Radical Islamism & Jihad Jammu & Kashmir: Brewing a war in god’s name

[SyedMdAsadullah]

Radical Islamism & Jihad
Jammu & Kashmir: Brewing a war in god's name

Doing the same thing again and again but expecting different results, goes an old saying, is a form of insanity. It is a maxim the new Chief Minister, Omar Abdullah, might do well to consider. -- Praveen Swami
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War on Terror
How 'Pakistan's Switzerland' became Taliban land

At a time when the world's eyes are focused on Pakistan and what it will do about the terrorist hubs in its territory, there are few areas of concern bigger than Swat. The picturesque valley in the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) was once a bustling tourist hub before the Taliban overran the area. Unlike the proxy wars raging in the fringes of Pakistan's territory, Swat is much closer to Pakistan's heartland — a three-hour drive from Islamabad. Radical cleric Maulana Fazlullah's band of footsoldiers have made sure that the place once called 'Pakistan's Switzerland' is now a valley marked by destruction. -- Manjusha Madhu

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The Pakistani government has "lost control" of the settled district of Swat to the Taliban, a senior politician said. The military is losing the battle that began more than a year ago in the former vacation paradise once known as the Switzerland of Pakistan, according to Haji Adeel, the Senior Vice President of Awami National Party, the ruling party in the Northwest Frontier Province. --- Bill Roggio
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Islam and Pluralism
Nothing wrong with separate identities created by Madrasa education, says Asghar Ali Engineer

This book (Ms. Saral Jhingran's systematic study of madrasas system in a historical perspective) will greatly help in dispelling many misunderstandings prevalent among non-Muslims and to an extent among Muslims themselves. The critique developed by her invites orthodox Muslims to reflect seriously as to what modern madrasas should be like. Many Muslim modernists have also developed such critique. This book on the whole will be quite useful for scholars as well as for lay people.

 Her fear about madrasa system seems to be that it creates sense of separate identity among Muslim children. While this criticism may be valid from her point of view question is in a diverse and now polarized society like India can we avoid such separate sense of identity? Our whole political system is thriving on religious, caste, ethnic and linguistic identities and sub-identities. Though there is nothing wrong with separate identities what is wrong is its politicization. -- Asghar Ali Engineer

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