Quantum Notes are a kaleidoscope of almost a decade of global events. Written in the wake of actual events and published in The News International, Pakistan’s leading English language newspaper between 1998 and 2010, these columns describe the state of affairs of a world on the brink of falling apart. They include insights into Pakistan’s troubled past and violent present by a detached but deeply committed observer who has witnessed key events from close quarters. These columns constitute a prism from which emerges a pattern of global politics dominated by ambitious military generals, corrupt politicians, CIA’s intrigues, and light and gloom of multiple tragedies—from Palestinian to Iraq.
1998
Islam and America——A Second Look
The fact that Islam is rapidly gaining ground in America and the forecast that it will become the second largest religion by 2010 need qualifiers which would take away the dramatic effect of these statements but would put us on a more realistic ground. In his article, “America, Islam and Pakistan” (The News, March 27, 1998), Suroosh Irfani has compared America's Islamic florescence with Moghul India. He has rightly contrasted this situation with the contemporary realties of contemporary Pakistani society “where Muslims are killing each other in mosques and streets in the name of religious purity”. But he has overlooked certain basic facts.
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Published on March 30, 1998