Twitter Fatwa against Saudi blogger

A young Saudi blogger’s tweets about the Prophet Muhammad have inflamed Islamists,who are calling for his execution. Mike Giglio exclusively interviews Hamza Kashgari.

Last week,just before the anniversary of the Prophet Muhammad’s birth,Hamza Kashgari,a 23-year-old Saudi writer in Jidda,took to his Twitter feed to reflect on the occasion.

“On your birthday,I will say that I have loved the rebel in you,that you’ve always been a source of inspiration to me,and that I do not like the halos of divinity around you. I shall not pray for you,” he wrote in one tweet.

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U.S.-India Ties: Pivot Problems

India has already shown that it is starting to carve out its own path in Asia. But it’s one that could create clashes with the United States.

There’s a conundrum at the heart of the Obama administration’s “pivot” toward Asia, at least as it relates to India. The United States is eager to extricate itself from military conflicts in the Greater Middle East (Iraq and Afghanistan) so it can focus on a region where, as President Barack Obama put it, “the action’s going to be.” Shoring up the U.S. strategic posture in East Asia amid China’s ascendance will entail a deepening of geopolitical cooperation between Washington and New Delhi. But the quickening withdrawal from Afghanistan will increase bilateral frictions, pushing relations in the opposite direction.

The Pentagon’s just-released strategic guidance paper calls for “investing in a long-term strategic partnership with India to support its ability to serve as a regional economic anchor and provider of security in the broader Indian Ocean region.” Both Obama during his visit to India in November 2010 and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during her trip last summer have called on New Delhi to play a more active strategic role in East Asia.

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In response to: US Congressional hearing may spell trouble for Pakistan

In response to a recently published article:

US Congressional hearing may spell trouble for Pakistan

Ironically,US is the one who started the insurgency in Balochistan in the first place. Just like it started the so called “Arab Spring”. Libya,Egypt and now Syria are all mischief of US and one can see through the conspiracy linked with oil or Israel.

Balochistan was perfectly peaceful till after US invaded Afghanistan. With the help of RAW and Mossad,US started fomenting militancy and the insurgency slowly during 2003-2005. India was given a free access to Afghanistan and it quickly opened Consulates in Qandahar and Zahidan and started sending trained Baloch insurgents to kill Punjabis and security forces in Baloch areas of Balochistan. From 2007 onwards thousands of Punjabis were killed,over a million non-Baloch migrated to Karachi and Punjab. US did not raise a voice then. Human Rights only become visible to US when it suits its strategic aspirations. With Pakistan’s defiance after US troops killed 28 Pakistani soldiers,there is a visible resuscitation of insurgency in Baloch areas since mid December 2011. And now the Hearing! Very clearly,US is trying to pressurize Pakistan to allow supplies to its losing military adventure in Afghanistan and weaken her as much as it can.

Brahmdagh Bugti was protected by US in Afghanistan. He was made to live next to Karzai’s palace from where he,with professional support of CIA/RAW,directed insurgency in Baloch areas of Balochistan. He managed to have John Solecki,UNHCR’s Head in Balochistan,kidnapped. Then even managed to get $ 25 million from Anne Patterson,the then US Ambassador and only then,US shifted Brahmdagh to Switzerland,where he now lives in comfort but still carries on militancy in Baloch areas. Not only he,two sons of Khair Bakhsh Marri and Suleman Ahmadzai,so called Khan of Kalat,have also been given asylum in Switzerland and London. David Cameron,like Tony Blair,is always willing to do biddings of US.

US opened several anti Pakistan Baloch-Websites in Jerusalem and New York and these are dutifully being updated to spread propaganda like a business corporation would do.

And what Baloch issue? Balochistan is not where only Baloch live,the wrong name not withstanding. Nearly one third of Balochistan is peaceful where Pashtuns,Hazaras,Kurds,Sindhis and settlers live. Even the areas where Baloch and Brahuis live is not all disturbed. Only components of three tribes,Marri,Bugti and Mengal ( who are Brahuis) have been carrying out insurgency. Even in their areas,much of the area is peaceful. The militants go on roving “missions” duly briefed by their handlers,and kill here and there and throw some explosives and mines. For every killing they are paid. ISI should check the millions of rupees which are coming through Western Union postal system to Dalbandin,Noshki,Khuzdar,Dera Murad Jamali etc,all small places but getting huge sums from aboard. These are not remittances of expatriates,these are payments for killing security forces and Punjabis.

Does the US not know the true population of Baloch in Balochistan? Its not more that 3-4 million,while Baluchistan’s population is around 7-8 million,and Pakistan is pushing the figure of 180 million. There are far more Baloch living in Punjab and Sindh than in Balochistan. US cannot handle 40-50 million rebellious Pashtuns in Afghanistan and it now wants to further antagonize this massive population?

No one ,other than perhaps diplomats,like the US anymore. Not the people of US,but the state policies which are grossly detrimental to Pakistan,are despised. US Congressional hearings will only further exacerbate the massive hatred prevailing towards US.

And why is US Congress not hearing about Chechnya? Kashmir? Palestine? Somalia? Zambia? And a lot of other global issues? The Bush,and now Obama Administration’ is sowing such seeds of hatred in the minds of Pakistanis that for generations they will not be able to eradicate this hate.

Area 14/8

Memoirs from the Battlefield

I spent last year in Afghanistan, visiting and talking with U.S. troops and their Afghan partners. My duties with the Army’s Rapid Equipping Force took me into every significant area where our soldiers engage the enemy. Over the course of 12 months, I covered more than 9,000 miles and talked, traveled and patrolled with troops in Kandahar, Kunar, Ghazni, Khost, Paktika, Kunduz, Balkh, Nangarhar and other provinces.

What I saw bore no resemblance to rosy official statements by U.S. military leaders about conditions on the ground.

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CIAs Drones targeting civilians, rescue workers, mourners

CIA’s drone campaign in Pakistan has reportedly been targeting civilians involved in rescuing victims or attending funerals, an investigation report revealed.

According to the investigation carried out by the Bureau of Investigative Journalism for the Sunday Times, drones not only targeted militants but also civilians who had gone to help the victims targeted by the drones.

Earlier, Pakistan had acknowledged ‘tactical advantages’ to US drone strikes on the Taliban and al Qaeda, but appeared to shrug off the unexpected confirmation by Washington of attacks on its soil.

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How power influences knowledge

In higher education,donors can often exert substantial influence over the curriculum.

What is the relationship between knowledge and power?

When we think about this question,we normally assume that knowledge –that which we take to be “truth”–is separate from power. The problem is when “money”or “politics” influences knowledge.

Such an outlook forgets that it takes power to produce knowledge in the first place.

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Lack of foresight or too much insight?

Last week the Pakistani public experienced yet another blast. But this blast was not the like the typical blast we hear so often. It was one which will cause the entire nation to suffer for times to come because this was the week when petrol prices shook the country.

With petrol prices making a record high of Rs. 94.95 per liter,diesel prices crossing the Rs. 100 mark and a further increase of 10% in the gas cess,Pakistanis are wondering if life can get any worse?

The Petroleum Ministry is never devoid of excuses for increasing the rates. At least last week they had a reasonable excuse- global rise in oil prices and an effort to generate revenue.  Wonder what last month’s rise was intended for? Especially when the prices in the international market had remained stagnant.

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Pakistan cannot afford to go to war over Kashmir Issue: PM

Pakistan Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani today acknowledged that the Kashmir issue would have to be resolved through dialogue and diplomacy as Pakistan “cannot afford wars” in the 21st century.

Four wars have already been fought on the Kashmir issue and the region still “was a flashpoint”, but in the 21st century “we cannot afford wars”, Gilani said.

“We want to resolve issues through dialogue, diplomacy, prudent policy and national consensus,” he said while addressing a convention at the Prime Minister’s Secretariat to mark ‘Kashmir Solidarity Day’.

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Lahore Oh My Lahore

 

Lahore is the capital of Pakistan’s most populous and most developed province—Punjab. It has glorious history,many cultural and architectural attractions and it is Pakistan’s pride. Today it is in need of urgent attention.

The Allama Iqbal International Airport the gateway to Lahore is a shambles. The entrance is overcrowded with walls of people lined up barring access for passengers. Once you enter barely one foot away is a customs post that checks passengers before they have even checked in. 

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Europe cold snap, death toll crosses 300

The deadly cold snap that has gripped Europe for more than a week wrought more havoc across the continent on Sunday, straining emergency services, grounding flights and pushing the death toll past 300.

The homeless population has borne the brunt of the suffering, with dozens of transients freezing to death in unheated apartments, fire escapes or in makeshift street shelters. 

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