Malaysia may charge 200 for deviating from Islam
Bangladesh cleric arrested after woman caned to death
Ilyas Kashmiri recruiting Britons for 26/11-type attacks in Europe
Focus on Saudi role in Muslim world
Pakistani politicians are unwilling to finish off the Islamic terror groups
Iran ex-foreign minister says sacking 'un-Islamic'
Pakistan Religious parties to strike against amendment in blasphemy law
Cleric’s Anti-U.S. Forces Poised for Gains in Iraq
Islam a religion of peace, brotherhood and tolerance: Firdous
Jihadis, not Naxals, main Indian worry: US diplomats
ANHAD to train its cadre to combat communal forces
Ayodhya film festival in its fourth year, continues to fight the communal stereotype
Iran says 11 members of Sunni militant group hanged
579 militants killed in J-K group clashes since 1990
WikiLeaks: India has zero-tolerance towards torture, says Army
Al-Qaeda aims to bring down nuclear-armed Pakistan: US
Radical Muslim sect again stalks northern Nigeria
Is Pakistan Losing Patience in the War on Terror?
Inside Yemen: Britain's woman on the frontline of the new war on terror
Indonesian Islam: What Went Right?
Terrorism-phobia: No Islam-o-phobia – A Muslim terrorist is guilty until proven innocent!
Socioeconomic uncertainties lead to extremism, terrorism
‘Urdu needs scientific transformation for development’
Gains in Kandahar Came with More Brutal US Tactics
Record Levels of Violence in Afghanistan Do Not Equal Progress
Omar al-Bashir: northern Sudan will adopt sharia law if country splits
Hizbul Islam joins Shabaab in Somalia
Who Will Teach Tolerance to the Muslims?
Spreading Peace 15 Seconds an Hour in Times Sq.
Islamophobia And The African-American Muslim
What Are Common Misconceptions of Muslim Women?
Taliban attacks Afghan Army bases
Understanding reached on stapled visa issue: envoy
Mubarak blames Israel for West Asia peace crisis
Sacking offensive and un-Islamic, says Mottaki
J&K leaders spar on custodial torture
Two militant modules busted in J&K
Rahul touches a common chord
A slice of Mughal history with dollops of fun
Al-Qaida aims to 'bring down' Pakistan: Biden
Dhaka probes porn film at airport screen
2011 Afghanistan troop cuts more than 'token': Joe Biden
Headley chargesheet after Kasab conviction: Chidambaram
Even handing over Kashmir won't bring peace with Pak: MEA official
Border region of J&K against azadi, division: Interlocutors
2 main Somali Islamist insurgent groups to merge
Brother-in-law of Kazmi held
Martyred cops' families looking for secure future
Compiled by New Age Isalm News Bureau
Photo: Digvijay Singh, prominent politician of India’s ruling Congress party
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Like Nazis, BJP kills Muslims in name of nationalism: Digvijay
Dec 20, 2010
NEW DELHI: Making a strong plea for stopping RSS on Sunday, AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh accused BJP of killing Muslims in the name of nationalism like Nazis.
Digvijay Singh said RSS's "hatred" for Muslims was comparable to that of the Nazis towards Jews. "Why is it that all Hindus found involved in terror activities are members of RSS?" he added.
Taking cue, Congress on Sunday urged the government to investigate the links between terrorists and RSS affiliates, embracing Rahul Gandhi's hardline posture on Sangh Parivar whose senior cadre have allegedly been found involved in explosions at Muslim religious places.
The Congress plenary session adopted a political resolution which urged the government to tackle the menace of religious fundamentalism strongly and to probe the RSS-terror link as uncovered in recent cases. "Terrorism from wherever it comes and whatever form it takes must be dealt with firmly and effectively," the document said.
The resolution complimented the Centre for effectively tackling cross-border terrorism, noting that its vigilance had prevented major attacks, save Pune and Varanasi, after 26/11. RSS came under strong fire from the Congress. "RSS and VHP are insidious in their effort to break India," said the resolution.
Congress also touched upon Gujarat riots, urging the government to "relentlessly prosecute all those responsible for the unforgivable genocide that occurred in large parts of Gujarat in 2002." On Ayodhya, it repeated that the judgment of the Allahabad High Court did not condone the "crime" of demolition and that those responsible ought to be brought to book. At a meeting on Saturday to finalise the resolution, Rahul had suggested that the party should term the demolition as a criminal activity.
The frontal attack on RSS — communalism and terrorism — defied the belief that Congress would downplay the aggression in view of the recent controversy kicked off by AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh recently by giving the impression that he suspected the hand of Hindutva hardliners in the killing of former Maharashtra ATS chief Hemant Karkare.
After the recent Wikileaks expose about Rahul telling the US envoy that Hindu radical groups were a bigger threat than Lashkar-e-Taiba, the strong reaction from the saffron family led a section to believe that the party could softpedal the issue.
Significantly, the tone was set by Sonia Gandhi who said there was no distinction between organisations of majority and of the minority communities who indulged in communalism and terror.
The choice of Digvijay Singh to second the political resolution was also significant given his views on "saffron terror". Expectedly, he made a strong plea for checking RSS, saying the parochial mindset being promoted by it was the biggest challenge before the country. "Why is it that all Hindus found involved in terror activities are members of RSS," he asked.
He thanked home minister P Chidambaram for handing over to NIA the murder case of Sunil Joshi, the mastermind behind blasts on minority places. "MP police had closed the case and now the NIA has found that Joshi was killed by his own people because he knew too much," he said. Singh said RSS had infiltrated major institutions like bureaucracy and judiciary but the Malegaon blasts had dangerous portents as two armymen were been found involved in it.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Like-Nazis-BJP-kills-Muslims-in-name-of-
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Malaysia may charge 200 for deviating from Islam
December 20, 2010
KUALA LUMPUR: More than 200 Muslim Shiites including Iranians, Indonesians and Pakistanis detained in one of the biggest swoops on outlawed Muslim sects in Malaysia may be charged with breaching Islamic laws, an official said Monday.
Government authorities in Muslim-majority Malaysia consider only the Sunni denomination to be legal. Sunni Islam is the world’s largest branch of the religion, followed by Shia Islam.
Islamic officials raided a shop house in the Gombak district in central Selangor state last week and arrested the group, who were allegedly followers of the outlawed Shia sect, said Nurhamizah Othman, a public relations officer at the Selangor Islamic Religious Department.
It was the largest swoop of outlawed groups in recent months, the department director, Muhammad Khusrin Munawi, told state media. He said the Shia doctrine is a threat to national security because it permits the killing of Muslims from other sects who are regarded as infidels.
Nurhamizah confirmed the comments.
Malaysia, a Southeast Asian country of 28 million people, is wary of religious sects that go against mainstream Islam, fearful that they may alter its image as a moderate Muslim nation. Malay Muslims make up about 60 percent of the population, while most of the rest are Buddhists, Hindus or Christians from the ethnic Chinese and Indian communities.
The arrests of the Shia followers have been slammed by some religious scholars, who accused Islamic authorities of becoming more hard-lined.
”Malaysia is trying to become a country a la Taliban that only allows one school of thought,” said prominent Muslim scholar Asri Zainul Abidin.
”Even though I personally don’t agree with Shia teachings and even frequently criticize and debate with them, I cannot accept the approach of the allegedly democratic Malaysian government in denying the people’s right to practice their faith,” he said.
Nurhamizah said the detainees have all been released on bail, except two Iranians. Most are likely to be charged in an Islamic court with following the teachings of a deviationist movement, which carries a penalty of up to two years in jail, she said.
Among those detained were lecturers, students of higher-learning institutions, lawyers and government employees, believed to have been operating in the area for nearly two years, she said. No further details were immediately available.
http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/20/malaysia-may-charge-200-for-deviating-from-
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Bangladesh cleric arrested after woman caned to death
December 20, 2010
DHAKA: A Muslim cleric has been arrested in northwest Bangladesh following the death of a woman who was publicly caned as punishment by an Islamic court for an extra-martial affair, police said Monday.
Sufia Begum, 50, was accused of having an affair with her stepson and was sentenced by a religious court in her village in Rajshahi district, the local police chief told AFP.
"Village elders tied 10 canes together and beat her legs," police chief Azizul Haq Sarker said. The woman who carried out the beating for the elders has also been arrested.
Begum was whipped 40 times on November 12, local media reported.
"She became seriously ill and was hospitalised after the caning, and she died last week," Sarker said, adding that police launched an investigation following a complaint from Begum's brother.
In conservative, rural parts of Muslim-majority Bangladesh, rights groups say it is common for women to be publicly whipped for "crimes" like adultery despite a High Court ban on such religious punishments.
In some documented cases, rape victims have been flogged for being a "participant" in their sexual assault.
In July, Bangladesh's High Court outlawed punishments handed down by religious edict, or fatwa, following a series of public interest litigation cases lodged by local human rights groups.
Some 90 percent of Bangladesh's 146 million people are Muslims and most live in rural areas.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Bangladesh-cleric-arrested-after-
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Ilyas Kashmiri recruiting Britons for 26/11-type attacks in Europe
December 20, 2010
Al Qaeda military strategist Ilyas Kashmiri is recruiting Britons and training them for launching Mumbai-style attacks in the UK, France and Germany during the Christmas period, a media report said on Sunday.
Kashmiri, described by The Sunday Times as the new Osama bin Laden and one of the most dangerous men on earth, was last week named as AlQaeda’s chief military strategist in Afghanistan and Pakistan. He has been entrusted with the responsibility of spearheading attacks in the West, and has been assigned to bring western recruits into Al Qaeda, the paper said.
He is plotting Mumbai-style attacks in European countries including Britain, France and Germany,” The Times reported. The HuJI militant originally from the Pakistan- Occupied Kashmir region, has previously fought the Indian Army in Jammu and Kashmir and his move to Waziristan signalled his intention to back global terrorist causes, the report said. The 46-year-old, recognisable by his henna-dyed long beard and his trademark pair of Aviator sunglasses, has shot through Al Qaeda’s ranks and is known for his brutality and guerrilla skills.
He had lost an eye and an index finger while fighting Soviet forces in Afghanistan.
He has established himself as the chief of Al Qaeda’s Lashkar al-Zail (Shadow Army), a militia with a loose alliance to the Taliban whose attacks included the bombing of the CIA’s base in Afghanistan’s Khost region in December 2009.
Kashmiri has also been accused of bombing a cafe in Pune, in February killing 17 people and of plotting to attack the Copenhagen office of Jyllands-Posten, the newspaper that published controversial cartoons of Prophet Muhammad.
He was named as his successor by Mustafa Abu al-Yazid, before the latter was killed in a drone strike in May.
A senior Pakistani military officer told Newsweek magazine that Kashmiri’s skills, leadership and links to militant groups “make him the most dangerous man for Pakistan, Europe and the US”.
Reports that two British militants had been killed in a drone attack in the lawless North Waziristan region, where Kashmiri has established his base emerged as Interpol warned that Al Qaeda intended to strike in Europe or America during the Christmas period, the newspaper said.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/304910/Ilyas-Kashmiri-recruiting-Britons-for-26/11-type-
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Focus on Saudi role in Muslim world
December 20, 2010
MADINAH: On behalf of Custodian of Two Holy Mosques King Abdullah, Minister of Higher Education Dr. Khaled Al-Anqari opened here Sunday the first World Conference on Saudi Arabian Efforts to Solve Issues of Muslims.
The event has been organized by Madinah Islamic University in collaboration with the King Abdulaziz Foundation for Research and Archives (KAFRA).
More than 100 researchers from 35 countries are participating in the three-day conference, which aims to highlight the services offered by the Kingdom for the Muslim world. The conference will focus on the Kingdom’s service to the two holy mosques, its achievements in the propagation of Islam and construction of mosques and academic centers, in addition to its contribution to economic development in the Muslim world and its relief efforts for people hit by calamities, President of Madinah Islamic University Muhammad Al-Oqla said in his address.
Full report at:
http://arabnews.com/saudiarabia/article219187.ece
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Pakistani politicians are unwilling to finish off the Islamic terror groups
December 20, 2010
The U.S. and India are putting more diplomatic pressure on Pakistan to kill or arrest the Islamic terrorists Pakistan knows the location of. Pakistan has delayed doing this for years since September 11, 2001, and says they will when they have all the forces they need in position. Many Indian diplomats and intelligence officials feel that Pakistani politicians are unwilling to finish off the Islamic terror groups, or agree with them and won't openly admit it. Thus the refusal to allow the American UAV attacks to hit key terrorist targets in the tribal territories. American pressure over this matter is becoming more public, and the Pakistanis are growing more annoyed about it. But there is no disputing the facts. The U.S. has Special Forces "trainers" inside Pakistan, many of whom are with combat units going after Islamic terrorist groups. They know what's going on.
Full report at:
http://www.strategypage.com/qnd/india/articles/20101220.aspx
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Iran ex-foreign minister says sacking 'un-Islamic'
December 20, 2010
Tehran : Iran's former foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki has hit out at his sacking this week by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, branding the move both 'un-Islamic and offensive.'
"Sacking a minister while (he is) on a mission is un-Islamic, undiplomatic, offensive and outside the practices of politics," Mottaki was quoted as saying by the Mehr news agency today.
Ahmadinejad announced his decision to oust Mottaki on Monday while the 57-year-old career diplomat was on an official visit to Senegal.
"I was never told about the appointment of a new person within 24 hours of my departure for the mission," Mottaki said, referring to a meeting he had with the president on the eve of his departure, Mehr reported.
Full report at:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/iran-exforeign-minister-says-sacking-
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Pakistan Religious parties to strike against amendment in blasphemy law
December 20, 2010
LAHORE: Ten religious parties will protest nationwide on 31 December against any possible amendment of the blasphemy law.
Speaking at a press conference, Secretary General of Jamaat-e-Islami, Liaquat Baloch, said that a nationwide strike will be observed on 31 December.
Baloch said that a rally and protest will also observed in Karachi on 9th January. He said that a calculated conspiracy is on the way to change the Islamic law in the country.
Secretary information, of Jamiat Ulema Islam (F), Maulana Amjad Khan said that the president and prime minister should take action against Sherry Rehman for the amendment bill against the blasphemy law in the national assembly.
http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/19/religious-parties-to-strike-against-amendment-in-
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Cleric’s Anti-U.S. Forces Poised for Gains in Iraq
By JACK HEALY
December 20, 2010
AMARA, Iraq — The Shiite cleric Moktada al-Sadr, who in the past decade has been both an anti-American insurgency leader and a behind-the-scenes power broker, is not expected to be personally in attendance when Iraq’s leaders sketch out a new government on Monday.
But with his followers standing to gain control of powerful government posts, his influence is likely to become apparent in many facets of Iraqi public life, from the halls of Parliament to the tomato farms and marshlands here in southeastern Iraq.
Maysan Province was a stronghold for Mr. Sadr until sweeps by the Iraqi Army in 2008 helped break the grip of his militia forces, and political change ousted his ally from the governorship here last year.
Now, the winds are shifting again, and the area has become a stage for Mr. Sadr’s remarkable political resurgence in Iraq after years of schism, military defeats and Mr. Sadr’s own flight to Iran.
Full report at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/20/world/middleeast/20sadr.html?_r=1&ref=world
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Islam a religion of peace, brotherhood and tolerance: Firdous
December 20, 2010
SIALKOT: Federal Women Development Minister Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions have rendered supreme scarifies in Karbala for the glory of Islam which would be remembered in all times to come.
Hazrat Imam Hussain (AS) and his companions fought for the supremacy of "Truth" and not bowed their knees in front of ineffectual forces for ensuring the glory of Islam and great Karbala tragedy was the first terrorist activity in the world she said.
Addressing 5th Peace Conference on "Hussain Sub Ka" here at Anwar club she said Islam is the religion of brotherhood, tolerance, love and pace and has forbidden the killing of innocent people and it is high time that we should collectively work for the elimination of the menace of terrorism from the country she said. It is high time that we should follow the fundamental principle of Islam and golden teachings of greatest educationist of mankind Hazrat Muhammad (PBUH) for overcoming our multifarious problems she said.
Full report at:
http://www.brecorder.com/news/general-news/pakistan/1135022:news.html
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Jihadis, not Naxals, main Indian worry: US diplomats
Dec 20, 2010
NEW DELHI: India might be giving equal attention to all its internal security problems but US diplomats observed that the government did not focus on Naxal or northeast terrorism "with the intensity it devotes to jihadi terrorists" and also pointed out a number of shortcomings in New Delhi's war against terror.
Citing a number of reasons for such an observation, a US embassy cable — disclosed by Wikileaks — said the attacks by Naxalites and northeast groups "remain confined to rural areas far from New Delhi" and this could probably be one of the reasons why the government of India (GOI) put its focus more on jihadis who successfully extended their operations to "new targets in the Hindi heartland and the south", reflecting a new and dangerous trend.
The US embassy cable of April, 2006, said, "The Naxals generally target security forces. The Naxals lack external support, which makes them a purely Indian problem, something the GOI cannot blame on other countries." Stating that India generally blames Pakistan and Bangladesh as instigators or supporters of jihadi terrorism, the cable said.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Jihadis-not-Naxals-main-Indian-worry-US-
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ANHAD to train its cadre to combat communal forces
December 20, 2010
Mumbai: ANHAD will train its cadre to combat communal, fascist and fundamentalist forces in order to protect democracy and secularism of the multi-cultural India. For the purpose, the Delhi-based NGO will organize a 4-day (Dec .26-29) workshop in Mumbai, Maharashtra.
The 4-day workshop will have a maximum of 100 participants from across the state. The academicians, activists, creative people and experts from the state as well as outside of it will train the participants during the camps.
The topics that will be focused at the workshop include ‘The idea of India’, ‘Nationalism’, ‘Nationhood’, ‘The Ideals of freedom struggle’,‘Fascism and Democracy’, ‘Myths, Belief Systems and Scientific Temper’,’ Communal Politics’, ‘Communal politics and Status of Women’, ‘Myths and Facts about Minorities’, ‘Indian Constitution’,
‘Globalization and Communalism’, ‘Formation of Indian Identity and ‘Freedom of Expression.’
Full report at:
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Ayodhya film festival in its fourth year, continues to fight the communal stereotype
By Md. Ali
December 20, 2010
New Delhi: Ayodhya film festival will enter its fourth year coming week. A yearly film festival in Ayodhya this time will be organized from 19 to 22 December in Ayodhya -Faizabad. What began as a decent start in 2006 has become a tradition which the entire Ayodhya-Faizabad waits for.
It all started in 2006 by a group of young activists, students and like minded secular people. In this film festival those documentaries and films from mainstream and alternative media are shown which expose the communal designs and conspiracies of Saffron forces trying to disturb the communal harmony of these two cities.
“It started as an attempt to protect the Ganga-Jamuni tehzeeb which is symbolized by Ayodhya-Faizabad together, often described as, ‘Baghe-Eram’ from the onslaughts of RSS and other fundamentalist forces that have stereotyped the two cities in communal colors," said Shah Alam, one of the activist involved with the film festival.
Full report at:
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Iran says 11 members of Sunni militant group hanged
December 20, 2010
TEHRAN: Iran on Monday hanged 11 members of Sunni militant group Jundallah which claimed last week’s devastating suicide bombing of a Shiite mourning procession, a judiciary official said.
“This morning 11 members of those belonging to (Jundallah), who in recent months were involved in terrorist attacks in the province (Sistan-Baluchestan), fighting with police, and martyring several innocent people have been hanged in Zahedan jail,” Ebrahim Hamidi, head of the provincial justice department, told state news agency IRNA.
Jundallah (Army of God) is a shadowy Sunni militant group which has claimed several deadly attacks in Iran’s Sistan-Baluchestan province, including a December 15 suicide bombing in the city of Chabahar which killed 39 people and wounded dozens.
http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/20/iran-says-11-members-of-sunni-militant-group-
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579 militants killed in J-K group clashes since 1990
Dec 20 2010
Jammu : As many as 752 people, including 579 militants, were killed in 823 group clashes between militants in Jammu and Kashmir in the past two decades, a report by the state government has said.
As per a recent report on security and militancy compiled by the State Home Ministry up to November end, there were 823 incidents of group clashes between militants of various groups in which 579 ultras and 173 civilians were killed since January 1990.
As many as 102 terrorists and 398 civilians were injured in these group clashes during the period, it said.
These group clashes have shown a down slide trend with only three group clashes reported this year as compared to four each in 2009 and 2008 respectively.
Full report at:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/579-militants-killed-in-jk-group-clashes-since-
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WikiLeaks: India has zero-tolerance towards torture, says Army
Dec 20 2010
Jammu : In the wake of diplomatic cables leaked by WikiLeaks stating that there was torture and gross violations of human rights in Kashmir, a senior Army commander on Monday said the Indian Army has "zero tolerance" for any human rights violations.
Maintaining that the Army has been very swift in its actions against torture and violations of human rights, General Officer Commander (SOC), 16 Corps, Lt Gen J P Nehra said torture in any form cannot be condoned.
"In such cases (of rights' violations), we act very fast. Court of inquiries are ordered and people have been court marshalled if found guilty...The Army has total zero tolerance to human rights violations," Nehra told reporters on
the sidelines of a seminar in Akhnoor, 35 kms from here.
Full report at:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/wikileaks-india-has-zerotolerance-towards-torture-
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Al-Qaeda aims to bring down nuclear-armed Pakistan: US
Dec 20 2010
Washington : he US is determined not to allow Al-Qaeda or other militant groups to topple the government in Pakistan, a country which has nuclear weapons,
Vice President Joseph Biden has said.
The Obama Administration is trying "to make sure that terrorists do not in fact, bring down the Pakistani government, which is a nuclear power," Biden said in an interview to NBC.
Claiming that al Qaeda's strength "has been significantly degraded," the top US leader said that American forces had gone after the terrorist network's leadership. But at the same time, he admitted there had been less success in dealing with 'safe havens' in Pakistan and creating a stable Afghan government.
Biden said that US-led forces were making progress on all fronts in Afghanistan, more in some areas than others and declared that all US forces would be out of Afghanistan by 2014.
Full report at:
http://www.indianexpress.com/news/alqaeda-aims-to-bring-down-nucleararmed-pakistan-
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Radical Muslim sect again stalks northern Nigeria
December 20, 2010
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday blamed Israel for the stalemate in peace negotiations with the Palestinians in a speech before a joint session of the Egyptian Parliament’s two chambers.
Mubarak also warned Israel that the security of its people hinged on peace rather than “occupation or arms.”
The Egyptian president, whose country has a 1979 pace treaty with Israel, also called on the United States and other West Asia peace brokers to “assume their responsibility” to break the stalemate in the peace process, lamenting that international efforts had fallen well short of what was needed.
“Israel must take responsibility for the stalemate in the negotiations and realise that the security of its people depends on peace not occupation or arms,” Mubarak told lawmakers, warning of the impact from Israel’s “intransigence, positions and policies” on world and West East stability.
Full report at:
http://www.dailypioneer.com/304928/Radical-Muslim-sect-again-stalks-northern-
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Is Pakistan Losing Patience in the War on Terror?
By ROBERT BAER
December 20, 2010
On Saturday, in answer to a New York Times article, Pakistan's secretive spy agency denied that it had exposed the identity of a senior CIA official in Pakistan, causing him to abruptly leave Pakistan. In a briefing held on background, an official of the Directorate for Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) couldn't have made it more categorical: "We absolutely deny this accusation, which is totally unsubstantiated and based on conjecture."
Short of a smoking gun, we'll have to take the Pakistanis' word for it. CIA cover is never perfect, and this wouldn't be the first time that a CIA officer has been forced to leave his post in the middle of the night.
(See TIME's CIA photo essay.)
But what can't be dismissed is the suit filed by a Pakistani tribesman in which he accuses the CIA of murdering his brother and his son in a drone attack. According to press reports, none of which have been confirmed by the CIA, it was the appearance of the station chief's name in a filing in this suit, along with unspecified threats, that caused him to be pulled. Full report at:
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,2037875,00.html#ixzz18eV4xN2K
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Inside Yemen: Britain's woman on the frontline of the new war on terror
By Colin Freeman
December 20, 2010
When Fionna Gibb arrived as deputy British ambassador to Yemen, she expected it to be quieter than her previous job in Iraq. Seven months on, she has already had one attempt on her life, and fears Yemen's al-Qaeda threat may yet get worse.
There is no longer such a thing as a routine day for Fionna Gibb, deputy British ambassador to the Yemeni capital, Sana’a. The last time there was, it nearly killed her.
Heading to work one morning in early October, her armoured vehicle was speeding down a dusty dual carriageway when it passed two al-Qaeda hitmen posing as roadside dustmen. The pair, who are thought to have been watching the movements of cars with diplomatic number plates, pulled a rocket launcher from under a dustbin bag and fired.
“There was a terrible noise at the back of car, the whole back mudguard had been blown off and the back tyre had gone down so it was running on one rim,” said Ms Gibb, who had arrived in Sana’a from war-torn Basra. “We were very lucky that it didn’t kill us all.”
Full report at:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/yemen/8211688/Inside-Yemen-
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Indonesian Islam: What Went Right?
By Adri Wanto
December 20, 2010
Muslims in Indonesia are well-known for their moderation. The local culture and traditional texts of Islam is the most dominant factor in influencing and shaping the moderate character of Indonesian Muslims.
INDONESIAN MUSLIMS live in the largest Muslim country in the world and are well-known for their moderation. They embody the key ideas of democracy, tolerance, freedom, respect for human rights and equality. Instead of establishing an Islamic state, a majority of Muslims are actively involved in promoting democratic institutions. Many questions have been raised as to the factors that facilitate Muslim moderation in Indonesia, and specifically how democratic is Indonesian Islam?
To answer these questions, I argue that the local culture and the Islamic texts used in traditional Islamic boarding schools are the two most dominant factors in moulding inclusive and tolerant Muslims in Indonesia.
Full report at:
http://www.eurasiareview.com/analysis/indonesian-islam-what-went-right-20122010/
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Terrorism-phobia: No Islam-o-phobia – A Muslim terrorist is guilty until proven innocent!
December 20, 2010
Islam-o-phobia is seen as a Muslim as a terrorist is guilty unless proven otherwise! This perception is exaggerated and misused by Muslims and others
Call it the Islam-o-phobia or a form of racism and prejudice, the situation is very hard to be Muslim these days if you live in Europe or North America. Phobia as a medical term that means a kind of irrational dread that can cause avoidance and panic. In general, phobias are a relatively common anxiety disorder. Terrorism-phobia is perceived by Muslims as Islam-o-phobia, which is not right. Most Muslims live, work and die in foreign countries, and are perceived as excellent citizens. Most are very polite and professional. And some have intermarried with other religions. If terrorism phobia, or (Islam-o-phobia) and the title of this article becomes law (or law), a Muslim has to prove that s / he is a Muslim, so citizens will immediately notice of possible acts of terrorism or dread of such action. This is the thought behind the promotion of racism under the slogans of democracy and human rights in the west. An hideous ID or trademark symbol for Muslims to wear on your front or back of their hands. Thanks to the veiling of women that have that ID.
Full report at:
http://www.f1ing.com/terrorism-phobia-no-islam-o-phobia-a-muslim-terrorist-is-guilty-
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Socioeconomic uncertainties lead to extremism, terrorism
December 20, 2010
ISLAMABAD: Worsening socio and economic problems in the war-hit areas are not only causing negative influence on the society but also give birth to extremism and terrorism, said speakers in day long discussion entitled ‘Socio economic problems give birth to Terrorism’ organised by Individualland Pakistan- a non government organisation.
The participants were of view that lack of provision of basic need to people increase deprivation among people, which pave way for the anti state actor and they easily fulfill their agenda. “Basic needs of a society include shelter, food, health and clothing. When a social needs not provided to a society for a long time it turn into socioeconomic problems,” they opined.
Full report at:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\12\20\story_20-12-2010_pg11_8
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‘Urdu needs scientific transformation for development’
December 20, 2010
ISLAMABAD: For genuine development in Urdu language, government should select the right persons with vision to prepare a group of linguistic experts, the way experts are groomed in other fields, said Dr Attash Durrani, the founder and the head of Urdu Informatics project at National Language Authority (NLA) talking to Daily Times here on Sunday.
“We prepare experts for business, commerce, industry, science and technology, but not for our national language. This task cannot be completed only with the literary figures, heading the departments and authorities mandated to language development, now the government should take on board the language experts,” he added.
He opined that only the literary meetings and seminar would not serve the larger cause of Urdu language development but there was need to work hard and on scientific bases, if one wanted to see national language stand tall with other international languages.
Full report at:
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2010\12\20\story_20-12-2010_pg11_10
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Gains in Kandahar Came with More Brutal US Tactics
Gareth Porter
December 20, 2010
WASHINGTON - The Barack Obama administration's claim of "progress" in its war strategy is based on the military seizure of three rural districts outside Kandahar City in October.
But those tactical gains have come at the price of further exacerbating the basic U.S. strategic weakness in Afghanistan - the antagonism toward the foreign presence shared throughout the Pashtun south.
In this Sept. 5 file photo, US Army soldiers with the 101st Airborne Division Alpha Battery 1-320th leave on a patrol from Combat Outpost Nolen in the village of Jellawar in the Arghandab Valley of southern Afghanistan. (Patrick Baz/AFP Photo/Newscom)The military offensive in Kandahar, which had been opposed clearly and vocally by the local leadership in the province, was accompanied by an array of military tactics marked by increased brutality. The most prominent of those tactics was a large-scale demolition of homes that has left widespread bitterness among the civilians who had remained in their villages when the U.S.-NATO offensive was launched, as well as those who had fled before the offensive.
Full report at:
http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2010/12/17-10
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Record Levels of Violence in Afghanistan Do Not Equal Progress
Eric Stoner
December 20, 2010
Greetings from Afghanistan. I arrived here now almost a week ago and there is so much to share about this experience that it’s hard to know where to start. I’d like to offer a few random observations about Kabul that I’m sure will make more sense upon reflection.
I was immediately struck by the contrast between the incredible beauty of the landscape here and what humans have managed to do to this little piece of the Earth. On the flight in to Kabul International Airport, you have stunning views from the plane of the Hindu Kush mountains that surround the city.
Once you land, however, you are quickly made aware that something is terribly wrong. Rather than the usual airport scene, buzzing with tourists and commercial flights, you see UN helicopters, military aircraft and surprisingly few people.
Full report at:
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2010/12/17
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Omar al-Bashir: northern Sudan will adopt sharia law if country splits
December 20, 2010
President defends woman's flogging in speech accused of stoking religious divisions as south prepares for referendum
Omar al-Bashir, the Sudanese president, said the country would adopt an Islamic constitution if the south split away in next month's referendum, in a speech today in which he also defended police filming a woman being flogged.
"If south Sudan secedes, we will change the constitution and at that time there will be no time to speak of diversity of culture and ethnicity," Bashir told supporters at a rally in the eastern city of Gedaref.
"Sharia [Islamic law] and Islam will be the main source for the constitution, Islam the official religion and Arabic the official language," he said.
An official from south Sudan's main party criticised Bashir's stance, saying it would encourage discrimination against minorities in the mainly Muslim north and deepen the country's international isolation.
Full report at:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2010/dec/19/omar-bashir-sharia-sudan-referendum
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Hizbul Islam joins Shabaab in Somalia
By BILL ROGGIO
December 20, 2010
Sheikh Hassan Dahir Aweys, the leader of Hizbul Islam, has merged his forces with Shabaab, al Qaeda's affiliate in Somalia, after suffering a string of military defeats at the hands of the rival Islamist terror group.
Aweys, who is also linked to al Qaeda, joined Shabaab today and turned over Hizbul Islam's bases in Mogadishu and areas south of the capital, Mareeg Online reported. It is unclear if Aweys will take a senior leadership position in Shabaab's increasingly foreign-dominated leadership cadre.
Shabaab's takeover of Hizbul Islam will allow the terror group to put aside the intra-Islamist fighting, and will free up fighters and resources to battle the weak Somali government and African Union forces struggling to retake control of Mogadishu.
Full report at:
http://www.longwarjournal.org/archives/2010/12/hizbul_islam_joins_s.php#ixzz18dXDLQb
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Who Will Teach Tolerance to the Muslims?
December 20, 2010
Every time a Muslim terrorist is caught trying to kill Americans in the name of Islam, the media and the politicians immediately go on full alert over the threat of an “Islamophobic backlash” against Muslims.
Right away city mayors, district attorneys, law enforcement officials, sensitivity trainers, school board members, television executives and editorial writers go sliding down the TolerancePole(TM) on an urgent mission to head off the inevitable orgy of violence by ordinary Americans who are always presumed to be 5 minutes away from shouldering a battering ram and heading off to the nearest mosque—by teaching tolerance toward Islam. That means embedding Islam even deeper into the school curriculum, adding a “positive depiction” of a Muslim to every TV show on the air, and arresting anyone who even looks funny at a Koran.
Full report at:
http://canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/31014
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Spreading Peace 15 Seconds an Hour in Times Sq.
By PAUL VITELLO
December 20, 2010
Caleb Ferguson for The New York Times On 42nd Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues, an electronic billboard displays a 15-second video promoting the campaign of Muslims for Peace to raise awareness about Islam.
It is hard to make it in New York — whether in the arts, in finance, politics or fashion. But no endeavor in the city can be more competitive than the one where you try to get the attention of passers-by in Times Square by smiling at them and handing them glossy leaflets intended to make them think.
Into that bazaar of mass preoccupation, half a dozen members of an organization called Muslims for Peace fanned out Friday, smiling and offering their wares. They belonged to a sect, the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, that embraces a pacifist tradition within Islam.
Full report at:
http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/17/spreading-peace-15-seconds-an-hour-in-
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Islamophobia And The African-American Muslim
By Nicole Balin
December 20, 2010
Whether it’s vandalizing a Mosque or a hateful taunt, harassment of Muslim Americans post 9/11 is at an all time high. But what about African-American Muslims, who according to the most recent study by the Virginia based Allied Media Corp, make up 24% of 7 million Muslims in America? They can be harder to recognize (they often don’t wear scarves or head dresses) but they are lawmakers, rappers, and even corporate executives.
Debra Mubashshir Majeed, an associate professor of philosophy and religious studies at Beloit College in Beloit, WI and author of Encyclopedia of Women and Religion in North America (Indiana University Press, 2006), says this is really about the stereotype of what a Muslim looks like. Dress is the cultural aspect of the faith and interestingly, since 9/11, people associate the Arab garb with Islam.
Full report at:
http://newsone.com/newsone-original/newsonestaff2/black-muslims-islam-anti/
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What Are Common Misconceptions of Muslim Women?
Shahla Haeri
December 20, 2010
There are many misconceptions, but unfortunately the media are so very powerful. The image that they have created has become so powerful that it becomes very difficult for people to get any other image, any other perceptions, of women in their mind. There is this tendency to categorize, to generalize and lump them all together and assume that they all behave the same way. . . . There's tremendous diversity not only across Islamic cultures but within one particular culture. There is this misconception of Muslim women as being passive, oppressed, unintelligent. This has been an assumption that, as soon as women wear the veil, they lose their brain, whereas we see now in Iran that the veil in fact has enabled women to be a lot more active politically, economically, professionally, educationally, what have you. But, still, the dominance of media is such that really it doesn't allow other images to compete with that.
Shahla Haeri is the director of Women's Studies Program and an Associate Professor of Cultural Anthropology in the Department of Anthropology at Boston University. Video by the Choices for the 21st Century Education Program (a national education initiative based at Brown University's Watson Institute for International Studies). The text above is an edited partial transcript of the video.
http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/2010/haeri171210.html
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Taliban attacks Afghan Army bases
Atul Aneja
December 20, 2010
DUBAI: A day after the visit of German Chancellor Angela Merkel to Kunduz, the Afghan Taliban have attacked a major military recruitment base in the northern Afghan city. Ms. Merkel was said to be on a “morale boosting” visit to the city, where German troops have been deployed.
“The purpose of her trip was to give morale to her soldiers. But today the successful attack is shaking the hearts of the occupation soldiers,” Taliban spokesman Zaibullah Mujahid was quoted as saying.
In the brazen assault, the attackers appeared to have deliberately targeted what was seen as a well-guarded facility in the middle of the city, with several outer rings of security. The recruitment centre, which four suicide bombers targeted, is around 100 metres from the police chief's office. It is a location which also has several other important government buildings around. Five soldiers and three policemen were killed while three of the assailants also died in the fire-fight that ensued. Around 20 recruits were also injured. Around 100 people were trapped inside the building which local and foreign troops had surrounded.
Full report at:
http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/20/stories/2010122054101500.htm
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Understanding reached on stapled visa issue: envoy
December 20, 2010
Beijing: India and China have agreed to “appropriately resolve” the issue of stapled visas to the residents of Jammu and Kashmir with an understanding that officials will continue to meet on the issue, Indian envoy to China S. Jaishankar said on Sunday, following Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to New Delhi.
The issue figured during the bilateral talks between Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Wen.
Mr. Jaishankar was speaking at a prime time show on the state-run CCTV here.
http://www.hindu.com/2010/12/20/stories/2010122062011200.htm
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Mubarak blames Israel for West Asia peace crisis
December 20, 2010
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Sunday blamed Israel for the stalemate in peace negotiations with the Palestinians in a speech before a joint session of the Egyptian Parliament’s two chambers.
Mubarak also warned Israel that the security of its people hinged on peace rather than “occupation or arms.”
The Egyptian president, whose country has a 1979 pace treaty with Israel, also called on the United States and other West Asia peace brokers to “assume their responsibility” to break the stalemate in the peace process, lamenting that international efforts had fallen well short of what was needed.
“Israel must take responsibility for the stalemate in the negotiations and realise that the security of its people depends on peace not occupation or arms,” Mubarak told lawmakers, warning of the impact from Israel’s “intransigence, positions and policies” on world and West East stability.
Full report at:
http://www.dailypioneer.com/304927/Mubarak-blames-Israel-for-West-Asia-peace-
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Sacking offensive and un-Islamic, says Mottaki
December 20, 2010
Iran’s former Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki has hit out at his sacking this week by President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, branding the move as both “un-Islamic and offensive.” Sacking a Minister while (he is) on a mission is un-Islamic, undiplomatic, offensive and outside the practices of politics,” Mottaki was quoted as saying by the Mehr news agency on Sunday.
Ahmadinejad announced his decision to oust Mottaki on Monday while the 57-year-old career diplomat was on an official visit to Senegal.
“I was never told about the appointment of a new person within 24 hours of my departure for the mission,” Mottaki said, referring to a meeting he had with the President on the eve of his departure, Mehr reported. The country’s atomic chief Ali Akbar Salehi officially took over on Saturday as the Islamic republic’s interim Foreign Minister at a function which was also a farewell ceremony for Mottaki — who shunned the reception.
http://www.dailypioneer.com/304906/Sacking-offensive-and-un-Islamic--says-Mottaki.html
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J&K leaders spar on custodial torture
December 20, 2010
Kashmir’s two main opposing parties have locked horns on WikiLeaks mention of custodial torture, blaming each other’s regime for perpetuating the practice. Even as the victims of torture have begun to speak on their ordeal, the State Government is under flak for scuttling a Bill that sought punishment for torture inflicted by public servants.
Interestingly, one of the three pleaders of the Bill belonged to the ruling National Conference.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said his Government did not support torture. “We do not condone torture, never have, never will,” he said, while reacting to International Committee of Red Cross’s (ICRC) inferences about Kashmir, mentioned in a leaked US diplomatic cable.
Omar washed his hands off by referring to the ICRC’s other observation on a “healing touch regime”. An earlier coalition Government headed by People’s Democratic Party (PDP) patron Mufti Muhammad Sayeed between Novembers of 2002 and 2005 is referred to as ‘healing touch regime’ by the Mufti.
Full report at:
http://www.dailypioneer.com/304943/JK-leaders-spar-on-custodial-torture.html
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Two militant modules busted in J&K
December 20, 2010
The Jammu and Kashmir Police on Sunday said they had busted two militant modules which were instigating, motivating and funding youths to resort to stone-pelting in the Valley.
The smashing of the modules, comprising nine ultras, had brought to light the link between militant groups and the recent unrest in Kashmir, DIG Shafqat A Watali told reporters here.
The modules were also involved in a string of grenade attacks in South Kashmir, he said.
“These (modules) were instigating, motivating and funding youth to indulge in stone-pelting. There is a clear link between militant groups and the recent law and order situation in the Valley," Watali said.
“Most of the militants are associated with the Lashkar-e-Tayyeba but also have links with Hizb-ul-Mujahideen,” he said. Nine grenades, 35 kgs of explosives, a pistol with a magazine and 11 rounds, four combat uniforms and two IEDs fitted in a pressure cooker were recovered from them, the DIG said.
Full report at:
http://www.dailypioneer.com/304935/Two-militant-modules-busted-in-JK.html
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Rahul touches a common chord
By Ashish Sinha
December 20, 2010
LEAVING the articulation of the Congress’s stand on terrorism and communalism to his seniors, general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Sunday focused on identifying the ‘ aam aadmi’ who happens to be the oft- repeated cynosure of his party’s eyes.
He even proposed a definition of the common man. “ The aam aadmi is that person who does not have a connection to the system.
Whether he is poor or rich, Hindu, Muslim, Sikh or Christian, educated or uneducated, if he is not connected to the system, he is an aam aadmi ,” he said.
The delegates at the 83rd plenary of the Congress, who had been waiting for what the Gandhi scion would tell them, cheered all along because Rahul spoke a language that brought them to the centre- stage and, that too, by talking tough about those who run the party’s governments.
Full report at: Mail Today
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A slice of Mughal history with dollops of fun
By Saumya Pant
December 20, 2010
A SUN- KISSED Sunday afternoon formed the picture- perfect backdrop to the first Apni Basti Mela organised at the historic Hazrat Nizamuddin Basti by the Aga Khan Trust for Culture. The mela opened early in the morning at about 10 and gathered momentum, colour and enthusiasm as the day progressed.
Headlining the day’s activities was a performance by five little qawwals — three Nizami brothers, Kamran, 15, Gulkhan, 12, and Gulfam Nizami, 11, and eightyear- old Ashraf Samdham and six- yearold Nizam Ahmed.
These boys were all initiated into music when they were around four years old. They belong to the Delhi gharana , which has been holding flame of Sufi music aloft for 750 years. A. R. Rehman is also known to be a big follower of this gharana .
Full report at:
Mail Today
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Al-Qaida aims to 'bring down' Pakistan: Biden
December 20, 2010
WASHINGTON: Al-Qaida is trying to "bring down" nuclear-armed Pakistan, US Vice President Joe Biden warned Sunday, days after a war review tip-toed around Islamabad's role in fighting extremists.
"Our overarching goal and our rationale for being there is to dismantle, ultimately defeat al-Qaida... to make sure that terrorists do not, in fact, bring down the Pakistani government, which is a nuclear power," Biden said.
The vice-president, in an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press" program, repeated threads of a one-year report on the US military surge in Afghanistan that pointed to progress but warned that more time was needed.
Unveiling the policy assessment, President Barack Obama urged Islamabad to do more to rein in extremists holed up along the Afghan border but also renewed US commitment to major aid programs for Pakistan.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/Al-Qaida-aims-to-bring-down-Pakistan-
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Dhaka probes porn film at airport screen
Dec 20, 2010
DHAKA: Travellers at Bangladesh's main airport were taken in by shock when a huge display screen meant to air programmes about the country showed a porn video, prompting the civil aviation authority to launch a probe into the incident.
Bangladesh Civil Aviation Authority has launched an investigation into a scandal at the Hazrat Shahjalal Airport where the huge display screen aired for five minutes a pornographic movie, officials said.
"An investigation is underway while the people responsible for the scandal were already taken to task," an official said.
Another official said the operator was handed down two months of jail term instantly after a summary trial by an on duty magistrate. An official investigation was ordered to find out if any criminal intent was involved.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/Dhaka-probes-porn-film-at-airport-
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2011 Afghanistan troop cuts more than 'token': Joe Biden
December 20, 2010
WASHINGTON: Vice President Joe Biden says next summer's planned withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan will be more than a "token" reduction despite uneven progress.
And he's promising that "we're going to be totally out of there, come hell or high water, by 2014."
Biden sees progress "on all fronts" with more progress in some areas than others.
He tells NBC television's "Meet the Press" that al-Qaida's strength "has been significantly degraded" as US forces have gone after the terrorist group's leadership.
But he says there's been less success in countering the Afghan insurgency, dealing with the safe havens in Pakistan and creating a stable Afghan government.
Biden says plans haven't changed for President Barack Obama's pledge to begin US troop reductions next summer.
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/south-asia/2011-Afghanistan-troop-cuts-more-
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Headley chargesheet after Kasab conviction: Chidambaram
Vishwa Mohan
December 20, 2010
NEW DELHI: American Lashkar terrorist David Coleman Headley may not be chargesheeted in India till fellow jihadi Ajmal Kasab's conviction in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack case is finally confirmed by the Supreme Court.
The indication comes from a leaked US embassy cable, which detailed an old conversation between home minister P Chidambaram and FBI director Robert Mueller.
Chidambaram, during his meeting with Mueller on February 23, noted that the government would not file formal charges against Headley until Kasab's trial was finished "for fear that Kasab would use the Headley charges as a way to delay conclusion of his own trial". He had referred to the case against Headley, which is being investigated by the National Investigation Agency.
Chidambaram had also requested access to Headley's wife, Shazia. Indian agencies have, however, not gained such access so far. "A letter rogatory to this effect would be sent to US in due course," said an official.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Headley-chargesheet-after-Kasab-conviction-
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Even handing over Kashmir won't bring peace with Pak: MEA official
Dec 20, 2010
NEW DELHI: In a frank conversation, a senior Indian diplomat, the pointperson for AfPak policy in the foreign ministry, offered a bleak long-term assessment of India-Pakistan ties saying that even if India were to "lop off" Kashmir and hand it to its western neighbour, it would still not result in peace.
Y K Sinha, joint secretary in MEA, told US officials that "call me a cynic, but even if India were to lop off Kashmir and hand it on a platter to Pakistan, they would still find a reason to make trouble for us".
The official's assessment that the historical and civilisational faultlines dividing India and Pakistan really run deep and could at a certain level be irreconcilable was offered in late 2009 and are part of a US embassy cable leaked by the WikiLeaks cablegate.
Displaying a fairly hardheaded understanding of Pakistan's motives, Sinha is reported to have said the US needed to "recognise and resist Islamabad's game of promising cooperation in Afghanistan in return for US pressure on India to improve ties with Pakistan, while also exaggerating India's threat to Pakistan".
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Even-handing-over-Kashmir-wont-bring-peace-
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Border region of J&K against azadi, division: Interlocutors
December 20, 2010
JAMMU: Unlike their Kashmiri counterparts, the people of border region of Rajouri-Poonch are against the demand for 'azadi' and division of Jammu and Kashmir, the Centre-appointed interlocutors for the state said on Sunday.
"The aspirations of people here in this belt is totally different from that of Kashmir. They are against azadi and division of Jammu and Kashmir. We will raise their demands and suggestions before the government of India (GOI)," chief interlocutor Dileep Padgaonkar told reporters in Rajouri.
Ruling out the Kashmir-centric approach, he said that their exercise was not such at all.
"We believe in taking everybody, every section, every community and three regions onboard to know their demands, suggestions and aspirations to find out a durable political settlement to fulfill aspirations of all the people of Jammu and Kashmir," he said.
Full report at:
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Border-region-of-JK-against-azadi-division-
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2 main Somali Islamist insurgent groups to merge
December 20, 2010
NAIROBI, Kenya: A senior official with one of Somalia’s two main insurgent groups says both forces plan to merge in an effort to defeat the weak UN-backed government.
The Islamic Party’s head of operations Sheik Mohamed Osman Arus told The Associated Press on Sunday the Islamic Party will join forces with the Al-Qaeda linked Al-Shabab militia and fight under Al-Shabab’s name.
Fighters from the Islamic Party have clashed with Al-Shabab several times, including over control over the port city of Kismayo.
The Islamists hold most of south-central Somalia and much of the capital. So far they have been unable to seize the port, airport or government headquarters, which are protected by an African Union peacekeeping force.
http://arabnews.com/world/article219136.ece
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Brother-in-law of Kazmi held
December 20, 2010
LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested on Sunday the brother-in-law of Hamid Saeed Kazmi, the former religious affairs minister, for his alleged involvement in the Haj scam.
According to sources, a team of FIA, headed by Assistant Director Hammad Ahmad, arrested Abdullah Mahmood Khokhar from his residence in Lahore.
FIA Director Zafar Qureshi said the agency’s headquarters directed the Lahore office to arrest Mr Khokhar for his alleged involvement in the scam. He said the accused was handed over to the FIA headquarters.
He said that Mr Khokhar was facing charges of getting money from travel agents as commission.
http://www.dawn.com/2010/12/20/brother-in-law-of-kazmi-held-2.html
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Martyred cops' families looking for secure future
By Uzma Zafar
December 20, 2010
ISLAMABAD - Police force have been raised with sole objective to ensure rule of law and respect for human rights. Cops' play it's part very efficiently in protecting life and property of the people under the jurisdiction of law. From dawn to dusk, police officials endeavor hard to fulfill their duties and sacrifice their lives in the regard. In the line of this sacred duty, they keep their lives in danger to safeguard the lives of common people.
A police officer always has to perform several duties at a time. He not only remains endangered almost round the clock but also has to remain alert about security of his fellows and public as well. Current scenario of sectarianism and terrorism has made police profession more challenging.
Like other institutions, the Capital Cops also have a bright history enlightened by its 23 individuals who presented their lives in accomplishing their duties. Capital Cops remain awake throuhgout the night to protect the masses against robberies and criminal activities. When the masses stay in cozy environment their homes, these ever vigilant eyes spend their nights on roads in chilled weather having limited weather resistant uniform provided to them by the government.
Full report at:
http://dailymailnews.com/1210/20/Islamabad/index.php?id=3
URL: http://www.newageislam.com/NewAgeIslamIslamicWorldNews_1.aspx?ArticleID=3811
9:59 PM
Moderate Islamist here
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