Terrorism Lahore to Leeds
Leader Saturday July 16, 2005 Guardian It is hard to keep up with fast-moving developments in the investigation into the London bombings, but initial emphasis on the shocking discovery of "home-grown" suicidal jihadists has now given way to exploration of international links to England's worst ever terrorist atrocity, with an intense focus on Pakistan, ancestral homeland of three of the killers. History, religion and geopolitics have long conspired to give Pakistan a leading role in the drama of globalised terror. Its proximity to Afghanistan, support for the mujahideen fighting the Soviet occupation, cosy relations with the Taliban and problems with Kashmir and militant Islamists are as much a part of the story as Pervez Musharraf's help to the west in fighting al-Qaida. That assistance has won him weapons and cash as well as indulgence of his nuclear policy and failure to deliver democratic reforms. But the Beeston bombers have thrown new light on more intimate and sinister Pakistani connections, including a putative mastermind who may have slipped out of Britain before the attacks. Shahzad Tanweer reportedly met a man later convicted of bombing a church when he was in his parents' hometown of Faisalabad. As recently as February he was in Lahore deepening his Koranic studies - an option that is increasingly popular with young British Muslims since Egypt and Saudi Arabia restricted access after the September 11 attacks. With members of many extended families living in Britain and Pakistan, links between homeland and diaspora are as natural and intense - and largely as innocent - as the Yorkshire-born Tanweer's love for cricket. Much has been said about the role of Pakistani madrasas, Islamic academies that are widely blamed for being hothouses of militant fundamentalism. The truth is that the majority are harmless enough, if hardly enlightened or useful preparation for 21st-century life - though of course free or subsidised for the poor. President Musharraf has failed to fulfil his pledge to crack down on the small numbers teaching extremist Wahabbi or Deobandi doctrine, which zealots often interpret as sanctioning intolerance, martyrdom and cruelty. Confused young men, torn between cultures, are easy prey for preachers of hatred. Britons must bind their own wounds and be more aware of the impact of their government's policies - on Iraq, Palestine etc - on Muslims everywhere. But Pakistanis must tackle their own problems. We live in one world: anyone who cares about what happens in Rochdale or Leeds needs to worry about Rawalpindi and Lahore as well. Guardian Unlimited © Guardian Newspapers Limited 2005 Post message: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Unsubscribe : [EMAIL PROTECTED] List owner : [EMAIL PROTECTED] Homepage : http://proletar.8m.com/ Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/proletar/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
