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Plight of Islam in the Modern World – Egypt of the Muslim Brothers compared to post 9/11 Pakistan

While Pakistan in the first decade of the 21st century may be very different to Egypt in the high time of the Muslim Brothers (1930s - 1950s), there are some striking resemblances concerning modernity and religion and how the conflict between these two terms has influenced society or in reverse was shaped by it. In this paper some of these similarities are portrayed. While Hassan al-Banna stood for a defense of the (Muslim) East against the West based on reasoning coming from the Quran, Sunna and Sufism and trying to find a non-violent consensus, his movement is remembered as radically conservative and an intellectual base for today’s leaders of terroristic activity. Similarly an underlying intellectual development in Pakistan is disregarded over the rising violent outbreaks in the name of religion.

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The Life of two foreigners in Kandahar

Most interesting article of two western foreigners living in Kandahar, the heart of Taliban resistance. They report about he boredom of sitting in their flat, because leaving would be too dangerous, but also about the thrill living so close to the “faltline” of history.

Asides

• The earlier quests here and here. Thomas Ruttig has translated an Interview with Bernt Glatzer who was an ethnologist with focus on Afghanistan. The interview is on the role ethnologists may be able to play in COIN. #
• Peter Tomsen (former chargé d'affaires of the US to the Northern Alliance) has proclaimed a possible exit strategy from Afghanistan based on an Austrian State Treaty Model from 1955. in: Fletcher Forum of World Affairs, Vol. 25, Winter 2001 The same guy had a shot at the predictioner's game concerning the Taliban way back in 2000, subtitling in his Foreign Affairs piece "Ahmed Rashid has it wrong. The Taliban's days are, mercifully, numbered." #
• from "Rûz al-Yûsuf", Egypt, 4th March 1996, addressing of course the situation then in Egypt. Times there have changed, for Pakistan I guess it does still well apply. Thanks to my Professor for the material. #
• An insight into areas around Durand Line - the borderline dividing Pakistan and Afghanistan - their history and problems over many centuries and solutions applied. Read full article. #
• In Punjabi folklore there is story of a dog that fell into the village well and died. People asked a wise-man what they should do so that the water doesn't get infected and people suffer from the diseases because of the dead dog. The wise-man asked them to take out 100 bucket loads of water from well so the well is dis-infected again. The wise-man visited the village and drank water; it tasted bad and stank. He asked the villager if they took out 100 buckets full of water as advised. They said they instead took out 500 buckets. As the wise-man was thinking of the possible reason, an old man said, "the dog is still inside!". #