Gems, Timber and Jiziya: Pakistan's Taliban Harness Resources to Fund Jihad
The Taliban resurgence in Pakistan’s lawless provinces and its unhindered march towards the heartland of the restive country is fueled by an ever increasing economic life-line. Unlike Afghanistan’s Taliban, which depends on the poppy trade for revenues, the robustness of the Pakistan Taliban’s financial strength depends on a variety of sources, ranging from the timber trade, precious stone mining and now, the imposition of a religious/protection tax collected from minority religious communities.
South Asia: Hotbed of Islamic Terrorism
EXECUTIVE SUMMARYThis paper explores the rising menace of Islamic extremism in South Asia while discussing key terrorist groups and networks and emerging terrorism trends.
Is Bioterrorism Threat Credible?
Even terrorists play pranks on WMD use these days! Late May 2008, a purported terrorist video caught media attention and some serious coverage. As per the reports, the Al Qaeda video message urged Islamic jihadists to use “biological, chemical and nuclear weapons to attack the West.” Experts suspecting the authenticity of the video message dismissed the threat as a prank and not ‘Qaedaesque’ enough to get scared.
Protecting Homeland: US Biodefence Programme Post 9/11
The US biodefence programme continued to remain covert until the advent of ProjectBioShield in 2003, which was pursued overtly with government sanctions. Project BioShield became a law in July 2004. Under the Project, efforts have been made to develop and make available effective drugs and vaccines to protect civilian population against any biological and chemical weapon attacks.
OpenDemocracy: Is the "war on terror" being won? (II)
Alex P Schmid Animesh Roul James A. Goldston (5 July 2007)James A. Goldston, Executive Director, Open Society Justice InitiativeGovernment responses to the challenge of terrorism since 9/11 have been plagued by three major problems.
Writings on Peace and Conflict (2001-2004)
A New Face of Terrorism and Coming Anarchy, 15 Oct 2001Animesh Roul outlines the challenges facing the world community, particularly the US, as terrorists begin to use unconventional means to intimidate and redefine established contours of terrorism. Biological Weapon: Most Preferred WMD, 15 Nov 2001