That this was a barbaric and horrendous act goes without saying, but given the legal, military, cultural and political significance of the term "terrorism", it is vital to ask: is that term really applicable to this act of violence? To begin with, in order for an act of violence to be "terrorism", many argue that it must deliberately target civilians. That's the most common means used by those who try to distinguish the violence engaged in by western nations from that used by the "terrorists": sure, we kill civilians sometimes, but we don't deliberately target them the way the "terrorists" do....

For 12 years British Muslims have been set upon, pilloried and alienated by successive governments and by the media for things that they did not do. We must say clearly that the alleged actions of these two men are theirs alone, regardless of being informed by the wars, and we should not descend into yet another round of collective responsibility peddling....

If Maudoodi's exhortations are not enough to motivate Muslims to conduct acts of terror, we have the words of the late Hassan al-Banna being distributed in our schools and universities. Al-Banna makes it quite clear that the word "jihad" means armed conflict. He mocks those who claim jihad is merely an internal struggle. Al-Banna says this redefinition of the term "jihad" to depict it as a non-violent act of self-examination, is in fact a conspiracy so that "Muslims should become negligent."...

At this point in time when Islam is being demonized, Muslims are facing crises throughout the world; when terrorism is identified with Islam, it is imperative for the religious scholars and parties to persuade their followers to abandon the course of extremism. They should focus on seeking knowledge of science and technology, so that they can make their contribution in finding a respectable place in the comity of nations....

The Taliban has begun military operations against two regional parties: the MQM, the front of North Indian refugees, and the Awami National Party of the Frontier. The third enemy is the PPP, which is likely to become a Sindh party after this poll. The Taliban are not talking about defeating them in elections. They are seeking to eliminate them physically…..

Many wonder how have the radical Wahhabi ideologues been able to create an army of suicide bombers in their war against the world to create a global Wahhabi Khilafat. The traditional wisdom is that it is the lure of the hoor in the hereafter that leads young men to find a way of leaving this world in a hurry. This is no doubt true. You just have to read the writings of Maulana Masood Azhar, the terrorist who was freed from an Indian jail in exchange for passengers on the hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814 (IC814) and went on to found Jaish-e-Mohammad, the most successful in creating suicide bombers. He describes what goes through the minds of these young men who are on the way to their suicide mission – fantasies of sex with young virgin hooris in Heaven where they will soon be as they have been told by the likes of Maulana Masood Azhar or Hafiz Saeed of Lashkar-eTayyeba.

But it is the Taliban issue that is uppermost in my mind on Election Day. Here, the PPP has unambiguously condemned the terrorists and supported army action against them. The truth is that civilian agencies are hopelessly outgunned by these killers, and only the army has the firepower to take them on. American drones — despite their unpopularity in large sections of Pakistani society — remain the most effective weapon against them.....

The English Jihadi magazine, which is apparently meant to cater to English-literate Muslims in South Asia, including Afghanistan, is similar to “Inspire”. the English Jihadi magazine of Al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula operating from Yemen, which has a readership among the Muslims of South India. Some Muslims arrested by the Bengaluru police last year were alleged by the Police to have been motivated by the articles carried by “Inspire”....

Many wonder how have the radical Wahhabi ideologues been able to create an army of suicide bombers in their war against the world to create a global Wahhabi Khilafat. The traditional wisdom is that it is the lure of the hoor in the hereafter that leads young men to find a way of leaving this world in a hurry. This is no doubt true. You just have to read the writings of Maulana Masood Azhar, the terrorist who was freed from an Indian jail in exchange for passengers on the hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814 (IC814) and went on to found Jaish-e-Mohammad, the most successful in creating suicide bombers. He describes what goes through the minds of these young men who are on the way to their suicide mission – fantasies of sex with young virgin hooris in Heaven where they will soon be as they have been told by the likes of Maulana Masood Azhar or Hafiz Saeed of Lashkar-eTayyeba.

LeT has remained active outside Kashmir as well. Out of the 45 prominent terror attacks witnessed outside theatres of violence in J&K and the North East since August 14, 2000, the LeT was alleged to be involved in no less than 17 incidents, which resulted in at least 630 fatalities. Though the outfit had established linkages and operational capabilities across India much earlier, disclosures by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad...

THE truth that makes men free is often the truth that men prefer not to hear, said a sage. The initial shock over the two Chechen brothers’ apparent involvement in the Boston bombings has been followed by an endless hysteria in the United States with politicians and all sorts of terrorism experts and media wonks, rushing to blame the usual suspects and the ‘ideology’ that inspired the attack.
Neocon pundit Robert Spencer of Jihad Watch, who has made a career out of Muslim bashing, has triumphantly declared Islam as the “real problem.” In a piece titled “Excusing Jihad in Boston,” he blasts the US media for “underplaying the religious angle” in the attack, claiming Qur’an exhorts Muslims to use the “steeds of war to strike terror into the hearts of the enemies.”

It is truly a sad state when the group affected the most by the current climate following the Boston marathon bombings have to wait for an outsider to speak some sense on their behalf. It is not that Muslims lack the capacity to express themselves and engage in an intellectual dialogue. But, when the rhetoric all over the media continues to assert the label "radical Islam"....

Many wonder how have the radical Wahhabi ideologues been able to create an army of suicide bombers in their war against the world to create a global Wahhabi Khilafat. The traditional wisdom is that it is the lure of the hoor in the hereafter that leads young men to find a way of leaving this world in a hurry. This is no doubt true. You just have to read the writings of Maulana Masood Azhar, the terrorist who was freed from an Indian jail in exchange for passengers on the hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814 (IC814) and went on to found Jaish-e-Mohammad, the most successful in creating suicide bombers. He describes what goes through the minds of these young men who are on the way to their suicide mission – fantasies of sex with young virgin hooris in Heaven where they will soon be as they have been told by the likes of Maulana Masood Azhar or Hafiz Saeed of Lashkar-eTayyeba.

The teacher smiled and said: “You have to draw a line across her neck so she does not come on Judgment Day and demands that you give her a soul so she can live, as it is taboo to imitate Allah’s creatures. But if you draw this line across her neck, you’d be saying she is not alive and she is only a drawing.” I understood nothing back then: Why did I have to strangle the beautiful girl with the embroidered dress?...

Many wonder how have the radical Wahhabi ideologues been able to create an army of suicide bombers in their war against the world to create a global Wahhabi Khilafat. The traditional wisdom is that it is the lure of the hoor in the hereafter that leads young men to find a way of leaving this world in a hurry. This is no doubt true. You just have to read the writings of Maulana Masood Azhar, the terrorist who was freed from an Indian jail in exchange for passengers on the hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814 (IC814) and went on to found Jaish-e-Mohammad, the most successful in creating suicide bombers. He describes what goes through the minds of these young men who are on the way to their suicide mission – fantasies of sex with young virgin hooris in Heaven where they will soon be as they have been told by the likes of Maulana Masood Azhar or Hafiz Saeed of Lashkar-eTayyeba.