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  • Pakistanisation of Al Qaeda’

    Pakistanisation of Al Qaeda’

    Al Qaeda first fled to South Waziristan. It was later deployed to other areas in Azad Kashmir and Karachi. In June 2002, Pakistan announced that the militants who had killed 10 Pakistani soldiers and paramilitaries in South Waziristan belonged to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and were of Uzbek origin


    Khaled Ahmed’s A n al y s i s


    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------



    Daniel Pearl was kidnapped on 12 January 2002, followed by the assassination of Shiite doctors of Karachi, and in March by an attack on the church in the diplomatic enclave in Islamabad killing five; in April an attack on the Shiites of Bhakkar targeting particularly women and children. Then came the attack on May 8th on the 11 French engineers in Karachi which also killed three Pakistanis, followed by an attack on the US consulate that killed 12 in June; attack on a missionary school in Murree in August which killed six, followed by an attack on a missionary hospital in Taxila the same month which killed four. Islamabad was forced to pay more attention to what the militants were doing. Even then they did nothing to hinder the regrouping of Pakistani and Arab jihadists within Pakistan

    Harkat al Mujahideen al Alami suddenly made its appearance in Karachi but was previously unknown in Pakistan. It was founded by Asif Zaheer who had trained as an explosives and chemical expert at Al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan. He had belonged to the Banuri Masjid and was in Karachi making bombs for half a dozen Deobandi-based groups. Asif Zaheer was sentenced to death for masterminding the killing of French engineers but his organisation merged with others to form World United Army which blew up 21 petrol stations owned by Shell in Karachi in May 2003. Over 450 terrorists, about 200 of them Yemenis and Saudis, were captured by Pakistan after 125 raids. Already two-thirds of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay are from Pakistan after they were captured inside Afghanistan

    Although few in Pakistan believe the official version of the Wana Operation, external observers merely see in it the confirmation of what they had known earlier. The adoption of Al Qaeda by a vast number of people in Pakistan, including the MMA government of the NWFP whose ministers at times swear by the Taliban brand of Islam, cannot be ignored. Senators and MNAs from the Tribal Areas pretend to be on the side of the government and pose as mediators but are clearly loyal to the worldview of Al Qaeda; and some of them have benefited financially from this loyalty. One MNA Shah Abdul Aziz has appeared on a private channel and has admitted to having nursed Abdullah Mehsud - the Guantanamo Bay ex-inmate who abducted the Chinese engineers from the Gomalzam Dam in South Waziristan – when the two were in the tutelage of Mufti Shamzai of Banuri Masjid in Karachi. It was very clear that the loyalty of MNA Shah Abdul Aziz was more to the cause of Al Qaeda than to Pakistan.

    Karachi killings in 2002:

    The great French analyst of the anti-Soviet Afghan war, Olivier Roy has collaborated with Mariam Abou Zahab to produce Islamist Network: The Afghan-Pakistan Connection (Hurst & Company, 2004, from an original publication of 2002; distributed by Vanguard Books Lahore) which tells us about the penetration of Islamist influences into Pakistan and helps us unravel the terrorist conundrum in our society. Mariam Abou Zahab is a well known French scholar who has studied the sectarian scene in Pakistan and written about it, including one path-breaking study of the city of Jhang where Deobandi Islam gave birth to Sipah Sahaba. Her latest book with Olivier Roy has one chapter titled The Pakistanisation of Al Qaeda which tells us that after the fall of the Taliban in 2002 militants regrouped in Karachi with the help of a still un-purged ISI. The militants were bitter with their leaders for not preventing Pakistan from allying itself with the United States and proceeded to express their anger with acts of terrorism


    Early Al Qaeda gathering in South Waziristan:

    The Pakistan establishment tended to blame all the terrorist action on Lashkar-e-Jhangvi to avoid putting the focus on Harkatul Jihad al Islami and Harkatul Mujahideen al Alami, the two organisation not known commonly in Pakistan but whose activists had come in large numbers from Afghanistan after absorbing a lot of Arab and Al Qaeda influence. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi was possibly infiltrated successfully by the government after which it was able to arrest in June 2002 the Lashkar leader Akram Lahori - erstwhile bodyguard of Haq Nawaz Jhangvi, the founder of Sipah Sahaba. Also caught were Shabbir Fauji and Qari Assadullah/Abdul Hay, of a breakaway faction of the Lashkar, who had been a trainer at Sarobi terrorist camps and, after his return to Pakistan, had a lot support in Karachi. He was later revealed as the mastermind behind the kidnapping of Daniel Pearl. Riaz Basra held sway in Punjab till he was killed in 2003. Lashkar-e-Jhangvi was funded by Arab donors.

    Al Qaeda first fled to South Waziristan. It was later deployed to other areas in Azad Kashmir and Karachi. The authors are of the view that this deployment could not have been possible without collaboration from the ISI. In June 2002 Pakistan announced that the militants who had killed 10 Pakistani soldiers and paramilitaries in South Waziristan belonged to the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) and were of Uzbek origin. One organisation that facilitated the movement of the Al Qaeda militants from South Waziristan was Lashkar-e-Tayba. The authors quote Pakistan intelligence as saying that in 2003 there were around 300 Al Qaeda activists in Pakistan. The Arabs in Al Qaeda learned gradually to trust the Pushtuns less than the Islamic parties in Pakistan on the basis of the networks established during the Afghan war. These political parties have facilitated the deployment of the Arabs in Karachi and in Punjab. In Karachi the networks earlier established by the ISI had gradually gone out of control.

    Al Qaeda and Lashkar-e-Tayba:

    The book looks at the arrest in Faisalabad in March 2002 of Abu Zubayda, the organiser of Al Qaeda warriors in Pakistan. From Faisalabad the Americans were able to bag 50 Al Qaeda members, out of which 20 were Arabs and were sent to Guantanamo Bay. The arrest of Abu Zubayda pointed to the link Al Qaeda had with Lashkar-e-Tayba set up in 1987 by Hafiz Saeed and others educated at the Madina University, Saudi Arabia. They were able to set up the Dawat wal Irshad establishment in Muridke on a 190-acre plot donated by the government of General Zia ul Haq, but the rest of the building complex was completed with money from an Arab called Sheikh Abul Aziz who was a frontman for Osama bin Laden. The strength of Lashkar-e-Tayba came from 140 establishments run by Dawat wal Irshad with 20,000 devoted pupils. It had 2000 local offices all over Pakistan functioning under a different name since the Lashkar was banned. At the annual gathering of Dawat wal Irshad at Muridke, the voice recording of Osama bin Laden was played to the gathered audience. Yusuf Ramzi, the terrorist behind the 1993 attack on the World Trade Centre and Aimal Kansi who killed CIA agents near Washington - both took refuge at Muridke’s sanctuary where the writ of the Pakistani state did not run.

    More evidence of the links between Lashkar-e-Tayba and Al Qaeda came later. Two other top Al Qaeda leaders were arrested from Karachi, Yemeni Ramzi Binalshibh in September 2002 and Khalid Sheikh Muhammad from Rawalpindi in March 2003. The arrest of Khalid Sheikh Muhammad had followed the arrest in Quetta of Muhammad Abdul Rehman, son of Omar Abdul Rehman, the Egyptian Gamaa Islamiyya blind leader now in prison in the US for the 1993 attack on the World Trade Centre. In April 2003 a nephew of Khalid Shaikh Muhammad, Ali Abdul Aziz was arrested in Karachi, and Waleed Muhammad Attash, a Yemeni accused of attack on USS Cole at Aden in October 2000. Attash confessed to recruiting candidates for suicide bombings against Americans and admitted to having already recruited a dozen of them from Lashkar-e-Tayba. From the Deobandi hinterland, only Jaish-e-Muhammad was to attain a status similar to Lashkar-e-Tayba by reason of its patronage by Mufti Shamzai.

    Origin of Harkatul Mujahideen Al Alami:

    The book reveals the true identity of Harkat al Mujahideen al Alami which suddenly made its appearance in Karachi but was previously unknown in Pakistan. The man who founded it was Asif Zaheer who had trained as an explosives and chemical expert at Al Qaeda camps in Afghanistan. He had belonged to the Banuri Masjid, inspired by Harkat Jihad al Islami of Qari Saifullah Akhtar, and was in Karachi making bombs for half a dozen Deobandi-based groups. Asif Zaheer was sentenced to death for masterminding the killing of French engineers but his organisation merged with others to form World United Army taken seriously by the Karachi police only after it blew up 21 petrol stations owned by Shell in Karachi in May 2003. Over 450 terrorists, about 200 of them Yemenis and Saudis, were captured by Pakistan after 125 raids at the writing of the book. Already two-thirds of the prisoners at Guantanamo Bay are from Pakistan after they were captured inside Afghanistan.

    The book gives us more information about Hizb al Tahrir which came to Pakistan together with Al Muhajirun in 1999, the latter being allowed by Punjab in 2000 to hold its gathering in a state-owned theatre in Lahore to hear it condemn President Musharraf. Hizb al Tahrir first came to Uzbekistan in 1996 and began its activities in parallel to the Adolat Party of Tahir Yuldashev and Juma Namangani in the Ferghana Valley. It came from London where it was being run since the 1980s on behalf of a Palestinian movement of 1953. It used very strong language against the nation-state and advocated khilafah but stopped short of jihad. Hizb denounced Jinnah for having established Pakistan and declared it a secular state in its London-based journal. In Central Asia it is suspected of having accepted activists from Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU) of Tahir Yuldashev and thus of being connected to South Waziristan. Its Pakistani chief Navid Butt is a graduate from the University of Chicago.

    Al Muhajirun and Hizb al Tahrir:

    In Akbar S. Ahmad’s book Islam under Siege (reviewed in TFT 26 September 2003) the author touched upon the hostility he had faced from one khilafat-supporting organisation called Hizb al-Tahrir in London while making his film on Jinnah: ‘In Britain, Sheikh Umar Bakri’s Khilafah (December 1996), the journal of Hizb al-Tahrir, attacked Jinnah as a kafir and an insult for a Muslim. Moreover it accused Jinnah of being an enemy of God and the holy Prophet because Jinnah supported women, Christians and Hindus, and advocated democracy. Why I asked myself did they pick on Jinnah? Because I concluded Bakri saw him as a major ideological opponent. Significantly after the American strikes in Sudan and Afghanistan in 1998, Bakri emerged in the media to claim that he represented bin Laden in Europe’ (p113). It was later disclosed that Bakri was not the head of Hizb al Tahrir and that Khilafah was indeed the journal of Hizb al Tahir. Author Akbar S. Ahmed insisted that Al Muhajirun and Hizb al Tahrir were one and the same and that Bakri headed both the organisations.

    Olivier Roy and Mariam Abou Zahab express the same suspicion: ‘A further puzzle relates to the relationship between Hizb al Tahrir and the Muhajirun organisation of Sheik Omar Bakri, a Syrian resident in London who maintains a high profile in the English language media. Although Sheikh Omar Bakri does not refer specially to Hizb al Tahir his pronouncements and websites are identical. Thus it seems that the Muhajirun movement may be regarded as a front for Hizb al Tahrir which essentially developed in ‘80s and ‘90s in Western Europe (Britain, the Netherlands and Sweden) and to a lesser extent in the United States’

    *********************************

    A friend of mine from Pakistan with whom I interact in a regular basis, sent me this. It is from the Friday Times.

    I thought it worth posting since a lot of informed and incisive discussion on Taliban, Osama, AQ etc has gone on this board.
    Last edited by Ray; 05 Dec 04,, 08:00.


    "Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

    I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

    HAKUNA MATATA

  • #2
    So I wasn't the only one to get that PM.

    Comment


    • #3
      Leader,

      Comments please.


      "Some have learnt many Tricks of sly Evasion, Instead of Truth they use Equivocation, And eke it out with mental Reservation, Which is to good Men an Abomination."

      I don't have to attend every argument I'm invited to.

      HAKUNA MATATA

      Comment


      • #4
        Originally posted by Ray
        Leader,

        Comments please.
        You mean about the article? nah. Seeing as how all my UN Corruption treads got turned into American Corruption treads maybe I should talk about UN Corruption in this thread...Nah I'm not that kind of person.

        Comment


        • #5
          Interesting article. Shows how Pak has become a victim of its own drug. Pak wanted an Islamic revolution in Afghanistan and Kashmir, in Afghanistan Pak succeeded and created a friendly Jehadist Taliban. In Kashmir however the efforts have failed after 14 years of terrorism. Now things have reversed in Afghanistan too.

          Now the Pak Army and Administration in NWFP, Balochistan, PoK and Karachi have become the targets of these Jehadists. The wheel turns the full circle.
          I rant, therefore I am.

          Comment


          • #6
            Well, I have a couple of observations to add: to me the most important point raised, is the role of the so-called "Islamic" parties that now have a seat in the politics of Pakistan.


            It's inconcievable that authorities in Pakistan do not know what the exact role of these "Islamic" parties is - -indeed, former interior minister, now Federal minister for Azad Kashmiri affairs, is on record, making the claim that these so-called "Islamic" parties aid and abett Al-Qaida; this claim was backed by the fact that the leading lights of Al-Qaida and it's Pakistani sub-contractors, the so called "Jihadi" movements, have been arrested from the houses owned by Jamaat e Islami members and by Madaress operated by the Jamaat e Ulema e Islam.

            The endemic political instability of Pakistan seems to make very difficult to publically idenitify these "Islamic" parties as part and parcel of the world wide Salafi movement - the fear remains that should these "political" players be side lined, the so-called "secular" politicians will lose a "balancing" pole.

            Lets face facts - we are in a world of doo do in Pakistan - and please, before we get any defensive responses, let us agree to evaluate propositions on the criteria or right/wrong, good/bad - exclusively.

            For long have we in Pakistan been delaying the day of reconing - the longer we delay coming clean about the rot in our society, the deeper the wound that the rot will have inflcited upon us.

            Some have suggested that the creatures of the state are now feeding upon the corpse of the state - can we deny that this is other than the truth?

            Who are we?? What are we?? Do most Pakistanis realize that the State itself is in danger of being consumed because of the inablity, the unwillingnes to create agreement on the political, the will to ensure that the rules of the political game will not be allowed to be subverted.

            Do most Pakistanis realize that their apathy invites the wrath of the world upon us?? Count the losses, someone please count the losses that our apathy, our militant victimhood has brought upon us and those who have trusted us to look to for them.
            _____________________

            Comment


            • #7
              Al-Muhajiroun is active in London, United Kingdom. The have a headquarters there and have had affiliations with Abu Hamza, the 'radical' pro-Osama Egyptian cleric.

              Al-Muhajiroun though, have gone way out of their league, often publicly stating that one day soon the 'Black Flag' of Islam will be hanging over 10 Downing St. They have made many enemies and cause a stir with the British far right.

              Earlier this year, during the summer, Al-Muhajiroun made some new enemies in Britian - The Sikhs, Jews, Homosexuals and others.

              The group had planned to hold a 'Rally for Islam' in London's Trafalgar Sq, in July. A press release was issued for the occasion, making attacks on the Sikhs and Hindus. Other press releases were targeted at other religious and social communities.

              Below i am submitting the public document released by the Al-Muhajiroun which targetted the Sikhs and Hindus. The claims made by the Al-Muhajiroun against Sikhism were false, and simply, a blatant attack on the religion, its founder (Guru Nanak) and those who follow it.

              Press Release Dated 12th July 2004

              AN INVITATION TO SIKHS AND HINDUS TO EMBRACE THE TRUTH

              RALLY FOR ISLAM (IX) IN TRAFALGAR SQUARE - SUNDAY JULY 25TH – 1PM – 6PM – ALL WELCOME…


              Hundreds of Muslims from across the UK are set to converge in London’s Trafalgar Square on the 25th of July for the Annual Rally for Islam. This year will be the 9th anniversary of the rally and promises to be the best yet. The British public will once again witness many non-Muslims: previously Jews, Christians, Hindus & Sikhs (idol worshippers), Atheists, Socialists etc giving up their false beliefs and ideologies in order to embrace the divine way of life which Islam offers to them openly and publicly. Debates and Discussions on the inimitability of the Qur’an and the finality of the Message (of Islam) from God through the Messenger Muhammad (saw) will be held, with an invitation for all present to either refute Islam or accept its superiority. The speakers will also set out to present Islam as the only real future for Britain and indeed the World in terms of maintaining Honesty, Home-land Security, Morality, Mental well being, Family protection, continued scientific and material progress, psychological health as well as providing a comprehensive code for humanity to live their life by.

              The Square will also host a number of Marquees presenting various aspects of Islam such as its unique economic system able to solve the problems of inflation, the hoarding of wealth and the fair distribution of resources - Islam’s unique social system which eradicates the exploitation of the sexes and eliminates promiscuity, pornography and <admin-profanity filter activated> deviancy and Islam’s ruling system based upon the concept of sovereignty for God alone, where man is not a dictator (like Bush or Blair) but rather God’s trustee on Earth managing mankind’s affairs according to God’s infallible law...etc...

              Here is a message to all the Sikhs and Hindus; put your pride to one side and accept the Truth. Yes, Islam, the religion that you detest the most is really the only religion that will help you when you leave this life.

              To the Hindu’s; forget the caste system and all the fuss about reincarnation and accept the fact that everybody is equal in the eyes of God and all will be accounted on the Day of Judgement. As for the Sikhs, acknowledge, that as a man-made system your belief is really just a hotpot of different religions and opinions “jumbled together”.

              The fierce disagreements between Muslims and Hindu’s have been going since the advent of Islam.

              Historically, the effect of Islam in the Indian sub-continent region was instant. Its emphasis on One God corrected many of the social issues and “mystical” beliefs associated with Hinduism at the time. The caste system was seen in its true nature; a racist structure geared to preserve the rich over the poor. Islam offered those at the bottom of the organization a way of being equal and simultaneously having a belief system that fitted naturally with the human self.

              The Hindu tradition of worshipping idols was (and still is) seen as a major act of ignorance, as creation can never worship creation, particularly when there is a Creator who has designed and established everything from apples to zebras. Also, the heavy emphasis on superstition places the individual under much stress in his daily life. Islam in comparison has no place for false notions as everything is under the control of Almighty God therefore dismissing any talk of good or bad luck.

              As mentioned, Islam corrected the numerous inadequacies Hinduism imposed on society; thus impressing on intellectuals such as Guru Nanak (the founder of Sikhism) that the religion of Muhammad (saw) was in fact the truth. However, Nanak could not accept Islam in its entirety so chose just the key features that favoured him and the people.

              However, because Sikhism is man-made it has many weaknesses, all Sikhs must ponder the following: Firstly, the religion lacks depth and is easily brainwashed by more dominant systems. Hinduism still has a great influence on the Sikhs as the caste system highlight – the idea that everyone is equal in the eyes of God is rarely practised by the Sikhs, as inter-caste marriage is still a taboo subject. Secondly, Nanak made no claims to divinity or to kinship with God and did not want to be worshipped as a kind of prophet (K.Singh, 1953). But, today many Sikhs do this by hanging a picture of Nanak and directing their prayers towards it. Thirdly, unlike Islam where the doctrine has stood firm for over 1400 years, Sikhism has evolved; taking in new directions with every new Guru. Key elements of the religion have been dramatically altered such as the treatment of the dead; in Nanak’s time they were buried whereas today they are cremated. Surely, these facts that are just a scratch on the surface emphasise the lack of Divinity found in this belief.

              Islam offers the individual and society peace, happiness and security as everybody acknowledges his and her Creator, Allah (swt). All the problems that man faces are not sorted out via various mystical ritual acts but through having Trust in Allah (swt). Islam is the religion for the whole of Mankind, whether somebody comes from Africa, Asia or Europe. Furthermore, the love of money, which is so rife in both Hinduism and Sikhism, forcing some people to be treated or considered insignificant because they do not have the latest BMW or Mercedes, is considered unimportant in Islam. The good deeds of an individual in this life and worthwhile actions that are not motivated by economic reasons will help the Believer to attain blissful happiness in Paradise.

              The Seal of Messengers, Prophet Mohammad (saw) said that at the lowest level of Paradise each person will have up to 10,000 servants! Another saying of the Holy Prophet (saw) was in relation to the love of this life to the Hereafter. He said (saw) the material life of this world is like a drop of water whereas all the delights in the next life are equivalent to the Ocean.

              So, the message to any Sikh and Hindu is do your research and ask yourself "are you Sikh or Hindu because you really want to be or is it because your parents are". Remember, on the Day of Judgment, no religion will be accepted from Allah except Islam. Come to Trafalgar Square on the 25th July 2004 and give up your false beliefs and accept the perfect and embrace Deen of Al-Islam.

              “And whoever seeks a religion other than Islam, it will never be accepted of him, and in the Hereafter he will be one of the losers.” [EMQ 3:85]


              Al-Muhajiroun
              The Voice, The Eyes & The Ears of Muslims


              P.O. Box 349 London N9 7RR
              07956 600 569 or 07956 572 162 – Fax: 0208 803 4541 - Internet: www.muhajiroun.com
              The document came to my attentions the day after it was released, after which i made numerous copies and sent it to a number of Sikh Gurdwara's in addition to sending the document to hundreds of Sikhs via the net. One copy i also took with me to a local Mosque to inquire about the legitimacy of the Al-Muhajiroun. The Mosque denied having any affiliation with them, and claimed that the Muslim Council of Britain did not recognize Al-Muhajiroun.

              The Sikhs responded to challenge (So did the British National Front and other groups, although none of us did so together). Two or 3 websites affiliated with the Al-Muhajiroun were bombarded offiline, and official contacts were made with the authorities to cancel the 'Rally for Islam' for fears that it would be nothing more than a public assault on other religions and spreading of propaganda. We later found out, that the Al-Muhajiroun had never been given permission to hold their rally in the first place, but were going to go ahead with it anyway. Trafalgar Sq had been booked that day for any event which involved some kind of Children's event. Clearly, Al-Muhajiroun did not care about disrupting this event for kids.

              On the day of the Rally, Sikhs and other groups collected at Trafalgar Sq (separately) to protest directly infront of Al-Muhajiroun. A large police force was present. The day however, ended in a disappointing victory for all those who took a stand against fundamentalism. No one from the Al-Muhajiroun showed up.

              It is claimed that for safety concerns, members of the Al-Muhajiroun decided to hold their rally at an undisclosed location in a private property somewhere in Essex (outside of London) - http://www.muslimnews.co.uk/news/news.php?article=7802

              For such an outspoken group who sought to humiliate others, it is they, who faced humiliation in the end, at the hands of a load of 'kafirs', who were not even standing united together! Sikhs, National Front, Anti-Terror etc groups were all separated from eachother.

              Each group has released their own public statement of victory, he is what was released by us Sikhs.

              Sikhs unite against Al-Muhajiroun

              In a show of tremendous unity, Sikhs from all over Englands converged onto Trafalgar Square to contend the Islamic Rally set by Al-Muhajiroun on Sunday 25th July 2004.

              Over 500 Sikhs from the Midlands and London departed in the early hours of Sunday morning to peacefully protest against the controversial statements made earlier in that week by Al-Muhajiroun against their religion. But the statements were short-lived, for as the Sikhs gathered at Trafalgar Square it became apparent that the Islamic Fundamentalist group had cancelled the illegal rally due to “fears of safety”.

              Several coaches carrying Sikhs from Birmingham and Coventry arrived in the early afternoon and were met by Sikhs from Southall. As the Sikhs walked united up to Trafalgar Square, even the towering buildings of Londons skyline seemed to bow in respect of the mass of blue and black turbans which fell upon the roads. Once at Trafalgar Square, police officers quickly intervened the crowd of Sikhs and escorted them to a cordoned area by the Opera house where they were met with jubilant cries of “Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akaal” from fellow East London Sikhs. On the other side the protest from the British National Party could be seen being the reason for the police escort to stop any trouble.

              Once together the Sikh presence was immediately noticed by walkers by who stood to take in our protest which was headed by peaceful slogan banners of “Sikhs Against Al-Muhajiroun”, and “God loves all Religions”. The BNP had also noticed the Sikhs and although they had come to protest against the Al-Muhajiroun, seeing the lack of Muslim presence they quickly turned their attention to the Sikhs who remained to our strength, very calm and peaceful. Since the Sikhs had come to show their presence against the Al-Muhajiroun and meet their challenge, they had no concern with the BNP so were not put off nor did they get involved.

              Instead in a show of the genuine spiritual strength, the 500 strong crowd all sat down cross-legged and participated in reciting “Chaupai Sahib”, a prayer to thank God for the success of this protest. As Chaupai Sahib was being recited a wave of undivided love and compassion was felt by all present and hundreds of passer by’s stood in amazement at this truly spiritual spectacle where the Sikhs ignoring all chants from the BNP became totally absorbed in the prayers. Following the prayers, all Sikhs stood to participate in Ardaas which was completed with five ecstatic cries of “Bole So Nihal, Sat Sri Akaal”. You can only but imagine the feeling of 500 Sikhs all engrossed in this event.

              With this finale, the Sikhs having accomplished their task left Trafalgar Square having humiliated with humbleness the Al-Muhajiroun attack. Words are only words until followed up by action and that action must be the right action. Al-Muhajiroun could not follow up the verbal assault with real action, the Sikhs did, with grace and humility and following the guidance from their Guru. Well done to all the Sikhs.

              The gathering had been a success, the “Al-Muhajiroun” had cancelled its rally, been prevented from challenging the Sikhs and blaspheming the Sikh religion in front of Trafalgar Square. More so a message had been sent out to “Al-Muhajiroun” that contradictory to their perception about our religion, Sikhs are alive, Sikhs will not just standby and Sikhs are and will always be UNITED.

              Waheguru Ji ka Khalsa, Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.
              Since such time, the humiliation of the Al-Muhajiroun at the hands of the 'kafir' has led to one more victory. If certain sources are to be believed, then sometime in October 2004, Al-Muhajiroun was disbanded.

              Fateh,

              Comment


              • #8
                Uncomfortable question: Why are terrorists and criminals at home in Pakistan???



                Shaikh Rashid confirms Jaish leader capture
                (Updated at 1200 PST)

                PESHAWAR: The Jaish-ul-Muslimeen head Syed Akbar Agha, who masterminded last month’s kidnapping of three UN election workers in Afghanistan, was arrested in Karachi. Minister of Information Shaikh Rashid has confirmed the Jaish leader arrest.

                Talking with Geo the information minister said the Jaish-ul-Muslimeen head was not being handed over to the Kabul authorities and details of his arrest would be released soon.

                Akbar Agha was accused of getting $1.5 million in ransom for release of three foreign workers of the United Nations, which were kidnapped in Afghanistan.
                _____________________

                Comment


                • #9
                  Uncomfortable question: Why are terrorists and criminals at home in Pakistan???
                  ******* Zia.

                  Edit: geez even that's censored?

                  butthole Zia. ha!

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Unpersuasive!!

                    This man was know to Pakistani authorities, they knew where he was and what he was up to -- why wasn't he locked up ?? and notice that his arrest only came after accusations that he made off with the loot - seems like some authorites di not appreciate that the terrorist mastermind seemed not to want to "share" his bonanza.

                    We conytinue to hear much about "reforms" in Pakistani society, however; it is clear that the judiciary is certainly not reformed as indeed, the seminaries are not reformed, as indeed, the field of politics remain unethical -- fact is that reform in Pakistani society is discernable to very few - the continuation of such a perception is a existenial threat, but even the relationship between ignorance and bliss continues to remain unexamined in Pakland.

                    A lot stinks in Pakland and for a long time - blaming the present on the distant past won't cut it -- it may come across as bitter to some but as sure as the sun rises in the east, the world is watching and continues to wonder if "at a pace good for Pakistan" is a pace that the world can afford to tolerate.

                    Mr. Musharraf's political games continue to ensure a politically unstable Pakikstan, his granting to the allies of ther Al-Qaida, the MMA, the role of the official opposition, has back fired, in the meantime, Pakistani society continues it's march on the road of radical Islamism. If Pakistan continues to threaten the world by holding a gun to it's own head, the world may decide to be responsible and allow the gun Pakistan is holding to it's own head will have easy trigger.
                    __________________
                    _____________________

                    when they make no laws but what they themselves and their posterity must be subject to; when they can give no money, but what they must pay their share of; when they can do no mischief, but what must fall upon their own heads in common with their countrymen; their principals may expect then good laws, little mischief, and much frugality
                    _____________________

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Hey you asked why are they in Pak, and I doubt you can give me any better reason than Zia, hes the reason they're there. He gave them weapons, perhaps he thought they'd use it to get Afghanistan liberated from the Soviets and then call it a day, well then he was a stupid man I guess, if he wanted all this, then he was a traitor.

                      I don't see any conspiracy allegations that he(the mastermind) was supposed to share his loot with the government. Do you seriously think the Pakistani GOVERNMENT is making money off ransoms? The government knew where he was and knew he was the kidnapper? Where's this conspiracy theory coming from? Or did I read you wrong?

                      I'd ask you not to look in the past as well, what's happening today? Aren't terrorists getting their butt kicked in Pakistan? Aren't major hideouts being pounced upon? The damned if you do, and damned if you don't thing really doesn't help defeat terrorists. You can't have things solved, super fast. These are super problems with no super solutions. Quick fixes never really do last anyway.

                      I too can choose to worry and panic, or I can help promote whats right.

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                      • #12
                        Anyone can give you a better answer -- Zia has been dead for a long time and Mr. Musharraf has been directing Pakistani affairs for more than 5 years.

                        I am not, nor is anybody else denying that anti-soviet effort collected and produced a variety of people - however; why is it that Pakistani society continues to be the safe harbour of every terrorist or international criminal??

                        How is it that the allies of Al-Qaida, the MMA are now the official political opposition?

                        How is it that Pakistan society continues it's radical anti-world orientation? Is ther any dearth of official enemies in Pakistan? Has the govt really done it's job in ensuring that radicalism does not have support? If yes, how then do you explain that authorities knew who this man was and where he was and what he was up to?? How do you explain that he was "nabbed" only when the money was not going to be shared?? Pakistani govt may not be making money from hostage taking but is it out of bounds to ask if govt officials are not involved, how then are these things being done??

                        You have suggested that these problems are beyond the scope of solution that the Pakistani govt may have - would it then be out of line to ask if thisis really a govt of a nation state or a charity case?? You have also suggested that super solution are required - OK, who is ot provide these "super solutions"? since the govt of Pakistan apparently is unwilling or unable to, should the world continue to accept a Pakistan that threatens the world by holding a gun to it's own head??

                        Certainly, do the right thing, and please do not make excuses for inefficiency, corruption and the inablity to focus on results in a time frame.
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                        • #13
                          why is it that Pakistani society continues to be the safe harbour of every terrorist or international criminal??
                          That's not true. Fine they're here, but its not like Sahiba Musharraf has kitty parties with OBL's wife(wives).

                          How is it that Pakistan society continues it's radical anti-world orientation?
                          In certain areas, areas close to Afghanistan. Areas where Zia concentrated his campaign to raise these Islamic terrorists.

                          You have suggested that these problems are beyond the scope of solution that the Pakistani govt
                          Defintely I haven't said that. Maybe it was my mistake, wasn't clearer on that. There are no super solutions, but there ARE solutions. As I argued on another thread, killing these guys won't kill the mentality that breeds terrorism. Fixing that society you were talking about should be a bigger concern. Post-911, everyone in the US was *****ing about the US that they don't have long-term foreign policies and had they not left Afghanistan things would've been different there. You can't expect Pak to make the same mistakes, go after quick fixes, and feel the wrath of terrorism again in 10 something years.

                          Certainly, do the right thing, and please do not make excuses for inefficiency, corruption and the inablity to focus on results in a time frame.
                          I can start posting names after names, of high profile terrorists, that Pakistan has caught. The price Pakistan has paid for this fight has been high, its costed us in money, infrastructure, lives and consequences. The government's anti-terrorism and anti-Radical-Islam efforts should be given a medal not criticized. I speak, because I wish to recognize the lives that were lost in this bold effort, people who stood in harms way for our security, while we enjoyed our cup of tea at home.

                          Musharraf's been here 5 yrs. Zia was here say what? 15? 10 yrs between ass I mean buttholes BB and NS. You do the math. 25 years of fuckupization and 5 yrs of improvement.

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                          • #14
                            Valiant effort - but you have little to work with.

                            Sahba Musharraf is not having tea parties with a good number of people and yet, it has nothing to do with the price of tea - lets focus, you say Pakistan have paid dearly for capturing terrorists, but you have failed ot mention the role Pakistan itself played in building up especially the Laskars, the Jaish and the Jundallah, Harkats, and Tanzeem -- nobody should be expected to shower Pakistan with sympathy as it cleans up the mess it has made.

                            And the pain Pakistan bore in Afghanistan was again, it's own doing, more Pakistanis fought for the Taliban than did Afghans - this fact should be better understood.

                            Here's the problem with the positon you are assuming: You consider demands for doing more to be impertinent - as if Pakistan were doing the world a favour. Pakistan have earned for themselves a reputation for negotiating with their allies with a gun held to theiur own heads: The authorities point out the danger of the nuclear arsenal in the hands of Islamist and justify their own utility - sooner or later, and if I were a betting man, it will be sooner, the world will lose patience, with Mr. Musharraf out of the picture or maybe some other General in charge, Pakistan's problem will persist. So what is Pakistan's problem??

                            Is it Islamic radicalization?? If yes, then we have atleast identified the problem - yes??

                            And who and which institiutions are facilitating and deseminating radicalism??
                            We all know the answer to this one - right?? And what has Mr. Musharraf done about this? Why, he has installed them as the political opposition and the much talked about reform of the institutions?? Well, Mr. Musharraf has maybe one percent preach Jihad -- is he telling us the truth?? Do you believe him when he says that 1 % of Madaress teach Jihad?? and what abou the govt schools, is it a lie that govt textbooks promote martydom, glorify jihad and promote hatred of neighbors who do not share our faith??

                            And if Mr. Musharraf is being truthful about the 1% number, why is that MMA are up in arms over the suggestion that Quranic verses taken out of context to glorify jihad, be removed from govt textbooks?? And if thisis their attitude over goivt textbooks, what might it be to the suggestion that govt will seek changes in the jihad factory curriculum??

                            PLease afford me, what would be a quick fix to this problem?? Would purging school texts books of passages glorifying martydom and jihad be qucik fixes, would removing passages promoting hatred be a "quick fix"??

                            Would asserting the right and authority to decide the content of govt school texts books be a "quick fix"??

                            Would insisting on the upholding of laws against spreading hatred be a "quick fix"?

                            Would ensuring a parliamentary majority against and building a case against the blasphemy laws be a "quick fix"??


                            Mr. Aqil, there is no point in defensiveness, there is little point to suggesting that we have done much when the scale of that which remain to do is staggering.

                            Mr. Musharraf has allowed speed brakes to be applied to the reform structure in Pakistan, by unleashing a variety of political games - these games will not only derail reform but may derail the project Pakistan and leave the Islamist with a standing in society and in the govt establishment, that they could only dream of - but Mr. Musharraf would have enabled this.

                            Allowing yourself to suspend critical inquiry to play patriotic defender, especialy to those who are themselves not enemies, is unfortunate. Pakland's reform program is at a standstill - already voices are being raised asking whether Mr. Musharraf's team can deliver - claiming that we have delivered in the past is an answer to a question that is not relevent, after all, we are not talking of the past.
                            Last edited by tarek; 11 Dec 04,, 20:46.
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                            • #15
                              Good thread with some thought provoking insights.
                              Might not part of the problem be that the extremists are still able to recruit new adherents through the radical madrasses. It seems that until they are curbed in some manner, the problems facing not only Pakistan but a large part of the Islamic world will continue to grow. It's like some evil Hydra where if you cut of one head, these so-called-religious religious schools turn out eight new ones!
                              When we blindly adopt a religion, a political system, a literary dogma, we become automatons. We cease to grow. - Anais Nin

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