Islamic Fundamentalism in South Asia
A series of "Of Interest" papers published by SSI:
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....This paper is about the history, rise and current state of Islamic fundamentalism in South Asia, the most populated region in the world and home to the largest concentration of Muslims on earth. There are over 1.5 billion people in South Asia, which includes Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal.
If one includes China, directly north, there are 2.7 billion people in this region, nearly one-half of the world’s population. South Asia is home to nearly one half of the world’s 1.2 billion Muslims. Nearly 30 percent of this region is Muslim.
From October 2006–March 2007, I traveled in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh, countries I have worked in before as a journalist. I briefly visited Indian-administered Kashmir, where I had not been before. I had visited Pakistani-administered Kashmir in December 2005. Drawing on my own experiences in the past, I wanted to study the history and rise of Islamic fundamentalism and see where it is today.
This is a report on my trip and on my conversations with academics, activists, politicians, writers, and religious leaders in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Kashmir, and Bangladesh....
Part I: The History, Rise, and Future of Islamic Fundamentalism in South Asia
Part II: Afghanistan and Pakistan
Part III: Bangladesh
Extremism and Governance in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia
A forthcoming event from the Post-Conflict Reconstruction Project at CSIS & The Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies at Columbia University:
Public Attitudes and Discontent: Extremism and Governance in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia
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This Thursday, January 29, 2009 from 4:00 – 5:30 pm at CSIS
4th Floor Conference Room
Presentation and discussion by:
Craig Charney, Ph.D., President, Charney Research
Lincoln Mitchell, Ph.D., Arnold A. Saltzman Assistant Professor in the Practice of International Affairs, Columbia University
Please join us for the release of a major new study detailing survey findings on public attitudes towards extremism and governance in Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia. The research is based on comprehensive, comparative nationwide surveys in three key Muslim states. The research explores public opinions on terrorism and extremism, the United States and its allies, and satisfaction with government performance, public services, and security forces
Discussion Followed by Reception
To RSVP, please contact Justine Fleischner at
JFleischner@csis.org
My article on blasphemy laws and their use in Pakistan
AQ and IS in India: a failure so far
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Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent, the new group announced last week by Ayman al-Zawahiri to bolster his flagging fortunes, suffered a setback when three of its fighters were killed and seven arrested in its first ever terror attack.
Heavily armed militants attacked a naval dock in Karachi's sea port on Saturday night and targeted what they believed was an American aircraft carrier, but instead found a Pakistan Navy frigate and were overwhelmed before they could cause any damage, investigators said.
Three jihadis were killed in the attack, four were captured and another three arrested the following day on information from interrogations. Two Pakistan Navy guards were wounded in the fighting.
"It was a complete failure, they did not do any kind of damage, some were captured and we caught more, seven so far and may be more to come. They were well-equipped and came with the intention of taking a ship into their custody but they were caught in the initial stages," a senior source close to the investigation told the Telegraph.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...rong-ship.html
310m India Muslims by 2050
I have long thought - in strategic terms - that if India's Muslims moved in numbers to actively support the violent Jihad then it would be a significant change. With India and Indians noticing first as they live there and sometimes in close proximity.
So along comes a Pew Research report to reinforce my view:
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By 2050, the study projects India to be the country with the largest number of Muslims – more than 310 million – even though Hindus will continue to make up a solid majority of India’s population (77%), while Muslims remain a minority (18%).
Link which I suggest is not used, as it tries to download an advert and blcoks the screen:http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-...1-1333402.aspx
The actual Pew report is here:http://www.pewforum.org/2015/04/02/r...ons-2010-2050/
AQIS 'claims' murder of US citizen in Bangladesh
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The leader of al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) made the claims in a 9-minute video, SITE intelligence group says, but police say it was the work of a local militant group called Ansarullah Bangla Team
Link:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...angladesh.html
There is more detail here:http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/04/wo...ref=world&_r=0
This reminds me of the 'Accidental Guerilla' model. A local group commits an act, which is later claimed by an aspiring global movement.
Dont make the mistake of underrating IS
I had spotted a news item on the seizure of equipment in India in India after Xmas, partly as the weapons appeared odd. Missed it was an operation ti disrupt an IS plot.
There are many Indian reports on the action taken, none in the Western press I could quickly see. The link is to an Indian news site and appears to repeat the official statement and the photo shows the weapons found.
Link:https://www.hindustantimes.com/india...OehdySGwK.html
The second link is to a commentary by an Indian SME, he opens with:
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By unearthing terror mastermind Mufti Suhails conspiracy, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has disproved Home Minister Rajnath Singhs assertion, made on May 23, 2016, that there was no threat to India from the Islamic State (IS) as people of the Muslim community are against the IS. Rajnath Singh had repeated this argument on March 15, 2018, saying that the IS would have no impact on India. He should have known that the IS is not supported even in Sunni-majority Arab areas, not to speak of Muslims globally.
Link:https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/co...is/709763.html