On May 2, 2012, Roznama Islam, an Urdu-language Pakistani daily, carried several articles on the first anniversary of the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a U.S. operation in Abbottabad, assessing the success or failure of the U.S. military operation in Afghanistan and arguing that the U.S.-led war now involves defending Kabul itself.

In an article titled "Martyrdom of Osama: Who is the Victor?" columnist Abid Mahmood Ezam questioned the U.S. claims of victory, reminding the U.S. that it had to bear heavy losses in the year after bin Laden's killing. In fact, he argued, Osama bin Laden succeeded in his goal of pushing the U.S. into a valley of humiliation.

In another article, titled "Could the Afghan Security Forces Compete with the Taliban after the Foreign Forces' Pullout from Afghanistan?" and written by one "Abdullah", the Urdu daily argued that several regions of Afghanistan are in the Taliban's complete control, and the recent Taliban attacks in Kabul indicate that the jihadist forces are strong.

"Today, When The Abbottabad Incident Completes Its One Year, The U.S. Seems To Be Unsuccessful; The U.S. Had To Bear Great Losses In The Past Year…; The Fact Is That Al-Qaeda [Wasn't] Weakened With Osama's Martyrdom"

Following are excerpts from Abid Mahmood Ezam's article:[1]

"The incident of martyrdom of Al-Qaeda chief Sheikh Osama bin Laden occurred at Abbottabad on May 2, 2011. Some helicopters came in the night and started firing on a house, and then afterwards the U.S. president Barack Obama himself gave the good news of the martyrdom of the Al-Qaeda chief to the American nation. All the Allied countries, including the U.S., rejoiced fully and this incident was called the biggest news of the century. The glad tidings of the end of Al-Qaeda and Mujahideen were given, while it was called the biggest success of the U.S.

"But today, when the Abbottabad incident completes its one year, the U.S. seems to be unsuccessful. The U.S. had to bear great losses in the past year. The fact is that Al-Qaeda [wasn't] weakened with Osama's martyrdom, but the U.S. seems to be staggering to a greater extent, and it could be guessed from the report of Rand Corporation, a prominent U.S. research organization.

"It has been said in this report that Al-Qaeda supports terrorist incidents under individual jihad and self help. Their contractors do not feel the need of the organization and prefer individual jihad. They want to avoid various types of hindrances.

"This Al-Qaeda strategy is opposed to its former central character and ideology and represents the present facts. Although the jihadi organizations have weakened, still they continue to remain a symbol of threat and it is evident from the history of Al-Qaeda that it attempts to mold itself according to the situation."

"Though Al-Qaeda's Influence Is Limited In Afghanistan, Some Sources Are Proving Al-Qaeda's Full Role In The April 15^th Attacks Of Afghanistan By The Taliban"

"Earlier, U.S. President Obama's deputy security advisor John Brennan said in an interview that finding Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri was their first priority. He said that Osama's killing is the demonstration of their capability and that the actions of counter terrorism will be in place in Pakistan sooner.

"Describing Al-Qaeda and its sub-groups as the biggest challenge to the United States, U.S. intelligence officials have said that the unstable situation in the Arab world has provided time for these jihadi groups to complete their network. There is no doubt in the fact that it has been a year since Sheikh Osama's martyrdom, but Al-Qaeda remains a headache for the U.S. and the threat of Al-Qaeda is hovering over the U.S. as a cloud continuously.

"Though Al-Qaeda's influence is limited in Afghanistan, some sources are proving Al-Qaeda's full role in the April 15^th attacks of Afghanistan by the Taliban. The attack was so comprehensive that NATO took recourse to air strikes through the latest helicopters only instead of confronting [the Taliban] face to face. In the capital Kabul, mujahideen launched repeated attacks on the building of Afghan Parliament and NATO headquarters, including on the U.S., German, British, Japanese, and Russian embassies. Meanwhile, the mujahideen set ablaze a hotel in Kabul, also after getting hold of it; [they] killed many troops by launching attacks on the city of Kabul from two sides, and the U.S. airbase in Jalalabad was targeted.

"The martyrdom of Sheikh Osama is being used as a [trump] card in the U.S. elections, but according to a report Obama's reputation has gone down in the U.S. and that is why his victory is not easy now. According to many analysts in the U.S., a big part of the Americans are not ready to accept that Sheikh Osama was martyred in Abbottabad. They are calling the incident as a drama. There are lots of objections in the minds of Americans, including not publishing the pictures of Osama bin Laden, and the U.S. administration is not in a position to answer [those questions].

"A grave situation has been created in the U.S. regarding Sheikh Osama. Two groups have come face to face. Officials of the U.S. intelligence have claimed that Al-Qaeda has been finished, but its allied organizations are still posing a threat while the [U.S.] Defense Secretary Leon Panetta is of the opinion that Al-Qaeda has been weakened, but it cannot be claimed that it has been done away with."

"If America Is Considering Osama's Killing As Its Success, Then It Is Absolutely Wrong Because The Aim of Sheikh [Osama] Was To Send The U.S. In The Valley Of Humiliation And Disgrace, And Osama Has Seen The U.S. Being Disgraced In Afghanistan"

"According to a foreign news agency, a U.S. intelligence official has said on the condition of anonymity that Al-Qaeda has been weakened primarily after the death of Osama bin Laden in the Abbotabad operation and it is not possible for it to achieve the power of carrying out the attacks like 9/11, still declaring victory against Al-Qaeda would be premature and that Al-Qaeda as an ideology would keep existing outside Pakistan. Meanwhile, talking to journalists before his visit to Latin America, the U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said: we have said both before the operation against Osama and after that that Al-Qaeda is not finished and it is not easy to end it; however, we have to work according to our capabilities for more success.

" Al-Qaeda's strength can be judged with this fact - that even on the first death anniversary of Sheikh [Osama], many countries raised a high alert due to the fear from Al-Qaeda. Sensitive places and government buildings were put under vigil.

"On the other hand, despite all the efforts by the U.S., the love for Sheikh [Osama] in the hearts of the people could not be taken out. On the occasion of the first death anniversary of Sheikh [Osama], the alleged house of Osama bin Laden, which is now an empty plot after its demolition, has became the center of public devotion. People are coming to ask dua [prayers] and say Fatiha [saying prayer for the dead] to that place.

"People are reaching that place, coming from far and wide a year after the American operation, and are taking hotels in Abbottabad on rent. Former deputy speaker of National Assembly [Pakistan] Sardar Yaqoob described the Osama compound as a national heritage in an interview to a daily and said that living nations keep their historical heritage carefully. The nation would never forgive the leaders for demolishing the compound. Osama bin Laden will always be alive in people's hearts.

"In fact, neither the realities are supporting the claim that the U.S. had made about the end of Al-Qaeda with the martyrdom of Al-Qaeda chief Sheikh Osama nor is the U.S. admitting it, because after the martyrdom of Sheikh [Osama] it has testified many times about the might of Al-Qaeda. And if America is considering Osama's killing as its success, then it is absolutely wrong because the aim of Sheikh [Osama] was to send the U.S. in the valley of humiliation and disgrace and Osama  has seen the U.S. being disgraced in Afghanistan, Iraq, and many other places with his own eyes… But there is nothing that can be called as success even if the U.S. got Sheikh Osama martyred after being disgraced for ten years after 9/11. Success is for Osama and Al-Qaeda, who achieved their goal, and the U.S. is still faced with tormenting times."

"The Security Situation in South-Eastern Afghanistan and Some of the Northern and Western Parts of the Country is Worse Than That; Here There are Innumerable Areas Which are Under the Taliban's Complete Control"

Following are excerpts from Abdullah's article:[2]

"The Taliban began their war activities of the spring [season] with the extremely comprehensive attacks on [Afghan] Parliament, Western [countries'] embassies and NATO headquarters, including many fortified places in Kabul  [on April 15, 2012] … In the 18 hours of fighting between the Taliban and the Afghan and NATO forces, 30 persons are said to have lost their lives, in which two-thirds are reported as being the Taliban. Although this Taliban attack is not considered very devastating so far as the loss of life and property to Afghan and NATO forces are concerned, the Taliban's penetration into the area which is considered extremely sensitive and their reaching near the Presidential Palace indicates the weakness of the Allied forces.

"The security situation in south-eastern Afghanistan and some of the northern and western parts of the country is worse than that; here there are innumerable areas which are under the Taliban's complete control. The Afghan government has accused the Haqqani Network of this attack as usual and has claimed that some Taliban captured in the attack have admitted this fact, though the Afghan Taliban's leadership has taken responsibility of this attack. However, the NATO command is yet to ascertain this fact as to whether or not the Haqqani Network was involved in this attack.

"The Taliban and the U.S. were holding talks until last month. This process was initiated a year ago with German mediation. The Taliban leaders had ordinary success in getting their names removed from the U.S. Security Council's most wanted list of terrorists. The establishment of a Taliban office in Qatar was approved so that the initiative could be taken in establishing peace and the pact for the exchange of prisoners with the U.S. could be [made] possible. Perhaps the legal intricacies in the release of three Taliban [commanders] from Guantanamo Bay kept the Obama administration at bay from fulfilling the aspirations of the Taliban on this issue. Consequently, the Taliban were forced to leave these talks unilaterally.

"Thus, the Taliban attack on the capital of Afghanistan makes sense, which has confounded the Karzai government. After the announcement of opening an office in Qatar by the Taliban, President Karzai had gone to Saudi Arabia to get facilities for Afghan negotiations."

"The Taliban's Launch of the Spring Season of Attacks in Kabul Through Severe Guerrilla Actions is a Signal against the U.S. Attempts for Establishing Peace with the Taliban Without Taking Afghanistan and Pakistan into Confidence"

"There is no possibility of ignoring Pakistan by either Afghanistan or the U.S. in any activity of establishing peace with the Taliban. Pakistan's distinct historical, ethnic, and geographic ties with Afghanistan are such a compulsion that Pakistan would be fully involved in the process of establishing peace in Afghanistan. The Taliban's launch of the spring season of attacks in Kabul through severe guerrilla actions is a signal against the U.S. attempts for establishing peace with the Taliban without taking Afghanistan and Pakistan into confidence. The second and the more important reason behind it is the need for a schedule for the withdrawal of the U.S. and NATO forces from Afghanistan.

"The real cause of the pullout of the U.S. and other Western forces from Afghanistan is the inability of the U.S. and its Western Allies in continuing war for more time. This bloody war has now entered into its eleventh year and now its cost has become unbearable for the crises-stricken Western economies, and therefore the opinion of all the countries involved in this war is effectively going against the war.

"The justification of this withdrawal from the U.S. is different from the above-mentioned reasons. The Pentagon's senior leadership is continuously making claims that the power of the Taliban has been reduced. The Obama administration officials and especially Secretary of State Hillary Clinton say that the U.S. is doing a favor to the Taliban by holding talks with them. But since the Taliban have forsaken the talks with the U.S. and are continuing with the war, the U.S. and NATO forces' pullout in 2014 is in danger now. The U.S. is restless for the resumption of the talks with the Taliban.

"As a part of the withdrawal the U.S. wants to bring the presence of its troops in Afghanistan to the level of 2009 by September 2012 i.e. it wants to bring down the numbers of American troops to 68,000. By that time, 330,000 Afghan troops would take the positions of the withdrawing forces of NATO and the U.S."

"After 12 Years Of War, If The War's Aim Has Become Limited To The Defense Of Kabul Only, Then We Can Very Well Guess As To What Kind Of Political Situation Could Arise… After The Withdrawal Of The Foreign Troops"

"The question arises here whether the Afghan army and police would be able to keep control over the areas handed over to them by the international forces. For example, the 10,000 U.S. troops in Helmand, which has a strong hold of the Taliban, would hand over the responsibility of safeguarding it to the Afghan forces by September. [In this condition] could the Afghan army keep their hold on its capital city? If the Taliban can launch easy attack in the most sensitive areas of the capital Kabul by taking cover in buildings under construction and take people hostage and Afghan troops could not stop them, then how would they stop the Taliban from occupying the capital city of Helmand province?

"After the Taliban's attack on Kabul, the U.S. and NATO commanders are reportedly preparing for retaliatory action in the current summer season to stop all future attacks of the Taliban on Kabul through all the routes leading to the Afghan capital. And for this they would try to weaken the Taliban's hold in the Ghazni province, which connects the southern and eastern parts of the country or would intensify the war in the eastern Paktia and Paktika provinces.

"A retaliatory attack which is aimed at safeguarding only Kabul from the Taliban attacks does not fit in anywhere with the mentioned U.S. and NATO strategy, which has vowed to defeat the Taliban and said that there would be withdrawal between 2012 to 2014, and after that the Afghan forces would take hold of the security in Afghanistan…

"After 12 years of war, if the war's aim has become limited to the defense of Kabul only, then we can very well guess as to what kind of political situation could arise in Afghanistan if the Afghan security forces failed demonstrate the performance like that of the U.S. and the NATO forces after the withdrawal of the foreign troops…"

On May 13, 2012, three leading religious figures were shot dead – two of them in Pakistan and one in Afghanistan.

Maulvi Arsala Rahmani, who was a senior member of Afghanistan's High Peace Council (HPC) tasked with holding peace talks with the Taliban and other militant groups, was killed in Kabul. In Pakistan, leading Islamic scholar Aslam Sheikhupuri was killed in Karachi, probably in a case of sectarian attack, while another religious leader Maulana Syed Mohammad Mohsin Shah, known for his stand against the Taliban, was killed in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

In an article titled "Three Assassinations," Pakistan's well-known Taliban affairs expert Rahimullah Yusufzai alleged that the acts were sponsored by those who want to keep the Afghanistan-Pakistan region in turmoil. "The least that could be done is to expose the sinister designs of those sponsoring assassinations of such known religious scholars who enjoy respect and are capable of reaching out to the militants. Eliminating such people is clearly part of plans to keep Afghanistan and Pakistan in perpetual violence," Yusufzai wrote.

Following are excerpts from his article:[1]

Islamic Scholar Maulana Aslam Sheikhupuri "Was Apolitical And His Focus Had Always Been On Dars-e-Quran, Or The Teaching Of The Glorious Quran; He Never Spoke Against Any Sect Or People"

In Karachi, people offer funeral prayer for Maulana Aslam Sheikhupuri (image courtesy: Roznama Express, May 14, 2012)

"Two of these assassinations took place in Pakistan and one in Afghanistan. In both countries, spilling blood is a common occurrence and the governments are largely helpless and incapable of providing security to citizens. Foreign interventions by the superpowers, first by the Soviet Union and then by the United States of America, contributed to the violence and instability in Afghanistan and Pakistan.

"Thirty-four years after the Moscow-backed communist Saur Revolution in Afghanistan, the country is still facing an unending conflict, and its fallout has also made Pakistan unstable. With the U.S. positioning itself to maintain a military presence in Afghanistan even after the planned NATO troop withdrawal in 2014 and Pakistan once again readying to serve as an overland supply route for the foreign forces, there is little possibility that the situation will become normal in the so-called Af-Pak region in the near future.

"The assassinations in Pakistan took place in two corners of the country. In Karachi [on Pakistan's south-western coast], Maulana Aslam Sheikhupuri was shot dead along with his driver by gunmen riding a motorcycle who intercepted his car… The 54-year-old religious scholar, disabled in both his legs for three years after suffering a stroke, was on his way home after delivering his fortnightly lecture at the Al-Quran Courses Centre.

"A 1982 graduate of the famous Jamia Binoria seminary who is said to have memorized the holy Quran in less than a year, Aslam Sheikhupuri was presently the head of the Tawabeen mosque and madrassa in Gulshan-e-Maymar [area] in Karachi.

"There was consensus that the deceased was apolitical and his focus had always been on Dars-e-Quran, or the teaching of the glorious Quran. He never spoke against any sect or people and his claim to fame was of a learned man of religion."

Maulana Syed Mohammad Mohsin Shah "Was A Voice Of Reason In An Area Where Religious Sentiments Could Be Easily Inflamed"

"The second assassination of a religious scholar in Pakistan on May 13 could have political motives, as Maulana Syed Mohammad Mohsin Shah was associated with Maulana Fazlur Rahman's JUI-F [Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party]. He was also a leading figure in the Marwat Qaumi Jirga, a voluntary organization set up by the Pakhtun tribe Marwat, to tackle the militants posing a threat to peace in Lakki Marwat district [of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province], which is close to the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) sanctuaries in South Waziristan.

"It required courage to defy the militants in an area so close to their strongholds. Besides, Maulana Mohsin Shah was a teacher to many among the militants and his word carried weight. This was the reason that he was credited with playing a crucial role in helping restore peace in the area.

"Mohsin Shah was assassinated in his seminary Darul Uloom Halimia in Darra Pezu town. As one cleric put it, his was the biggest madrassa… not in terms of its premises and buildings but in the context of the number of students there, due to the good reputation of Mohsin Shah and other teachers. Students flocked to the madrassa at the time of admissions, overwhelming its capacity.

"Two years ago, Mohsin Shah was apprehended by the security forces on suspicion, but Maulana Fazlur Rahman got him freed within 24 hours by convincing the authorities that … he was a voice of reason in an area where religious sentiments could be easily inflamed by the arrest of a respected religious scholar."

Former Taliban Minister Maulvi Arsala Rahmani "Switched Sides To Join The New Dispensation Under President [Hamid] Karzai; The Taliban Were Angered By His Disloyalty"

"In neighboring Afghanistan, a 'reformed' Taliban cleric, Maulvi Arsala Rahmani, was shot dead in Kabul on May 13. He was fired at from a passing car on a congested road in Kabul as he was being driven to work at the High Peace Council, an unwieldy 70-member body set up by President Hamid Karzai about two years ago to work for peace and negotiate with the government's armed opponents, including the Taliban. A single bullet aimed at Rahmani's heart caused his death. The killer appeared to be a sharp-shooter, and the silencer-fitted weapon he was using isn't easily available. Obviously, it was a perfectly executed assassination plan motivated by the desire to achieve multiple objectives.

"Over the years, Rahmani had assumed a number of identities. An ethnic Pakhtun, he had been an Afghan mujahideen leader based in Peshawar and active in Loya Paktia [region] in southern Afghanistan during the jihad against the Soviet occupying forces [during the 1980s]. He was part of the Afghan mujahideen government before joining the Taliban and becoming minister of higher education in their government [from 1996 onwards].

"After the fall of the Taliban regime [in 2001], he switched sides to join the new dispensation under President [Hamid] Karzai. The Taliban were angered by his disloyalty, but gaining the trust of Afghanistan's new pro-West rulers also wasn't easy. Sometimes, one would hear remarks that people like Rahmani were neither here nor there because the Taliban no longer trusted them and elements in the Karzai government were suspicious of their motives.

"Presently, Rahmani was a senior figure in the High Peace Council and considered important due to his past links with the Taliban. It was felt he would be able to use his personal contacts with top Taliban figures to persuade them to agree to peace negotiations with the Afghan government. He was often referred to as a 'key negotiator' in the High Peace Council, though the council had yet to find a real partner for negotiations due to the Taliban refusal to recognize its role."

"In Pakistan, The Assassination Of Aslam Sheikhupuri And Mohsin Shah Is The Latest In The Campaign To Eliminate Known Religious Scholars, Particularly Those Courageous Enough [To] Tell The Truth And Challenge Powerful State And Non-State Forces [i.e. The Militants]"

"Frustration with the High Peace Council was rising due to its failure to even establish contact with the Taliban or sustain dialogue with former mujahideen leader Gulbuddin Hekmatyar's Hezb-e-Islami, which has pulled out of the peace talks in protest against the signing of the recent US-Afghanistan strategic partnership agreement.

"The assassination of its chairman, Prof Burhanuddin Rabbani, in a Kabul suicide bombing on September 20, had dealt a severe blow to the High Peace Council and his son and successor, Salahuddin Rabbani, lacked the stature to give impetus to the council's work. Rahmani's assassination could make it even more difficult for the council to maintain contact with the Taliban and gain acceptance as a credible peace-making body.

"Assassination of key figures has been part of Afghanistan's bloodied history. Often, the killings take place at key moments in the country's history. Rabbani and Rahmani had been warlords in the past and were involved in bloodletting as leaders of armed groups group engaged in a struggle for power. However, in the last stage of their lives they became peacemakers. Though they lacked credibility in the eyes of the Taliban and many other Afghans, both were attempting to redeem themselves as they pursued peace in their homeland despite heavy odds.

"In Pakistan, the assassination of Aslam Sheikhupuri and Mohsin Shah is the latest in the campaign to eliminate known religious scholars, particularly those courageous enough [to] tell the truth and challenge powerful state and non-state forces [i.e. the militants]. Among others, Maulana Yousaf Ludhianvi, Maulana Habibullah, Mufti Nizamuddin Shamzai, Mufti Abdus Sami, Mufti Atiqur Rahman, Mufti Jamil Khan, Maulana Hasan Jan and Maulana Noor Mohammad were eliminated and in most cases the killers weren't even exposed out of fear, political compulsions, or due to the government's incompetence….

"The least that could be done is to expose the sinister designs of those sponsoring assassinations of such known religious scholars who enjoy respect and are capable of reaching out to the militants. Eliminating such people is clearly part of plans to keep Afghanistan and Pakistan in perpetual violence."

In a recent column, a noted Pakistani jihadist writing under the byline "Saadi ke Qalam se" ("from the pen of Saadi") reveals how he recently discovered MP3 for listening to jihadist speeches, and describes how digital media could help spread the message of jihad among Muslims.

Saadi writes for Haftroza Al-Qalam, an Urdu-language weekly magazine published by the jihadist group Jaish-e-Muhammad.

In his column, titled "Mobiles Will Be Pleased" – translated into English from the original Urdu by one Abdullah and published on the Haftroza Al-Qalam website – Saadi notes that the task of producing jihadist literature would be given to technology producers, so that the message of jihad would reach Muslims.

He writes: "Let us sort out the top 10 important speeches, and get a cassette or a memory card prepared. In this way, you will also be able to get beneficence from the knowledge and passion of these persuaders to Jihad. This idea struck me just today. Now, this job will be entrusted to someone. You, like me, will be able to listen to these speeches of five to seven minutes, filled with the passions of Belief, sitting in your homes, on your mobile, or on your cassette player. So many mobile [phones] will be pleased…"

Following are excerpts from his column:[1]

"It is Allah's Glory That I Have Been Listening to Jihad Speeches Since Yesterday [on MP3/Mobile Phone]; Very Passionate, Meaningful, Effective and Interesting – But From Where? I Have No TV; Normally TV Does Not Broadcast not telecast Jihad Speeches"

"May Allah forgive us all…

"This is the supplication for which Allah's Dear and final Prophet Hazrat Muhammad ordered…. It is Allah's glory that I have been listening to jihad speeches since yesterday; very passionate, meaningful, effective and interesting, but from where? I have no TV. May it not be with me! Normally TV does not broadcast jihad speeches. Words against jihad are uttered from there.

"Then, am I participating in a speech contest? No, not at all. For a long time, it has not been my lot to participate in such functions. It is Lord's will, and we are to be resigned to His will. A man was staying in Mecca. He fell so seriously ill that he was unable to go to the Holy Kaaba. When he met Haji Imdad Allah, he told him his woeful story. He said, 'Do you not go because this is your own wish?' He said, 'No, it is just due to my handicap.' Then he said, 'Be resigned to His will Who has seated you at home. No wonder, you may earn more due to the blessings of being resigned to His will.'

"No doubt, so many people stay away from Kaaba, but nearer than the pigeons of Kaaba; but so many are there who are physically nearer to Kaaba and but keep straying much farther [from] it. Sometimes, the wish of the Self is also included in the worship. The Holy Prophet… says that in the end time, the rich will perform Hajj and Umrah just to aggrandize and show… off. What use? It is a great mistake to rise at the place specified to be wiped out. I have not gone to the function, but I have been listening to the jihad speeches since yesterday."

"There is One [French Shooter], Muhammad Merah, Who Alone Killed Seven Jews in France; The Day is Not Far Off When This War Will Expand and Every Grieved Heart Will Become 'Muhammad Merah"

"There is disappointment and darkness in the news these days…. The first news daily is that of high cost [i.e. inflation]. The second is that the rulers and politicians are upset [and eager] to restore the NATO supply… [i.e. to] supply goods to the killers, so that they may shed the blood of the Muslims, disgrace the Holy Koran, and make mincemeat of the children of the Muslim Ummah.

"There is one [French shooter], Muhammad Merah, who alone killed seven Jews in France. The French Internal Minister called him a beast, and taunted his father with being the father of a beast. But what about the children killed in Gaza and [civilians killed by a U.S. soldier in] Panjawani in Kandahar? Let it go. We are not in the habit of complaining against anyone nor have any fondness to put mirror before anyone. It is a war; an international Crusade. When all the Muslims or a few of them understand it, they will teach a lesson to those beasts. The Muslims are till now answering the field [of] battle well. But the day is not far when this war will expand and every grieved heart will become 'Muhammad Merah.'

"What will happen then? We Muslims are the Final Ummah and only we are to live in this world. Those who dream of extirpation of the Muslims will have to repent; rather they are repenting. Does someone recall that procession of 'Leningrad' in which a fake funeral was taken out, i.e. the funeral of a god [Lenin]? There will have been a fake god of theirs. Our Lord is only Allah who is All-Powerful over everything. They would say, 'Islam is now wiped out.'

"Go to the bazaar and buy two maps of the world. You will wonder how many names have vanished and how many new names have appeared. There is no one to weep over the Soviet Union. Now do one thing. Buy the present day map of the world, and write the date on it. In 15 years, the survivors must compare this map with the map of that time. Then they will estimate the power of jihad with open eyes."

"The Masjid Usman-o-Ali [Mosque] in [the Pakistani Town of] Bahawalpur Resounded With Persuasion to Jihad; There Was a Speech Contest on the Topic 'History of Jihad'; There were 36 Speakers Representing Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan, NWFP  and Unoccupied [Pakistani] Kashmir"

"There is no TV, no meeting, no Internet, no satellite. Then where did I listen to the speeches on jihad? Be certain, they are still echoing. They were so many that I listened for two hours at night and almost one hour now.

"The fact is that I forgot to change sides. There was not one but 36 speeches. It is evident, I always complain of paucity of time. I listened to a few fully and had a few glimpses of the others. All the speakers were passionate and warm. Their speeches were full of arguments from the universal verses of the Holy Koran and traditions of the Holy Prophet… with couplets that cast a spell over senses.

"There was such… eloquence as defeated the flood; such a passion that was awaking the mountains. I also had the facility to stop or move any speakers anywhere I willed. I listened to someone's beginning but some others' ending. Tears rolled down my cheeks many times. Sometimes, heartbeat increased. Allah has described smiling with weeping in the Holy Koran. There was no occasion of smiling in those speeches but nature does its work.

"A speaker provided this chance. He was talking of Fateh Ali, the killed one for Islam. He said, 'The treachery of Mir Sadiq [during the 1757 War against the British in India] changed victory into… defeat.' Saying these words, he lost his memory. He repeated thrice, 'Victory was changed into defeat' and ended his speech at it. The Judges perhaps also changed his victory into defeat and he could not win any position in the contest.

"It is perhaps the incident of the Thursday night [sometime in March or April 2012] when there was transaction of billions of dollars in the entire world to wipe out jihad. Millions of soldiers with lethal weapons were at the borders to wipe out the Muslim Ummah. Thousands of TVs, nets and radio channels were speaking against jihad. At that time, the Masjid Usman-o-Ali [mosque] in [the Pakistani town of] Bahawalpur was resounding with persuasion to Jihad. There was a speech contest on the topic 'History of Jihad.' There were 36 speakers representing Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan, NWFP [now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa] and unoccupied [Pakistani] Kashmir.

"The winners from their respective divisions were trying their luck in the final contest of 'Bazm-e-Yousafi.' These contests have been going on for many years, but I had the first chance to listen to them. I was pleased to know that the students of religious institutions [i.e. madrassas] were participating in it. The day is not far off when, by the grace of Allah, the students of [mainstream and government-run] colleges and universities will also become a part of this Bazm."

"I Found a Few Books on Jihad in the Spacious Library of the Madrassa; I Selected Some Material from That Book and Prepared the Rest for Myself Then"

"It is dear father's blessing that he pushed me into these contests during my school days. I memorized well the speech that he gave me when I was 10. I won many contests with that speech. It was about the life history of the Holy Prophet…. It was very eloquent. It was embellished with beautiful verses. So much so, I won a competition off hand at a school in [the town of] Rahim Yar Khan in the presence of thousands of people. I was eleven then. I used to start the speech as soon as the [microphone] button was switched on and completed it not-stop. When Allah took me to the resplendent, pure and belief-provoking atmosphere of the madrassa, the speech contests continued.

"Once, I was given topic on jihad. I consulted so many libraries and books but found no material on jihad, nor any book nor a journal on jihad. There was a book on jihad in Urdu but that writer had no place among the learned people. Normally, there was no jihad around him. So, most of the points were imaginary. I saw that book with a student but read that neither then nor at any other moment.

"However, I found a few books on jihad in the spacious library of the madrassa. I selected some material from that book and prepared the rest for myself then. I completely forsook the habit of cramming for a speech. I just studied and delivered a speech according to the demand of the opportunity. Was it a good or bad habit, I don't know? But it did me great good later on.

"Now listen to a secret point. Only those people give suggestions about speech who can neither speak nor utter a few words. In the same way, only those give lengthy suggestions about writing who do not know how to hold a pen. Normally, it is never a good habit to give suggestions all the time at all the places. It is certainly a bad habit. Most often, unpractical people are found indulged in this habit. They consider it their right to whisper a suggestion into every one's ear whereas they themselves do nothing.

"[After Digital Productions of Jihad Lectures] You, Like Me, Will Be Able to Listen to These Speeches of Five to Seven Minutes Filled with the Passions of Belief, Sitting In Your Homes, On Your Mobile, Or On a Cassette Player"

"The individuals who could not train even those individuals in their lives give free suggestion to reform the Emirates [of the Taliban in] Afghanistan. Sometimes their style is aggressive. Who may say to them, 'My dear, act upon these suggestions and prepare a bigger army than Mulla Mohammad Umar.'  May Allah save us from any impracticability and bad habit. Whenever you go to a greater and more useful person than you, take up two things. [First], 'do not look at partial faults."

"'Second, try to learn, instead of giving suggestions, lest you should go to an accepted saint [i.e. mystic] and come back with misgivings because he was eating banana without breaking it with his hand, or the wrist watch on his arm was not appealing to you, or he was making a minor mistake in recitation.' The Sharia has given great expansion in many matters and so many mistakes are not harmful to Belief and deeds. As there is distance from Jihad, people have called greetings and shaking hands the criterion of truth and falsehood

"When I entered the field of speech, so many suggestions both good and useless began to come. Some people said, 'Speak low.' Some others said, 'Speak forcefully.' Some others opined, 'Speak with pauses.' Some others suggested, 'Speak eloquently.' Then I learnt from my Spiritual Guide, 'Describe Din sincerely for the betterment of the Muslims and give benefits to the Muslims. Do not attach your personal interest to your speech.' This thing appealed me. I could not act upon it fully; however this suggestion was useful. Suggestion is a blessing and light. If it is from a practiced well-wisher, it is the essence of centuries and a great blessing.

"The students should also develop the habit of Istikharah [seeking guidance] and consultation. However, they should strictly avoid excessive, out of place and useless suggestions. Now, you would have learnt how I listened to the speeches on jihad. I received recording of that contest. I would have listened to them completely if [I] had time. Still I listened much and was consoled that the coming generation would be very capable and genius.

"Our readers would also have developed fondness to listen to these speeches due to the present column. Let us sort out top 10 important speeches and get a cassette or a memory card prepared. In this way, you will also be able to get beneficence from the knowledge and passion of these persuaders to jihad. This idea struck me the very today. Now, this job [of creating MP3 lectures on jihad] will be entrusted to someone. You will be able like me to listen to these speeches of five to seven minutes filled with the passions of Belief sitting at your homes, at your mobile or Cassette Player. So many mobile phones will be pleased to tell you those speeches and will offer you thanks that you have put them to good use…."

Below are excerpts from Indian media reports on the responses of Indian Muslim groups and extremist Hindu organizations to Valentine's Day celebrations in the country early this year. According to the reports, Islamic groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) and the Students Islamic Organization of India (SIO) actively campaigned among Muslim communities against marking the holiday, proposing alternatives such as chastity day to eradicate the Western influence among Muslims.

Hindu nationalist groups such as Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Hindu Vahini, Sri Ram Sene, Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also opposed Valentine's Day, stating that it is contrary to Indian culture; in some cases there was vigilantism to curb the practice of celebrating the occasion.

Muslim Groups in India React to Valentine's Day

In Southern Indian Town of Hyderabad, "The Muslim Girls' Association… [Took] Up Counseling of Youth on the Pitfalls of Imitating the West"; "In Several Mosques Like Jamia Masjid, Lalaguda, Masjide Islamia… Ulema Strongly Denounced the Practice of Observing Youm-e-Ashiqan [Lovers' Day]"

The city of Hyderabad in southern India is known for its Muslim culture and sizeable Muslim population with some influence of Jamaat-e-Islami. Several Muslim organizations and Ulema (Islamic clerics) came out strongly against its celebration. Following are excerpts from an Indian media report:[1]

"On the eve of Valentine's Day, different Muslim organizations and ulema have come out strongly against its celebration. They have appealed to the Muslim youth, particularly, to keep away from rituals which are 'un-Islamic.' The Students' Islamic Organization, City unit, has decided to observe February 14 as 'Chastity Day.' It has decided to educate people, irrespective of the religion they belong to, on the dangers of blindly aping the West in matters which are totally alien to Indian culture and ethos.

"Members of SIO plan to stand near educational institutions at Mehdipatnam, Dilsukhnagar, Afzalgunj and other places [in Hyderabad, the capital city of Andhra Pradesh]… and display placards which say 'chastity is priceless' and 'Let's struggle for cultural independence. 'We will also distribute handbills explaining the Islamic position on haya (modesty),' said Syed Anas Razvi, city president, SIO.

"The Muslim Girls' Association [MGA] has also taken up counseling of youth on the pitfalls of imitating the West. During the last few days, groups of MGA members have visited various parks and educational institutions in Mehdipatnam and Khairatabad [in Hyderabad] and advised boys and girls against engaging in festivities which are not Islamic in nature and origin. 'Islam wants modesty to be adhered to at all costs even if the relationship is halal [permitted],' says Muftia Nazima Aziz.

"The All India Sunni Ulema Board held a meeting… wherein an appeal was made to ulema to create awareness in the community on this issue. In several mosques like Jamia Masjid, Lalaguda, Masjide Islamia, Monda Market, Masjide Noor, Chandrayangutta, Masjide Teenposh, Red Hills the ulema strongly denounced the practice of observing 'youm-e-ashiqan' [Lover's Day] as it promoted 'illicit relationships.'

"The message was also spread through the weekly 'Ijtemas' [congregations] organized every Sunday under the aegis of Jamiat-ul-Mominath, a girl's seminary, at Moghalpura."

Darul Uloom Deoband Website: Valentine's Day "Spreads Many Unholy Things… In Our Society As Well [As in] the Mind of Younger Generation";"Not Only It is Nonsense for Muslims... But Also For Christians… Because Today's Valentine's Day Has No Relation To the Sacrifice for Truth … By St. Valentine"

In an article on the website of the Darul Uloom Deoband, the second largest Islamic seminary in the world, Islamic scholar Muhammadullah Khalili Qasmi questioned the role of market forces in promoting Valentine's Day, arguing that it makes no sense for Muslims to celebrate the occasion. Following are excerpts from his article, originally in English:[2]

"This is the tragedy of our time that our youths are bent on accepting every glitter of the modern era as fashion and symbol of progress. There are many things that, at first sight, seem odd, strange and indecent, but with the gust of advertisements, media coverage and competitions of commercial institutions it is made into a popular fact….

"Now, the craze of celebrating St. Valentine's Day is increasing year by year in Asian countries, especially developing nations like India. As the Valentine's Day approaches nearer, florists pile up love cards, gifts and bounties of flowers, the general stores sell Valentine chocolates, cakes and other gifts. The barbers cut hearts into men's head hair, restaurants promote Valentine's Day dinners. Newspapers publish romantic and flirting messages. The satellite [television] channels don't lag behind even an inch; they present special features and organize love-letter competitions….

"This phenomenon spreads many unholy things … in our society as well the mind of younger generation. Of course, love is a natural feeling and valuable asset of human life, but not the love that spoils their life and involves many other wrong aspects."

"But, as far as the matter of its [Valentine's Day] origin is concerned it goes back to ancient Rome before the Romans embraced Christianity. In ancient Rome, there was celebrated a holiday on February 14th in the honor of Juno Fructifier, Queen of the Roman gods and goddesses. The other day on February 15, they celebrated the feast of Lupercalis which was originally a festival of shepherds, and was primarily for the purpose to secure fertility for the fields, the flocks, and the shepherds themselves. There were many myths associated with this festival and many dirty rituals were performed.

"When Christianity spread in Rome, the celebration of the pagan festivals persisted among them. The Christian Romans continued to celebrate these festivals, until came Pope Gelasius I who abolished Lupercalis and declared in 496 that the feast of St. Valentine would be on February 14. Thus, the ancient Roman Lupercalis festival was replaced by a new Valentine's Day….

"However, whatever the reality may be, but one thing seems clear that none of the narrations appears to have much to do with love or romance that we see is observed on Valentine's Day. If the Christians celebrate this day in the memory of their martyr, then it is something that looks sound, but what the Muslims and other people of faith have to do with this? Not only it is nonsense for Muslims and others, but also for Christians as well, because today's Valentine's Day has no relation to the sacrifice for truth that was offered by St. Valentine, as they claim…."

Indian Muslim Writer: "The Day of Expressing Immorality"; "The West Made Progress in Industrial and Scientific Field and the East Became Its Bonded Slave... We Must Free Ourselves From the Blind Imitation of the West"

In an article on Valentine's Day, titled "The Day of Expressing Immorality" in the Urdu-language daily Roznama Sahafat, Indian Muslim writer Syed Sheeban Qadri denounced the Valentine's Day celebrations, also accusing the West of introducing human beings to "unrestrained freedom." Following are excerpts from his article:[3]

"If, on the one hand, the West has introduced the human with education and progress, on other it has given it unwanted criticism and unrestrained freedom....

"While Valentine's Day provides full opportunity to the youths to express their lustful desire, it has also promoted immorality and immodesty unabated. Expression of love was here but it was done secretly but now it is being done openly. It is a fact that there is no harm in expressing one's love... but it is not necessary to fix a date for that….

"In fact, this is the blind imitation of the West, whose fast life has made such days of some sweet and lively gush of air as part of their culture. There is no need to celebrate such days in the East, which is the cradle of love, devotion and sacrifice.

"Alas! The impact of Western culture is becoming more evident on the Eastern culture. The West made progress in industrial and scientific field and the East became its bonded slave... We must free ourselves from the blind imitation of the West and should think with purity of heart regarding what is good and what is bad.

"So far as the progress in education, development, research and inventions are concerned, the West should be followed and competed but to safeguard the social life it is needed to bring revivalism of Islamic cultural values...."

Indian Muslim Columnist: Celebrating Valentine's Day is "Imitating the [Parties Held In] Western Countries... At Which Take Place Immodest Activities Between the Male and the Female That Are Expected Only Among Animals"

In another article in Roznama Sahafat, columnist Maqsoodul Hasan Faizi criticized the spread of Valentine's Day celebrations among Indian Muslims, and examined the teachings of Islamic shari'a with regard to celebration of love. Following are excerpts from his article:[4]

"What happens in this festival [of Valentine's Day]:

"1. Such pleasures are expressed [on Valentine's Day] as if it is something very Islamic and in accordance with Sharia.

"2. Youths, both male and female, present cards that carry the expression 'Be My Valentine' to each other as an expression of love.

"3. Both sexes present bouquet of flowers to each other, and according to a survey 40 percent of flowers are used for this purpose only….

"4. Both sexes present such cards which carry the picture of Cupid, the love god of the Greek faith….

"5. Both sexes, mostly na mahram [according to Islamic law, na mahram is someone with whom one cannot be seen without being married to them, or one with whom marriage is permissible] present sweets and chocolates to each other to express their love.

"6. Some Eastern countries have also started organizing special parties on this occasion, imitating the Western countries, at which take place immodest activities between the male and the female that can be expected only among animals.

"7. Youths wear red and bright colors on this occasion while red bright color is not permissible in Islam."

The Shari'a Position: "The Prophet Muhammad … Said That Some People Of His Ummah Would Follow Jews and Christians in Every Un-Islamic Thing Without Any Thought"; Giving a Greeting Card on Valentine's Day "Is Accepting the Faith of Romans... Which is Open Apostasy"

"The stand of Islamic Shari'a in this regard:

"Hazrat Abu Saeed Khudri [a companion of Prophet Muhammad] narrates that the Prophet of Allah (Peace be upon him) said, 'You would follow the communities (Jews and Christians) who came before you step by step. If they entered the hole of an iguana you would also try to enter it... (Sahih Muslim [Book of Hadiths])

"Explanation: Prophet Muhammad (pbuh) has said that some people of his Ummah would follow Jews and Christians in every un-Islamic thing without any thought, to the extent that they would follow these unholy and damned communities in the most vile things. He said that to this extent, if anyone from among the Jews and Christians would do unholy things with their mothers, there would be some from this Ummah who would do likewise.

"This hadith [saying and deed of Prophet Muhammad] is not just for information but it is a warning to the Ummah to keep from imitating the Jews and Christians. But unfortunately a large number of people from Muslim Ummah seems to be falling in this....

"Celebrating the festival of love or Valentine's Day is illegal according to Islamic law and sometimes it leads on to infidel-ity. The reasons are as follow:

"1. This is a festival of infidels and idolaters in which love, which is a pure prayer, is expressed to someone other than Allah.

"2. This festival is a Jewish and Christian from beginning to the end and the Ulema are unanimous in this that participating in the festival of other religions is not legal and if this festival is about infidel-ity [being an infidel], then participating in it takes one to infidel-ity and apostasy....

"3. Celebration and acceptance of the festival of love is imitation of other communities, and the Koran and Hadith have explicitly called imitation of other communities as Haram [forbidden]….

"4. On that day, both the sexes (whether male or female) are na-mahram and they express love to each other which is illegal in shari'a because it leads to adultery, obscenity and rebellion against the parents....

"5. Presenting the [greeting] card with the picture of Cupid, knowingly or unknowing, means that one is accepting the faith of Romans... which is open apostasy.

"6. Islamic clerics have this unanimous fatwa: that Lovers' Festival or Valentine's Day is haram; therefore the Fatwa Committee of Saudi Arabia declared it haram in a lengthy fatwa...."

Hindu Groups in India React to Valentine's Day

In Indian State of Chhattisgarh, Hindu Rightwing Government "Decided to Celebrate Valentine's Day as Parents Day in the State"

In the Indian state of Chhattisgarh, where the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP, a Hindu right-wing party) is in power, the state government decided to mark Valentine's Day as Parents Day this year. Following are excerpts from a media report:[5]

"The BJP Government in Chhattisgarh has decided to celebrate Valentine's Day as Parents Day in the state, official sources said…. Chief Minister Raman Singh has announced that February 14 will be celebrated in schools as the day for paying respects to parents….

"A suggestion to this effect was made to the Chief Minister by spiritual guru Asaram Bapu at a religious function, 'Rajim Kumbh' … in Gariaband district. The suggestion was accepted by Singh….

"The day will be celebrated in accordance with rich Indian culture. The State Education Department will be involved in the celebrations…."

Extremist Hindu Political Party Shiv Sena "Activists Were Arrested… For Staging Agitation… Against Valentine's Day Celebrations"; "Shouting Slogans…, the Sena Members Reminded that the Observance of Such Occasions Might Suit the Western World But Would Not Suit Indian Culture"

According to another report, the hard-line Hindu organization Shiv Sena, which is most active in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, took the law into their own hands and tore up Valentine's Day greeting cards. Following are the excerpts from the report:[6]

"A total of 11 Shiv Sena activists were arrested … for staging agitation in the city against Valentine's Day celebrations.

"They also tore up Valentine's Day greeting cards in the open, near Tirupur Railway Station, to mark their displeasure in observing the day. Shouting slogans against the Valentine's Day revelers, the Sena members reminded that the observance of such occasions might suit the Western world but would not suit Indian culture and social values.

"Police patrolled the parks and places where people congregated in large numbers following Shiv Sena threats that they would conduct [enforced] 'marriages' of lovers seen celebrating the day in public places."

"Wearing Saffron-Color Bands on Their Foreheads and Wielding Canes, Activists Claiming to Be Members of the Bajrang Dal, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Hindu Vahini, the Sri Ram Sene… Disrupted Celebrations in Various Districts [of Andhra Pradesh State]"

Members of extremist Hindu groups, wearing bands of the Hindu nationalist color saffron, sought to enforce their call for opposing Valentine's Day, detaining couples in love, and sometimes performing coerced nuptials. Following are excerpts from a media report:[7]

"Protests by Hindu groups and a campaign to educate the youth by some Muslim organizations marked Valentine's Day in [the southern state of] Andhra Pradesh…, as many joined the celebration of love. Activists of various right-wing outfits held rallies, and chased and warned lovers at parks and public places abuzz with enthusiastic couples.

"Wearing saffron-color bands on their foreheads and wielding canes, activists claiming to be members of the Bajrang Dal, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, the Hindu Vahini, the Sri Ram Sene, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and others disrupted the celebrations in various districts.

"The outfits claimed to have forcibly 'married' a few couples at Moinabad and Gandipet on the outskirts of Hyderabad, at Warangal, Anantapur and Nizamabad districts [in Indian state of Andhra Pradesh].

"Bajrang Dal leaders alleged that police arrested many of their activists. The outfit's Hyderabad city unit president Bharat Vamshi condemned the arrests. He said they were protesting against the Valentine's Day as it was against the Indian culture.

"The activists caught hold of lovers in parks and other tourist spots. They detained the boys and girls and left them off only after they promised to desist from participating in such celebrations in future. The ABVP held a rally from Nizam College in Hyderabad to protest against the Valentine's Day celebrations. The women's wing of the BJP also staged a protest and burned an effigy of Western culture…"

Introduction

This paper assesses the current threat posed by the Pakistani jihadist organization Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM or the Army of Muhammad), a terror group led by militant commander Maulana Masood Azhar who was released by India in exchange for the passengers of an Indian plane hijacked from Kathmandu via India to Kandahar in December 1999. In assessing the strength of JeM, this paper examines the ideology of global jihad espoused by Jaish-e-Muhammad and how this terror group is routinely organizing lectures on the interpretation of jihadist verses from the Koran in towns across Pakistan, as well as publishing and broadcasting its messages on jihad.

With its headquarters based in the town of Bahawalpur in Pakistan's Punjab province, Jaish-e-Muhammad carries out its activities through front organizations and charities such as Al-Rehmat Trust, Haftroza Al-Qalam (an Urdu-language weekly newspaper) and Majlis-e-Dawat-ul-Quran (the Assembly on the Preaching of Koran). Its factions have also been known as Khuddam-ul-Islam and Jamaat-ul-Furqan. The JeM was formed by Maulana Masood Azhar following a split from Harkat-ul-Mujahideen, after his return from India sometime around 2000. In January 2002, a few months after the 9/11 attacks, Pakistan's military ruler General Pervez Musharraf banned several terror groups, including Jaish-e-Muhammad, Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Tehreek Nifaz Shariat-e-Muhammadi (TSNM), and others.[1] A decade after the ban, the JeM leaders continue to hold public meetings and preach jihad in Pakistani towns.

In carrying out its activities over the past few decades, JeM has enjoyed the patronage of the Pakistani military's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). In September 2009, a Pakistani newspaper reported that JeM walled off its 4.5-acre compound in Bahawalpur, and the Pakistani authorities ignored the construction despite reports of its use as a terror training camp and a radical madrassa (Islamic seminary).[2] It is from Bahawalpur that JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar, who is referred to by his group of clerics as Emir-ul-Mujahideen (the Leader of the Mujahideen), continues to carry out his jihadist activities. During the height of the U.S. drone attacks in 2008-2009 in Pakistani tribal areas, Pakistani intelligence officials worried that the U.S. could launch a missile at Bahawalpur. During this period Maulana Masood Azhar was reportedly moved to a safe house in the Swat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and for some time to South Waziristan. However, following the killing of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Chief Baitullah Mehsud in August 2009 in a U.S. drone attack, Indian intelligence agencies reported that Maulana Masood Azhar was moved back to Bahawalpur.[3]

Darul Uloom Madina, one of the Islamic seminaries run by Jaish-e-Muhammad, has been operating in Bahawalpur, untouched by the Pakistani security agencies. In March 2009, seven years after JeM was banned by General Musharraf, a Pakistani newspaper reported that the Darul Uloom Madina continues to preach jihad: "In classrooms nearby, teachers drilled boys as young as eight in an uncompromising brand of Islam that called for holy war against enemies of the faith."[4] A former JeM member, who asked not to be named, said: "There, would-be jihadis practicing martial arts, archery, and horse-riding skills, and received religious instruction."[5]

Commenting on JeM's relationship with the Pakistani military, well-known Pakistani security affairs expert Amir Rana said: "You can say Jaish [-e-Muhammad] is running its business as usual... The [Pakistani] military wants to keep alive its strategic options in Kashmir [i.e. to use JeM militants to launch attacks against India in Kashmir]. The trouble is you cannot restrict the militants to one area."[6] Mohammad Aqeel, aka Dr. Usman, who served in the medical corps of Pakistan Army and was found guilty for his role in the October 10, 2009 terror attacks on the General Headquarters (GHQ) of Pakistan Army, was connected to Jaish-e-Muhammad.[7]

Although JeM has traditionally focused its attention on liberating Kashmir from India, its members have been active in Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, and Bangladesh. In recent years, JeM has emerged as a feeder organization for Al-Qaeda in Pakistan. In 2012, Jaish-e-Muhammad conducts its activities freely in Pakistani towns. To put its influence in perspective, JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar is no less in stature than Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks who is wanted by India. Maulana Masood Azhar is also wanted by India for his role in the December 13, 2001 terror attack on the Indian parliament in New Delhi.

Jaish-e-Muhammad Chief Maulana Masood Azhar: Prophet Muhammad "Promised to His Sahaba [Companions] that 'A Group of My Ummah will Wage Jihad in Hindustan [i.e. India]; Those Who Wage Jihad in Hindustan will Not Enter Hell'"

Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar

Various commanders of Pakistani terror organizations such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Muhammad, and others routinely cite a Hadith (saying or deed) of Prophet Muhammad regarding Ghazwa-e-Hind (the Battle of India), which forecasts that Muslim fighters will conquer India and move to the Middle East, especially in present-day Israel, uniting with the forces of Jesus to claim victory.

In numerous speeches, audio recordings of which are posted by JeM followers on YouTube and other websites, Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar cites Ghazwa-e-Hind as the reason for his group's jihad against India. In a YouTube video, Maulana Masood Azhar, whose group has focused on Kashmir over the past few decades, says:[8]

"The Lord the Benefactor has chosen the Muslims of Kashmir for a very big fortune/blessing. I haven't come to tell you a lie. I cite a hadith of the Prophet [Muhammad]. The Prophet of Allah had promised to his Sahaba [companions] that 'a group of [the members of] my Ummah will wage jihad in Hindustan [i.e. India]. Those who wage jihad in Hindustan will not enter Hell.'

"The Prophet of Allah had prophesied and Hazrat Abu Huraira [a companion of Prophet Muhammad] says – as mentioned in the Nisai Sharif, as it has come in Musnad Ahmad [both books of Hadith]… 'The Prophet of Allah gave his promise to us that jihad will be waged in Hindustan'; we asked, 'The Prophet of Allah, if we join this jihad, what do we do?'; [Prophet Muhammad] said, 'sacrifice all your possessions, sacrifice your life too.' [We] asked 'the lord, what shall we get if we sacrifice everything, our lives;' [he] said, 'one who comes as ghazi [victor in a jihad], he will get salvation from Hell, and one who gets martyred, he will be among the preeminent/luckiest of the martyrs.'

"Then the Prophet said, 'for the two groups of my Ummah, Allah has decreed salvation from Hell: one that will arrive alongside Jesus and will wage jihad alongside Jesus, and one [i.e. the second group] that will wage jihad in Hindustan.' In Hindustan, Delhi was included, Mumbai was included, Calcutta was included, Madras was included, Jalandhar was included, Patiala was included, Manipur was included, Tripura was included, Assam was included, Punjab was included. But my lord chose Kashmir; the martyrs will rise from here, the ghazis will rise from here.

"The infidels had said that 'we will turn Kashmir into a Scotland [i.e. a beautiful place for tourism]. The Lord said, 'I will turn Kashmir into a Heaven of the martyrs.' The infidels had said, 'we will build night clubs in Kashmir, [and] will take the beautiful people of this place towards bad deeds.' My Lord said, 'I will have jihadi camps opened here; the mujahid with long hair, beard, will land here; pious mothers will be here; sisters will be here…'"

JeM's anti-India jihadist message is repeated countless times by various clerics and militant commanders. Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri, who is said to have taken the surname "Kashmiri" to stress JeM's anti-India focus, told a meeting in Bahawalpur in late-December 2010 that JeM's ongoing Ghazwa-e-Hind is part of a series of battles begun by Prophet Muhammad at the Battle of Badr in 624 AD.[9] At the meeting, Mufti Asghar Khan Kashmiri went on to argue that the current battle being fought by the Pakistani jihadist groups such as JeM and Lashkar-e-Taiba against Indian security forces in Jammu & Kashmir is part of Ghazwa-e-Hind.[10]

At another such conference in March 2011 in Quetta, the capital of Baluchistan province, Maulana Muhammad Ilyas, an Islamic scholar aligned with Jaish-e-Muhammad, lamented that "infidels have pushed Muslims to the extent that they are offering excuses for [not waging] Ghazwat [jihadist battles]."[11] Maulana Muhammad Ilyas went on to argue that if a person says that he believes in all aspects of the Prophet Muhammad's life but not in jihad, then he is outside the fold of Islam.[12]

JeM's Focus on Jihad in Kashmir: "By the Grace of This American Defeat [in Afghanistan], the Kashmiri Movement has Yet Again Taken a New Turn…; Muslims Want to Get That Land Freed from Those [Indian] Infidels Who are 'Pure Infidels Like That of Mecca' [During Prophet Muhammad's Times]"

In an indication of the importance JeM attaches to the jihad in Kashmir, it published a lengthy article tracing the history of Islamic rule in Kashmir, and arguing that the Indians who are in Kashmir are infidels like the "pure infidels of Mecca" of Prophet Muhammad's times. Following are excerpts from the article titled "The Background of the Kashmiri Movement and its Islamic Legal Position:"[13]

"So far as the light of Islam is concerned, it… [began to shine] on the land of Kashmir in 800 AD… [and] the plant of Islam took the shape of a healthy and big tree in 1325 when the king of Kashmir, Raja Rinchan, embraced Islam….

"The Islamic rule that was established in 1339 in Kashmir became the prey of Sikhs in 1819, and ended. It was a time when all the Mughal provinces met the same fate due to the decline of the Mughal rule… But, kudos to the Muslims of Kashmir that in contrast to the Muslim conquerors, they never welcomed infidels on the land of Kashmir…

"It was the black day of March 16, 1846 when the Dogra [Hindu] period began in Kashmir. Gulab Singh took Kashmir as his property after the Amritsar Treaty [with the British] and attacked Kashmir with his personal troops…

"Without losing any time, Kashmiri Muslims announced jihad against the Dogra government and began an armed revolt. It was October 1947. At the beginning of the jihad almost all the hilly areas including, Muzaffarabad, Bagh, Poonch, Kotli, Mirpur, and the whole of Gilgit and Baltistan were freed from the Dogras in the very first attack...

"[The Afghan jihad during the 1980s] brought the memory of the early Islamic era [in Kashmir] alive and became the source of many freedom movements, and reminded the Kashmiri Muslims that the real path to achieve freedom does not go through congregations, processions, or the UN, but it goes through practical jihad, which brought glory to Afghans [by defeating the Soviet Union]…

"By the grace of Allah, the U.S. bowed before the amazing resolution and perseverance of the Afghan Mujahideen [i.e. the Taliban], and it has announced to leave Afghanistan by 2011 [now revised to 2014]. And by the grace of this American defeat, the Kashmiri movement has yet again taken a new turn and the Afghan victory is directly affecting Kashmir because the movement was weakened only due to the U.S. arrival in Afghanistan…

"Some people say that they are not satisfied with the Kashmiri jihad, for it is being done on the insinuation of the ISI [Inter-Services Intelligence of the Pakistani military]. All praise is to Allah! Don't these wise people know that the ISI came into being long after the formation of Pakistan, while the Kashmir jihad is continuing from 1819 when Ranjeet Singh had wrested Kashmir from Afghans? Which ISI had instigated Kashmiris on jihad at that time?….

"In short, Kashmir is a Muslim land according to the above-mentioned background. Its inhabitants are Muslims, and infidels brought down the Islamic rule there through the use of power; and Muslims want to get that land freed from those infidels who are 'pure infidels like that of Mecca'…."

The Jihad against India – Pakistani Militants Entering India through Nepal and Bangladesh

While the Pakistani military leaders have used the message of jihad against India since the creation of Pakistan in 1947, the jihadist groups became active inside Jammu & Kashmir sometime from 1989 onward, i.e. following the defeat of the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. The 1990s was the bloodiest decade in Indian Kashmir. In the years before the 9/11 attacks and moreso after that, the Pakistani jihadist groups also sought to recruit Indian Muslims, an effort that received a lift after the 2002 riots in the Indian state of Gujarat, where the state government led by Hindu nationalist leader Narendra Modi is accused by various human rights groups of inciting violence against Muslims. Nearly 2,000 people were killed, mostly Muslims, and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi has been put on a visa ban list by the United States and the United Kingdom.

It has emerged recently that some Indian Muslim youth had contact with Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden through Pakistani jihadist groups such as JeM and LeT long before 9/11 attacks. In February 2012, Rakesh Maria, the chief of Mumbai police's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), confirmed that Haroon Rashid Abdul Hamid Naik, an Indian militant in the custody of Mumbai police for his role in the July 13, 2011 blasts in the Indian metropolis (though he was arrested in a fake currency case) had attended a training camp addressed by Osama bin Laden in Bahawalpur, the headquarters of JeM, in 2001.[14] The top counter-terrorism officer added, "Naik had undergone training called 'Daura-E-Aam' and 'Daura-E-Khas' in 2001 at terror camps of Lashkar-e-Taiba [LeT] at Bahawalpur … after sneaking into Pakistan in late 2000…"[15] Both JeM and LeT are known for their long-standing operational relationship, especially against India in Kashmir. In a recent article, noted Pakistani author Ayesha Siddiqa disclosed that Jaish-e-Muhammad was founded with money from Osama bin Laden.[16]

The militancy in Jammu & Kashmir has decreased recently, where members of Jaish-e-Muhammad, Lashkar-e-Taiba, Harkat-ul-Mujahideen and other terror groups had been arriving through the difficult mountainous terrain of Kashmir. However, in recent years, the Pakistani militants have been trying to enter India through the porous borders with Nepal and Bangladesh. In December 2011, an Indian media report said that JeM has revived its terror operations in the country. The revelation came during a police operation in Madhubani district of Bihar, a northern Indian state along the Nepalese border, where seven operatives of the Indian Mujahideen (IM), who were also connected with JeM, were arrested.[17] Mohammed Adil aka Ajmal, who was one of the militants arrested in Madhubani district, disclosed during interrogation that JeM decided to use the Indian Mujahideen to plan attacks in India by pushing militants into India through Nepal.[18] After his interrogation, Indian intelligence agencies reported that JeM has restarted its terror training camp at a new facility in Bahawalpur with Mufti Rauf Asghar, the brother of Maulana Masood Azhar, in charge.[19]

A sample of terror incidents from 2008-2012 reveals that JeM has been actively planning terror operations in recent years. In May 2008, the JeM and LeT militants waged a 12-hour gun-battle with Indian security forces in Jammu & Kashmir, leading to the killing of eight militants including two district-level militant commanders.[20] In December 2008, Indian officials in Kashmir arrested three JeM members who had travelled from Karachi via the Middle East to Nepal, before entering the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh and finally arriving in Jammu & Kashmir.[21] In September 2009, Indian Interior Minister P. Chidambaram reported that Indian intelligence agencies busted 13 terror plots by JeM and LeT, which sought to involve Indian youth in order to lend "an Indian character" to their operations against India.[22]

In Bangladesh, during a countrywide raid in March 2010, counter-terrorism officials arrested five militants, including Rizwan Ahmed, a 26-year-old Pakistani national.[23] Bangladeshi officials reported that Ahmed had been coordinating JeM activities in Bangladesh.[24] One of the remaining four arrested by the Bangladeshi authorities was Nannu Mian aka Belal Mandol, aka Billal, a 35-year-old JeM militant who had previously been in Indian custody for his alleged involvement in the 1999 hijacking of the Indian Airlines plane to Kandahar.[25]

In January 2010, Intizaar Hussain, aka Abdullah Sani, a divisional JeM commander from the Chakwal district of Pakistan, was killed during a 10-hour clash with Indian security forces in Mendher region of Kashmir.[26] In January 2010, another JeM militant, identified as Pakistani national Daud Khan aka Sheikh Hasan, was killed in Kashmir.[27] In February 2010, Haftroza Al-Qalam confirmed the killing of JeM Commander Sajjad Ahmad, aka Salahuddin, in Pulwama district of Kashmir.[28] In March 2011, two JeM militants were killed in Srinagar, the capital of Jammu & Kashmir. The two were identified by the JeM as Muhammad Saeed, aka Sajjad Afghani, a resident of Vehari district in Punjab province of Pakistan, and Arifullah from the Jamrud area of Khyber Agency.[29] In July 2011, Ashan Bhai, a JeM member, was killed in southern Kashmir.[30]

The above reports indicate that the Jaish-e-Muhammad militants continue to be active outside Pakistan – largely because their bases within Pakistan are untouched by the Pakistani security agencies. In September 2008, a Pakistani newspaper reported that Maulana Masood Azhar has restarted recruitment and fund-raising activities in Pakistan, returning to his headquarters in the Model Town area of Bahawalpur from a sojourn in South Waziristan.[31] According to the report, JeM openly runs an Islamic seminary and mosque called Usman-o-Ali where extremist interpretations of Islam are taught to hundreds of children, and there are concerns that the group has also established bunkers and tunnels.[32] In February 2012, a media report noted that Jaish-e-Muhammad is among seven Pakistani terror groups who, in order to evade a Pakistani government ban, have opened local and foreign currency accounts in various Pakistani banks in the names of front organizations and different individuals.[33]

The Failure of Indian Intelligence – Jaish-e-Muhammad Prisoners Released by India Recently

Over the past few years, India has released scores of Pakistani nationals who were jailed in India for various reasons: for example, fishermen who strayed into Indian waters, people who overstayed their visas while visiting relatives, children who mistakenly crossed the border, Pakistani militants caught in Kashmir and elsewhere, as well as many others convicted of petty and serious crimes such as murder.

On a number of occasions, Indian intelligence routinely failed to identify that many of those who were released included militants, especially from Jaish-e-Muhammad. For example, a January 2011 report in Haftroza Al-Qalam, the Urdu-language weekly of Jaish-e-Muhammad reported that there were five JeM members among a number of Pakistani prisoners recently released by India as a gesture of goodwill.

A team of militants led by Qari Zarrar of Al-Rehmat Trust welcome the "five mujahideen released from various jails of India" at the Wagah border, the Urdu weekly reported, identifying them as Muhammad Adnan of Gujarat town, Muhammad Bilal of Chakwal town, Syed Waqar Shah of Mansehra, and Muhammad Manzoor and Muhammad Aslam of the Bagh district of Pakistani Kashmir.[34] Muhammad Adnan and Muhammad Bilal, who were top-ranking commanders, were accorded a "spectacular welcome" at the headquarters of Jaish-e-Muhammad in the town of Bahawalpur, where the welcoming ceremony was addressed by Mufti Abdur Rauf Asghar.[35]

In April 2011, Saiful Maluk, a JeM militant who had served five and a half years in an Indian prison, was one of the Pakistani nationals freed by India. After his arrival, a grand party was organized in his honor by Jaish-e-Muhammad in Bahawalpur, where militant clerics Maulana Muhammad Talha and Maulana Muhammad Shafiq Abu Jandal told the gathering that Al-Rahmat Trust would use all resources to free all of its militants from Indian prisons, according to Haftroza Al-Qalam.[36]

Jaish-e-Muhammad chief Maulana Masood Azhar himself was released by India, along with militant commanders Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar and Omar Saeed Sheikh, who later went on to plot the beheading of U.S. journalist Daniel Pearl in Karachi.

Teaching of Jihadist Verses in 2010: "The Visits [of JeM Clerics to Teach] Interpretations of the Verses on Jihad have Concluded Across the Country…; These Visits were Organized in 18 Big [Pakistani] Cities"

Every year, Al-Rehmat Trust, the charitable arm of Jaish-e-Muhammad, organizes a series of lessons on the verses on Jihad in the Koran. These lessons are organized in a number of towns across Pakistan where JeM leaders, including Maulana Masood Azhar, deliver lectures, justifying jihad and qital (battle).

In the summer of 2010, an organization called Majlis-e-Dawat-ul-Quran (the Assembly on the Preaching of Koran), organized a series of lectures on the verses on Jihad in the Koran in various Pakistani towns. According to a report in Haftroza Al-Qalam, Majlis-e-Dawat-ul-Quran is an institution working under the Al-Rehmat Trust.[37] In a report, titled "2,060 Students, 13,105 People Took Lessons in Jihad," Haftroza Al-Qalam noted:[38]

"Organized by the Majlis-e-Dawat-ul-Quran Pakistan… the visits [of senior JeM clerics to teach] interpretations of the verses on jihad have concluded across the country in three stages. These visits were organized in 18 big cities of the country. As per the information received, more than 2,000 students and common people participated in these meetings regularly and [were instructed in] lessons that taught translation and interpretation of more than 558 verses on jihad…

"It should be mentioned that in the cities of Faisalabad [in Punjab province] and Tando Allahyar [in Sindh province], in addition to the [male] students of madrassas, female students also attended the sessions and were taught the jihadist verses. The teaching sessions on the [Koranic] verses on jihad were organized over six days. Translation and interpretation of all the jihadist verses was taught from Saturday morning through Thursday afternoon… The number of participants was the highest in Karachi at 500, while the cities of Bahawalpur and Faisalabad had the second and third highest number of participants with 280 and 240, respectively.

"The details of the figures  for the visits in the [following cities were]: Gujranwala – 80; Mirpur in Azad [Pakistani] Kashmir – 40; Sukkur – 70; Haveli Lakha Okara – 40; Peshawar – 80; Wah Cantonment Rawalpindi – 150; Swabi – 80; Nawabshah – 25; Quetta – 15; Bahawalpur – 280; Faisalabad – 240 including 80 female students; Karachi – 50; Mansehra – 35; Bannu – 25; Tando Allahyar – 200 including 80 female students; Kohat – 110; Sargodha – 40; whereas in [the tribal district of] Khyber Agency, 50 students took part in the teachings and interpretations. Overall, during the 18 visits, 2,060 people took lessons in the interpretations [of the Koran's jihadist verses] and 13,105 people benefitted from the concluding sessions of these teachings."

Teaching of Jihadist Verses in 2011: "The Prime Objective of Tafseer [Sessions of Interpretations of Koran] is to Connect the Ummah with the Koran, To Get Them Ready for Jihad…; 21 Annual Tafseer Sessions were Held in Several Big Cities"

During the months of June and July of 2011, JeM organized its annual teaching sessions in more than a dozen Pakistani towns. While teachings of the Koran in madrassas (Islamic seminaries) and mosques are common in every part of Pakistan, the purpose of these sessions was to interpret the "Verses on Jihad in the Koran."[39] Following are excerpts from a Haftroza Al-Qalam report, authored by a JeM cleric:[40]

"Tell me - is it possible to separate the concept of jihad and qital and Islamic dignity when we see the life of Emir-ul-Momineen Mullah Muhammad Omar (May Allah protect him)? Is it possible that the name of Maulana Muhammad Masood Azhar is called somewhere, and the very concept of jihad does not come to our minds…?

"Dear readers, I just wanted to present before you the prelude of the teaching sessions on the interpretations of the Holy Koran… The prime objective of Tafseer [sessions of interpretations of the Koran] is to connect the Ummah with the Koran, to get them ready for jihad.

"Syed Ahmed Shaheed [the jihadi leader who fought against the British] has well said: 'In these times, the most important religious movement is jihad in the path of Allah.'

"It is a yardstick to differentiate between a true and pseudo believer. Allah is spreading the message and desire of jihad of Syed Ahmed Shaheed through Emir-ul-Mujahideen [Maulana Masood Azhar] (may Allah protect him), and in this connection the series of Tafseer sessions is a revolutionary step which is a live miracle of the Emir-ul-Mujahideen (May Allah protect him), and those benefiting from these courses are the blessed ones…"

"This year, 21 annual Tafseer sessions were held in several big cities of the country. The sessions started on June 18, while the final session began from July 16 and ended on July 21…."

"Praise be to Allah! The light of the Koran's grace and echoes of jihad's invitation are having effects on Muslim society. The paranoids and fears spread by hawks and ringleaders of infidel forces are coming to an end. Allah willing! The light of the Koran will have to illuminate the entire world."

Teaching of Jihadist Verses in 2012: During an Eight-Day Course Organized by the JeM, "Muslim Women were Told … to Practice Islam and Carry on Jihad"

Jaish-e-Muhammad, which organizes lectures and events in scores of mosques and madrassas controlled by its radical clerics across Pakistan, held a competitive speech contest on jihad at its Masjid Usman-o-Ali mosque in Bahawalpur sometime in March or April 2012. One report on the event noted:[41]

"It is perhaps the incident of the Thursday night [sometime in March or April 2012], when there was transaction of billions of dollars in the entire world to wipe out jihad. Millions of soldiers with lethal weapons were at the borders to wipe out the Muslim Ummah. Thousands of TVs, nets, and radio channels were speaking against jihad. At that time, the Masjid Usman-o-Ali [mosque] in Bahawalpur was resounding with persuasion to jihad. There was a speech contest on the topic 'History of Jihad.' There were thirty-six speakers representing Sindh, Punjab, Baluchistan, NWFP [now Khyber Pakhtunkhwa], and unoccupied [Pakistani] Kashmir.

"The winners from their respective divisions were trying their luck in the final contest of 'Bazm-e-Yousafi.' These contests have been going on for many years, but I had a first chance to listen to them. I was pleased to know that the students of religious institutions [i.e. madrassas] were participating in it. The day is not far, when by the grace of Allah, the students of [mainstream and government-run] colleges and universities will also become a part of this Bazm [session/event]."

Sometime in the first quarter of 2012, Jaish-e-Muhammad organized a 40-day course "Dawat-o-Rukniyat Muhim" (preaching and membership campaign) aimed at recruiting men to the fold of jihad. The campaign was followed by an eight-day course for women. Both events were organized under the banner of Al-Rehmat Trust, the charity arm of Jaish-e-Muhammad. A report titled "A Lovely Campaign for Muslim Women" noted: "According to Emir-e-Jamaat [the Emir of Jaish-e-Muhammad] and Emir of the Mujahideen Maulana Masood Azhar, the objective of the 40-day 'Dawat-o-Rukniyat Muhim' was to raise the 'Laskhar-e-Ghaza' [army of jihadi fighters] – an army of victors, valiant and mujahid – and now the aim of this eight-day 'Al-Mominaat Muhim' is to raise the Lashkar-e-Dua [army to pray, or women who will raise jihadist youth in the homes]."[42] Following are excerpts from the report on Al-Mominaat Muhim:[43]

"The Emir Sahib [Maulana Masood Azhar] made the verse 71 of [Koran's] Chapter Tauba as the basis of this campaign. This campaign had a four-point program:  i) invitation to Kalima Tayyeba [i.e. There is No Deity but Allah and Prophet Muhammad is His Messenger] and a routine recitation of the Kalimah 1,200 times a day; ii) invitation towards Salat [prayer five times a day] under which it is desired to perform the prayer perfectly with punctuality; iii) take hard measures to maintain bashfulness and [wear the] veil as ordered in Sharia; and iv) aid in jihad in the path of Allah."

"After the completion of the campaign, a religious course of work for Mominaat was presented by Hazrat Emir Sahib [Maulana Masood Azhar], which should be written in golden ink and that the women of this time can become the 'Mominaat' in real terms and can become a real support of their Momin brothers and 'Lashkar-e-Dua' by following that [course]…

"There should be a religious library in every house where all the books of Emir al-Mujahideen [Maulana Masood Azhar] and other Ulema [Islamic clerics] are present…

"All Muslim women should consider jihad as the definite and strong obligation of Islam and spend their property in that; get their men involved in that, and aid jihad as much as they can…"

According to another report, titled "Two Pictures," in Haftroza Al-Qalam:[44]

"The name of 'Al-Mominaat Muhim' was given to this attempt of reform in women. Like the work, the name was also chosen auspicious, lofty, and beautiful. The time period of this campaign was eight days in all. To carry out the campaign the home of every woman was declared as the venue; that is, everyone would be a part of this campaign living within her home…

"The Emir of Mujahideen Maulana Masood Azhar (may Allah safeguard him), through his 'Ilhami Maktubaat' [revealed writings], initiated such a longing and bashfulness within eight days that their sleeping conscience got woken up. A wave of Islamic awareness was seen everywhere. In this campaign, [the meaning of] the basis of religion [of Islam] Kalimah La ilaha Illallah [There is No Deity but Allah] and what it demands [from a Muslim] was conveyed…

"And the Muslim women were told that without the reform in women, how hard it is to practice Islam and carry on jihad. They were told that Muslim men can never attain success in their high and lofty goals without taking women with them. They were told to hate and avoid sins and they were encouraged towards doing good deeds and obedience…"

Global Jihad against America: "Then We Will Go Inside America, We Will Blow up the Earth of New York…; By Using the Plough of Jihad, We Will Eliminate the Infidels from Earth"

The ideology of jihad, espoused by Jaish-e-Muhammad and other Islamic terror organizations and religious groups, is essentially global in nature. In the first stage, JeM's focus has been concentrated on India, especially in liberating Kashmir. However, the global dimension of the jihadist struggle is outlined in a poem published by Haftroza Al-Qalam, the Urdu-language weekly of Jaish-e-Muhammad.

Some excerpts from the poem, titled "We will Hoist the Flag of Islam," are given below to illustrate JeM's long-term ideological objective:[45]

 "We will beat up NATO, force it out,
"We will bolster the command of Islam;
"Then by losing their lives and wealth,
"Ultimately, they will repent.

"Then we will go inside America, 
"We will blow up the earth of New York; 
"The pious Lord is our helper, 
"How then will they win.

"Then to the pharaohs [evil hegemons] of the Pentagon,
"We will remind them of 9/11;
"Then, artillery, missiles, and rockets too;
"Will forget their path and collapse.

"And on Washington, the fort of infidels,
"We will hoist the flag of Islam;
"By using the plough of jihad we,
"We will eliminate the infidels from earth…."

In an article in April 2012, a Jaish-e-Muhammad militant who writes a column in Haftroza Al-Qalam under the byline "Saadi ke Qalam Se [From the Pen of Saadi]," advocated delivering audio lessons on jihad via mobile phones. In the article, titled "Mobiles will be Pleased," he wrote: "Let us sort out ten top important speeches and prepare a cassette or a memory card. In this way, you will also be able to get beneficence from the knowledge and passion of these persuaders to jihad. This idea struck me the very day. Now, this job will be entrusted to someone. You will be able, like me, to listen to these speeches of 5-7 minutes filled with the passions of Belief sitting at your homes, at your mobile, or cassette player. So many mobiles will be pleased…"[46]

However, the article also reveals the conception of a global jihad by Jaish-e-Muhammad. The author celebrated the French shooter Muhammad Merah, observing:[47]

"There is one [French shooter] Muhammad Merah, who alone killed seven Jews in France. The French interior minister called him a beast and taunted his father as being the father of a beast. But what about the children killed in Gaza and [civilians killed by a U.S. soldier in] Panjawani of Kandahar? Let it go. We are not in the habit of complaining against anyone nor do we have any fondness to put a mirror before anyone. It is a war; an international crusade. When all the Muslims or a few of them understand it, they will teach a lesson to those beasts. The Muslims are until now answering the field [of] battle well. But the day is not far when this war will expand and every grieved heart will become 'Muhammad Merah.'

"What will happen then? We Muslims are the final Ummah, and only we are to live in this world. Those who dream of extirpation of the Muslims will have to repent; rather they are repenting. Does someone recall that procession of 'Leningrad' in which a fake funeral was taken out, i.e. the funeral of a god [Lenin]. There will have been a fake god of theirs. Our Lord is only Allah who is All-Powerful over everything. They would say, 'Islam is now wiped out.'

"Go to the bazaar and buy two maps of the world. You will wonder how many names have vanished and how many new names have appeared. There is no one to weep over the Soviet Union. Now do one thing: buy the present day map of the world and write the date on it. The survivors after fifteen years must tally this map with the map of that time. Then they will estimate the power of jihad with their open eyes."

Times Square Bomber Faisal Shahzad Met with JeM Commander in Peshawar; Pakistani Daily Report on JeM: "Militant Group's Resurgence: Dreaded Jaish Looks to Rise Again"

Jaish-e-Muhammad militants have been connected to terror plots in America. Faisal Shahzad – who was jailed for life by a U.S. court for carrying out the failed Times Square bombing of May 1, 2010 – met with Mohammad Rehan, a JeM commander based in the Pakistani city of Peshawar in July 2009.[48] Mohammad Rehan Mohammad Rehan, who headed the Peshawar branch of Jaish-e-Muhammad, was among 13 people who were connected to Faisal Shahzad and were detained by Pakistan.

Among those detained were Faisal Shahzad's friend Tauseef Ahmed and Iftikhar, Tauseef's father-in-law. Tauseef visited the United States to meet with Faisal Shahzad about two months before the Times Square bombing.[49] Three more individuals, including a woman, were also arrested from Samandri, a town in central Punjab, over their connections to Faisal Shahzad.[50]

The Jaish-e-Muhammad remains a well-organized terror network in Pakistan. Though this paper does not trace JeM's attacks in Pakistan, it is pertinent here to note some of its recent threats. In 2008, its members began moving to Afghanistan to fight alongside the Taliban against U.S. and NATO troops. In October 2009, JeM was reported to have threatened an attack on the legislative assembly of Pakistan's Sindh province, and several key areas of Karachi, according to Pakistani intelligence.[51] In February 2011, JeM was involved in a terror plot to blow up the Pakistani parliament and other important buildings in Lahore.[52] Its commanders are known to be working in close relationship with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. JeM commanders such as Qari Ali Rehman in Bajaur Agency are reportedly working closely with the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.[53]

In August 2011, a leading Pakistani daily, in a report titled "Militant Group's Resurgence: Dreaded Jaish Looks to Rise Again," noted the resurgence of Jaish-e-Muhammad, stating:[54]

"Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), the second largest jihadi group based in Punjab, has resumed full-scale public activity, including fundraising, while security agencies appear to be overlooking its 'resurgence.'

"[The] … group is in the process of regaining its traditional physical and financial strength, which had dissipated during the ten-year ban imposed by former President Pervez Musharraf. JeM … is working on a plan to reach out to its activists who had abandoned the organization after it came on the radar following an attack on the Indian parliament blamed on the group.

"JeM is trying to consolidate avenues for fundraising, individual charity from within Pakistan, and donations from Gulf states, which were partially blocked during the ban by the country's security agencies. As a first step, an activist said, it had revived its charity, Al-Rehmat Trust, the group's humanitarian wing once run by Master Allah Baksh, the father of Jaish founding chief Maulana Masood Azhar…

"Maulana Ashfaq Ahmed, who is affiliated with the trust as its coordinator … [said from his base in] Bahawalpur, the city in southern Punjab where the organization is based, that the charity's fundraising was in full swing in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa [KP]. The trust capitalizes on Masood Azhar's name for recreating the goodwill it once enjoyed when it fought in Afghanistan alongside with the Taliban, before the regime was driven out of power by international forces. Government agencies have never obstructed the trust's fundraising in either Punjab or KP, Maulana Ashfaq added…

"Jaish is the second largest jihadi outfit in the Punjab. Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) is the biggest both in terms of the number of activists and infrastructure. Maulana Ashfaq said the trust's offices were being re-established all over Punjab and KP, including Jaish's traditional strongholds in Kohat district and Hazara region… A younger brother of Masood, Amar Azhar (possibly his codename), was in Saudi Arabia [in August 2011] to seek donations from rich businessmen and sympathizers in Gulf States…."

* Tufail Ahmad is Director of MEMRI's South Asia Studies Project (www.memri.org/sasp)

Following are excerpts from a TV report on polio in Pakistan, which aired on Al-Jazeera TV on March 14, 2012.

The talk of "safe passage" was immediately rejected by the Taliban. According to a Pakistani daily, Zabihullah Mujahid, the spokesman of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban's shadow government), said: "The committee formed for providing safe passage will only provide facilities to those who bow to the U.S…. The Islamic Emirate has waged jihad for a great and sacred cause. There is none in our ranks to violate the teachings of Islam, abandon the leadership, and bow to the aggressors for a few dollars."[2]

A report published by the pro-Taliban Urdu-language Pakistani Roznama Ummat daily reveals for the first time that the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan has not only rejected the offer of "safe passage" but is also moving ahead to form a government in Afghanistan after U.S. and NATO troops withdraw. The report also reveals that the Islamic Emirate has appealed for Islamist experts in different fields of governance from around the world to join the Taliban.

Following are excerpts from the Roznama Ummat report:[3]

Taliban Commander: "The Taliban May Give Safe Passage to the U.S. [If Taliban Prisoners in Guantanamo Bay and Pakistan are Released]"

"A Taliban leader from eastern Afghanistan, on the condition of anonymity, said that safe passage is not needed by the Taliban but [rather] by the United States: 'We are in our country; where will we go from here? If the U.S. wants a safe passage, then it has to hold talks with us and other resistors.' He asked how could any decision could be made in closed rooms about them. He further said that four important leaders of the Taliban were arrested in Pakistan; one of them, Maulvi Obaidullah Akhond, died, while the other three leaders are in Pakistan's custody. Just after their arrest, a court in Pakistan put a ban on handing them to the U.S.

"If Pakistan releases the other two leaders, including Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar [the deputy of Taliban leader Mullah Mohammad Omar], and the Taliban leaders imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay are released and their names are cleared from the [United Nations terror] blacklist and their return to Afghanistan is guaranteed, then the Taliban may give safe passage to the U.S. But this is strange that the U.S. wants to evacuate itself and an agreement is being made to give us safe passage! We are living among our people for past 11 years; we don't need any safe passage. Of course, the Taliban may think of giving safe passage to the U.S. provided the Americans begin unconditional withdrawal.

"The Taliban's position is clear, but the U.S. and its allies are faced with a new war presently besides the Taliban resistance. And this war is a good crop of opium. According to the reports from Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan, there has been an increase in the demand of heroin in Europe after the increasing unemployment and deteriorating economy, while the allied countries have failed to prevent the cultivation of opium in Afghanistan because the promises made to the landlords were not fulfilled on the one hand, and the British army had brought 40 latest tractors to destroy the opium crop in Helmand forcefully.

"But the landlords of Helmand contacted to the local Shura [executive council] of the Taliban and called for their help. They said that the allied forces wanted to snatch the morsel [of food] from the mouth of their children because they are not compensated for not growing opium; that is why they are forced to opium cultivation. Taking action on this plea from the cultivators, the Taliban set 35 tractors of the British army ablaze while the British troops removed the five remaining tractors. Beside that, the landlords and cultivators of Zabul, Helmand, Uruzgan and other provinces of south-eastern Afghanistan have also taken to the field against the allied [forces], and fierce resistance continues against the destruction of the opium crop.

"According to reports, the increase in the production of opium this year is due to the increase in cold weather, as the opium fluid of the poppy's seed vessels gets melted in severe heat and production gets reduced. But this year there has been a record crop of opium in Afghanistan, which has driven off the sleep of the allies. This issue was much discussed in the core group conference of Islamabad, but the Taliban and other resistance sources are calling such conferences as unnecessary and a waste of time."

"The Hizb-e-Islami Leader Asked: Who the U.S. and Karzai Governments are Trying Bo befool? All Routes are Safe for Us; We are in Our Own Country; We don't Want to Go Out from Afghanistan So That We would Need Safe Passage"

"An important leader of Hizb-e-Islami [led by fugitive commander Gulbuddin Hekmatyar] who is involved in holding talks with the U.S. said on the condition of anonymity that he was surprised to read this information through media regarding [the allies' offer of] giving safe passage to the Taliban and [other] resistors, because the real parties of this issue are the Taliban, Hizb-e-Islami, and the U.S. The U.S. has made an illegal occupation of our country and we are waging jihad against it. There is no use for such conferences unless our demands are not considered.

"The leader of Hizb-e-Islami [alluding to perhaps Dr. Ghairat Baheer] was of the opinion that the NATO supply line, cultivation of opium, and the terror camps are secondary issues. The real issue is that the U.S. officials should inform the Taliban, Hizb-e-Islami, Pakistan, and Afghanistan that they want to withdraw from Afghanistan from such a date and that they should be given safe passage, [and] then [we] can consider it. The issue of the NATO supply line will be resolved with this declaration [giving a specific date for total withdrawal from Afghanistan]. He said unless the Taliban and Hizb-e-Islami are included in the talks, there would be no impact even if all the countries of the world keep holding conferences.

"The Hizb-e-Islami leader asked: 'who are the U.S. and Karzai governments trying to fool? All routes are safe for us; we are in our own country; we don't want to go out from Afghanistan so that we would need safe passage.' He said that the leaders of the Taliban and other resistance groups who are in their prison should be released, the ban should be lifted on them and a [conducive] environment should be made for [holding] talks. Still, there would be no way out for the allied forces except withdrawal [from Afghanistan].

"Regarding this issue, various sources said that the U.S. officials in Islamabad stressed more upon the issue that NATO supplies should be opened [to passage through Pakistani territory] so that the scope of negotiations in Afghanistan could be widened, and Afghan officials also expressed their agreement with the U.S. officials. But Pakistani officials, taking a strong stand, made it clear to the U.S. and Afghanistan that the resolution of the issue does not lie in war but in holding talks with the Taliban, and there should be a clear roadmap for these talks."

"The Taliban have Begun the Preparation of Forming a Shadow Government for the Whole of Afghanistan and the Shura has Also Completed the Consultation Process with Many Taliban Commanders... And Appeals are Being Made to Islamists Across the World Who are Experts in Various Departments [of Government] to Join the Taliban"

"However, the U.S. and Afghan officials were caught in a quandary about ... [negotiations with the Taliban] – because the Taliban have begun the preparation of forming a shadow government for the whole of Afghanistan and the Shura [executive council of the Taliban] has also completed the consultation process with many Taliban commanders of several provinces, and appeals are being made to Islamists across the world who are experts in various departments [of government] to join the Taliban.

"In the first stage, an appeal has been made to IT experts that they should help the IT department of the Taliban so that they could convey their message to the whole world. Presently, the work of spreading the message of the Taliban in Urdu, Pashtu, Dari, English, and Russian languages is in its last stages. The Taliban sources told [Roznama] Ummat that Jihad Film Division, Sangar Jihad [in Pashtu], and Manibha Jihad in Arabic have been established in this regard. These divisions will take the videos of the activities of the Taliban to the world.

"The aim of establishing the shadow government is to avoid a civil war after the U.S. withdrawal [from Afghanistan] and to make advance preparations for solving the problems of Afghan people, according to the Taliban sources. The difference in the thinking of the U.S. and the Taliban is growing, according to the sources.

"The Taliban are Making the American Army Weak and the U.S. will Not Be in a Position to Fight in 2013 If the NATO Supply Lines [Through Pakistan] are Not Restored by June [2012]; The Taliban have Called Hundreds of Resistors to Afghanistan from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan"

"The Taliban are making the American army weak and the U.S. will not be in a position to fight in 2013 if the NATO supply lines [through Pakistan] are not restored by June [2012]. On the other hand, the troops of Australia, France, and other countries would withdraw from Afghanistan in eight months. More than 50,000 troops of the U.S. and allied countries will begin withdrawing from Afghanistan from July this year, and in two months they will be left with fuel that would be enough for their return. In this situation the U.S., Afghanistan, and Pakistan would have to prepare a roadmap for talks with the Taliban.

"After the passage U.S. supplies through Russia, the Taliban have called hundreds of resistors to Afghanistan from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Earlier, the Taliban had stopped the resistors [i.e. militants] from these countries from coming to Afghanistan as a part of strategy so that the U.S. could not get assistance from ... [Afghanistan's] neighboring countries. But the Taliban have also brought a change in their strategy as these countries provided help for the allies following the blockade of NATO supplies by Pakistan.

"Sources told [Roznama] Ummat that the proof of this fact is that recently the Afghan and U.S. troops have martyred Usman Jamgani of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (Nama Jamgani Group), along with his 13 comrades, in an air raid in northern Afghanistan. Their presence in northern Afghanistan is the proof of the fact that the Taliban have started giving training to the Islamic resistors from those countries as a retaliatory measure after the help of central Asian countries to the U.S. [allowing supplies for the U.S. and NATO troops] against the Taliban.

"The announcement [by U.S., Afghan, and Pakistani officials at their Islamabad talks] to give safe passage to the Taliban is not only comical, but this announcement has no importance either. If the announcement was done to give safe passage to the U.S., then the situation in this country would have started changing very quickly towards peace. If on one hand the Taliban have stepped up their efforts to establish a shadow government [in Afghanistan], then on the other hand, the Shura Muraqba, which was formed to end differences among Pakistani Taliban, has achieved its goals to a greater extent, and a truce has been almost completed between two important factions of the Taliban...."

Introduction

Having declared the Pakistani military as an apostate force (one that has left the fold of Islam), the emerging Al-Qaeda strategy appears to be targeted at damaging the Pakistan Army's image in the eyes of Pakistani Muslims, assassinating its senior officers through selective killings, and following the drawdown of U.S. troops from Afghanistan in 2014 annihilating the institution of Pakistan Army thoroughly and executing its personnel for collaborating with the United States. The growing focus of Al-Qaeda on undermining the Pakistan Army is becoming evident from messages contained in its statements and in a series of videos released this year.

Al-Qaeda's targeting of Pakistan Army was underlined again in Issue No. VIII of "Inspire," an English-language jihadi magazine published by the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). Issues No. VIII and IX of Inspire were released on jihadist internet forums on May 2, 2012 – the first anniversary of the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden.[1]

As discussed below, a study of the Al-Qaeda statements and videos reveals that its analysts are questioning the historical relationship of Pakistan Army with Muslims through past three centuries –back at least to the Battle of Plassey in 1757, or 190 years before the Islamic state of Pakistan was created in 1947.  At the Battle of Plassey, the British defeated the Muslim army of Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah, whose commander Mir Jafar was part of a conspiracy to defeat the Nawab. Some Al-Qaeda videos have recently pointed out that Pakistan Army has been killing Muslims both before the creation of Pakistan in 1947 and after, for example, in the 1971 Bangladesh war and the anti-Taliban military operations underway in the Pakistani tribal region.

It appears that Al-Qaeda is seeking to achieve two objectives through this strategy: first, damage the image of Pakistan Army in the eyes of Muslims worldwide but especially in Pakistan; second, divide the loyalty of Pakistani soldiers to their commanders and recruit them to the cause of jihad and Islam. The new Al-Qaeda strategy poses a serious risk for the Pakistani armed forces. This risk is not unreal, as several large-scale terror attacks have taken place in Pakistan recently, revealing the involvement of Pakistani soldiers.[2]

Al-Qaeda Official for Pakistan Ustad Farooq: "If There is a Force That is Fundamentally Responsible for Throwing This Entire Region Into Bloodshed and War, It is the Pakistani Army…"; "It Was Pakistan that Activated its Airspace, Territory, Airbases, Centers, and Everything ... For America"

Al-Qaeda leaders began reviewing the role of Pakistan Army a few years ago – perhaps the first trigger being the killing of Arab fighters in Pakistani military operations in the tribal region along the Afghan border.

In July 2010, Al-Sahab, the media arm of Al-Qaeda, released a comprehensive interview of Ustad Ahmad Farooq, the Head of Al-Qaeda's Department for Dawa and Media in Pakistan. In the interview, Ustad Ahmad Farooq discussed the role of Pakistan Army in the war against terror and offered justifications for jihad against Pakistan, arguing: "One who can understand jihad against America, should also be able to understand the jihad in Pakistan, for the reason that both Afghanistan and Pakistan are in effect the same battlefront…"[3]

Ustad Farooq added: "If the Afghan National Army – whose strength is not even one-fourth of the Pakistani Army's, and whose military experience, military equipment and weapons, and professionalism cannot be in any way compared with the Pakistani Army's – if battle against it is justified for this crime [of supporting the U.S. troops], and if all the mujahideen fighting for the Islamic Emirate [the Taliban's shadow government] target it and no objection is raised, then why isn't a battle against the Pakistani Army justified?...."[4]

He further argued: "Is it hidden from anyone that a few years ago this region was not in the situation that it is in now? Today, from Afghanistan to Pakistan, there is war everywhere. And if there is a force that is fundamentally responsible for throwing this entire region into bloodshed and war, it is the Pakistani Army. When the U.S. decided to launch an attack here [following 9/11], it needed a local host to support it…. No neighbor of Afghanistan was ready to play this role… It was Pakistan that activated its airspace, territory, airbases, centers and everything to be available for America. The precious information of the [Pakistani military's] intelligence department needed for all operations and all the secrets of the Islamic Emirate and mujahideen were provided to America…."[5]

In March 2012, Ustad Ahmad Farooq outlined his justification for jihad against Pakistan Army, arguing that 10 senior Taliban leaders are in the Pakistan Army detention. Speaking in an Al-Qaeda video, he cited the name of the following Taliban commanders in Pakistani jails: Mullah Baradar, the deputy of Taliban leader Mullah Omar; Mullah Obaid, the deputy of Mullah Baradar; Ustad Yasir; Mullah Jahangirwal Zabuli, aide of Mullah Omar; Mullah Anwarul Haq Mujahid, son of Mullah Younus Khalis; Mullah Mir Ahmadwakul of Jalalabad; Mullah Abdul Salam of Kunduz; Mullah Muhammad of Baghlan; Mullah Turabi of Amr bil Maaroof Nahi Wa Nahi Anil Munkir; Mullah Mansoor Dadullah, brother of Mullah Dadullah.[6]

Taliban Video: "This [Pakistan] Army has been Defeated by Indian Forces in 1965, 1971, and All Other Fronts Like Kargil Episode [War in 1999]; But These Coward Armed Forces Went to Every Extent to Crush the People of Bangladesh"

In January 2012, a video released by the Umar Media of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), which works inter-connectedly with Al-Qaeda, also questioned the role of Pakistan Army in defending Muslims. A narrator, who did not appear on the video, said: "It [the Pakistan Army] is an 'apostate' as it acts on the directives of infidel forces and has been killing Mujahideen to protect the interests of American-led NATO allies in Afghanistan and the rest of the world. It called itself the frontline ally of America in the so-called war against terrorism - which in fact is the American war to silence voices for Jihad and Sharia enforcement."[7]

The narrator added: "The very foundation of its army was laid down by Britain soon after Pakistan came into existence on the world map in 1947."[8] He reminded that the first two chiefs of this apostate army were British generals; General Ayub Khan had got commission from Royal Military Academy of Britain. And all other top officers Muhammad (1935), Yahya Khan (1939), Gul Hassan (1942), Tikka Khan (1940) and Zia-ul-Haq (1943) got commission from the Indian Military Academy during the British rule.

"This [Pakistan] Army has been defeated by Indian forces in 1965, 1971, and all other fronts like Kargil episode [war in 1999]. But these coward armed forces went to every extent to crush the people of Bangladesh [former East Pakistan in 1971], kill innocent people of Baluchistan [even now], crush the valiant sisters of Jamia Hafsa [Islamic seminary during a 2007 army operation in Islamabad] when they raised voices for the enforcement of Sharia and martyrdom, or the patriotic people of the tribal areas…."[9]

A masked militant in the video stated: "Respected Muslims, these apostate security forces are nominal Muslims. At the behest of America, they treated Mujahideen brutally, threw their bodies... into rivers in Swat and martyred madrassas [Islamic seminaries], mosques and houses in Waziristan tribal region. They committed acts of blasphemy by throwing copies of the Koran and other holy books on ground in mosques during military operations. Most of these soldiers are Shias or Ismailis [who are not considered Muslims by the Taliban] and the rest are nominal Muslims promoting the infidels' agenda."[10]

Al-Qaeda Video Traces Pakistan Army's Role "Against Muslims" In Iraq, Palestine, Delhi, Pakistani Tribal Regions, Bangladesh; Al-Qaeda Militant Says: "The Units of This Army Played a Singular Role Alongside the British in the World War I in Handing over Palestine and Al-Aqsa Mosque to These Infidels"

In March 2012, a new video, which was produced by Al-Sahab, traced the Pakistan Army's role "against Muslims" over the past century in Iraq, Palestine, Delhi, Pakistani tribal regions, and Bangladesh, accusing it of killing Muslims and causing wounds to the Muslim Ummah throughout history.[11]

In the video, a narrator reminds viewers that the Pakistan Army's role in killing Muslims is not new, adding: "The regiments of this army [Pakistan Army, or erstwhile Indian Army] won Baghdad and Mosul for the British in the World War I; sent 1500,000 of its soldiers to defeat the Ottoman Empire; attacked and helped establish the Crusader-Zionist occupation in the pious land of Palestine where the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) led the prophets [in prayer]."[12]

He noted that the Pakistan Army units also killed the followers of Syed Ahmed Shaheed, the militant Islamic cleric who led the Pashtun tribes to wage jihad against the British in the early 19th century, and killed thousands of Islamic clerics and trampled the "jihad for freedom" against the British rule in 1857, the first war of Indian independence fought by Muslim and Hindu kings and queens as well as by jihadist forces.

That video contained clips and images of Pakistani soldiers mistreating Pakistani people, launching air raids in the Pakistani tribal region in recent years, the erstwhile Indian/Muslim soldiers fighting alongside the British in 1857 against Bahadur Shah Zafar, the last Mughal ruler of Delhi, and entering Palestine along their British generals. On the video, Pakistani senator from Baluchistan Ismail Baladi was shown confirming how Baluchi leaders are being killed by Pakistan Army soldiers in broad daylight in recent years.

The significant point about this video was that it traced the role of Pakistan Army both before the creation of Pakistan in 1947 and after, producing footage from American television channels' archives showing how Pakistani soldiers killed Bengali Muslim youth in hundreds of thousands in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in the 1971 war. This particular video also produced clips from NBC TV channel archives showing how Bengali Muslim women, some as young as 13 years old, were kept in barracks and raped by Pakistani soldiers, giving birth to children they wanted to give away.

The Al-Qaeda video also contained a clip of respected Pakistani politician Javed Hashmi describing his sorrowful experience of witnessing the killing of Bengali Muslims by Pakistani soldiers: "Allah is witness, my guilty eyes have seen vultures eating the intestines of Bengalis [Muslims], and they [the Pakistani soldiers] were telling happily that many days had passed and we had not killed Bengalis and now that Bengali had come and we have killed [them]"[13] It also showed journalists such as Syed Saleem Shehzad and common people being killed in broad daylight by Pakistan Army in Karachi and other Pakistani regions.

Ustad Sher Alam, an Al-Qaeda militant who appeared on the video with his face masked, wondered why Pakistani journalists and political analysts fail to see the Pakistan Army's role against Muslims, stating in Urdu language: "We want to ask these analysts, haven't they read the history of this army? Can't they understand this simple fact that the units of this army played a singular role alongside the British in the World War I in handing over Palestine and Al-Aqsa mosque to these infidels; and were at the front in the war against the center of Muslims and end of the Ottoman Empire…?"[14]

Al-Qaeda Leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri: "Senior Officers of the [Pakistan] Army have been Bred on American Bribes; They have been Trained to Submit to America's Desires and Transgressions"

In March 2012, Ayman Al-Zawahri, the successor to Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, appeared in a video to explain the justifications for jihad against the Pakistan and Pakistan Army. In the video, which was recorded sometime in the aftermath of the November 26, 2011 U.S. raid on the Salala checkpost in which 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed, Al-Zawahiri sought to play on the Pakistani people's anti-U.S. sentiments, stressing that the U.S. cannot be a reliable partner and urging people to rise up against the Pakistan Army.[15] Specifically addressing the people of Pakistan, Al-Zawahiri stated:[16]

"The history of America's dealings with the Shah of Iran, [former Pakistan Army ruler General Pervez] Musharraf, Zain ul Abidin Bin Ali, Hosni Mubarak, and Ali Abdullah Saleh proves that America views its agents as if they are mere hunting dogs or worn-out shoes used to fulfill its objectives and then thrown into the dustbin; and this indeed is the fate awaiting the generals of Pakistan Army.

"The Pakistan army permitted American air strikes in the tribal areas. It provided help and active support in these bombings and continues to do so. What did it get in return? The Pakistan Army carried out gruesome military operations involving aerial bombings and outright murder in Swat, Waziristan, Mohmand, Orakzai and Khyber in the interest of America. What did it get in return?

"Earlier, the Pakistan Army supported the Crusader attack on Afghanistan and it continues to do so. Thousands of Muslims were killed in this attack and more are still being killed. What did it get in return? The Pakistan Army arrested thousands of Pakistani and Afghan mujahideen, in addition to immigrant brothers. It tortured them, murdered some, and handed others over to America. What did it get in return?

"Senior officers of the army have been bred on American bribes. They have been trained to submit to America's desires and transgressions. Haven't these generals made a business out of the Kashmir issue for 60 years, and used it as a pretext to plunder the wealth of the Pakistani people, without freeing even an inch span of Kashmir?…

"Follow in the footsteps of your brothers in Egypt, who take to Tahrir Square again and again by the millions to force the Military Council [SCAF] to meet their demands. Cannot a million free and noble people rise from amongst the Muslims of Pakistan to stage a protest against the Generals of the Pakistan Army so as to force them to stop their betrayal of the Muslim Ummah by participating with America in its war against Islam, to compel them to stop drone strikes, and to pressure them to end the military operations in the tribal areas and Swat and to release all prisoners?"

Suicide Bomber on Pakistan Naval Base Attack: "The Rulers and [Military] Generals of This Country, Who Sell Their Beliefs and Faith Just for the Sake of Dollars, Remember That You will Get Tired of Fighting Us"

In March 2012, Al-Sahab released a video of pre-recorded statements of four martyrdom-seeking bombers of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) who carried out the May 2011 suicide attack on the PNS Mehran, the headquarters of Pakistan Navy in Karachi, as revenge for the killing of Osama bin Laden.

The video was released in two parts, with the first part tracing the role of the Pakistan Army against Muslims in the Pakistani tribal region and Bangladesh, and before the independence from British rule, in Iraq, Delhi, and Palestine.[17] Although Pakistan did not exist before 1947, the argument forwarded by Al-Qaeda's analysts is that Muslim soldiers from India's northwestern territory, which became Pakistan, were part of the British-led Indian Army, which took part in missions in Iraq and Palestine in the World War I and II.

In the video, one of the suicide bombers read a statement declaring: "The rulers and generals of this country, who sell their beliefs and faith just for the sake of dollars, remember that you will get tired of fighting us but we will not tire of fighting you, Allah willing."[18]

An audio clip was also part of the video, in which Ustad Ahmad Farooq urged the Pakistani soldiers to rise: "Isn't there a self-respecting soldier in this army of 600,000 who considers the orders of the Prophet [Muhammad] as dearer to him than the orders of his officers?"[19] He added: "If the army units of Libya could rebel against [Mu'ammar] Al-Qadhafi and the Sunni soldiers of the Syrian Army against Bashar Al-Assad, then why can't the lower-ranking soldiers of the Pakistan Army rebel against their generals in order to free the 180 million people [of Pakistan] from this slavery, and for enforcement of Islamic Shari'a?"[20]

Issue No. VIII of "Inspire" – Former Pakistani Soldier: "After 1857, the Forefathers of the Present Day Pakistan Army have Also Fought against the Muslims Under the Leadership of the British in the Second Afghan War (1878-80)"

Issue No. VIII of Inspire – which was released on May 2, 2012 – carried an article by a former Pakistani soldier who has been identified as Abu Obaidah Al-Islamabadi. The article titled "Lust & Fear: An Insight into the Pakistan Army & Its Role in the Crusades" was submitted by a reader, but nevertheless is an endorsement of Al-Qaeda's thinking on the role of Pakistan Army.

In the article, the writer notes the pride of Pakistani generals in tracing their history back to 1757, the Battle of Plassey. He writes: "One day, while together on a military exercise, a Major from 1 Frontier Force Regiment of Pakistan Army showed me his diary. It was a meticulously crafted personal notebook but what really intrigued me was a list on its initial pages. The list contained the names of all the commanding officers of 1 Frontier Force Regiment in a chronological order and to my surprise; the list was dating back to the year 1757. This was the year when British East India Company captured Bengal in a major battle against the Muslim ruler Nawab Siraj-ud-Daulah at Plassey [near Kolkata, India]. 'So, your Battalion fought against the Muslims in 1757?' I asked the Major. A glitter of pride appeared in his eyes, 'Yes, and the British government and military acknowledge our services till today!'"[21]

It's not inconsistent that Al-Qaeda is tracing the history of Pakistan Army back to 1757. Generally, Pakistani writers, especially those on the side of the Pakistani establishment, have sought to trace the history of Pakistan at least back to 711 AD, when Muhammad bin Qasim, an Islamic general from Saudi Arabia, began the conquest of Sindh, a territory now in Pakistan. Now, Al-Qaeda is utilizing this established Pakistani narrative to argue that Muslim soldiers, who formed part of Indian Army before Pakistan's creation, and are now the part of Pakistan Army, have been involved in the killing of Muslims.

"The unequivocal loyalty and subordination of today's Pakistani Army to the anti-Muslim Crusader alliance may surprise some people but it is a historical fact that the troops from this area have always been loyal to the British and were especially instrumental in undermining the independence movement by other Indians in 1857. The forefathers of present day's Pakistan Army under the leadership of British commander Brigadier General John Nicholson were mobilized from North Western India (present day Pakistan) to fight against Indian freedom fighters who were trying to restore the authority of the Muslim Mughal Emperor in Delhi."[22]

The author further notes: "After 1857, the forefathers of the present day Pakistan Army have also fought against the Muslims under the leadership of the British in the second Afghan war (1878-80) as well as in the First and Second World Wars. Participation of these so-called 'Muslim troops' in the First World War is of great importance as they helped the British abolish the Islamic Caliphate completely for the first time in the 1400 year history of Islam. These 'Muslim troops' participating in the World Wars were strongly supported by pro-British 'Muslim' politicians such as Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the man who was to later become the founder of Pakistan…"[23]

Issue No. VIII of "Inspire" – Former Pakistani Soldier: "After the Crusaders withdraw from Afghanistan [in 2014], Pakistan's Army Should Be Thoroughly Annihilated and Its Personnel, Who were Complicit with the Crusaders, Should Be Tried and Executed"

Abu Obaidah Al-Islamabadi, the author of the article "Lust & Fear: An Insight into the Pakistan Army & Its Role in the Crusades," further questions the psychology of Pakistani soldiers, arguing that they work as mercenaries or "peacekeepers" as part of the United Nations. Perhaps unintentionally, the role of Pakistani security forces in Saudi Arabia and other Muslim countries, especially in curbing Shi'ite protesters in Bahrain, is not cited by the author.[24] Following are excerpts from the article:[25]

"The soldier of the Pakistani Army primarily fights for money and he justifies his moral corruption by taking pride in another un-Islamic concept of 'patriotic nationalism.' The salary of a Pakistani soldier is carefully determined. It is slightly higher than the salary of other government employees but still much lower than the Western Crusader troops. Resultantly, for higher salary, Pakistani soldiers would happily serve as paid mercenaries, anywhere in the world and under any conditions. For their conscience, it does not matter if they are asked to fight against Muslim mujahideen, or they have to safeguard the Crusaders interest under the banner of United Nations' 'peacekeepers' at various places around the world.

"The Pakistan Army's lust for money has been acknowledged many times in the past by their Crusader masters. The Pakistan Army's lust for money and its justification through nationalism were clearly demonstrated during the tyrannical rule of Pervez Musharraf when he raised the slogan 'Pakistan comes first.' Following this satanic concept, the Pakistani Army martyred a considerable number of precious non-Pakistani [Arab and other] mujahideen residing in Pakistan and many were sold to the Crusaders…

"If there is a voice to implement the Shari'ah within the Army or country, it is met with extreme brutality with the silent consent of the Western powers; examples of which are the assassination of late President Zia ul Haq and the massacre of Islamabad's Red Mosque [military operation in 2007]…

"The Crusaders keep their influence over Pakistan's Army by controlling a few handpicked elite Generals who in turn exert their control over the whole army mainly through training curriculum and military laws. The process of moral corruption starts at the very beginning of the training…

"Right from the induction into Pakistan's Army, recruits are made to idolize the Crusader armies as the height of professional excellence. As an incentive, top cadets from the Pakistan Military Academy are sent to Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, UK for further training. A major portion of military educational curriculum taught in the Pakistan Army institutions is based upon campaigns and tactics of the Allied Armies during the World Wars. Officers who perform well in these institutions are promoted to higher ranks and further selected for foreign courses in the military institutions primarily in USA and UK where their loyalties to the Crusader armies are further ascertained…

"After grooming the suitable Pakistani Army officers, the Crusaders lift them to the position of Generals and then control them through the carrot and stick policy. If Generals follow the agenda of their masters, they are showered with wealth and praises and if the Generals are not efficient in performing their job, they are rebuked with the threats of assassination…

"In the light of the above, it can be deduced that the Crusaders' occupation of Afghanistan is standing on its historical asset, the Pakistani Army. Until the Pakistani Army is standing and guarding the supply routes, the Crusaders are in the position to continue this war for a considerable length of time leading to further bloodshed of Afghani and Pakistani Muslims. Hence, in order to bring down Crusaders' military structure, it is important to strike a decisive blow to its pillar: the Pakistani Army.

"Hence, the dealings with the Pakistani Army should be met with considerable terror and an effort should be made to publicize the retaliatory atrocities caused by them. Their senior officers should be assassinated through targeted killings. Once this Army is fearful of mujahideen, it would not be able to protect the Crusaders' supply lines, air bases, soldiers and private contractors in Pakistan who could then be targeted relatively easily leading to an ischaemia of [or cure against] the Crusader armies in Afghanistan.

"After the Crusaders withdraw from Afghanistan [in 2014], Pakistan's Army should be thoroughly annihilated and its personnel, who were complicit with the Crusaders, should be tried and executed publicly…"

Conclusion

In the months following the killing of Osama bin Laden in Abbottabad in May 2011, Al-Qaeda's statements on the Pakistan Army's relationships with Muslims became more frequent. This trend is likely to continue in the coming years, especially if the Pakistani military continues to carry out security operations against the Taliban and other militant groups in the Pakistani border region.

The message against the Pakistan Army is not limited to only be coming from top Al-Qaeda leaders. The fact that the video of suicide bombers after the PNS Mehran attack questioned the role of Pakistani generals indicates that lower-ranking militants in the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Al-Qaeda, and allied groups are being persuaded to comprehend the Pakistan Army's relationship with Muslims in a historical context – as having been essentially harmful to Muslims throughout history.

The issue of Inspire, which contained the article "Lust & Fear: An Insight into the Pakistan Army & Its Role in the Crusades" was produced by AQAP, an affiliate of Al-Qaeda based in southern Yemen. It is likely that Al-Qaeda groups in various countries are studying the role of Pakistan Army in a historical context. Since Al-Qaeda affiliates are getting stronger across the world, there could be two consequences in the long term: some militants could move to Pakistan to fight against the Pakistan Army; and more research questioning the Pakistan Army's relationship with Muslims could be published by Islamist groups worldwide. The threat to annihilate the institution of Pakistan Army – though not an easy task for Al-Qaeda – cannot be taken lightly, as the terrorist organizations are expected to find a surplus of jihadists in the Afghanistan and Pakistan region after the drawdown of U.S. and NATO troops from Afghanistan in 2014.

However, the fact that Ayman Al-Zawahiri and Ustad Ahmad Farooq are making considerable efforts to justify Al-Qaeda's jihad against Pakistan Army by issuing long statements and interviews also reveals a significant point: the Al-Qaeda leadership realizes the difficulty of persuading the people of Pakistan to adopt its viewpoint on jihad, which will require Pakistanis to see no geographical barriers across Muslim communities in the world, abandon their own loyalty to the idea of Pakistan and thereby lose their own identity – which is extremely difficult – as Pakistanis.

* Tufail Ahmad is Director of MEMRI's South Asia Studies Project (www.memri.org/sasp)

Maulana Abdul Haleem

In a Friday sermon, former Pakistani lawmaker and prominent Islamic cleric Maulana Abdul Haleem justified honor killings of women who opt for secular education, and has threatened to forcibly marry off female staff of secular non-governmental organizations (NGOs) who visit the district of Kohistan to work with women's education, health, and other welfare projects.

Maulana Abdul Haleem, who was born in 1922 in the town of Pattan in Kohistan district, is a member of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) party and is known to have nurtured a generation of Islamic clerics in Pakistan. In 2002 he was elected a Member of the National Assembly, the lower house of the parliament, from the platform of Muttahida Majlis-e-Amal (MMA), an alliance of religious-political parties cobbled together at the behest of then-Pakistani military ruler General Pervez Musharraf. According to a Pakistani daily, during his stint as an MP, Maulana Abdul Haleem also declared poppy cultivation in Kohistan to be "in accordance with Islam."[1]

According to a Pakistani website, Maulana Abdul Haleem is a father of eight sons and seven daughters, and his hobbies include delivering religious education in the form of dars, lessons in the Koran and Hadith.[2]

The warning against female staff of NGOs was issued in a Friday sermon at the central mosque in the town of Kamila in Kohistan district in Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, and was confirmed in comments to journalists afterwards.[3] Following the sermon, a journalist asked him if Islamic nations like Saudi Arabia and Iran are violating shari'ah by spending billions on women's education, Maulana Haleem termed their steps as "un-Islamic."[4]

Following are excerpts from Maulana Abdul Haleem's sermon, as quoted in various Pakistani newspapers:

In an article titled "A year Since Bin Laden," renowned Pakistani author and columnist Dr. Ayesha Siddiqa argued that the influence of bin Laden remains widespread in Pakistan, especially fostered by groups like Jaish-e-Muhammad, which was founded with money from bin Laden and enjoys the support of the Pakistani military. She also argued that pro-jihadist groups have infiltrated the politics of Pakistan and could potentially reach for political power in the coming years, adding: "It's not just the right-wing radical people who have grown more sympathetic to bin Laden's aforementioned cause, but also some of the liberal elements who tend to see the jihadis as the only way of getting rid of the American presence from Afghanistan and the region."

In an article titled "Truth and Terror," columnist Rafia Zakaria argued that the killing of bin Laden has not led to a decline in terror attacks in Pakistan. She added: "The attacks have continued unabated since, the period from January until April of this year 2012 already having witnessed 201 bomb blasts with hundreds killed and injured. The year and a half period from 2011 to the middle of 2012 has seen more people die of terrorist attacks in Pakistan than Americans in the whole decade since 9/11."

Former Indian intelligence official B. Raman, in an article titled "Down But Not Out," assessed the strength of Al-Qaeda, noting that while Al-Qaeda's top leadership may be restricted in carrying out a spectacular terror attack in far-away places, the regional affiliates and their command and control systems are very much intact. Raman further warned that after the drawdown of NATO troops in Afghanistan, jihadist organizations in Afghanistan will fund a surplus of jihadis who could be potentially used by the Pakistani Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) to launch attack against India.

Ayesha Siddiqa: "Bin Laden Remains Alive in the Memory of Many Jihadis Who Worked with or had Links with Al-Qaeda, Including Some of Those Considered Friendly By the Pakistani State; Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), for Instance, was Established with Money Provided By bin Laden"

Following are excerpts from Ayesha Siddiqa's article:[1]

"In the year since the May 2 raid, a lot of foreign journalists have asked how Pakistan has fared after bin Laden. Twelve months, perhaps, is too little time for a fair assessment, since his shadow still lurks in Abbottabad, the town where the Al-Qaeda chief spent the last years of his life. Although the house where he lived was demolished to get rid of his memory, there are reports of a small number of people still visiting the site of the house and drinking water from a pipe that lies there, claiming it is 'holy water.'

"The fact is that Pakistan will find it hard to get rid of his memory, even though bin Laden's family was recently put on a plane to Saudi Arabia. Emotionally and ideologically, bin Laden remains alive in the memory of many jihadis who worked with or had links with Al-Qaeda, including some of those considered friendly by the Pakistani state. Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), for instance, was established with money provided by bin Laden, who had bought out Harkat-ul-Mujahideen's interests in Karachi for JeM.

"There are numerous Deobandi jihadi outfits, and the Wahhabi Lashkar-e-Taiba [LeT], whose leadership has personally interacted with bin Laden and share some of his ideology, especially that pertaining to fighting American imperialism in South Asia and the Muslim World.

"From the perspective of the larger political goal - to push the U.S. out of the region and challenge its military power - bin Laden's death has changed nothing. In fact, his influence seems to have grown. It's not just the right-wing radical people who have grown more sympathetic to bin Laden's aforementioned cause, but also some of the liberal elements who tend to see the jihadis as the only way of getting rid of American presence from Afghanistan and the region."

"Bin Laden is … an Ideology That Aims to Challenge American Presence and Influence; Numerous Deobandi and Wahhabi Outfits have Broadened Their Influence… [in Pakistan]; There are Even Rumours of These Outfits Becoming Part of the Country's Political Scene"

"There is also a general belief that the May 2nd operation is more of an American myth, and what happened in Abbottabad that night was just a self-created fiction of the Pentagon.

"But bin Laden is not the name of a person but an ideology that aims to challenge American presence and influence in the region. The basis of this ideology is essentially anti-Americanism that seems to have proliferated not just due to May 2nd but also because of other events that happened later, such as the American attack in Salala [the Pakistani security checkpost where 24 Pakistani soldiers died in a U.S. raid in November 2011].

"The numerous Deobandi and Wahhabi outfits have broadened their influence and presence in the country, which makes it even harder for anyone to forget the Al-Qaeda chief's primary mission. There are even rumors of these outfits [e.g. Difa-e-Pakistan Council, led by LeT founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed] becoming part of the country's political scene. While this may not happen in the next elections, such political gossip denotes growing legitimacy of jihadi outfits in Pakistan. In fact, they have smoothly grown in areas that were once known as hubs of the more plural Sufi Islam.

"A year after bin Laden, Pakistan continues on its trajectory of being a hybrid theocracy – pockets of liberalism with small areas where Sharia is formally implemented and larger areas where the religious law is informally applied. A year later, there is no alternative discourse that can challenge extremism from amongst us. Bin Laden still lives amongst us, and will become ingrained as a myth that will then form part of this society's history…."

Rafia Zakaria: "[Pakistan] Saw 476 Major Incidents of Terrorism … in 2011; Attacks have Continued Unabated Since, the Period from January until April of This Year 2012 Already Having Witnessed 201 Bomb Blasts with Hundreds Killed"

Following are excerpts from Rafia Zakaria's article:[2]

"As history or fate would have it, such sentimental scenes are not destined for Pakistan. According to the South Asia Terrorism Portal, the country saw 476 major incidents of terrorism (major classified as involving three or more deaths) in 2011.

"The worst of them came not before but after the raid on Osama bin Laden's compound, when 90 people, paramilitary and civilians were killed as two suicide bombers attacked an FC [Frontier Corps, a para-military force] training center in Charsadda.

"The attacks have continued unabated since, the period from January until April of this year 2012 already having witnessed 201 bomb blasts with hundreds killed and injured. The year and a half period from 2011 to the middle of 2012 has seen more people die of terrorist attacks in Pakistan than Americans in the whole decade since 9/11.

"Pakistan's casualties from terror are not simply those who have died in the attacks themselves. Every dying man and woman to fall in the unfortunate path of the suicide bomber or automated blast has left behind him or her an unseen mourning horde of those that must live on, lives forever interrupted, inexplicably and unjustly.

"The conflict between security forces and terrorists has wreaked its own havoc in the enactment of Pakistan's terror tragedy. A few weeks ago, UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, announced that 208,000 internally displaced people are now living in the Jalozai camp in Nowshera since January of this year, a number said to represent only 15 percent of the actual people displaced from their homes.

"Many of these wandering victims of terror, homeless and hungry, are just as hapless as the dead. According to Oxfam, nearly half a million people are in dire need of humanitarian assistance…."

"With the Proliferation of Terror [Groups] has Come the Elevation of Secrecy, a New Creed Practiced by Governments and Intelligence Agencies … Extremist Outfits That Change Names with the Seasons and All Those Who Shelter Them"

"When the death of Osama bin Laden was announced a year ago today, those assessing the success or defeat of the war on terror from the safe distance of faraway lands rejoiced and believed. A poll conducted in Pakistan days after found Pakistanis unsure.

"Conducted by YouGov, in collaboration with Polis at Cambridge University, the poll found that 66% of educated Pakistanis did not believe that Osama bin Laden was killed in the attack. Another poll, conducted by Gallup International also in the immediate aftermath of the raid, found that only 25% of Pakistanis actually believed that the person attacked in Abbottabad that day was Osama bin Laden.

"When asked whether terrorism would increase, decrease or remain unchanged, nearly three-quarters of Pakistanis believed that it would increase or at best remain unchanged….

"Pakistanis did not believe in the death of Osama bin Laden, because the most tragic, heartrending, and invisible casualty of terror in Pakistan has been the death of truth itself.

"With the proliferation of terror [groups] has come the elevation of secrecy, a new creed practiced by governments and intelligence agencies, foreign governments and spymasters, extremist outfits that change names with the seasons and all those who shelter them. This intricate web of the unknown that weaves through every event and breathes souls into the corpses of doubt has meant the end of fact in Pakistan. The bomb blast at a train station, the murder of a journalist, the verdict of a court - nothing can be solved or explained or predicted because nothing can be believed…."

"Bleeding internally and externally, one year after bin Laden's death, Pakistan is not misunderstood, and the truth more so. As the reason for deaths, the causes of catastrophes, the elusiveness of justice or accountability present day-after-day new tableaus of anarchy, it seems laughable and even cruel to consider that many in the world thought and still think that the death of a single evil man could mean much or anything when the deaths of so many innocent others have meant absolutely nothing…."

B. Raman: "While the Global Reach of Al-Qaeda Has been Affected Due to the Inability of Its Present Leadership to Carry Out Terrorist Strikes on a Global Scale, Its Regional Command and Control, Regional Cadres, and Regional Ability to Carry Out Strikes Remain Unimpaired"

Following are excerpts from B. Raman's article:[3]

"A year after the U.S. Navy Seals killed Osama bin Laden in Pakistan, the central command and control of Al-Qaeda based in Pakistan continues to be in disarray. The terror group has not been able to recover from the U.S. drone strikes and the death of many of its senior leaders. Thanks to his lackluster leadership, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, the new Emir of Al-Qaeda, who is believed to be operating from a hideout in Pakistan, has not been able to restore the confidence and motivation of its central command and control.

"The disruption of the group's central command and control appears to have affected its ability to plan and launch catastrophic strikes in faraway places.

"However, its affiliates – the Taliban of Pakistan and Afghanistan, the Haqqani Network of Afghanistan, the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) of Pakistan, the Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) based in Yemen; the Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb based in Algeria and Mali; the Al-Shabab of Somalia; and the Boko Haram of Nigeria – have maintained their capability for sporadic acts of terrorism….

"While the global reach of Al-Qaeda has been affected due to the inability of its present leadership to carry out terrorist strikes on a global scale, its regional command and control, regional cadres and regional ability to carry out strikes remain unimpaired.

"The affiliates of Al-Qaeda continue to use the multi-modus operandi and multi-target operations that they had learnt from the terror group. This was evident from the recent commando-style attacks on different targets in Afghanistan by the Afghan Taliban and the Haqqani Network. Mass casualty attacks carried out during the last one year by affiliates of Al-Qaeda in Yemen and Nigeria highlight their continuing motivation and ability to strike when an opportunity comes up…."

"So Long as Al-Qaeda's Global Network of Sleeper Cells is not Disrupted, Dangers of Maritime Terrorism, Acts Involving Weapons of Mass Destruction, Material and Mass Disruption of the Internet have to be Guarded Against"

"There are also indications that after the death of bin Laden… there has been a decline in the flow of funds to Al-Qaeda from 'charity organizations' and affluent Saudi families. The shortages caused have not been made good by the money earned from narcotics smuggling.

"The weakening of Al-Qaeda as a global terrorist organization should not be taken to mean that the dangers of a catastrophic act of terrorism are less likely now. The dangers will remain high so long as the intelligence agencies are not able to identify and neutralize Al-Qaeda-trained operatives who were placed in sleeper cells in different parts of the world by bin Laden when he was alive.

"The central command and control of Al-Qaeda has been disrupted, but not its global network of sleeper cells. If a new leader emerges who is able to motivate them, we may still face new acts of mass-casualty terrorism.

"So long as Al-Qaeda's global network of sleeper cells is not disrupted, dangers of maritime terrorism, acts involving weapons of mass destruction, material and mass disruption of the internet have to be guarded against through international cooperation in intelligence collection and sharing and physical security…."

"[Lashkar-e-Taiba] has Not Repeated Its 11/26-Style Terrorist Strikes in India after 2008; But Its Training Camps in Pakistani Territory are Active…; With the Thinning Down of the NATO Presence [in Afghanistan], the Jihadi Terrorist Organizations, Now Operating in Afghanistan, will Find at Their Disposal Surplus Jihadis"

"India must maintain extreme vigilance and preparedness against commando-style, complex terrorist strikes of the kind launched by the LeT in Mumbai on 11/26 [November 26, 2008] and by the Afghan Taliban in Afghanistan recently.

"The LeT has not repeated its 11/26-style terrorist strikes in India after 2008. But its training camps in Pakistani territory are active and the anti-India radicalization of its leadership shows no signs of abating. There are no indications of any change in the use of terrorism as a strategic weapon against India by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI).

"If the U.S. and other NATO forces carry out their plans to thin out their presence in Afghanistan in the coming months, the U.S. is expected to transfer its holdings of arms and ammunition to the Afghan Security Forces. The danger is some of it would fall into the hands of jihadi groups in the Af-Pak region.

"With the thinning down of the NATO presence [in Afghanistan], the jihadi terrorist organizations, now operating in Afghanistan, will find at their disposal surplus jihadis who are well-trained and motivated. India must be prepared because some of its cadres and weapons could be diverted to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) to re-kindle terrorism and the Pakistan-sponsored proxy war in Jammu and Kashmir….

"Stability in the Af-Pak region is years away. Until a modicum of stability is established, the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan will continue to be the epicenter of the attempts to revive global terrorism and to keep India bleeding. The international community – and particularly India and the U.S., which face the maximum threats from the terrorists based in the Af-Pak region – cannot afford to slacken its vigilance…."

During a recent visit to North Waziristan, a stronghold of Pakistani and foreign terrorists along the Afghan border, former Pakistan Army officer Khalid Munir wrote a report describing how the Taliban and other foreign militants move freely through North Waziristan and neighboring tribal agencies.

In his report, titled "North Waziristan – A First-Hand Account," Munir describes the beleaguered state of the Pakistani military in the area in the face of the militants there: "Unless militants attack the troops, camps or check posts, no action is taken by the army. [Military] movement from one place to another occurs in heavily armed convoys and that [takes place] only once a week for administrative requirements."

Following are excerpts from the report:[1]

Endnote:

Following are excerpts from Hamid Mir's article:[1]

"Bin Ladenism is Still a Source of Inspiration for the Militants Fighting from Afghanistan to Yemen and from Iraq to Palestine; Dead Osama is as Dangerous as Living Osama"

In February 2012, a leading Pakistani research institute published a report stating that the problem of religious extremism in Pakistan poses a greater threat to the country than does terrorism and examining a series of extremist incidents from September 2010 to September 2011.[1]

The 54-page report, titled "Extremism Watch: Mapping Conflict Trends in Pakistan 2010-2011," was published by the Jinnah Institute, a non-governmental organization based in Islamabad.

Marking the release of the report, Jinnah Institute Executive Director Ejaz Haider said: "Extremism is a greater menace in terms of a state's ability to deal with it, rather than terrorism, and this fact enhances the importance of studying extremism in Pakistan."[2]

Below are excerpts from the chapter in the report titled "Conflict Trends: Presenting the Data," written by Jinna Institute deputy director Salman Zaidi.[3]

"The Largest Number of Incidents by Category Related to Interfaith Extremism, With 53 Cases Reported" September 2010–September 2011

"The largest number of incidents by category related to interfaith extremism, with 53 cases reported over the year [September 2010–September 2011]. Such incidents did not ordinarily translate into violent attacks – a total of seven lives were claimed and five persons were injured due to interfaith extremism.

"Similarly, in the 62 attacks against schools, three lives were lost and 61 [people] were injured. The alarmingly high number of casualties was reported in 44 sectarian [Sunni versus Shia] attacks, with 454 persons killed and 1,089 injured. The 25 recorded incidents of extremist violence specifically targeting the Shia community resulted in 214 killed and 665 injured.

"Seven [Sufi] shrine attacks killed 65 and injured 206, while 17 other incidents of extremism claimed 5 lives and injured 30 persons.

"December 2010 stood out in the monitoring period for the highest number of incidents, recorded at 30, 10 of which were cases of interfaith extremism. However, November 2010 recorded the highest numbers of casualties in 24 incidents, of which 4 sectarian attacks claimed 130 lives and injured 268. Sectarian attacks have been high throughout the monitoring period, with September – December 2010 and January 2011 recording very high casualties. This trend picked up again in April and August 2011…."

"The frequency of school attacks has been fairly consistent other than two peaks in the data, November-December 2010 and March-April 2011, indicating the greatest number of attacks. Month-wise data does not suggest a pattern for attacks against shrines or for incidents recorded under the other incidents category."

I. Interfaith Conflict

"Newspapers Reported 53 Cases of Interfaith Extremism…, Which Included Various Discriminatory Acts against Religious Minorities, Blasphemy Allegations against Muslims and Non-Muslims"

"Newspapers reported 53 cases of interfaith extremism over the monitoring period, which included various discriminatory acts against religious minorities, blasphemy allegations against Muslims and non-Muslims as well as violent attacks. Punjab recorded the highest number of incidents at 31, followed by 13 in Sindh, 8 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and one case in Baluchistan. The majority of news reports collected pertained to blasphemy related cases. The Hindu community’s demands for the Hindu Marriage Act was reported several times in the press, but was not recorded in this compilation.

"A. Blasphemy-Related Cases

"A total of 18 news reports in the data involved accusations of blasphemy against one or more persons. Eight Muslim men and a teenage boy were accused of blasphemy and out of these, there were four cases in which Muslim men were killed. There was one reported case in which the police did not register a blasphemy case against a Muslim male. In addition, there were four separate cases of Muslim women being accused of blasphemy.

"The blasphemy-related cases pertaining to members of minority groups included two Christian women and a teenage girl. One of the accused women was Aasia Bibi, whose case received international attention. Two Christian men were threatened with violence due to blasphemy cases, while one was killed.

"Those killed in blasphemy related attacks include the Governor of Punjab, Salmaan Taseer, and Federal Minister for Minorities, Shahbaz Bhatti [a Christian]. Five incidents related to rallies or groups agitating against Salmaan Taseer, protesting any amendments to the blasphemy laws or asking that Aasia Bibi be put to death. Several newspaper columns and editorials in leading English and Urdu newspapers reviewed for this project showed the divide in public views over the Aasia Bibi incident and echoed much of the sentiment on the street.

"In one incident, a leader of a religious political party stated that Mumtaz Qadri, the killer of Salmaan Taseer had committed no wrong. In another incident, members of Senate refused to pray for Salmaan Taseer.

"Two of the men and a teenaged boy accused of blasphemy were reported as having mental disabilities. Five incidents involved the families of the accused asking for justice or protection against mob violence.

"Several news stories revealed how blasphemy accusations were used for making criminal gains and settling personal vendettas. In one case a Christian woman sought to accuse her rival of blasphemy, but upon reaching the police station found that she herself was facing blasphemy charges."

"There were Protests When a Christian Lawmaker was Asked to Read Out the Annual Budget in the Punjab Parliament; Christian Relics and Graves were Desecrated in a Lahore Graveyard; A Pastor’s Life was Threatened Unless He Converted to Islam"

"B. Persecution of Christians

"Fifteen news stories in the data reported various kinds of discrimination and acts of violence against Christians. These included a ban on the Bible demanded by the leader of a religious party; there were protests when a Christian lawmaker was asked to read out the annual budget in the Punjab Parliament; Christian relics and graves were desecrated in a Lahore graveyard; a pastor’s life was threatened unless he converted to Islam; the Bible was desecrated and the police did not register a case for blasphemy when demanded by Christian protesters.

"Mixed marriages between Muslim and Christians led to at least two deaths.

"Two attacks against churches are recorded, whereas two attacks were averted. On 14 September 2010, two persons were injured in a bombing at the Northern Diocese of Pakistan Lutheran Church in Mardan.

"On 16 November 2010, a wall of the King of Kings Church in Saddar, Lahore was demolished by municipal authorities reportedly under pressure from local influential persons. On 22 March 2011, police were able to avert large mobs in Badami Bagh, Lahore from demolishing a church. Similarly, on 1 May 2011, police was successful in turning away a mob that had gathered to attack a church in Gujranwala."

"The Body of an Ahmadi [Muslim] was Exhumed Under Pressure from Local [Islamic] Religious Groups from a Muslim Graveyard… To Be Buried Elsewhere; The Body of a Hindu Girl was Also Exhumed from a Muslim Graveyard in Rawalpindi to Be Buried in the Adjacent Christian Graveyard"

"C. Persecution Against Other Religious Minorities

"There were reports of two incidents of targeted violence against Ahmadis [Ahmadi Muslims who are banned from describing themselves as Muslims] in which five persons were killed and two injured. A pamphlet calling for the killing of Ahmadis was distributed openly in Faisalabad.

"In two separate incidents, an Ahmadi place of worship was attacked in Mughalpura, Lahore, while the body of an Ahmadi was exhumed under pressure from local religious groups from a Muslim graveyard in Sargodha, to be buried elsewhere.

"The body of a Hindu girl was also exhumed from a Muslim graveyard in Rawalpindi to be buried in the adjacent Christian graveyard. There were two news reports of discrimination in aid relief distribution against the Hindu community during the 2010 floods in Sindh.

"In addition, Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan threatened to kill all non-Muslim employees of Punjab government, if they were not removed from office. In Lahore, members of the Sikh community were prevented from offering prayers at the gurdwara by Dawat-e-Islami.

"D. Interfaith Violence

"In rare cases of violence between religious minorities, it was reported that a mob of Hindu men in Thar had attacked a family that had converted to Sikhism. In another incident, a Muslim convert from Christianity in Peshawar was tortured by members of the Christian community. He asked for protection for himself and his four family members.

"Three news reports carried stories of interfaith marriages in which the couples faced extreme discrimination from their communities. A woman who had converted to Islam for her marriage was killed by her Christian brother in Faisalabad…."

II. Sectarian Conflict

"Sectarian [Sunni versus Shia] Extremism Accounts for 92.6% of All Casualties Recorded over the Monitoring Period; The Highest Statistic in Sectarian Extremism Relates to Violent Attacks against Shias"

"Sectarian [Sunni versus Shia] extremism accounts for 92.6% of all casualties recorded over the monitoring period. The category takes on several forms in the data: violent attacks against Shias; Shia-Sunni clashes; intra-Sunni violence among Barelvi and Ahl-e-Hadith groups; violent attacks against Sunni mosques and congregations.

"For several incidents, the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan or Lashkar-e-Jhangvi [LeJ – an affiliate of Al-Qaeda] have claimed responsibility, but many of the incidents recorded under this category cannot be classified as either Shia-Sunni clashes or anti-Sunni violence.

"A. Anti-Shia Attacks

"The highest statistic in sectarian extremism relates to violent attacks against Shias. Of the 44 incidents of sectarian violence reported over monitoring period, 25 involved target killings of Shias, bombings of Ashura or Chehlum processions [taken out by Shias], attacks against Shia pilgrims and mosques. In these target killings, 214 lives were lost and 665 persons were injured. Out of these 25 incidents, 12 took place in Quetta [the capital of Baluchistan] and rest in Karachi, Kurram and South Punjab.

"The highest number of target killings was recorded over the period September–December 2010 and January 2011. A major incident occurred in September 2010 where 30 persons were killed and 300 injured in a suicide attack on the Yaum-e-Ali procession [of Shia Muslims] in Lahore. In November 2010, 54 persons were killed and 150 injured in the Yaum-al-Quds rally in Quetta.

"A spike in sectarian attacks was seen in December 2010, which coincided with the Islamic month of Moharram. Six separate attacks were reported in different parts of the country, including attacks on Ashura processions [of Shia Muslims] in Hangu, Peshawar and Shikarpur that killed 30 and injured 69. These incidents included a bomb blast in Karachi University that injured five members of the Imamia Students Organization [a Shia group], in addition to a car bombing outside the Al-Zahra Hospital in Hangu that killed 10 and injured another 22.

"June and July 2011 stand out for an increase in the frequency of target killings, particularly in Baluchistan. Four persons were killed and nine injured in June in two target killings, while five such attacks in July took the lives of 35 and injured 15. All except one attack occurred in Quetta, which has a significant Hazara-Shia population. The incident on July 28 2011 involved Shia pilgrims being intercepted en route by unidentified gunmen.…"

"Swat University Vice Chancellor, Dr. Farooq Khan, Who was Working to Rehabilitate Children Trained as Suicide Bombers [was Among Sunni Scholars Killed]; Six Mosques were Attacked in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Five during the Friday Prayers"

"B. Shia-Sunni Clashes

"Newspapers reported 13 deaths and 35 injuries in three separate incidents that involved Sunni-Shia clashes. Two of the incidents involved the now defunct Sipah-e-Sahaba [Pakistan or SSP, which now functions as Lashkar-e-Jhangvi – LeJ]. In one incident, as many as 17 inmates of the Kohat Jail were injured when fighting broke out after a sectarian argument.

"There were occasional opinion pieces related to the ongoing violence in Kurram Agency between rival Sunni and Shia groups. However, for the most part, the mainstream English print media carried comparatively little coverage of this conflict, particularly from a sectarian perspective. The two news stories in this compilation were both related to attacks against unarmed civilians in Kurram, the first incident involving a bus carrying Sunni passengers and the latter carrying Shia passengers.

"C. Anti-Sunni Attacks

"One Sunni scholar and three clerics lost their lives over the monitoring period. This included Swat University Vice Chancellor, Dr. Farooq Khan, who was working to rehabilitate children trained as suicide bombers and militants.

"Maulana Abdul Kabir Qadri, associated with the Qambrani mosque in Quetta, Mufti Maulana Irshadullah Abbasi, Imam of Daee Masjid in Karachi and Maulana Abdul Karim Mengal, Imam of Jamia Albadar in Quetta were killed in the sectarian attacks.

"Six mosques were attacked in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, five during the Friday prayers, resulting in huge losses of life. The worst attack occurred on 5 November 2010, in which 72 were reported killed and 80 injured, when a bomb went off in the Wali Khan mosque in Darra Adam Khel.

"On the same day, another mosque in Sulemankhel near Peshawar was attacked, killing 4 and injuring 20. On March 4, 2011, a bomb exploded in a Nowshera mosque, killing 11 and injuring 44 persons. On August 19, 2011, 50 persons were killed and 80 sustained injuries when Jamia Masjid Madina in Jamrud, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Agency, was attacked during Friday prayers.

"D. Intra-Sunni Clashes

"One person was killed and 10 injured in Karachi when Barelvi and Ahl-e-Hadith groups [of Sunni Islam] clashed over the control of a mosque. In another incident 18 were injured in a shootout in Khuzdar when rival Sunni groups fought over the issue of leading the prayers.

"In two other incidents, funerals of tribal lashkars were attacked by [Taliban] suicide bombers which killed 43 and wounded 52 in Adezai, while 31 were killed and 63 wounded in the Dir incident."

III. Attacks Against Sufi Shrines

"Attacks against Sufi Shrines Constitute a New Category of Violence against the Sufi Version of Islam; In Recent Years Such Attacks have Claimed Hundreds of Lives"

"Attacks against Sufi shrines constitute a new category of violence against the Sufi version of Islam. In recent years such attacks have claimed hundreds of lives.

"Over the monitoring period September 2010 – September 2011, five attacks against Sufi shrines were recorded which killed 65 and wounded over 200 devotees. As mentioned in the methodology, these figures have been collected from news reports carried on the same day or the day after the event, whereas the actual number of casualties increases over subsequent days after the incident. It was attempted in some cases to ascertain the actual number of casualties through hospital registers and police records a few days after the incident. However, these figures proved very difficult to confirm…"

"Attacks against Sufi shrines were recorded as follows:

"7 October 2010: At least nine persons were killed and more than 70 wounded in suicide bombings at the Abdullah Shah Ghazi shrine in Karachi. There were outbreaks of violence and protests following the event as parts of the city came to a standstill…."

"25 October 2010: At least seven persons were killed and 14 injured when a bomb planted in a motorcycle went off outside the gate of Baba Farid Ganj Shakkar’s shrine in Pakpattan. No group claimed responsibility for the attack. The Ganj Shakkar in Pakpattan is one of the most revered Sufi shrines in South Asia.

"14 December 2010: Three persons were killed in an attack by militants on the Ghazi Baba shrine in Budhber near Peshawar.

"3 February 2011: Two people were killed and at least 22 injured when a bomb went off at the Urs celebration at Haider Sain shrine in Lahore…."

"3 April 2011: Two suicide bombers blew themselves at the 13th century shrine of Ahmed Sultan Sakhi Sarwar in Dera Ghazi Khan, killing 44 and injuring more than 100. The shrine had been receiving threats for a long time…."

IV. Attacks Against Schools

"A Total of 62 Attacks against Schools were Recorded over the Monitoring Period September 2010 – September 2011"

"A total of 62 attacks against schools were recorded over the monitoring period September 2010 – September 2011. The majority caused damage to school infrastructure without a loss of life – three persons were killed in these attacks on institutions, with 61 being injured.

"In addition, two school vans were attacked, both in separate incidents in Peshawar, killing five school children, a van driver and wounding 21 individuals including six children and two teachers. In a target killing case in Khar, Zakia Bibi, the headmistress of the Government Girls Primary School Dak Bangla, was killed when masked men fired on her. Two of her female colleagues also sustained injuries.

"A pamphlet was circulated in Peshawar by the relatively unknown Jamatul Tawheed wal Jihad group, threatening teachers and students attending educational institutions. The pamphlet stated that such institutions promote 'infidelity.'

"Information compiled about the 62 incidents is presented in Table 3. Of the schools attacked, at least seven were private institutions while 37 were reported to be Government Primary Schools – 21 were for girls and 16 for boys. Two Government High Schools and a Girls’ Degree College were also attacked.

V. Other Incidents of Extremism

"Twenty CD Shops [Selling Music] were Blown up; [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan] have been Threatening CD Shop Owners; Copies of the Quran were Burnt in Mosques; TTP Asked for Imposition of Sharia Law"

"Other incidents of extremism include a range of news stories that could not be categorized in any of the above.

"Twenty CD shops [selling music and movies] were blown up in six incidents, killing five persons and injuring 30. All of these incidents have taken place in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province over the monitoring period. Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) were used in all the bombings, which occurred in Peshawar, Badaber, Mardan, Kohat, Landi Kotal and Swabi.

"The TTP [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan] have been threatening CD shop owners in many of these areas to discontinue their business and at least two news stories reported how shop owners were compelled to change their line of work.

"In two separate incidents, copies of the Quran were burnt in mosques in Swabi and Akora Khattak. Both incidents sparked furious reactions among the residents of the localities. It could not be determined who carried out the act in Swabi, but in Akora Khattak, the accused was a young man who admitted burning the Quran in protest.

"Separate incidents were recorded about a private radio station being bombed in Charsadda; a statement against classical dance classes by a religious party leader in Karachi; a billboard in Peshawar with the image of a woman being defaced; a protest against cable television led by a local cleric in Jhwarian; and a protest in Lahore against the celebration of Valentine’s Day led by the Tahaffuz-e-Namoose-Risaalat [an organization defending the Prophet's code of life].

"Finally, in two separate incidents the TTP asked for imposition of Sharia law in the newly created district of Torgar in KP [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province] and flogged 65 men in Orakzai for violating the TTP ban on the use and sale of drugs…."

The following are excerpts from the statement:[1]

"On Sunday, April 8, 2012, the top commander of the invading forces, John Allen, and the defense minister of the stooge administration in Afghanistan, Abdu-ur-Rahim Wardag, signed a deal supposedly giving the Afghan puppet-forces authority in the matter of night raids on the homes of Afghan civilians. The head of the puppet administration, [President Hamid] Karzai, regarded this move as a great step towards the national sovereignty."

"Pentagon Spokesman Capt. John Kirby Told Reporters... 'This Is Not About [Granting the Afghans] Power Of Veto At All'

"One day later..., Pentagon spokesman Capt. John Kirby told reporters that, 'in practical terms, not much has changed.' He pointed out that the U.S. forces must obtain an official warrant from an Afghan panel [before carrying out night raids], but that President Karzai will not be able to 'veto' U.S. night raids carried out in Afghanistan. 'This is not about [granting the Afghans] power of veto at all,' he said. He explained that 'Afghan law allows warrants to be issued retroactively. That is, the raids can take place before a warrant is obtained.'

"Lisa Curtis, a South Asia specialist at the Heritage Foundation, believes that the U.S. will retain control over night raids conducted by the CIA or associated paramilitary groups. All the U.S. national security analysts view the agreement as largely symbolic, aimed at ensuring and justifying the U.S. permanent military presence after the withdrawal in 2014."

"The Puppet-Forces Will Purportedly Initiate the Night Raids, But In Practice, They Will Act On the Orders Of the American Invading Commanders"

"The puppet-forces will purportedly initiate the night raids, but in practice, they will act on the orders of the American invading commanders and grant any warrants the American invaders request. Afghan judicial officials will not be authorized to prevent the capture of civilians. [On the other hand,] the permission of the U.S. commanders will be sought before every night raid or the release of a detainee captured in a night raid.

"In cases where 'quick reaction' [is needed], as they put it, the U.S. will hold the veto power. That is, the U.S. forces will have authority to capture or release detainees. Given that this is the case, what is the meaning of the Afghans' [supposed] authority over night raids? Isn't this pact throwing dust in the eyes of the Afghans and the world?

"The [signing of the] 'agreement' was followed by the martyrdom of renowned shari'a scholar Ustad Qayam-ud-Din and the capture of his family members in Faryab district in Afghanistan. This suggests that the 'deal' has not changed the U.S. strategy and attitudes in Afghanistan."

"The Truth Is That 'Night Raids' Are A Form Of State Terrorism"

"The truth is that 'night raids' are a form of state terrorism, and are one of the most malicious [means] used by the invading forces to harass, torture, and massacre the Afghan nation and to disrespect the Afghan national culture. [The raids also] contravene the Geneva and United Nations Conventions and every human right.

"According the Western media accounts and statistics, the invading forces have conducted 2,200 night raids [in Afghanistan], involving the mass murder of thousands of innocent and defenseless civilians, including children, women, and the aged, [who were killed] before very eyes of their family members, not to mention all those who are held captive or have disappeared into the thin air.

"Some Western writers have [blown] the lid off a few of the invading forces' shocking war crimes... In one of the articles, [journalist] Jerome Starkey is quoted as saying that there was a heart-breaking incident on the outskirts of Gardez city in Paktia province... in which U.S. forces, conducting a night raid, brutally murdered two pregnant women and a teenage girl. The U.S. forces later claimed that it was done by [the] Taliban, in attempt to pin the crime on the mujahideen of [the] Islamic Emirate.

"Following an investigation, a British journalist revealed that all victims [in this incident] had been civilians, and that the pregnant women's and the teenage girl's bodies had been manipulated in an attempt to make it seem as though the crime had been committed by the Taliban. It is not clear how many other similar killings of Afghan civilians have been successfully covered up, the article said.

"To put it simply... do the Western invading forces have any evidence proving that the Afghan civilians detained and martyred during the night raids are, or have ever been, involved in any destructive activities in America or Europe? If they have proof, let them produce it, and if not, on what grounds and under which [international] law do the Western invaders break into the homes of Afghan civilians and martyr the Afghans in their own houses and homeland...?

"On the other hand, it is crystal clear that mujahideen always conduct their operations during the day... Why don't [the Western forces do the same, and] advance toward the frontlines of mujahideen during the day [instead of carrying out night raids]? Aren't [these raids] a kind of admission of defeat by the U.S. invaders, despite their technological superiority and the advanced and superior weaponry they use against mujahideen's resistance? A puppet general in Kabul admits it: 'The [mujahideen] have upper hand during the in day, but the nights are ours...'"

"The Current Ruthless War... Is A Campaign Of Organized Butchery"

The statement says that Afghan Villagers often falsely accuse other villagers of having contacts with the mujahideen in order to settle scores in some civilian or tribal feud, causing the Western forces to arrest innocent people. "Hundreds of such causes have taken place again and again," it says. Therefore, "The current ruthless war in the guise of a war on terror is not only an illegitimate and colonial war, but is a campaign of organized butchery. Those murdered in this war are either the oppressed civilians or [Taliban] freedom fighters who have not done any harm, injustice and cruelty, nor do they intend to do so. They are just people with a clear political stance conforming to their religion and culture, who want to lead a free life in their homeland in the light of an Islamic system [of government] that guarantees the rights of all Afghans, [including] religious minorities, and makes [Afghanistan] a place of peace, justice and progress."

Clip from Waqt TV – The news ticker in Urdu reads: "Lord Nazir sets price for the heads of Bush and Tony Blair"

Below are excerpts of reports from the Pakistani and Urdu media on Lord Nazir Ahmed's controversial statements, in which he reportedly announced a bounty for the heads of Barack Obama, George W. Bush and Tony Blair, that led to his temporary suspension from the UK's Labour Party. The controversy involves two speeches and a press statement that he delivered in the town of Haripur on April 13, 2012 and a few days earlier in Lahore on April 10, 2012.

While international media organizations based their reports on a single source, The Express Tribune daily of Pakistan, which carried a report on Ahmed's announcement of £10 million (about $16 million) rewards for U.S. President Barack Obama and his predecessor George W. Bush in Haripur, the Western media has not reported that Ahmed allegedly made a similar statement while addressing students at Punjab University in Lahore on April 10, 2012. This incident was widely reported next day, April 11, in the Pakistani media and by at least one London-based Urdu daily. In fact, two days after Lord Nazir Ahmed first announced a bounty for Bush in Lahore, his announcement became a topic for the political comedy show Hasb-e-Haal, broadcast by the Pakistani television channel Dunya TV.

Ahmed's statement followed the U.S.'s announcement of a $10 million reward for Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the founder of the Pakistani jihadist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba and Emir of its charity arm Jamaatud Dawa. Both organizations are banned by the UN Security Council for their role in the November 26, 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

Following the controversy, Ahmed denied that he offered any bounty for Obama, Bush and Blair, telling CNN: "I am appalled that The Tribune Express [sic; The Express Tribune] has told such a big lie. I did not mention President Obama and I did not mention any bounty."[1] He told GEO TV: "I didn't mention bounty at all. It's a fabrication by the BBC and other sections of the media. My positing on the shedding of blood, whether of Muslims or non-Muslims, is well known and I have always maintained it."[2] About his suspension, he said: "The Labour Party, with the false news stories from BBC and Sky [TV] as a basis, has suspended me temporarily... I neither uttered the name of Barack Obama in any of my speeches nor set money for anyone's head…. "[3]

Reports on the Lahore Speech

London-Based Urdu Daily Roznama Ausaf, April 11: "America Set Price for the Head of Hafiz Saeed to Keep Him On the Defensive – Lord Nazir" – "I set $10 Million for the Head of Bush; [I] Will Arrange the Money"

A copy of the report in Roznama Ausaf

Following are excerpts from a report on Lord Nazir Ahmed's statement published in the London-based Urdu daily Roznama Ausaf, which is also published from Pakistan:[4]

Headline: "America Set Price for the Head of Hafiz Saeed to Keep Him on the Defensive – Lord Nazir"; Sub-Headline: "I Set $10 Million for the Head of Bush; [I] Will Arrange the Money"

Text of the report: "British MP Lord Nazir Ahmed said that America has deliberately set a price for the head of Hafiz Saeed so that he can be kept in a defensive position. Contrary to this, I set the price of George Bush's head at $10 million. And I will collect this money by begging in the streets…."

Headline in Pakistani Urdu Daily Roznama Express: "Lord Nazir Offers $10 Million as Price of George Bush"

A copy of the report in Roznama Express

Following are excerpts from a report in Roznama Express, a mass-circulation Urdu daily published from several Pakistani cities:[5]

First headline: "Lord Nazir offers $10 million as price of George Bush"

Second headline: "Bush, Blair should be charged with war crimes; Iran can be attacked for votes"

Third headline: "Pakistan needs evolution: Speech; Lord Nazir is defender of justice: Dr. Mujahid"

The text of report: "[Punjab University] Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Mujahid Kamran, Director of Students' Affairs Chaudhry Iftikhar Ahmad, faculty members and male and female students took part in the seminar in large numbers. Lord Nazir Ahmed said that true leadership is needed in order to solve the challenges faced by Pakistan. This is a year of challenges, he said. Elections are taking place in America and in France. It is possible that to seek votes, Iran can be attacked, or Israel be made to do it. I am in favor of denuclearization, but this task should begin with Israel.

"America has deliberately put a price on the head of Hafiz Saeed [founder of terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba and Emir of its charity arm Jamaatud Dawa] so that he can be kept on the defensive. To counter this, I set 10 million as the price [for the head] of George W. Bush.  I will collect [the money] by begging in the streets, but Bush and Tony Blair should be tried for war crimes. If Obama can talk to the Taliban, then our President [Asif Zardari of Pakistan] too should talk to the Taliban and Baluchi brothers [i.e. Baluchi rebels fighting for independence of Baluchistan from Pakistan…."

Pakistan's Waqt TV Reports: "Lord Nazir Sets Price for the Heads of Bush and Tony Blair"

On April 10, 2012, Lord Nazir Ahmed addressed students at Punjab University in Lahore. The event was reported by the Pakistani TV channel Waqt on the same day, and a video clip of the report was posted by Hafiz Saeed's Jamaatud Dawa on its YouTube channel the same day. Following is the transcript of the Waqt TV report:[6]

"In response to the U.S. setting the price of the head of Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, British MP Lord Nazir Ahmed has announced that he will reward anyone who assassinates George W. Bush with $100,000.

"Addressing the students of Punjab University [in Lahore], Lord Nazir Ahmed said that if America can set a price for the head of the innocent Hafiz Saeed, then he announces a reward of $100,000 to anyone who assassinates George W. Bush, the killer of thousands of Muslims in Iraq and Afghanistan…."

As the television presenters read the news, the channel flashed the following headline (see Urdu text in top image): "Lord Nazir sets price for the heads of Bush and Tony Blair."

Headline in Pakistani Daily The News: "Nazir Puts $10m Bounty on Bush"

Following are excerpts from a report titled "Nazir Puts $10m Bounty on Bush," from the leading Pakistani daily The News:[7]

"Speaking at a seminar on 'International Scenario, Pakistan and Our Responsibilities,' [Ahmed] said that the U.S. had fixed a bounty on Hafiz Saeed to put Pakistan on defensive. He said, 'I announce a $10 million reward on George W. Bush....'

"The event was held by Directorate of Student Affairs, PU [Punjab University].

"Lord Nazir said he would collect the money whether he had to beg in streets, but that Bush and Tony Blair should be charged with war crimes.

"He said that Western economies were touching their lowest and that the U.S. had gone under the debt of trillions of dollars. He said Iran was likely to be attacked by the U.S. or Israel, which would be dangerous for the Western countries...."

Punjab University Website, Other Pakistani Website Report Quote Ahmed as Saying: "I Announce $10 Million Reward Against Mr. George W. Bush"

The following are excerpts from a report on the speech of Lord Nazir Ahmed, as published on the official website of Punjab University:[8]

"[Lord Nazir Ahmed] said that the U.S. had set the head money of Hafiz Saeed purposely, to keep Pakistan in defensive position. To counter that, he said, I announce a $10-million-dollar reward against Mr. George W. Bush.

"He said that he would collect the money if he had to beg in the streets, but that Bush and Tony Blair should be charged with war crimes. He said that 43 armies of powerful countries with all their might could not defeat the shoeless Afghans.

"If U.S. President Obama is negotiating with them, then our president [Asif Zardari of Pakistan] should also follow suit, he added. He said that the president should invite the Taliban, the aggrieved Baloch [i.e. Baluchi rebels] in the mountains, and us to [the] Presidential House for parleys…."

This report was republished verbatim two days later, on April 12, 2012, by on another Pakistani website, pakmed.net.[9]

Ahmed's Bounty Becomes Topic on Political Comedy Show on Pakistan's Dunya TV

Lord Nazir Ahmed's bounty reportedly announced at the Lahore seminar quickly became a topic on a political comedy show, Hasb-e-Haal, broadcast April 12, 2012 by Pakistan's Dunya TV. Following are excerpts from the transcript of the episode on Ahmed's bounty:[10]

TV Anchor: "What happened [that you're laughing so hard]?"

Comedian Azizi: Yaar [buddy], Lord Nazir of Britain, who is of Pakistani origin, has said a very remarkable thing. I am just tickled [to hear it]. He is currently visiting here in Pakistan and has addressed a function at the Punjab University. He said that America keeps putting bounties on the heads of our people, he says about the Prime Minister of Britain [Tony Blair] and the Prime Minister [President George W. Bush] of the U.S., who have massacred so many Muslims in the name of the war on terror: 'I offer a bounty of one million dollars on the heads of both of them. Both of them be presented to me and I'll give one million dollars.' Buddy, but where will he give one million dollars from?"

Anchor: "He said 'I will collect [the money] myself.'"

Azizi: "He might collect one million dollars, as he looks like a wrestler, with his visage and body build. And he is a wrestler, because he is saying such things; isn't he a wrestler? He might hold a wrestling match with some Englishman with a one-million-dollar bet. He will tell him first, Heads I win, tails you lose; give me the one million.

Anchor: "He won't lose. He is a very intelligent person. Just look at this statement, which is apparently very emotional and inflammatory, and [it is clear that] it is not made by some semi-literate maulvi [Islamic cleric] but by the permanent member of Britain's House of Lords, Lord Nazir. So shouldn't it be significant?"

Azizi: "There is no small significance in it! He has exposed all the shrewdness of the U.S. and England in just one sentence, like a skilled mechanic who has the whole engine opened up within moments. What a point he has made! He has said that this Obama could attack Iran to gain a victory in Intehabad [pun on Abbottabad, where Osama bin Laden was killed – that is, to win votes in the election] but this war cannot be won. Buddy, he also said that if the U.S. is against Iran's nuclear technology, then it should also talk to Israel and ask it to suspend it; is Israel the eldest son of his paternal aunt?"

Anchor: "A member of the House of Lords, sitting in Europe, is saying these things. It is really a very commendable thing. Only someone with substance and argument can say such things while sitting in Europe!"

Azizi: "Absolutely, absolutely! Arguments are essential to humiliate the U.S. and Britain!"

Anchor: "Buddy, they don't get humiliated even if you put forth your arguments."

Azizi: "You mean shameless?"

Anchor: "You see, whenever we criticize any policy [or] the policy of a country, forget about the people from outside, people from amongst us, our friends start saying you are getting emotional. I don't understand where this emotionalism comes from if one talks on American atrocities and talks in favor of an oppressed nation?"

Report on Haripur Speech and Press Comments

Express Tribune Daily Quotes Ahmed: "If the U.S. Can Announce a Reward of $10 Million for the Captor of Hafiz Saeed, I Can Announce a Bounty of £10 Million on President Obama and His Predecessor George Bush"

The controversy and suspension of Lord Nazir Ahmed from the Labour Party erupted much later, after the Lahore speech, following the publication by The Express Tribune daily of a report on his speech and press comments in the town of Haripur in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Following are excerpts from The Express Tribune's report, which was filed from Haripur:[11]

"In an expression of solidarity with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, British parliamentarian of Kashmiri origin Lord Nazir Ahmed has announced a reward for the captor of U.S. President Barack Obama and his predecessor George W. Bush.

"He made the announcement at a reception arranged in his honor by the business community of Haripur on Friday [April 13, 2012]. Former [Pakistani] Foreign Minister Goher Ayub Khan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl's (JUI-F) central leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed and [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa] provincial Minister for Education Qazi Muhammad Asad were also present on the occasion.

"Lord Nazir said that the bounty placed on Saeed was an insult to all Muslims and [that] by doing so President Obama has challenged the dignity of the Muslim Ummah. 'If the U.S. can announce a reward of $10 million for the captor of Hafiz Saeed, I can announce a bounty of £10 million on President Obama and his predecessor George Bush,' Lord Nazir said, adding that he would arrange the bounty at any cost even if he was left with the option of selling all his personal assets, including his house…."

Map courtesy: thechinabeat.blogpost.com  

Introduction

In an April 5, 2012 statement, the Chinese Ministry of Public Security published details of six terror suspects who had spent time in a "neighboring country" – a reference to close ally Pakistan – and describing them as "core members" of the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM).[1] It also urged foreign governments to arrest and hand over the six ETIM members to Chinese authorities.

East Turkistan, also known as Xinjiang, was relatively autonomous until the early 1950s when Mao's victorious rebel armies captured it and other Chinese border regions.[2] Resistance by the Turkic-speaking Muslim Uyghurs to gain independence from China has lacked political support from neighboring nations due to their own "fractured tribal nature."[3]

Founded in 1997, the East Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) is an Islamic militant group seeking East Turkistan's independence from China. In recent decades, its members have operated out of their bases in the Pakistan-Afghanistan region, often arriving there via Southeast Asian countries. In April 2012, a ministry spokesman called the group "the most direct and real safety threat that China faces."[4]

In recent years, Pakistani and Chinese officials have worked in close cooperation to capture ETIM militants from Pakistani tribal areas. In June 2009, Pakistan extradited 10 militants of ETIM to China, with a Pakistani official confirming that they were captured after they attacked Pakistani security forces.[5] In 2010, Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik said: "We treat ETIM not only as an enemy of China but also as an enemy of Pakistan…"[6]

However, Chinese concern about the ETIM militants based in Pakistan has persisted. In March 2012, Xinjiang governor Nur Bekri warned that China is facing a network of militants entrenched in neighboring countries. Asked about the ETIM's Pakistan connection, Bekri said: "We have certainly discovered that East Turkistan [Islamic Movement] activists and terrorists in our neighboring states have a thousand and one links… But officials, especially in Pakistan, have said over and over again that they oppose any violent activities directed against China."[7]

The Problem in Xinjiang

The province of Xinjiang borders Afghanistan and Pakistan and is roughly the size of Iran. Comprising a sixth of China's land mass, Xinjiang is also rich in natural resources, including oil, coal and gas.[8] In addition to China, Russia too claims historical rights over Xinjiang.

Traditionally, the Turkic-speaking Muslim Uyghur natives were a majority in Xinjiang. However, this population has shifted over the years in favor of the ethnic Han Chinese. As a 2009 BBC report stated: "Tensions between the [Muslim] Uighurs and Hans have been growing in recent years. Millions of Hans have moved to the region in recent decades, and while the majority of residents used to be Muslim Uighurs, Hans now outnumber them in some areas, including Urumqi."[9] Of the 22 million people of Xinxiang, nine million are estimated to be Turkic-speaking Muslim Uyghurs.[10]

This population trend has led to ethnic conflicts, with the Uyghurs demanding independence from communist China in order to safeguard their cultural and Islamic identity. The Uyghur interests are defended by a number of secular and democratic groups, including the World Uyghur Congress and the East Turkestan Liberation Movement, in addition to the ETIM. Like other groups, the ETIM seeks East Turkistan's independence from China, but it is an Islamic militant organization, and its ideological objective is to enforce Islamic Sharia in the region. The ETIM has also distanced itself from the secular democratic groups representing the Uyghurs.

Throughout the 1990s, ethnic clashes erupted between the Uyghurs and the Hans, with the Chinese authorities launching massive police crackdowns and arresting activists and sentencing them to death. The problem in Xinjiang attracted international attention through the summer of 2009, when a series of ethnic riots between the Uyghurs and Hans erupted, the worst being the July 5 violent clashes during Uyghur protests in the province capital of Urumqi, in which nearly 200 Hans died. China sentenced to death at least 25 people, mostly Uyghurs, for their role in the 2009 riots.[11]

The East Turkistan Islamic Movement – ETIM/ETIP or TIP/IPT

Abdul Al-Aziz, the TIP's Uyghur representative

ETIM militants have been operating out of their hideouts in the Pakistani tribal region. Also known as the East Turkistan Islamic Party (ETIP), the ETIM has been known to be connected to Al-Qaeda and the Taliban over the years. The group's leadership was taken over by Abdul Haq aka Maimaitiming Maimaiti after ETIM Chief Hasan Mahsum aka Abu Muhammad was killed by the Pakistani army in 2003 in the Federally Administered Tribal Areas of Pakistan.[12]

On April 20, 2009, the U.S. Department of Treasury declared ETIM chief Abdul Haq a global terrorist supporting Al-Qaeda.[13] The U.S., which also identified Abdul Haq as member of the Al-Qaeda Shura (executive leadership council), said that its action followed "a decision by the United Nations Security Council's 1267 Committee to place Haq on its list of persons associated with" Osama bin Laden, Al-Qaeda or the Taliban.[14] Abdul Haq was killed in a U.S. drone strike in February 2010.[15]

Around the time of Abdul Haq's death, the group's leaders reorganized and began operating under the banner of the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), which remains active on the propaganda front and trains hundreds of Uyghur children based in the Pakistani tribal region, as seen in the videos released by the TIP.[16] The TIP's media production house is known "Islam Awazi" and produces messages both in Chinese and Turkic languages. It also produces messages dubbed into Russian for jihadist organizations in the Caucasus. The Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) is the same as Islamic Party of Turkistan (TIP), with Turkistan also spelled Turkestan.

China has always expressed concern that ETIM members are operating from their bases in the Pakistani tribal region. However, China and Pakistan are close allies, a factor that has prevented the Chinese leadership from speaking openly against Pakistan. On their part, the Pakistani leaders have repeatedly expressed resolve to capture and hand over the ETIM members to China.

In a January 16, 2012 video released from its base in the Pakistani tribal region, the TIP identified its spokesman as Yahya, who speaks in Russian and addresses the jihadist groups in the Caucasus.[17] In the video statement, Yahya noted that TIP mujahideen are fighting in China and Khorasan (Afghanistan and Waziristan region), and also introduced Abdul Al-Aziz as a Uyghur representative (see the above image).[18]

ETIM Core Leadership – Wanted by China

ETIM members wanted by China (Image courtesy: xinhuanet.com)

According to the April 5, 2012 statement issued by the Chinese Ministry of Public Security, the six ETIM members – identified as Nurmemet Memetmin, Abdulkyum Kurban, Paruh Tursun, Tursunjan Ebibla, Nurmemet Raxit and Mamat Imin Nurmamat – organized, planned and executed terror attacks against Chinese targets within and outside China.[19] While the ETIM's top leadership remains based in the Pakistani tribal region, it is possible that the six individuals identified by the Chinese officials comprise the ETIM's core leadership in Xinjiang.

Of the six militants, Nurmemet Memetmin, 47, is one of the founding leaders of ETIM. According to the statement, Nurmemet Memetmin "set up a terrorist training camp in a South Asian country [Pakistan] in 1997 and acted as a military instructor there… [and] trained dozens of terrorists, some of whom later became ringleaders, military instructors and core members."[20]

Nurmemet Memetmin is also accused by Chinese officials of sending, in 2007, ETIM member Memtieli Tiliwaldi to China, who along with others was involved in various acts of murder, bombing, and arson in Kashgar, Xinjiang, in July 2011. Abdulkyum Kurban, 30, is a leading member of the group and head of the ETIM's propaganda unit. In August and October 2011, Kurban was accused of releasing video statements, calling upon ETIM members to carry out suicide attacks in China.

The other four ETIM members wanted by China are Paruh Tursun, 40; Tursunjan Ebibla, 30; Nurmemet Raxit, 42; and Mamat Imin Nurmamat, 29.[21] All are accused by officials in China's Xinjiang province of recruiting terrorists and planning and carrying out terror attacks.

ETIM's Relationship with the Pakistani Taliban and Al-Qaeda – Videos Show Uyghur Children Training in Pakistan

ETIM videos show children training in Waziristan

In a communiqué dated March 28, 2010, the TIP clarified that it follows an Islamic ideology and does not associate with secular and democratic Uyghur groups opposed to Chinese rule in Xinjiang. The communiqué stated: "East Turkestan [i.e. Xinjiang] was for centuries an indivisible part of the Islamic world… All this time faith had been deeply implanted in the hearts of the Muslims in this land, and they lived happy lives in the shade of Koranic rule, through which they were masters of this world."[22]

It further noted: "The Turkistan Islamic Party was a product of the events occurring in East Turkistan, and it is this land's hope for a return of Islamic life and the implementation of Allah's shari'a in it, under the shade of a rightly-guided Islamic Caliphate. Allah said [Koran 8:39]: 'Fight them until there is no more unbelief, and religion is entirely Allah's.' The Turkistan Islamic Party considers any retreat from these principles to be apostasy, error, and treason to Allah, His Prophet, and the mujahideen."[23]

In August 2009, the TIP released a 39-minute video, via jihadist websites, calling on the Uyghurs in Xinjiang province to wage jihad against the Chinese rule.[24] The video showed Abdul Haq aka Maimaitiming Maimaiti stating: "What is the path to escape the oppression of Chinese Communism? Islam calls on us to free ourselves from every taghut [lit: idol; here, a non-Muslim ruler] and infidel and guides us to the path of salvation. Jihad… in the shari'a is for the Muslims to dedicate their efforts to fighting infidels, rebels, apostates, and others like them…. If the enemy occupies [even] an inch of the Muslims' lands, jihad becomes an individual obligation on the people of that town, and if they are not able to repel the invading enemy, the circle of individual obligation extends to those [Muslims] neighboring them…"[25]

In August 2010, the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) released a video showing Uyghur children based in the Pakistani tribal region of Waziristan undergoing martial arts and military training (see above image).[26] The video also showed young girls studying at a madrassa, boys being taught by a cleric, and children targeting a picture of Chinese President Hu Jintao.[27]

Amid the growing Chinese crackdown on ETIM members in Xinjiang, the militants are "fleeing to Pakistan and settling down there for future plots."[28] In 2010, an Indian newspaper, citing unidentified sources, reported that the ETIM has set up a "Chinese battalion" of about 320 members as part of the Taliban.[29] The report also noted: "The ETIM has been in close collaboration with the Taliban and Osama bin Laden... It is not hard for them [ETIM members] to hide in Pakistan. They have similar religious beliefs, appearance and languages as the locals."[30]

In October 2011, the Al-Qaeda media company Al-Fajr released a 43-minute video produced by the Turkistan Islamic Party, titled "The Believers on the Road."[31] The video showed Uyghur fighters training somewhere in the Pakistani tribal region and visiting a market in an unidentified Pakistani town to shop for weapons and necessities of everyday life such as livestock and vegetables.[32]

* Tufail Ahmad is Director of MEMRI's South Asia Studies Project (www.memri.org/sasp)

Stressing the seriousness of his offer, Lord Ahmed said he would back the bounty at any cost, even if it meant selling his house. Qazi Muhammad Asad, minister for education in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial government, was among those present at the conference at which the announcement was made.

Following are excerpts from a report on the announcement that appeared in the Pakistani daily The Express Tribune:^[2]

 "In an expression of solidarity with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) Chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, British parliamentarian of Kashmiri origin Lord Nazir Ahmed has announced a reward for the [capture] of U.S. President Barack Obama and his predecessor, George W. Bush.

"He made the announcement at a reception arranged in his honor by the business community of Haripur on Friday [April 13, 2012]. Former [Pakistani] foreign minister Goher Ayub Khan, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl's (JUI-F) central leader Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, and [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa] Provincial Minister for Education Qazi Muhammad Asad were also present [at] the occasion.

"Lord Nazir said that the bounty placed on Saeed was an insult to all Muslims, and [that] by [offering it], President Obama has challenged the dignity of the Muslim ummah.

"'If the U.S. can announce a reward of $10 million for the [capture] of Hafiz Saeed, I can announce a bounty of £10 million [for the capture of] President Obama and his predecessor, George Bush,' Lord Nazir said, adding that he would arrange the bounty at any cost, even if he was left with the option of selling all his personal assets, including his house..."

Lashkar-e-Taiba founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed (in the middle) addresses an emergency conference of Difa-e-Pakistan Council after the U.S. announced a bounty of $10 million for information leading to his arrest

Below are excerpts from an interview with Professor Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the founder of Pakistani jihadist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), who is the Emir of its charity arm Jamaatud Dawa (JuD). Both the LeT and JuD also work as Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF). The interview was given after the U.S. announced a bounty of $10 million for information leading to his arrest or capture. Saeed currently leads the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC, or Defense of Pakistan Council), a coalition of 40 banned religious militant groups.

In the interview, Hafiz Saeed, who is accused by India of masterminding the November 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, reiterated that the DPC workers will work peacefully to stop the passage of NATO supplies through Pakistani territory.[1]

Below are also excerpts from a speech delivered by renowned Pakistani cleric Maulana Ibtisam Zaheer at the December 18, 2011 DPC rally in Lahore. Vowing to work for the establishment of an Islamic caliphate in Pakistan, Zaheer declared: "Are you ready for a fight with America? Are you ready for a collision with America? And are you ready to see eye-to-eye [i.e. confront] with America? And I will tell you one thing… that the defense of Pakistan's geographical boundaries is vital, but Pakistan's ideological boundaries will also be defended. And this will be done through [the implementation] of Khilafat-e-Rashida [the rule of the Righteous Caliphs of Islam]…"

Following are excerpts from the interviews:[2]        

Muhammad Hafiz Saeed: "No Court in America has Delivered a Verdict Against Me;… I am not a Fugitive; I am Myself Providing the Information that Today I am in Rawalpindi; Tomorrow, [I] will Be in Lahore; Place a Bounty on Those Who are Hiding"

Syed Salahuddin, the Pakistan-based Chairman of Muttahida Jihad Council (MJC), recently called for incorporating Pakistani-controlled regions to be part of a unified Jammu & Kashmir state on the pre-1947 borders. Before independence in 1947, Salahuddin notes, Gilgit Baltistan and Balakot district, both in Pakistani control now, were parts of Jammu & Kashmir. The Muttahida Jihad Council is a network of jihadist groups in Pakistan headed by Syed Salahuddin who has fought a long battle against India in Kashmir valley.

The Jammu & Kashmir state has been divided between Pakistan and India by a Line of Control (LoC) over the past six decades. Salahuddin's demand may be arising from media reports that the Pakistani government is planning to hand over Gilgit Baltistan, which was part of Jammu & Kashmir before 1947, to China on a long-term lease. Asked if Pakistan will leave Gilgit Baltistan and Balakot, Salahuddin said: "It will have to honor the decision of Kashmiris [presumably in a plebiscite]."

His interview comes amid profound changes taking place in the Kashmir region. The militancy against India in Jammu & Kashmir has declined significantly. However, Indian intelligence agencies warn that the failure of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizbul Mujahideen, which is headed by Syed Salahuddin, to mount major attacks in the summer of 2011 in Kashmir valley, has led them to join hands this year. Indian intelligence recently warned: "Thus, the militant outfits have already started preparing a blueprint to hit back with a vengeance this time around [in the summer of 2012]…"

Below are translations of two articles on the Baluchistan issue, published in Urdu-language publications in Pakistan, both alleging a global conspiracy by the Zionists, Israel, the U.S., and India to divide Pakistan. The articles were published in the wake of the recent U.S. Congressional hearing on the Baluchistan problem and the November 26, 2011 NATO raid on the Salala border checkpost which killed two dozen Pakistani soldiers.

The first article, from the Urdu-language weekly magazine Haftroza Al-Qalam – which is published by the Pakistani terror group Jaish-e-Muhammad, alleges what it calls a "Global Zionist Agenda" to divide Pakistan. Jaish-e-Muhammad is led by Maulana Masood Azhar, the militant commander released by India in 1999 in exchange for the freedom of hijacked Indian plane from Kathmandu to Kandahar. The article, titled "Burning Baluchistan… What is the Solution?" is by one Dr. Ahmad Umar, who in it cites Western sources to claim that the West is presenting the Pakistani provinces of Baluchistan and Pakhtunkhwa as independent countries such as Greater Baluchistan and Greater Pakhtunkhwa. Dr. Ahmad Umar, who is associated with the jihadi movement, says that the issue of Baluchistan is not new and that it can only be resolved through preaching Islam.

The second article, from the weekly magazine of the pro-Taliban Urdu-language daily Roznama Islam and titled "Conspiracies Against Pakistan," is by one Abdul Jabbar Nasir. It alleges that the U.S., India and Israel are acting at the international level to dismantle Pakistan.

Following are the excerpts from Dr. Ahmad Umar's article:[1] and from Abdul Jabbar Nasir's article:[2]

The website for the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban's shadow government in the country) has published a report assessing the war-related developments in Afghanistan during February 2012.

The report notes deaths of NATO/U.S. troops, the desecration of the Koran by U.S. troops and protests by Afghans as well as the killing of top U.S. officials inside the Ministry of Interior in Kabul, forcing the U.S. to withdraw officials from government offices.

Following are excerpts from the report, in the original English:[1]

"NATO Confirmed the Death of Its 24 Soldiers, Including 16 American and 8 Allied Crusading Troops Over the Month of February"

"The first two months of 2012 … have brought a series of good news contrary to the expectations of the occupation forces and their minions. Mujahideen, yet again, emerged as victors with [a] strong stance and achievements of the jihad on both the military and political fronts, unprecedented over the past couple of years.

"We are, hereby, following the enemy's fatalities from last month, going to come up with February's statistics and figures.

"What may come as a surprise, well worthy of mention, is the fact that the statistical figures being released here are the ones published in the mainstream media and confirmed by the enemy itself. However, precisely the accurate statistics and actual losses (not detailed yet) in the terms of human and material inflicted on the enemy are far too high.

"Invaders death toll:

"NATO confirmed the death of its 24 soldiers, including 16 American and 8 allied Crusading troops over the month of February in comparison with 38 invaders killed last year in the same month, taking the invaders' total death toll up to 2,905 – 1,808 of whom were Americans.

"Viewing the invaders' causalities from 2009 to 2011, the February death tolls alone hit record high, comparing it with the entire period of the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan. The causes of apparent fall in February's fatalities may be somewhat described in two points given below:

"1. The Crusading forces' factual statistical figures over the entire period of invasion, depending on the invaders' combative strategies and policies, have been kept secret so far – in particular, the 2011 and 2012 fatalities statistics – so as to keep a lid on their ignominious historic defeat in the first place. Even though their confirmation of the newly-released figures is against their false policy, the enemy confirms it due to the fact that they have occurred in the strategic points and well-known cities which are impossible to cover [up]…   

"2. The extreme winter cold and severe diaper scarcity may account for the decrease in the enemy's fatalities. According to sources, the Crusading enemy cannot venture out, fight or face mujahideen attacks without using diapers, for U.S.-NATO and their allies are living their harshest days in Afghanistan and are in fear, shock and awe of [the] mujahideen's power which has made their life miserable. 

"It is worth mentioning that February, too, witnessed the death of Brig. Gen. Terence J. Hildner who had just spent three months of his service, heinous in nature, in Afghanistan and his guilty and impure soul, unable to stand the harsh conditions and the inhuman atrocities by the Crusading enemy, departed his filthy body and the general, all of a sudden, kicked the bucket on Feb. 5th, 2012."

"7 Fighter Aircraft were Brought Down During February, Not to Mention, the First Shoot-Down of [An] Enemy Helicopter That Occurred on Feb. 5, 2012 in Eastern Afghanistan"

"Material losses:

"Aside from the annihilation of several dozens of armored personnel carriers and other army vehicles of the occupation forces, 7 fighter aircraft were brought down during February, not to mention, the first shoot-down of [an] enemy helicopter that occurred on Feb. 5, 2012 in eastern Afghanistan and went unreported. There was no official release of the death [toll] by the enemy from the shoot-down.

"On 11th February 2012, mujahideen downed another NATO helicopter in Zabul province, which the NATO confirmed, saying four Tajik nationals were killed, whereas it denied … [the] death of any of the NATO soldiers.

"Similarly, one of [the] invaders' pilotless spy planes was brought down on Feb. 15 in Nangarhar province followed by another U.S.-NATO helicopter on 18 February in Sarubi district of Kabul province which, too, went unreported except for the confirmation of the district governor of the puppets. There have not been any reports of the shoot-down of the helicopter in any of the press release[s] of the mainstream media for this day.

"On 20 February, 2012, [a] U.S. military plane crashed in Djibouti, Africa, killing four American soldiers returning home after what was apparently their mission in Afghanistan.

"Yet another enemy helicopter was downed near northern Waziristan on Feb. 26th with the very last one being downed in Nuristan province, Afghanistan, in a series of shoot-downs amid [the] Afghan war during the month of February."

"February Witnessed the Worst Blasphemy, the Most Shocking of Its Kind: the Burning of Hundreds of the Copies of the… Holy Quran"

"Civilian casualties:

"Civilian casualties during the month of February were the highest at the hands of U.S.-NATO occupations [in] the last couple of years. On Feb. 9, 2012, eight children were brutally martyred by U.S.-NATO forces as part of their war crimes in Nirab district of Kapisa province. [Furthermore,] their stooges confirmed it, taking no action in this respect, letting this most heart-breaking incident be drowned in the sea of forgetfulness.

"The funny thing is that the [casualty] reports released by [the] U.S.-influenced UN brazenly pinned the current civilian casualties on [the] mujahideen.

"No wonder [that] the U.S. invaders continue to resort to such terrible war crimes [and] atrocities as it is part of their strategy and policy to do so, but mind you, such savage and demeaning behavior is typical of [the] U.S. and its allies. One of the worst occurred in February when the American invaders bombed a school in Nangarhar's Shiwa district, leaving 8 under-age students including their teacher fatally wounded.

"Intellectual War and Desecration of Islamic Sanctities:

"The invaders, together with their war front against Afghan Muslims, have a deep contempt and disrespect to our sanctities [holy places], Islamic values and Afghan cultures. Besides, they have made every effort to continue to retain such inhuman behaviors with extreme intensity since their occupation of our country.

"January saw the gruesome desecration of the dead bodies of our Muslim martyrs, but the worst had yet to come. February witnessed the worst blasphemy, the most shocking of its kind: the burning of hundreds of the copies of the Muslims' most sacred book, the Holy Quran.

"This was met with a slight disapproval, if any, from the slave regime; on the other extreme, it startlingly resulted in a large-scale reawakening and ultra-wide revolution among the Angry Afghan masses countrywide.

"12 U.S.-NATO invaders were dispatched to Hellfire by Angry Afghan masses amid countrywide protest against the blasphemous act of burning the copies of [the] Holy Quran. Regrettably, some 30 Afghan protesters were martyred chiefly by the slave puppets and partly [by] their masters."

"On Feb. 25 Another Afghan Muslim, Haunted by His Guilty Conscience, Shot and Killed Two Top-Level U.S. Advisers within the Ministry of the Interior in Kabul"

"Escalating hatred towards occupation forces:

"The eleventh unwelcome military presence of the occupation forces and their abhorrence and contempt for our Islamic and historical values are viewed with extreme detestation and call for the Afghan nation's intense provocation, which is intensifying day by day.

"The following is an overview of a series of incidents that our country saw throughout the month of February, 2012.

"On Feb. 20, Afghan policeman opened fire on Albanian invaders, killing three of them and fatally wounding a further two in Spin Boldak district of Afghanistan's Kandahar province. Among those killed one was an officer working for an American NGO in connection with international assistances for CIA.

"It was the first time any of Albania's invaders have been killed in Afghanistan.

"February, too, was witness to a series of continued countrywide protests against [the] burning of the copies of [the] Holy Quran by U.S. invaders. On Feb. 23, amid such angry protests a brave Afghan working for stooge regime's supposed national army, out of true conscience and spirit of faith, gunned down 10 American invaders in Khogyani district, Nangarhar province, making them face the music for what they had done. With this, the soldier left the area safe and sound.

"However, NATO, understating their fatalities and casualties as always, said in a press release that only two U.S. troops were killed.

"Similarly, on Feb. 25 another Afghan Muslim, haunted by his guilty conscience, shot and killed two top-level U.S. advisers within the ministry of the interior in Kabul city, the capital of the country, that created a state [of] uncertainty and tension between the invaders and their slave puppets. Consequently, the occupation forces pulled all their staff out of the ministries of [the] stooge regime [and] suspended their meetings, halting [all] work in the ministries.

"History-making hero's martyrdom:

"[The] martyrdom of [former Taliban Defense Minister] Al-Haj Mulla Obaidullah in one of the notorious hell-like Pakistani jails in February is viewed as a great and irreparable loss to Muslims besides the gains achieved through this month. His martyrdom, if seen as a great loss, is yet another testimony to a justifiable and rightful decade-long national Islamic struggle in the same way as other revolutions and movements, involving several different difficulties and hardship such as imprisonment, injury, martyrdom and so forth faced in the path of jihad."

At a recent conference in Pakistan's Sindh province, militant Islamic cleric Maulana Muhammad Muavia Azam called upon his followers to be ready to stop the likely resumption of the delivery of NATO supplies through Pakistani territory, and urged them to await orders. His call comes at a time when the U.S. and Pakistan are engaged in talks to negotiate the terms of the resumption of delivery of supplies to U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan.

Maulana Muhammad Muavia Azam is president of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) for Punjab province. The ASWJ is the new name of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), a former religious-political party that has been banned. The SSP and its military arm Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) continue to be active across Pakistan despite the government ban. The SSP/LeJ duo, which works alongside Al-Qaeda and Taliban, is also known for its long-standing campaign of violence against Shi'ite Muslims.

Maulana Muhammad Muavia Azam was speaking at the Annual Imam Ahle Sunnat Conference, at the Jamia Haidria seminary in the town of Khairpur Mirs in Sindh on February 24, 2012, in homage to powerful cleric and SSP leader Allama Sher Haidri who was killed by rival militants in 2009.

Following are excerpts from his address:[1]

Tributes to Allama Sher Ali Haidri: "While Coming Out of Prison With a Smiling Face… [Allama Sher Ali Haidri] Would Raise the Slogan of Sahaba Ka Jo Ghulam Hai, Hamara Wo Imam Hai ['The Slave of the Prophet's Companions Is Our Imam/Leader']"

The Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC), a coalition of Sunni Barelvi groups in Pakistan, has issued a fatwa (Islamic decree) stating that resumption of the passage of NATO supplies through Pakistani territory will be un-Islamic and tantamount to Pakistan's participation in the war against Muslims in Afghanistan. The fatwa was signed by 50 muftis (clerics qualified to issue Islamic decrees).

Following is the text of the fatwa:[1]                                

"The Enmity of America Against Islam and Pakistan Has Come Out Into the Open; America is the Killer of Hundreds of Thousands of Innocent Muslims of Iraq and Afghanistan"

Endnote:

[1] www.islamictimes.org (Urdu), March 28, 2012.

A copy of the Farman issued by Mullah Omar

A Farman (directive) to the Taliban commanders issued by Mullah Mohammad Omar, the then head of the Taliban government in Afghanistan, shows that he ordered crackdown against all communists and Shi'ite Muslims.

The Pashtu-language secret document was seized from the Afghan Interior Ministry building in Kabul in 2001 when the Mullah Omar-led Taliban fled Afghanistan following the U.S. invasion. Afghan websites recently published the document with a translation by one Ishaq Mohammadi.

Afghan media interpreted the Farman's command to destroy the un-Islamic cultural heritage of Afghanistan as a reference to ordering the destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan. The exact date of the document is not given.

Following is the text of the document:

"Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan Movement of Taliban

"Kandahar Province (Secret Service Cell)

"Secret Order

"1. Ruthless army steps by Taliban against opponent enemy groups.

"2. Recovery of arms and collection of Islamic Taxes.

"3. Demolition of Mughul's (Hazaras) historic cultural heritage and remains [such as Bamiyan's Buddhas].

"4. Ban on celebrating Jashn-e-Nouroz (a cultural festival/New Year)

"5. Complete economic embargo of Hazarajat [areas inhabited by Shi'ite Hazaras].

"6. Strict army measures to disown Hazara tribes from their lands and properties forcibly.

"7. Disintegration of Hazarajat gradually.

"8. Elimination and arrest of communist elements.

"9. Rooting out of all mysterious and opponent forces.

"10. Anti-Shi'ite propaganda campaign.

"11. Assistance for Islamic Madrasas (religious schools) and religious groups.

"12. Strict control and watch on women (out of their homes).

"13. Complete recovery of Taxes from opium production.

"14. Care for transportations and oil.

"15. Assistance of Akhund Zadas (Taliban) and religious Mullahs.

"16. Assistance and care for pro-Taliban Shi'ite Mullahs and commander.

"Attention for Kajiki, Kishki Nakhud, Kalat, Shah Joi, Maruf, Helmand (Name of Provinces and Districts).

"May be informed very quick."

Sources: www.hazarapeople.com, Afghanistan, March 3, 2012; www.kabulpress.org, Afghanistan, March 2, 2012. The text of the document has been lightly edited for clarity.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban's shadow government) has issued another statement, explaining the failure of the U.S.-Taliban talks and stating that the Taliban would expel the foreign forces both by diplomatic and military means.

This is the second statement since March 15, 2012 when a statement issued by the Islamic Emirate announced the suspension of the U.S.-Taliban talks, which have been described by the Taliban as a goodwill stage before the actual negotiations for a political settlement on the future of Afghanistan.

Following is the text of the statement:

"Some Secret Enemy [U.S.] Circles of the Enemy [the U.S.] Published Some Spurious Declarations Asking the Mujahideen to Freeze Their Attacks; This Venomous Propaganda Created Anxiety"

Source: www.shahamat-english.com, Afghanistan, March 23, 2012. The text of the statement has been lightly edited for clarity.

In two articles and an editorial in Nawa-i-Afghan Jihad, an Urdu-language jihadist magazine published in the Afghanistan-Pakistan region, pro-Taliban writers examine the economic crisis in the Western countries and cite examples from history to argue that developments in science and technology are no guarantee of victor in war, and that even technologically advanced nations have been defeated.

 In the first article, titled "The Downfall of the Christian World and the Rise Of Islam: The Setting Sun of the Capitalist System," Syed Manzoor Ahmad Gilani argues that the "sun" of capitalism is setting and that Muslims should strive to introduce the world to an Islamic system. Gilani says that "the growing disparity between rich and poor is an important cause of the downfall of capitalism" and claims that "only the chaste system of Sharia can provide peace and harmony to the world."

In the second article, titled "The Role of Technology in the Downfall of the Ummah," Neyaz Swati cites examples from history to argue that developments in science and technology have not led to victories in war, citing as examples Vietnam and Afghanistan. On the contrary, he says, such developments bring down social, religious, moral, and family values, leading to a nation's downfall.

Also in the magazine, an editorial, titled "The One (Peace Be Upon Him) Who Gave a Sword To His Ummah As a Legacy," argues that the Prophet Muhammad left no legacy but weapons, noting: "When the Prophet Muhammad was leaving this world, even the oil in the lamp was given as a courtesy by neighbors– but even under such conditions, nine swords and suits of armor hung on the walls of his blessed room."

The following are excerpts from the articles by Syed Manzoor Ahmad Gilani[1] and by Neyaz Swati,[2] and from the editorial.[3]

Article By Syed Manzoor Ahmad Gilani: "The Downfall of the Christian World and the Rise Of Islam: The Setting Sun of the Capitalist System"

"The Idols of Communism have Been Buried in Moscow and Beijing, and the Idolaters of These Idols have Declared the Idol of Capitalism as the Deity of Their Economy"

"The sun of communism has set. The idols of communism have been buried in Moscow and Beijing, and the idolaters of these idols [communism] have declared the idol of capitalism as the deity of their economy. The capitalist system adopted, to a greater extent, better ideals as long as it had competition from communism. Workers were granted rights and their working hours were set. Workers were made partners in the profit; medical facilities were provided, and their right to holidays was accepted. The richest people, like Bill Gates and Warren Left [likely referring to Warren Buffett] and others, established welfare institutions and gave a share to the needy persons from their wealth.

"But after the fall of communism, the capitalist system gradually started adopting the attitude of the Pharaohs [i.e. evil hegemons]. The pride of immeasurable power, resources, and technology made them blind and drunk. These countries pushed their power in Afghanistan and Iraq. [They] continued backing Israel and kept criminal silence over the mass killing of Palestinians. They showed such indifference and [unleashed] tyranny and barbarism that head of humanism was down with shame.

"The torture cells of Guantanamo Bay, Abu Ghuraib, and Bagram Airbase are those black spots on the humanism that the coming generation will always be ashamed of. For the sake of a few percentiles of people, the path of war and violence was taken. The dangerous results of these policies are now coming to the fore."

"The Entire Christian World, Including the U.S. and Europe, has Become the Victim of Economic Crisis…; The World is Looking Towards a New System; Only the Chaste System of Sharia Can Provide Peace and Harmony to the World"

"The entire Christian world, including the U.S. and Europe, has become the victim of economic crisis. Many countries including the U.S., Britain, France, Italy, and Greece have been badly trapped into the damned net of debt.

"The genie of unemployment is getting out of control. People's purchasing power is going down continuously. The people of those countries have become so habituated to the basic needs of life that they cannot bear even a little bit of disturbance in it. [And] contrary to it, we Pakistanis have become used to price hikes, unemployment, load shedding, and water scarcity. There are protests against these things in our country every other day, but the rulers pay no heed.

 "The demonstrations against the capitalist system in 951 cities of 82 countries have taken the world by surprise. It seems that the sun of the capitalist system will also gradually set, after that of communism.

"The world is looking towards a new system; only the chaste system of Sharia [Islamic rule] can provide peace and harmony to the world. In the recent past, every single moment of the five years' rule of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is testimony to the fact that the just system of Islam can only provide fairness and justice.

"No other system has this capability, because all these false systems are man-made; Allah, the sustainer of the two Worlds, has given the Sharia. The Muslim clerics, intellectuals, economists, and politicians worldwide should think seriously over the practical implementation of this system and should adopt a unified program. The mujahideen, by the grace of Allah, have brought the fear of Western technology to dust. The crises arising from the growing disparity between the rich and the poor are now slowly showing their effects."

"The Growing Disparity Between Rich and Poor is an Important Cause of the Downfall of Capitalism…; It is the Best Opportunity for Islam to Introduce the World to the Chaste System of Sharia"

"Besides the U.S. and Europe, the disparity between rich and poor is growing at a fast pace in India also. The capitalist system is failing in resolving human problems and because the capitalist system is about to fall. That is why the sincere and true group of Muslims should inform one and all about the fruits of Sharia.

"At present, the world population is [about] seven billion, and 90% of it is being crushed in the mill of poverty, penury, and low purchasing power. The income of 40% of people is only 3% of the total world income. The wealthiest comprise about one billion; their income is 80% of total world income. The growing disparity between rich and poor is an important cause of the downfall of capitalism, while the pillars of capitalist system [U.S. and U.K.] have cast resources into the Crusades [i.e. Afghan and Iraq wars] instead of using them to eradicate poverty.

"Now is the best opportunity for Islam to introduce the world to the chaste system of Sharia, so that the world can be aware of the benefits of the Islamic system. If Muslim clerics, intellectuals, economists, and politicians give their full concentration to this, then, Allah willing, this garden will once again flourish with La-ilaha Illallah ['there is no deity but Allah']."

Article By Neyaz Swati: "The Role of Technology in the Downfall of the Ummah"

"History Disproves the Hypothesis That a Nation Attains Superiority Through Science and Technology; The First Proof Of This is the Defeat of the Forces of Iran and Rome at the Hands of Muslims"

"Is the downfall of the [Muslim] Ummah is due to technological backwardness?

"Science and technology are generally considered as one – but there is a difference between them. Science is discovery based on information and judged on reasoning and experimentation. In comparison, technology is the system of manufacturing goods by applying scientific discoveries, and it is marketable, and its cost is [always] less than the cost of its production. If a technological product cost less than it did to produce it, then that technology will be forsaken.

"Science stands for knowledge, but today's techno-science has a deep relationship with capitalism. Technology comes with the values of capitalism. The proof of it is that there has been a fall in religious, moral, and family values in the societies where science and technology flourished. The American and European societies are its clear proof, and China is now also on the same path.

"The biggest challenge posed by Western civilization was this very science and technology, and it remains [the challenge for the Muslim world]. The answer to this challenge, from the time of [19th century Muslim reformer and educator of India] Sir Syed to this day, has been that all the West's progress has been due to science and technology, and that therefore if the Muslim Ummah wants to take to the path of progress and face the West, then we have to adopt the very weapon of science and technology that the West has.

"In comparison, other schools of thought are of the view that the study of history disproves the hypothesis that a nation attains superiority through science and technology. The first proof of this is the defeat of the forces of Iran and Rome at the hands of Muslims. The demolition of the great empire of Iran [Persia] and the conquest of the Roman capital Qustuntuniya [Constantinople/Istanbul] proved the superiority of faith over resources, military might, and technology."

"History is Witness to the Fact That the Supremacy in Knowledge Could Not Protect Them [i.e. the Abbasids] From Defeat; The Islamic World Changed Their Defeat into Victory By Overpowering the Tartars… But All These were Not the Result of Science"

"In later history, the attack and occupation of Tartars on Abbasid Empire gave credibility to this stand. At the time when the Tartars attacked the Abbasid Empire, this empire spread over three continents of the world. Knowledge was at its height, and there were provisions for translation into 28 languages at Baitul Hikmah [the House of Wisdom]; at the royal court, debate on logic, philosophy and composition was the order of the day. The Abbasid Empire was unparalleled in cavalry, swords and military.

"But the barbarian Tartars of the Gobi deserts ransacked the Abbasid Empire in no time. Neither the Empire's supremacy in science of that period nor its glory and honor could save them from defeat at the hands of the Tartars. History is witness to the fact that the supremacy in knowledge could not protect them from defeat.

"It so happened that the Islamic world lost its country in the form of the Abbasid Empire – but history also tells us that the Islamic world changed defeat into victory by overpowering the Tartars again. But all this was not the result of science. It so happened that the Tartars overpowered the Muslims in warfare, but were defeated by the universal message of Islam, and a great majority of the Tartars embraced Islam.

"In the words of [early 20th century Islamist national poet of Pakistan] Iqbal, the Kaaba got its guard from the temple [i.e. the Tartars embraced Islam]. Iqbal says:

"'Haram [Kaaba] was defamed by the shortsightedness of the old leaders of Muslim;

The youths of Tartars came out to be very farsighted.'"

"The Victory and Defeat of Nations Has Never Been Indebted to Science and Technology; Despite the Muslims' Superiority in Sciences and Social Sciences, Spain's Capitulation Is a Proven Fact of Muslim Defeat"

"If the background of the present period is taken into account, it seems that the victory and defeat of nations has never been indebted to science and technology. In the war between Vietnam and the U.S., the military and technological supremacy of the U.S. could not save it from the defeat.…

"Russia also attacked Afghanistan but the Afghan war prepared the funeral procession of Russian economy. So much so, that the then Russian President [Leonid] Brezhnev accepted the defeat in the war, calling Afghanistan a running sore for Russia. Once again technology got defeated and faith was victorious.

"Despite the superiority of Muslims in sciences and social sciences, the capitulation of Spain is a proven fact of Muslim defeat, on which Iqbal has written a very touching elegy. Even today, those who consider science and technology as the only source of rise and fall keep mentioning Muslims' superiority in sciences in Andalus [Spain] but they get dumb struck while narrating the end of Muslims in Spain. No one tells this that Muslims' superiority [in science and technology] and towering buildings couldn't protect them from defeat but the very existence of Muslims were omitted from there [i.e. Spain].

"Today, Spain, which Allama Iqbal called the custodian of the Muslims' blood, the palatial building of Jama Mosque Al-Hamara and other gorgeous buildings remain, but no Muslims remained in that very Spain. In contrast, the Muslims and Islam survived and remained powerful in the Middle East, despite their backwardness in science. The teachings of Hazrat Saleh [the Prophet sent to the people of Samood] and Hazrat Ibrahim [Abraham] remained, due to the eternal message of Islam, but there is no mention of their [art of] building houses in mountains and building pyramids in Egypt with wonderful technology…."

"Ignoring the clear message of history, the only world superpower, the U.S.,  in its arrogance of science and technology, wealth, and military power, attacked Afghanistan, already war-weary from the [1980s] Afghan-Russia war. Afghanistan's neighbor Pakistan extended full support to the U.S. [in its war on terror], surrendering after just one threat from it.

"Seen against the backdrop of this war, Pakistan capitulated following a single threat, even though it is one of the best military powers in the world, with natural resources, a large population and nuclear technology. But the Afghan mujahideen, with no regular military, a large population, or nuclear technology, have embroiled the U.S. for a decade in such a war that the U.S. military is weary despite technological superiority."

"The Afghan Mujahideen Morale Is So High That They Are Conducting Successful Attacks On the Safest Green Zone… in Kabul; A Vital Question… Is Whether Technology is Useful in the Rise and Fall [of Nations] and the Resolution of Human Issues"

"Today, the most prominent Western journals and newspapers are of the view that the soldiers and officers of the U.S. armed forces have set a new record for suicides in Afghanistan... outnumbering those killed on the battlefield. There are many also many more officers and soldiers who have become obsolete due to psychological maladies.

"In contrast, the morale of the Afghan mujahideen is so high that they are conducting successful attacks on the safest Green Zone areas established by the NATO forces in Kabul and are full of hope for their victory. A vital question in this regard is whether technology is useful in the rise and fall [of nations] and the resolution of human issues.

"Family is the most important component through which the human race has remained intact from its very beginning. The history of the rise of technology tells that the institution of family has suffered a loss where science and technology were successful. Other social and religious values related to the institution of family have also suffered in a society that is based on technology.

"Once, Western countries topped the list in crime and suicide [rates], but now data shows that China is the leader in suicides, because its growth in science and technology is the highest in the world. [It is reported] that the rise in suicides is directly linked to technological progress. Today, it is only those countries that lead in the technological race that are mostly subject to crime, suicide, and the decline of the institution of the family."

"With Regard to Defeating the West Through Technology … When the [Muslim] Ummah Has Decided to Fight the West, the West Won't Serve Its Latest Technology To Us On a Platter Saying 'Take This and Kill Us'"

"The painful aspect of the progress of technology is the irrecoverable loss to human health and environment, which is the classic example of the hardheartedness and impudence of the nations with technology. At the 2009 International Environment Conference in Copenhagen, experts raised the issue of global warming due to the technological growth and the waste it produces…"

"Countries like the U.S., China, Russia, India and European countries, which are harming the global environment the most, did not sign the documents of the Conference. They said that they are not ready for this because reducing global temperatures means slowing the pace of technological development, and they [wondered] who would compensate the losses that they would incur from this process. It was said at this conference that the technology used by China and India is obsolete and creates much pollution compared to European technology. Therefore, these two countries should slow down their technological development [program].

"But these two countries said that they have spent billions on the technology and that they must be compensated. The Western countries rejected their demand. Ultimately, all the developed countries and rapidly developing countries, India and China, said in letter and spirit, Let the world go to hell, we have nothing to do with it. The lady chairing the conference tore up the manuscript of the Conference and walked out, saying that these countries prefer industrial development to the future of human beings, and that therefore only God can save this world…

"With regard to defeating the West through technology, it is important to note that the West always transfers obsolete technology to the Third World. Such technologies are presented in our country as the outcome of the high and modern research. In such a situation, when the [Muslim] Ummah has decided to fight the West, the West will not serve its latest technology to us on a platter saying 'take this and kill us.'

"Obviously, it is not possible. The second solution to this is doing research in the field of science and technology, but it is impossible to defeat the Western countries in this field. Their multinational companies are helping them through investments in billions of Rupees [dollars]…."

"The High Rate of Embrace of Islam in Western Europe is Proof Of the Eternal Messages of Islam; Otherwise All the Technologies and Media Are in the Hands of Anti-Muslim Jews There"

"One more issue in the debate on... technology is insensitivity, which is directly related to the use of technology. For example, once people fought wars with swords, arrows and guns. The man who wielded a sword saw and was affected by his own barbarism… The use of technology desensitizes people to their own deeds and the  consequences of those deeds. The U.S. created much destruction with nuclear technology at Hiroshima and Nagasaki, killing hundred of thousands and crippling many, many more. But the U.S. government and its people were indifferent to that human tragedy, because the bloodstain of the dead and wounded Japanese did not reach their hands, and they did not experience the tragedy of that war. Only one U.S. aircraft went out and created this destruction...

"The difference between traditional and modern technologies is that war by the sword keeps the human attached to life and its hard realities, while modern technology cuts the people off from the hard realities of life. Suppose the American officials at the Pentagon learn that some are speaking and writing against the U.S. in an institution in Karachi, and suspect that U.S. defense interests will be harmed; a U.S. official can, from his air-conditioned room, order its naval fleet to target our building with a missile, and watch the result of the missile strike [while remaining in his room].

"In contrast, perhaps in traditional warfare a combat soldier might not be able to stand the sight of the dead and bloody corpses of innocent children and elderly, and might kill himself, or might accept Islam because he is impressed by the Muslims persevere in their faith until they breathe their last. Despite great propaganda and the anti-Muslim campaign in the international electronic and print media, Islam is spreading at great pace in those countries which are far ahead in the race of science and technology. The high rate of embracing Islam in Western Europe is proof of the eternal messages of Islam; otherwise all the technologies and media are in the hands of anti-Muslim Jews there.

"It is clear that science and technology have always been present, from the time of Aad and Samood and the pyramids of Egypt to date. But it is also important to ask whether the aim and methodology of the old and modern technologies are the same. The answer is that the history of science and technology tells us that the objective of science in old times was the 'search for truth,' and the aim of technology was the fulfillment of human needs – however, the only aim of modern science and technology is greater and greater concentration of capital. All inventions that do not help accumulate capital cannot progress."

Editorial: "The One (Peace Be Upon Him) Who Gave a Sword To His Ummah As a Legacy"

"The… Righteous Made the Path of the Prophet… Their Most Loved and Precious Thing – and They Were Honored with the Success Of This World; From These Very Paths is the Greatest Path of Enforcement of Sharia through Jihad"

"The month of Rabiul Awwal [third month of Islamic calendar, January-February 2012] is the month of the birth and death of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), and various things are observed to express the love for the Prophet this month. There are illuminations at some places; there are gatherings of Milad [gatherings to remember the Prophet Muhammad] at places; there is hustle and bustle in the market at places; there are decorations of some lanes, and there are songs and dancing at places, in the garb of organizing parties in the name of devotion to the Prophet. But all these activities [that are approved by the Barelvi school of Sunni Islam] are signs of heresy and deviation from the right path. [Also during the celebrations,] ways are sought to slake carnal desires, in the garb of showing love and adoration for the last Prophet (peace be upon him).

"This nonsense had no place, and was beyond the very imagining, of the people who set the highest standard of expressing love and devotion to the auspicious entity [the Prophet Muhammad] (on whom my mother and father are sacrificed) and the kind Prophet (peace be upon him).

"Who is greater than the Sahaba [Companions of the Prophet], the Tabayeen [those who saw any of the Companions in the state of faith), the Tabatabayeen [those who saw any of the Tabayeen], Sulaha-e-ummah [the righteous and virtuous people among the Muslims] and Awliya Allah [Sufi mystics or pious and virtuous people whom all made His friend]? Who could lay a greater claim of love for the Prophet Muhammad than they?

"These righteous people made the path of the Prophet (peace be upon him) their most loved and precious thing, and they were honored with the success of this world and the Hereafter by following in the path of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). From these very paths is the greatest path of enforcement of Sharia [Islamic rule] through jihad."

"The Prophet Muhammad Left No Legacy to His Ummah Except Weapons of War... The Basic Criterion of Love for the Prophet is to Love His Deeds… That Is, To Continue Striving for Jihad in the Path of Allah; This is the Only Way Out for the Ummah to Come Out of the Disgrace and Humiliation of This World"

"Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) left no legacy to his Ummah except weapons of war. The Muhaddiseen [Interpreters of the teachings of Islam and sayings of Prophet Muhammad] has explicitly said that when he was leaving this world, even the oil in the lamp was given as a courtesy by neighbors– but even under such conditions, nine swords and suits of armor hung on the walls of his blessed room. These jihad materials have been given to this Ummah in heritage. Today, the renunciation of that very legacy has come into vogue. And love for the Prophet is being expressed through drums and [exhibitions].

"In such a situation, it is very important to note that the basic criterion of love for the Prophet is to love his deeds and to remain steadfast on the path that he showed, that is, to continue striving for jihad in the path of Allah with complete steadfastness. This is the only way out for the Ummah to emerge from the disgrace and humiliation of this world; and that the salvation in the Hereafter is also hidden in following the deeds and path of Prophet (peace be upon him)."

"Now the U.S. And Its Allies Are Trying Night And Day to Achieve 'Safe Evacuation' From Afghanistan;" "The Mujahideen Are Completely United Under the Leadership of Emirul Momineen Mullah Mohammad Omar and Are Unwilling to Abandon the Foremost Condition for Negations – That Is, That the Kuffar Forces Announce Their Total Defeat"

"In this miserable period for Islam, Allah has bestowed some of his believers with guidance to take to the path of the Prophet and to take to the path of Jihad in the path of Allah to establish the rule of Islamic monotheism and the path of the Prophet worldwide. These mujahideen are growing in strength day by day, following the withdrawal of the Crusader forces from Iraq.

"They have made the life miserable for the natural allies of Kuffar [infidels] and are continuously inflicting injuries on them. These very heroes of the Ummah are forging ahead, after consolidating in [the southern] Yemeni city of Zanzibar, and the Kufriya [infidel] media is complaining after watching their attacks.

"After fighting against the united Kufr [unbelief] for an entire decade in Afghanistan, the Taliban mujahideen have forced them to eat dust. Now the U.S. and its allies are trying night and day to achieve 'safe evacuation' from Afghanistan. Whether by avoiding,  by a last push against the mujahideen like the last flame of the lamp, by desecrating the dead bodies of the martyrs, or by attempting to create an atmosphere of discord among  the mujahideen, they are tolerating all kinds of hardship to achieve an 'honorable retreat' from Afghanistan.

"But the mujahideen are completely united under the leadership of Emirul Momineen Mullah Mohammad Omar (Allah's help be with him), and are unwilling to abandon the foremost condition for negations – that is, that the Kuffar [infidel] forces announce their total defeat in Afghanistan, as set by the Emirul Momineen (Allah's help be with him)."

"The Pakistani Setup Is Not Ready to Leave the Ranks of the Crusader Forces... The Mujahideen… Are More Ready Than Ever to Conquer Pakistan Through the Path of the Prophet (Jihad and Qital in the Path of Allah)"

"The Pakistani setup is not ready to leave the ranks of the Crusader forces despite all these situations. Practically rejecting even to look into the 'valiant stand' of Ashfaq Kayani [chief of army staff, Pakistan] and [Pakistani] army, the US has started drone attacks again and the 'valiant stand' of the Pakistani army is sitting squeezed and terrified in a corner.

"The NATO supplies, which have been suspended since November 26, 2011, are being restored, and the Pakistani public will in a few days hear 'breaking news' that NATO supplies have been restored in the 'greater national interest.' What is this 'greater national interest' after all? There is no need to explain it, because if the only goal of life is to transform the nation and its people into a market commodity by declaring it 'for sale,' then only becoming the hired pony – and this at double the price – could be considered to be success.

"But the mujahideen, who declare such 'success' to be the disgrace of this world and the Hereafter, are more ready than ever to conquer Pakistan through the path of the Prophet (Jihad and Qital in the path of Allah). Allah blesses these mujahideen…."

"The Mujahideen are Presenting Historical Examples of Struggle and Firmness in Defeating Kufr from Yemen to Pakistan"

"The delegation sent to Waziristan by Emirul Momineen Mullah Mohammad Omar Mujahid… has been the source of such blessings. This delegation called on all the responsible persons and leaders from among the mujahideen and handed them the gifts sent from the Emirul Momineen. In addition to confirming their struggle, they formed a five-member Shura [committee] to strengthen unity.

"If the leader of Kufr, [U.S. President Barack] Obama, brags 'to track every extremist from Yemen to Pakistan,' then the mujahideen are historical examples of struggle and firmness in defeating Kufr from Yemen to Pakistan.

"Today, there are people who say they love the Prophet, and to prove their claim they indulge in nonsense and [other] activities that are against Sharia. On other hand, there are mujahideen [fighting] in the path of Allah, who have deployed against the enemies of God in accordance with the life and deeds of the Prophet (peace be upon him).

"Anyone whose heart is illuminated by the light of faith will have no difficulty recognizing the true one among these two groups of Muslims. Thus, the words of Sheikh Abdullah Azzam (martyr), 'come together with the caravan,' call to all the Ummah, young and old, to adopt the path of Prophet, because in Paradise a high position is reserved for this jihadi caravan, and these mujahideen are the real devotees of the Prophet (peace be upon him). "

Following are excerpts from a public address delivered by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, founder of the Pakistani militant group Lashkar-e-Taiba, at a Lahore Rally, which was posted on the Internet on December 18, 2011:

Hafiz Muhammad Saeed: "First of all, I would like to say something to the Americans. If you come as guests, we will welcome you. Our Prophet Muhammad has taught us to respect guests. If you live within your embassy, we will respect you and will respect international laws. But if your [CIA agent] Raymond Davis sheds Pakistani blood in the center of Lahore, we will no longer consider these as embassies, and if your embassies and consulates become centers of espionage, we will no longer consider these as embassies. […]

In a new video statement, Omar Khalid Khorasani, the Emir of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for Mohmand Agency, explains the reason behind the establishment of the TTP and the circumstances in which it was formed, and warns of revenge against Pakistani government institutions while outlining a vision for the enforcement of Islamic rule across the world. The TTP commander, who has emerged as an influential commander in recent months, notes that the TTP was formed after the fall of the Taliban government in Afghanistan in 2001, which came as a result of the Pakistani support to the United States.

The 27:59 minute-long video was produced by Umar Studio, the electronic media arm of the TTP, and was published on a jihadist internet forum. In the video, Khorasani is accompanied by two guards, one of whom appears to be teenager.

First Part of the Video: "Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Came into Existence... [Because] the Pakistani government, the Pakistani Military... Carried Out Actions Against All Of Those Objectives of Islam in Which Lie the Survival of Muslims…; For Six Years [Until 2007], the Mujahideen of Pakistan Only Defended Themselves"

In the first part of the video, Omar Khalid Khorasani states:

"The first of the reasons that the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan came into existence was that the Pakistani government, the Pakistani military, all government and intelligence agencies of Pakistan carried out actions against all those objectives of Islam in which lie the survival of Muslims.

"It began in 2001, when it supported America [in its fight] for the fall of the Islamic Emirate [the Taliban government in Afghanistan]. It aided America in such a way for the fall of the Islamic Emirate that it provided all the logistics help, provided airbases, permitted sea-lanes, and allowed NATO supplies [through Pakistani territory].

"So at the time of the fall of the Islamic Emirate [in 2001], the way the Kufr [the world of infidels] was united among themselves, far more than that, Pakistan provided support and aid. The people of Pakistan and the mujahideen of Pakistan and the Islam-loving people of Pakistan, in whose hearts a pain for Islam resided and in their hearts a hatred developed for the government of Pakistan and for Pakistan's governmental institutions; this hatred turned into a war, and after the fall of the Islamic Emirate, [it emerged] in the form of the mujahideen of Afghanistan, the muhajireen [foreign militants] in Pakistan.

"And the people of Pakistan and the mujahideen of Pakistan started aiding them, [and] because of which the Pakistani government, at the behest of its lord America, launched the first operation against the people of Pakistan in Waziristan. In the operation against the people and mujahideen of Waziristan, [it] committed such atrocities, that perhaps Genghis Khan or any government like him may not have committed. Their businesses, mosques, madrassas [Islamic seminaries], children, and women were martyred.

"In the hearts of the people of Waziristan the same type of hatred that existed for India and other Kufri [infidel] countries, emerged for the Pakistani military too. After Waziristan, at the behest of America, [it] launched military operation against the muhajireen [immigrants or foreign militants] who were [present] in other tribal areas - Mohmand, Bajaur, Swat, Khyber, Orakzai and Kurram Agency. For six years, the mujahideen of Pakistan only defended themselves. And the mujahideen would move from the area where the Pakistani government conducted an operation and would continue their war only against America."

"[After the Red Mosque Operation in 2007] The People of Pakistan and the Mujahideen of Pakistan were Forced to Realize That the Pakistani Government's Atrocity has Reached Such a Stage That to Control It and to Tolerate It is Beyond Human Capacity"

However, Omar Khalid Khorasani says, when the atrocities of the Pakistani government increased six or seven years later, the mujahideen were forced to start fighting a defensive war in the urban areas of Pakistan such as Punjab, Sindh, and Sarhad (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province). He adds:

"In these situations, the Pakistani government, using deceptions and tactics, would launch an operation on one nation [tribe] in one area and strike a [peace] agreement with them, and then launch the operation in another area. Dissensions were caused among the mujahideen of Pakistan, who were based in different areas. For example, when the operation would be launched in South Waziristan, then there would be a [peace] agreement with the Pakistani government in North Waziristan. And if there would be an operation in Bajaur Agency, there would be a peace agreement in Swat.

"In these circumstances, when the Pakistani government mercilessly martyred the male and female students in the Red Mosque [of Islamabad in a military operation] in 2007 and Maulana Abdul Aziz [the cleric of the mosque] was jailed and [his brother] Ghazi Abdur Rasheed was martyred, then the people of Pakistan and the mujahideen of Pakistan were forced to realize that the Pakistani government's atrocity has reached such a stage that to control it and to tolerate it is beyond human capacity.

"Therefore, after the operation in the Red Mosque, after the operation in Waziristan, and after the operation in other tribal areas, those mujahideen who had come from the Arab lands, who were arrested from different areas of Pakistan and sold by the Pakistani government to America just for a few dollars, then the Pakistani mujahideen were forced to unite, and established this unity under the name of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, whose purpose in the beginning was only to defend themselves, and there was no purpose other than this.

"The only objective was to establish a strong defense against the government of Pakistan, and to establish such a defense that if the Pakistani government conducts a [military] operation in an area, then the mujahideen and people of other tribal areas would be united for the defense of that area.

"The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan came into existence for this purpose [i.e. to defend itself against Pakistan]. And [then] its first objective was to expel America from Afghanistan and to achieve this in Afghanistan and Pakistan too. The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan came into existence in 2007, and even before this the mujahideen of Pakistan had all kinds of relations and aid among themselves, but formally the mujahideen of Pakistan had no existence in the form of a movement."

"For the First Time in 2007, the Mujahideen of Mohmand Agency [Where the TTP is Headed by Omar Khalid Khorasani], Made the First Beginning [for Unity among Militants]"

"And in the various tribal areas of Pakistan, the mujahideen who were based there had direct relations with the Islamic Emirate and the mujahideen of Pakistan had no formal alliance in existence. For the first time in 2007, the mujahideen of Mohmand Agency [where the TTP is now headed by Omar Khalid Khorasani], made the first beginning [for unity among militants], and before that the mujahideen of Mohmand Agency had also displayed big demonstrations of unity; when the operation was launched in 2007 in Bajaur Agency, Maulvi Faqir Muhammad [the TTP's Emir in Bajaur] contacted us [requesting] that the military should not reach them through Mohmand Agency.

"Therefore, we closed the road to Bajaur Agency and we captured one [Pakistan army] major and 10 soldiers, and we released them on the condition - we demanded - that the operation in Waziristan be shut down and the military not go towards Bajaur through Mohmand; when they accepted this demand of ours, we freed two soldiers.

"Before this, we were connected to Emir Baitullah Mehsud of Waziristan and we were united with him. I had expressed my bai'yah [oath of allegiance] to Baitullah Mehsud and I was connected to him. So at this time, we demonstrated unity with the mujahideen of Bajaur, and it was a good omen and a first step toward unity.

"After this, we sent letters to Maulvi Faqir Muhammad and Maulana Fazlullah [the TTP's Emir for Swat district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province] at a time when a military operation was underway in Swat. We sent letters to them saying that we form such an alliance that if there is an operation in Swat, then those [mujahideen] of Mohmand and Bajaur would start fighting alongside them and extend support in every way. And if an operation was launched in Bajaur, both the tribal agencies [i.e. militants based there] would be united alongside them, and their talks [with military officials], their agreements, and their war, would be one.

"They accepted this invitation, and Maulvi Faqir Muhammad sent his two representatives; one of whom was Maulvi Omar [now in Pakistani custody] who was the central spokesman of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, and the other was Maulana Habib-ul-Haq who is the Nazim [organizer] of [the Taliban] in Malakand Division [Swat and neighboring districts]; and there were two persons from Dir [district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province], who represented the Kohistan and Buner areas. And we, of the six areas, held the first conference of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan in Mohmand Agency, where we accepted a seven-point agenda.

"The first point [of this agenda] was that a movement was established comprising of the six areas; [it was decided] that four representatives will go to Waziristan and will urge the remaining Emirs [leaders] to lead us.

"The second point agreed upon was that this will be revealed in the media if the Taliban of Waziristan and the Taliban of other tribal areas do not unite with us. Among other such points, one point was that until our contact is established with the mujahideen of other areas, the Emir of the Shura [executive council] of Mohmand Agency will be the Emir of the movement. And two days later, we established contact with Baitullah Mehsud, and through our four representatives [sent to Waziristan] a conference was scheduled for December 8 [2007], and then our last conference [in this regard] was held in Makeen [in South Waziristan] on December 13 in which representatives of 22 districts and representatives of [tribal] agencies where present; there we appointed Baitullah Mehsud as our first Emir. And on December 13 or 14 [2007], the formation of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan was announced.

"And at that time, we put forward three demands before the Pakistani government. The first was that Maulana Abdul Aziz [of Red Mosque], and his colleagues, and all [such militant] prisoners in Pakistani jails, be handed over to the mujahideen. The second large demand was that all [security] checkpoints set up in North Waziristan be eliminated. The third demand was that the demand of the mujahideen of Swat for the enforcement of Islam to be accepted and the operation [in Swat] be terminated. We gave a deadline that in such a time period you [i.e. the government] accept our demands.

"However, the government of Pakistan had no intention to accept these demands, so then as a matter of compulsion on January 6, 2008, a declaration of war against Pakistan was made by us. And from Swat to South Waziristan, we, by starting a war on Pakistan on a single night, expressed the unity of the Pakistani mujahideen before the Pakistani government and the entire world."

Second Part of the Video: "All Praise be to Allah that the Mujahideen of Mohmand Agency Have Reached Such a Stage that They are Completely Organized, are Completely Strengthened"

In the second part of the video statement, Omar Khalid Khorasani talks about the history of the Taliban in Mohmand Agency, the tribal district for which he is the Emir of TTP, stating:

"I was personally connected to Mohmand Agency since 2000. Between the years 2000 and 2006, we continued to make efforts for the following objective: just like the mujahideen in Waziristan were openly fighting a war against the U.S. government and were helping the mujahideen of the Islamic Emirate [the Afghan Taliban], this had been our yearning for six years. Like them, we too declare jihad openly in Mohmand Agency and establish a movement for which efforts were underway, but there were difficulties at that time.

"In 2006, for four months I moved to Waziristan where I met with Qari Hussain Ahmed. And in September 2007, Qari Hussain Ahmed came to Mohmand Agency and spent three days and witnessed the situation here. And on December 6 [2007]some colleagues and I gathered and offered bai'yah [oath of allegiance] to Qari Hussain Ahmed, and my responsibility was fixed for the Tehreek-e-Taliban for Mohmand Agency.

"And a month after that, our current Emir [of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan] Hakimullah Mehsud came to Mohmand Agency along with some colleagues and for 12 days continuously witnessed the situation here and witnessed the border with Afghanistan and its situation and war, and [Hakimullah Mehsud] took the suggestions that were made for the leader of the movement and met with Baitullah Mehsud [and discussed them].

"Two months after that, Hakimullah Mehsud came again to Mohmand Agency along with a group of 28-30 of his colleagues and for the first time participated in the war on the border of Kunar and Nangarhar [provinces of Afghanistan], which created a yearning in the hearts of the Mujahideen of Mohmand Agency and the Taliban and the mujahideen of Mohmand Agency started visiting Waziristan for training. And the war waged by Hakimullah Mehsud greatly benefited the mujahideen here.

"And when the respected leader [Hakimullah Mehsud] went again [to Waziristan], then the formations of the colleagues of Waziristan and the Taliban were continued [in Mohmand Agency]. And over a year and a half until the middle of 2009, they continued the formations. All Praise be to Allah, the circumstances in Mohmand Agency became better and the mujahideen of Mohmand Agency became strong to such an extent that they became ready to fight against the American government and the Pakistani government and its forces like the SSG [Special Services Group] and NLI [Northern Light Infantry], and went [to Waziristan] because of the situation in Waziristan.

"All praise be to Allah that the movement here has reached such a stage and has become so strong that we do not realize the need for mujahideen from other areas, though the mujahideen from Swat and other mujahideen, of their own will, are waging war and have taken shelter [here in Mohmand Agency], and they assist us here in every way, and we too offer all type of cooperation to them.

"All praise be to Allah that the mujahideen of Mohmand Agency have reached such a stage that they are completely organized, are completely strengthened so that there is no need for aid of any kind [from mujahideen of other tribal areas]."

Third Part of the Video: "The First Objective of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is to Take Revenge [Against Pakistan for Its Atrocities Against Mujahideen]"

In the third part of the video statement, Omar Khalid Khorasani outlines the objectives of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), stating:

"There are some key objectives of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. The first objective is regarding the atrocities that the Pakistani government has committed against the mujahideen of Pakistan and people of Pakistan, and the Pakistani government, the military of Pakistan, and intelligence institutions of Pakistan and other institutions that are against Islam. The objective of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is to fight against them.

"[The objective of the TTP is] to defend on the behalf of Islam against the Pakistani government and to defend the Mujahideen and people of Pakistan. [In view of] the atrocities they have committed in the Pakistani tribal and other [non-tribal] areas and the same the atrocities they have committed in the cities on the people and on mujahideen and the atrocities on [the Taliban and Al-Qaeda] prisoners in jail, the first objective of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is to take revenge.

"The second objective is to get freedom for the mujahideen prisoners in the custody of Pakistan or the other foreign mujahideen prisoners from outside Pakistan…"

"The Name of Pakistan is [the] Islamic Republic of Pakistan, But Islam has No Role in It…; Until the Islamic System is Implemented in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and the Entire World... Our War will Continue, and This is Our First and Last Objective"

"Our third important objective is to change the English system which has been prevalent from the beginning in Pakistan (the oppressor system of democracy). The government of Pakistan has implemented a system in Pakistan in which not even a grain of Islam is in practice. The name of Pakistan is [the] Islamic Republic of Pakistan, but Islam has no role in it. Then the objective behind the existence of our mujahideen and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is to terminate the system of the English (the oppressor system of democracy) prevalent in Pakistan, and implement a real Islam system in Pakistan in its place.

"Another important objective of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan - since Pakistan is much stronger than the other Islamic countries and possesses much power - our objective is that the Pakistani government, the Pakistani army, Pakistani weapons, atomic bomb, technology, and other powers of Pakistan be used for the leadership of the Islamic Ummah and [for the] survival of Islam. The soil of Pakistan, the people of Pakistan, the mujahideen of Pakistan, should not be used to support America or for the purposes of the kufr [infidels], but rather should be used for the survival of Islam, for the security/unity of Islam.

"The purpose behind the existence of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is very obvious and clear. Similar to the orders Allah has revealed in the Koran for the mujahideen, this is the objective of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan and this is also the manifesto of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan. In the Koran, Allah says 'fight against these kuffar [infidels], munafiqeen [hypocrites], and murtideen [apostates] until fitna [mischief/evil] is eliminated.' A fitna is everything which is against Islam.

"In Pakistan, there is no Islamic system; and there is no aid for Islam [from the government]; and there is neither support for the mujahideen, nor is any effort made for the survival of Islam, for the security/unity of Islam. In the Koran, Allah asks to fight against these people until there is no fitna. And the religion [path of living] for everyone is for Allah. Until the Islamic system is implemented in Pakistan, Afghanistan and the entire world, until the caliphate is implemented on the entire world, until the caliphate of the Righteous Caliphs [first four caliphs of Islam] is established, our war will continue and this is our first and last objective."

Fourth Part of Video: "All Praise Be to Allah, the [TTP] Organization is So Organized that the Mujahideen of All Tribal Areas are United Completely"

In the fourth part of the video statement, Omar Khalid Khorasani states:

"All Praise be to Allah! The Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan has become well organized. At present, all praise be to Allah, the organization is so organized that the mujahideen of all tribal areas are united completely. The living example of this [unity] is that in the recent war [military operation by Pakistan] in Mohmand Agency, nine mujahideen from Swat were martyred... and among those nine martyrdoms, not a single mujahid from among the mujahideen of Mohmand was wounded. The purpose of saying this is that the mujahideen of Swat considered this war [in Mohmand Agency] and this soil as their own.

"And such talk has completely disappeared from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan that the situation that was there has ended, that when there was war on one tribe, there was a [peace] agreement with another [tribe, in another tribal area]. For example, in one area there would be war [and] in another there would be ceasefire. Such things have ended because in all of Pakistan today there is one voice and there is one continuous war. And there is no shortcoming in this war [by the Taliban] and the entire Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan is united.

"And the second reason [for this unity] is that the central Emir [of TTP] Hakimullah Mehsud has complete rights, rights such that if he wants he can bring about any transformation and change [of leadership], can remove the Emir [of any area and] can appoint another Emir. This is the reason that when the Emir [Hakimullah Mehsud] has so many rights, the movement too is strong, the movement is organized. Allah willing, we expect that day-by-day this movement will become stronger."

In the last part of the video statement, Omar Khalid Khorasani also discusses the recent wars waged by the TTP, stating that the first phase of the war that started on January 6, 2008 lasted for about three months and then the Emir (Baitullah Mehsud) announced a ceasefire.

The second war began in October 2008 and is continuing now, and "there is a ceasefire from our side," Khorasani states, adding that this is despite continuing requests from the Pakistani government for a ceasefire. He also notes that about 100-200 Taliban fighters have been "martyred" in this war. Khorasani adds that this war has given lots of experience to the TTP fighters.[1]

Introduction

This paper examines the role of Pakistani terrorist group Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) – the military arm of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) – and how the LeJ/SSP duo is using U.S.-based social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and other Internet tools, along with its own dedicated websites and print magazines, to incite violence against Shi'ite Muslims, and also how it is engendering Antisemitism in order to promote its ideological agenda.

The LeJ has figured in several recent attacks in Pakistan. On February 28, 2012, Islamic militants dressed in Pakistani military fatigues stopped a bus in Pakistan's northern district of Kohistan, forced all the passengers off, and examined their Pakistani government-issued Computerized National Identity Cards (CNICs) to verify their faith by their surnames. Passengers whose names indicated that they were Sunni Muslims were let off, while 19 Shi'ite Muslims headed for their homes in Gilgit Baltistan and were shot dead by the militants.[1]

The Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), a terrorist group feared for its long-standing campaign of violence against Shi'ite Muslims, was blamed for the attack. Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik ordered a probe, stating that the LeJ and Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) have been "involved in similar crimes [against Shi'ite Muslims] in the past."[2] Responsibility for the attack was claimed by a militant who identified himself as a spokesman of Jundallah, a Sunni militant group which is indistinguishable from Lashkar-e-Jhangvi, both in terms of its ideological orientation against Shi'ite Muslims and in terms of the two groups' cross-pollination.[3]

The LeJ and SSP have operated under various names in recent years. It was reported that another militant group called Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al-Alami (International) could be behind the February 28 attack. Speaking with the GEO News television channel the next day, Allama Tahir Mehmood Ashrafi of Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), a coalition of banned militant organizations, confirmed that the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al-Alami exists, while accusing Shi'ite militants of Lashkar-e-Mehdi from Gilgit Baltistan of carrying out attacks on Sunni Muslims in Karachi.[4] A November 2010 media report noted that the LeJ has evolved into several branches: Junoodul Hafsa, working in collaboration with Ghazi Force; Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Al-Alami, working alongside Al-Qaeda; Asian Tigers, run by the Punjabi Taliban; and the LeJ's cell for Baluchistan and Karachi, named Jundallah.[5]

The Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP or Soldiers of the Companions of the Prophet), a former registered political party now banned by the Pakistani government, is the mother of LeJ and its associated outfits. The reference to the "Companions" in the name of SSP is meant mainly for the four Islamic caliphs who succeeded Prophet Muhammad – as per the Sunni interpretation – in the following order: Abu Bakar, Umar ibn Khattab, Usman ibn Affan and Ali Ibn Talib, the last being the fourth in succession. Contrary to this order of succession as upheld by Sunni scholars, the Shi'ites consider Ali Ibn Talib, the son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad, as the first caliph, giving birth to a vast array of radical literature and hateful campaign against each other by both sides.

The SSP was founded in 1985 by militant cleric Haq Nawaz Jhangvi, whose key successors included Maulana Ziaur Rehman Farooqi, Riaz Basra and lawmaker Maulana Azam Tariq and Allama Sher Ali Haideri. All of them, along with other SSP militants, were killed in revenge killings by Shi'ite militant groups. Following the Pakistani government's ban on the SSP, this network of militants now operates openly under the banner of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ), now headed by SSP leader Maulana Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi. At some point, the group has also been known as Millat-e-Islamia Pakistan. For all purposes, the LeJ, SSP, Millat-e-Islamia Pakistan and ASWJ are the same, while the like-minded Jundallah was founded by two Pakistan Army officers in Quetta and has been fighting against Iran and, like the LeJ, against Shi'ite Muslims in the Pakistani province of Baluchistan.[6]

On March 9, 2012, the Urdu-language website of the BBC reported that the Pakistani government had "discreetly" banned the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) through a government notification issued to top security officials in Pakistani provinces, but the ASWJ leaders were unaware of the ban.[7] The Urdu website also published a copy of the notification dated February 15, 2012. After the matter became public, the Pakistani government came under pressure from the LeJ/SSP/ASWJ leaders. On March 12, 2012 – just three days after the ban became public – Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik rejected the media reports of the ban as baseless and described the copy of government notification published by BBC Urdu as fake, according to the Urdu daily Roznama Jasarat.[8] As this paper reveals below, not only the ASWJ and LeJ, but their mother organization SSP too is organizationally vibrant in various Pakistani towns.

It is also pertinent to note that in recent years, the top leaders of LeJ, SSP, Millat-e-Islamia Pakistan and ASWJ have enjoyed the patronage of the provincial government of Punjab headed by Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif, the brother of former Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif.[9] Due to violent conflicts between the Shi'ite groups and the LeJ/SSP duo, top leaders and members of the rival militant groups have been killed over the years. In recent years, the LeJ and its associated groups have also been working alongside Jundallah, Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. In this paper, the reference to Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) denotes the LeJ/SSP duo and its associated groups.

The LeJ/SSP's Use of Internet and U.S.-Based Websites

The cover page of Mahnama Ablaghe Haq

The Lashkar-e-Jhangvi's media campaign is steered by the Jhangvi Media Movement (JMM), which has a dedicated website jmmpak.org, creating numerous links to its webcasts, websites, videos and print magazines. The JMM also has multiple active accounts on Twitter, YouTube and Facebook, the U.S.-based social networking sites used by it to advance its ideological propaganda.

Ahlesunnatforum.com – built on the lines of jihadist internet forums associated with Al-Qaeda – is a major internet forum operated by the LeJ/SSP. The JMM website lists a number of websites associated with it, some being jmmpak.net, kr-hyc.tk, jmmpak.tk, youtube.com/jmmpak, katibewahi.com, realitymedia.ws and Islamic-forum-net. A search of these websites in early March 2012 indicated that most of these sites are active. The jmmpak.org also propagates a number of websites and print magazines.

Such websites and publications include: kr-hcy.com (Haq Char Yaar, or the Righteous Four Companions), a website devoted to spreading the teachings of the four caliphs of Islam. This website is introduced in the following statement, in English: "The Haq Char Yaar website is dedicated in the name of the Companions…  This site does not represent any Muslim association or society but is for the general information to the Muslims [to spread] awareness of true Islamic faith. Haq Char Yaar Media Services is devoting their lives to protect the name of Companions [of Prophet Muhammad]… We believe in peace but inclination to peace is not our weakness…"[10]

The LeJ/SSP's attacks are not limited to Shi'ite Muslims. They also target Ahmadi Muslims. Its print publications include Mahnama Ablaghe Haq, an Urdu monthly magazine which has an Internet presence on ablaghehaq.co.cc and on ablaghehaq.com. One of the special issues of the magazine in September-October 2011 carried an exclusive article against Ahmadi Muslims, with the cover page (see image above) accusing India, Israel, Britain and the U.S. of propping up Qadianis, the pejorative term for Ahmadi Muslims, while a sword is being used, presumably by the LeJ/SSP, to cut off the hand behind Ahmadis Muslims. The sword carries the Urdu text: "Second Constitutional Amendment 1974" – a law enacted by the secular Pakistani Prime Minister Z. A. Bhutto that dubbed Ahmadis non-Muslims and barred them from being called Muslims.

In that issue of the magazine, a detailed article in Urdu explained to its readers how to create a YouTube account and post and download videos.[11]

The print magazines, along with their Internet addresses, which are prominently promoted through the Jhangvi Media Movement (JMM) website, include the following: Al-Esar News, an Urdu newspaper on alesar.com.pk; katibewahi.com, which promotes anti-Shi'ite literature in Urdu; khushbu-e-wafa.tk, etc.

One such website, haqsuchmedia.co.cc, deserves special mention, as it promotes numerous audio-video speeches and Urdu books against Shi'ite practices and describes the 2007 Pakistan Army operation in Red Mosque of Islamabad as "the second Karbala [the 680 C.E. battle lost by the Shi'ites]." In addition to producing numerous speeches of LeJ leaders, it also publishes videos released by As-Sahab, the media production house of Al-Qaeda. One of its numerous slogans and posters states (see the image above): "O Muslim when you meet the enemy (Shi'ite) of the Companions, then the heart of the Prophet feels sad in the Green Dome [Holy Mosque in Medina]."[12]

Utilizing U.S.-based websites such as archive.org, YouTube, Twitter, Facebook and social publishing site Scribd, the JMM website produces numerous weblinks to anti-Shi'ite articles, video speeches, magazines and books in Urdu and English. As examined below, it also uses Justin.tv, another U.S.-based provider, to webcast lectures and programs by militant clerics associated with the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi group of organizations. Like other jihadist groups, it uses the U.S.-based not-for-profit Internet Archive established in 1996, at archive.org, to publish a vast amount of hateful content against Shi'ite Muslims. A quick search of archive.org yields vast amounts of hate material posted by anti-Shi'ite groups. The image below shows how the Reality Media Centre Lahore, which is an anti-Shi'ite organization aligned with the LeJ, uses the U.S.-based website archive.org to publish hate material.

Use of U.S.-based archive.org to propagate anti-Shi'ite hate

Why Was the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) Established? – "The Shi'ite is a Nasl [Race/Offspring] of Jews; the Sipah-e-Sahaba Calls the Shi'ite a Bigger Infidel Than the Jew"

On its Internet discussion forum ahlesunnatforum.com, the Lashkar-e-Jhangvi has posted a series of six videos, answering the question: Why was the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) established? A collage of images, texts and audio-video statements of Islamic clerics from various schools of Sunni Islam declares that the group draws its ideological roots from all key Sunni sects, stating: "The Deobandi, the Barelvi, [and] the Ahle Hadith are united on the question of the honor of the Sahaba [the Companions of Prophet Muhammad]."[13] The images given below from the first video illustrate the ideological declarations made by the SSP.

The video declares that the Shi'ite Muslims are worse than the Jews, with the Urdu text as excerpted in the above image reading: "The Shi'ite is a nasl [race/offspring] of the Jews. The Sipah-e-Sahaba calls the Shi'ite a bigger infidel than the Jew."[14]

In the image above from the video, a cleric holds a Koran on his head and declares: "The Koran is on my head [i.e. I swear] that the Shi'ite is a kafir [infidel]."[15] Another Urdu text on the video declares: "Muslims, keep the Shi'ite far from your offices and factories. To give jobs to these infidels is enmity against Islam."[16]

The above footage shows anti-Taliban Pakistani cleric Tahirul Qadri of the Barelvi school of Sunni Islam, with the Urdu text stating: "One who does not consider a Shi'ite is himself an infidel."[17] Another text under the image of Tahirul Qadri, who dismisses the literature of Shi'ite Muslims in the accompanying video statement as false and without authentic sources, states: "The Shi'ite and the Sunni can never be brothers. The Shi'ite is the biggest infidel of all."[18]

In an image on the video, an Urdu text accuses Shi'ite Muslims of killing Saddam Hussein of Iraq, stating: "Saddam being hanged under the watch of the Shi'ite."[19] The video produces a series of statements of Shi'ite clerics, accusing them of allegedly uttering abuse against the companions of Prophet Muhammad.

The video also reproduces a clip of Haq Nawaz Jhangvi, the SSP founder, addressing a crowd while the Urdu text (see above) clarifies his speech: "There is a fatwa [Islamic decree] by Maulana Ahmed Raza Barelvi [the founder of the Barelvi school of Sunni Islam] stating that the Shi'ite is a kafir [infidel] and anyone who doubts this is also a kafir."[20]

The second part of the video series contains a clip of Maulana Ziaur Rehman Farooqi, a late Islamic cleric associated with the SSP, in which he delivers a fiery speech against Shi'ite Muslims in order to defend the honor of the Companions.[21] In the same video, Maulana Asif Ashraf Jalali, a Barelvi cleric, equates the Shi'ites with Jews.[22] It also cites Sheikh Abdul Qadir Jilani, an 11th-12th century Persian Islamic scholar followed widely by Sunni Muslims, quoting the Prophet Muhammad as saying: "In the last days, there would be a nation (Shi'ites) which will curse my companions and will find faults. You should not strike up friendship with them. Do not eat alongside them. Do not marry them. If someone is sick among them, do not ask about them. If someone dies from among them, do not offer the funeral prayer…. May Allah's curses be on them."[23]

A third video of the series teaches the LeJ followers that the Shi'ites can be identified by the following surnames (see the Urdu text in image above): "Jafri, Alvi, Zaidi, Hussein, Naqvi, Raza, Abidi, Abbas, Shah, Hassan."[24] The video also clarifies at one point that 2,700 members of the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan had been killed up to 2010, that is, in allegedly revenge killings by Shi'ite militants.[25]

In the fourth, fifth and sixth videos of the series, which are published on YouTube, a number of Islamic clerics associated with the SSP are shown delivering speeches on various points of beliefs associated with Shi'ite Muslims. In the fifth video, an Urdu text again dismisses the Shi'ites as Jews, stating: "They are the nasl [race/offspring] of Jews and merely use the name of Hazrat Ali [the Islamic caliph]."[26]

The sixth and last video of the series shows clips of speeches by various militant clerics associated with the SSP. Addressing a crowd, Maulana Aurangzeb Farooqi, a youth leader of SSP, defends Saudi Arabia for its pro-Sunni leadership and castigates the Shi'ite Iran, stating: "Iran is behind all the conspiracies hatched against all Islamic countries and the Companions [of the Prophet Muhammad]."[27] One of the final images in the video reads (see the above Urdu text): "Muslims of the entire world, if you want to escape the evil of this Shi'ite infidel, then support the Sipah-e-Sahaba. Deoband[i], Barelvi, Ahle Hadith, or anyone can be a leader of Sipah-e-Sahaba."[28]

The Lashkar-e-Jhangvi's Campaigns on Twitter

In recent years, especially after the Pakistani government ban on the publications of some militant groups, social networking sites like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have emerged as the media of choice for these groups to advance their ideological agenda. The Lashkar-e-Jhangvi and its members operate several accounts on the micro-blogging website Twitter, with the most prominent accounts being @Jhangvi and @JhangviNews. Some other Twitter accounts linked to the militant network also include @SunnikiLLing and @KKSKEWS.

Over the past few months, these Twitter accounts posted messages, conveying the messages of the Prophet Muhammad's companions, inviting their readers to various events and conferences organized by the LeJ and SSP leaders in different Pakistani towns, urging followers to watch live webcasts of speeches delivered by their leaders, directing readers to newspaper reports about statements of Islamic clerics in Pakistan and abroad, etc. Some of these examples are given below to illustrate these activities.

@Jhangvi

Tweet Urges Sunni Muslims to Desist from Friendship with Shi'ites: "Oh Sunnis, Have Respect; End Friendship with Shi'ites…."

The LeJ's main Twitter account, @Jhangvi, became active sometime in late-September 2011, publishing a series of first posts on September 28. It directs its readers to the main website of Jhangvi Media Movement, or jmmpak.org. Like all Lashkar-e-Jhangvi publications, its hate campaign is directed mainly against Shi'ite Muslims. Most of the tweets are in Roman Urdu.

On September 28, its first tweet announced: "Breaking News: Lahore – The accursed Shi'ite Ali Raza who sent message involving blasphemy against the companions [of Prophet Muhammad] arrested… case registered." Another of its tweets on the first day of activity on Twitter noted that in the village of Kdwala (Chak No. 68/DB) in Bahawalpur district, Maulana Habibullah, a cleric of the Barelvi sect of Islam, refused to lead a funeral prayer for a Shi'ite Muslim named Buta.

On October 3, its tweet informed that a bus of Shi'ite pilgrims was attacked in Baluchistan, "sending 13 of them to Hell." On October 9, its tweet urged Sunni Muslims to desist from friendship with Shi'ites: "Oh Sunnis, have respect; end friendship with Shi'ites…." It tweets news stories relevant to Sunni extremists.

On October 3, 2011, it tweeted: "The Supreme Council of Saudi Islamic Scholars has decreed a person committing blasphemy against the companions [of Prophet Muhammad] to be out of Islam." This tweet cited Urdu-language newspaper Roznama Jinnah of October 3, Islamabad edition as its source. In a tweet dated January 5, 2012, it said: "23 Shi'ite terrorists arrested [in Saudi Arabia] under the charges of conspiracy against Harmain Sharifain [the holy mosques in Mecca and Medina]; sloganeering by Shi'ites against Muslims." On October 24, its tweet read: "infidel, infidel, Shi'ite infidel… numerous curses on Khomeini [the late Iranian leader]."

Illustrating recent public concerns in Pakistan that LeJ/SSP leaders are enjoying the support of the Punjab government, the second tweet posted on September 28 celebrated: "Raids on Shi'ite homes on the order of Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif in Darya Khan [town in Punjab province], about 50 terrorist Shi'ites arrested…" On October 10, 2011, it tweeted: "The Lahore High Court has ordered the removal of the names of 25 leaders of Sipah-e-Sahaba [Pakistan] from the list of terrorists." These tweets establish the fact that the SSP, the mother of all LeJ-associated groups, remains active at a grassroots level in Pakistan despite the government ban.

"Only by Sending Curses on the Lifestyles of Jews and Christians can You Be Loyal to Siddique and Umar [the First and Second Caliphs of Islam]…"; The Prophet Said: "Know It without Doubt, the Heaven is Under the Shadow of Swords"

The tweets have included messages against Jews and Christians and views articulating armed intentions against those who do not follow its ideology. On September 28, it posted another tweet advocating hate against Jews and Christians: "Only by sending curses on the lifestyles of Jews and Christians can you be loyal to Siddique and Umar [the first and second caliphs of Islam respectively] – a saying of Maulana Azam Tariq Shah [the founder of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi]."

On October 14, its tweet quoted Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ) leader Maulana Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi as saying that "conspiracy against Kaaba, the qibla of Muslims, should stop." Qibla is the holy mosque in Mecca to which Muslims turn in prayers; and the reference is to concerns among Islamic clerics in Pakistan that Western leaders are conspiring to demolish the Kaaba, the holy mosque in Mecca.

On September 29, 2011, it tweeted an Urdu couplet articulating armed intentions: "Well, I am the priest for peace, will become a storm when the time comes; if even a finger is raised against our lord [Prophet Muhammad] or Sahaba [companions of Prophet Muhammad], I will throw the pen and turn into a sword." On September 29, another tweet quoted Prophet Muhammad as saying: "Know it without doubt, the Heaven is under the shadow of swords."

An October 27 tweet carried a prayer to be read before going to bed, stating: "Oh Allah, I live and die to uphold your name…."

It posts messages about religious and militant leaders associated the LeJ/SSP and its associated groups. On September 28, it tweeted a congratulatory message: "We offer congratulations to Qari Ataullah Rehman on being elected without competition to the post of President of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan [the outlawed political party and mother organization of LeJ-associated groups] for the Sukkur district." Its numerous tweets confirm that that the SSP continues to function as a well-operated organization.

An October 2 dated tweet urged its followers to watch the live webcast of the Shuhada-e-Islam (Martyrs of Islam) Conference of October 6, 2011 in Islamabad, marking the martyrdom of LeJ founder Maulana Azam Tariq. On January 5, 2012, its tweet announced: "Tariq Muawiya, the senior member of Sipah-e-Sahaba [for] Lahore, has been martyred in a firing by Shi'ite terrorists." This account announced many similar messages over the subsequent months, revealing the continuation of the armed rivalry between Sunni and Shi'ite groups.

On February 12, 2012, a tweet urged its followers to visit its official website jmmpak.org to watch the live webcast of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (Defense of Pakistan Council or DPC) rally in Karachi. The DPC, a network of banned militants, is established and headed by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the founder of Pakistani jihadist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). It should be noted here that Maulana Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, the new banner under which the LeJ/SSP operates, is a prominent speaker at DPC rallies and is a key leader of the DPC. In recent months, calls for jihad against the U.S. and India were issued at the DPC conferences in Pakistani cities.[29]

@JhangviNews

"Shi'ite Terrorists; Shi'ites are the Killers of Sunnis; Shi'ites Infidels; The Massacre of Muslims by Shi'ite Infidels Continuing in Syria"

@JhangviNews is perhaps the second most active Lashkar-e-Jhangvi Twitter account. Among its first-day posts on January 19, 2012, it urged its followers to "FOLLOW JhangviNews and send to 40404 [by SMS to mobile phone number]." In a similar tweet dated February 14, it urged its followers to obtain free Sunni news by sending "Add JhangviNews" to 9900 by SMS. Over subsequent months, it has urged followers to use mobile phones, especially SMS, to obtain Sunni news.

On January 19, a tweet outlined its goal: "We are offering sacrifices for the Prophet (peace be upon him). We are the soldiers of the soldiers of the Prophet (peace be upon him)." On January 20, its tweet, illustrating that it does not consider Shi'ites as Muslims, said: "[In the town of] Hangu: The worst wall-chalking against Muslims by Shi'ites…." Over the subsequent weeks, it posted numerous tweets, revealing a murderous rivalry between Shi'ite and Sunni groups in Pakistani cities.

The fact that the LeJ identifies itself deeply with the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) is also established in its tweets. In a tweet dated January 20, the group warned – quoting former Pakistani federal minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed – that a strategy will be worked out under the leadership of Maulana Ahmed Ludhianvi if the government officials did not grant permission for a DPC conference in the town of Multan for January 29, 2012. It should be noted that DPC founder Hafiz Muhammad Saeed has been put on the UN terror list along with his organizations Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Jamaatud Dawa (JuD) for their role in the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai.

On January 20, another tweet boasted that the December 18, 2011 conference of DPC in Lahore and the upcoming conferences in the cities of Rawalpindi and Multan prove that the "field cannot be bedecked without the SSP [Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan]." A January 22, 2012 tweet quoted Lt.-General (retired) Hamid Gul, former chief of the Pakistani military's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as telling a DPC conference in the city of Rawalpindi: "I am feeling happy that the flags of the SSP [the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan] which has been banned for 10 years outnumber others [at the DPC rally]…." On January 29, it urged its followers to watch a live webcast of the DPC conference from Multan via the DPC's official website difaepakistan.com. In later tweets, it urged its followers to carry the SSP flag to the DPC conferences.

On January 21, its tweet announced the release of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi leader Malik Muhammad Ishaq from jail. The same day, January 21, it posted a message that in the Government Degree College town of Jhang, from which the LeJ draws its name, "Attempts by Shi'ite terrorist organization ISO [Imamia Students Organization] foiled to erase wall chalking [of slogans] by the Sunni organization MSO [Muslim Students Organization]." It posted similar tweets concerning its associated groups over the subsequent weeks. On January 24, it tweeted that the legal adviser of the Karachi branch of SSP, M. Ali Mama, and one Brother Noman, were shot dead by "Shi'ite terrorists." Stating that "Shi'ites are the killers of Sunnis," a January 30 tweet notified that Karachi-based sympathizer of SSP, Dr. Qazi Ashfaq, has been shot dead by Shi'ites. A tweet dated February 2 declared: "Shi'ites infidels."

On January 19, 20 and 21, its tweets said that about 6,000 Sunni Muslims have been "martyred" by the Shi'ite government of Syria. It posted another tweet on January 21: "If Hindus, Jews and Christians kill Muslims, then [it is called] atrocity. And if the same deed is committed by Shi'ite religion, then why all Muslims are silent?" A tweet dated February 3, 2012 said: "The massacre of Muslims by Shi'ite infidels continuing in Syria…."  A February 7 tweet questioned: "Everyone is looking at the atrocities being committed against Muslims in India, Kashmir and Palestine, but [why are] all silent on the atrocities in Syria?" In a tweet dated February 18, it notified that Iranian commandos are "worsening the peaceful atmosphere of Karachi" by allegedly being involved in militant attacks against Sunni Muslims and urged its followers to keep an eye on suspicious activities in their vicinities.

On February 22, 2012, it marked the day as the Martyrdom Day for Haq Nawaz Jhangvi, who founded the Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP) and was killed on that day in 1990, stating: "Allah willing, we will ensure a Sunni Revolution on the soil of Pakistan…." A day later, a tweet warned: "O Shi'ites, listen! We can bury generations of generations in graves but will not abandon pursuing you…."

The LeJ/SSP's Use of Facebook

A January 27 post urges followers to join Bilkis Messenger Room

The Jhangvi Media Movement (JMM) uses the social networking site Facebook to advance its ideological goals through an account – jmmpak – created on June 20, 2010. Similar accounts are also created on Facebook by its followers and members. It posts comments and links to various YouTube video, webcasts, messenger rooms and stories in Pakistani dailies which are of relevant to its followers. Over the past few months, it has posted YouTube links to radical speeches by Haq Nawaz Jhangvi, the late SSP founder. It uses Facebook for the same purposes it uses Twitter and other websites.

A March 6, 2012 post linked to a digital copy of its print magazine, Nizam-e-Khilafat Rashida (the Rule of the Righteous Caliphs).[30] Similar links were posted, connecting readers to various books and magazines published by the LeJ/SSP associates. A March 7, 2012 post directed its readers to follow a webcast of a speech by SSP leader Maulana Aurangzeb Farooq at the Difa-e-Pakistan Council rally in Peshawar. On the same day, a post urged its followers to use SMS service on their cell phones to get updates about the activities of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat and regarding the honor of the Companions of Prophet Muhammad by sending a message to phone numbers 40404 and 9900. A March 8, 2012 post directed its readers to visit the main website of Jhangvi Media Movement (JMM), jmmpk.org, to watch a live webcast of a conference on the life of Prophet Muhammad. In a December 6, 2011 post, it noted that its main website jmmpak.org is under cyber attack.

A post on February 8, 2012 announced that the group would soon post poems of Islamic cleric Mufti Saeed Arshad Husseini on the internet. On February 16, 2012, its post said: "Firing by Shi'ite terrorists – the worst infidels of the universe, the enemies of the religion and Ummah – on a mosque of Muslims" and linked to a YouTube video which is not clear but gunshots can be heard.[31] A February 21 post identified Maulana Muhammad Ahmad Ludhianvi, the leader of ASWJ, as the leader of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan (SSP), the supposedly banned group in Pakistan.

A July 15, 2011 post celebrating the release of Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ) chief Malik Ishaq despite being involved in 36 serious cases

In March 2012, media reports emerged that the Pakistani government had banned the ASWJ. Reacting to this, a March 11, 2012 post on Facebook in Urdu script quoted Maulana Muhammad Ahmad Ludhianvi, the chief of ASWJ, as saying: "Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat is not a Jamaat [organization, but it] is our religion.  We will never accept [a] ban on the religion. The enemy wants to create disarray in the Jamaat by spreading news about [a] ban. All members stand united." In March 2012, reports emerged that the administrative officials in Gilgit Baltistan, a region which is under Pakistani control illegally, are planning to reform school syllabi. The LeJ/SSP leaders accused the Shi'ite officials of removing content from textbooks to suit the Shi'ite population. A Facebook post dated March 14, 2012 gave a link to a YouTube video in which Maulana Muhammad Nawaz, Secretary General the SSP's branch in Gilgit Baltistan, described the move as "sedition" against Pakistan.[32]

It posts numerous posters and images about events organized by the SSP/ASWJ in various Pakistani towns. Such posts were regularly published on its Facebook pages from 2010 through 2012. As examined in the paragraphs below, the Jhangvi Media Movement posts numerous videos on YouTube and links them through its Facebook page. The nature of these posts is either against Shi'ite Muslims or to promote the activities of the LeJ/SSP.

The LeJ/SSP's Use of YouTube

Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat chief Maulana Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi

The Jhangvi Media Movement (JMM) has a robust presence on YouTube, having joined the free video-sharing website on February 22, 2010.[33] Some of the most prolific YouTube accounts associated with the LeJ/SSP include: jmmpak, sspinternetwing1, thealazeematmedia, jmmpak313, hcyglobal, haqsuchmedia, jhangvi, haqnawazjh, etc. Over the past two years, the JMM has posted more than 500 videos on its main YouTube channel – jmmpak. Its videos include clips from television channels showing statements of leaders of the ASWJ, the successor to SSP, and Islamic clerics addressing religious gatherings in various Pakistani towns.

Hundreds of videos of ASWJ chief Maulana Ahmad Ludhianvi are available on YouTube. In December 2010, Pakistani Interior Minister Rehman Malik accused the LeJ/SSP of working alongside Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.[34] In an interview on Dunya television channel, Maulana Muhammad Ahmad Ludhianvi denied that his group is or will be involved in any terror activity.[35] Asked as to why the ASWJ is not registered with the government, Ludhianvi responded: "The Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat is not any party. 'Ahle Sunnat' refers to those who follow the path of Sunnah. The Sunnah means the ways of Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him and the Jamaat means the Companions [of the prophet]… Everyone in the country who calls himself Sunni is part of the Ahle Sunnat…. We do not use the name [of Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan] because the matter is before the court… When the court lifts the ban, we will start working under the name of Sipah-e-Sahaba…."[36]

In December 2010, the JMM posted a video of a talk show from Samaa TV channel on the issue of Pakistan's blasphemy laws, after Pakistani lawmaker and now ambassador to the U.S. Sherry Rehman introduced a bill proposing legislative reforms on the issue. Speaking on the program, Maulana Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, the former chief of SSP and now head of ASWJ, argued that only Prophet Muhammad had the authority to forgive those who committed blasphemy against him.[37]

A few weeks later, on January 4, 2011, Punjab's secular Governor Salman Taseer, who had campaigned for reform in blasphemy laws, was shot dead by a security guard who shared the ideology of ASWJ/SSP. It should be noted here that the assassin, Malik Mumtaz Qadri, belonged to Dawat-e-Islami, one of the Pakistan-based Barelvi Sunni organizations, which are as militant in their ideological orientation as other Deobandi groups such as the LeJ/SSP when their interests converge, for example on the issue of the blasphemy laws or honor of the companions of Prophet Muhammad, and generally in their ideological standpoint against the Shi'ite Muslims.

However, the ideological standpoints of the LeJ/SSP and the Barelvi clerics do not always merge. In December 2010, the JMM posted a four-part television program, which was produced after the July 1, 2010 terror attack on the Hazrat Ali Hajveri shrine in Lahore. On the program, Maulana Shamsur Rehman Muawiah, the President of Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat (ASWJ – the new name of SSP) for Punjab province, denied any involvement of SSP in any terror attack in the past or in future.[38] However, appearing on the same program, Barelvi cleric Maulana Raghib Naeemi blamed the groups ideologically aligned with the LeJ/SSP for attacks on the shrines of Sufi mystics in Pakistani towns.[39] The LeJ/SSP, which owes its ideology to the Deobandi school of Sunni Islam, supports the Taliban attacks on Sufi shrines because it deems many Barelvi practices at the shrines to be against Islamic teachings.

But the main targets of the LeJ /SSP conglomerate continue to be the Shi'ites. In countless videos posted on YouTube videos, Shi'ite Muslims are the main target of the group's hateful attacks. A September 1, 2011 YouTube video discussed the question: "Is Shi'ite a Muslim?"[40] Scores of lectures preaching violence against Shi'ite Muslims delivered by Haq Nawaz Jhangvi, the founder of SSP, are available on YouTube. On March 12, 2012, a simple search of the term "Haq Nawaz Jhangvi" yielded 3,130 results on YouTube.

Maulana Ikramullah Mojaddadi

In a YouTube video dated Mar 6, 2010, Maulana Ikramullah Mojaddadi addresses an SSP conference, delivering a fiery speech advocating violence against the "enemies" of the Sahaba, the companions of Prophet Muhammad.

Addressing a Martyrdom Conference in Lahore, Maulana Ikramullah Mojaddadi said: "Marzais [i.e. Ahmadi Muslims] were declared infidels in this region [under a law passed by the secular Pakistani government in 1974]. Very soon, Allah willing, that day is not far when the Sunnis will be united on a single platform and get the enemies of the Sahaba declared kafir [infidel]."[41] The reference to "enemies" is for all those who oppose the SSP's clerical interpretation of Islam, but especially the Shi'ite Muslims.

It should be noted that Maulana Ikramullah Mojaddadi belongs to the Barelvi school of Sunni Islam who are opposed to the SSP/LeJ but share similar views against Shi'ite Muslims. In a video posted by the JMM, Mojaddadi stresses unity between various sects of Sunni Islam, especially between the Barelvis and Deobandis, stating: "The thing I want to say here is that as Ameer-e-Azeemat [Haq Nawaz Jhangvi] used to say that if speaking for the honor and dignity of the companions of the Holy Prophet is crime and terrorism, so I would repeat this 'crime' again and again. If for this reply of the Sipah-e-Sahaba, or sitting with the people related to Ahle Sunnat and for eulogizing the Companions and Ahle Bait [relatives] of the Holy Prophet, I am blamed to be a Mojaddadi [Naqshbandi], Barelvi or anyone else: all these allegations are open-heartedly welcome…."[42]

Clearly, the Deobandi clerics who form the backbone of the LeJ/SSP conglomerate and the Barelvi clerics have similar ideological standpoints on some issues such as in their viewpoint against Shi'ite Muslims and Ahmadi Muslims, but differ on some issues like the Barelvi practices associated with music and singing in Sufi shrines. Both of these groups of Sunni Islam, along with other Islamic clerics, are also known for propagating Antisemitism to further their ideological agenda.

Islamic Cleric: "When You Start Reading Chapter Al-Baqra [of the Koran], I Want to Add a Few Points in Hints, You will Find that the Jew is a Nasl [Race/Offspring] Which Martyred 39, [I] Repeat: 39 Prophets in One Day"

Islamic cleric Nasir Shiraz

In a YouTube video dated September 4, 2010 posted by the JMM, militant cleric Nasir Shiraz, who is identified as "commander" stokes Antisemitic feelings, stating:[43]

"The Koran is indeed a great book, which is a guide of life from the Creator for the momins [faithful Muslims], which is a constitution for the momins…. which helps recognize the enemies…. I will urge you friends… if a commentator says that Jews and Christians are our well wishers, tell him: 'you are a momin, you are a Muslim, you trust in the Koran of the Creator, when you go home, look up the Koran, read the translation of [verses] of Chapter Al-Baqra, and if after reading [the] translation of the Chapter Al-Baqra, if your consciences decides that the Jews and Christians can be well wishers of the Muslim Ummah, can be friends of the Muslim Ummah, then you make them your friends.

"And if your conscience decides that Jews and Christians were not the well wishers of the Muslim Ummah yesterday nor they are today, then support the people who – upholding their lives on palms – enter the [battle] field to foil the conspiracies of Jews and Christians and sacrifice their lives. When you start reading Chapter Al-Baqra, I want to add a few points in hints, you will find that the Jew is a nasl [race/offspring] that martyred 39, [I] repeat: 39 prophets in one day. The Jew is a nasl that martyred Prophet Zakaria [Zacharia] peace be upon him. The Jew is a nasl that martyred Prophet Yahya [John the Baptist] peace be upon him. The Jews are a nasl who wanted to martyr Prophet Jesus….."

The violent tone of languages used by the militant clerics is evident in numerous YouTube videos posted by the LeJ/SSP groups. A video posted in December 2011, prominent Islamic cleric Maulana Ilyas Chinioti addresses a conference in Islamabad, stating: "whether it be the history of Pakistan or Islam, it is decorated with martyrdoms. And it teaches us that a movement, a mission, for which Muslims sacrifice their precious blood in the path of Allah, that mission is inevitably successful."[44] A YouTube video – dated February 19, 2012 – broadcasts a radical song in Urdu, urging its followers "to adorn kafan [the shroud used to clothe corpses] on your head, and spread the mission [of Haq Nawaz] Jhangvi across the world…."[45] Such videos on YouTube are so numerous that it is difficult for any analyst to go through all of them.

In February 2012, Maulana Masroor Nawaz Jhangvi, a cleric of the SSP, addressed a conference in the town of Khairpur, where he declared: "A topic about which there is likelihood that shots will be fired, I talk for hours about that topic."[46] The video of the speech was soon posted on YouTube by thealazeematmedia, one of the accounts associated with LeJ/SSP. In the speech, the cleric stated the SSP's objectives as: To get Pakistan declared a Sunni state; to bring about the rule of the four righteous Islamic caliphs on the land of Pakistan; to bring about the domination of Islam inside Pakistan; and to defend the companions of Prophet Muhammad not by being the defense lawyer but by reminding the enemy of their reality, i.e. by fighting.[47] The cleric goes on to narrate the sacrifices of SSP leaders, as the event at which the cleric was speaking was meant to recall the role of Allama Sher Ali Haideri, a former SSP leader. Maulana Masroor Nawaz Jhangvi ends his speech in these words: "One who does not know how to die does not how to live."[48]

In another YouTube video of the conference, Maulana Muhammad Muavia Azam calls for the enforcement of the Khilafat-e-Rashida (the Caliphate of the Righteous Caliphs) in Pakistan, and urges the audience: "Will you be together? Will you [fear] the atom [i.e. the atomic power America], the gun, NATO, America, Iran, kufristan [the world of the infidels]; if one were to fear… then [Taliban leader] Mullah Omar who was described as a terrorist ten years ago, today 10 years later, the atom [i.e. America] has said, the atom has been defeated, those possessing atoms have been defeated, America and its allies have been defeated. And those lions of Prophet Muhammad, dressed in old torn clothes, have won [in Afghanistan]. Ten years ago when starting the bombing [of Afghanistan] America had said that it will eliminate the name [of the Taliban] in two months, and Azam Tariq [the SSP leader] said, 'O ye who count the days of the Taliban, I will count your days.'"[49]

* Tufail Ahmad is Director of MEMRI's South Asia Studies Project (www.memri.org/sasp)

In a new video statement, Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri issued a clarion call to the people of Pakistan, urging them to rise up by the millions against the Pakistan Army generals and the corrupt government in Islamabad.

In his statement, Al-Zawahiri notes that American aid worker Dr. Warren Weinstein, who has been held captive by the Taliban since his August 2011 kidnapping in Lahore, "will not return to his family... until our demands are met, which include the release of Aafia Siddiqui, Sheikh Omar Abd Al-Rehman, the family of Sheikh Osama bin Laden, and every single person arrested on allegations of links with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban."

This is the second video released this week by Al-Qaeda's Al-Sahab media arm that refers to to Dr. Weinstein; one released March 13 reiterated that his kidnapping was part of steps to obtain the release of Aafia Siddiqui.[1]

The newly released Al-Zawahiri video, which was released on a jihadist Internet forum, was made in the wake of the November 26, 2011 U.S. raid at the Salala checkpost in which 24 Pakistani soldiers died. In it, Al-Zawahiri stresses that the U.S. cannot be a reliable partner.

Appealing to Pakistanis' security concerns regarding India, he stresses that the U.S. is strengthening India and that if India attacks Pakistan, only jihadis will be there to come to the defense of Pakistan. He adds that the Pakistani army is already sold to the Americans and there is no one left to defend Pakistan except the mujahideen.

Calling for an Egypt-like revolt by Pakistanis against their military generals and the government in Islamabad, he states, "Why don't you come out against the generals of Pakistan Army? Why don't you come out in the millions in front of the Parliament and the Presidency?"

Following is the text of the statement:[2]

"Partnership with America Only Leads to Loss in This World And In the Hereafter; the History of America's Dealings with the Shah of Iran, Musharraf... Proves that America Views Its Agents as If They are Mere Hunting Dogs"

"Dear Muslim brothers in Pakistan,

"Assalamu Alaikum wa Rahmatullahi wa Barakatuhu

"The attack on Pakistani forces by American aircraft in Mohmand [Agency at Salala checkpost on November 26, 2011 that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers] requires a pause for reflection.

"America, which had allied itself with the leaders of Pakistan Army and the Pakistani government, poured out its wrath on its own partners, confirming for everyone who was still in doubt that partnership with America only leads to loss in this world and in the hereafter.

"The history of America's dealings with the Shah of Iran, [former Pakistan Army ruler General Pervez] Musharraf, Zain ul Abidin Bin Ali, Hosni Mubarak, and Ali Abdullah Saleh proves that America views its agents as if they are mere hunting dogs or worn-out shoes used to fulfill its objectives and then thrown into the dustbin; and this indeed is the fate awaiting the generals of Pakistan army. The Pakistan army permitted American air strikes in the tribal areas. It provided help and active support in these bombings and continues to do so. What did it get in return?

"The Pakistan Army carried out gruesome military operations involving aerial bombings and outright murder in Swat, Waziristan, Mohmand, Orakzai and Khyber in the interest of America. What did it get in return?

"Earlier, the Pakistan Army supported the Crusader attack on Afghanistan and it continues to do so. Thousands of Muslims were killed in this attack and more are still being killed. What did it get in return?

"The Pakistan Army arrested thousands of Pakistani and Afghan mujahideen, in addition to immigrant brothers. It tortured them, murdered some, and handed others over to America. What did it get in return?"

"Warren Weinstein... Will Not Return To His Family... Until Our Demands are Met, Which Include the Release of Aafia Siddiqui, Sheikhh Omar Abd Al-Rehman, the Family of Sheikh Osama bin Laden, and Every Single Person Arrested on Allegations of Links with Al-Qaeda and Taliban"

"The Pakistan army also arrested the family of Sheikh Osama, so that America may be pleased with it. What did it get in return?

"The Pakistan army, in an act of treachery to its people, joined hands with the Americans against Aafia Siddiqie. What then did it get in return? By the grace of Allah, we, on our part, have captured the American Jew Warren Weinstein. He will not return to his family, by the will of Allah, until our demands are met, which include the release of Aafia Siddiqui, Sheikh Omar Abd Al-Rehman, the family of Sheikh Osama bin Laden, and every single person arrested on allegations of links with Al-Qaeda and Taliban.

"The leadership of the Pakistan army, in view of its longstanding history of cooperating with America against Muslims, cannot be expected to confront the American aggression against Pakistan and Afghanistan.

"Senior officers of the army have been bred on American bribes. They have been trained to submit to America's desires and transgressions. Haven't these generals made a business out of the Kashmir issue for 60 years, and used it as a pretext to plunder the wealth of the Pakistani people, without freeing even an inch span of Kashmir? Instead, those who struggle for the liberation of Kashmir are hunted down, arrested, tortured and killed.

"The leadership of the Pakistani government is a bunch of thieves and bribe-takers who were given amnesty by [former military ruler General Pervez] Musharraf through the National Reconciliation Ordinance [which granted amnesty to scores of Pakistani politicians in corruption and criminal cases] to fulfill American designs in the region. They are slaves of America and live off its aid and goodwill. It is they who call upon America for help in their tussle with the Pakistan Army. How is it possible for a government of thieves and bribe-takers to defend the homeland and people it has sold and betrayed?"

"When It Comes to the Defense of Pakistan, No One Remains But the Free and Noble People of Islam, People of Jihad and Faith from Amongst Its Pious Sons... Rise Up in the Face of These Treacherous [Pakistani] Generals!... Take a Lesson from What Happened in Tunisia and Egypt"

"Therefore, when it comes to the defense of Pakistan, no one remains but the free and noble people of Islam, people of jihad and faith from amongst its pious sons. No one is going to defend Pakistan except its Muslim people, if they put their trust in Allah (swt), rely on Him alone and adopt the means of attaining victory.

"Oh Muslims of Pakistan! The army from which 90,000 soldiers surrendered in Dhaka [leading to creation of Bangladesh in 1971] to the Hindus and which spilled the blood of Muslims in Afghanistan and Pakistan to fill the pockets of its leadership with unlawful money will not fight in your defense.

"Oh people of Pakistan, rise up in the face of this bribe-taking government!

"Rise up in the face of these treacherous generals!

"Take to the streets!

"Revolt!

"Rise and step forward to face death so that you may be given life once again!

"Take a lesson from what happened in Tunisia and Egypt, where millions took to the streets, causing the government to collapse. Some 850 Egyptians were killed, and thousands were wounded. As a result, the security apparatus was incapacitated and completely paralyzed, forcing Hosni Mubarak to call in the army. The leaders of the army saw that Mubarak was clearly pushing them towards a sea of blood along with the revolting masses, and that killing the masses would only serve to turn the country into a furnace of fire.

"Therefore, they chose to tread a safe path, and agreed with the Americans on the necessity of removing Mubarak so that the revolution could die down. Thus Mubarak and his cronies fell, and the Egyptians took a leap towards victory, even though they haven't yet completely achieved it.

"Why don't you follow in the footsteps of your brothers in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen and Syria? Why don't you come out against the generals of Pakistan Army? Why don't you come out in the millions in front of the Parliament and the Presidency?

"Follow in the footsteps of your brothers in Egypt, who take to Tahrir Square again and again by the millions to force the Military Council [SCAF] to meet their demands. Cannot a million free and noble people rise from amongst the Muslims of Pakistan to stage a protest against the Generals of the Pakistan Army so as to force them to stop their betrayal of the Muslim Ummah by participating with America in its war against Islam, to compel them to stop drone strikes, and to pressure them to end the military operations in the tribal areas and Swat and to release all prisoners?"

"Oh People of Pakistan! America is Strengthening India Against You to Turn You Into Her Slaves; This Treacherous [Pakistan] Army Will Not Fight in Your Defense... If India Attacks Pakistan, It is the Mujahideen Who Will Stand Up Against Her"

"Are the Muslims of Pakistan unable to bring forth a million free and noble people who may step forward to protest in front of the Parliament and the Presidency until this government of thieves falls?

"Oh our people in Pakistan! The Arab world around you is surging in a wave of revolution. Tyrants and oppressive rulers are falling. Why are you making no move? Why are you not deposing these tyrants? Why are you not toppling these treacherous bribe-takers?

"Oh Muslims of Pakistan! O free and noble men of Pakistan! Join the mujahideen who are standing up in arms against America's Crusader attack on Afghanistan and confronting its apostate allies in Pakistan and Afghanistan.  At the very least, support them. Aid them and provide them help, for they are you[r] real defenders.

"Oh people of Pakistan! America is strengthening India against you to turn you into her slaves. This treacherous army will not fight in your defense. This treacherous government will not protect you. Their history in Dhaka [i.e. the Indian military role in 1971 War] and Kargil [conflict of 1999 in Kashmir] is well-known.

"If India attacks Pakistan, it is the mujahideen who will stand up against her, with the permission of Allah, just as they stood up against America and earlier against Russia. They are the ones who will step forward for the defense of your honor, sanctity and nobility, for the sake of Muslims and Islam, and not in help of this agent army and bribe-taking government."

"Oh Our Brothers in Pakistan! Oh Our People in Pakistan! This Treacherous [Pakistani] Army and Bribe-Taking Government have Plundered Your Wealth; Take the Lead of Your Brothers in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen and Syria"

"Oh our brothers in Pakistan! Oh our people in Pakistan! This treacherous army and bribe-taking government have plundered your wealth. They have ruined your economy and destroyed your world as well as your hereafter. What then are you waiting for?

"Take the lead of your brothers in Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Yemen and Syria who are standing up against oppression and oppressors with their bare chests exposed and offering sacrifices so that victory may be ordained for then; and verily victory does not come except from Allah (swt).

"Oh our people in Pakistan! Gather around the truthful, the people of sacrifice, and reject the inhibiting exploiters.

"It differs not in words and meaning, but the Adhan [call] of a mullah is one and the Adhan of a mujahid another.

"Oh free and noble people in Pakistan! Compete in sacrifice so that you may be given victory! Step forward in the face of death so that you may be given life!

"A country whose youth died so that it may live

"They met their fate in defense of their nation so that it may survive

"Kingdoms are not built with a mentality of victimhood

"Rights are not doled out and neither does it befit

"In the killed is life for generations

"And in prisoners ransom for them and freedom

"For the awaited freedom is a door

"Hammered with every blood stained hand

"Our last prayer is that all praise belongs to Allah (swt), the Lord of the Worlds, and may peace and blessings be upon our Master Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his blessed family and companions."

A new video released by Al-Sahab, the media arm of Al-Qaeda, reiterates that the kidnapping of Dr. Warren Weinstein, a Jewish American aid worker, from Lahore is part of steps to get Dr. Aafia Siddiqui released from the U.S. jail. Siddiqui has been jailed for 86 years for trying to kill U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan.

In the video, in which Ustad Ahmad Farooq of Al-Qaeda urges rebellion in the Pakistani Army, four Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant are shown recording their statements before their suicide attack in May 2011 on the PN Mehran base, the headquarters of the Pakistani Navy in Karachi, as revenge for the killing of Osama bin Laden.

The video is produced by Al-Sahab, the media arm of Al-Qaeda, and was released in two parts on a jihadist internet forum. The first part of the video traces the role of the Pakistani Army against Muslims in the Pakistani tribal region and Bangladesh, and before the independence from British rule, in Iraq, Delhi, and Palestine.

The second part of the video is titled "The Revenge for Sheikh Osama," and opens with a statement by a Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militant (pictured above) who was part of the team that carried out the suicide attack on PNS Mehran base on May 22, 2011, a few weeks after Osama bin Laden was killed in Abbottabad. He says: "Everyone knows that the Pakistani Army was alongside the American army in the operation in which Sheikh Osama was martyred."

Another video clip of a TTP militant, who was also part of the four-member suicide attack team, is shown. In the video, the militant, who appears to be a teenager, reads a written statement in Urdu, justifying the attack on the Pakistani Navy, saying that Osama bin Laden's blood was spilled by the Pakistani military for the sake of U.S. dollars.

The militant says: "The rulers and generals of this country, who sell their beliefs and faith just for the sake of dollars, remember that you will get tired of fighting us but we will not tire of fighting you, Allah willing." He declares that the Mehran base attack is the revenge for the shedding of the "pious blood" of Osama bin Laden.

Some footage of the PNS Mehran base attack, taken from Pakistani television networks, is shown as part of the video. A narrator explains the extent of the financial and technological damage caused by the TTP bombers in the PN Mehran base attack. The video also shows footage of attacks on NATO supplies in Pakistan and the Taliban fighting against the Pakistani Army in various districts of the Pakistani tribal region and its adjacent areas.

The four team members who attacked the PNS Mehran base

The video also claims responsibility for attacks on the Charsadda military camp; an attack on the cars belonging to the U.S. Consulate in Peshawar; attacks with missiles named Osama on targets in South Waziristan; revenge attacks for Pakistan's arrest of Al-Qaeda militant Younus Al-Mauritani; etc.

The video shows Pakistan Army spokesman Major General Athar Abbas claiming that the arrest of Al-Mauritani was possible with the help of U.S. intelligence. To avenge his arrest, an attack was launched on the Frontier Corps in Quetta, the narrator claims.

The video also claims revenge attacks for the Pakistani military operations in Swat district and the killing of innocent Swati youth in Pakistani custody. Images of victims of U.S. drone attacks in the Pakistani tribal region are also shown.

Dr. Warren Weinstein

The video also claims that Dr. Warren Weinstein was kidnapped from Lahore in order to ensure the release of Dr. Aafia Siddiqui from the U.S. jail.

The narrator says: "When the mujahideen realized that the rulers and generals thrust upon the Ummah, despite heading large armed forces and being armed with modern weapons and possessing the nuclear power, could not free one daughter of the Ummah from infidels nor made serious effort to do so, they decided to make every effort to ensure her release and take revenge for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui – the honor of the Islamic Ummah. One such effort is the successful operation to kidnap a Jewish American citizen from Lahore."

The video shows militants training in a mountainous region and claiming that their preparation is revenge for Dr. Aafia Siddiqui. A clip of Al-Qaeda leader Ayman Al-Zawahiri in this regard is reproduced. In that clip, released earlier, Al-Zawahiri had confirmed that Al-Qaeda kidnapped Dr. Warren Weinstein. Al-Zawahiri had demanded the release of all women held in U.S. custody over their connection to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, including Aafia Siddiqui and Hasna, the wife of an Al-Qaeda militant.

The video shows numerous clips of Islamic clerics and people's views calling for jihad against the U.S. in the wake of the release of CIA agent Raymond Davis from Lahore, while the narrator claims that the movement for the enforcement of Islamic Shari'a in Pakistan is getting stronger by the day.

Towards the end of the video, Ustad Ahmad Farooq, the Head of Al-Qaeda's Department for Dawa and Media in Pakistan, urges the Pakistani soldiers to rise: "Isn't there a self-respecting soldier in this army of 600,000 who considers the orders of the Prophet [Muhammad] as dearer to him than the orders of his officers?..."

He adds: "If the army units of Libya could rebel against [Mu'ammar] Al-Qadhafi and the Sunni soldiers of the Syrian Army against Bashar Al-Assad, then why can't the lower-ranking soldiers of the Pakistain Army rebel against their generals in order to free the 180 million people [of Pakistan] from this slavery, and for enforcement of Islamic Shari'a?..."

Source: Al-Fida', March 13, 2012

In the wake of the anti-U.S. protests in Afghanistan over the burning of copies of the Koran by U.S. troops at an air base near Kabul, Afghanistan in February 2012, the Pashtu-language Pakistani daily Wrazpanra Shahadat, which owes its allegiance to Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the fugitive chief of Afghan militant group Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan, published two poems on Koran burning. One poem is "The Koran Never Dies Through Torching," by Maulvi Samiullah Abidzai,[1] and the other is "Take a Look at Holy Koran," by Maleeha Rehmat.[2] The poems may have been penned prior to the incidents.

The following are translations of the poems.

"The Koran Never Dies Through Torching," by Maulvi Samiullah Abidzai

"The Koran never dies through torching,
"The Koran will shine [upon the earth] like the sun;

"Allah the Exalted has sent it from Lauh-e-Mahfuz [stone tablet in heaven on which the Koran is inscribed],
"[And] it was revealed [to the Prophet Muhammad] at the Cave of Hira;

"The rays of its light reach from the East to the West,
"By the Day of Judgment it will be spread all over;

"To those who live in the darkness of ignorance,
"Allah has sent the Koran as a candle for them;

"Allah himself has taken responsibility for its protection,
"Therefore it is preserved in the breast [of those who memorize it];

"There are millions of Huffaz [those who memorize the Koran] today,
"[And] a Qari [reader] learns the Koran with fondness;

"It makes positive impact on the hearts of human beings,
"It gives counsel of sanity to the entire comity of nations;

"Even an eight-year old child has learned it by heart,
"So it becomes easier [to be learned] by a Muslim;

"[None] are bored by its recitation,
"[And] the Koran is pleased with its own reader;

"Whenever Allah wants it back,
"At that moment Koran will begin to depart;

"It is time for the Muslims to reawaken,
"As the Koran is being burned in churches;

"He who will make the mother of Terry Jones [Florida pastor who threatened to burn the Koran] barren [i.e. by killing him],
"Of him the Koran will be proud,

"Of him the Koran will be proud;

"The baambars [priests] of churches are mere donkeys,
"How can the Koran be finished with their wrongdoings;

"Abidzai [the poet] recites it [the Koran] with great affection,
"And will embrace the Koran with him."

"Take a Look at the Holy Koran," by Maleeha Rehmat from Shamshatoo

"Notice these prostrating Muslims,
"You see the devotees at Haram [al-Sharif, the Holy Mosque in Mecca];
"Look at these God-fearing worshipers,
"[And] look at this burned Holy Koran;

"Look at these religion-loving fidayeen [suicide bombers],
"[And] witness the dog-bitten prisoners;
"Gaze at the daring lions in dark nights,
"Notice the orphans in their mothers' wombs;

"Look at the lunatic in [the torture cells of] prisons,
"[And] see these martyrs without shrouds;
"See the teens missing from their homes,
"[And] see the Ghazyan [those who have participated in jihad] in every nook and corner of the country;

"See the valor of each one on the battlefield,
"[And] peer at the youth in the conflict zones;
"Look at the stature of the martyrs,

"See the hailstorm-stricken birds;
"Notice the grief-shattered Afghans,
"[And] see those callous infidels;
"Look at the enemy flanked by my own friends,
"[And] see these lovers of the dollar;

"Look at the children buried alive under bomb blast [rubble],
"[And] see the wounded ones in their mother's laps;
"Look at the wine-stricken like laborers,
"And see the servitude of slaves;

"Notice those ill-fated spies,
"[And] witness all the enemies of the motherland;
"Look at these killer biting snakes,

"Come and see the history of Islam;

"Today observe these careless Muslims,
"Glance at the torn collar of Rahmat [the poet];
"[And] you will see him/her,
"praying all the time."

The nine minute and 51 second-long video, produced in the Urdu language by Al-Sahab, the media arm of Al-Qaeda, was released on a jihadist internet forum.[1] Ustad Ahmad Farooq says that Badr Mansoor was a native of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province and was "martyred a few days ago" in a U.S. drone attack.

"After being a cactus in the throat of the enemies of Islam on the jihadi fronts of Kashmir, Afghanistan, and Pakistan for more than 15 years, Commander Badr Mansoor, a great military leader, achieved martyrdom," said Farooq, who does not appear on the video except to supply an audio statement.

He says further that this U.S. drone strike also exposed the claim of the U.S. president that his country does not target civilians in drone attacks, and adds that this particular drone attack took place in the middle of a civilian population, in which the wife of Badr Mansoor was wounded.

"It was possible for the enemy to wait for the target to come out of the house since the target had already been identified; but how would the jaws, which have tasted the blood of Muslims, resist the urge to drink blood?..."

He says that the Pakistani people thought that after the November 26, 2011 killing of Pakistani soldiers in the attack on the Salala checkpost, the Pakistani government and Pakistani military are now thinking of quitting the slavery of the U.S., and adds that the reality is opposite, as the Pakistani military has been trained and equipped by the Americans since the 1950s and would not dare to cease its support for them.

He says that the U.S. drone attacks have resumed and are especially targeting the mujahideen who belong to Pakistan, adding that the Pakistani military is "offering gifts of the corpses of Islam's fighters to its American lords to court them afresh…

"Efforts to eliminate jihad and the U.S.-Pakistan cooperation are increasing every day," Ustad Ahmad Farooq says, noting that a clear proof of this is that the renewed U.S. drone strikes are especially killing the Pakistani mujahideen. The U.S. is attacking those targets which are preferred by the Pakistani military, he adds.

Accusing the Pakistani leadership of enacting a media charade that Pakistan-U.S. relations are not functional, the Al-Qaeda official says that all spies caught by the Taliban in Waziristan who supply vital information for the drone attacks, dmit that they were sent by Pakistani military officers.

Pakistan Air Force officer Sultan Hali

Noting that that the U.S. drones do not fire missiles all of a sudden, but have been continuing to fly over Pakistani air space for months, Ustad Ahmad Farooq questions why Pakistan hasn't noticed this violation of its sovereignty. "Do the Pakistani radars always get jammed [i.e. as they were jammed during the Abbottabad operation to kill Osama bin Laden]? The reality is that the system of drones is being run with the permission and full cooperation of the Pakistani military."

In a bid to expose the double standard of the Pakistani leadership regarding drones, a clip of former Pakistani Air Force officer Sultan Hali is shown as part of the video in which Hali says that it is in the interest of Pakistan not to take responsibility for its permission for the drone strikes, but to blame them on the U.S.

Below are excerpts from recent interviews with two Taliban commanders in Afghanistan, which appeared in the Urdu-language jihadist magazine Nawa-i-Afghan Jihad. The date of the interviews is not clear, but they appear to have been conducted sometime in late 2011.

The first interview is with Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, one of the two main spokesmen of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban shadow government), and was published in the February 2012 issue of Nawa-i-Afghan Jihad. The second is with Maulvi Sangeen, Taliban shadow governor for Paktika province.

Following are the excerpts from the interview with Qari Yousuf Ahmadi[1] and the interview with Maulvi Sangeen:[2]

Interview with Qari Yousuf Ahmadi

Endnotes:

In the wake of recent anti-U.S. protests in Afghanistan over the Koran desecration by U.S. troops at Bagram Air Base, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the fugitive chief of the Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan, issued a statement calling for jihad.

Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan is the second largest militant group after the Taliban.

Following is the the statement, which was published in the Pashtu-language Pakistani newspaper Wrazpanra Shahadat:[1]                                     

"What Level-Headed Person Is Unaware That Afghanistan and Iraq Wars are 'Crusader Wars?' This War has Been Imposed on Afghanistan By the Countries Governed By Jews and Christians"

"The Crusader Forces' Unending Enmity Towards the Religion and Faith of Afghans"

"'To those against whom war is made, permission is given (to fight), because they wronged – and verily, Allah is the Most Powerful for their aid. (Chapter Al-Haj, Verse 39, Koran)

"'(They are) those who have been expelled from their homes in defiance of right – (for no cause) except that they say, Our Lord is Allah. Did not Allah check one set of people by means of another? There would surely have been pulled-down monasteries, churches, synagogues, and mosques, in which the name of Allah is commemorated in abundant measure. Allah will certainly aid those who aid His (cause) – for verily Allah is Full of Strength, Exalted in Might, (able to force His Will). (Chapter Al-Haj, Verse 40, Koran)

"Dear countrymen!

"Brothers and sisters!

"Asalam-o-Alaikum Wa Rahmatullah Wa Barakatuhu

"The desecration of the holy Koran by the American-led [NATO] forces at Bagram Air Base has once again proved that the occupation forces are not ready to accept the religion and beliefs of Afghan people. This act of tearing apart scores of copies of the Koran, throwing them in a garbage dump, and then setting them ablaze shows the extent of their enmity [towards Islam]. In fact, they [i.e. the U.S. forces] want to first snatch all these things from this courageous and God-loving nation that preach to them freedom and respect; do not let them bow before aliens and polish them to render every sacrifice for sovereignty and independence of [the motherland].

"The most ignorant and misguided person may consider the repeated acts of desecration of Koran as merely accidental. Before saying anything regarding these incidents [of desecration], every wise person must remember the statement by the former British Sadr-e-Azam [prime minister] before the British parliament, when he held the Koran in one hand and pointed to the Islamic Ummah with the other, saying: 'Whenever this book [Koran] is with them [i.e. the Muslims,] we cannot rule them. How can foreigners rule such a nation, which seeks paradise in Shahadat [martyrdom]?'

"Afghans will also never forget [U.S. president George W.] Bush's statement… when the attack on Afghanistan was launched: 'This is another Crusade. We will prove this claim wrong that no state can defeat Afghans on their soil!' War of Crusade means war against Islam and the Koran. So what level-headed person is unaware that Afghanistan and Iraq wars are 'Crusader wars?' This war has been imposed on Afghanistan by the countries governed by Jews and Christians. Their troops are fighting in Afghanistan, and they bear all expenses of war on their own."

"I Salute the Bravery and Courage of Those Afghans Who Took To the Streets for the Protection of Their Sacred Book [Koran]"

"I salute the bravery and courage of those Afghans who took to the streets for the protection of their sacred book [Koran]. They set the barracks of American forces at Bagram Air Base on fire. American helicopters dropped bombs and opened fire on them but they didn't stop protests nor opted to disperse. They turned out on the roads. They demanded the pullout of foreign occupation forces, and reiterated [it], to avenge this [shameful] act of [Koran desecration]. We should kiss the hands of the laborer [at Baghram] who brought the burning copies of the holy Koran out into his lap to extinguish the fire.

"Shame on those non-Afghans [i.e. Afghan soldiers] who opened fire over the protestors, shot several of them dead, and wounded many others. And ignominy for those mortified Afghan soldiers who still insist that the Americans remain further [in Afghanistan]. How can our nation forgive those disgraced faces who [previously] fought against the Afghan people under the control of the Russians and [now] fight them under the banner of the Americans?

"They shoot unarmed Afghans who were forced to take to the streets to defend their holy book! They sprayed the chests of young people with bullets. They came out into the roads after their religious sentiments were harmed by this act of profanity. They pelted NATO vehicles and tanks with stones.

"Can the shameful, unscrupulous, cheap and uncommitted elements such as these [who side with the infidel forces] not be seen by anybody in the world? May [Allah] shift all potential threats and troubles from these young people to hundreds of those coward elements, who although they are decorated with high-profile ranks and positions, are yet to awaken their courage from deep slumber. They are hesitant to speak against those who have set fire to copies of the Koran!"

"Every Afghan Must Turn His Residence, Office and Workplace Into A Battlefield – And Stand Fast Until All Foreign Troops Pull Out"

"It is amazing that on the same day that some black-faced, anti-religion, anti-state and hypocritical elements in Kabul celebrated the Third Day of Hoot [Kasb, or Pisces (January 20-February 18)] at grand hotels here [in Kabul], some 32 years ago protestors in Kabul were welcomed with shooting by communist forces. And today proof of this can be witnessed in Kabul, Nangarhar, Laghman, Kunar, Nuristan, Kapisa, Parwan, Baghlan, Takhar, Faryab, Zabul, Logar, Uruzgan and other provinces. These hypocrites [insisted on] celebrating that old Third Day of Hoot by holding gatherings, but will not dare to speak out about the bloodbath of [innocent protestors seeking protection for the Koran].

"The gatherings were held by those elements who are disgraced slaves of Russians and communists, or who signed a ceasefire with them. Now these elements have reached an agreement with the communists regarding the Day of Hoot, when volleys of bullets were fired on the innocent citizens of Kabul. They still engaged in secret talks with the communist, as they see that foreign forces can no longer stay in Afghanistan.

"On their part, the night operations are favorable for the success [of their nefarious designs]. They are the people whose soldiers shot peaceful protestors, on the instructions of their American [lords]. Their spies provide information to the Americans to enter [Afghan] houses at midnight and kill sleeping women, children and elderly. The jet fighters were seen pounding homes and villages based on their information. Their politicians want to sign so-called strategic cooperation [agreements] with the Americans. Their laborers and preachers want to justify the firing on Afghans by the foreign aggressors, and held the nation responsible [for all the evils]. And their group leaders oppose any agreement and reconciliation among vary Afghan groups and factions.

"My message for Afghan believers and the courageous is: Your religion, your sacred places of worship, and your honor and dignity can be protected from foreign intervention; fighting can be stopped, and even reconciliation can be reached – if the foreign troops pull out. The powers of the foreign-disgraced labor class [i.e. the Americans' slaves] should be ended; every command must be taken into [our] own hands and the activities of the foreign elements must be restricted. The establishment of an elected Islamic government, the selection of trusted, pious, believing, and seasoned leaders of their choice and in light of faith must be ensured. And you must save yourselves and your country from those who support the foreigners, and faith-seller elements, who were always at the mercy of foreign elements and who were imposed on the Afghans through their support.

"The only way to achieve these aims is for all stakeholders to join hands. Those who possess weapons and can wage jihad should join the ranks of the Mujahideen. The city dwellers must take to the streets and besiege enemy bases, blockade major highways, and attack the enemy convoys one after another. Every Afghan should transform his home, office, and workplace into a battlefield, and must stand fast until all foreign troops – who have set tough terms and conditions for withdrawal – pull out from the region. And an Islamic elected government, acceptable to whole nation, must be formed in the autonomous Afghanistan.

"May the green flag of Islam [always] wave!

"Death to the occupation forces and their disgraced supporters!

"Hekmatyar

"Afghanistan

"Hoot 3, 1390 [February 22, 2012]"

In a recent interview, Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, the fugitive chief of Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan, disclosed that he has held peace talks with Afghan and U.S. officials at various times, and was invited to talks as recently as January 2012. Hekmatyar, who leads the second largest militant group in Afghanistan after the Taliban, also outlined a 15-point plan to restore peace in Afghanistan.

Following are excerpts from the interview, which was conducted in Pashtu:[1]

"The Foreign Forces have No Alternative Except Withdrawal [from Afghanistan], and the Kabul Government would Collapse Soon After They Leave"

Question: "What effects, do you think, the Bonn Conference [of December 5, 2011] will have on the current situation in Afghanistan?"

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: "Viewed from its aims and participants, this Bonn conference was like the first one [in 2001] which had sought to justify the occupation of Afghanistan. They formed a puppet government for Kabul and distributed ministries among countries and groups who had supported the United States in capturing Afghanistan. Neither there was real representation of the Afghan nation in the first one, nor in this one. The first conference proved bad for Afghans, and resulted in the unjustified occupation and cruel war, this one too can not yield any other results."

Question: "How do you see the current situation in Afghanistan?"

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: "I see the current situation in Afghanistan resembling the situation that prevailed a few months before the Soviet troops' withdrawal (in 1989). NATO has suffered defeat in the war; the United States failed to achieve its nefarious designs, and the Kabul puppet administration is on the verge of collapse. The foreign forces have no alternative except withdrawal [from Afghanistan] and the Kabul government would collapse soon after they leave."

"The Situation [of Civil War] in the 1990s was Created by the External Forces who have a Direct or Indirect Role in the Current Occupation of Afghanistan"

Question: "The international community thinks that if the foreign forces leave (now), Afghanistan will relapse into the 1990s situation. Do you have a plan to deal with that possibility?"

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: "The situation [of civil war] in the 1990s was created by the external forces who have a direct or indirect role in the current occupation of Afghanistan. It was an internal agreement between Moscow and Washington that the then-Najib government should remain intact after the Russian forces pull out, the fighting should continue, installation of an Islamic government by the mujahideen should be blocked, a coalition of pro-communists and pro-Westerners be formed, and the incomplete mission of Soviet forces should be handed over to that coalition. Iran and Pakistan agreed to that plan. The Northern Alliance was formed through Iran.

"The Taliban emerged after the alliance failed in its mission [to stabilize Afghanistan] and was on the verge of elimination. In the beginning, the Taliban joined hands with the Kabul government against Hizb-e-Islami [of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar]. They had agreed to form a coalition government in Kabul under the leadership of Zaher Shah Khan, the former Afghan king. However, the plan failed and fighting erupted between them which paved the way for the U.S.-led invasion of Afghanistan [after the 9/11 attacks]. All those countries, including Moscow and Tehran, who were afraid of a mujahideen victory and the establishment of an Islamic government in Afghanistan, joined this attack.

"If Moscow, Washington, and their partners have a plan for continuing the war in Afghanistan after the occupation forces leave [by the end of 2014], only then is there the possibility that 1990s-like situation [i.e. civil war] may re-emerge. But the fact is that the situation has changed a lot in Afghanistan, in the region, and in the world since. Neither Moscow and Tehran and the groups linked to them are in their previous position, nor would Pakistan and the United States and their allies be in the previous position after the withdrawal of NATO forces. I can say with confidence that stopping a repetition of the sour past is easy and possible, provided the mujahideen join hands and agree on a reasonable plan."

"We Held Talks with the Kabul Government as Well as with the Americans…; The Kabul Government is Powerless and the Americans have No Plan Acceptable to the Afghan Nation and the Mujahideen"

Question: "Did the Americans or the Kabul government ever invite you to talks?"

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: "Yes, repeatedly. The last time was just this month [in January 2012]."

Question: "Have you held talks with them? If you did, what was the outcome?"

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: "Yes, we held talks with the Kabul government as well as with the Americans on different occasions, but did not receive any clear, acceptable and realistic plan from them worth mentioning. The Kabul government is powerless and the Americans have no plan acceptable to the Afghan nation and the Mujahideen."

Question: "With whom and on what conditions do you want to hold negotiations on resolving the Afghanistan issue?"

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: "We are ready for meaningful talks with all the parties to the issue. The conditions are that the talks should pave way for an agreed plan for the unconditional withdrawal of the foreign forces, guaranteeing Afghanistan's independence, Afghans' right to decide their fate and their national integrity. These are the real conditions set by the mujahideen and entire Afghan nation. Otherwise, neither can any reconciliation be reached nor can the war be brought to an end."

"My Information is That … [the Taliban] have Held Direct and Indirect Parleys [with the U.S.] Repeatedly at Different Levels; We are Not Ready to Form a Joint Front and Government with Pro-'Others' [i.e. Pro-U.S.] and Anti-Islam Groups"

Question: "Do you, like the Taliban, also want the foreign forces withdraw before negotiations start?"

 Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: "We have a different and permanent stand and strategy on the nature of talks, conditions and time, not like them [the Taliban] who are holding secret talks and saying 'We will not hold negotiations before the withdrawal of foreign forces.' Instead of presenting basic demands, [they are] making demands which are third or fourth priority in importance and value, i.e. the release of prisoners, removal of their names from the [UN terror] blacklist, and similar other demands.

"We seek unconditional and immediate withdrawal of foreign forces, but do not say the illogical: 'First leave, then we will hold talks.' They [i.e. the Taliban] are unreasonable in announcing so in public statements and in holding talks in secret every month. I do not think that the Taliban would oppose talks. My information is that they have held direct and indirect parleys repeatedly at different levels."

Question: "Would you like to attend a Bonn-like conference, or not?"

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: "We did not participate in the 1st and 2nd Bonn Conference, nor will we attend any such conference in the future."

Question: "Are you ready to form a coalition government with the people of Khalq and Parcham (pro-communist parties of Soviet-backed Afghan regimes) and those who worked for the present Hamid Karzai government for resolving the Afghanistan issue?"

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: "The short and clear answer is 'No.' We are not ready to form a joint front and government with pro-'others' [i.e. pro-U.S.] and anti-Islam groups."

"The Kabul Administration is Not a Legitimate and Lawful Government That Could Ink Such an [Afghan-U.S. Strategic Partnership] Agreement on Behalf of the Afghan Nation"

Question: "How do you describe your relations with the Taliban? What separates you two in terms of political and military thinking?"

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: "You should ask the Taliban. They first started fighting Hizb-e-Islami, and formed coalitions with all other groups but shunned the hand of Hizb-e-Islami. Ask them why. We consider all those striving for the independence of our country, and waging jihad for establishing an Islamic government of people's choice in an independent Afghanistan, as brothers and associates.

"However, I must make it clear that we cannot agree with any group on certain points: ruling Afghans by force, especially with men, weapons, and money provided by outsiders…; conducting explosions inside mosques, schools, seminaries, and crowded public places; terrorizing clerics and jihadi personalities and killing innocent worshipers in explosions; targeting opponents inside mosques, and closing and destroying schools."

Question: "How do you view the proposed strategic agreement between Afghanistan and the United States? Is it in the interest of Afghanistan?

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: "The Kabul administration is not a legitimate and lawful government that could ink such an agreement on behalf of the Afghan nation. It has no freedom and power to offer, accept, or decline such agreements. It is a disgraced puppet government of the Americans. Its members do what the Americans task them to do. Their signature is that of an American Afghan official's. They have signed a lot of such documents in the past. The Americans forwarded them the texts of agreements and they signed them blindly.

"They had also inked the agreement that Americans can set up prisons in Afghanistan, detain their opponents, keep them, try them, and ship them out of the country, conduct operations day and night anywhere, enter Afghanistan without a visa, and use Afghanistan's airspace, roads, and resources… The strategic document is in fact a document of permanent occupation of Afghanistan. The (Afghan) communists also had inked such agreements with the Russians, but it benefited neither; rather it swallowed both of them, as the document heralded the downfall of communism and the Soviet Union. It seems that this agreement will also meet the same fate."

"The Kabul Government has No Eagerness or Plan to Restore Peace"

Question: "What would be your reaction if officials of the incumbent government and Wolesi Jirga [Afghan parliament] agree to U.S. military bases in Afghanistan [as part of the proposed Afghan-U.S. Strategic Partnership Agreement]?"

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: "It matters least whether Afghan officials agree to that or not. They are straining for the foreign forces to stay and want the Americans to stay longer. But, the decision on how long to stay and what kind of presence [of U.S. troops] to have in Afghanistan will be taken in Washington.

"Neither the Kabul government nor the so-called Loya Jirga [council of elders which expressed support for the Afghan-U.S. strategic partnership agreement] enjoys any say or importance in this regard. We will continue jihad until the ouster of the last foreign soldier from the country and the installation of an elected Islamic government by the Afghans."

Question: "You must have studied the India-Afghanistan Strategic Agreement. What is your view about it?"

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: "Reports about a strategic agreement with India spread when opposition to the strategic agreement between the United States and Afghanistan intensified. The Kabul officials were tasked to ink strategic agreements with India and others, to cool down the rising opposition. It was shown to the Afghan people as if it was an ordinary issue and should not be taken as a document allowing permanent occupation of Afghanistan."

Question: "Is the government's reconciliation program in the interest of Afghanistan?"

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: "The Kabul government has no eagerness or plan to restore peace. The British had given several million pounds to the previous reconciliation commission to buy mujahideen commanders and make them agree to surrender. The Americans also gave millions of dollars to the High Peace Council [which is tasked by the Karzai government to hold talks with militant groups] for similar purposes. The British said later: '90 percent of our money was embezzled by members of the commission…' We should wait [to hear] what the Americans say about their money. Indeed, they may echo the British.

"These councils cannot help restore peace, as they have no power and no intention. The Kabul president [Hamid Karzai] has repeatedly urged the Americans to stop night raids and searches of Afghans' houses, but they replied through an ordinary officer and media that 'These operations are useful and would continue. Our special forces have so far conducted nearly 3,000 such operations and will continue it.' If this is the power and influence of the president, what power and ability the government's commissions can enjoy."

15-Point Plan: Foreign Troops to Withdraw from Afghanistan under a Reasonable Time-Frame…; Interim Government Acceptable to All…; Parliament to Be Replaced by National Security Council…; Election to Top Offices After Foreign Troops Leave

Question: "What is your plan for solving the Afghanistan issue?"

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: "Our plan is:

"i. The foreign forces should withdraw from Afghanistan under a reasonable time-frame which is acceptable to the mujahideen.

"ii. They should first pull out from cities and populated areas, deploy to military bases, and then leave the country completely.

"iii. Security affairs should be handed and left entirely to the Afghan National Army (ANA) and police. The foreign forces should have no right to conduct uncoordinated military operations, house searches, and arrests anywhere in the country.

"iv. The political power should be transferred to a temporary government [in Kabul] acceptable to all parties. If they can not agree on one, then such changes should be made in the incumbent government, which are acceptable to all. However, disputed figures, people involved in corruption, national embezzlement, war crimes, and un-Islamic activities would not be part of such government. Similarly, the leadership of the three national security forces should be non-partisan, and not with individuals associated to groups who have fought each other.

"v. The parliament will be replaced by a Shura, named National Security Council, consisting of seven to 15 members nominated by all Afghan parties with consensus. The Shura will have the power to take the final decision on key issues. Its headquarters would be in a province exclusively in the control of Afghan forces, with no foreign military presence.

"vi. Elections to the president's office, Wolesi Jirga, and provincial councils would be held simultaneously after the foreign forces withdraw.

"vii. Cabinet members and governors would qualify [through a set of requirements] for contesting the elections if they had resigned their office/seat six months before the date of the polls.

"viii. Each winning party will get representation in the first elected government proportionate to the votes it polled. The elected government would need to secure trust vote from the Shura. After that the party gaining victory would not be bound to form a coalition government.

"ix. The party or political alliance attaining more than 10 percent of total votes polled in the first elections would be allowed to contest the next elections.

"x. Complete ceasefire would be observed by the warring parties during the election period. All political prisoners would be released. All the parties would promise not to use weapons or any illegal means to reach the corridors of power.

"xi. The first elected council will have the power to discuss and pronounce the final word on a draft constitution to be prepared by the three organs of the state – the government, the judiciary, and the National Security Council.

"xii. No foreign state will have the right to maintain its prison in Afghanistan, put any Afghan on trial, or shift him to any other country for detention and trial.

"xiii. People accused of corruption, drug trade, embezzlement of national assets, and war crimes would be tried in Sharia courts and no party would defend him covertly or overtly.

"xiv. Once the foreign forces withdraw, no foreign fighter [i.e. non-Afghan militant] would be allowed to stay in Afghanistan.

"xv. Any family and foreign party opposing this pact and stressing continuation of fighting would be confronted jointly until the country is secured against the war-mongers."

"Hizb-e-Islami has a Glorious Part in the Ongoing Jihad, Both on the Spiritual and Military Fronts…; Some Countries, Including Our Neighbors, Repeatedly Offered to Train and Equip Our Commanders"

Question: "What is your share in the ongoing resistance against the United States and NATO forces?"

Gulbuddin Hekmatyar: "All Praise be to Allah, Hizb-e-Islami has a glorious part in the ongoing jihad, both on the spiritual and military fronts. The ongoing jihad was launched by Hizb-e-Islami. The Hizb-e-Islami gave the call for jihad and conducted the first operations.

"For one and a half years, Hizb-e-Islami was alone in the battlefield when other jihadi outfits joined the battle. We have been waging jihad with our personal resources and ability.

"Those mujahideen who cannot provide logistics are allowed to fight in the ranks of other groups. However, we never agreed to send mujahideen to other countries for training and getting logistics to conduct operations of their choice. Some countries, including our neighbors, repeatedly offered to train and equip our commanders but we avoided that. Regretfully, some groups are involved in this practice…."

Following are excerpts from an interview with Saudi columnist Princess Basma bint Saud bin Abd Al-Aziz Aal Saud, which aired on ANB TV on February 17, 2012:

Princess Basma bint Saud bin Abd Al-Aziz Aal Saud: "The question that I ask myself now is how come the Islamist movement has arisen in all our countries. It is a very strange phenomenon that the Islamic movement is the only one capable of…"

Following are excerpts from a Palestinian infomercial "No to Violence Against Women", which aired on Palestinian Authority TV on December 8, 2011.

Silhouettes of man and woman arguing

Recently, a jihadist internet forum released a video of Maulana Fazlullah, who is the Emir of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for the Swat Valley of Pakistan's Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. His fighters began enforcing sharia and a total ban on girls' education in Swat in early 2009, which led to international pressure on Pakistan. Following a military operation in Swat, Maulana Fazlullah has reportedly taken shelter in eastern Afghanistan.[1]

The video, which is 30:28 minutes long and titled "Maulana Fazlullah's Speech to Women of Swat and Dir Districts", is produced by Umar Media Studio of the Taliban. The video has a map of Swat and Dir districts and a picture of Maulana Fazlullah, accompanying his audio speech to women. Maulana Fazlullah is also known as "Mullah Radio" – i.e. the radio cleric – because he used to run an FM radio channel through which he stressed the need for the enforcement of Islamic law.

The cleric, owing to his furious speeches on his illegal FM radio, used to be popular among the residents of Swat, particularly among women. The women of Swat and Dir districts were known for their generosity towards the outlawed TTP and Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariat Muhammadi (TSNM or the Movement for the Enforcement of Islamic Sharia), which was run by Maulana Fazlullah's father-in-law.

Speaking in Pashtu, Maulana Fazlullah stresses the need for jihad while offering words of solace and courage to the women of Swat and Dir – particularly wives and daughters of mujahideen who were forced to live miserable lives at refugee camps set up as a result of military operations. The Taliban commander urges them to stand firm and exhibit bravery despite the odds and wait for their men, saying that the day is not so far that the Taliban fighters will return to their homes with honor and dignity after defeating the enemies of Islam.

"Islam Allows Marriage with More Than One Woman…; Our Prophet Muhammad had Nine Wives When He Breathed His Last"

In his speech, Maulana Fazlullah opposes the wedding of girls from Swat district with Pakistani soldiers, arguing that they are "apostates." In a disparate attempt to stop the trend of Swati girls' marriages with Pakistan Army soldiers, particularly those belonging to Punjab province but presently serving in the scenic Swat valley, Maulana Fazlullah says:

"O' my sisters, Listen! Don't wed with army soldiers. It is un-Islamic. They are apostates and are killing the Mujahideen. Their own wedlock contract with their wives is no more intact and in accordance with Islamic injunction because they are apostates. So, marriages with apostate soldiers are Haram [forbidden] in Islam.

"Give the hands of your daughters and sisters to those mujahideen who have left their houses and properties for the sake of Islam. Give them to mujahideen – whether they are poor, but they are rich in the eyes of Allah. They are mujahideen – friends of God and Prophet Muhammad (SWA). Hezbollah, Abdullah, Jundullah, etc. are epithets given to them by Allah Himself."

The TTP commander says: "Prophet Muhammad says to give the hands of your sisters and daughters to those people who are God-fearing, devout, and righteous."   

Justifying polygamy, Maulana Fazlullah says: "Islam allows marriage with more than one woman. Although the practice may be contrary to the wishes of majority of women, it has been accepted by logic and wisdom and also in accordance with Islamic sharia. Our Prophet Muhammad had nine wives when he breathed his last. In Christianity and Judaism, there is no concept of polygamy."

The cleric urges the women not to oppose polygamy, saying: "They (co-wives) are your friends; treat them like sisters. It's the demand of the time to grow and nourish more mujahideen and it could be possible only when a mujahid weds with more girls. Our dear Prophet Muhammad says: 'Marry those women who bear many children. Except Hazrat Adam, all other prophets had more than one wife.'"

"Pakistan has Always Remained in the Grip of Natural Calamities [Like Floods] … Due to Its Policies Which are Un-Islamic and Pro-Infidel Forces…; No Such Natural Devastation on Afghan Soil Since Jihad has Started There"

Pakistan was affected by devastating floods in 2010 as well as in 2011. Speaking about the floods, Maulana Fazlullah says:

"As you know, Pakistan has always remained in the grip of natural calamities, and man-made disasters, etc., due to its policies which are un-Islamic and pro-infidel forces. Look! You will see no such natural devastation on Afghan soil since jihad has started there. It is universal truth that wherever blood of mujahideen sheds, there will be no calamities.

"The flood devastation in Pakistan is an endorsement of the Taliban actions and jihad by Allah Almighty. It was a lesson for all and sundry that Allah endorsed our decisions in the shape of flash floods which washed away all the remaining bridges, swept away military camps, and buried the apostate soldiers alive under rubbles of sand and mud.

"Allah helped us and justified our jihad there. The floods had broken the backbone of the government. Its economy is on the verge of collapse and bankruptcy."

The jihadist commander cites Pashtu proverbs: "Sal Papar Da Yaw Lawar" (one hundred crunchy/paper-thin snacks can be broken with only one stick) and "Yaw truck Hindwani Aw Yaw Chaqu" (a truck full of uncounted melons can be cut into pieces with only one knife) and says: "So only one Taliban is sufficient to control hundreds of enemy soldiers."

"Look! [Pakistani provincial minister] Mian Iftikhar, the son of bitch, has always claimed that the backbone of the Taliban has been broken. Everybody knows that his only son was killed by our hands, and actually we have broken his backbone."

"Passion for Jihad is Just Like an Addiction; No Matter How Much Spicy Food is, Once a Man Becomes Addicted to It He Can't Eat Food Without Chilies"

Maulana Fazlullah, in his speech, says: "Passion for jihad is just like an addiction. Once it has entered your heart and mind, it will be impossible to drop it out. For example, no matter how much spicy food is, once a man becomes addicted to it, he can't eat food without chilies. Jihad is like addiction. If a drug addict can't survive without drugs, then how can a true mujahid lift this passion for jihad?"

The cleric cites a Pashtu poem: "Che Da Zalmo Na Pura Na Shwa……Khoga Qura'na Jenakai Ba De Gateena [If youth failed to deliver, girls will come forward to win war for the honor of the Koran]."

The cleric says: "Islamic history is witness that women had played a great and dynamic role in the expansion and dominance of Islam. Hazrat Sumayyah [bint Khayyat, who was killed for converting to Islam] was the first lady who embraced martyrdom. [Prophet's wife] Hazrat Khadeeja (may Allah bless her) was the first woman who recited the Koranic verses. She was the woman who bore the expenses of the compilation of Koran…

"Respectable sisters! Allah Almighty is our creator, our master, our sustainer, and Hakeem [doctor]. He bequeathed us with varying blessings, for example: one) If we keenly observe our body – its structure and shape – then we can realize how each organ has been placed beautifully and properly; two) children, husbands, fathers and mothers, sisters and brothers, etc., all are gifts from Allah; three) we are Muslims by birth and believe in the true religion of Islam and have a holy book like Koran and holy Prophet Muhammad; four) we have been blessed with jihad, Hijrah [migration], and martyrdom."

"[An Afghan Woman Told Her Husband] I am Proud to Be Called 'Mother of Martyrs' But I Also Wish to Be Called 'Wife of a Martyr'…; The Man Too Took up Arms and Went for Jihad Where He At Last Embraced Martyrdom"

In his speech, the cleric narrates examples of several brave women such as those who stood up against atrocities of their husbands, the mother of a foreign mujahid who reached the war-front in Afghanistan to meet her son, and Afghani and Swati women who sacrificed their entire families in the path of jihad.

 "You would know about Pharaoh, as he was a cruel infidel ruler of Egypt. He had run his government's affairs with his own will. Presently there are also Pharaoh of Libya, Pharaoh of Tunisia, Pharaoh of Egypt, and Pharaoh of Saudi Arabia, etc… and all are in trouble today due to their anti-Islam policies and friendship with infidel America and its allies.

"Pharaoh was a dictator. Both dictatorship and democracy are systems of Kuffar [infidels]. Only [Islamic] caliphate is a true, just, and successful system of governance. And that is why today we are waging jihad for the establishment of Khilafat [caliphate]. We are His creatures and we have to implement this true system on earth of God…."

Citing an example of bravery, Maulana Fazlullah said: "An Afghani woman lost all her ten young sons in jihad against U.S.-led forces. One day she was sitting depressed at her home when her husband came in. He asked her the cause of her worries. He thought that she may remember her martyred wards. So to console her, the man said: don't worry, Allah had gifted us our sons and then took them back. They will intercede to Allah for our entry into paradise.

"However, the woman replied, no I am proud to be called 'mother of martyrs' but I also wish to be called 'wife of a martyr.' So to fulfill her wish, the man too took up arms and went for jihad where he at last embraced martyrdom. Now the woman sitting alone at her home, thinking that she is the mother of martyrs, the wife of a martyr, then why not to be a martyr herself? So she dressed in her husband's clothing and jumped in to the battlefield. She had to serve the mujahideen by providing food, water, and ammunition at bunkers, and at last embraced martyred. The entire family embraced martyrdom and now they should be in heaven."

"Change is Inevitable as Cracks have Appeared in the Rank and File of the [Pakistani] Government and Military Forces…; They are Now Begging Us for Reconciliation [with the Taliban]"

Maulana Fazlullah quotes an Afghan mujahid as saying: "An Arab woman had visited Afghanistan to meet her mujahid son. She was busy talking with her son at a waiting room at the warfront when the enemy jet fighters and gunships attacked the fighters' bunkers. The son rushed to the bunkers to assist his associates. The woman too came out of the waiting room. She prayed to Allah that she had spent a major portion of her life, so she wished to be martyred.

"The bombs and shells dropped around her but she stood unhurt in the open. Then she prayed that if martyrdom is not in her fate, then she wished to be injured. So shrapnel came from somewhere and hit her. She took her blood in her hands and thanked God. She was so glad as if one was going to start a day-long fasting or there was a wedding ceremony. So it all depends on how much passion and determination one has in his heart for jihad."

The TTP commander says: "A woman in Swat valley lost her three sons and husband in jihad, who left behind their wives. The woman told her fourth son that if he is her son and fed on her milk, then he should follow the path of jihad as chosen by his martyred father and brothers."

Maulana Fazlullah urges the women of Swat: "I plead that you are refugees. You are in a state of worship. You should be careful about your sanctity, respect, and honor. You should stay away from vulgarity and obscenity. Wear a veil, cover your bodies, and don't talk and look to aliens. Don't beg from others, and face hardships with bravery. Beg only from Allah who is the guarantor of food and meal. Allah is generous; He is great. Don't worry - Allah has promised Muslims to enhance their livelihood during Hijrat. Allah will help you if you obey his commands.

"Please don't forget offering five-time prayers. Don't visit houses except of close relatives. Please take great care. All eyes are converged on you. People are looking toward you, for how you behave. If you stand firm and protect your honor and dignity, then other people will follow you and enter into fold of the mujahideen in droves.

"All Praise be for Allah! Our women and our boys are a role model for others. Our mujahideen have impressed people everywhere they went. The people have admitted their decency, bravery, and friendship. Mujahideen always kept their eyes on the ground and never look up to alien women. If mujahideen can take care and don't look toward other women, then you [mujahideen women] too need to avoid looking toward other persons. So be careful and confine yourselves to your abodes.

"The days of hardships and miseries have gone. Soon they will hear happy news. They will see with their own eyes the returns and gains of sacrifices they have rendered for the sake of dominance of Islam. Now the change is inevitable as cracks have appeared in the rank and file of the government and military forces [of Pakistan]. They are now begging us for reconciliation. All such development is the fruit of their sacrifices and patience."

"We will Avenge the Disgrace and Humiliation Inflicted on the Honor, Dignity and Self-Respect of Our Sisters [by Pakistani Soldiers]…; Persuade Your Husbands, Brothers, and Sons Categorically for Waging Jihad"

"Allah willing, we will avenge the disgrace and humiliation inflicted on the honor, dignity, and self-respect of our sisters. We will not take for granted the violation of sanctity of scarf of our sisters and daughters by the apostate security personnel [of Pakistan]. A large number of girls have been missing from the IDP [internally displaced persons] camps, and your mujahideen brothers will seek answer from them in this regard.

"I request all my sisters to follow Din [the religion of Islam], and depend on your own limited resources. Persuade your husbands, brothers, and sons categorically for waging jihad and don't hide them in homes. Cowardice is no solution and can't protect anybody from death. May Allah keep you in his protection! Allah bestows on you the ornament and garland of paradise.

"Greed is a curse, and don't crave worldly things like garments and ornaments. I pray to Allah to give you patience, foresightedness, understanding, love for each other. Share things amongst you. Revive the example of Sahaba [the Companions of Prophet Muhammad] of Medina, where they shared everything with Sahaba who migrated from Mecca – who even shared their women with them [i.e. married among each other].

"Muslim women had played a great role in the reformation of a model Islamic society. Like female Sahaba, you too should play a due role in nurturing brave, courageous, and true mujahideen. The lap of a mother is the first madrassa [Islamic seminary] of learning for a child.  Your men will be reflective of that which you people infuse in their minds and hearts.

"O' my sisters, listen! Don't annoy your mujahideen husbands, brothers, and sons. Don't dishearten them by exchanging harsh words with them. Welcome them with open heart, affection, and love when they return home from jihad. Exchange pleasantries and encourage them as they are soldiers of Allah and the Prophet."  

The above cartoon from an Afghan website depicts the Pakistani military's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) cultivating terrorism (courtesy: kabulpress. org, May 18, 2011)

Introduction

This paper examines the following: first, the essential ideological unity and operational collaboration between the jihadist organizations based in the Pakistan-Afghanistan region; second, the reality of the now-not-so secret U.S.-Taliban peace negotiations and how the Taliban aim to gain from the talks; third, the Taliban's official statements illustrating their viewpoint on the continuation of jihad against the U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan in spite of the talks; fourth, how a realignment of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda is underway in Pakistan-Afghanistan border region, backed by the Pakistani intelligence agencies and parallel to the U.S.-Taliban talks; and fifth, the message of jihad that is being reinforced by the newly established Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), a new incarnation of the banned Pakistani jihadist group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT).

Western writers and security analysts view these groups in the Pakistan-Afghanistan region as independent units led by different commanders, and as operationally autonomous. However, this view does not reflect the accurate situation on the ground. The jihadist organizations, i.e. those based in the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region or elsewhere, deeply share the ideology of jihad, even though they may constitute operationally different units at some times and do collaborate whenever it is operationally achievable for them.

As discussed below, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban's shadow government) views its talks with the U.S. as a means to gain political and diplomatic legitimacy at the international level and sees the talks as in a pre-negotiations stage, when primarily the goals to be achieved include an exchange of prisoners and the de-listing of Taliban leaders from the United Nations terror blacklist as well as from the U.S. State Department's own terror watchlist. Various statements issued by the Islamic Emirate, and examined below, illustrate the point that the Taliban will continue their jihad against the U.S. forces, including repeating an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, like the one on September 13, 2011.

In the middle of the U.S.-Taliban talks and the U.S. move to end the occupation of Afghanistan by the end of 2014 and to hand over security responsibilities to Afghan security forces, the Pakistani military leadership is failing to see any strategic advantage for itself in the emerging situation in Kabul. As a result, the Pakistani military's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) is propping up a new pro-Pakistan Coordination Council of Taliban and Al-Qaeda commanders, as seen in the emergence of Shura Muraqba in early January 2012.

This paper also examines how the Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), the jihadist organization known for working with the support of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), is transforming itself into a new avatar under the banner of  the newly established Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC), leading mass public rallies in Pakistani cities where the message of jihad against the U.S. and India is publicly declared and threats are issued against the elected civilian government of Pakistan to completely sever all relationships with the U.S. – a goal desired by the ISI. In its understanding of jihad and strategic objectives, the DPC does not differ in any way from other jihadist groups in Pakistan, including the Taliban, Al-Qaeda and the Punjab-based Sunni jihadist groups that have emerged as affiliates of Al-Qaeda in recent years.

The Essential Unity of the Taliban and Other Jihadist Groups

In a pre-recorded video, the Jordanian suicide bomber who carried out the December 2009 CIA base at Khost, Afghanistan sits alongside Hakimullah Mehsud, who succeeded Baitullah Mehsud as TTP Emir

It should be noted that there is an essential ideological unity and operational collaboration between the jihadist organizations active in the Pakistan-Afghanistan region, including the Afghan Taliban, the Haqqani Network, the Pakistani Taliban, and Al-Qaeda and its affiliates.

The Afghan Taliban groups, including the main constituent Haqqani Network, are organized primarily under the banner of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, the Taliban's shadow government in the country. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is headed by Mullah Mohammad Omar. The Haqqani Network, perhaps the most dominant unit among the Afghan Taliban currently, is led by commander Sirajuddin Haqqani and his father Jalaluddin Haqqani.

Over the past few years, the U.S. government and Western journalists have tried to argue that the Haqqani Network is not part of the Taliban. Some journalists, advocating this view, have published reports arguing that the Afghan Taliban are a peaceful group whose interests are limited to governing Afghanistan whereas the Haqqani Network is closer in its tactical orientation towards Al-Qaeda.[1] This view has been encouraged by the U.S. government in order to drive a wedge between the militant groups. However, time and again the Taliban have rejected this view, reiterating instead that the Haqqani Network is formally part of the Taliban and owes its allegiance to Mullah Mohammad Omar.

Maulvi Sangeen, the Taliban's shadow governor for Paktika province, stated recently that the Haqqani Network, is part of the Taliban. In a statement published by an official website of the Islamic Emirate, Maulvi Sangeen rejected Western assertions that Haqqani Network is a non-Taliban group active in the eastern Afghan provinces of Paktia, Paktika and Khost, stating: "This is the public cry of the enemies of Islam and Afghanistan and their stooges. It has no reality. It is the propaganda of different radio channels and the media. I can say quite openly that all the mujahideen work under the leadership of the honorable Emir-ul-Momineen (head of the pious people) [i.e. Mullah Mohammad Omar]. Not only in our area, but also in the whole of Afghanistan, the operations are carried out according to his command and under his control…. I would like to clarify that Alhaj Maulvi Jalaluddin Haqqani (may Allah protect him) and his family have rendered unforgettable sacrifices for Islam and Afghanistan. All his family members are sincere to Islam and jihad. Mr. Haqqani himself is a devoted Mujahid, scholar and a pious person. He obeys the head of the Islamic Emirate [Mullah Mohammad Omar] and asks others to obey him."[2]

In November 2011, Sirajuddin Haqqani went on record to clarify that the Haqqani Network is part of the Taliban, stating that the U.S. has been working to separate him from the Islamic Emirate. In an audio interview published on the official website of the Islamic Emirate, Sirajuddin Haqqani stated: "Right from the first day of the American forces' arrival into Afghanistan until this day, not only Pakistan but other Islamic and non-Islamic countries, including the U.S., contacted us for negotiations and they are still doing so. They offered a big share and important role in Afghan government if we part ways with the Islamic Emirate. But, we always replied that they should rather engage themselves in negotiations with the political commission of the Islamic Emirate. We know that the so-called reconciliation [i.e. peace process] is not their goal; rather they want to create a rift in the ranks and files of the Islamic Emirate."[3]

Asked about what relationship the Haqqani Network has with Mullah Mohammad Omar, Sirajuddin Haqqani stated: "The respected Emir-ul-Momineen Mullah Muhammad Omar Mujahid is our supreme leader. We follow his directives. We are representing a particular area under the umbrella of the Islamic Emirate and act accordingly. We follow directives of the Shura [led by Mullah Mohammad Omar] in planning and financial matters. In such a situation, there is no question of running a separate organization, group, or entity."[4] Sirajuddin Haqqani also sits on the Shura, i.e. the Taliban's governing council based in Pakistan and headed by Mullah Mohammad Omar.

The Pakistani Taliban groups, which are organized under the umbrella organization known as the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP or Movement of the Pakistani Taliban), also consider themselves as part of the Taliban headed by Mullah Omar. On numerous occasions, TTP Emir Hakimullah Mehsud has clarified that the TTP owes its allegiance to Mullah Mohammad Omar, who is regarded as Emir-ul-Momineen or Leader of the Faithful by all major jihadist groups worldwide.

In a statement issued in March 2010, Hakimullah Mehsud rejected distinctions between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistani Taliban, stating: "The other point is that the Afghan Taliban are waging jihad under the leadership of Mullah Omar, and Pakistani Taliban are also waging jihad under his leadership. The Emir of the Afghan Taliban and Emir of the Pakistani Taliban too is Emir-ul-Momineen Mullah Omar. The Emir-ul-Momineen, Mullah Omar, is bravely confronting the infidels and in this war against infidels, the Pakistani Taliban are standing alongside him…."[5]

In another message issued on the eve of Eid-ul-Adha (the Feast of Sacrifice in November 2011), Hakimullah Mehsud vowed to "fight in the way of Allah" until the earth is cleared of the infidels (non-Muslims), and reiterated that the Taliban fighters owe their allegiance to Mullah Omar.[6] Mehsud stated: "I urge all Muslims to rise up against these agents of the kuffar who have sold their consciences; to rise above their differences and unite under the banner of Emir-ul-Momineen Mullah Mohammad Omar Mujahid (HA) and work towards the revival of the Caliphate – a dream awaiting fulfillment."[7]

The Haqqani Network of the Afghan Taliban, Al-Qaeda and the Pakistani Taliban collaborate in executing major attacks. One such key attack that illustrates deep collaboration between the Haqqani Network, the TTP and Al-Qaeda is the December 30, 2009 suicide bombing at the CIA's Forward Operating Base Chapman in Khost, the eastern Afghan province, which killed seven CIA operatives. The bombing was carried out by triple agent Hamam Al-Balawi aka Abu Dajana, a Jordanian intelligence operative working for CIA but simultaneously recruited by Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Al-Balawi said in a pre-recorded video that he was carrying out the operation to avenge the killing of TTP's Emir Baitullah Mehsud, the predecessor of Hakimullah Mehsud.[8]

It is pertinent here to note that in that pre-recorded video, Hamam Al-Balawi sat alongside Hakimullah Mehsud to record his statement, warning: "We will never forget the blood of our Emir, Baitullah Mehsud. We will continue to avenge his blood in America and elsewhere. This is a pledge taken by all the muhajireen [foreign militants based in Waziristan], who were hosted by Baitullah Mehsud. By Allah, we shall never forget our Emir, Baitullah Mehsud, who used to kiss the hands of the muhajireen, out of the love he had for them in his heart. We shall never forget our Emir, Baitullah Mehsud."[9] The reference to muhajireen (migrants) draws on Islamic history, as the muhajireen were Prophet Muhammad and his companions when he migrated from Mecca to Medina leading to the establishment of the first Islamic state there. The attack on the CIA base at Khost was described in an editorial by the Pakistani newspaper Dawn as a "spectacular example of collaboration" between the Afghan Taliban, Al-Qaeda, and the Pakistani Taliban.[10]

Faisal Shehzad, who carried out the failed bombing on May 1, 2010 in the Times Square of New York, had hoped to achieve martyrdom in that attack, as it became evident from a pre-recorded video of him that emerged afterwards. The video speech illustrated how Shehzad, like other Islamic militants, saw no distinction between the Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Shehzad, who is now serving a life term in a U.S. jail, stated in the video: "This attack on the United States will also be a revenge attack for all the mujahideen, and the muhajireen, and the weak and oppressed Muslim people, for example, the martyr Baitullah [Mehsud, the TTP] Emir, as well as Abu Mus'ab Al-Zarqawi [of Al-Qaeda in Iraq], and all the Muslim Arabs that have been martyred. I will take revenge on their behalf, Allah willing, and I really wish that the hearts of the Muslims will be pleased with this attack [in Times Square]."[11] 

It should also be noted here that in addition to the TTP, a number of Punjab-based jihadist organizations in Pakistan – e.g. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi (LeJ), Jaish-e-Muhammad (JeM), Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Harkat ul-Jihad al-Islami (HuJI) – operate closely with Al-Qaeda and the Taliban in the Afghanistan-Pakistan border region. Hizb-e-Islami of former Afghan Prime Minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar is a major non-Taliban militant group in Afghanistan, but it too works alongside the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in some parts of Afghanistan as well as independently.

Some of the major Al-Qaeda affiliates worldwide that regard Mullah Mohammad Omar as the Emir-ul-Momineen include Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula of Yemen, the Islamic State of Iraq, Morocco's Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb, and Al-Shabab Al-Mujahideen in Somalia. The Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU), which recruited six dozen German nationals in 2009, and its splinter group Islamic Jihad Union (IJU), both operate alongside Al-Qaeda and the Taliban. Osama bin Laden, the late Al-Qaeda leader, and his successor Ayman Al-Zawahiri too gave bai'yah (allegiance to the Emir of the Muslim Ummah) to Mullah Omar. All these groups view the mujahideen in Pakistan and Afghanistan as Ansar, literally, helpers or locals who aided the Prophet Muhammad after he migrated from Mecca to Medina.

Because terrorist groups cannot be expected to operate freely and unhindered in view of military operations in Afghanistan, it is also a reality that despite their ideological unity regarding jihad fi Sabilillah (fighting in the way of Allah), many of them are led by different commanders who act both on their own as well as in operational collaboration with each other in executing some of the major attacks. In the Pakistan-Afghanistan border region, their operational relationship runs deep as most of these groups have their bases and hideouts in Waziristan, the safe haven for Al-Qaeda and the Taliban protected by the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) of the Pakistani military.

The Hard Reality of the U.S.-Taliban Negotiations

The logo of the Islamic Emirate's website

In recent years, efforts were made at different levels by the Afghan government headed by President Hamid Karzai, the U.K., and the U.S. to engage the Taliban in peace talks. At various times in 2007-2008, the British diplomats tried their best to engage the Taliban through the mediation of Saudi Arabia, but were unsuccessful.

The Karzai government announced a series of measures aimed at reconciliation with the Taliban, offering the low-ranking militants jobs in government departments in exchange for abandoning violence. The government measures, facilitated by German funds and also supported by the U.S., made little headway, though some militants, many of them genuine and some not so genuine, did surrender before Afghan officials. However, these efforts did not usher in a hopeful era of negotiations on the political future of Afghanistan, as the Taliban showed no serious inclination to engage with the peace process.

However, an American soldier, Pvt. Bowe Bergdahl, was kidnapped in mid-2009 by the Taliban in eastern Afghanistan. It was around this time that the Taliban began engaging with U.S. officials through Taliban representative Tayyab Agha. These contacts with the Taliban were presented in the U.S. media as negotiations for a political settlement on the future of Afghanistan. But the realistic assessment is that the Taliban saw these contacts merely aimed at exchange of prisoners – i.e. a promise to free Bergdahl in exchange for Taliban commanders being held at the U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay.

Over the past few years, several Taliban statements denied any peace talks with the U.S. However, on July 6, 2011, one of the official websites of the Islamic Emirate (the Taliban's shadow government) issued a statement, titled "Statement of the Islamic Emirate Regarding the Baseless Rumors of Negotiations" and rejecting Western media reports of U.S.-Taliban peace talks. The same statement also admitted for the first time that the Taliban are in "direct and indirect" contacts with the U.S. and Canadian officials regarding prisoner release.[12] The statement added that "direct and indirect contacts continue about Canadian and American prisoners who are in our captivity as well as about other nationals who have come to our country for occupation and were/are under our detention. The rumor about negotiation with America is not more than the talks aimed at the exchange of prisoners. Some circles call these contacts as comprehensive talks about the current imbroglio of Afghanistan. However, this shows their unfair treatment of the issue and lack of knowledge about the reality."[13]

In an August 29, 2011 message released on the eve of Eid-ul-Fitr, Mullah Omar continued to reiterate the stated Taliban position regarding the talks, noting: "The contacts which have been made with some parties for the release of prisoners can't be called a comprehensive negotiation for the solution of the current imbroglio of the country. However, the Islamic Emirate, as an efficient political and military entity, has a specific and independent agenda in this regard…."[14] The fact that Mullah Omar referred to the Islamic Emirate as a "political and military entity" was the nearest to saying that the Taliban have begun to see themselves re-emerging as rulers of Afghanistan as a result of the contacts with the U.S.

It is a reality that the Taliban saw their contacts with U.S. officials – at least initially – as an opportunity to get the Taliban commanders freed from the Guantanamo Bay detention center. However, amid these contacts, sometime later they also sensed a greater opportunity: i.e. they are already present militarily inside Afghanistan and now they are getting a chance to be present politically and diplomatically outside Afghanistan as the U.S. offered to allow them to open a political office in Qatar to further the talks. On January 3, 2012, the website of the Islamic Emirate issued a statement, officially confirming a U.S.-mediated deal to set up a Taliban political office in Qatar.

The January 3, 2012 statement, which was careful to indicate that the Taliban will not engage with the Karzai government, noted: "The ongoing issue in the country which came about 10 years ago [after the U.S. launched the invasion of Afghanistan] has been between two fundamental elements: on the one side is the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and on the other is the United States of America and its foreign allies…. We are at the moment, besides our powerful presence inside the country, ready to establish a political office outside the country to come to an understanding with other nations and in this series, we have reached an initial agreement with Qatar and other related sides. The Islamic Emirate has also asked for the release of its prisoners from the Guantanamo prison on an exchange basis."[15]

The fact that the Taliban saw for the first time that they are getting political and diplomatic legitimacy internationally as a result of talks with the U.S. was illustrated in an interview given in February 2012 to London-based Arabic daily Asharq Al-Awsat by Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, one of the key spokesmen of the Islamic Emirate. Asked about whether the Taliban will like to open political offices – similar to the one on the lines of the political office in Qatar – in Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Libya, Egypt and other countries, Ahmadi said:  "After 10 years of jihad and steadfastness on the part of the Afghan people against the arrogant occupiers, the entire world is aware of the strength of the Afghan jihad and has accepted the reality of the situation in the Afghan arena. This has caused many countries in the world to desire contact with the Islamic Emirate and the political office of the Islamic Emirate. The Islamic Emirate will welcome the opening of its political offices in these countries and others, if this is approved."[16]

In mid-February 2012, Zabihullah Mujahid, the main spokesman of the Islamic Emirate, laid down four conditions for negotiations to begin with the U.S. on the future of Afghanistan, adding that "negotiations with America have not yet begun."[17] In a statement published on the Taliban website, Zabihullah Mujahid stated: "Now the question is, when will negotiations begin? I must say that before any negotiations can take place, confidence-building measures must first succeed so that an atmosphere can be created for negotiations and this confidence-building measure rests entirely with the Americans; and they must take steps for it including: the exchange of Guantanamo prisoners, the opening of a political office and the termination of the black list of the United Nations as well as the bounty lists of America and her allies."[18]

Some hard realities associated with the U.S.-Taliban peace talks include the following: a) the Taliban have rejected any engagement with the Afghan government which in their opinion is not the legitimate representative of the Afghan people; b) the Taliban think of the peace talks as tactics aimed at getting the Taliban prisoners freed from the Guantanamo Bay prison and getting the Taliban commanders de-listed from the UN terror blacklist and the U.S. terror watchlist; and c) the Taliban view the talks as confidence-building or pre-negotiations stage before the actual talks on the political future of Afghanistan.

Additionally, the Taliban have repeatedly refused to state clearly that they will not host Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan if they take power in Kabul. In February 2012, Taliban spokesman Yousuf Ahmadi was asked if the Taliban could make a commitment not to host Al-Qaeda once more if they take power in Kabul. Ahmadi merely stated: "You must notice that the Americans acknowledged, on more than one occasion, that Al-Qaeda is no longer centered in Afghanistan, whilst on the other hand the situation in the Islamic world has experienced huge change, with successful revolutions having taken place in Arab states…. Islamic movements have succeeded in suppressing authoritarian governments that previously unjustly expelled or forced these movements to flee their countries. Therefore, Al-Qaeda and other Islamic organizations have now found what they need elsewhere, and I believe they are no longer interested in Afghanistan."[19]

The Taliban's Ideological Imperative behind Jihad

In the years before the U.S.-Taliban talks were confirmed, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan issued a number of statements, routinely reiterating that the Taliban will continue to wage jihad against the U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan. There has been no change in this Taliban position, both theoretically and on the ground in Afghanistan, as the Islamic Emirate – despite confirming its participation in the talks – has been routinely issuing statements, explicitly warning attacks against the U.S. Embassy in Kabul and reiterating that the jihad against the U.S. and NATO forces will continue in Afghanistan.

In December 2011, i.e. weeks before the Taliban confirmed their participation in the talks with America, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden remarked that the Taliban in Afghanistan are "not our enemy."[20] In the interview with journalist Leslie H. Gelb of Newsweek, Vice President Biden "Look, the Taliban per se is not our enemy. That's critical. There is not a single statement that the president has ever made in any of our policy assertions that the Taliban is our enemy because it threatens U.S. interests. If, in fact, the Taliban is able to collapse the existing government, which is cooperating with us in keeping the bad guys from being able to do damage to us, then that becomes a problem for us. So there's a dual track here: One, continue to keep the pressure on Al-Qaeda and continue to diminish them. Two, put the government in a position where they can be strong enough that they can negotiate with and not be overthrown by the Taliban. And at the same time try to get the Taliban to move in the direction to see to it that they, through reconciliation, commit not to be engaged with Al-Qaeda or any other organization that they would harbor to do damage to us and our allies."[21]

In sharp contradiction to the realpolitik of the U.S. administration, the Taliban have been articulating their own ideological imperative for waging jihad in Afghanistan. In his Eid-ul-Adha message issued on November 4, 2011, Mullah Omar asked the U.S. to quit Afghanistan and outlined the Taliban's ideological imperative for waging jihad against the U.S. and NATO troops in the following words: "Our Jihad is for attaining the gratification of Allah Almighty as well as the country's peace, freedom and sovereignty. We are shielding a creed [i.e. Islam] … and we firmly believe that honor and dignity are destined for us. We will once more live in the world with our heads held high as a noble nation, if Allah wills it."[22] In that statement, Mullah Omar, who is considered Emir-ul-Momineen (Leader of the Faithful) by jihadist groups worldwide, also advised his international followers: "I call on all the Muslims to take viable steps in these days of changes in the Islamic world for the benefit of Islam, unity and country by implementing all the Islamic principles. I advise all the Islamic and jihadi movements in all corners of the world to be cautious of the plots of the enemies of Islam and to detest from committing any act which is against or is skeptical in Islamic Law, and that will stain the image of mujahideen and cause aversion amongst the populace."[23]

In a statement issued in January 2012, the Islamic Emirate argued that its willingness to open a political office in Qatar as part of U.S.-mediated peace talks is not "a surrender from jihad."[24] The statement added: "It is well known to the Mujahid nation of Afghanistan that the Islamic Emirate has been engaged in a struggle and in jihad for the past one and a half decades to establish an Islamic government in accordance with the request of its people. It is for this purpose and for bringing about peace and stability in Afghanistan that we have increased our political efforts to come to mutual understanding with the world in order to solve the current ongoing situation." "But this understanding," the statement added, "neither means a surrender from jihad nor is it connected to an acceptance of the constitution of the stooge Kabul administration…rather the Islamic Emirate is utilizing its political wing alongside its military presence and jihad in order to realize the national and Islamic aspirations of the nation and its martyrs. We must say that some sources and reports of media outlets often try to distort realities… [about the jihad in Afghanistan]."[25]

A January 17, 2012 statement issued by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan rejected any likely compromise with the U.S., noting: "The Islamic Emirate… rejects the poisonous propaganda of the enemy which depicts the Islamic Emirate as being content with having control of a few provinces. We shall not stop our armed jihad for a single moment as long as the invaders are present on our soil as it would be contradictory to the goals of our decade-old jihad; and as long as the occupiers have not been completely gotten rid of, the Islamic Emirate shall never consider ceasefire even for a single instance."[26]

In his February 2012 statement, Zabihullah Mujahid, the main Taliban spokesman, outlined the Taliban's objectives in Afghanistan by outlining the jihadist imperative in the following words: "If America and its allies consider the current jihad and struggle in Afghanistan against the eradication of the occupation and its continuation until all foreign troops leave and an Islamic government is established as terrorism, then we cannot shun this as it would be an un-Islamic act because we consider this jihad and struggle as our Islamic obligation, the shunning of which is not possible in any circumstance. However, as we continue with this obligation – jihad and struggle – we are religiously held responsible in preventing civilian casualties."[27]

In his February 2012 interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Qari Yousuf Ahmadi, one of the two key Taliban spokesmen, reiterated that jihad is a "legitimate obligation" and warned that an attack on the U.S. Embassy in Kabul, like the one on September 13, 2011, will happen in the future.[28] To a question about the September 13, 2011 attacks on the U.S. Embassy and NATO military headquarters in Kabul, Ahmadi stated: "This [September 13, 2011] will not be the last time that the U.S. Embassy and the military headquarters of foreign troops will be targeted; we will attack them in the future as well, in addition to using other tactics. The objective of this is to show the power of the mujahideen and their military presence in the heart of the Afghan capital Kabul, and invalidate the claims of the Americans that they have pushed out the mujahideen from some areas."[29]

The Realignment of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda by ISI – Formation of Shura Muraqba

A copy of the pamphlet announcing the formation of Shura Muraqba

Over the past few years but especially since the summer of 2011, the Pakistani military establishment, which is considered as the final arbiter of power in Islamabad, has been dictating the country's foreign policy aimed at ensuring Pakistan's strategic shift away from the U.S. and closer to China. Although this strategic shift had been underway in recent years, there were three immediate triggers: the unilateral U.S. military operation of May 2, 2011 in Abbottabad that killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, the November 26, 2011 NATO raid in which 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed, and the launch of the U.S.-Taliban peace negotiations without the involvement of ISI.

Around the time the U.S. made headway in its talks with the Taliban, the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), which is known for creating and nurturing jihadist organizations in order to use them in achieving the Pakistani foreign policy objectives in Afghanistan and Kashmir, began propping up a new Taliban and Al-Qaeda commanders' group, which has the potential to emerge as another Haqqani Network or as the key Taliban decision-making Shura in coming months should the U.S.-Taliban talks appear succeeding to the detriment of Pakistan's strategic goals in Kabul. This ISI-backed process culminated in the announcement of the formation of Shura Muraqba (coordination council). It is not a coincidence that the news announcing the formation of Shura Muraqba, which was dated December 31, 2011, appeared in the Pakistani newspapers of January 3, 2012 – the same day the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan formally confirmed its peace talks with the U.S., noting that it has agreed to open a political office in Qatar.

The pamphlet in the name of Shura Muraqba was distributed to journalists on January 2, 2012 in North Waziristan, the stronghold of jihadist groups along the Afghan border, noting that five members of the Shura Muraqba Five (Coordination Commission Five) are: Maulvi Azmatullah; Maulvi Noor Syed, Maulvi Saeedullah, Maulvi Sadar Hayat and Hafiz Amir Hamza.[30] Maulvi Azmatullah is a Taliban commander from the Barwan area and represents the Waliur Rehman group of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). Maulvi Noor Syed is a militant commander from Barwan and represents the group of fighters owing allegiance to Hakimullah Mehsud, the TTP Emir. Maulvi Saeedullah hails from Afghanistan and represents the Haqqani Network of the Taliban. Taliban commander Maulvi Sadar Hayat belongs to North Waziristan and represents Maulvi Gul Bahadur group of the TTP. Hafiz Amir Hamza is from Ahmedzai Wazir tribe and represents the TTP's Mullah Nazir group in South Waziristan.

Of them, Maulvi Gul Bahadur group and Mullah Nazir group have been known over the years for enjoying the support of the Pakistani military. The Haqqani Network is currently enjoying the support of Pakistani military intelligence agencies as it furthers their cause in Afghanistan. The TTP's groups led by Hakimullah Mehsud and Waliur Rehman, who represented on the Shura Muraqba, are known to be ideologically committed against the Pakistani state and have declared the Pakistani military as apostates, i.e. those who have left Islam. However, it may be a tactical move by them to be on the Shura Muraqba, as they stand to gain everything and lose nothing. According to a report in the Dawn newspaper, TTP spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan confirmed that the pamphlet is authentic.[31]

On the face of it, the Shura Muraqba is aimed at resolving differences among various militant factions in order to regroup them and investigate any excesses by Taliban fighters. The pamphlet read: "All mujahideen, local and foreigners, are to be informed that they should desist from killing and kidnapping innocent people for ransom and cooperate with the commission in curbing crimes. If any mujahid is found involved in killings, crimes and other illegal activities, then he will be answerable to the Shura Muraqba and will be given a penalty in accordance with Islamic Shari'a law."[32]

However, what is worrying is that process leading to the formation of Shura Muraqba also involved Al-Qaeda. The first meeting in this regard was held on November 27, 2011 in Azam Warsak area near Wana, South Waziristan, where Waliur Rehman Mehsud, Hakimullah Mehsud, Mullah Nazir, Abu Yahya Al-Libi of Al-Qaeda; Abdur Rehman Al-Saudi of Al-Qaeda network and Sirajuddin Haqqani of the Taliban's Haqqani Network participated.[33] A second meeting regarding the formation of Shura Muraqba was held on December 11, 2011 in Dattakhel area of North Waziristan and was attended by Zabiullah Mujahid, Maulvi Sangeen and Maulvi Ashfaq from Afghanistan; Yahya Al-Libi, Abdur Rehman Al-Saudi of Al-Qaeda network; Hafiz Gul Bahadur, Maulvi Sadiq Noor from North Waziristan agency; Hakimullah Mehsud, Waliur Rehman and Mullah Nazir from South Waziristan.[34]

TTP Spokesman Ihsanullah Ihsan, who confirmed the first pamphlet of Shura Muraqba, warned that the TTP will send fighters from the Pakistani region to Afghanistan after March 2012 in support of Mullah Omar's jihad against the "U.S.-led infidel forces."[35] According to another report in the Urdu-language Pakistani newspaper Roznama Ummat, the Shura Muraqba will be headed by Sirajuddin Haqqani, who leads the Haqqani Network, the largest group of militants among the Taliban in Afghanistan.[36]

A second pamphlet was issued by Shura Muraqba on January 18, 2012. It mentioned the five commanders whose names appeared first when the group's name was announced through in the first pamphlet: Maulvi Sadar Hayat, Maulvi Saeedullah, Maulvi Noor Syed, Maulvi Azmatullah and Hafiz Ameer Hamza.[37] The second pamphlet, headlined "A significant and excellent decision by Shura Muraqba," warned masked militants in Waziristan not to act without its approval, stating: "All mujahideen – foreigners and locals – and particularly local residents, are to be informed through this advertisement that masked fighters of any jihadi group have no authority to capture or detain any suspected person on charges of spying or any other crime. They should have to mandatorily take into confidence the Shura Muraqba before taking action against any alleged spy."[38]

The Shura Muraqba is working at the behest of the Pakistani military's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), as it was evident in a third pamphlet issued by it, dated February 10, 2012. The one-page statement declared that a 2007 peace agreement reached between the Taliban and the Pakistani government is in effect and stated: "As all of us know, through a well-planned and secret conspiracy the law and order situation is being caused to deteriorate in North Waziristan. Therefore, all the mujahideen – Ansar and Muhajireen [local and foreign militants] – are especially directed through this advertisement that the peace deal signed [in February 2007] with the government of Pakistan is an agreement by all of us; so it is our collective responsibility to abide by it."[39] "Therefore, no individual is permitted," the pamphlet warned, "to violate the said agreement. If anyone is found guilty of violating the said agreement (by firing missiles, or using remote [-controlled bombs]), we reserve the right to carry out any action against the culprit…."[40]

Writing about the Shura Muraqba's February 10, 2012 pamphlet, senior Pakistani journalist and author Amir Mir published a report in his newspaper The News, stating: "Sirajuddin Haqqani, the chief operational commander of Haqqani Network, has conceded for the first time the existence of a peace deal with the Pakistani security establishment as per which the Tehreek-e-Taliban [Pakistan or TTP], Afghan Taliban, Haqqani network and several other militant groups won't attack the Pakistani troops and instead would focus attention on the U.S.-led allied forces stationed in Afghanistan."[41]

While the Shura Muraqba itself does not note who its chief is, the Roznama Ummat report, mentioned above, and other news reports indicate that it is headed by Sirajuddin Haqqani, the leader of the Haqqani Network. Amir Mir observed in his report: "In his statement (i.e. the February 10, 2012 pamphlet), Sirajuddin Haqqani directed the Pakistani Taliban to stop attacking Pakistani security forces in accordance with a peace agreement, thus giving credence to media speculations that the Taliban-linked militants and the military establishment have struck a clandestine ceasefire, especially after Islamabad's decision to suspend the Nato supplies going to Afghanistan [in the wake of the November 26, 2011 Salala air strike which killed 25 Pakistani soldiers]."[42]

It is also noteworthy here that while several Taliban and Al-Qaeda commanders, including the TTP's Nek Mohammad and Baitullah Mehsud, have been killed in the U.S. drone attacks in recent years, no key militant commander has been killed in the Pakistani military operations, as the Pakistani Army invariably avoids targeting the influential militant commanders who could be used in Afghanistan or against India.

Calls for Jihad at Rallies by Difa-e-Pakistan Council – The New Face of Lashkar-e-Taiba

The banner at the December 18, 2011 rally of Difa-e-Pakistan in Lahore reads: "Difa-e-Pakistan – Jihad in the Way of Allah"

On February 2, 2012, MEMRI published a research paper on how the banned Pakistani jihadist organization has re-emerged under the banner of Difa-e-Pakistan Council (Defense of Pakistan Council, or DPC) and is leading a series of mass rallies in Pakistani cities.[43] In the above image, a banner of the DPC at its December 18, 2011 rally in Lahore reads: "Difa-e-Pakistan – Jihad in the Way of Allah."[44] The DPC is led by Professor Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and now Emir of LeT's successor Jamaatud Dawa. Maulana Samiul Haq, a veteran Pakistani cleric and former senator known as the father of the Taliban, is the co-chairman of DPC along with Hafiz Saeed. The DPC does not differ in its understanding of jihad and its strategic goals from those of the Taliban and Al-Qaeda.

At the public rallies organized by the DPC, several of whom have taken place in the cities of Lahore, Karachi and Rawalpindi, the message of DPC speakers has been invariably to call for jihad against the U.S. and India and to mount pressure on the civilian Pakistani government to completely break off its relationship with America. It should be noted that the LeT has enjoyed the support of the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Hafiz Saeed is mounting unprecedented pressure on the elected democratic government in Islamabad to force it to announce a full stop to all kinds of relationships with the U.S., an objective also desired by the powerful ISI.

At the December 18, 2012 DPC rally in Lahore, Pakistani cleric Ibtisam Elahi Zaheer lauded Hafiz Saeed and Maulana Samiul Haq for hoisting the "flag of jihad" by establishing the DPC.[45] Zaheer told the crowd: "As you know that Allah Almighty has said in his holy book [the Koran], Jews and Christians cannot be our friends."[46] Rejecting Pakistan's role against the U.S.-led war on terror, the renowned cleric exhorted the crowd: "And tell me! Are you ready for fight with America? Are you ready for collision with America? And are you ready to confront America?"[47] "Today we want to declare that those who possess swords [weapons] are the Pakistan Army. The Army should defend the geographical frontiers of Pakistan and we have come to protect ideological boundaries of Pakistan," he said, adding: "Now these chains will be broken and your fate will be awakened. This sea [of people] has risen and will not stop... Pakistan was created in the name of La Illaha Ilallah [There is no deity but Allah] and will survive. And enemies of Pakistan will be crushed. India will be disgraced. America too will be disgraced; and Israel also will be humiliated. Islam will survive and Pakistan too will survive."[48]

Hafiz Saeed is an ideologue of jihad. In a speech available on the video-sharing website YouTube, he articulates his views regarding in the following words: "The nations that eat pig are on the path of extreme shamelessness. Every obscenity and shamelessness is spreading in the world through them. This is a culture, formally. The Prophet Muhammad said: Jesus [when he rises] will murder the pig, will end the pig, the culture of pig and everything like this. And after the success of this jihad [against the culture of pig], after the end of Jew-ism, after the end of Christianity, after the end of obscenity and irreligiousness, Islam will rule the world…."[49]

The LeT founder adds: "The Prophet [Muhammad] connected this jihad to the Jihad in Hind [India] against the Hindu so that the greatness of this jihad [against this culture of pigs] could be evident. And what is the reason for jihad? The reason is shirk [idolatry, i.e. believing in numerous gods or sharing others in the entity of Allah] by Hindus who are the biggest representatives of shirk right from the ancient age…. [The prophet] said that the one who waged jihad in Hind, that jihad will be superior. [The Prophet's companion] Abu Huraira narrated: 'The prophet of Allah explained so much greatness of jihad in Hind, jihad against the Hindu, that – oh, people remember – if the door opened for this jihad there in my lifetime, then Abu Huraira will run to participate in that jihad… And if Allah granted me martyrdom, I will not be a martyr like others, but among the Greatest Martyrs….'"[50]

At the December 18, 2012 DPC rally in Lahore, where tens of thousands of supporters could be seen waving the Jamaatud Dawa flag, Hafiz Saeed gave a call for jihad and declared that the U.S.'s New World Order is being replaced by the Muhammadi World Order, i.e. the Islamic order of Prophet Muhammad. The jihadist leader, who is banned by the UN Security Council for his role in the terrorist attacks of November 2008 in Mumbai, told the crowd: "Jihad will continue until the Indian Army leaves from there [i.e. from Kashmir], Allah willing. [Crowd chants:] 'Insha Allah, Sabeelona, Sabeelona – al-Jihad-o-wal Jihad; Sabeelona, Sabeelona—al-Jihad-o-wal Jihad. Only one cure for America – jihad, jihad. One cure for India – jihad, jihad. Hafiz Saeed March on, we are with you.'"[51]

"My respected brothers," Hafiz Saeed said, "I thank you all and also to the leaders of all parties who expressed solidarity here… I want that this solidarity should be expressed in every city of Pakistan. And this unity, by the Grace of Allah, is the greatest power of Muslims. Allah willing, we will defend Pakistan and this Pakistan of La Ilaha Illallah Muhammadur Rasoolullah [There is no deity but Allah and Muhammad is Allah's Prophet], the atomic Pakistan would shine on the world map, Allah willing. And those who would try to wipe out Pakistan would be wiped out, Allah willing. They would be wiped out [themselves]. Neither this Kalimah [i.e. the words – La Ilaha Illallah Muhammadur Rasoolullah] would be finished and nor the Pakistan of this Kalimah."[52]

He added: "And now the last message, brothers! The one problem of all the problems is this new world order and it will not be allowed. Allah willing, the Muhammadi world order [The order of Islam] will prevail. [Chants] 'Isha Allah.' The solution of all issues is the Muhammadi world order. This is the message; this is the call; this is the gathering… this is the journey; come and walk with us …."[53]

* Tufail Ahmad is Director of MEMRI's South Asia Studies Project (www.memri.org/sasp)

The Indian government has recently been urged to recognize the 19th century Urdu poet Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib by posthumously awarding him Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award. Ghalib may not be bestowed with the honor, but his supporters hope that such recognition will advance the Sufi thoughts of Ghalib and strengthen moderate Islamic forces.

Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib (1797-1869) was a cosmopolitan poet of Delhi who wrote mainly in Urdu but also in Persian, and lived during the last decades of the Mughal rule in India. In his poetry, Ghalib is known for walking a fine line between religion and life, thereby challenging the orthodox and leaving them without answers on questions of faith and worldly things. February 15th marks the 142nd anniversary of the death of Ghalib, who is recited popularly for the depth of meaning of simple words he regularly uses in his couplets.

The appeal for awarding him the Bharat Ratna was made by Justice Markandey Katju, the chairman of the Press Council of India and a former Supreme Court judge. He has been supported by numerous Ghalib fans, including Asghar Ali Engineer, a renowned Islamic reformist writer in India. Justice Katju was slammed by some critics who argued that such a move could open Pandora's Box and demands could be made to award Bharat Ratna to Hindu gods.

Expressing support for Justice Katju's call, Asghar Ali Engineer argued that Ghalib was not only a follower of Wahdat al-Wujud, a liberal school of Sufism (Islamic mysticism), but also represented the ethos of modern India. In another article, Pakistani writer Dr. Mohammad Taqi argued that Ghalib's Sufi ideas need to be studied, adding that he followed a distinct strand of Sufism.

Following are excerpts from Asghar Ali Engineer's article;[1] following that are excerpts from Justice Markandey Katju's article;[2] and finally excerpts from Mohammad Taqi's article:[3]

Article by Asghar Ali Engineer, January 16-31, 2012

"[Ghalib] was Follower of ... Wahdat al-Wujudi School of Sufism Which is The Most Liberal School among Sufis; It is The Liberal Ethos of Wahdat al-Wujudi Sufis Which Created ... [A] Composite Culture [in India]"

"I think right now we are concerned with modern secular India and our engagement with modernity begins with the British period which is also known as the modern period in Indian history. Modernity created lot of conflict between rigid orthodoxy and liberal modernity. Modern India obviously could not have been built on rigid orthodoxy, though people are free according to our Constitution to believe in orthodoxy and thousands of them believe in it even today.

"But our Constitution and our liberal secular ethos are the essence of our modernity and Ghalib represents this eminently. He was a poet par excellence and his poetry represents modern secular values along with the value of love. Ghalib's poetry is ghazal poetry though he wrote in other genres also but he is mainly known for his ghazals which is basically love poetry. And he was a follower of what is known as the Wahdat al-Wujudi school of Sufism which is the most liberal school among Sufis.

"This school was founded by Muhiyuddin Ibn Arabi [1165-1240AD] who says in one of his poems that my Deen (religion) and my shariat [path] is love and love is the very foundation of my philosophy. Most of the Indian Sufis, though not all, belong to this Wahdat al-Wujudi school and it is the liberal ethos of Wahdat al-Wujudi Sufis which created our composite culture and these Sufis whole-heartedly embraced local cultures and mainly wrote in local languages including Marathi, Punjabi, Kannada, Tamil, Gujarati, and so on.

"What is the implication of the philosophy of Wahdat al-Wujud? Wahdat al-Wujud means Unity of Being i.e. real being is one and we all (humanity) are its manifestations and those who believe in this philosophy do not distinguish between one human being and the other and one religion and the other. Ghalib's entire poetry is representative of this ethos.

"In this respect Ghalib's mathnavi (a form of long poem each verse of which has two lines) Chiragh-e-Dayr i.e. Lamp of a Temple. This mathnavi is about Banaras, the sacred Hindu city through which he passed on his way to Calcutta and he was so enchanted by its beauty that he wrote this poem in Persian which describes its charms so much so that he says that once anyone who saw the flowing Ganges of this city, his/her eyes will never by harmed. Describing its beautiful damsels he writes 'Their dainty and silken touch beats the pearl softness.'

"It is Kashi (Banaras) where springs of the world take refuge be it in hot summer or cold winter i.e. its weather is the most suitable weather in the world. The poem is so full of praise for Banaras that there is no city like this in the world. There is so much poetic exaggeration in describing the charms of Banaras. Not only this mathnavi but Ghalib's entire poetry very eminently represents the cultural ethos of India and particularly its composite culture."

"Ghalib Represents Beautifully the Tension between Tradition and Modernity; He Describes It as Conflict between Ka'ba and Kalisa (Church), Ka'ba Representing Tradition and Kalisa Modernity"

"Ghalib had friends among all communities of India, Hindus, Muslims, Christians, and several of his disciples were Hindus. He has addressed several of his letters to his Hindu friends. He was so fond of unity of all human beings that when several of his friends were killed in the war of independence [against the British in 1857] he wrote in one of his letters that they say now we will meet on the day of judgment (Qiyamat) but what kind of meeting it would be? Sunnis will stand separately from Shi'as and Hindus separately from Muslims. Can it be called meeting together?

"Ghalib indeed was precursor of the ethos of our modern secular liberal India, one of its architects. Our Constitution has been based on these values and minus these values our nationhood would be seriously weakened. These are representative values of our nationhood. Even in the 21st century we are fighting among ourselves on the basis of religion, language, caste, region, and so on. Our country is highly diverse, in fact bewilderingly diverse and to create unity in such diversity we have to strive very hard and need persons like Ghalib with their progressive and liberal values.

"Urdu, in which Ghalib wrote, is itself a language of composite culture; it is a product of several languages and dialects, and Urdu is eminently qualified to express such progressive poetry as Ghalib composed. Urdu has been the language of love, not of hatred. Even today its ghazal poetry keeps millions spellbound even if they do not speak that language.

"Ghalib, through his poetry raised it to new heights. [Islamist Urdu poet Muhammad] Iqbal described him as Goethe of Urdu. It is because of Ghalib's poetry that Urdu poetry can be compared with the heights of world poetry. Ghalib represents beautifully the tension between tradition and modernity. He describes it as conflict between Ka'ba and Kalisa (church), Ka'ba representing tradition and Kalisa modernity. It is this tension which troubles Ghalib in the backdrop of the 1857 war of independence which makes his poetry all the more relevant to us."

Article by Justice Markandey Katju, December 20, 2011:

"Ghalib is a Modern Figure, Not a Legendary One Like Lord Rama; Many of His Thoughts were, for His Times, Surprisingly Modern; [He] Often Broke Through ... [Feudal] Tradition on Perceiving the Advantages of Modern Civilization"

"I have been criticized for demanding Bharat Ratna for Mirza Ghalib and [Bengali writer] Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay [1876-1938]. Some even lampooned me by saying that Bharat Ratna should also be given to Lord Rama and Gautam Buddha...."

"In reply, I wish to say that there is nothing wrong in giving awards posthumously, provided they are given to the right persons, and Bharat Ratna has been often conferred posthumously in the past...."

"Moreover, Ghalib is a modern figure, not a legendary one like Lord Rama, or an ancient one like Gautam Buddha. Many of his thoughts were, for his times, surprisingly modern. Though he was steeped in the feudal tradition, he often broke through that tradition on perceiving the advantages of modern civilization.

"Thus, in one sher (couplet) Ghalib writes: 'Imaan mujhe roke hai, jo khenche he muje kufr/ Kaaba merey peechey hai, kaleesa merey aage.' The word 'kaleesa' literally means church, but here it means modern civilization. Similarly, 'Kaaba' literally refers to the holy place in Mecca, but here it means feudalism [orthodoxy]. So the sher really means: 'Religious faith is holding me back, but skepticism is pulling me forward/ Feudalism is behind me, modern civilization is in front.' Thus, Ghalib is rejecting feudalism [or orthodoxy] and approving of modern civilization...."

"Urdu poetry is a shining gem in the treasury of Indian culture. Before 1947 [when India became free from British rule], Urdu was the common language of the educated class in large parts of India — whether Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, or Christian. Regrettably, after 1947 some vested interests created a false propaganda that Urdu was a foreign language and a language of Muslims alone.

"Mirza Ghalib is the foremost figure in Urdu, and in our composite culture. He no doubt died over a century back, but our culture, of which Urdu is a vital part, is still alive."

"When I First Appealed for the Award of Bharat Ratna to Ghalib..., My Appeal was Seconded by Many Prominent People; How Many People ... have Read Ghalib...? People are Talking of Giving the Bharat Ratna to Cricketers and Film Stars"

"When I first appealed for the award of Bharat Ratna to Ghalib in the Jashn-e-Bahaar mushaira in Delhi in April 2011, my appeal was seconded by many prominent people in the audience: Meira Kumar, speaker of Lok Sabha [lower house of parliament]; Salman Khurshid, Union law minister; S.Y. Qureshi, chief election commissioner; etc. However, soon after, a journal described my appeal as 'sentimentalism gone berserk.'

"As regards Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay, in a recent function in Calcutta I appealed for the award of Bharat Ratna to him. Here was a man who in a feudal society (early 20th century Bengal) launched a full-blooded attack on the caste system, against women's oppression, and superstitions (read Srikant, Shesh Prashna, Charitraheen, Brahmin ki Beti, Devdas, Grameen Samaj, etc).

"In his acceptance speech organized in Calcutta Town Hall in 1933 to honor him, Sarat Chandra said: 'My literary debt is not limited to my predecessors only. I am forever indebted to the deprived, ordinary people who give this world everything they have and yet receive nothing in return, to the weak and oppressed people whose tears nobody bothers to notice. They inspired me to take up their cause and plead for them. I have witnessed endless injustices to these people, unfair, intolerable injustices. It is true that springs do come to this world for some....'"

"How many people in our country have read Ghalib and Sarat Chandra? People are talking of giving the Bharat Ratna to cricketers and film stars. This is the low cultural level to which we have sunk. We ignore our real heroes, and hail superficial ones. I regret to say that the present generation of Indians has been almost entirely de-cultured, and all they care for is money, film stars, cricket, and superficialities...."

Article by Mohammad Taqi, February 16, 2012:

"Ghalib's Biographers from Hali to Russell... Have All Acknowledged His Mystic Aptitude If not Outright Mysticism"

"'Ghalib, you write so well upon these mystic themes of Love Divine,
We would have counted you a saint, but that we knew of your love of wine.'

"Professors Ralph Russell and Khurshidul Islam narrate from Altaf Hussain Hali's Yadgar-e-Ghalib (Memoir of Ghalib) that when King [of Delhi] Bahadur Shah Zafar heard Ghalib recite the above ghazal, he commented, 'No, my friend, even so we should never have counted you a saint [mystic].' Ghalib retorted, 'Your Majesty counts me one even now, and only speaks like this lest my sainthood should go to my head.'

"That 19th century connoisseur of wine — and mysticism — continues to fare quite well even today. Several biographies of Ghalib and translations and commentaries on his works have appeared in the past decade, like the 2003 volume by Professors Russell and Islam titled The Oxford India Ghalib: Life, Letters and Ghazals preceded by Natalia Prigarina's Mirza Ghalib: A Creative Biography in 2000.

"A few weeks ago in India, [former judge of Supreme Court] Justice Markandey Katju suggested that Ghalib be awarded the Bharat Ratna posthumously and the writer-activist Asghar Ali Engineer started a signature campaign towards that goal. The suggestion and the campaign became mired in a controversy, which is beyond our scope here. What really caught my attention was Mr. Engineer's apt comment that besides, and in, his literary contribution, Ghalib 'was a follower of what is known as the Wahdat al-Wujudi school of Sufism, which is the most liberal school among sufis [Islamic mystics]' and his entire poetry is representative of this liberal, humanistic and all-embracing ethos.

"Work on Ghalib's poetry, letters and life had started in his lifetime, with his close friends and disciples meticulously archiving the relevant materials. Ghalib's biographers from Hali to Russell, and his aficionados — Ghalib Shanasan – have all acknowledged his mystic aptitude if not outright mysticism.

"In biographical sketches his doctrinal inclinations too have been recorded. But while the masters writing on and about Ghalib have elaborated on his ostensibly sectarian persuasion and journeys in Sufism, a particular strand of Sufism that is unique to Ghalib has gone unnoticed. And interestingly this is something that has been hiding not just in plain sight but announced with pride by Ghalib himself."

"Within the Realm of Sufism, Ghalib Apportioned Himself a Niche that Perhaps was Neither Explored before Him nor Expounded on after Him"

"Commenting on Ghalib's faith, Russell and [Khurshidul] Islam, again on Hali's authority, report that his antecedents were Sunni Muslim but at some point in his life he became either a Shia or at least sympathetic to the Shias. Hali himself notes that Ghalib may have been a Tafzeeli — someone who exaggerates in praising [Islam's fourth caliph and son-in-law of Prophet Muhammad] Hazrat Ali Murtaza (RA). Other scholars like Sufi Tabassum have made similar observations. This perhaps does not even begin to define Ghalib's creed, which he had himself expressed both in verse and prose.

"For all practical purposes Ghalib was not a religious man and had nothing to do with religious orthodoxies. For example, while his letters provide a great montage of almost all his life, there is remarkably no mention of him having participated in any Twelver Shia ritual at all. The anecdotes about his wine consumption and not observing fast or prayer rituals have, of course, been part of literary lore. Within the 19th century orthodox Muslim society, Ghalib remained an arch unorthodox...."

"I do want to draw the attention of the Ghalib scholars towards how within the realm of Sufism, Ghalib apportioned himself a niche that perhaps was neither explored before him nor expounded on after him. This may actually have to do with Ghalib's well-known desire to remain above the crowd in all his temporal and, indeed, divine quests, thus remaining unorthodox even within the heterodox Sufism.

"Hali's memoir of Ghalib had carried, in its opening, a portrait of the poet captioned with a Persian verse of Ghalib. A similar sketch, along with the same verse, adorns Russell and Islam's aforementioned work. The Urdu journal Nuqoosh had also opened its Ghalib edition with the same lines, which say:

"'Ghalib-e-naam-awaram, naam-o-nishanam ma-purs,
hum Asadullahem-o-hum Asadullahi-em.'

"(I am the renowned Ghalib; do not ask of my name and fame/I am both Asadullah and Asadullah's man.)

 "Russell and [Khurshidul] Islam explain it as: 'My name is Asadullah and my allegiance is to Asadullah, 'the Lion of God' — a title of Ali (RA), a cousin and son-in-law of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH), and the object of Ghalib's special reverence.' But translating Asadullahi as mere allegiance is quite exoteric and does not do justice to the verse and the nuanced thought therein. On many occasions in his letters Ghalib refers to being the servant of Ali (RA), saying, for example, 'Ali ka bandah hoon, uss ki kasam jhoot naheen khata' (I am the retainer of my lord Ali ... and do not swear by his name in vain)."

"In His Declaration 'I am Asadullah' and Thereby the Annihilation into Ali, Ghalib Distinguishes Himself not Just from the Ordinary Crowd But Also His Strand of Sufism from Other Sufis and Sufi Orders"

 "The God-man relationship in the Sufi realm, of course, has many dimensions. The fundamental one is that of Lord (rabb) and His servant (abd), and the more sublime and complex one is an inimitable and divine intimacy (wasl) with the Creator (dhat). Reading Ghalib's above quoted Persian verse, and other Urdu and Persian verses, and parts of his prose together suggest that the intended esoteric meaning of Asadullahi is not as limited as Russell et al had noted — perhaps Ghalib was pushing the envelope.

"Ghalib himself leads us into the second and related dimension of his Sufi realm in another Persian verse, saying:

"'Mansoor-e-firqah-e-Ali-allahiyan manem,
Awaza-e-anaa Asadullah der afganem."

"Translation: (If) there is a sect of those saying Ali [RA] is our lord, (then) I am their Mansoor, For I chant that I am the (lord) Asadullah.

"Mansoor al-Hallaj's claim and fame in mysticism are self-explanatory. But by drawing a parallel between Mansoor and God on the one hand and himself and Asadullah Ali on the other, via equating an-al-Haq and anaa Asadullah, Ghalib appears to have let us in on the crux of his Wahdat al-Wujudi philosophy, and more. In his declaration 'I am Asadullah' and thereby the annihilation into Ali, Ghalib distinguishes himself not just from the ordinary crowd but also his strand of Sufism from other sufis and Sufi orders...."

Endnotes:

The statement also criticized the Taliban for agreeing to hold peace talks with the U.S. and slammed the Afghan government for signing a strategic agreement with the United States.

It added: "HuT [Hizbut Tahrir] would like to ask the Muslim and mujahid nation of Afghanistan to strive and struggle for the re-establishment of the Islamic state (Khilafah) ... [to ensure the] protection of the sanctity of the Holy Koran, land, and resources of the Ummah. As the Prophet said, 'verily Imam [leader] is the shield behind whom the Ummah fights and protect herself.'"

Following is the text of the statement:[1]

"Americans have Broken the Doors of the Houses, have Enslaved People and have Killed Women, Children, and Old People of Afghanistan after Molesting Them"

"On 20th Feb., 2012, the colonialist crusaders burnt the Koran Majeed along with some other Islamic books. Two Muslims embraced Shahada [martyrdom] while trying to prevent this evil and shameful act. Upon very strong reaction from Muslims, colonial invaders have apparently apologized and have ordered to investigate the matter to pacify the masses.

"Oh, mujahid Muslims of Afghanistan! It's not something new; as we have witnessed the caricatures of the Prophet, insult of the Holy Koran in Guantanamo Bay, and the movie 'Fitna' by the Netherlands' parliamentarian [Geert Wilders]. We all know what has happened to the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay and Bagram [detention center in Afghanistan], which is still happening.

"All these inhuman crimes are much less than those which are not revealed yet. These evidences are enough to know how much the U.S. and its allies have hatred against Muslims. In addition, you must have seen the immense atrocities being committed by the U.S. and its crusader allies in Abu Ghraib, Fallujah, Kandahar, Helmand, Kunar, Wardak, Nuristan, and Waziristan.

"For instance, Americans have broken the doors of the houses, have enslaved people, and have killed women, children, and old people of Afghanistan after molesting them. The most apparent example of the U.S. atrocities are the Muslims of Pakistan, i.e. Dr. Afia Siddiqi, who was imprisoned for 86 years [in a U.S. jail], where she developed cancer and got pregnant. The same story of the ruthless crimes continues in Somalia, Yemen, and Pakistan. All this shows that the U.S. and its allied forces have lost all human qualities and have adopted barbaric traits."

"The Traitor Rulers of Today are Signing Strategic Pacts with the Same Enemy [U.S.], and Some Mujahideen [i.e. the Taliban] are Also Willing to Have a Peace Deal with the Crusaders"

"Oh, people of honest and sincere emotions! This is your situation only after the collapse of the Khilafah state. You know that you are the best Ummah; you are the inheritors of the Prophet, Khulafa-e-Rashidoon [the four righteous caliphs of Islam] and righteous conquerors, who sacrificed their lives in the way of their Lord, Allah. You are the inheritor of that Mo'tasim, who sent a huge Islamic army to Rome to protect the honor of one Muslim lady; when she shouted 'Ya, Mo'tasima,' he responded with military dispatch.

"You are the sons of Rasheed who sent a letter to the Roman King saying 'From the Emir of Muslims to the Roman Dog, you will not read the answer rather will see it,' and the Islamic army reached Rome before the letter. However, the traitor rulers of today are signing strategic pacts with the same enemy, and some Mujahideen [i.e. the Taliban] are also willing to have a peace deal with the crusaders.

"HuT [Hizbut Tahrir] would like to ask the Muslim and mujahid nation of Afghanistan to strive and struggle for the re-establishment of the Islamic state (Khilafah) ... [to ensure the] protection of the sanctity of the Holy Koran, land, and resources of the Ummah. As the Prophet (saw) said, 'verily Imam [leader] is the shield behind whom the Ummah fights and protect herself.'

"[Arabic words] ... 'Oh, ye who believe! Take not for intimates others than your own folk, who would spare no pains to ruin you; they love to hamper you. Hatred is revealed by (the utterance of) their mouths, but that which their breasts hide is greater. We have made plain for you the revelations if ye will understand.'"

 Endnote:

Reacting to Western reports on Saudi textbooks' attitude toward Jews and women, Saudi columnist Dr. Umayma Jalahma wrote an article in the daily Al-Riyadh in which she accused the Western media of ignoring Jewish racism toward non-Jews, citing the Talmud as evidence of this racism.[1]

The following are excerpts:[2]

"Is It Not Their Duty to First Scrutinize Themselves"

Introduction

The Egyptian revolution of January 25, 2011 began on the Internet long before the massive protests in Al-Tahrir square took place. The 18 days of that revolution and subsequent events sparked a wave of popular creative expression, in the form of protest songs communicating the ideas and ideals of the liberal youth that led the revolution.

This creative drive, which continues today, reflects the frustration of the youth that led the revolution and its sense that the revolution has been hijacked by an emerging coalition of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) and Islamist circles – both the Muslim Brotherhood and the Salafi movements – which are presenting themselves as revolutionaries while shaping post-revolutionary Egypt in the image of its past. In an attempt to compete with the authentic creativity of the liberal youth, the Muslim Brotherhood even produced a propaganda rap video depicting itself as the true revolutionary.[1]

Similar to the online commotion prior to the January 25, 2011 revolution, the continuing creative endeavor by the liberal youth reflects an undercurrent that could indicate the coming of a possible second revolution.

The clips in this report, from the Internet, focus on the Egyptian youth's resistance to the continuing SCAF regime; their critique of the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamic circles, and government media; and the original values and ideals that fueled the first revolution.[2]

This report is the first in a series on the cultural dimensions of the Egyptian revolution.

Following are the clips, with English translations:

'Liars' by Revolution Records

Revolution Records is Egypt's first underground rap label. It was established in 2006 by a group of young musicians from Alexandria who later participated in the Tahrir Square protests and are known for their pro-freedom songs and criticism of the SCAF.

The group members do not use their real names, because, as their Facebook page[3] explains, they wish to spread their message rather than promote themselves. Their songs and clips are distributed on the social networks and on YouTube.

"Liars," the most recent clip by Revolution Records, includes footage of attacks by the military and security forces on protestors, and shows SCAF chairman Field Marshal Muhammad Tantawi making statements that are belied by the violent images.

English translation:[4]

"[We] reject the lying SCAF

"They speak nothing but lies

"And our protest gets us killed or thrown in prison

"Nothing has changed… Rise up, Egyptians!

"[Oh SCAF], you know that I know that it is you who are in trouble

"What can you to do to people that are used to suffering?  

"[You can] keep lying from now until tomorrow

"Turn the revolution into a memory

"Kill us one by one, but I dare you to kill the idea!

"You've been exposed as lairs; you've been caught red-handed

"With blood on your hands, a bunch of traitors.

"Many of us are locked up, but we're satisfied

"And you are hiding behind your lies

"Which one of us is the prisoner now?

"No one is protecting the revolution… [but] the revolution is stronger than you

"You sold it to serve your interest… and sold yourselves

"Every tyrant comes to an end… and your turn is coming [soon].

"[I am] 'a word of truth' [uttered] in the face of every dictator

"In the middle of the darkness… you'll find me a ray of light

"You will find [that I am] 'a word of truth' flying above you like an eagle

"You will find me standing up to every mistake you make

"You'll find me screaming into microphones:

"[We] reject the lying SCAF

"They speak nothing but lies

"And our protest gets us killed or thrown in prison

"Nothing has changed… Rise up, Egyptians!

"A year ago we were all Khaled Said[5]

"This year the death toll has risen. How many martyrs are there now?

"And every martyr has a will of steel

"To we continue our revolution… and we have begun to restore our pride

"But [your] tanks crushed us…[Your] army boots broke us

"Soldiers divided us… They made you watch a woman being dragged along by soldiers

"The thugs stripped her naked … [and the media and SCAF] made you say: 'She shouldn't have left her house [to demonstrate]!!'

"Some gangs have destroyed [Egypt]… [and] divided [the people].

"What has the revolution changed?

"The media is still the same… The Interior Ministry is the same

"And on top of it all, they add the military police

"And a corrupt judiciary that does nothing but protect thieves

"They utter a million lies…

"They say that we're thugs… that we are 'opportunists'

"[But] we are revolutionaries capable of living in freedom

"And we will continue to:

"Reject the lying SCAF

"They speak nothing but lies

"And our protest gets us killed or thrown in prison

"Nothing has changed… Rise up, Egyptians!

"Liars, [your] lying is a disappointment

"There's no greater disappointment than you

"Build barriers, open more jails, kill protestors, arm soldiers

"Hide the truth and wipe it out of existence

"Kill [people] in a million different ways, and increase the restrictions

"Blind us, and tailor laws to protect the remnants of the [Mubarak] regime,

"Increase the insanity, divide the people, destroy bridges and build walls

"To keep us from saying 'no!'

"No to humiliation, injustice, oppression, and hopelessness. No to silence

"In the past we believed [your words], and we were silent. [But now] time is running out, and what did we get from you

"Except promises, speeches and slogans? We've had it!

"And the military ruled, oppressed, and subjugated us in order to protect evil

"They stand like chickens on the borders and harass women!

"But the revolution is still going on, it is still in our hearts

"We will not forget those who sacrificed their blood for our freedom

"They will live [forever] but we are dead [under SCAF]

"We have to get out of the house

"We have to topple the military rule

"And shout:

"[We] reject the lying SCAF

"They speak nothing but lies

"And our protest gets us killed or thrown in prison

"Nothing has changed… Rise up, Egyptians!

SCAF chairman Field Marshal Muhammed Tantawi: "We had no aspiration to seize power"

"[We] reject the lying SCAF"

Tantawi: "And we have not opened fire on any Egyptian citizen"

"[We] reject the lying SCAF"

Tantawi: "The Egyptian economy is deteriorating significantly."

"Liars… Liars… Liars…"

'Egypt Has Been Sold' By Safwan Nasser El-Din

"Egypt Has Been Sold" is a short film produced by Safwan Nasser El-Din, a 22-year-old artist. Nasser El-Din became widely known among Egyptian dissidents with his first YouTube clip, "The Birth of a New Egypt,"[6] after Mubarak was toppled in February 2011.   

"Egypt Has Been Sold," Nasser El-Din's second popular clip, is an analysis of the Egyptian power struggle and of the growing relationship between the Islamists, the regime, and the military in the country, on the one hand, and the Al-Tahrir protestors, on the other. It had over 190,000 views in its first week on YouTube.

English Translation:

Protestors: "Egypt, I want my rights.

"I will take my rights and the rights of my brother from you."

The military: "These people call for democracy, which means homosexuality, decadence, and disobedience."

Salafis: "Infidel!!!"

The military: "Beware; the Salafists will seize power from you."

The Muslim Brotherhood: "You have no right to speak."

Salafis: "You Brotherhood are corruptive."

The Muslim Brotherhood: "We deserve to be in power more than you."

The military: "Those two will strip you of everything you've got, and will cover up all women."

Liberals: "No!!!"

Salafis: "Enough! Let's cooperate against the enemies of Allah.

"Get out of God's land."

Police forces: "I'm just obeying orders."

Egyptian media: "Protestors are attacking the army and police."

Mubarak's regime: "Go set Egypt on fire!"

The military: "Isn't it our right to protect our facilities?!"

Liberals: "You all sold Egypt.

"Some of you betrayed us.

"Some of you tortured us.

"Stripped us,

"Killed us,

"Gloated over our death,

"Excommunicated us,

"Legitimized our murder,

"Expelled us,

"We aspired for freedom,

"And you aspired for power,

"In the name of Allah the most merciful: 'Do not dispute and [thus] lose courage, and [then] your strength will depart.'

"Prophet Mohammed peace be upon him said: 'Don't differ as the people who came before you differed and perished.'

And Jesus said: 'Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls.'

Prophet Mohammed peace be upon him said: 'do not ask for a position of authority, for if you are granted this position as a result of your asking for it, you will be left alone [without God's help], and if you are granted it without making any request for it, you will be helped [by God].'

"The revolution is still ongoing."

'Infiltrators' by Yasser El-Manawehli

"Infiltrators" criticizes the Egyptian media and the Egyptian regime for their systematic demonizing of reformers and protestors by routinely referring to them as infiltrators, spies, agents of Israel, Iran, and America, while blaming dissent, political unrest, and economic turmoil on foreign, international conspiracies, and international agendas. Although such accusations have been part of the regime's political discourse for many years – and although the youth grew up hearing them – since the revolution they have been widely mocked and rejected by protestors.

Amateur Egyptian singer Yasser El-Manawehli, who wrote and performed this song, became well known among the Egyptian youth after this clip went viral on YouTube. It was produced by WellsBox, a new Egyptian production and digital media company.[7]

English translation:

"I once went to join a group, a group of 'infiltrators' that were never fully aware of their marginalization and oppression.

"I found them to be a large group of patriots – about a million – and they're only increasing – so much for a 'minority,' and so much for 'infiltrators'!

"They searched me upon my entry with 'foreign hands'; workers' hands smudged with poor people's food; but I told myself this must be an 'international plot'…

"I saw a girl from a distance, walking with a sign in the square, I wonder if she wrote it in Farsi or translated it in Lebanon; she probably wrote on it 'this pretty girl is from Tehran,' or maybe she tattooed her hands with the colors of the Iranian flag.[8] But as I got closer I found her to be Egyptian and holding a sign saying: 'Why are we abused?'

"I saw a young man playing the lute, playing the lute with 'foreign fingers'… he probably got his sheet music from an 'international agenda' … but when I got closer I discovered he was playing songs for Sheikh Imam,[9] and the crowd sang with him, 'The people want to topple the regime.'

"Are these the 'minority' of 'infiltrators,' you scumbags of the media? You regime mouthpieces, you regime mouthpieces. You elementary school dropouts, there is an invention called satellite channels; haven't you ever heard of something called a satellite dish?

"Haven't you committed enough deception and fraud? And after all this, you still have the nerve to appear publicly? What's with you media personalities? What's with you and your duplicity? Your faces on TV advocate insolence. Stop insulting and undermining our intelligence.

"I once went to 'infiltrate' a group, a group of 'infiltrators' that were never fully aware of their marginalization and oppression.

"The whole system is corrupt from head to toe.

"The blood was shed in the streets, and they showed images of the Nile, our scandalous TV is a laughingstock, living in their delusions, they're a disgrace to media; the people want to purge the media, the people want to purge the media, the people want to purge the media."

'Time Shall Be Our Witness' by Ramy Essam

"Time Shall Be Our Witness," by renowned "singer of the revolution" Ramy Essam, is a chronicle of the revolution in Tahrir Square, showing the Muslim Brotherhood and Salafis as conspicuous in their absence. It also shows Egyptian Coptic Christians playing a major role in the protests, and refers to them as "the salt of the earth." 

During the revolution, Essam sang "Down, down with Hosni Mubarak," and after Mubarak was toppled and the SCAF took power, he began singing "Down, down with the military rule."

In an interview with 60 Minutes that aired October 9, 2011,[10] Essam told of his abduction and torture by the Egyptian military at the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, which the Mubarak regime had turned into a prison. Following the torture he was dumped in a garbage can in the street, where protestors later found him.

English Translation:

"Time shall be our witness; time shall be our witness.

"Here's another Friday protest without the Brotherhood,

"There it is, another Friday protest without our Salafi brothers,

"And if they call us infidels, the Omar Makram[11] mosque will answer them.

"Time shall be our witness; the salt of the earth are protesting in Qasr El-Nile,

"They are the brothers of the martyrs, in the prime of their youth,

"Don't say we're a minority and listen to us [erupt] like a volcano,

"Here is another Friday [protest] made glorious by the revolutionaries

"A Friday named 'warning,' a Friday named 'alert.'

"We either live free or we die courageously.

"Time shall be our witness; time shall be our witness.

"Here's another Friday protest without the Brotherhood,

"There it is, another Friday protest without our Salafi brothers,

"And if they call us infidels, the Omar Makram mosque will answer them.

"Time shall be our witness; we have never seen a martyr [acting] submissive,

"Kissing the hands of their oppressor

"And signing contracts for distant solutions,

"The solution is in Tahrir Square.

"Time shall be our witness; time shall be our witness.

"Here's another Friday protest without the Brotherhood,

"There it is, another Friday protest without our Salafi brothers,

"And if they call us infidels, the Omar Makram mosque will answer them.

"Time shall be our witness."

'Bread, Freedom, Social Justice' By Ramy Essam

"Bread, Freedom, Social Justice," also by Ramy Essam, sets out the goals of the revolution as he sees them.

English Translation:

"Bread, freedom, social justice

"Bread, freedom, social justice

"Bread, freedom, social justice

"Bread, freedom, social justice.

"Bread in Egyptian means life,

"Egypt was a civilization for years 

"And if the Nile runs dry,

"Egyptians will water it with their sweat.

"Bread in Egyptian means life,

"Egypt was a civilization for years 

"And if the Nile runs dry,

"Someday it will overflow and pay its dues.

"Bread, freedom, social justice

"Bread, freedom, social justice

"Bread, freedom, social justice

"Bread, freedom, social justice.

"Earning a living for the rich, the peasant, and the worker,

"Earning a living, not by servitude, and all [other] rights will follow.

"Earning a living for the rich, the peasant, and the worker,

"Earning a living, not by servitude,

"We will get it even by force.

"Bread, freedom, social justice

"Bread, freedom, social justice

"Bread, freedom, social justice

"Bread, freedom, social justice.

"When you say the word 'freedom,'

"You must raise your hand up high

"Freedom is earning a living

"Followed by all rights.

"When you say the word 'freedom,'

"You have to raise your hand up high,

"Freedom is earning a living.

"We will get even by force.

"We will get even by force.

"We will get even by force.

"Bread, freedom, social justice

"Bread, freedom, social justice

"Bread, freedom, social justice

"Bread, freedom, social justice.

"Bread, freedom, social justice

"Egypt, one nation.

* Cynthia Farahat is a Research Fellow at MEMRI and an Egyptian political activist

Following are excerpts from the lyrics of a music video titled "Bread, Freedom," performed by Ramy Essam, which was posted on the Internet on September 26, 2011, and from the music video "Liars" by Revolution Records, which shows graphic images of Egyptian security force brutality against demonstrators, and was posted on the Internet on January 26, 2012.

Egyptian Revolution Songs - Egyptian Songwriter/Performer Ramy Essam Sings: "Bread, Freedom, Social Justice"

Endnotes:

Following are excerpts from a TV report on Iranian female ninjas, which aired on Press TV on January 30, 2012.

Reporter (dressed in black ninja garb): "So I've come here to unlock the mysteries of these fighters - famous from Japan.

Tehreek-e-Taliban Punjab recently announced the launch of jihad in India's Jammu & Kashmir state, which witnessed two decades of Pakistan-sponsored Islamic militancy since 1989. However, in the years after 9/11, the militant activities in Jammu & Kashmir have declined significantly.

The Tehreek-e-Taliban Punjab, which is part of the Pakistani Taliban's umbrella group Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), includes non-Pashtun militants from various jihadist organizations based mainly in Pakistan's Punjabi province.

According to a report published by an Indian website, several officials of Tehreek-e-Taliban Punjab announced the launch of jihad in Jammu & Kashmir, stating that while previously they had been backed by Pakistani intelligence agencies, this time they would fight on their own.

Following are excerpts from the report:[1]

"The Tehreek-e-Taliban Punjab is a mixture of old Kashmiri jihadi organizations like Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami…  Jaish-e-Muhammed and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen…"

Endnote:

[1] www.rediff.com (India), February 10, 2012. The text of the report has been lightly edited for clarity.

A new video released by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) warns Pakistani security officials to cease being "enemies of Islam" and to stop torturing the mujahideen. The 22:16-minute video was produced by the Umar Studio of the TTP and was released on a jihadist internet forum.[1]

A narrator outlines the rationale behind the Taliban's war against non-Muslims: "The reason for this war between Islam and Kufr [the world of infidels], begun from day one, is that there is no meeting point between Islam and Kufr. Therefore, a clash between the good and the evil is inevitable at every step.

"In the battle between the good and the evil, the paths of Islam and Kufr are becoming clearly separated due to the hidden support from Allah. Without a doubt, as a result of the jihadi movement, the Muslim Ummah recognized the sinful face of the rulers thrust upon them and the [Pakistani] army's loyalty to the Crusaders, when the Pakistani army and other security institutions bowed to only one threat [after 9/11] from the great oppressor America, and decided to support America.

"As a result, a sacred prayer like jihad was designated as 'war on terror' and the mujahideen were called terrorists, militants, evil-doers and extremists. Under this new policy, the [Pakistani] army and police institutions started catching the mujahideen and putting them in prisons. The secret agencies put the mujahideen to such extreme torture that has no parallel in human history. The relatives of the mujahideen were also tortured in these prisons in front of the mujahideen..."

The video shows footage of Pakistani securitymen beating and torturing individuals publicly. Family members of these mujahideen are shown crying and calling for them to be saved from Pakistani the securitymen.

It accuses the Pakistani army of detaining Dr. Aafia Siddiqui, the Pakistani scientist jailed in the U.S. for helping Al-Qaeda, and handing her over to America. It quotes a Pakistani general as saying that Pakistani forces have killed more militants than anyone else.

As a result of the torture by Pakistani securitymen, the narrator states, the leadership of the TTP decided to change its tactics in favor of targeting those Pakistani security officials who are involved in operations against the mujahideen. As part of this changed policy, several top Pakistani security officials were targeted, the narrator adds. The video contains footage of various Taliban suicide bombers who targeted Pakistani security officials in recent months.

The video shows footage of Pakistani securitymen seized by the TTP being lined up and being shot dead by Taliban fighters. The security men are declared as apostates - i.e. having left Islam - and as "enemies of Allah."

The narrator warns Pakistani security officials to cease being enemies of Islam and stop torturing the mujahideen and their family members, threatening punishment against them that will be remembered by future generations of security officials.

The video is dated October 17, 2011 but was released on February 9, 2012 on a jihadist internet forum.

Copy of certification by Islamic clerics published in Roznama Ummat (January 14, 2012)

Pakistan's QMobile, a telecommunications and technology products firm, was recently mired in controversy over its Islamic identity after being accused of belonging to Qadianis – i.e. Ahmadi Muslims who have been declared non-Muslims under Pakistani laws and are barred from using Islamic symbols and from calling their places of worship "mosques."

Rumors spread in Pakistan that the letter "Q" in the company's name stands for Qadian, the northern India birthplace of the Ahmadiyya Movement, and that QMobile is out to defame Islam and to cause disrespect for Islam's Prophet Muhammad. Ahmadi Muslims, who are members of the Ahmadiyya Movement, are accused by Pakistani clerics of not believing that Prophet Muhammad was the last prophet of god.

Rumors that QMobile stands for Qadiani-Mobile, thereby calling for the company's boycott, were strengthened by a software glitch on QMobile products that did not enable its users to write the word "Muhammad" in Urdu or Arabic script.

QMobile Statement: "After the Last Prophet of Arabia Muhammad… [We] Consider Any Claimant to Prophethood As False, Liar, Accursed and Infidel"

Copy of the statement by QMobile official Mian Pervez Akhtar

Following the controversy, QMobile and the Aalami Majlise Tahaffuze Khatme Nabuwwat (International Council to Protect the End of Prophethood), an organization of Islamic clerics which leads a forceful campaign against Ahmadi Muslims in Pakistan issued a joint advertisement in the Urdu-language daily Roznama Ummat.[1]

In the ad, Mian Pervez Akhtar of QMobile wrote: "We apologize to our clients that they experienced difficulty due to a problem in QMobile software and due to which the word 'Muhammad' peace be upon him could not be written. But this issue has been resolved completely….

"Actually, this is a software problem and has no connection to Qadianiat [beliefs of Ahmadi Muslims]. Praise be to Allah! We are Muslims and have complete faith in the end of prophethood on Muhammad peace be upon him. After the Last Prophet of Arabia Muhammad peace be upon him, [we] consider any claimant to prophethood as false, liar, accursed and infidel. May Allah bless us to be steadfast on Islam. Amen…."

Islamic Clerics' Organization: "We have Reached the Conclusion that the Company's Owners… are Muslims and … Consider Any Claimant of Prophethood After… [Muhammad] as False, Liar, Accursed and Kafir [Infidel]; We Verify That Have Nothing To Do With the Qadiani Sect"

The QMobile statement was part of the ad that contained a fatwa (Islamic decree), certifying that the company belongs to Muslims and not to Qadianis. The fatwa issued by the Aalami Majlise Tahaffuze Khatme Nabuwwat (AMTKN, or the International Council to Protect the End of Prophethood) and signed by its Emir for Karachi Muhammad Ejaz Mustafa stated:

"This is to verify that we have met with the owners of the D.G. Com Trading Private Limited (who have been carrying out the QMobile business in Pakistan for a long time) and have investigated their beliefs.

"We have reached the conclusion that the company's owners – by grace of Allah – are Muslims and have the firm faith that the Last Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him is the last prophet of Allah; and they consider any claimant of prophethood after Him [Muhammad] as false, liar, accursed and Kafir [infidels]. We verify that they have nothing to do with the Qadiani sect."

Following are excerpts from a report on Moroccan twins Sanaa and Iman Laghrissi, who were recruited to Al-Qaeda at age 13. The report aired on Al-Arabiya TV on December 31, 2011: 

Iman Laghrissi: "The main event that rocked my world was when [my sister and I] joined an extremist group, a terrorist group." 

Sanaa Laghrissi: "My sister and I were [trained] to carry out operations. We were supposed to carry out operations, but we also did the planning. Either we would have blown ourselves up or detonated a remote-controlled bomb. We were not supposed to just plant a bomb somewhere." 

Iman Laghrissi: "When I walked down the street, I used to be very proud of myself. I used to feel as if there was no one like me. I was a 13-year-old girl, who was thinking about Jihad and monotheism, and who was thinking about going to Afghanistan and Chechnya, and who was thinking about weighty matters – not the usual thoughts of a 13-year-old girl.  

"I was immersed in Jihadi ideology. I was prepared to do anything for Jihad for the sake of Allah. 

"At the age of 13 years, when my sister and I began to wear the hijab, we came across a pamphlet that talked about the hijab, about Jihad, and about the events of 9/11, and it said that 9/11 was a sign foretold by the Koran, and so on. My sister and I asked for copies of this pamphlet, in order to distribute it among people. It was a very innocent thing. We weren't thinking about extremism, about terrorism, or about killing anybody. 

"After some time, I said to my sister: 'We are an Islamic country, so how come there is alcohol in our country?' I said to her: 'Why don't we do what Osama Bin Laden did on 9/11?' She said: 'Where would we get weapons? How would we do it? It's a big thing.' I said: 'First we need to ask whether it is permitted [in Islam]. Is it permitted to blow up a liquor store or not?' We went to the imam of the mosque and said to him: 'We are 13-year-old girls who are asking whether it is permitted to blow up a liquor store, given that it is prohibited to drink or to sell alcohol.' He said that it was forbidden to blow up a liquor store, whatever the reason, because our country is pluralistic, and whoever wants to act in accordance with Islam can do so, and whoever wants to drink alcohol – that's his own business. This does not harm the Muslims. 

"We were not convinced by this, because he did not give us sufficient evidence." […] 

Sanaa Laghrissi: "My sister and I met a man who wanted to marry me. We went home, and my sister raised the issue with our mother. My mother refused, and my sister quoted a hadith of the Prophet Muhammad: 'If a man whose morals and religious nature you like arrives – marry him, for if you don't, there will be great anarchy and corruption in the land.' When my mother heard the word 'corruption,' she misunderstood it, because she comes from a background that she doesn't want to talk about… She gave my sister a beating and kicked her out of the house, in the middle of the night. I remained, and she beat me at home. [...] 

"A day later, we went out to look for my sister, but we couldn't find her. We spent about four days searching for my sister. Then a man came and asked us: 'Are you looking for Iman?' I said: 'Yes. How did you know?' He said: 'Because you look like her.' He took us to his home, where we met my sister. We sat there and they reconciled, and then we went home together. But to the next day, we returned to the man's house. " 

Iman Laghrissi: "He wanted to bring us into his ideological movement. He began to talk to us about religion, about faith, about takfir, about taghout, about the state, and about how the state should treat people fairly. He wanted to show us that all the people in the world were infidels, and that even the people closest to us were infidels, even if they attest that there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is His messenger. He considered everybody to be infidels, even some bearded [Islamist] men.  […] 

"When he heard that we had asked the imam about blowing up liquor stores, he said: 'You have excellent ideas, but blowing up a liquor store will not achieve a thing. You should go for large places.' We asked how, and he said: 'I will tell you later.' After some time, he began to talk to us about the parliament. He told us that the parliament should be targeted, with everybody in it. […] 

"We looked upon him as a father figure, although he did not see me as a daughter. He talked to his wife about marrying me, and she hinted about this to me. She said: 'What would you say if an older man – say, 42 or 43 years old – with two children, a good wife, and a home, wanted to marry you? Would you say yes?' I said: 'Yes, if his wife agreed, so that there would not be any problems.' I welcomed the idea, even though I was only 13 years old." 

Sanaa Laghrissi: "We learned everything from him. He gave us books for us to memorize, summarize, and so on. His wife did it along with us. After that, we welcomed the idea. We liked the idea of blowing up the parliament. We saw it as a way to help our religion and to do great things. […] 

"When I heard about the killing of Osama bin Laden, I was not shocked, because I do not believe that he was killed. Osama bin Laden died a long time ago of an illness. That is what I believe, because he was very ill. That's what I heard. He was, in my view, a friendly person, and I did not view him as a terrorist or a killer. On the contrary, he seemed like a very calm person. He was a father figure. I wished he could have been my father." 

Iman Laghrissi: "I love him as a person." 

Sanaa Laghrissi: "I do not hate or loathe him. Bin Laden was my role model. He was a symbol of a man of courage, a man who changed the world. He was a model figure of a father, of a mujahid. He made me love the bearded [Islamist] men. He seemed like someone who would scold me if I did something wrong. That's how I saw bin Laden. He may have heard about us in the past, but we never met him. We consider him to be a father figure despite everything that he did. None of that matters to me, because he didn't harm me personally. " 

Iman Laghrissi: "He may have heard about us, because news of us may have reached Pakistan." […]

In two articles, excerpts from which are given below, the IMU defends jihad and the Taliban and promotes antisemitism, stating also that the creation of Pakistan was an attempt to divide the Muslims of India and that infidels were thrust upon the Muslims as their leaders. It cites the example of M. A. Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, calling him as the "Great Infidel," rather than the "Great Leader" as he is known to the Pakistani people.

Also in the articles, the IMU cites the writings of the Islamist national poet of Pakistan, Muhammad Iqbal, to justify a call to jihad, and denounces Sir Syed Ahmed Khan, the foremost South Asian Islamic reformer who established Aligarh Muslim University, near Delhi.

Both the articles cited below are from the magazine's sixth issue.[1]

"Muharram is the First Month of the Year of Muslims; January is the First Month of the Year of Animals [i.e. Non-Muslims]"

In the first article – titled "Muharram is the First Month of the Year of Muslims; January is the First Month of the Year of Animals [i.e. Non-Muslims]" and authored by one Mufti Abuzar Azzam – the magazine observed:

"The last sun of 1432 Hijri set and 1433 Hijri [the Islamic calendar year] began. May Allah Almighty forgive our past failings and protect us in the future too. Amen!

"Perhaps a majority of present-day youth don't know that the Islamic Year has begun. They are unaware that the Islamic day begins with the sundown, not past the midnight. And that the New Year of Muslims begins from Muharram – the first month of the Islamic Year. January is the first month of the calendar year of animals [non-believers]; what relationship Muslims have with the Christian year?

"But what to do; Muslims have lost everything and are still not bothered. When feelings and conscience die, then there remain no significance of benefits and losses, savings and expenses. Sorry to say that today, our youth don't understand that the Christian year has no basis. On the basis of arguments through which these Kuffar [infidels] are trying to influence and misguide our Muslim youth have actually no ground.

"However, our Hijri calendar has a grand history and strong foundation – called Hijrat [migration of Prophet Muhammad from Mecca to Medina]. Who will dissuade our girls and boys about the fact regarding Hijrat – that our Prophet (peace be upon him) chose to sacrifice his residence, family members, relatives, tribe, business and everything and opted to migrate from a sacred place like Mecca to Medina instead of engaging in politics of hypocrisy, give and take and bargaining with infidels.

"Yes, our Hijri calendar is a testimony to that 'great sacrifice' which our holy Prophet rendered for his Ummah [community of followers]. How much regretful it is that today those who call themselves as believers are unaware of the utility of Islamic calendar. They do their business, etc., in accordance with the 'calendar of infidels.' The date of Islamic calendar must be printed on top and English date below it. Don't try at all to put on top that which Allah wished to remain below. Somebody, who cares, writes as 26th November in accordance with 1st Muharram. Instead it should be written as 1st Muharram in accordance with 26th November. Kuffar [infidels] should follow us and not we [the Muslims] will follow them….

"According to an Urdu couplet:

'Ah failure! The caravan of stocks of effects was passing on;
'But we have no guilt feelings in our hearts for losing that caravan'"

"May Allah Fill the Grave of [19th Century Indian Islamic Reformer] Sir Syed Ahmed Khan With Snakes and Scorpions! He Laid Down the Foundation Stone of English Maktabs [Schools]"

"May Allah fill the grave of [19th century Indian Islamic reformer] Sir Syed Ahmed Khan with snakes and scorpions! He laid down the foundation stone of English maktabs [schools] and schools to snatch from Muslim youth their own history. The present Muslims even don't know of what act they must feel proud of and what is shameful and hateful for them.

"Today it is because of this type of education that our youth don't mind uttering Rahmatullah Alaihe [Arabic honorific] with the name of Quaid-e-Azam [Great Leader M. A. Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan, who is] like Kafir-e-Azam [Greatest Infidel]. If anybody speaks against Quaid-e-Azam [M. A. Jinnah] in the presence of these youth, they can mind [it] and become annoyed. But [unfortunately] they don't bother to resist if a blasphemer openly speaks against our holy Prophet Muhammad (SWA). Jinnah was an Ismaili Shia.

"Sir Syed [Ahmed Khan] was a zindeeq [pig or great infidel] who didn't believe in the existence of paradise and hell and mocked this concept (see Sir Syed Ki Tafseer or Interpretation of Sir Syed). The greatest of Kuffar [infidels] have been presented as leaders of Muslims; Muslims were misled; Muslims [of India] were divided in the name of Pakistan. And since the existence of Pakistan, efforts were made to fully infuse the passion of patriotism among the Muslim youth [regarding the geographical nation state of Pakistan] while our own history [of Islamic rule worldwide] has been discarded."

"'Pakistan Sharif' [the Pious Pakistan] is a Rakhail [Concubine]; It Means that 'Pakistan Sharif' is a Prostitute of America, Jews, and Christians"

"Oh, our history! It was once a sign of our recognition and glory. We used to be the rulers of India. But today our new generation is far from [remembering these things]. A lollipop was handed over to us in the name of Pakistan. We have been deceived. It is said that Pakistan has become an atomic power and the sole Islamic atomic power in the world. We doubt whether Pakistan indeed has atomic bomb because we are aware of the status and domination of the nuclear states.

"However, 'Pakistan Sharif' [the Pious Pakistan] is a rakhail [concubine]. You will ask, what is the rakhail? Hope you understand dashta [prostitute] and if you still don't understand dashta, then I am forced to utter randi [the most pejorative term for prostitute] because this word is more comprehensible for most people. It means that 'Pakistan Sharif' is a prostitute of America, Jews, and Christians.

"Some people have objection [to the idea] that the Taliban are enemies of Pakistan. So they must try to understand that who are their enemies and who are their friends. Are those who deviated from the foundation, aims and objectives [of Pakistan] the traitors, or are we [militants]? If the formation of Pakistan was aimed at establishing democratic rule, then what was the need of separation from Hindustan [India] and what was the need for wreaking havoc with the lives and honor of six lac [600,000] Muslim women, children and men [during the 1947 Partition of India]?

"Muslim history, which is full of such events of vigor, bravery and glory, was put on the back burner, and for what purpose? We separated from Hindustan on the basis of the 'Two-Nation Theory' [i.e. that Hindus and Muslims cannot live together]. Have we succeeded in achieving our goals? Who will make our youth understand what actually the Two-Nation Theory stands for?

"Now the pseudo-intellectuals and experts on various TV channels are bent upon telling us that the Quaid-e-Azam [M. A. Jinnah] had been working for a secular Pakistan state... What can be a worse sinful example than this? If he wanted to make it [Pakistan] a secular state – meaning non-religious state and society – then all right, [call him] Kafir-e-Azam…."

"If Jinnah Had Aimed at Creating a Secular Pakistan…, We Must Accept Our Mistake and Seek Forgiveness from Allah Almighty; Our Holy Koran Rejects Democratic Politics; Our Leader… [Prophet Muhammad] Denounced Democracy"

"The freedom movement [against the British] launched prior to 1947 raised before the Muslims of that time the slogan of 'Pakistan Ka Matlab Kiya…. La Illaha Illallah' ['what is the meaning of Pakistan – i.e. there is no deity but Allah']. This was the slogan of Muslims at that time, while on the other hand, Kafir-e-Azam remained active for the establishment of a non-religious secular entity [i.e. a democratic secular Pakistan]. So this act of his may be termed a fraud and breach of trust ….

"Another Urdu couplet says:

'The small stars [innocent faces] are something but appear as something else;
'And these acrobats deceive openly and cleverly [by taking U-turn]'

"If Jinnah had aimed to create a secular Pakistan, then definitely it may be so. But we must accept our mistake and seek forgiveness from Allah Almighty. And take up arms for the enforcement of Islamic Sharia system in Pakistan. We can never bow our heads before democracy or democratic politics. Our Holy Koran rejects democratic politics.

"Our leader and guide [Prophet] Hazrat Muhammad Mustafa Ahmed Mujtaba (swa) has denounced democracy. We are aware of false perception about voting and elections. With the blessing of Allah we can judge the true Muslim leaders and scholars with the scale of their righteousness and not judge the righteousness on the scale of leaders or scholars. It means righteousness should be the standard to choose leaders and not personalities.

"Our friends must note this point that our ulema [Islamic scholars] who participated in the parliamentary politics in the past was due to some compulsions… It means when a man is near to death due to hunger and nothing is available except the meat of a pig, he can eat it to remain alive – but the Islamic Sharia does not allow us to eat it on full stomach. However, a democratic system may allow all such practices and formalities!

"But praise be to Allah! We consider the democratic system not only as sinful but outright consider it as Kufr [system of infidels]. We know that three conditions are a must for an Islamic system: firstly, supremacy [of Allah] – it means your arguments should be cited from the Koran, the Hadith [sayings and deeds of Prophet Muhammad], Ijma [consensus of Ulema], Qias [reasoning of Islamic jurists] and Ulema. Secondly, the path – the path chosen for an Islamic system must be totally Shari'i [i.e. based on Sharia], and there is no room for democracy. The third and final condition is hadaf [objective] – it means that your objective must be to establish an Islamic Sharia system…."

Islam's Fourth Caliph Ali Said: "Waging Jihad for the Sake of Allah is Akin To One Of the Eight Entrances to Heaven; One Who Abandons Jihad Will Be Humiliated By Allah [Before the Infidels]"

In the second article, titled "Glitter the Soil of the East…!!" and written by one Abdul Barr, the IMU observes:

"The prophetic light of Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) continued to guide for 23 years human beings, who went astray in obscurity after becoming bereft of the righteousness… But the same human being, who once surpassed the angels [in the race for piety], is again wandering in obscurity, and instead of following the righteous path shown by the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), is treading on a path which… is leading him to the slavery of the infidels and pushing him towards the abyss of humiliation.

"The human being – made out of mud – is unable to comprehend that travel to the West in an airplane moves him to the darkness of night… Likewise, if the Muslims continue adopting the civilization of the West, if they continue adopting Western norms and values as the objective of their lives, if they continue seeking [mundane] exaltation by following the Western way of life and keep considering the Westerners to be the civilized ones, the Muslims may reach the end of their lives without being able to have a look at their destination even from far and wide.

"And how is it possible that a foe will guide his rival nation to the way of exaltation? The perpetual exaltation of Muslims lies in following the injunctions of Islam in the letter and spirit; it lies in adopting the teaching of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him); and it lies in holding the strings [commandments] of Allah firmly.

"The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) says: 'When you [Muslims] indulge in trade, hold the tail of the cow, engage in agriculture, and leave jihad, so Allah will impose disgrace on you and not remove it from you until you come back to your religion [Jihad].' (Abu Daud)

"It is narrated from Hazrat Ali [the fourth caliph of Islam]: 'Waging jihad for the sake of Allah is akin to one of the eight entrances to the Heaven; and one who leaves jihad will be humiliated by Allah [before the infidels]; miseries will besiege him; [he] will be put in hardship and will be deprived of his due right [justice].'

"History is evidence to the fact that whenever Muslims ignored the importance of the holy injunction [on jihad], they moved towards the path from exaltation to descend so rapidly like they had never seen this exaltation. And when they gave due regard to this holy injunction [on jihad] and adhered to it, they regained the lost exaltation and taught the world how to live."

The Prophet Muhammad Said: "If a Muslim Dies in a Condition In Which He Neither Went To Jihad Nor Had Any Desire to Be Martyred, He Died the Death of a Hypocrite"

"The life of the torch of the Righteousness – the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) –is an excellent example for Muslims. He spent [a major portion of his life] preaching Islam, but the portion of his life which he spent while braving the hardships of jihad fi Sabeel Allah [Jihad in the Path of Allah] is far greater than the former one.

"He remained engaged in jihad after the Ayahs [verses] regarding jihad descended on him [from Allah], and often showed his eagerness to become a martyr. He even said: 'My desire is to be martyred in the way of Allah and then be given a [new] life; then again get martyred and be given a [new] life and then again get martyred.'

"The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) time and again warned those who would be hesitant to join their jihadi fellows, as Hazrat Abu Huraira narrates a hadith from the Holy Prophet (peace be upon time): 'If a Muslim dies in a condition in which he neither went to jihad nor had any desire to be martyred, he died the death of a hypocrite.'

"The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) despite facing economic constraints kept on making preparations for jihad and followed the commandments of Allah: 'So up to the maximum possible extent, do make preparations for Jihad against infidels.'

"And today the main reason behind Muslims' downfall is their ignorance about the war training and war weapons, which is in line with the accomplishment of desires of the infidels. And those who argue that the present age is not the age of jihad and keep a distance from jihad, must bear in mind the hadith of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) – which is narrated by Hazrat Aslam: 'The jihad will remain fresh until the drops of rain continue falling [from the sky].' And a time will come when their Ulema would say that it is not the time for jihad. However, anybody who finds that time [get himself ready for Jihad]… what a [good] time it would be for jihad.

"People asked the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him), will there be some people who say that it is not the time for Jihad, and he replied: 'Yes! Curse be of Allah, angels and all the humanity on those [who would say this against Jihad].'

"The narration of the Kanzul Am'aal [book 'Doers of Good Deeds'] adds this Hadith: 'And these are the people who would become the firewood for the hell.'"

"Come Let Us Follow the Holy Path of Jihad and Fill the Gap of Those Who Are Against Jihad to Save the Sinking Ship of the Muslims; Join the Ranks of the Mujahideen"

"Come let us follow the holy path of jihad and fill the gap of those who are against jihad to save the sinking ship of the Muslims. Join the ranks of the Mujahideen and increase the number of the small but holy group of the slaves of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him). Sacrifice mundane luxuries for the eternal life because one of the main reasons behind the Muslims' downfall is love for worldly things and hatred for death.

"Join the way of the sagacious people, about whom a poet says:

'No doubt the wise slaves of Allah do persist – those who have divorced the luxuries of this world and they hate upheaval [causing problems between people];
'They looked at this world and when realized that it is not an eternal abode for any human being, they took it as an ocean and made their Am'aal [good deeds] their ships [to cross it safely]'

"When it comes to bravery and gallantry, do remember the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions who made a history by their brave actions and [strictly] followed Islam and fulfilled all the Hujjats [reasoning]; and above all don't forget the jihadi life of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and his legacy [of jihadi warfare] because only this legacy can push us out from the abyss of humiliation. Do remember the life of Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) in general and his jihadi life in particular and follow it because it is the only way out [for Muslims].

"The Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions shone as a dawn in the society of infidels and obscurity, and made a new world [social system] which had its own values of life, and its own way of life. This was the same social system which in terms of peace and tranquility is still a source of pride and a bright chapter in the book of history. Nay, history itself is adorned by it.

"The non-believers, despite being unreceptive to the teachings of Islam, are compelled to adopt — either partially or totally — the justice system which prevailed in that society. It will be pertinent to quote some verses of [Islamist national poet of Pakistan Muhammad] Iqbal who instigated the Muslim youth to awake from their slumber and urged them to make a new world for themselves where the rule of Allah prevails, where Muslims are free of others' [non-believers] laws, their [social] system, and their dominance. And in that scenario, what line of action, justice and social system other than Islam would be better for them? [He wrote]:

"'If somebody has the urge to die for truth;
'First he needs to create spirit in his inner-self;
'Blow away this mundane earth and sky;
'And create a new world for himself out of the ashes;
'Expose the hidden powers of the life;
'Until a spark creates an eternal light;
'Glitter on the soil of East like a Sun;
'Until Badakhshan again starts producing the precious gems [people]'"

Following are excerpts from an interview with Sheik Bassam Al-Kayed, head of the Palestinian Islamic Scholars Association in Lebanon, which aired on Al-Aqsa TV on February 1, 2012:

Bassam Al-Kayed: "The Jew is a Satan in human form. Allah inflicted the Jews upon humanity in its entirety, and especially upon the nation of Islam, including the early prophets and the Prophet Muhammad.

"The Jew is a satan in human form. We could almost say that the satanic jinn take lessons from them.

"What they do is very peculiar. It transgresses all boundaries.

"They attribute no sanctity to anything that is scared, to any treaty or agreement. They violate all the international laws, all the human norms, and all the Islamic and man-made laws.

"They violate all values. They are deterred by nothing but force." […]

A probe into the July 13, 2011 bomb blasts in Mumbai reveals that some members of the "Indian Mujahideen" were connected to Al-Qaeda and other jihadist organizations based in Pakistan, according to an Indian website.

The Indian Mujahideen (IM) is a terror group that emerged in mid-2000s and is widely believed to have been working as a front organization for Pakistan-based jihadist organizations such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Muhammad.

According to a report on the website of an Indian daily, an officer of Mumbai's Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) said, "IM has managed to strike a strong rapport with terror groups based in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and some of its leaders have direct links with Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), Jaish-e-Muhammed and even Al-Qaeda to an extent."

The following are excerpts from the report:[1]

"Such is the interconnect between these outfits that they have not only been sharing military training and are teaching each other new techniques of preparing bombs and planting them, [but] funds are also being jointly utilized through hawala networks [informal ways of transferring money internationally]," the official said.

Speaking about Haroon Rashid Naik who is under Indian custody, the ATS official said, "We have known for long that the LeT has been training terrorists from all over, but it was surprising to learn that Haroon even had access to Al-Qaeda."

According to the report, Haroon Rashid Naik told the ATS that he "went to Pakistan in 2000-2001 and was sent by Riyaz Bhatkal, another top IM operative. Since then, he kept in touch with Aftab Ansari, who was involved in the attack on American Centre in Kolkata in 2002, and also with Omar Sheikh, a 9/11 conspirator who earlier kidnapped British tourists in the mid-90s and was released [by India] during the hostage exchange of IC 814 in Kandahar in December 1999."

"During his training, [Haroon Rashid] Naik met [now] slain Al-Qaeda chief Osama bin Laden and LeT's head of operations Zaki-ur-Rehman Lakhvi, who is wanted in India for masterminding the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, as well as top LeT commander Azam Cheema," the ATS officer said. Lakhvi is in Pakistani custody for his role in the November 2008 Mumbai terror attacks.

In a recent article, former Indian official and security affairs analyst B. Raman blamed U.S. policy for some militant activities carried out by the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) in the wider Xinjiang region. The article, titled "The Xinjiang Angle" was published by the website of India's noted weekly magazine Outlook. Raman, formerly an Additional Secretary in the Cabinet Secretariat of the Government of India, is Director of the Institute for Tropical Studies, Chennai, India.[1]

In the article, Raman says that there "are strong indicators from independent sources in the Uighur diaspora in Pakistan that the disturbances in Xinjiang in the first week of July 2009 were initially externally-instigated by the Munich-based and U.S.-funded World Uighur Congress (WUC)." The former Indian official adds: "The WUC is funded openly and helped in other ways such as the training of its cadres by the Congressionally-funded National Endowment for Democracy (NED) of the U.S. and the Holland-based Unrepresented Nations' and Peoples' Organization (UNPO)."

He further writes: "Whereas the WUC fights against the Han Chinese because they are in occupation of the traditional Uighur homeland, the ETIM fights against the Hans because it says they are infidels, who are in occupation of territory which historically belonged to the [Muslim] Ummah. While the WUC till recently drew most of its members from the Uighur diaspora in the West and Australia, the ETIM has been drawing its members from the Uighur diaspora in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries. While the WUC gets most of its funds from North America, West Europe and Australia, the ETIM has been getting its funds from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. According to reliable Uighur sources in Pakistan, the Jamaat-e-Islami of Pakistan contributes money regularly to the ETIM and helps many Uighur students in Pakistan."

Raman's article, originally written in March 2010 to evaluate terror threats to the International Expo in Shanghai, was published by the Outlook website in the wake of the July 31, 2011 attacks in the city of Kashgar in China's Xinjiang region that killed at least 19 people. The Muslim Uighurs have resented China's control over Xinjiang and have been carrying out attacks against the Chinese Hans in the province.

In a statement on the July 31, 2011 attacks, the government of Kashgar city said that militants based in Pakistan carried out the attacks. "The heads of the group had learned skills of making explosives and firearms in overseas camps of the terrorist group East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) in Pakistan before entering Xinjiang," the Kashgar government statement said, adding that the attackers adhered to "extremist religious ideology" and advocated "jihad."[2]

Following are excerpts from B. Raman's article:[3]

Threats Against China Issued By the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM)

"(a) On July 25, 2008, a private security consultancy agency of the U.S. claimed to have intercepted a three-minute Olympics-specific video message by one Sayfallah, who claimed to belong to an organization called the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP) in which he threatened acts of violence directed against the Olympics. He claimed that his organization was responsible for the explosions in buses in Shanghai in May 2008 and in Kunming in Yunnan in July 2008. He said that his group was planning to attack Chinese cities 'using previously unused methods.'

"He added: 'This is our last warning to China and the rest of the world. The viewers and athletes, especially those who are Muslim, who plan to go to the Olympics should change their plans and not go to China. The Turkistan Islamic Party plans military attacks on people, offices, arenas, and other activities that are connected to the Chinese Olympic Games.' The threat was not carried out. 

"(b) The CBS News of the U.S. reported on April 15, 2009 that the media wing of the ETIM called Sawt al Islam had disseminated a 43-minute video entitled 'Persistence and preparation for Jihad.' To quote CBS: 'It includes a statement by the group's current leader Sheikh Abul Haq, as well as its late leader Hassan Makhdum, whose alias is Abu Mohammed al Turkistani. Abul Haq said: 'jihad was a duty that falls on all Muslims just like any other religious duty. He also pledged more attacks against Chinese forces.'

"(c) In a video posted on an Islamist web site on August 1,2009, Abdul Haq al-Turkistani, who was described by the website as the leader of the Turkistan Islamic Party (TIP), urged Muslims to attack Chinese interests to punish Beijing for what he described as massacres against Uighur Muslims. He said: 'They (the Chinese) must be targeted both at home and abroad. Their embassies, consulates, centers and gathering places should be targeted. Their men should be killed and captured to seek the release of our brothers who are jailed in Eastern Turkistan [or Xinjiang]... Our duty, we in Eastern Turkistan, is to continue to resist without desperation.'

"He accused China of committing 'barbaric massacres' against Muslims in East Turkistan... Abdul Haq's face was digitally blurred in the Arabic-language version of the video which also contained a collage of footage of the violence in the region. He was speaking with an assault rifle to his right and what appeared to be a pistol pouch strapped to his shoulder…"

"In 1995… [Yuldashev] Went to Pakistan, Where the jihadi Organizations Gave Him Shelter; From There, He Re-Named the Adolat Party As the IMU [Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan] and Was Allegedly in Receipt of Funds from the Intelligence Agencies of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia…"

"The first signs of Islamic fundamentalism appeared in Uzbekistan in December 1991, when some unemployed Muslim youth seized the Communist Party headquarters in the eastern city of Namangan, to protest against the refusal of the local Mayor to permit the construction of a mosque. The protest was organized by Tohir Abdouhalilovitch Yuldashev, a 24-year-old college drop-out, who had become a Mullah [cleric], and Jumaboi Ahmadzhanovitch Khojaev, a former Soviet paratrooper who had served in Afghanistan and returned from there totally converted to Wahhabism. Yuldashev and Khojaev, who later adopted the alias Juma Namangani, after his hometown, became members of the Uzbekistan branch of the Islamic Renaissance Party (IRP).

"Following the IRP's refusal to support their demand for the establishment of an Islamic State in Uzbekistan, they formed their own party called the Adolat (Justice) Party, which was banned by President Islam Karimov. They then fled to Tajikistan. While Namangani fought in the local civil war, Yuldashev went to Chechnya to participate in the jihad there.

"In 1995, he went to Pakistan, where the jihadi organizations gave him shelter in Peshawar. From there, he re-named the Adolat Party as the IMU [Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan] and was allegedly in receipt of funds from the intelligence agencies of Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. After Osama bin Laden shifted to Jalalabad from Khartoum in Sudan in 1996, Yuldashev crossed over into Afghanistan. After the end of the civil war in Tajikistan, Namangani settled down for a while as a road transport operator. He was also allegedly involved in heroin smuggling from Afghanistan. Subsequently, he too crossed over into Afghanistan and joined the IMU and became its leader.

"The IMU allegedly earns a major part of its revenue from heroin smuggling. After the Taliban captured Kabul in September 1996, Namangani and Yuldashev held a press conference at Kabul at which they announced the formation of the IMU with Namangani as the Emir and Yuldashev as its military commander. In 1998, the IMU joined the International Islamic Front (IIF) of Al-Qaeda."

"The IMU's Initial Goal was Described As the Overthrow of Uzbek President Islam Karimov and the Establishment of an Islamic State in Uzbekistan; Initially, Its Recruits Were Trained By the Arab Instructors of Al-Qaeda"

"The IMU's initial goal was described as the overthrow of Uzbek President Islam Karimov and the establishment of an Islamic State in Uzbekistan. It changed its name to the Islamic Party of Turkestan (IPT or TIP) in June 2001 and called for the establishment of an Islamic Caliphate in Central Asia consisting of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and China's Xinjiang province. It was recruiting members from all these areas, including Uighurs from Xinjiang..."

[Editorial note: IPT and TIP are synonymous. Contrary to the writer's suggestion, the IMU did not become TIP in 2001 or after. The IMU still publishes videos and statements under its name. The IMU and ETIM have had close connections the 1990s, sharing training camps and fighters under the Taliban's patronage. As for TIP, the first time it became known was only in 2008, and not 2001. The TIP was practically unknown prior to it issuing empty warnings of planned attacks on the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The Uighurs' original mother organization is the ETIM. However, ETIM became defunct in 2003 after the death of its leader Hassan Mahsum in Waziristan in an operation by the Pakistani security forces. After that, there was a chronological gap from 2003 until 2008 where suddenly Abdul Haq became the alleged leader of TIP.]

"Initially, its recruits were trained by the Arab instructors of Al-Qaeda in the training camps in Afghan territory and after 9/11 by Chechen and Pashtun instructors of the Taliban in the South Waziristan area of Pakistan. Despite its 2001 change of name as TIP, it continued to be known in Uzbekistan as the IMU. The Uighur members of the IMU constituted themselves into a separate organization in June 2001 and started calling themselves the East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM) or Islamic Party of Turkestan or the Turkestan Islamic Party."

"The ETIM Sporadically Brings Out a Journal Called Turkistan al-Muslimah (Muslim Turkistan); The First Issue of the Journal… Was Published in July 2008 By [Al-Qaeda's] Al-Fajr Institute for Islamic Media"

"The ETIM sporadically brings out a journal called Turkistan al-Muslimah (Muslim Turkistan), [a magazine that was first published in July 2008 and its most recent issue was published in March 2011, Issue No. 8, under the TIP brand, not ETIM]. It gives the name of the organization as the Hizb Al-Islami Al-Turkistani (Turkistan Islamic Party – TIP).

"The first issue of the journal, which was published in July 2008 by Al-Fajr Institute for Islamic Media [an Al-Qaeda publishing house], described its objective as revealing 'the real situation of our Muslim nation in East Turkistan, which is living under the occupation of the Communist Chinese and to disclose the falsehood of the Chinese Government, exposing its crimes [against Muslims] to the world… [we want the] world to understand our cause and rights, that we are seeking our freedom and independence and to be ruled by God's Shari'a.'

"The journal published an interview in two parts with Abdul Haq al-Turkistani, its Emir. In the interview, he gave details of his early life and religious education and described how he travelled to Afghanistan from Xinjiang via Pakistan. He also referred to the Taliban training camps he and his Uighur followers had attended in Khost, Bagram, Kabul and Herat before 9/11. He mentioned that originally the ETIM was part of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) before it separated from the IMU and constituted itself as an independent organization representing the Uighurs.

"Before the Olympics of August 2008, the ETIM used to issue threats of biological, chemical and conventional attacks on targets in China, but it was not able to carry out its threats. 

"The journal describes jihad as an Islamic duty and among the contributors of articles are one Abu Khaled Saifallah, Abu Jaafar al-Mansour and Abu Umar al-Farooq. In his article, Abu Ja'afar al-Mansour warned China as follows: 'China beware… take a lesson from those who preceded you, the Americans and [their] allies, who were defeated badly in Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia. Do not walk on the same road and do not use the [same] approach in prejudices [against] God's subjects and in looting their wealth and fortunes, and in shedding the blood of the children…as America is doing in Iraq and Afghanistan.'

"The articles carried by the journal showed the ETIM's admiration for Abu Mus'ab al-Zarqawi and Omar al-Baghdadi in Iraq and Abdul Malik Droukdel (a.k.a. Abu Mus'ab Abdul Wadood) in Algeria."

"In June 2009… [Abdul Haq al-Turkistani] Was Reported to have Attended a Meeting with Baitullah Mehsud…, Sirajuddin Haqqani of the Afghan Taliban, and Abu Yahya al-Libi of Al-Qaeda"

"Leadership

"After it separated from the IMU, the ETIM was headed under Emir Hassan Mahsum, also known as Hasan Makhdoom and also as Abu Muhammad al-Turkistani. He was killed by the Pakistani security forces in South Waziristan on October 2, 2003. He was succeeded by Abdul Haq al-Turkistani also known as Maimaitiming Maimaiti as the Emir in 2004 [Editorial note: there was no official statement on behalf of ETIM announcing Abdul Haq as the new leader. Haq was announced as the leader of TIP in 2008. In one of its issues, the TIP magazine attempted to retroactively change ETIM's name to TIP].

"According to the U.S. Treasury Department, which designated him as a global terrorist in April 2009, Haq was appointed as a member of Al-Qaeda's Shura Majlis, or executive council, in 2005. The UN also designated Haq as a terrorist leader.

"In June 2009, Haq was reported to have attended a meeting with Baitullah Mehsud, the then Emir of the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), Sirajuddin Haqqani of the Afghan Taliban, and Abu Yahya al-Libi of Al-Qaeda to discuss about the operations of the Pakistan Army against the TTP in South Waziristan. Baitullah subsequently died following a missile attack by a U.S. drone on the house of his father-in-law which he was visiting in August 2009. According to the Treasury Department's notification declaring him a global terrorist, Haq sent operatives abroad to raise funds for attacks against Chinese interests both at home and abroad. He was also involved with the planning and execution of terror attacks, recruiting, and propaganda efforts.

"In early 2008, Haq openly threatened to conduct attacks at the Olympic Games in Beijing. Haq ran a training camp for his recruits near an Al-Qaeda camp in Tora Bora in Afghanistan's Nangarhar before the U.S. invasion in October 2001. He later re-established the ETIM's training camps in North Waziristan in Pakistan. According to Amir Mir, the Pakistani journalist, who writes in The News, a spokesman of the TTP admitted that Abdul Haq was among the three militants killed in an American Drone strike in the Tappi village of Miramshah in North Waziristan on February 15, 2010, while they were travelling in a vehicle.

"According to a report from another source, the U.S. strike targeted a vehicle and a safe house operated by Taliban leader Hafiz Gul Baradar in the town of Tabi Ghundi Kala. Four terrorists were reported killed in the attack. The ETIM has not so far admitted his death and designated his successor. It is generally expected that his successor could be one of the three persons who regularly write for the ETIM's journal under the pseudonyms Abu Khaled Saifallah, Abu Jaafar al-Mansour and Abu Umar al-Farooq. Nothing is known about their personal background.

"Abu Khaled Saifallah could be the same person who, under the name Sayfallah, issued a video message on July 25, 2008, claiming responsibility on behalf of the ETIM for the explosions in Shanghai and Kunming, and threatening attacks on the Beijing Olympics, which did not materialize. If his claim of responsibility for the Shanghai explosion is correct, it would show that the ETIM has a capability for terrorist strikes in Shanghai-Pudong. The ETIM will try to operate through Uighur migrant workers employed in Shanghai-Pudong and other coastal areas."

[Editorial note: A few points to note on ETIM's operational capabilities and taking responsibilities for attacks area: between 2003-2008 Chinese authorities have become accustomed to blaming ETIM for all militant activities; there are a number of Uighur nationalist groups, ranging from peaceful secularists to militant jihadists who could be behind terror attacks; the TIP is better known for its propaganda arm rather than its operational arm, issuing empty threats of imminent attacks against Chinese interests – an approach that China uses to characterize Uighur separatists as terrorists.]

"The ETIM and the IMU Often Exchange Their Training Facilities – With the IMU Training the Uighurs and the ETIM Training Uzbeks Too"

"The ETIM's terrorist infrastructure

"Before 9/11, the training camps of the ETIM were located in the Taliban-controlled Afghan territory. After the fall of the Taliban as a result of the U.S. military operations post-9/11, the ETIMs training camps were transferred to North Waziristan. Its training camps work in close co-ordination with those of the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU). The ETIM and the IMU often exchange their training facilities – with the IMU training the Uighurs and the ETIM training Uzbeks too. Abdul Haq used to run the training camps in Afghan territory before October 7, 2001, when the U.S. started its military operations in Afghanistan.

"The ETIM maintains close relations with the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Afghan Taliban headed by Mullah Mohammad Omar. The Uighurs have not yet taken to suicide terrorism in the same way that the two Talibans [i.e. the Afghan and Pakistani Taliban] and the Chechens have. If the Uighur terrorists had succeeded in their attempt to blow up a Chinese aircraft in March 2008, that would have been a major act of suicide terrorism. Their terrorist acts have involved attacks on the security forces with hand-held weapons, use of explosive devices and dashing heavy vehicles such as tractors against the personnel of the security forces.

"The Uighurs of the Guantanamo Detention Camp

"Twenty-two Uighurs, belonging to the ETIM who were arrested in Afghan or Pakistani territory post 9/11, were detained by the U.S. in the Guantanamo detention center in Cuba. Most of them have since been released by the U.S. on the ground that there was no evidence of their involvement with Al-Qaeda or in acts of terrorism directed against the U.S. The U.S. did not hand them over to China for investigation and prosecution. They have reportedly been allowed to settle down in places such as Albania or the Pacific island of Palau or Switzerland.

"There is a danger of some of them reverting back to terrorism and rejoining the ETIM. It would be necessary for the Chinese security services to request their counterparts in the countries where they are living to keep a watch on them and ensure that they do not re-establish contact with the ETIM and allow themselves to be used by the ETIM for terrorist strikes during the Shanghai Expo."

[Editorial note: The U.S. designated ETIM as a terrorist organization in 2002 after intense pressure from China, in return for China not vetoing U.N. action in Iraq.]

In A March 2008 Plot to Blow Up a Plane of China Southern Airlines, Two Arrested Suspects "Travelled with Pakistani Passports"; Of the Two, a  Woman Was a Uighur Living in Pakistan And Trained in a Pakistani Jihadi Camp

"Modus Operandi Used by the Uighurs in the past

"(A) On March 7, 2008, the Chinese authorities had claimed to have foiled an attempt by three Uighurs to blow up a plane of the China Southern Airlines flying from Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang province, to Beijing. The persons involved had allegedly managed to smuggle inside the aircraft gasoline concealed inside a can of soft drinks. The plot was foiled by alert security guards on board the plane and two of the suspects were arrested on board the plane. A third was arrested subsequently.

"The Chairman of China Southern Airlines, Liu Chaoyong, said that a female passenger came out of the rest room and passed by a flight attendant who detected a suspicious smell. Then she smelt the scent of perfume and gasoline in front of the rest room… Liu Chaoyong said that the preliminary analysis was that the two individuals intended to hide the inflammable material and then take action at the appropriate moment. The News of Pakistan reported online on March 21, 2008, that two of the suspects arrested – a woman and a man – travelled with Pakistani passports. The woman was described as a Uighur living in Pakistan and trained in a Pakistani jihadi camp and the man as a Central Asian (Uzbek?). The third person, who escaped, but was subsequently arrested, was described as a Pakistani, who had masterminded the plot.

"(B) August 4, 2008: Fourteen border police guards were killed on the spot and two others succumbed to injuries later when a 28-year-old taxi driver later identified by the name Kurbanjan Hemit, a resident of Kashgar, drove a stolen truck into a group of 70 police guards jogging on the road in the morning. Initially, the Chinese authorities had claimed that they were killed by home-made explosives and knives, but subsequent reports indicated that they were crushed to death under a truck.

"The driver had an accomplice, who was also a native of Kashgar. He was identified as Abdurrahman Azat, a 33-year-old vegetable vendor. He had placed himself with a mobile telephone outside the border police post. He reportedly informed the driver as soon as the police guards came out and started jogging… As the truck ran over them, the vegetable vendor threw a home-made bomb at the police post and killed some of the injured with a knife used for cutting vegetables. Both the attackers were arrested. 

"(C) August 10, 2008: Between 3 and 4 AM, 15 Uighurs in different taxis drove round the town of Kuqa (pronounced Kucha), located midway on the railway line between Kashgar and Urumqi and threw home-made hand-grenades and tins filled with gasoline at the local office of the Public Security Department, other government offices, hotels and shops owned by Hans. Since there were not many people on the road at such an early hour in the morning, there were only two fatalities, a police officer and a civilian.

"The police, who were initially taken by surprise, subsequently managed to corner the attackers and shot dead eight of them. Two blew themselves up with hand-grenades in order to escape capture. Two, including a 15-year-old Uighur girl (Hailiqiemu Abulizi), who was badly injured by a hand-grenade, were captured. Three managed to escape.

"The Germany-based East Turkestan Information Center (ETIC) said that 'East Turkestan freedom and independence fighters attacked a Party building … a people's government building, a tax office, bazaar management, and brothel on Aug. 10.' It added that the attackers, seven men and four women, were 'martyred.' 

"(D) August 12, 2008: At the town of Yamanya, about 30 kilometers from Kashgar, an unspecified number of persons jumped out of a vehicle at a road check-point and stabbed to death three security guards, who were stopping and checking vehicles. A fourth guard was badly injured. It is not known what happened to the attackers."

ETIM's Modus Operandi: Attempting to Hijack Plane, Stealing Taxis and Opening Indiscriminate Fire on People, Plotting to Kill Chinese Diplomats in Pakistan, Attempting to Attack Chinese Securitymen

"(E) The News of Pakistan of June 6, 2009, reported as follows: 'The fact that the ETIM militants had extended their network of terrorist activities to Pakistan was evident from a threat they had conveyed to the Chinese Embassy in Islamabad, saying they intended to kidnap Chinese diplomats and consular officers stationed in the Pakistani federal capital with a view to highlighting their cause. The Chinese mission subsequently informed the Pakistani authorities in a letter that some members of the ETIM had already reached Islamabad and planned to kidnap their staffers from the federal capital. The letter reportedly pointed out that terrorist groups located in Pakistan, including Al- Qaeda, had been providing support to the ETIM activists for the likely kidnappings. Subsequent investigations had established that the anonymous threat was issued by none other than the East Turkistan Islamic Movement and that the would-be kidnappers had first travelled to Jalalabad in Afghanistan to finalize their plans.'

"(F) A large number of mysterious attacks with hypodermic syringe needles on the back were reported from different parts of Urumqi since August 17, 2009. These attacks continued for nearly a month and then subsided. There were no reports of any fatalities due to these syringe attacks, which seem to have caused only minor injuries to the persons – some of them school-going [non-Muslim] Han children – [who were] attacked.

"There was no reason to suspect the use of poison at the tip of the needles. While the authorities did not say as to who were behind these attacks, local sources suspected that the ETIM must have been behind these attacks. These attacks started a few days before the Muslim holy fasting period of Ramadan began. 

"Thus, the Uighurs had in the past used the following modus operandi:

"a.    Attempt to use explosives to hijack or blow up a plane.

"b.   Driving a truck or other heavy vehicles into security forces personnel.

"c.    Stealing taxis and driving around the town indiscriminately opening fire on the people.

"d.   Attacks on security posts.

"e.    Plan to kill Chinese diplomats in Pakistan.

"f.    Needle stabbings to cause panic and confusion."

"The Pro-Al-Qaeda Uighurs Mainly Operate from the North Waziristan Area [in Pakistan]; Different Reports Estimate Their Number Differently – Ranging Between 100 and 1,000" 

"Other information of Interest

"In one of his messages of 2006, Ayman Al-Zawahiri, [then] the No.2 of Al-Qaeda, had included Xinjiang in the list of lands historically belonging to the Muslims now under the control of non-Muslims. He wanted all these lands to be 'liberated' from the control of non-Muslims. The pro-Al-Qaeda Uighurs mainly operate from the North Waziristan area of the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) of Pakistan. It has been difficult to quantify their number. Different reports estimate their number differently – ranging between 100 and, 1000." 

[Editorial notes: the TIP publications rarely mentioned Al-Qaeda or Osama bin Laden; rather TIP even criticized Al-Qaeda for neglecting Asian Muslims. The U.S. Treasury Department's claim of Al-Haq being a member of Al-Qaeda Shura remains unconfirmed.]

"There are strong indicators from independent sources in the Uighur diaspora in Pakistan that the disturbances in Xinjiang in the first week of July 2009 were initially externally-instigated by the Munich-based and U.S.-funded World Uighur Congress (WUC) headed by the U.S.-based Rebiya Kadeer and subsequently exploited by the North Waziristan (in Pakistan) based IMET, which operates in tandem with Al-Qaeda as a member of its International Islamic Front (IIF) for Jihad Against the Crusaders and the Jewish People formed in 1998. 

"The WUC is funded openly and helped in other ways such as the training of its cadres by the Congressionally-funded National Endowment for Democracy (NED) of the U.S. and the Holland-based Unrepresented Nations' and Peoples' Organization (UNPO). Its membership used to largely consist of Uighurs from the diaspora outside China – mainly from the Western countries.

"Only during the Urumqi uprising of July 2009, it became evident that it has built up a following at least in the Uighur student community in Urumqi. The WUC is a secular and liberal organization, which opposes Islamic fundamentalism.

"When the Chinese occupied Xinjiang in 1949, a large number of the political elite of the province fled to Turkey and Saudi Arabia. Some of them migrated to West Germany and were used by the CIA during the Cold War for assisting it in the broadcasts of Radio Liberty directed to Xinjiang. These secular and liberal Uighurs in the diaspora, who are now associated with the WUC, are admirers of His Holiness the Dalai Lama and interact closely with the Tibetan diaspora in the West."

"ETIM Fights against the Hans Because It Says They are Infidels, Who are in Occupation of Territory, Which Historically Belonged to the [Muslim] Ummah; ETIM Has Been Drawing Its Members from the Uighur Diaspora in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Other Gulf Countries"

"Whereas the WUC fights against the Han Chinese because they are in occupation of the traditional Uighur homeland, the ETIM fights against the Hans because it says they are infidels, who are in occupation of territory, which historically belonged to the [Muslim] Ummah. While the WUC till recently drew most of its members from the Uighur diaspora in the West and Australia, the ETIM has been drawing its members from the Uighur diaspora in Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries.

"While the WUC gets most of its funds from North America, West Europe and Australia, the ETIM has been getting its funds from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. According to reliable Uighur sources in Pakistan, the Jamaat-e-Islami of Pakistan contributes money regularly to the ETIM and helps many Uighur students in Pakistan.

"The Urumqi uprising also came at a time when there was a revival of jihadi violence in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan since the beginning of 2009. While local grievances of the Uighurs were responsible for the fresh wave of unrest in Xinjiang, the revival of pro-Taliban activities in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan came in the wake of attempts by the U.S. to find alternate routes for the movement of logistic supplies to their troops in Afghanistan through Russia and the Central Asian Republics.

"Following frequent attacks by the Pakistani Taliban on convoys carrying logistic supplies passing through the Pashtun areas, the U.S. embarked on an exercise to find alternate routes. Reliable sources say that Al-Qaeda has been encouraging the Uzbeks, the Uighurs and the Chechens to unite to foil this U.S. exercise and to target the Shanghai Cooperation Organization's joint operations against terrorism."

A copy of the December 13, 2011 report in Roznama Bang-e-Sahar

Introduction

According to a report published by an Urdu-language newspaper, Pakistan is considering a proposal to lease the strategic region of Gilgit Baltistan to China. The Pakistani move is aimed at fortifying its strategic relations with China amid the irreparable rupture in U.S.-Pakistan relations over the past year. Gilgit Baltistan, previously known as the Northern Areas, shares the international border with China.

Like Pakistani-occupied Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan – which had been part of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir during the British rule – is not formally part of Pakistan and is not under the jurisdiction of Pakistani constitution. There are no representatives from Gilgit Baltistan in the Pakistani parliament or federal government institutions.

The report – titled "Pakistan's Deteriorating Situation, Strained Relations with America: Deliberation on Leasing Gilgit Baltistan to China for 50 years" – was published in the Urdu-language daily Roznama Bang-e-Sahar, a newspaper distributed in Gilgit Baltistan on December 13, 2011, less than three weeks after the November 26, 2011 NATO raid on a Pakistani border post that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

It should be noted here that the May 2, 2011 Abbottabad operation, in which the U.S. killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, was seen in Pakistan as violation of its sovereignty. Following the unilateral U.S. raid, Pakistani government and military leaders are implementing a series of economic and military policies to bolster Pakistan's strategic relationship with China.

Roznama Bang-e-Sahar: "Deliberations have Begun [on a Proposal] to Hand Over Gilgit Baltistan to China on a 50-Year Lease; In the Next Stage, China … [Will] Deploy Its Troops There"

The Roznama Bang-e-Sahar report stated: "In the backdrop of the deteriorating situation in Pakistan and strained relations with America, deliberations have begun [on a proposal] to hand over Gilgit Baltistan to China on a 50-year lease.  A Chinese think tank has also given the green light for this move."[1]

The report, which originated with an Islamabad dateline, surmised that international powers – i.e. the U.S. and allies – want to foment terror attacks in Gilgit Baltistan in order to watch China by sending a counter-terrorism force there.

It stated: "According to extremely reliable sources, amid the growing conflict in the Pakistani tribal areas, NATO forces' operations, and the conflict in relations with America, international powers are planning to turn Gilgit Baltistan into a base of terrorism in order to keep an eye on China [possibly by being present in Gilgit Baltistan on the pretext of carrying out anti-terror operations]."[2]

The Urdu daily added: "Smelling the [emerging] situation and in order to protect Gilgit Baltistan from international conspiracies, the think tanks of China and Pakistan have begun discussions to hand over this region to the control of China on lease. In the first stage of this plan, China will formulate a strategy for development projects and in the name of working on them will gradually take over the control of this region. In the next stage, China will take over Gilgit Baltistan under its total control for 50 years and deploy its troops there."[3]

The Roznama Bang-e-Sahar report acquires importance in view of the five-day visit of China by Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani on January 4-8, 2012. During a meeting with Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao in Beijing, General Kayani said that development of China-Pakistan strategic partnership is the "cornerstone of the two countries' policies."[4] In his remarks, the Chinese premier said that "the Chinese government and the PLA [People's Liberation Army] would continue to strengthen defense cooperation between the two countries and more frequent military to military exchanges."[5]

Kashmiri Researcher on Chinese Troops in Gilgit Baltistan: "There is a Big Chinese Presence in Gilgit Baltistan; Apparently They are Involved in the Construction of Many Mega Projects, But the Presence of the Chinese Army and Their Designs to Take Control of This Region is Worrying"

Map courtesy: drshabirchoudhry.blogspot.com

The report about the move to hand over Gilgit Baltistan to China comes amid earlier reports that Chinese soldiers are already present in Gilgit Baltistan. In August 2010, a report in The New York Times revealed the presence of "an estimated 7,000 to 11,000 soldiers of the People’s Liberation Army" in Gilgit Baltistan.[6] Indian Army generals have also warned in recent months that the Chinese troops are present not only in Gilgit Baltistan but also inside the Pakistani-occupied Kashmir, which is known as Azad (free) Jammu & Kashmir.

In April 2011, Lt.-Gen. K. T. Parnaik of Indian Army warned that the Chinese troops are not only stationed in Gilgit Baltistan but they are also present inside Pakistani Kashmir along the Line of Control (LoC) which divides Jammu & Kashmir between India and Pakistan. Speaking at a seminar, Lt.-Gen. Parnaik stated: "We hear many people today who are concerned about the complicity of the Chinese if there were to be hostilities between India and Pakistan. Not only because they are in the neighborhood but the fact that they are actually stationed and present on the LoC."[7]

In October 2011, Indian Army Chief General V. K. Singh warned that 4,000 Chinese troops are present in Pakistani Kashmir, stating: "There are certain construction working teams, a large number is available. Around 3,000 to 4,000 of these people are present including certain people for security purposes. There are certain engineer troops."[8]

The report in The New York Times regarding the presence of Chinese troops in Gilgit Baltistan was also confirmed by Kashmiri researcher and author Dr. Shabir Choudhry, who led a team of researchers to Gilgit Baltistan in October 2010. Following his research in Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistani Kashmir, Dr. Shabir Choudhry delivered a series of lectures in the UK, addressing the implications of China's increasing presence in Gilgit Baltistan and Pakistani Kashmir, and warning of the likelihood that the region could emerge as a battleground for military confrontation between China and Pakistan on one side and India and the United States on the other. Following are excerpts from his two lectures:[9]

"Some people … claim that only Indian-administered Kashmir is disputed. In our view that is a distortion of the facts, as the Kashmir dispute is political in nature, and the entire State of Jammu & Kashmir, which includes Jammu, Valley, Laddakh, Azad Kashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan is disputed.

"Hitherto there were only three parties to the Kashmir dispute, namely the people of Jammu & Kashmir, Pakistan, and India. Over the recent past some quarters are working hard to make the Republic of China a party to the dispute. To me this is a very dangerous move which will complicate the dispute further, and could prove to be disastrous for the region, especially for areas of Gilgit Baltistan and northern parts of Pakistan….

"The Sino-India war of 1962 resulted in Chinese occupation of Kashmiri territory of Aksai Chin. This war brought Pakistan and China closer to each other; and to strengthen that friendship, Pakistan gave away around 2200 sq. miles of Jammu & Kashmir territory from Gilgit Baltistan to China.…"

"China wants to ensure that they have a greater say in the matters of Gilgit Baltistan, and even in matters of Pakistan. They want to ensure that they not only have access but control of the route to Gwadar [the Chinese-built port on Baluchistan cost], where they have invested billions of dollars.

"There is a big Chinese presence in Gilgit Baltistan. Apparently they are involved in the construction of many mega projects, but the presence of the Chinese army and their designs to take control of this region is worrying to many. Not only are they opening Chinese banks there and building infrastructure by investing billions of dollars, they are secretly and assertively taking control of the region. When we visited the region… [in October 2010] we saw many Chinese there, which included army men. In the past, they used to come for development work, and lived in temporary shelters, and went back after completing their tasks; but now they are here to stay and have built concrete accommodations…." 

Pakistani Daily: "Pakistan Wants China to Build a Naval Base at… Gwadar in Baluchistan; Beijing is More Interested in Setting Up Military Bases Either in FATA [Federally Administered Tribal Areas] or the Northern Areas [Gilgit Baltistan]"

In October 2011, renowned Pakistani journalist and author Amir Mir revealed that Pakistan wants China to build a naval base in the Pakistani coastal town of Gwadar but the Chinese are more interested in building military bases in Pakistan's northern areas, which include Gilgit Baltistan. The apparent reason for setting up Chinese military bases in Pakistan's northern areas is ostensibly meant to counter anti-China militants, but these moves are part of long-term Chinese strategic moves to undercut the U.S. and Indian influence in the region.

Excerpts from Amir Mir's report, which was published in The News, a leading Pakistan newspaper, are given below:[10]

"While Pakistan wants China to build a naval base at its southwestern seaport of Gwadar in Baluchistan, Beijing is more interested in setting up military bases either in FATA [Federally Administered Tribal Areas] or the Northern Areas [Gilgit Baltistan], which are closer to the troubled Chinese province of Xinjiang.

"According to well-informed diplomatic circles in Islamabad, the Chinese desire is meant to contain the growing terrorist activities of the Chinese rebels belonging to the Al-Qaeda-linked East Turkestan Islamic Movement (ETIM). The Chinese Muslim rebels want the creation of an independent Islamic state and are allegedly being trained in the tribal areas of Pakistan.

"Beijing's wish for a military presence in Pakistan was discussed at length by the political and military leadership of both the countries in recent months, as China has become ever more concerned about the Pakistani tribal areas as a haven for radicals.

"Beijing believes that similar to the American military presence in Pakistan, a Chinese presence would enable its military to effectively counter the Muslim separatists who have been operating from the tribal areas of Pakistan for almost a decade and carrying out cross-border terrorist activities in the trouble-stricken Xinjiang Province…." 

China, Pakistan to Unveil Plan for Joint Military Management of Gilgit Baltistan in June 2012

The Pakistani and Chinese militaries are moving in the direction of a joint military management of Gilgit Baltistan. The two militaries will cooperate under a specific plan designated by Pakistan as the Pak-China Strategic Program for Gilgit Baltistan.

As part of this plan, officials from Pakistan's Northern Light Infantry (NLI) and People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China would "undergo joint trainings and exchange of expertise."[11] According to a Pakistani newspaper, the Pak-China Strategic Program for Gilgit Baltistan will come into force in June 2012.[12]

The decision to launch the Pak-China Strategic Program for Gilgit Baltistan was probably taken during Pakistan Army Chief General Ashfaq Kayani's visit to China in January 2012. After his return from China, General Kayani chaired a meeting of Corps Commanders' Conference and Principal Staff Officers (PSOs) of the military at the General Headquarters (GHQ) of Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi on January 12, 2012. The officers discussed various issues, including the fears of military coup in Pakistan as expressed by the Pakistani civilian leaders.

However, according to a report in The Nation daily, "The military brass was purportedly unanimous in deciding not to restart military cooperation with the U.S. unless new terms of engagement came into force and to 'strongly' recommending to the government not to resume NATO … supplies [through Pakistan]. In this context, General Kayani purportedly briefed the Corp Commanders and PSOs about his recent visit to China. The army chief was said to have discussed new proposed defense pacts on border liaison and surveillance with China…."[13]

Mindful of the Disputed Nature of Gilgit Baltistan, China Asks Pakistani Officials to Clarify the International Political Status of Gilgit Baltistan  

A copy of the November 18, 2011 report in Roznama Bang-e-Sahar

China is aware that Gilgit Baltistan is disputed politically and diplomatically and Pakistan's sovereignty does not extend to this region. The Pakistani constitution and the Supreme Court of Pakistan, or other federal government institutions, do not have jurisdiction in Gilgit Baltistan, a strategic region through which China intends to establish trading routes to Iran and the Middle Eastern countries.

Gilgit Baltistan was an ethnically different part of the princely state of Jammu & Kashmir, which was ruled by a Hindu king during the British colonial era. However, after the British left India in 1947, Jammu & Kashmir has been divided by a Line of Control (LoC) between India and Pakistan. India claims the entire Jammu & Kashmir state, including Gilgit Baltistan, as its integral part but has avoided a serious claim to the control of the region. This is mainly because India has been confronted by Pakistan-sponsored militancy in its part of Kashmir.

Aware of the fact that China's growing military presence in Gilgit Baltistan will trigger international concern in coming months, the Chinese government has asked the government of Pakistan it clarify the Pakistani position on Gilgit Baltistan at international forums, according to a report in the Roznama Bang-e-Sahar.

In a report dated November 18, 2011, the Urdu daily observed: "It has been learnt through various political circles in Gilgit Baltistan that the neighboring nation People's Republic of China has started taking deep interest in the current political situation in Gilgit. The Chinese officials have asked the senior officials [of Pakistan] that they clarify the political situation [i.e. diplomatic international status] of Gilgit Baltistan.

"Under the current status, China faces serious difficulties in working on different development projects in various areas of Gilgit Baltistan. China has been already working on an expansion plan of the Karakorum Highway. In addition, a contract has been awarded to China to restore the Karakorum Highway…. China already had reservations about the unclear political situation of Gilgit Baltistan…"[14]

In December 2011, the editors of Roznama Bang-e-Sahar wrote an editorial, expressing concern over the Pakistani plan to hand over Gilgit Baltistan to China. The editorial, titled "The Plan to Hand Over Gilgit Baltistan to China," observed:[15]

"In order to stop the increasing lawlessness in the [Pakistani] tribal region [along the border with Afghanistan] and [to stop] the aggressive and expansionist objectives of the United States and NATO from materializing under the cover of the international forces, the government of China and the Pakistani government have decided to accept… the proposal jointly sent from their think tanks [to lease Gilgit Baltistan to China for 50 years]. Initially, China will cement its footprint in the region through its civil workers and engineers under the cover of various development projects. And it will create the justification for its presence under the name of reconstruction and development and restoration of basic infrastructure.

"And by gradually increasing its strategic supplies, Chinese troops will be sent to the region to protect their engineers and installations under constructions. And ultimately, as per the plan, the Chinese troops will have the reason for their presence in the region for a long period.... The basic objective behind deploying the Chinese troops is to stop, repel, and fight any kind of strategic aggression by India at the behest and instigation of the United States and NATO…."

"If the report [regarding leasing Gilgit Baltistan to China] is true…, then it will not be wrong to think that the people of Gilgit Baltistan will probably not get geographical and political independence for next several hundred years; and their freedom and political rights will remain limited to dreams…."

* Tufail Ahmad is Director of MEMRI's South Asia Studies Project (www.memri.org/sasp)

Endnotes:

Asian delegates attend a meeting Karachi (image courtesy: gm2j.com)

On February 2-3, 2012, delegates from various countries in Asia converged in Karachi to discuss their preparations for a Global March to Jerusalem (GMJ).

The Global March to Jerusalem is an international march led by leftist and Islamic leaders. It aims to coordinate activists from various countries in Asia, Europe, and the Middle East, who will form groups of marchers. From Asia, the march will set out from India on March 9 and proceed to Jordan. The GMJ follows the First Asian Convoy to Gaza (December 2010-January 2011).

International delegates attending the Karachi meeting included Feroze Mithiborwala (International Executive and Central Committee-GMJ India), Salim Ghafouri (International Central Committee-GMJ Iran), Moinudeen Khan Badal (Member of Parliament, Bangladesh), Muhammad Mahruf (member Asian Committee, Indonesia), Ekin Sakaguchi (member Asian Committee, Japan) and Sabir Karbalai ( International Central Committee-Observer Pakistan).[1] Representatives from Palestinian organizations led by Dr. Muhammad al Zhaza were also present.

According to a report, the delegates told the conference: "We have … decided to march to Jerusalem on the 30th of March 2012 (Palestine Land Day), where we will be assembling in the hundreds of thousands on the borders of Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Within Palestine itself, hundreds of thousands will be marching to Jerusalem, from all across historic occupied Palestine."[2]

The delegates said: "We are committed to the liberation of Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital. We also support the right of return of the refugees and call an end to the illegal settlements and the apartheid wall, and demand the end of the siege of Gaza."[3]

Speakers at Jamaat-e-Islamic Conference: "Israel is Like a Cancer"; "Israeli Designs … [are] an Open Threat to World Peace"; Israel, U.S. and Britain "Started a New Colonialism in 1991"

All parties conference organized by Jamaat-e-Islami in Karachi

On February 4, 2012, the Jamaat-e-Islami Pakistan held an all parties conference to express support for the Global March to Jerusalem (GMJ).  At the conference in Karachi, representatives of Pakistani religious and political parties "supported the decision [to organize the Global March to Jerusalem] and believed that the march would be a milestone in the awakening of Muslim world."[4] Activists from Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Bangladesh, Palestine, India and other countries attended the event. 

At the Jamaat-e-Islamic conference, various speakers said that the "Palestine issue is above the discrimination of color, creed, and race" and added that "Masjid-e-Aqsa and Gumbad-e-Khizra … [are] under direct threat of Jewish designs."[5] Gumbad-e-Khizra (Green Dome) refers to the Holy Mosque in Medina. Speaking on the occasion, Muhammad Hussain Mehnati, the Emir of Jamaat-e-Islami for Karachi, accused the U.S., Britain, and Russia of imposing "Israel's existence on the Palestinians to suppress them."[6]

Muhammad Maaroof, one of the speakers from Indonesia, said: "Israel is like a cancer."[7]
Saleem Ghafoori, a speaker, told the conference that the issue of Palestine could lead to World War III. Meer Nawaz Khan Marwat warned that "Israeli designs … [are] an open threat to world peace."[8]

Ghulam Mustafa of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N) party told the all parties conference that PML-N would go hand-in-hand with the Palestine Foundation for resolution of the issue of Palestine.[9] Speaking on the occasion, Feroze Mitthi Bor Walla, a delegate from India, said that "Israel, United States, and Britain were a unity and they started a new colonialism in 1991."[10]

Those who attended the event were: Feroze Mitthi Bor Walla from India, Dr. Muhammad from Palestine, Muhammad Maaroof from Indonesia, Saleem Ghafoori from Iran, Sama Gochi from Japan, Meer Nawaz Khan Marwat of Moatmar Alam-e Islami, Muzaffar Ahmed Hashmi of Palestine Foundation, Qazi Ahmed Noorani, Palestine Foundation Pakistan Central Spokesman Sabir Karbalai, Minority leader & former Pakistani lawmaker J. Salak, Syed Zia Abbas of National People’s Party, Allama Afzal Sardar of Markazi Jamiat Ehl-e Hadith, Mehooz Yar Khan of Awami Muslim League, Barrister Sameen Khan, Engineer Naved Qamar of Jamaatud Dawa, Ghulam Mustafa Advocate of Pakistan Muslim League (PML-N), Nusrat Mirza of Muslim Rabita Council, Muhammad Haleem Ghori of Jamiat Ulema Pakistan, Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Deputy Chief  Birjees Ahmed and others.[11]

Palestine Foundation (PLF) Pakistan Forms Pakistan Youth Committee for Global March to Jerusalem

The Palestine Foundation (PLF) Pakistan – a Pakistani campaign group – has announced the formation of Pakistan Youth Committee for Global March to Jerusalem. PLF spokesman Sabir Karbalai announced that the youth committee has been formed under the aegis of the Palestine Foundation.

According to a report on the PLF website, Sabir Karbalai disclosed that the youth committee has representatives from People Students Federation (PSF), Pukhtoon Students Federation (PSF), Imamia Students Organization (ISO) and National Students Federation (NSF), Hussaini Youth (HY) and General Union of Palestine Students (GUPS) based in Pakistan.[12] The committee comprises of Mujtaba Qadri of PLF, Moosa Raza of HY, Mir Askari of NSF and Fadel of GUPS.

The decision regarding the formation of the youth committee was taken at a meeting of delegates from Asian countries. These delegates included Feroze Mithiborwala from India (Member of the International Executive Committee for Global March to Jerusalem), Salim Ghafouri from Iran (Member of the International Central Committee for Global March to Jerusalem), Muhammad Maruf from Indonesia, Ekin Sakakoichi from Japan and Sabir Karbalai (Observer of the International Central Committee for Global March to Jerusalem & Central Spokesman of Palestine Foundation Pakistan).

Iran's Cartoon House Launches Cartoon Contest in Support of "Long March to Jerusalem"

Iran's Cartoon House has launched a cartoon contest in support of the Global March to Jerusalem. The above cartoon accompanies an announcement in this regard published on the website of the Palestine Foundation (PLF) Pakistan.[13]

The themes of the cartoon contest include: Right of the displaced Palestinians to return to their homeland; Protest to occupation of the Jerusalem as the holy land of all religions. The cartoons are to be sent by April 30, 2012 to info@irancartoon.com.

Introduction

British Islamist Anjem Choudary and Omar Muhammad Bakri – both former leaders of British jihadist organization Al-Muhajiroun – have launched an organization called Shariah for Hind (India) to advance their agenda for reestablishing Islamic rule in India. The group has planned a major public event in New Delhi on March 3, 2012, which marks the end of the Turkey-led Islamic caliphate 88 years ago.

It should be noted that during the British rule, Indian leaders like Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and Mahatma Gandhi campaigned for the Islamic caliphate led by Turkey – Gandhi doing so perhaps to gain Muslim support against British colonial rule in India.

Shariah for Hind plans to campaign for reestablishing Islamic rule in India with an ideological agenda which outlines a much purer form of Islamic rule for the country than that which existed during various periods of rule by Muslim kings in India both before and during the British era.

According to the ideological agenda stated on the group's website, Islamic Shariah will be enforced in India; temples and statues of Hindu gods and Indian leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi will be demolished; and Bollywood, the world's largest movie industry, will be abolished in order to make way for a monotheistic Islamic rule in the country.

Shariah for Hind – Leaders and Website Details

It appears that preparations for establishing Shariah for Hind began sometime in 2011; its website was launched in January 2012.

The domain for the website was created on January 3, 2012, according to its registration details.[1] The registrant for this website is "Abu Rumaysah c/o Dynadot Privacy, PO Box 701, San Mateo, CA 94401, United States."[2]

The two leaders of this organization are identified as Sheikh Anjem Choudary and Sheikh Omar Muhammad Bakri. On the contact page of the website, these two names are published prominently: Sheikh Anjem Choudary, Judge of the UK Sharia Court, and Sheikh Omar Muhammad Bakri, who is identified as "Expert on Islamic Groups Worldwide." Bakri's phone number is given as 00961 70957759 – 961 being the country code for Lebanon.  Choudary's phone number is given as 0044 7956 600 569. 

The website of Sharia for Hind gives the name of its chairman as Abu Baraa and his phone contact as +44 7856827605. It also gives another phone contact, +44 7956041034, for Abu Rumaysah – Spokesman, a former Hindu, of Convert 2 Islam.

Shariah for Hind – The Ideology

"There is a Consensus among All Muslim Scholars That It is Not Permitted for Non-Muslims to Have Authority over Muslims; India Needs to Return Back to Her Glorious Islamic Past; India Needs a Muslim Revolution"

In a statement, titled "The Need for Muslim Rule in India," Shariah for Hind notes that Muslims cannot live under non-Muslim rule, stating:[3]

"There is a consensus among all Muslim scholars that it is not permitted for non-Muslims to have authority over Muslims. Allah says in the Quran, 'I have created you (Muslims) a leading Ummah (nation) in order to witness the affairs of mankind.' [EMQ 2:143]

"Islam is the only religion to have maintained its relationship with God, with a miraculous book called the Quran and meticulous sciences that ensure texts recorded during the life of the final Messenger Muhammad can be verified, understood and authenticated. This cannot be said for any of the other world religions, which have literally been lost in translation.

"Fundamentally however, Islam is not a secular religion and, unlike the 'biggest democracy in the world' [i.e. India], always refers its governance back to the supreme commander, Allah (God).

"The Islamic constitution remains intact 1400 years after its inception, and emphatically puts the Indian constitution to shame. Political parties such as the BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] and Indian [National] Congress have let India down because just like their British predecessors they were never suited to be rulers and so ruined their country with backward and evil policies."

"India needs to return back to her glorious Islamic past. India needs a Muslim revolution."

"Indian Political Parties Have Preyed on the Muslim Community, As the Wolf Preys a Lamb; They Have Divided Us with Nationalism and Poisoned Us with Democracy"

In a statement, Shariah for Hind identified its political objective as follows:[4]

"As a nation we used to move mountains.

"The Muslim Ummah (nation) is a community unparalleled in history. At its height in power it ruled over three continents. It brought tyrants to justice and liberated the oppressed. History still records their magnificent conquests, which against all odds defeated the mightiest of superpowers.

"But somewhere along the line that bright light waned and in 2012 we (Muslims) find ourselves bizarrely under the thumbs of the very people we were meant to liberate! India is now ruled by the most incompetent, unqualified and wicked individuals who have no clue about their purpose in life, let alone how to rule a nation. The Indian constitution, just like its Pakistani and Bangladeshi counterparts, [is] an appalling attempt at law and order, a stab in the dark, a gross display of trial and error.

"Indian political parties have preyed on the Muslim community, as the wolf preys a lamb; they have divided us with nationalism and poisoned us with democracy but most significantly have made us forget what the final Messenger Muhammad (peace be upon him) was sent down for i.e. the total domination of the world by Islam.

"And so we lay defenseless, strewn and confused.

"The Shariah4Hind project has thus been launched to kick start the return of Islam in the Indian subcontinent. Raw, undiluted and without compromise; it is the wild card which will inshaa'allah (God willing) make the Indian government forget about Kashmir. It is a call to unite over half a billion Muslims to retake what is rightfully theirs and galvanize a superpower unmatched in the world.

"3rd March 2012, New Delhi, India. A new spring waits."

The Muslims versus the Non-Muslims

"The Whole of India is in Fact [a] Muslim Land, the Authority Belongs to… [Muslims] and That They Should Take It From the Current Ruling Party to Implement the Shari'ah... Instead [of] Begging for Rights from the Hindus, the Muslims in India Must Govern By the Law of the Creator Allah"

A January 2, 2012 press statement issued by Shariah for Hind urges Muslims to join. Following are excerpts from the statement:

"The elections [for states in January-February 2012] in India are underway and the main parties have not hidden their eagerness to garner the Muslim vote. From the Samajwadi Party (SP) promising job reservations to Deobandis [scholars of Darul Uloom Deoband seminary], the Congress party talking to Barelvis [clerics of Barelvi schools of thought based in the town of Bareilly], Rahul Ghandi [of Congress party] meeting the head of Nadwa[tul Ulema seminary in the town of Lucknow] to discuss minority welfare and the ruling [Bahujan Samaj Party] BSP's Muslim face being in touch with several Muslim clerics, the race is on to bolster their respective vote bank and to win the elections. [Note: All seminaries cited here are in Muslim-heavy Uttar Pradesh state.]

"What is on offer for Muslims in the battle for their votes is supposedly community empowerment, quality education, protection and sensitivity in one form or other. Even the Peace Party and Ulema Council [political parties led by Muslims] have emerged to claim their stake.

"Sadly, the true rights of Muslims … [are] nowhere to be seen and no Islamic Scholar has had the courage to demand it. This is that the whole of India is in fact [a] Muslim land, the authority belongs to them and that they should take it from the current ruling party to implement the Shariah. Instead [of] begging for rights from the Hindus, the Muslims in India must govern by the law of the creator Allah (SWT). In fact it is an act of shirk (polytheism) to [be] rule[d] by other than what Allah has revealed or to ask another to do so (i.e. by voting for them).

"There is no Islamic justification for the Deobandis or Barelvis to participate in the kufr (non-Islamic) electoral system to elect someone who will violate the sanctity of Allah (SWT) by ruling according to man-made law. This is an act of apostasy from any Muslim which must be condemned."

"We Therefore Call Upon All Muslims to Rise on the 3rd of March 2012 (the 88th Anniversary of the Destruction of the Last Islamic State) in New Dehli in a Public Demonstration and Demand… to Establish the Khilafah [Islamic Rule]"

"We therefore call upon all Muslims to rise on the 3rd of March 2012 (the 88th anniversary of the destruction of the last Islamic State) in New Dehli [Urdu for Delhi] in a public demonstration and demand what is rightfully theirs i.e. the authority, to establish the Khilafah and rule by the laws of God alone. To raise awareness about this obligation and to call for it and to work to establish it is an obligation upon Muslims wherever they are and to accept anything less is an act of war against Allah and his Messenger Muhammad (saw).

"Once established, the Islamic State will guarantee the rights of all citizens, Muslim and non-Muslim. It will be the job of the Khalifah [Islamic caliph] to ensure that food, clothing and shelter are afforded to all citizens and that they have a good Islamic education. The Khalifah will also be responsible to remove all public idols and ban alcohol and free-mixing between the genders in the public arena. Moreover institutions such as Bollywood and the caste system will be eradicated.

"The non-Muslims, whether Hindu or Sikh will have certain rights and responsibilities as set out by the divine law, in summary the privileges that they will have are:

"1. In return for paying the Jizya [Islamic poll tax on non-Muslims], their life and property will have sanctity. The Imam (khalifah) will have a duty to protect the non-Muslim citizens from the Muslims and the non-Muslims because they are living under his authority. Moreover they will benefit from the same welfare as all other citizens except what Shari'ah specifies for them and as long as they commit to abide by the law of Islam in the public arena. They will live among the Muslims and take Daw'ah i.e. be propagated to by the Muslims to embrace Islam.

"2. The non-Muslims will be allowed to live in the Muslim land (India and other territories which will be annexed to it in due course) i.e. they can go everywhere except where Allah (SWT) or the Khalifah prohibits, such as the haram [the Holy Mosque] in Mecca or to live in the Arab peninsula, although they can go to trade there.

"3. Muslims will be obliged to protect the non-Muslims because they are part of the Islamic State.

"4. Muslims will never attack their own temples and not take their pigs or alcohol unless they demonstrate them publicly.

"5. The non-Muslims also have the right to access the welfare system. The Jizya is only taken from able-bodied mature men, not women or children or priest or majnoon (mentally ill) or those incapable or disabled."

"The Hindus or Sikhs or Other Non-Muslims… Must Not Build Any New Temples Nor Start to Sell Them and Buy New Ones, as Islam Forbids Us to Cooperate in the Bad Deeds; They Will Not Do Any Public Gathering of Their False Religion – Like Celebrating Christmas or Halloween or Diwali"

"In return, the Hindus or Sikhs or other non-Muslims will have certain duties, in summary:

"1. They must pay the Jizya depending on what the Khalifah adopts as the amount, for example a minimum of 1 Dinar a year or a maximum of 4 Dinar if rich.

"2. They must receive Muslims as guests if they are travelling. This applies to Muslims and non-Muslims if Muslims pass by.

"3. They must not build any new Temples nor start to sell them and buy new ones, as Islam forbids us to cooperate on the bad deeds.

"4. They must not show their symbols publicly or what is in their religion, like the pigs or alcohol or crosses or idols.

"5. They will not do any public gathering of their false religion – like celebrating Christmas or Halloween or Diwali or Guy Faulks night etc…

"6. Moreover they must be distinguished by their clothes so that we know who they are.

"7. They cannot raise their houses above ours.

"8. They must not harm Muslims in any way, not to insult Allah and his messenger or insult the book of Allah

"9. They will have the same liability in relation to the society i.e. the public law like in relation to adultery and stealing etc…"

The Cultural and Religious Agenda

"The Reconquest of India by Muslims Would See the Complete Demolition of Bollywood; Polytheism, Interfaith and Promiscuity and All of the Other Various Ills of the Bollywood Industry would Be Replaced with Islamic Monotheism"

A copy of Filmfare magazine that will be published under the Islamic Rule in India

The Shariah for Hind declares that the 2012 will mark the beginning of the end of Bollywood. Its statement on this subject declares:[5]

"The Indian cinema industry, commonly referred to as Bollywood, has a huge impact around the world. Bollywood produces some 1,000 films every year and sells over three billion cinema tickets in the same period. It is one of the most recognized symbols of India commanding a hypnotic influence over its followers.

"The impact of Bollywood in India and around the world should be a cause for great concern. The industry is luridly marred with corruption that has become progressively worse over the years. Notable examples include:

"Polytheism (glorifying the worship of idols, false gods, actors, actresses etc.)

"The promotion of interfaith (making Hindus and Muslims equal)

"Anti-Muslim propaganda

"Acting

"Nudity

"Free-mixing

"Promiscuity and fornication

"The exploitation of women

"Music

"The reconquest of India by Muslims would see the complete demolition of Bollywood and the Indian cinema industry. Its presence would be deemed as wholly unacceptable and in total opposition to the ethos of Islam. Ultimately, significant steps would be taken in order to see its complete destruction.

"With all remnants of the Bollywood industry thrown into the dustbins of history, possible uses of confiscated resources under Islamic rule include 'Da'wah' (the propagation of Islam) and Islamic education.

"In conclusion, polytheism, interfaith and promiscuity and all of the other various ills of the Bollywood industry would be replaced with Islamic monotheism (Tawheed) and righteousness, providing a healthy environment for Muslims and non-Muslims to live under."

"Associating Partners or Equals to Allah (God) is Seen as the Biggest Crime in Islam; The Establishment of the Shariah in India will Ultimately See an End to All Public Idols and Statues; We Envisage the Construction of Masjids (Mosques), Symbolizing the Transformation from Polytheism to Monotheism"

The head of Hindu god Lord Shiva is cut off in an image on the Shariah for Hind website

Shariah for Hind declares that statues of Hindu gods and of Indian leaders such Mahatma Gandhi will be demolished, as outlined in this statement:[6]

"India is one of the few countries in the world where explicit idolatry is openly celebrated. Public displays of paganism are common with idols present in nearly every town and city. Famous public idols include the Murudeshwara or Shiva statue in Karnataka, which stands at over 35 metres tall. Census reports show that over 800 million Hindus currently reside in India, with idols playing a big role in ritual practises.

"Statues of public figures are also a common feature of the Indian landscape. The Indian state of Gujarat announced in 2011 a project to build the world's tallest statue paying 'tribute' to one of the foremost protagonists of Indian independence, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, a close companion of the tyrant Mohandas Gandhi.

"Associating partners or equals to Allah (God) is seen as the biggest crime in Islam. Allah says in the Quran, '…Indeed, associating partners with Allah is a great injustice.' [EMQ 31:13]

"Islam also prohibits the construction of statues of living beings, men or women, righteous or wicked. Allah (God) relates to mankind (in the Quran) about the downfall of the people of 'Ad, who erected large statues in commemoration of pious men. They were destroyed by a terrible storm.

"The establishment of the Shariah in India will ultimately see an end to all public idols and statues. Although non-Muslims (Hindus, Buddhists etc.) will not be prohibited from practising their religion privately, construction of idols and statues (in the public arena) will. Large scale projects outlining the destruction of public idols and statues will most likely be enforced, returning India back to her glorious Islamic past.

"As a possible replacement to India's (public) idols and statues, we envisage the construction of Masjids (mosques), symbolizing the transformation from polytheism to monotheism, from darkness to light."

* Tufail Ahmad is Director of the MEMRI South Asia Studies Project (www.memri.org/sasp)

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban's shadow government) has released a video interview with a former Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier who had opened fire on his Australian trainers at a remote training camp in Uruzgan in November 2011. The Dari-language interview was published on the Urdu-language website of the Islamic Emirate.

After the incident in November 2011, all Afghan soldiers were disarmed and confined to a barracks. The International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) for Afghanistan had confirmed there were three injured and no casualties. Various media reports indicated that the killer escaped in a military Humvee.

The latest video released by the Taliban's Al-Emarah Studios features the interview with the now-former Afghan Army soldier Muhammad Rozi, son of Muhammad Usman, from Hazarsumooth district in Afghanistan's northern Takhar province.

The video is a rare release by the Taliban in the Dari language (their videos are usually in Pashtu). The Afghan soldier is a non-Pashtu speaker. Starting with recitation of Koranic verses about jihad against infidels, a message is read for "Afghan youth," urging them to join the Taliban's jihad against the "infidel invaders" and their "puppets." The video accuses Afghan government officials of double-standards in seeing a difference between the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan and that of the U.S.

In the background, photos of communist Afghan rulers from before and after the Soviet invasion are shown next to that of Afghan President Hamid Karzai. The narrator says that Afghan soldiers are joining the Taliban ranks and introduces the Afghan soldier Muhammad Rozi by claiming that he has killed 12 Australian soldiers, thereby becoming a hero.

Muhammad Rozi says he went to a madrassa and later completed school until tenth grade. He joined the Afghan National Army (ANA) two years ago, after being convinced by an ANA advertisement on TV showing Koranic recitations and calling for Afghans to serve the country. After three months of training in Kabul, he was deployed in Uruzgan Province. He says he thought there would be no foreign troops along with the ANA, but later saw Australian trainers in Uruzgan.

The following are excerpts from the interview:[1]

"I had Been with ANA for One and a Half Years; During This Time, I had One Mission in My Mind - to Kill Foreigners and Teach Them a Lesson; We are Muslims, We Cannot Accept Foreigners"

Endnotes:

Following are excerpts from a video-clip featuring Maulana Fazluallah, Leader of Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, which was posted on the Internet in December 2011.

Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan member: "You are aware of how Tehrik-i-Taliban from the Malakand province… All praise to Allah, many martyrdom attacks have been carried out. We have approximately 300 martyrdom-seekers in our ranks, and from amongst them we dispatched four martyrdom-attackers, who have struck in Teemalgarah and in other places. At present, these ten martyrdom-attackers are ready. If Allah wills it – then they will set off soon.

On January 22, 2012, participants wave Jamaatud Dawa flags at a Defense of Pakistan rally 

Introduction

Following the November 26, 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai, the Pakistani government banned various Pakistani terror organizations, among them Jamaatud Dawa, the charity arm of the leading jihadist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT). Both the Jamaatud Dawa and LeT – along with various groups associated with them and their leaders – have been outlawed by the UN Security Council. Later, the group renamed itself Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation.[1] After the Pakistani ban, the websites of Jamaatud Dawa and its associated publications were closed down. However, the organization is making a comeback on the Internet via its websites and the video-sharing site YouTube. Jamaatud Dawa is led by Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the founder of Lashkar-e-Taiba, who is wanted in India for masterminding the Mumbai terror attacks.

On January 3, 2012, the organization registered a website, representing a newly established group called Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC, or the Defense of Pakistan Council). This group has stepped up a public campaign against the U.S., India, Israel and other countries. The DPC's formation was triggered by two important developments: one, the November 26, 2011 NATO air raid on a Pakistani border post in which 24 Pakistani soldiers were killed; and two, the Pakistani government's decision to boost bilateral trade with India by granting the status of Most Favored Nation (MFN) to India as required under international trade laws.

The DPC is presented as an independent group, but the lead coordinator of its public events is Jamaatud Dawa, whose members can be seen in large number waving its flags at public rallies in various Pakistani towns, at which leaders of like-minded ideological groups such as Jaamat-e-Islami Pakistan also deliver fiery messages against the U.S., India and Israel. In recent months, the DPC has held press conferences and public rallies attended by hundreds of thousands of people.

Banners at the DPC's public rallies carry slogans like: "Defense of Pakistan – Jihad in the Path of Allah."[2] The DPC's key leaders include Hafiz Muhammad Saeed; Maulana Samiul Haq (Emir of the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam party and former Pakistani senator, who is known as the father of the Taliban); Lt.-Gen. (retired) Hamid Gul, the former chief of Pakistani military's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI); senior Pakistani politician and former federal minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed; and others.

Domain Name Details

Front Organization Difa-e-Pakistan Council's Appearance on the Internet

Difa-e-Pakistan Council is emerging as a major front organization for Jamaatud Dawa and Lashkar-e-Taiba. According to a domain name search, www.difaepakistan.com (the website of Difa-e-Pakistan Council) was registered on January 3 of this year and is hosted by a U.S.-based company. As per the domain name details cited in the image below, the domain has been registered by one Muhammad Ali, who gives his address as: "3rd Floor, Lucky Palace, Near S. M. Law College, Karachi, NA 75950, Pakistan, Phone + 923219235365 email: Difayepakistan@gmail.com."[3]

The website is hosted in the U.S. by: "iPage Hosting, K. L. Peterson, 70 Blanchard Road, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803, United States, Phone +1 8774724399, Fax +17812726550 Email: blank@ipage.com."[4]

Ideological Orientation

Difa-e-Pakistan Council: "It's the U.S.'s Desire to Leave India in a Position Where It Can Dominate the Region and Serve the Interests of Zionist Controlled World"

Jihadist leader Hafiz Muhammad Saeed is the key leader of Difa-e-Pakistan Council

On its "About Us" page, the website of Difa-e-Pakistan Council states its objectives:[5] "A conspiracy was hatched to grant India the status of 'Most Favored Nation' by the Government of Pakistan recently in 2011. A nation which blabbers itself as shining indeed has the bleakest face ever to be seen on the face of the earth.

"Who else can be more witness to Indian atrocities more than the Pakistani nation itself? Millions were slaughtered on their way to the new home [of Pakistan] following seizure of [the] princely states of Hyderabad, Junagadh during [the] partition [of 1947]. The heart-wrenching tales from Occupied Kashmir, where hundreds and thousands are barbarically killed and thousands of women are raped till date remains in the clutches of Indian Imperialism. Arsons and genocide in [Indian towns of] Gujarat – Ahmedabad and thousands more incidents of violence against Muslims and their sacred places is what paints the true Indian picture. It's not only what India has done within her own so-called 'borders'; we have to also take in[to] account its proxies in [Pakistan's] Baluchistan and N.W.F.P [North West Frontier Province, now called Khyber Pakhtunkhwa] which has resulted in impeccable violence.

"Most recently, since the occupation of Afghanistan, India found itself in a position where it can give strength to its 'Cold Start' Doctrine which was openly acknowledged by its Army-Chief few years ago. We owe a debt to India for numerous bomb attacks within Pakistan, especially in the Masajids [mosques] and sacred places which it used to create divisions and entice sectarian conflicts [in Pakistan]. Open funding and provisions of weapons to anti-state elements in Pakistan by India has its own factual history.

"Even today this [Pakistan-India] 'trade drive' is nothing but, again, a similar strategy to weaken Pakistan economically and save the sinking Indian economy after the world wide recession and suffocating capitalism. India needs a consumer market in our shape [i.e. in Pakistan], which has extreme negative connotations attached. Apart from[the] economic aspect there are serious strategic implications involved, especially after the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan after a decade of brutal occupation. It's the U.S.'s desire to leave India in a position where it can dominate the region and serve the interests of Zionist Controlled world, if not only U.S."

Difa-e-Pakistan Council: "We Witnessed the Most Direct Assault on Our Valiant Armed Forces… 24 of Our Men Were Martyred Deliberately By the Occupation Forces in Afghanistan Led by United States"

"Therefore this was the right time, when [the] people of Pakistan woke up to the occasion and under the chairmanship of Maulana Samiul Haq and Professor Hafiz Saeed; [and] a magnanimous movement was launched which also saw [former Inter-Services Intelligence chief] General Hamid Gul, [Pakistani politician] Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed and many more renowned leaders as its pioneers, and many more joining each day for a legitimate and non-political cause which [is] only envisioned to defend Pakistan on all fronts, as this remains a moral and religious duty. Pakistan faces dangers on all fronts, during the formation of the Difa-e-Pakistan Council [a] few months ago in the end of year 2011, we witnessed the most direct assault on our valiant armed forces in Salala [i.e. the November 26, 2011 NATO air raid that killed 24 Pakistani soldiers]. Twenty-four of our men were martyred deliberately by the occupation forces in Afghanistan led by United States.

"A dithering relationship [with America] that was wrong by all means from the starting of this controversial war started breathing its last when COAS [Chief of Army Staff] Gen. Kayani by respecting the sentiments of the whole nation blocked the NATO supplies passing through Pakistan and asked our forces to respond without any consent on any further incursion on our borders.

"This spectacular decision was aligned with national dignity and honor. DPC channeled the emotions of the people in oath-taking for the Defense of Pakistan, by forgetting all sectarian, political and ethnic differences, and invited people of Pakistan, in fact all representatives in the political and religious arena, on 18th December 2011.

"The world saw the most enormous gathering ever in the history of Pakistan when 40-plus [religious and political] entities poured into Minto Park [in Lahore, for the DPC rally of December 18, 2011] vowing to defend the nation from U.S. and Indian aggression, leaving no confusion in the mind of those who consider Pakistan easily digestible, and it was easy to fathom the consequences of engaging Pakistan in any misled war on any front.

"The DPC continues to join hearts and minds throughout Pakistan by arranging 'Difa-e-Pakistan Conferences' similar to the one in Lahore. The unending journey continues till its logical end – that is, to live with dignity and, if need be, die with honor."

Hafiz Muhammad Saeed Explains Distinction Between Muslims and Infidels: "It's the Faith that Distinguishes a Muslim from a Kafir [Infidel]…. The Real Fault Is That Today's Muslims… Commit the Same Errors That a Jew Will Commit"

In a speech in five parts available on YouTube, Jamaatud Dawa Emir Hafiz Muhammad Saeed clarifies the theological distinction between Muslims and infidels, arguing that to believe in the god of Muslims is to differentiate oneself from members of other faiths, and that only then Allah will accept prayers, fasting, Hajj and jihad waged by Muslims. He states:

"Today's Muslims accept Allah [i.e. deity/god] in the same way as non-Muslims think of Allah. However, the meaning of being a Muslim is different. The fundamental difference between them is that of faith. What is that thing which differentiates one from a Crusader [i.e. Christian], a Jew, a Hindu – whether a person is a Muslim or not? It is the faith that distinguishes a Muslim from a Kafir [infidel]…. The real fault is that today's Muslims, despite believing in Allah, commit the same errors that a Jew will commit, that a Christian will commit; the lacuna which exists in the faith of Hindus will be reflected among today's Muslims too…."[6]

"It is necessary to eradicate this error, to reform it.  Addressing the prophet, peace be upon him, Allah says in the Koran: 'O my prophet, ask them, who is the creator of the sky and the earth, they say Allah…. [but there are distinctions].' All people of Mecca who opposed the prophet, rejected Islam, meted out punishments to Muslims, committed oppositions, waged wars against Islam, they too used to accept Allah… There is no conflict on the issue [of believing in a deity]; then what is the conflict/difference? Allah is Great. The Koran has clarified this issue. 

"There is a need again today to clarify this issue. My brothers, when our faith will be correct on Allah, [our] relationship with Allah will be rectified on the basis of that faith, it will make such a difference that – cut off from the Hindu, the Jew, the Crusader – such a relationship with Allah will be established that one will be cut off from all the rest, may turn the face away from all of them… Hindu too accepts Allah and along with him many other deities worships 30 million gods; the crusader [i.e. Christian] accepts Allah but also believes in three gods [trinity].[7]

"My dear brothers, the Koran clarified this distinction extensively… the verses of the Koran which were revealed in Mecca, their main subject was introduction of Allah, identity of Allah, you might be amazed that during 13 years only one issue was discussed [in Koran]; the rest of issues were discussed in the verses revealed in Medina [after the Prophet moved from Mecca]…. Oh humans, recognize your Allah, do not make mistake in that Allah's identity be true, that your faith in Allah is correct; do not make this mistake, if you commit a mistake in this; everything will go wrong, your prayers, your fast, your Hajj, your jihad…."[8]   

Hafiz Muhammad Saeed: "The Biggest Issue is to Have Faith In Allah, But Not Like How the Hindus did, Not Like How the Christians Did, Not Like How the Jews Did; After the End of Jew-ism, After the End of Christianity, After the End of Obscenity… Islam will Rule the World"

"To clarify this difference, Allah revealed a verse: 'The distinction between Islam and Kufr [the practice of infidels] will be seen from their prayers, whether the prayer is for Allah or non-Allah… If you want to worship many gods, to accept many gods, bow before them, seek from them, then your religion is yours, my religion is mine.' What is my religion? This is the fundamental difference for which I have come, [said] the Prophet and never compromised on this matter, the prophet never agreed to abandon his any belief or basis on this matter. My brothers, this is not the way of Koran, not the way of Islam to accept all [deities] as true. Remember fully, when there is opposition, the principle is when there is opposition one will have to accept what is right, what is wrong; the Koran has explained what is right and what is wrong…."[9]

"Therefore, the biggest issue is to have faith on Allah, but not like the way Hindus did, not like the way Christians did, not like the way Jews did, not like the way the infidels did. Then, how do you believe in Allah? [Believe in Allah like] the prophets did; from Adam peace be upon him, from Abraham peace be upon him, from Moses peace be upon him, to the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him, the way all the prophets conveyed the message of faith in Allah, the way the revealed books explained the unity of god, the way the Koran clarified the faith in Allah, we have to accept that way. We do not have to accept like the way Hindus did. This is from where the reform will begin…."[10]

"The nations that eat pig are on the path of extreme shamelessness. Every obscenity and shamelessness is spreading in the world through them. This is a culture, formally. The Prophet Muhammad said: Jesus [when he rises] will murder the pig, will end the pig, the culture of pig and everything like this. And after the success of this jihad [against the culture of pig], after the end of Jew-ism, after the end of Christianity, after the end of obscenity and irreligiousness, Islam will rule the world…."[11]

"The Prophet [Muhammad] connected this jihad to the Jihad in Hind [India] against the Hindu so that the greatness of this jihad [against this culture of pigs] could be evident. And what is the reason for jihad? The reason is shirk [idolatry, i.e. believing in numerous gods or sharing others in the entity of Allah] by Hindus who are the biggest representatives of shirk right from the ancient age…. [The prophet] said that the one who waged jihad in Hind that jihad will be superior. [The Prophet's companion] Abu Huraira narrated: The prophet of Allah explained so much greatness of jihad in Hind, jihad against the Hindu, that – o people remember – if the door opened for this jihad there in my lifetime, then Abu Huraira will run to participate in that jihad… And if Allah granted me martyrdom, I will not be a martyr like others, but among the Greatest Martyrs…."[12]

Jihadist Activities Online

Jamaatud Dawa's Reappearance on YouTube and Facebook: "Islam will Dominate the World; All These Conspiracy Hatchers – the Jews, the Crusaders, and the Hindus Who Have Joined Hands With Them – All of These Enemies of Allah Will Meet with Defeat"

At Lahore conference on December 18, 2011, a Difa-e-Pakistan Council banner reads in Urdu: "Defense of Pakistan – Jihad in the Path of Allah"

Following the Pakistani government's ban on the literature and websites of Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jamaatud Dawa, and associated organizations, the jihadist organization reappeared, after a short hiatus, on the Internet, networking through social sites like Facebook and publishing its messages and videos through the video-sharing website YouTube.

A Jamaatud Dawa channel was created by a YouTube user: jamatdawakhi, which denotes Jamaatud Dawa Karachi.[13] Over the past year, a number of Jamaatud Dawa videos have been published on this YouTube channel. A promotional video for the upcoming February 12, 2012 Difa-e-Pakistan Conference in Karachi shows a collage of images of U.S. helicopters being shot down in Afghanistan, killings of civilians in security operations, jihadist fighters on horseback on the battlefield, Indian soldiers harassing Kashmiris, anti-India protests by Kashmiris, etc.[14]

A number of the Jamaatud Dawa videos are clips from various Pakistani channels reporting on its activities. The Jamaatud Dawa YouTube channel also publishes a number of videos on charity works organized by the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF), a front organization for the LeT and its associated groups. These videos show Hafiz Muhammad Saeed visiting a flood relief camp in Sindh, the sacrifice of camels on the occasion of Eid al-Adha (feast of sacrifice), and the collection of donations for flood relief by Jamaatud Dawa members working under the FIF banner. In one of the videos, posted by it on August 11, 2011, its own defense analyst Dr. Abu Waqas appears to be celebrating the Taliban and Al-Qaeda attacks on the U.S. and NATO troops in Afghanistan, particularly praising the superior organization and tactics used by the mujahideen.[15]

In a video posted on the YouTube channel, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed addressed a clerics' conference in April 2011 on the issue of defending the Harmain Sharifain, the Holy Mosques of Allah and the Prophet Muhammad respectively, in Mecca and Medina, against alleged Western conspiracies to defile and attack them. In the video, the LeT founder, himself a cleric, says: "Among the issues of defending the Harmain, the honor of the Koran, also include the third issue of respect of the Prophet [Muhammad] peace be upon him [against blasphemy]. We understand that these issues are no different; the issue is a single one. It is said that when the wars were underway against the crusaders, it could be seen that the crusaders committed blasphemous acts against the prophet, which in turn would convince us that these forts would be won soon [by Islamic forces]…. "[16]

"Allah willing, the time has come when Islam will dominate the world. And all these conspiracy hatchers – the Jews, the Crusaders, and the Hindus who have joined hands with them – all of these enemies of Allah will meet with defeat; and their systems [of governance and economy] will disappear from the world. This is the fear faced by the West today, that they are targeting these, are burning the Koran, are drawing cartoons of Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him. And they are looking with evil eye towards Harmain because it is the center of the Ummah [global Muslim community]; they want the Ummah to be embroiled in conflict; that is why they are hatching conspiracies against Harmain [the Kaaba in Mecca]…."[17]

It should also be noted that the officials of Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation (FIF) argue that it is a charity offering medical and flood relief to affected people in Pakistan. However, often the officials of FIF are former Jamaatud Dawa men and their videos also appear on Jamaatud Dawa's YouTube channel.[18]

Jamaatud Dawa Videos on Facebook Accuse Hindus and Indian Soldiers of Atrocities Against Muslims

Jamaatud Dawa has several pages set up on the social networking site Facebook, some of which are closed, i.e. open to members only.[19] However, the open channels of Jamaatud Dawa may not be very active.

One of the Jamaatud Dawa channels on Facebook (see the image above) gives its employer as "Lashkari," i.e. one who has worked or is working for Lashkar-e-Taiba – and its education as "Jamaat al Dawa al Quran."[20] This Facebook page posted an image of the grand mosque-like mausoleum of Pakistan's Bhutto family in Sindh, evoking scorn among its followers for its palace-like feel.

In November 2011, it also posted a YouTube video with the logo of Lashkar-e-Taiba and some clips from Indian TV channels (see image below). The video shows a Muslim woman accusing Hindus of using swords to remove babies from mothers' wombs and shows in gory detail Muslims being bludgeoned by a Hindu mob.[21] The video is titled in English and Urdu "Wake up Pakistan and Muslims – Atrocities on Muslims in India."

Lashkar-e-Taiba's YouTube video on Facebook accuses India of atrocities against Muslims

Urdu Song Posted by Jamaatud Dawa's Facebook: "The Martyrs Have Called You, From the Upper Echelons of Paradise"

An Urdu song telling Muslims that they have been called by the martyrs to join them is posted on the Jamaatud Dawa's Facebook channel on Facebook.[22] The audio song is linked to a video on YouTube; translated excerpts below highlight how YouTube and Facebook are failing to prevent jihadist groups from publishing such messages:[23]

"The martyrs have called you
"From the upper echelons of Paradise.

 "We sacrificed in the path of Allah;
"You still love lives.

"The martyrs have called you
"From the upper echelons of Paradise.

"The prophets kept walking this path;
"they kept fighting against the infidels.

"The daredevils of Prophet Muhammad kept advancing;
"Using the bows and arrows of ancestors.

"The martyrs have called you
"From the upper echelons of Paradise.

"Consider it not as fire, you will find it to be a garden;
"Ask moths why they burn on flames, ask these lovers.

"When you find stains of my blood scattered in the paths;
"Hesitate not in those spots, advance through these paths.

"In the sentiment of kissing the flower, some thorns do pierce;
"Bear with the hurt from our own, confront only the others [infidels].

"The martyrs have called you
"From the upper echelons of Paradise."

Images of Jamaatud Dawa's Facebook Jihad against the U.S., India

One of the Facebook channels – "Jamaat Ul Dawa Pakistan," see above image – is active in promoting jihad against the U.S. and India. Following are some images and their captions from the Facebook channel:[24]

The image, posted January 25, 2012, reads: "One Cure for India and America – Al-Jihad Al-Jihad."

The image, posted on January 11, 2012, carries the slogan: "Friendship with India and America – Treason against the Martyrs."

The image, posted on December 26, 2011, carries the following text: "Jihad – Long Live"

The image, posted on December 20, 2011, shows the Jamaatud Dawa lion grabbing a hyena with an Indian flag. The text reads: "Expel the idolaters from the Heaven [on earth in Kashmir]."

Activities in Pakistani Cities

Urdu Daily Report on Lahore Rally: "This Rally is… Declared a Referendum Against America, American Policies and Pro-American Elements [in Pakistan]"

Jamaatud Dawa chief Hafiz Muhammad Saeed and others at the Lahore rally (image courtesy: Roznama Ummat, December 19, 2011)

To advance its ideological agenda and pressure the Pakistani government, the Difa-e-Pakistan Council (DPC) has begun holding mass public rallies in Pakistani cities. The key speaker at these rallies is Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the Lashkar-e-Taiba founder. One of two recent public rallies was held December 19, 2011 rally in Lahore.

The following are excerpts from a report in the Urdu-language daily Roznama Ummat, describing the proceedings of the DPC conference:[25] "About 300,000 people standing shoulder to shoulder with Difa-e-Pakistan Council leadership at Minar-e-Pakistan raised their hands to pledge that they are always ready to render any sacrifice for the sake of the defense of the country.

"On the one hand, right-wing circles are terming this conference as a message of change; on the other hand, the political circles in the city [of Lahore] have called this conference a full show of strength by the Islamic religious parties, in which they succeed in gathering more people than Imran Khan [cricketer-turned-politician and leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf]. This rally is also being declared a referendum against America, American policies and pro-American elements [in Pakistan]. An important aspect [of this conference] is that this referendum was limited to [the province of] Punjab only. There was no participation from the remaining three provinces [Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Baluchistan].

"The conference was largely attended by students of madrassas [Islamic seminaries], workers of religious and political parties and activists of jihadi organizations. In the conference, leadership of almost all Islamist parties and their representatives were present. Apart from them, Awami Muslim League Chief Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and a leader of Tehrik Insaf [party of Imran Khan] … represented their parties' leadership.

"According to sources, the leadership of Pakistan Defence Council invited political and religious parties of different schools of thought to the conference. Even President Asif Ali Zardari was invited, through presidential spokesman Farhatullah Baber, with a message that the conference was aimed at highlighting the resolve and determination for the defense of Pakistan. This country is also yours [President Zardari], so you should participate. However, the president excused himself from attending the conference. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman was also invited but despite his presence in Lahore neither he [himself] nor any of his representatives attended the conference. Sources said that Maulana Fazlur Rahman could not understand which way the wind was blowing and distanced himself by avoiding this representative rally of Islamist parties…."

"Three Thousand Jamaatud Dawa Volunteers Took Responsibility for Security [at Lahore Rally]; The Flags Fluttering At the Rally Were Either Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat's or Jamaatud Dawa's"

"According to reliable sources, the Muslim League (N) leadership [of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif] complained just two days before the conference that the PDC's present activities are in fact an attempt to affect their vote bank in future. As the matter came to the fore, a high-level delegation of the council called on the PML-N chief Mian Nawaz Sharif and invited him to the conference. [Nevertheless] Nawaz Sharif responded that he would decide whether to attend the conference or not after observing the whole situation. But today he stayed away from the conference. Sources said that Nawaz Sharif's non-participation went in favor of PDC because had he joined [he would have hijacked the rally] by giving the impression that such a large number of people were gathered due to Mian Nawaz Sharif.

"The first session of the conference started at 11:00 am and continued till 12:30 pm. The session was addressed by Ahle Sunnat Wal-Jamaat leader Maulana Shamsur Rahman Maawia, Jamaatud Dawa Azad Kashmir chief Maulana Abdul Aziz Alavi, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Sami) deputy chief Maulana Makhdoom Manzoor Ahmed and Maulana Habibur Rahman Darkhwasti. At 12:30 pm, when the first session ended with the announcement of a break for Zuhar prayers, over half of the pindal [venue] emptied… Soon after the Zuhar prayers, as the second and last session began, the number of participants increased, and within one hour the situation changed as the whole pindal became jam-packed, to full capacity….

"An important development observed was that great enthusiasm and fervor was found among the participants. Three thousand Jamaatud Dawa volunteers took responsibility for security. The flags fluttering at the rally were either Jamaatud Dawa's or Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat's [new name of banned militant group Sipah-e-Sahaba Pakistan]….

"The conference was attended by Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (Sami), Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam (Nazriati group), Jamaatud Dawa, Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat, Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan Shariat Council, Pakistan Muslim League (Zia), Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, Sawad Azam Ahle Sunnat, Markazi Jamiat Ahle Hadith, Jamiat Ahle Hadith, Jamiat Ishaat At-Tawheed Wal Sunnah, Pakistan Ulema Council, Jamiat Ulema-i-Pakistan, Majlis-i- Ihrarul Islam, Mohsinaan Pakistan, Jamaat-i-Islami Azad Kashmir, Hurriyat Conference Azad Kashmir, Khaksar Tehrik, Tehrik Tanzeem Islami and prominent jihadist leaders including Maulana Abdul Jabbar, Maulana Abdullah Shah Mazhar and Maulana Naseer Jawed…."

"[The Conference] Expressed Determination That Every Effort will Be Made for the Defense of Pakistan; Participants… were Administered an Oath to… Render Sacrifices to Enforce Islamic Sharia [in Pakistan]"

"[Continuing from the above] General (retired) Hamid Gul said this conference in fact is a clear message from the patriotic forces that we are ready to render any sacrifice for defense, protection and solidarity of Pakistan. He said the aggressor has fought its last war [i.e. the U.S. in Afghanistan] and now it has no future. Now history is taking a new turn. In fact, it is the return journey and all this is being witnessed in the pindal is actually power of Allah and Pakistan. Do not give it a wrong color. To a query, he said in fact it is the journey of honor and respect…We have no tussle with anybody. We only want freedom.

"Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat chief Maulana Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi told the Ummat that today's rally was an historic one. Perhaps this historic venue of Minar-i-Pakistan has never seen such a mammoth gathering. This rally was a historical one in all aspects – people's presence, unity among leaders and their addresses. To a question, he answered that people from all walks of life except the ruling parties were present in this huge anti-America gathering.

"JUI-S [Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam] central Secretary General Maulana Abdur Rauf Farooqi told the Ummat that except pro-American elements all the remaining parties participated… Maulana Hamidul Haq Haqqani, former MNA [lawmaker or member of National Assembly] and son of Maulana Samiul Haq, termed this conference as historic and harbinger of change in Pakistan. Mohsinaan-i-Pakistan chief Abdullah Gul… pointed towards the pindal and said they [participants] are the people who had been pressed after 9/11 and today they got the opportunity to raise their heads.

"The defend Pakistan conference has expressed determination that every effort will be made for the defense of Pakistan. Struggle will be carried out at all levels for the enforcement of Islamic Sharia, which is the only solution to all problems [of Pakistan]. No compromise on Azad Kashmir [in dealings with India] is acceptable. Roads and routes throughout the country will be blocked if NATO supply-line is reopened. Border and trade markets will be surrounded if India is declared 'most favored nation.' The government was asked to set a deadline for abandoning its role in the American war [on terror]. At the end the participants of the conference were administered an oath to … render sacrifices to enforce Islamic Sharia and defend Pakistan."

Report on Rawalpindi Rally: Maulana Samiul Haq Said, "With the Grace of Allah Almighty We are Now United to Defend the Country and Set Ourselves Free From Clutches of American Subjugation – and the Time is Ripe to Adopt the Way of Jihad"  

A copy of the report on Rawalpindi conference by Urdu daily Roznama Ummat of January 23, 2012

The second conference in the series was held by the DPC on January 22, 2012 in Rawalpindi, the twin city of Islamabad. The conference warned the Pakistani government against reopening NATO supply through Pakistan. The Urdu language daily Roznama Ummat stated in a report titled "Defense of Pakistan Conference Threatens to Besiege Parliament House if NATO Supplies Restored:[26] "Thousands of participants of Difa-e-Pakistan Conference have demanded withdrawal of all facilities, including use of Pakistan airspace and permanent closer of NATO supplies [to Afghanistan via Pakistan], else it warned of besieging the Parliament House. The rally also demanded [that the government] withdraw its decision to grand MFN (Most Favored Nation) status to India, terming trade with India sans solution of Kashmir dispute as tantamount to enmity with the motherland.

"A mammoth rally was held under the banner of Pakistan Defense Council at Liaquat Bagh of Rawalpindi on Sunday. The rally was attended by thousands of participants from all walks of life including leaders and workers of religious, political parties, jihadi organizations, students of madrassas [Islamic seminaries], colleges and universities, traders, lawyers and laborers. The participants of the rally reiterated their resolve to render any sacrifice for defense and protection of Pakistan and Islam.

"The messages from the father of Pakistani atomic bomb and renowned scientist Dr A.Q. Khan [Dr Abdul Qadir Khan] and … [others] were also read out on the occasion. The participants stood on their seats and raised full-throat slogans as the Jamaatud Dawa leader Professor Hafiz Muhammad Saeed came on the dais to deliver his speech.

"Addressing the rally, the Pakistan Defence Council co-chairman Maulana Samiul Haq [also chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam] said that after the blockade of NATO supplies now the government must set a deadline to say goodbye to the so-called war against terrorism. He asserted that the rulers should stop following wrong policies of [former military ruler General Pervez] Musharraf and sever relations with America. With the grace of Allah Almighty we are now united to defend the country and set ourselves free from clutches of American subjugation and the time is ripe to adopt way of jihad, he said."

Jamaat-e-Islami Emir – "Conspiracies are Being Hatched to Set Terms and Conditions for Reopening of NATO Supplies [through Pakistan]; Hafiz Muhammad Saeed – "Conferring of MFN status on India is a Conspiracy to Make Pakistan 'Economically Disabled'"

"Jamaat-e-Islami Emir Syed Munawwar Hasan, in his address to the rally, said that conspiracies are being hatched to set terms and conditions for reopening of NATO supplies. But, he warned that they will not let the government to ink any such document of slavery [to America].

"Jamaatud Dawa chief Professor Hafiz Saeed vowed on the occasion to resist restoration of NATO supplies with full strength. [Saeed said] 'We have made it clear during the PDC rally in Minar-e-Pakistan, Lahore, that we will come to Rawalpindi to seek a deadline from the Prime Minister [Yousuf Raza Gilani] to dissociate Pakistan from … this American war. Today in the presence of thousands of people I declare to ask him [the prime minister] to openly declare as Pakistan is no more the U.S. ally in war against terrorism.

"He said all agreements made with America became redundant when it carried out the first drone attack in [tribal areas of] Pakistan. He said the country is passing through a critical juncture as it is facing serious threats from enemies. He said Pakistani territory should not be used for attacks against Afghanistan. The rulers should come out of American alliance; conferring of MFN status on India is a conspiracy to make Pakistan 'economically disabled' and ruin its economy. It's not the time to remain a silent spectator, he said, adding all people should come forward to defend the sovereignty of Pakistan.

"He further said that America is pitting India against Pakistan, alleging that India is involved in sabotage activities in Baluchistan. He said the country-wide movement from the platform of Pakistan Defense Council will continue.

"Chief of Awami Muslim League Sheikh Rashid Ahmed said that today Pakistan is facing internal threats. He said all the problems will be overcome if all religious parties gathered on one platform. General (retired) Mirza Aslam Beg [former Pakistan Army chief] said that secularism is imminent threat to Pakistan's solidarity, adding those people sitting in the parliament can't change destiny of the nation.

"The rally was also addressed by Maulana Muhammad Ahmed Ludhianvi, Sahibzada Abul Khair Zubair, Ejazul Haq, Sardar Attique Ahmed Khan, Hafeez Akef Saeed, Maulana Fazalur Rehman Khalil, Allama Ebtesaam Elahi Zahir, Abdur Rashid Turabi, Hafeez Tahir Muhammad Ashrafi and others. Most of the participants belonged to Jamaatud Dawa…."

PDC Calls For Historic Rally in Karachi, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed Says: "To Become an Ally of America… to Present Our Country, Our Airbases… For Them Is… Against the Ideology on the Basis of Which Pakistan Was Established, and is Against the Clear Teachings of Islam and the Koran"

The Defense of Pakistan Council (PDC) has called for another mass rally in Karachi on February 12, 2012 to force the Pakistani government to completely distance itself from the United States. At a press conference, Jamaatud Dawa Emir Hafiz Muhammad Saeed, the PDC co-chairman, explained the objectives behind the rally.

According to a video posted on Jamaatud Dawa's YouTube channel, Hafiz Muhammad Saeed stated at the press conference:[27]

"We have been saying this from beginning, that to become an ally of America like this, and to present our country, our airbases, our everything for them, is against the requirements of our Millat [Muslim Ummah], is against our fundamental interests, is against the ideology on the basis of which Pakistan has been established, and is against the clear teachings of Islam and the Koran. And its result will not be in any way in Pakistan's favor….

"The United States did not come to occupy Afghanistan alone, but also to thrust its agenda on Pakistan, Pakistan whose foundation is based on an ideology; and in reality America is enemy of that ideology. Keeping this enmity in mind, they have made effort to push Pakistan into war…."

* Tufail Ahmad is Director of MEMRI's South Asia Studies Project (www.memri.org/sasp)

Following are excerpts from a religious program presented by Egyptian cleric Sheik Abdallah Kamal, which aired on Safa TV on January 9, 2012:

Abdallah Kamal: "I mentioned yesterday that the Prophet Muhammad married Aisha when she was six years old, and had sexual intercourse with her when she was nine years old. People might raise an eyebrow and ask how such a thing could be.

"This hadith has been taken, by people with ulterior motives, and by people who hate the Prophet Muhammad – whether Christians, Orientalists, or even some Muslims… They, however, made a great mistake, and in their efforts to defend the Prophet Muhammad – and although we think highly of them – they made a very dangerous mistake, and attributed a falsehood to Imam Al-Bukhari, and made him appear to have made a mistake.

"In an effort to ingratiate themselves upon human rights organizations, they denied that the Prophet Muhammad married Aisha, mother of the believers, at such a young age. Some of the malevolent people, like the deceiver, Zakariya [Boutrus] – and [the prophet Zakariya] has nothing to do with him – took that hadith and accused the Prophet Muhammad of being a child rapist. We say to him: Shut up. May Allah silence you, cut off your tongue, and destroy the very foundations of your being, for you are leveling accusations against the master of humanity, the beloved of God, the Messenger of the Lord of the Worlds. […]

"This [union] was decreed by Allah, and therefore, the Prophet Muhammad only married Aisha because of a decree by Allah. […]

"The marriage of Aisha, mother of the believers to the Prophet Muhammad, was not her first marriage. She was betrothed, even before that, to Jubayr ibn Mut'im. Before the Prophet Muhammad married her, Aisha was betrothed to Jubayr ibn Mut'im. […]

"The environment differs from one place to another, from one climate to another, and from one country to another. In some countries, a girl reaches puberty at the age of 8 or 9. Moreover, religious scholars have written, in the books of jurisprudence that a girl may menstruate and even give birth at the age of 9 years. She can give birth at the age of 9 years.

"Okay. So where is this cruelty and barbarism they are talking about? How can they claim that the Prophet Muhammad only cared about his desire and his lust? What is this obvious deception? […]

"In warm places, girls reach puberty at a very early age – generally at the age of 8 years. In cold places, girls' puberty is delayed until the age of 21 years – as is the case in some cold countries. […]

"Where do you stand with regard to the wedding of Joseph the Carpenter, who, as you write in your own holy books, married the Virgin Mary when she was only 12 years old and he was 90 years old? Is it not written in your books? Read your own holy scripture. Joseph the Carpenter was 90 years old, while Mary was 12 years old. Why don't you denounce this?!"

Shakir Hussain Sheikh

Shakir Hussain Sheikh is wanted by India for the September 2011 Delhi High Court blasts. The Indian government has announced a reward of one million Indian Rupees for information leading to his arrest.

Amir Ali Kamal aka Akram

Amir Ali Kamal, aka Akram, is wanted for the September 2011 Delhi High Court blast. The Indian government has announced a reward of one million Indian Rupees for information leading to his arrest.

Sajid Majeed

Sajid Majeed was the key planner of the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks. He was personally involved in the training and briefing of all 10 terrorists who came by boat from Pakistan to carry out the attacks. A red corner notice has been issued for Interpol to arrest him.

Sandeep Dange

Sandeep Dange is wanted for the terror attack on the 2007 Samjhauta Express, a goodwill train service between Pakistan and India. The train was attacked by armed Hindu men whose aim was to blame the attack on Indian Muslims.

The Indian government has announced a reward of 200,000 Indian Rupees for information leading to his arrest.

Ashok, aka Prince

Ashok, aka Prince, is wanted for the terror attack on the 2007 Samjhauta Express, a goodwill train service between Pakistan and India. The Indian government has announced a reward of 200,000 Indian Rupees for information leading to his arrest.

Mahesh Bhai aka Mafat Bhai

Mahesh Bhai, aka Mafat Bhai, is wanted for the 2007 terror attack on the Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti shrine in the town of Ajmer. Hindu extremists were behind the attack, with their aim being to blame Muslims for the attack.

The Indian government has announced a reward of 200,000 Indian Rupees for information leading to his arrest.

Suresh Nair

Suresh Nair is wanted for the 2007 terror attack on the Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti shrine in the town of Ajmer. The Indian government has announced a reward of 200,000 Indian Rupees for information leading to his arrest.

Bhavesh Patel

Bhavesh Patel is wanted for the 2007 terror attack on the Samjhauta Express, a goodwill train service between Pakistan and India. The train was attacked by armed Hindu men whose aim was to blame the attack on Indian Muslims.

Patel is also wanted for the 2007 bomb blast on the Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti shrine in the town of Ajmer. The Indian government has announced a reward of 200,000 Indian Rupees for information leading to his arrest.

Ramchandra Kalsangra

Ramchandra Kalsangra is wanted for the 2007 terror attack on the Samjhauta Express, a goodwill train service between Pakistan and India. The Indian government has announced a reward of 200,000 Indian Rupees for information leading to his arrest.

Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi

Zakiur Rehman Lakhvi is wanted in connection with the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, as well as the 2006 train bombings in Mumbai. He is currently in a Pakistani jail.

Junaid Akram Malik

Indian has announced a reward of one million Indian Rupees for information leading to his arrest.

Hafiz Muhammad Saeed

Hafiz Muhammad Saeed is the founder of the Pakistani jihadist organization Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and is now Emir of its charity arm Jamaatud Dawa. He is free in Pakistan but is wanted for multiple terror attacks in India, including the 2008 terror attacks in Mumbai.

Ilyas Kashmiri

Ilyas Kashmiri is believed by U.S. security agencies to have been killed in a U.S. drone attack in Pakistan, but Indian intelligence believes that he is still alive. He is a former Pakistani military commando and is now part of Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.

Courtesy: thedailystar.net

In a recent article, noted Bangladeshi academic Dr. Anish Mondal examined the history of the popular movement in Bangladesh in favor of establishing a secular democratic state. In 1971, Bangladesh, formerly known as East Pakistan, became independent from Pakistan following a linguistic movement led by the majority Bengali-speaking people, who were militarily supported by India.

Dr. Mondal, who is a professor of English at Amrita Lal Dey College in the Bangladeshi town of Barisal, traces the history of the secular movement in Bangladesh and the introduction of Islam as the state religion during the autocratic rule of General H. M. Ershad in the 1980s. In the article, titled "State Religion for Whom?", he laments that the current government led by the secular Awami League party capitulated to popular opinion by retaining Islam as the country's official religion.

Regardless of the criticism, it should be noted that the current Bangladeshi government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has steered a robust campaign against jihadist and Islamist forces in Bangladeshi society, politics, and government.

Following are excerpts from the article:[1]

"[After 1952] East Pakistan Muslim Chhatra League Dropped the Term 'Muslim' from the Name of the Organization, and Afterwards East Pakistan Awami League Waived the Term 'Muslim' from the Party's Name"

Endnotes:
[1] FORUM, a monthly magazine of The Daily Star newspaper (Bangladesh), August 2011. The text of the article has been lightly edited for clarity.

Following are excerpts from an interview with Saudi journalist and TV host Nadin Al-Badir, which aired on Dream2 TV on January 10, 2012.

Nadin Al-Badir: "28-year-old Hassan Nabil Hmeid from Abha was harassed [by the religious police] because he grew his hair long. At the end of the day, all the matters they pursue are superficial ones. They have no depth. They are concerned only with external looks. Ultimately, [Hmeid] died as a result of the beating he received. Some say that he died when he tried to flee from them. What matters is that this young man's life came to an end because of backward, reactionary people, who would like to take us back hundreds of years in time. I don't think the situation back then was as bad as they would like it to be."

Interviewer: "But some might say that these are isolated cases. Have they grown in frequency in recent times?"

Nadin Al-Badir: "I could give you many examples, but we don't have enough time."

Interviewer: "Just a few examples. There's the well-known case of the fire…"

Nadin Al-Badir: "A fire broke out in a girls' school in Saudi Arabia. It would have been easy to extinguish the fire without any girl getting hurt. But members of the Authority for the Promotion of Virtue stood at the door of the school and prevented any student from leaving, because the girls were not wearing the hijab. How were they supposed to get a hijab when the school was going up in flames? They prevented the fire brigade from entering to extinguish the fire, and they prevented the parents from going in…"

Interviewer: "Why?"

Nadin Al-Badir: "Because the girls were not wearing the abaya. The girls were right behind the door…"

Interviewer: "But it is a duty to save them from death. Who cares if they are wearing the abaya or not?"

Nadin Al-Badir: "Their mission is to save you from the Hellfire, not from death. They believe that you are martyred in such a case. I don't know what was going through their minds at that moment."

Interviewer: "Saving them from the Hellfire is more important than saving them from death…"

Nadin Al-Badir: "I'm talking about 13-year-old girls, not university students. These were schoolgirls. 15 girls from the school died – because of the Authority for Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue, and not because of the fire. They could easily have been rescued. Has any member of the Authority been placed on trial? Not that we've seen. The department of girls' education was annexed to the Education Ministry, but the Authority is never held accountable. It punishes, but is never punished itself. You can never get justice. Even if they stab or kill you, nobody can hold them accountable."

Interviewer: "The Authority is never held accountable even if it makes a mistake?"

Nadin Al-Badir: "No. You can file a complaint or a lawsuit against it. Many have been filed, but we've never heard of anyone being punished for attacking a citizen." […]

Interviewer: "Some Saudis who support the Authority believe that there is a need for it, and say that anyone who fears it must be deviating from the right path. They believe that it protects society, our children, and our families."

Nadin Al-Badir: "I haven't noticed that they protect our children and our families. The rate of all forms of sexual harassment is the highest it has ever been."

Interviewer: "In Saudi Arabia?"

Nadin Al-Badir: "Yes. Droves of young men might harass a girl, and I've never seen the Authority preventing these harassments. The Authority has absolutely nothing to do with protection. The Authority is the enemy of society. How can it protect it? […]

"It is well-known that most members of the Authority are ex-cons, who used to be drug users or drug dealers. Even Sheik Abd Al-Muhsen Al-Abikan, advisor to the royal court, suggested that the Authority should be abolished. He said that most of them were drug dealers, drug users, thieves, and ex-cons who repented, all of a sudden, and became violently extreme. These people, according to Sheik Al-Abikan, should not be allowed to have such authorities, because they use it in inappropriate ways." […]

Song: "Tell Me Oh Mujahid, Where Are You Departing For As The Sun Is Setting?"^[1]

"You have fastened a rocket launcher on your shoulder, Oh Mujahid,

"Where are you departing as the sun is setting, Oh Mujahid.

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting?

"Tell me, Oh Mujahid, whether it's ambush or an attack,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting?

"Tell me, Oh Mujahid, whether it's an ambush or an attack,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting?

"Your lips are dry, your face is black [i.e. changed], your hair uncombed;

"Tell me, Oh Mujahid, where are you departing for as the sun is setting?

"You have fastened a rocket launcher on your shoulder, Oh Mujahid,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting, Oh Mujahid,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting?

"Allah! Dark clouds are hovering over the country, Oh Mujahid

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting;

"Oh! Dark clouds are hovering over the country, Oh Mujahid,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting;

"The embers ignite my heart because you are departing, Oh Mujahid,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting, Oh Mujahid

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting;

"You have fastened a rocket launcher on your shoulder, Oh Mujahid,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting, Oh Mujahid,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting?

"Oh Mujahid! You have trust in Allah,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting;

"Oh Mujahid! You have trust in Allah,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting;

"Oh Mujahid! All people, far and wide, witness you,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting;

"You have fastened a rocket launcher on your shoulder, Oh Mujahid,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting, Oh Mujahid,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting?

"Eagerly waiting to welcome you, Oh Mujahid,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting;

"Eagerly waiting to welcome you, Oh Mujahid,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting,

"Your grief is awful, my friend, and intolerable, Oh Mujahid,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting;

"You have fastened a rocket launcher on your shoulder Oh Mujahid,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting Oh Mujahid,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting?

"Get back to this Abaseen [poet's name], Oh Mujahid

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting; 

"Get back to this Abaseen, Oh Mujahid,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting;

"Perilous nights, threatening times and great danger are [all] around, Oh Mujahid

"Where are you departing as the sun is setting; 

"You have fastened a rocket launcher on your shoulder Oh Mujahid,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting Oh Mujahid,

"Where are you departing for as the sun is setting?

"Oh Mujahid, where are you departing for as the sun is setting,

"Oh Mujahid, where are you departing for as the sun is setting."

Following is the text of the second song:

Song: "If God Blesses Me With Martyrdom, Will You Come To Offer My Funeral Prayer?"^[2]

"If God blesses me with martyrdom, will you come to offer my funeral prayer?

"Will you lay a yellow floral wreath on my grave

"If I embrace martyrdom?

"If God blesses you with martyrdom, will you recommend me [before God for His blessings]?
"Will you represent me before God for His forgiveness?

"If God blesses you with martyrdom;

"If God blesses me with martyrdom…

"I am ready to sacrifice for the religion of (Islam),

"If I embrace martyrdom, [my body] spread over the soil, bones broken, organs in pieces,

"Will you collect and bring down my flesh in pieces, my flesh in pieces,

"If God blesses me with martyrdom;

"If God blesses you with martyrdom, Oh my dear, do strive for me,

"Seek clemency for the iniquitous and sinful ones,

"Me too, me too Oh friend;

"Will you include me in that group [for which you will seek forgiveness],

"If God blesses you with martyrdom?

"If God blesses me with martyrdom, will you come to offer my funeral prayer?

"Will you lay a yellow floral wreath on my grave?

"If God blesses me with martyrdom;

"If God blesses you with martyrdom, will you recommend me [before God for His blessings];
"Will you represent me before God for His forgiveness

"If God blesses you with martyrdom?

"If God blesses me with martyrdom, my children will be left behind me,

"Those mucky, grubby orphans of mine with uncombed hair;

"Oh my beloved friend! Oh my native friend! Will you take care of them?

"If God blesses me with martyrdom;

"If God blesses you with martyrdom, don't worry about the children,

"And do not repeat to me this undignified refrain;

"Ask for this, ask for that, and I will take your revenge [against the enemies],

"If God blesses you with martyrdom;

"If God blesses me with martyrdom, will you come to offer my funeral prayer?

"Will you lay a yellow floral wreath on my grave?

"If God blesses me with martyrdom;

"If God blesses you with martyrdom, will you represent before God for His forgiveness?

"If God blesses you with martyrdom;

"If God blesses me with martyrdom, tell this to my friend –

"Go to Alikhel [poet's name], and tell this to Beqarar [the poet's alias];

"Write about me, write about my mournful songs,

"If God blesses me with martyrdom;

"If God blesses me with martyrdom, tell this to my friend –

Go to Alikhel and tell this to Beqarar;

"Write about me, write about my mournful songs,

"If God blesses me with martyrdom;

"If God blesses me with martyrdom, will you come to offer my funeral prayer;

"Will you lay a yellow floral wreath on my grave

"If God blesses me with martyrdom?

"If God blesses you with martyrdom, will you recommend me [before God for His blessings];

"Will you represent before God for His forgiveness?

"If God blesses you with martyrdom?"

Title: We Will Continue This War

"We will continue this war, we will challenge the infidels;
"We will get our rights back, and will take rest after telling this to the world.

"We will continue this war, we will challenge the infidels;
"We will get our rights back, and will take rest after telling this to world;

"Will take rest after telling the world."

"We will target (you) one by one, we will come upon (you) like infernos;
"In this world of tyranny and oppression, we will do justice;
"We will make justice.

"We will target (you) one by one, we will come upon (you) like infernos;
"In this world of tyranny and oppression, we will make justice;
"We will make justice."

"We will again become [Saladin] Ayyubi, we will strike the falsehood like lightning;
"We will take revenge of the Aqsa, like Khalid, Zarrar and Ali [Companions of Prophet Mohammad];
"Like Khalid, Zarrar and Ali.

"We will again become Ayyubi; we will strike the falsehood like lightning;
"We will take revenge of the Aqsa [Jerusalem mosque], like Khalid, Zarrar and Ali;
"Like Khalid, Zarrar and Ali."

"We will confront every tyrant; we will take all our rights back;
"We will take rest after getting every piece of Islamic land freed;
"Will take rest after getting (every piece of Islamic land) freed.

"We will confront every tyrant; we will take all our rights back;
"We will take rest after getting every piece of Islamic land freed;
"Will take rest after getting freed."

"This war will now continue, they would now get the fatal blow;
"All kinds of falsehood would be broken, this world would see it all;
"This world would see it all.

"This war will now continue, they would now get the fatal blow;
"All kinds of falsehood will be broken, this world would see it all;
"This world would see it all."

"This garden would again flourish; the adorn flowers would give fragrance again;
"There would come a period on this garden when the face of Islam would illuminate;