Global Focus

Endangering the fragile peace

Umer Ansari, United States, Thursday 5 June 2008

On June 2nd, 6 people were killed in the Capital of Pakistan, Islamabad, in a carefully planned bombing of the Danish Embassy.

"The severity of the blast, type of technology used was quite different (from previous bombings]," said Talat Masood, a retired general turned security analyst. "It looks as if they wanted an international impact, an agenda outside of our national boundaries."

Mr. Masood blamed Al-Qaida for this terrorism, with the theory having a distinct possibility - there were previous reports of Bin Laden ordering his deputies to target Denmark.

Regardless of the agenda and aims, the bombing has now endangered the fragile peace deal with radical militants and Taliban sympathisers. What is worrying most analysts is that the bombing is showing Pakistan to have weak security credentials, which will only serve to further undermine support for a broad based peace deal with the extremist elements. But it is clear that the Pakistani government is is continuing to attempt resolve the internal security issues through dialog, rather than the heavy handed western intervention method previously adopted by Musharaff. Clearly, the government feel that this heavy handed approach does not work, and it is clear to see the precedent - one only has to look at Iraq or Afghanistan today.

What Muslims can all agree upon is that the bombing of the Embassy was against the Law of Islam (Sharia). One only has to look at the example of the the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), when Musailmah Khazzab sent ambassadors demanding the political partition of Arabian Peninsula into two halves. One being ruled and preached by Musailmah and another by Prophet Muhammed. The Prophet (pbuh), refuted the offer, stating that it was only Islam's prohibition of murdering messengers which had protected his life. The Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), had protected the messenger from harm (who was attempting to humiliate him), protecting him from the wrath of his companions.

This was one of the last laws which were set by the prophet for times of conflict. Put it simply, no Muslim is to kill ambassadors or political envoys. Therefore, it is fair to state that this bombing was Anti-Islamic, Anti-Shariah and Anti-Pakistani. It has humiliated Pakistan's solidarity, and Pakistan's standing as an independent state coping with the scourge of Terrorism.

This lack of awareness needs to be taught, with Muslims remembering what Muhammed SAW taught. It is during these times of conflict that we need to revisit our faith, and to be more understanding.

This attack must be condemned wholeheartedly, with the terrorists being brought to Justice. However, as in the true spirit of Islam, we should not fight fire with fire - peaceful means must be used. The Pakistani government must ignore international political pressure, and rebuff a 'western militaristic' approach. The cycle of violence must end, and the ball is now in the Pakistani government's court on how it chooses to proceed in dealing with this stage in the cycle of violence...