Pope under pressure to apologize

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Following to massive reaction from Muslim around the world against Pope Benedict XVI about Islam being as a violent religion, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has said comments of Pope Benedict regarding Islam are regrettable and affront to our Holy Prophet Mohammad and Islam.

A press statement issued in Kabul said the remarks showed an inadequate understanding of Islam and warrants for an apology to Muslims, the followers of a religion of peace and reconciliation.

In these circumstances, where there is a demanding need for measures towards reconciliation of different beliefs, such expressions increase tension among the followers of different religions.

a link to Vatican website "The Holy see"

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The Root Cause of Green on Blue Attacks

Note: I published this article first on openDemocracy ‘Green on blue attacks' is the name given to a growing series of incidents where seemingly rogue Afghan security forces turn their guns on their NATO counterparts. These insider attacks have led to the deaths of more than 50 NATO troops since the beginning of 2012. Subsequently, NATO responded in September by halting joint operations with Afghan security forces to prevent further attacks, following the deaths of 6 International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) troops over one weekend . With the increased frequency of green on blue attacks, the topic has become an important subject for western media. It is usually portrayed as a religious and cultural problem in which Afghan troops react to perceived insults by American troops’ behavior. Others cite Taliban infiltration into Afghan security forces. But after talking to various Afghan journalists and writers who have been covering this issue for the past decade, ...

Discussing the "Green on Blue" attacks with BBC World News

Here I discussed the impact of the "green on blue" attacks by members of the Afghan police and army against coalition forces in Afghanistan and NATO airstrike which killed 8 women who were out gathering firewood before dawn.

Individuals Matter

Individual leadership matters, and leaders make a difference in international relations. There is some empirical evidence that individuals have played an essential role in international relations. In IR, the form of government is not as important as the leadership. Sometimes, the public domain and internal politics are personified in leadership. In Farsi, there is a proverb that goes "what leaks out of the ewer is what is inside it"[از کوزه همان تراود که دراوست],or as it goes in English, "a tree is known by its fruit." Let's consider Ahmadinejad of Iran's leadership, for example. During his two-term presidency, he had been one of the most controversial figures in the international sphere. If Ahmadinejad had not called Israel a “tumor” and had not reiterated the words of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khomeini, by saying that Israel should be wiped off the map, today, Iran might have a different status in international relations. Furthermore, if Ahmadinej...

Learning Online Journalism and Writing Blogs in Helmand Province

Note that this article was first published in the America.gov ( direct link of this interview )and if you reproduce this article you must retain this notice. ----- Introduction: A surprising number of Afghans blog on the Internet and even more want to learn how. Nasim Fekrat has been at the forefront of helping Afghans use modern technology to communicate with each other and the rest of the world – but it can be a dangerous business. America.gov’s Jane Morse talked with him earlier this year while he was in United States on a fellowship (see: Eager to Learn About the World, Tech Savy Afghans Turn to Blogs .) In a new guest post, Nasim talks about his latest efforts to teach blogging in Helmand province, the largest in Afghanistan and the world’s top opium-producing region. The province is the site of ongoing deadly fighting between the Taliban and American, British and other NATO troops. This is the sixth day that I am in the war-torn province of Helmand. My friends in other...

Rejoicing over the Death of an Evil Person

In 2013, when Margaret Thatcher died, some people celebrated her death--due to her destructive economic policies during her terms--not only in the UK but also in other places, like Chile . Rejoicing over her death was not only considered something unethical but a source of joy and happiness. Today I heard that Mujib Rahman Ansari, a senior Sunni extremist cleric and pro-Taliban, was killed in a blast . On social media platforms, many Afghanistanis expressed their happiness over his death. The first question that might come to our mind is, is this morally a good thing? This is not the right question. A more correct and accurate question to ask is whether the absence of someone who promoted and caused hatred, disgust, misery, and suffering brings us peace? I asked a friend of mine this question. He told me that "rejoicing over the death of an evil person should not only be considered normal but also morally justifiable. We humans naturally rejoice ...

How does NATO determine who is insurgent and who is not?

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Ta’arof as a Denial in Iranian Social Life

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America's Drone War Stoned by Afghans

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For The First Time: Blogging Workshop in Kabul

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Decline of Iran's Soft Power in Afghanistan

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