Few innovations in modern warfare have seduced US presidents as thoroughly as the Predator drone, upstaged in more recent years by its bigger and even deadlier cousin, the Reaper. Under George W Bush, the Hellfire missiles slung under its wings delivered 'sudden justice' to America's enemies. Barack Obama embraced the technology even more ardently, carrying out eight times more drone strikes in Pakistan than his predecessor and opening new fronts in Yemen and Somalia. It is not hard to imagine why temptation proved so hard to resist. With their sleek fuselages and distinctive downward-V tail fins, drones serve as 'aerial sniper rifles', allowing the pinpoint application of deadly force without putting American troops in danger. Unlike conventional aircraft, drones can 'slow down war' by loitering above a target for hours, ensuring civilian casualties are kept to a minimum. The unblinking stare from their swivelling, robotic eyes ensures the most dangerous militants remain forever on the run. To their promoters, these bulbous-nosed craft are an exemplar of how technological superiority can keep America safe. Chris Woods, an investigative journalist, takes a wrecking ball to this narrative with his authoritative and admirably even-handed chronicle of America's secret drone wars. Woods argues that drone strikes have led to five hundred unacknowledged non-combatant deaths, despite 'fanciful' CIA claims to the contrary. No longer reserved for 'high-value targets', drones have been used to obliterate hazily defined groups of 'military-aged males' mourning at funerals or desperately digging people from the rubble left by previous strikes. Operating far beyond public scrutiny, the CIA has used its covert fleet to wage an open-ended campaign of targeted killings that would have been unthinkable prior to 9/11, when American spy chiefs were wary of embracing assassination on an industrial scale. None of these controversies are new. The strength of Woods's book lies in the...

Few innovations in modern warfare have seduced US presidents as thoroughly as the Predator drone, upstaged in more recent years by its bigger and even deadlier cousin, the Reaper. Under George W Bush, the Hellfire missiles slung under its wings delivered 'sudden justice' to America's enemies. Barack Obama embraced the technology even more ardently, carrying out eight times more drone strikes in Pakistan than his predecessor and opening new fronts in Yemen and Somalia. It is not hard to imagine why temptation proved so hard to resist. With their sleek fuselages and distinctive downward-V tail fins, drones serve as 'aerial sniper rifles', allowing the pinpoint application of deadly force without putting American troops in danger. Unlike conventional aircraft, drones can 'slow down war' by loitering above a target for hours, ensuring civilian casualties are kept to a minimum. The unblinking stare from their swivelling, robotic eyes ensures the most dangerous militants remain forever on the run. To their promoters, these bulbous-nosed craft are an exemplar of how technological superiority can keep America safe. Chris Woods, an investigative journalist, takes a wrecking ball to this narrative with his authoritative and admirably even-handed chronicle of America's secret drone wars. Woods argues that drone strikes have led to five hundred unacknowledged non-combatant deaths, despite 'fanciful' CIA claims to the contrary. No longer reserved for 'high-value targets', drones have been used to obliterate hazily defined groups of 'military-aged males' mourning at funerals or desperately digging people from the rubble left by previous strikes. Operating far beyond public scrutiny, the CIA has used its covert fleet to wage an open-ended campaign of targeted killings that would have been unthinkable prior to 9/11, when American spy chiefs were wary of embracing assassination on an industrial scale. None of these controversies are new. The strength of Woods's book lies in the...

BACKGROUND- During the Islamic holy month of fasting – “Ramzan”- there are two Islmaic obligations which according to “sharia” are compulsory on all Muslims; “Zakat” and “Fitra”. Zakat is a form of obligatory alms-giving and religious tax in Islam. It is based on income and the value of all of one's possessions. Zakat is one of the five pillars of Islam and mandatory for all Muslims, it is a charitable contribution. Fitra is a again a compulsory charity with a minimum amount of Rs100 per head, to be paid before Eidul Fitr (which marks the celebration after the month of Ramzan). Both Zakat and Fitra in the form of donations are collected all over Pakistan by religious as well as political parties’ charitable and philanthropist organizations. The collection of Zakat and Fitra has thus become a multi- million dollar business, but more so in Karachi, being the largest city population wise with an estimated population of about 20 million. Unfortunately this charitable side of religion has become a sort of ‘tug of war’ amongst the charity foundations of most religious and political parties, mainly the Muhajir Qaumi Movement (MQM), the Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Pakistan Sunni Tehreek (PST), and others. It becomes victim to the unrelenting violence – when organizations start fighting to collect more donations and the competition ultimately leads to violence. This was the way things were done in Karachi. Until this year when mandated by the provincial Apex Committee (formed in sync with the National Actiion Plan), the Rangers decided to act. Through a press release last month the Rangers also claimed that these donation funds were being used to finance terrorism as well. The Sindh Rangers have come down hard on political parties and their welfare wings, accusing them of forcefully collecting donations. Workers are being arrested, cash and Fitra slips are being confiscated and a helpline has been set up where people can register complaints against forceful collection. The...

Mullah Fazlullah A Yousufzai from Swat, he took charge as the head of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan after the death of Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone strike in November 2013. He is currently heading the TTP faction often referred to as “TTP central” in intelligence circles. He controlled large parts of the Malakand division for nearly three years before escaping to Afghanistan in 2009 following a military operation.  Fazlullah has been the mastermind behind various high profile attacks including the brutal Peshawar school attack as well as the killing of GoC Swat Major General Sanaullah Khan Niazi. He maintains good relations with the Afghan Taliban. Affiliated with: Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Maulana Asim Umar The head of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and the first Deobandi to lead an Al-Qaeda franchise. He has studied in Karachi and also taught at seminaries there. He has authored several books on subjects such as doomsday, the Anti-Christ, and Freemasons, etc. He is well-connected with various Deobandi and Salafi scholars and enjoys a good reputation in various religious circles. Affiliated with: Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) Sirajuddin Haqqani Commonly known as “Khalifa Sahib”, he heads what the US refers to as the Haqqani Network, which is in fact a group fighting under the direct command of Mullah Omar. His fighters are some of the best-trained militants in this region, and have carried out a number of high profile attacks in Afghanistan. Sirajuddin Haqqani’s step mother is a Yemeni, and he maintains close ties with Al Qaeda. When questioned about the TTP, he has referred to them as “our brothers”. He was a close friend of former TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud. Affiliated with: Haqqani Network, TTP, Al-Qaeda Hafiz Saeed Khan Orakzai He had previously served as a TTP commander in Orakzai Agency. He parted ways with the TTP and joined Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s “Islamic State” (IS). In January this year, he was appointed as a...

Mullah Fazlullah A Yousufzai from Swat, he took charge as the head of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan after the death of Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone strike in November 2013. He is currently heading the TTP faction often referred to as “TTP central” in intelligence circles. He controlled large parts of the Malakand division for nearly three years before escaping to Afghanistan in 2009 following a military operation.  Fazlullah has been the mastermind behind various high profile attacks including the brutal Peshawar school attack as well as the killing of GoC Swat Major General Sanaullah Khan Niazi. He maintains good relations with the Afghan Taliban. Affiliated with: Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Maulana Asim Umar The head of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and the first Deobandi to lead an Al-Qaeda franchise. He has studied in Karachi and also taught at seminaries there. He has authored several books on subjects such as doomsday, the Anti-Christ, and Freemasons, etc. He is well-connected with various Deobandi and Salafi scholars and enjoys a good reputation in various religious circles. Affiliated with: Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) Sirajuddin Haqqani Commonly known as “Khalifa Sahib”, he heads what the US refers to as the Haqqani Network, which is in fact a group fighting under the direct command of Mullah Omar. His fighters are some of the best-trained militants in this region, and have carried out a number of high profile attacks in Afghanistan. Sirajuddin Haqqani’s step mother is a Yemeni, and he maintains close ties with Al Qaeda. When questioned about the TTP, he has referred to them as “our brothers”. He was a close friend of former TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud. Affiliated with: Haqqani Network, TTP, Al-Qaeda Hafiz Saeed Khan Orakzai He had previously served as a TTP commander in Orakzai Agency. He parted ways with the TTP and joined Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s “Islamic State” (IS). In January this year, he was appointed as a...

Mullah Fazlullah A Yousufzai from Swat, he took charge as the head of the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan after the death of Hakimullah Mehsud in a drone strike in November 2013. He is currently heading the TTP faction often referred to as “TTP central” in intelligence circles. He controlled large parts of the Malakand division for nearly three years before escaping to Afghanistan in 2009 following a military operation.  Fazlullah has been the mastermind behind various high profile attacks including the brutal Peshawar school attack as well as the killing of GoC Swat Major General Sanaullah Khan Niazi. He maintains good relations with the Afghan Taliban. Affiliated with: Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Maulana Asim Umar The head of Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and the first Deobandi to lead an Al-Qaeda franchise. He has studied in Karachi and also taught at seminaries there. He has authored several books on subjects such as doomsday, the Anti-Christ, and Freemasons, etc. He is well-connected with various Deobandi and Salafi scholars and enjoys a good reputation in various religious circles. Affiliated with: Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) Sirajuddin Haqqani Commonly known as “Khalifa Sahib”, he heads what the US refers to as the Haqqani Network, which is in fact a group fighting under the direct command of Mullah Omar. His fighters are some of the best-trained militants in this region, and have carried out a number of high profile attacks in Afghanistan. Sirajuddin Haqqani’s step mother is a Yemeni, and he maintains close ties with Al Qaeda. When questioned about the TTP, he has referred to them as “our brothers”. He was a close friend of former TTP chief Hakimullah Mehsud. Affiliated with: Haqqani Network, TTP, Al-Qaeda Hafiz Saeed Khan Orakzai He had previously served as a TTP commander in Orakzai Agency. He parted ways with the TTP and joined Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi’s “Islamic State” (IS). In January this year, he was appointed as a...

The world is watching with keen interest as nuclear talks between Iran and the six major powers — the US, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China — enter their final phase. Chances of a deal being agreed uponwithin a week or so seem likely, although the possibility of last-minute hiccups cannot be ruled out. Iran’s problems with the International Atomic Energy Agency and the world powers began in 2002, when it was discovered that it was secretly engaged in uranium enrichment at a plant in Natanz and had established a heavy water reactor plant at Aarak. This raised suspicions that Iran was involved in nuclear arms production and had suspended it only when these facts became known. When Iran failed to respond to the demands of the six major powers to suspend its enrichment activity and other weapons-related projects, the UN Security Council, in 2006, imposed sanctions, and the US and European countries tightened the noose by slapping additional ones. Harsh sanctions had the desired effect of squeezing Iran’s economy, with its public getting restive. This helped in bringing a moderate president, Hassan Rouhani, to power in the 2013 elections. The same year, an interim agreement was signed with the P5+1, whereby some sanctions were relaxed in exchange for Iran agreeing to suspend its uranium enrichment and other weapons-related activities. Talks on the deal were extended beyond the deadline of June 30, 2015 and the parties are reported to be in the final stages of concluding it. The broad contours of the final deal aim at restricting Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. The country has agreed to reduce the 19,000 centrifuges at Natanz and Fordow to 6,014, and the top ceiling of enrichment not to exceed 3.6 per cent. Iran’s ability to produce enriched uranium or plutonium, sufficient to make a bomb in three months, has been reduced to reaching that stage in one year. Iran’s main interest as of now seems to be in acquiring nuclear technology and developing a nuclear...