Rethinking Islam with Sultan Shahin

Islam,Terrorism and Jihad
01 Aug 2008, NewAgeIslam.Com
Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan denies links with India

KHAR: The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) on Thursday dismissed as baseless a statement made by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Interior Rehman Malik, in which he had said that TTP chief Baitullah Mehsud had connections with India. The TTP said Malik’s statement was absolutely unfounded and that it was an attempt to malign the Taliban. Talking to the media from an undisclosed location, TTP spokesman Maulvi Umer said Malik’s statement alleging that the Taliban had links with India and were getting financial assistance from the country was deplorable and silly and was not based on facts. They said Mehsud had no connections with India and was not receiving any financial aid from it. The spokesman said the TTP came into existence in the name of jihad and its aim was to fight a holy war against India and the United States forces in Afghanistan. Maulvi Umer said the TTP had damaged India’s interests in Afghanistan in many actions. He said the TTP could not even think of taking financial assistance from India, an enemy, to create chaos and law and order problems in Pakistan. The spokesman said India was the worst enemy of Pakistan. He said a responsible person like Rehman Malik should avoid issuing statements that were not based on facts as such statements were not in the interests of Pakistan. staff report

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C08%5C01%5Cstory_1-8-2008_pg7_17
2009/7/28 Asadullah Syed <syedmdasadullah@gmail.com>
Islam and the West
01 Aug 2008, NewAgeIslam.Com
Strike on Iran Still Possible, US Tells Israel


By: Paul Richter and Julian E. Barnes, The Los Angeles Times
Wednesday 30 July 2008

During Israeli Defence Minister Ehud Barak's visit to Washington on July 29, he met with US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice. A possible attack on Iran was a main topic of discussion in Barak's meetings with administration officials.
Washington - Bush administration officials reassured Israel's defence minister this week that the United States has not abandoned all possibility of a military attack on Iran, despite widespread Israeli concern that Washington has begun softening its position toward Tehran.

In meetings Monday and Tuesday, administration officials told Defence Minister Ehud Barak that the option of attacking Iran over its nuclear program remains on the table, though U.S. officials are primarily seeking a diplomatic solution.

At the same time, U.S. officials acknowledged that there is a rare divergence in the U.S. and Israeli approaches, with Israelis emphasizing the possibility of a military response out of concern that Tehran may soon have the know-how for building a nuclear bomb.

"Is there a difference of emphasis? It certainly looks as though there is," said a senior American Defence official, speaking on condition of anonymity when discussing the sensitive talks.

U.S. and Israeli officials believe Iran is enriching uranium with the aim of building nuclear weapons.

Tehran says that it is engaged in a peaceful enrichment program for civilian energy purposes.

Pentagon Press Secretary Geoff Morrell said in an interview that U.S. officials have often made it clear to Israeli officials that Washington prefers to try to mitigate the threat from Tehran by applying economic pressure.

"The military option, although always available, is not our preferred route," Morrell said.

"We have made that point clear to them and the world in our public statements and private meetings."

Barak left Israel for Washington amid reports in the Israeli press that he would try to talk the Bush administration out of what many Israelis perceive as a more conciliatory policy toward Iran.

On Tuesday, the Israeli Defence Ministry released a statement saying that Barak had told Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates that "a policy that consists of keeping all options on the table must be maintained."

Speaking to reporters in Washington, Barak said that there remains time for "accelerated sanctions" to try to persuade Iran to abandon the nuclear program.

Israeli officials were concerned in December when a key U.S. intelligence report concluded that Iran had abandoned an effort to build a nuclear bomb. They also have noted with concern comments this month by Navy Adm. Michael G. Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, that an Israeli airstrike on Iran would further destabilize the Middle East and compound the strain on overworked U.S. forces.

Also this month, in a rare move toward engagement with Tehran, a senior U.S. diplomat took part in international talks in Geneva about the nuclear program.

And U.S. officials have floated a proposal for opening a low-level diplomatic office in Tehran.

These gestures have taken place at a time of intensifying discussion in Israel about the wisdom of an Israeli military attack on Iran before the Bush administration leaves office.

A senior State Department official said Tuesday that Israel "is a sovereign state and we understand that they view this as an existential threat. And we take the threat that's posed by Iran seriously as well."

But the official, who asked to remain unidentified in keeping with diplomatic rules, said the administration is "pursuing the strategy we believe is the right one."

Gates, in an hour-long meeting with Barak, told the minister that the United States intends to consider providing radar to Israel that can detect ballistic missiles launched from Iran and supplying weapons to counter rocket attacks from Lebanon and the Gaza Strip, according to a senior Defence official.
http://www.truthout.org/article/strike-iran-still-possible-us-tells-israel