Today US President Barak Obama gave a landmark speech in the Islamic world. He called for a new beginning between the United States and Muslims. In his speech, Obama said that both sides, the US and the Muslims, should overcome the cycle of suspicion and discord. He also added in his remarkable speech that religious beliefs across the world were not inimical or exclusive to each other.

Barak Obama gave this eloquent speech in Cairo, Egypt, home to the historic Al Azhar and Cairo University. In his address Obama had quotations from the Koran. His speech also contained rich references to contribution of Islam to civilization and also his own personal connection to the faith.

Obama also said beyond religion. He outlined the source of the fear and also the mistrust between the two sides, including 9/11.

Obama conspicuously excluded any reference to the Kashmir issue, which is the home of the largest concentration of Muslims in the world. Among the key contentious issues were the festering Israeli-Palestinian dispute, Iraq, US differences with Iran, Af-Pak, and differing perceptions between the west and the Islamic world on matters like democracy and women’s rights.