Approximately 150 miles away In the northwestern city of Peshawar, a car bomb tore through a busy market. The death toll from today’s terror attacks in Pakistan has risen to some 100 people. The bombing is thought to be the work of militants allied with the Taliban.

Ahmad Kamal, a Pakistani diplomat for 40 years - 10 of them as Pakistan’s UN ambassador - speaks with Daljit Dhaliwal about the relationship between the Taliban in Pakistan and Afghanistan and the escalation of attacks. He also examines what it will take to end the violence in both countries.

Christians account for only about 1.5 percent of Pakistan’s 167 million people.

In Pakistan on Monday, members of the minority Christian community staged protests after eight Christians were killed over the weekend in an unusual wave of violence against them by Muslim extremists.

The violence took place in the eastern city of Gojra when hundreds of Muslims stormed a Christian neighborhood after reports that a Quran had been desecrated. Dozens of houses were burned in the rampage. Six people died in the fires and two others were shot to death.

On Monday, Christian schools were closed throughout Pakistan to protest the violence, while hundreds of people took to the streets to demand justice. Christians account for only about 1.5 percent of Pakistan’s 167 million people.

Faisal Kapadia, a Worldfocus contributing blogger, condemns the violence and urges Pakistani Muslims to speak out against the attacks:

I am ashamed, we are always worried about our image these days and the image of our country [...] We tout the fact that Islam is a religion of peace, we scream to the rafters when a hate incident against Muslims takes place anywhere in the world, are we going to stay silent when our own countrymen are slaughtered in the name of Islam?

This is not what Pakistan is or should be known for [...]Let us unite and stand with the christian community in gojra and other minorities who face persecution for what is their right, to pray to whomsoever they wish.

Pakistani Frederick Masih, a Christian himself, comments hopefully on a post about the violence at “All Things Pakistan:”

Of course this incident has left all of us dejected and heartbroken. But I am heartened by the reactions and comments and ordinary Pakistanis, mostly Muslims, reacting with such compassion. I think that is true for the overall reaction in the country. Maybe the tide is changing. As a Christian who grew up in power, most of my memories of childhood were pleasant and nice. But being a minority anywhere is not easy. I hope this incidence will help all of us Paksitanis to realize that we must do to others what we want for ourselves. Tolerance and goodwill to all.

Adnan Siddiqi comments on the same article, writing that if Christians indeed desecrated the Quran, they too should be punished:

Those minority champs should realize that EVERY RELIGION must be respected; be it followed by minorities or majorities. Just like one does not have right to offfend Bible or any other religious book similarly no one has right to offend Quran either. One can’t say,”Oh they are minorities, let them offend Quran”. Those who have burnt these Christians and those who have really offended Muslims’ Holy book MUST BE punished.

“Adonis” comments on the “Pakistan Politics” blog to blame Pakistan’s justice system:

If there were an effective blasphemy law, there would have been no protests in gojra. People take to the street only and take law into their own hands when they are certain that the authorities are not going to take any action against the culprits.

The fact is that no one has ever served sentence for blasphemy in Pakistan. Even if someone is convicetd in lower courts, during appeal either the culprit is given bail during proceedings when he is whisked away to some western country or the case is withdrawn.

If people are certain that if somebody really commits blasphemy, then nothing would save hin from punishment and if someone falsely accuses anyone else for blasphemy, he would also be severely dealt with, then we would not have things that are happening in gojra.

Photo courtesy of Flickr user leeno under a Creative Commons license.

Firemen near the Taj Mahal hotel.

A memorial in Mumbai for victims of the attacks .

The Internet has played a role in the coverage and understanding of the recent attacks on Mumbai, as Worldfocus previously reported: Tweets, texts and chats change coverage of Mumbai.

Bloggers from all corners of the globe have weighed in on the attacks from a variety of angles and perspectives.

On the ground

Listen to survivors talk about their experiences here and here.

The “Arun Shanbhag blog” live blogs from the Taj Mahal hotel, the site of one of the attacks.

The “Mumbai Help” blog provides links to emergency information for those in need.

The “ALittleTooFast” blog in Mumbai mourns the death of friend Rabbi Gavriel Noach Holtzberg, a New Yorker whose religious and educational headquarters in Mumbai came under attack.

“The Rydes in Mumbai” blog, written by members of an American family in Mumbai, writes about the situation of Americans in the city, some of whom were targeted.

Foreign involvement

Initially, a little-known group called the  Deccan Mujahideen claimed responsibility for the attacks, though the group may be a front for another organization.

India now claims the perpetrators were all from Pakistan, heightening tensions between the two countries.

The “Teeth Maestro” blog, written by a Pakistani dentist, expresses solidarity with Indian victims but frustration at the “blame game” played by the Indian government.

Blogger “Adil” writes that he is a Mumbaikar in solidarity with those in India.

The “Pakistan Policy Blog” writes that India should look in the mirror and come to terms with its own failing security.

The “2point6billion” blog writes that India and Pakistan must work together to diffuse terrorism.

Pakistan has also seen violence in recent days, and dozens have died in riots in Karachi.

Looking forward

Blogger “Mohyna” in Mumbai writes about lessons learned from the attacks.

A blogger at “An Indian Muslim” doubts that political change will occur, saying no one will look into police reforms.

Blogger “Juan Cole” writes about possible economic ramifications of the attacks.

Photos courtesy of Flickr useres USELESSNANO and zeeble under a Creative Commons license.

This would not be the first time Muslim extremists have targeted Mumbai. A group called the Indian Mujahideen took responsibility for a series of blasts earlier this year.

Jeff Stein, who follows national security matters for Congressional Quarterly and writes a column called “Spy Talk,” speaks with Martin Savidge about the relationship between these groups and earlier warnings about threats to Mumbai. They also discuss tense Pakistan-India relations and the implications of the attacks for U.S. security.

Two eyewitness accounts are below the video.

Here are two eyewitness accounts:

Ankur Chawla, a staff trainee at the Taj Mahal Hotel, survived the attacks and speaks about his experience.	Rich Diffenderffer, an American businessman from Wilmington, Del., was on the fifth floor of the Taj Mahal Hotel when the terrorists struck.

Thumbnail courtesy of Flickr use darmesh84 and Creative Commons license.