Human rights activist and columnist call for a return to Ali Jinnah’s vision, which includes freedom of religion. Islamist movements warn the government not to change the laws “if it wants to stay in power”. A suicide attack in Rawalpindi kills 34 and wounds 30.

The Taliban issued a letter warning that Christians must convert to Islam, pay a head tax, or leave Pakistan. A Christian family was attacked for cleaving to their faith.

Blasphemy laws, introduced by President Zia-ul-Haq, the mastermind of Afghani jihad, now comes under scrutiny even from Islamic scholars.

Pakistan is engaged in a massive military ground operation against Taliban insurgents. The stakes are high for the U.S.

Sources in Afghanistan that sending fresh troops ‘will not improve the situation.” The conflict is a political and social problem. A compromise is needed to break the “stalemate” at the government level and fight the “widespread impression of corruption.”

In the eight years of the international military operation, money, troops and even the hope of the population have been consumed. As the UN and NATO flounders, Russia and China seek "dialogue" with the Taliban. At the expense of the Afghans.

Secretary of State Clinton gave assurances of the U.S. full confidence that Pakistan's nukes are safe despite a surprise attack on Rawalpindi military HQ. There had been a warning of the Taliban attack.

The Muslim Irfan Mufti denounces the "weakness" of the executive which needs the fundamentalist wing to stay in power. Archbishop Saldanha thanks Muslim MPs who proposed the abolition of the blasphemy law.

Hospital sources reported that the number of victims is likely to rise, many of the wounded in critical condition. The attack is a likely Taliban response to the army's offensive in South Waziristan.