago could have far-reaching consequences for the … Continue reading Republic of Pakistan? Why not?