Pakistan in crisis: selected reading

The recent attacks on the Sri Lankan cricket team have highlighted to the world what people in Pakistan were only too well aware of - that Pakistan is in crisis and terrorism has become a daily occurrence.

In a country where democracy has been overturned more than once in the last few decades and political leaders, like Benazir Bhutto, are assassinated it is unsurprising that there is a well of inequality and injustice in the country that has no democratic outlet. The government often lacks the legitimacy to tackle those who will use force to push their political agenda. This unrest is deepened whilst they verge on a regional cold war with India and are tied to the US conflict formally known as the war on terror.

I've tried to assemble a mini-reading list here of blog reactions, analysis and news reporting. If you know any other links that would be useful for people please feel free to let me know.

Media;

• Imran Khan: this is the result of weak government and the war on terror.
• The Daily Times (Pakistan) says the attacks point to the regional threats.
• India draws fantasies from misery, The Daily Mail (Islamabad).
  
• Al Jazeera has a useful Pakistan timeline.
• Reuters India looks at the contours of the current crisis.
  
• The Washington Post draws in Afghanistan and the tasks facing Obama.
  
• Reactions to the attack. BBC.
• The New York Times has a round up of responses online.
• Tariq Ali in the Malaysian Insider.
• The Wall Street Journal on the daily threat of terrorism in Pakistan.
• Kashmir Observer on Muslims of India since partition and here on Pakistan should clamp down on its past friends..
  
• The Hindu says these attacks are a threat to the entire world.
  

The Left;

• Dissident Voice looks at how the US is still training Pakistan special forces.
  
• OpEdNews provides a glossary and analysis.
• International Viewpoint looks at the "anarchy".
  

Blogs;

• Dave Osler calls on the left to be far clearer in its opposition to the attacks.
• Neil Robertson, Liberal Conspiracy, thinks the attacks were wrong and stupid.
• Shariq on Pickled Politics argues that nothing is sacred in Pakistan anymore.
• William Dalrymple in CiF thinks the US needs a good dose of the blame.
• Liam asks whether Pakistan is going to hell in a handcart.
• Instablogs has a quotes round up.

Sports writers / stories;

• Mike Selvey, in the Guardian.
  
• Mike Atherton, in the Times.
• Kapil Komireddi, on CiF.