Last week we covered some of the initiatives that “moderate” Muslims are undertaking to marginalize the jihadists that undermine the religion. The concept of fatwa has much abused of late. There are non-clerics issuing Fatwas left and right, there are even TV stations where viewers can reque
03.5.2010 | Asia, Pakistan | Stuart Ford
To many Westerners Pakistan is an enigma. They are served simplistic picture by the media of a complex country told that is extremely poor, a sometime ally, nuclear armed, but suspected of having a sympathy for the Taliban and an age old grudge against India. . Even the most well-informed We
In the current partisan environment every issue becomes politicized even without merit. It is surprising therefore that the trial of Pakistan scientist Dr. Aafia Siddiqui is gathering such little coverage in the mainstream press. The potential for other admittedly more high profile cases being t
02.3.2010 | Afghanistan, Americas, Asia, Pakistan | Stuart Ford
There would be a certain irony - others might see the hand of cosmic humor - in the latest DNA research that seeks to demonstrate that the Pashtun may be one of the ten "Lost Tribes of Israel". There are more than 40 million Pashtuns around the world including around 10 million in Afghanistan
01.19.2010 | Afghanistan, Asia, Israel, Pakistan | Stuart Ford
The US has been critical of Pakistan’s efforts to root out insurgency leadership in the Federally Administrated Tribal Areas(FATA). Much of the worst criticism has been reserved for Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) long suspected of offering covert support and sympathy to the ins
While much of the Western military action is confined by nominal national boundaries, the insurgents and jihadists they fight have no such restrictions. The West is committed to an outdated model. It is engaged in Afghanistan, for example, but the forces they fight there are a transnational move
It is no great secret that the most extreme madrassas of Pakistan and Afghanistan mark the front line of the battle against radicalization of young Muslims and the potential to stem the flow of ready recruits for the insurgent groups. A recent development though is an increase in the thousands o
12.23.2009 | Afghanistan, Asia, Editorials, Middle East, Pakistan | Stuart Ford
If you have read many of our editorials you will know that we are of the mind that the best way to effect change in a country is from within. We also believe that the way you best get your point across is not by sanctions or ostracizing but by engaging. In a brave and controversial move, a new TV pe
It is difficult for a Westerner to understand the relationship between Pakistan and the big-tent coalition insurgency we term the Taliban. If one reads the many politicians, analysts, commentators, populists and self-professed experts espousing opinions about how Pakistan should do this, believe thi
11.30.2009 | Afghanistan, Asia, Editorials, Pakistan | Stuart Ford
Despite China’s claims to be a developing country and not yet experienced in foreign diplomacy, it can on occasion make very astute moves. China appears to be refining the blunt and brutal diplomacy tools they used in their early days, such as the arms for minerals deals in the Congo, and usin
