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Mizzima: Fundamentalism, a real thr

Subject: Mizzima: Fundamentalism, a real thr
From: mizzima@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wed, 02 May 2001 02:49:00

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Fundamentalism, a real threat or Propaganda of West?

By M.Mumtaz Khan
May 2, 2001, Mizzima News Group (www.mizzima.com)

Since cold war was over, outcry regarding the growing fundamentalist
threat is being heralded by most of the developed countries. Initially,
Middle East region had been designated as Area where Fundamentalist
threat was emanating but recently US State Department has noted shift in
the growing religious terrorism from Middle East to South Asia. And in
South Asia, two countries have been identified where fundamentalist
forces are expanding their sphere of influence in last few years, are
Taliban and Pakistan. But basis are stronger in Pakistan than
Afghanistan, since Talibans are also product of Pakistani Religious
Schools (Madarsas) and borrowing most of the support from Pakistan ISI.

Though, some circles are dismissing it and calling it Western and US
propaganda against the Islam because they are enemy of Islam. They
further argue that Americans have nurtured and encouraged these
religious Organizations to use them against Soviet occupation in
Afghanistan. However, their contention regarding the West and US, may
carry some weight, but question is not who was involved in encouraging
or sponsoring these elements, question is whether it is just propaganda,
or is there any reality? And if it is true who will suffer first, US,
West or where these extremists are based?

There could be number of reasons behind the Western or US concerns and
interests but what about those societies and countries, which are
directly confronted to this scenario. And fundamentalism is no longer
confined to only in two countries where individual efforts may make any
difference to neutralize them, now they have well connected network
across the world and identified targets. In Pakistan, Religious
extremism has long history.

Roots of theocracy in Pakistan.

The roots of theocracy dates back to the British rule in India who
systematically destroyed the communal harmony which existed centuries
between different faiths in India. When British came to know that unless
people of India are divided along the communal lines their common
struggle against the British colonialism will continue. Therefore, they
decided to use the policy of divide and rule. Muslims, who were
economically and educationally behind the Hindus since treating English
as un-Islamic , further reduced their proportion in official jobs or
businesses, and holding Hindus responsible for all their unhealthy
economic situation. And Britishers were encouraging such approach among
the Muslim so that cleavage between Hindus and Muslims further widen.
Whereas they hired some Muslim clerics to endorse the British policies
and blame Hindus for their exploitation. Britishers, policy of communal
divide ultimately resulted in the partitioned of India in 1947.

The germs of theocracy in Pakistan were sown in the demand of Pakistan
using religion as cultural marker to determine the Indian Muslims? right
to nationhood. And since Pakistan was created in the name of religion
and all clerics took it their divine right to dictate State policies.
While insecure and non-democratic governments encouraged theocracy in
the country to cling to the power in the name of Islam. First, weak
government of Liaquat Ali Khan made rhetoric of Islam. And process began
with adoption of objective Resolution by the Constituent Assembly in
1949, which created dual concept of Sovereignty, superior sovereignty
was defined as God, and inferior Sovereignty of people?s elected.
Parliament, which played havoc with Pakistan politics. After the
adoption of the concept of dual sovereignty people swearing to God?s
Laws and National Laws increasingly becoming disrespectful. One of the
writer ?Lisa Anderson? describes situation in her words, as competing
conceptions of identity, loyalty and legitimacy.

Today in Pakistan people parading themselves as soldiers of God have the
freedom of the
country. Now clerics in Pakistan began by demanding the head of Foreign
Minister Zafarullah Khan, a member of Ahmedya sect, and to declare
Ahmedya non-Muslim with other 22 demands. As a result of protest,
Martial Law was imposed first time in Punjab, where military designs
also changed and their borders from Wahga, began squeezing to Islamabad.
And this state policy of appeasement continued, when in 1956
Constitution Pakistan was declared, Islamic Republic, created advisory
board of clerics and prohibited legislation repugnant to Islamic
injunctions. Later Ayub khan dropped the word, Islamic from State title
in 1962 constitution but soon retracted and created Islamic advisory
council as well. Ayub, ban on political activities created more space
for religious extremists in Pakistan. While state policy of appeasement
to seminaries continued in Bhutto?s government who declared Ahmeya sect
non-Muslim, and Islam was declared state religion.

Afghan war and rise in extremism

But Zia Martial Law completed the institutional frame work, from
separate electorate to Hudood ordinance including, Sharyat courts and
riba. Zia regime was employing the all those means to perpetuate to the
power for which he mainly used Islam. But the Afghan war created more
space for the rapid growth of fundamentalist forces in Pakistan, which
first time under the supervision of CIA managed to establish their
network.. US, whose immediate goal was not to check fundamentalists
rather how to defeat the Soviet Union, for which it fully trained and
financed these seminaries, which today challenge the State authorities
in most of Islamic countries. Afghan war created militant
fundamentalism, which they were lacking before, and they during the
Afghan war considerably enhanced their strength. But after the
withdrawal of Russian forces and departure of Najib government quicken
the struggle between ISI and Rubbani to control the power in
Afghanistan. Pakistan ISI eventually, succeeded to throne to its trained
Talibans in Afghanistan. Pakistan links with Taliban are well documented
now. And Taliban involvement in Kashmir holy war gives them a strong
hold over Pakistan, especially in military establishment. And Taliban
influence is not visible only in Tribal or border Areas or drug mafia
in Pakistan but Pakistan is threatened with centrifugal tendencies on a
wide scale. And even military officers are talking of Talibanisation of
Pakistan.

Paual Kennedy has rightly observed that ?ten years of active involvement
in Afghan war has changed the social profile of Pakistan to such an
extent that any government faces serious problems in effective
governance?. Pakistan society is now more fractured, inundated with
weapons, brutalized due to growing civic violence and overwhelmed by the
spread of narcotics. Islamic militants were to be consumed since Zia
regime was facing internal political resistance, for which he opened up
new sector in Indian held Kashmir. Kashmir, where India?s center
dominated politics had alienated the common people and had squeezed the
political space. But what dangerous trend emerged during Kashmir
militancy that religious organizations have been allowed to function and
expand in Pakistan. They are carrying their recruitment and training
programmes openly.

Three features of Fundamentalist Organizations need to be noted: First,
they are apparently well-supplied with money and guns and have become
possibly the largest employer of young men. Secondly, they are calling
for scraping the democratic constitution and for jihad at the global
level. Thirdly, in view of their enhanced strength, the religious
political parties that always took part in elections are openly vowing
to capture the power through non-parliamentary means. Their involvement
in Kashmir holy war further enhanced their position financially,
politically and militarily, and they are challenging state?s every Law
and authority by calling themselves soldier of God. And the war, which
initially had begun for the freedom of Kashmir has been declared war
between infidel and spy off Allah since Pakistani fundamentalist took
over the indigenous movement.

They are deliberately embarked upon the policy of attacking non-Muslim,
and Secular people in Kashmir to widen the gulf between different faiths
in Valley. While Pakistan?s military rule is a continuous source of
inspiration for the Religious zealots since military wishes to cling to
the power irrespective of at what expense even if it cost integrity of
Pakistan. Pakistan?s inability to coup with growing fundamentalist
threat internally further shows when Moin Haider, Pakistan interior
minister of Pakistan in February announced to put the ban on these
Religious Organizations from collecting fund, displaying arms and all
Madarsas mandatory to be registered. But fundamentalist organization
warned the government not to make such mistake and government failed to
implement any of its decision. Recently, Maulana Akram Awan of Tanzeemul
Ikhwan Party vowed that 300,000 of his disciple are ready to march
Islamabad, demanding the enforcement of Islam. In response Moin Haider
visited to him and plead for co-operation. As result of that bargain,
Moin Haider agreed to crack down to NGOs (involved in educating girls)
and in exchange more funds for madarsas. According to the Pakistani
newspaper report over 40,000 seminaries are in the Pakistan, which are
being used as training centres for the jihadis. Economic backwardness
and poverty is another major factor which attracts poor youth to
madarsas where from bed to butter is free. And no madarsa is registered
with the government neither there is any such requirement by the
government. Government has never bothered to check their means of income
or activities to which they are indulged. Upon number of complaints of
even parents of student no action was taken against the head of Madarsas
who without the information or permission
of their parents either send them for jihad in Kashmir or Afghanistan or
for collecting funds.

Today, they are not vowing to capture the power by force but also
challenge to every state action. They are resisting to cable system,
being introduced in Pakistan, and in NWFP and in Karachi?s some areas
they have entered into houses and broke their TVs and musical
equipments. They also vowed to resist the girls bus conductors in
Karachi who were recently hired. While sectarian violence has totally
hostaged the society where people are scared of praying in the mosque.
And religious schools have become training center where youth is being
trained and exported to all over from Kashmir to Chechnya including
central Asian States and overseas. But if military rule continues in
Pakistan and policy of appeasement goes on , soon Pakistan may
internally suffer from this fundamentalism. One thing Pakistani military
regime must bear in mind that threat emanating from fundamentalist will
engulf Pakistan first, rather to some extent it has engulfed it and may
its flames die down to reach another Area to which they tend to inflame
it.

This is the time for the US and West to press Pakistani military regime
to control fundamentalist otherwise soon North America and Western
societies will also be target. Attack on World Trade Center and arrest
of one Algerian crossing entering US from Canada with explosive material
already indicates that these countries are no longer safe from the
growing threat of terrorism. Now our mosques in North America are also
being politicized by our mullahs. In Britain such fundamentalist
Organizations are actively engaged to raise funds and motivate youth to
join the militancy. While most of the Islamic countries are increasingly
becoming unsafe where civil population is victim of their terrorist
acts. And in India they are patronizing the Muslim students against the
Indian society. If such dangerous trends were not checked and countries
like Pakistan and Afghanistan were not compelled to neutralize them,
fundamentalism will certainly destroy our social fabric of religious
tolerance and harmony.

(The author who is the Organizer of United Kashmir Peoples National
Party contributed this article to Mizzima News Group.)

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<!doctype html public "-//w3c//dtd html 4.0 transitional//en">
<html>

<center>Fundamentalism, a real threat
or Propaganda of West?</center>

By M.Mumtaz
Khan
 May 2, 2001, Mizzima News Group
(<a href="http://www.mizzima.com";>www.mizzima.com</a>)
Since cold war was over, outcry regarding the growing
fundamentalist threat is being heralded by most of the developed countries.
Initially, Middle East region had been designated as Area where Fundamentalist
threat was emanating but recently US State Department has noted shift in
the growing religious terrorism from Middle East to South Asia. And in
South Asia, two countries have been identified where fundamentalist forces
are expanding their sphere of influence in last few years, are Taliban
and Pakistan. But basis are stronger in Pakistan than Afghanistan, since
Talibans are also product of Pakistani Religious Schools (Madarsas) and
borrowing most of the support from Pakistan ISI.
Though, some circles are dismissing it and calling it
Western and US propaganda against the Islam because they are enemy of Islam.
They further argue that Americans have nurtured and encouraged these religious
Organizations to use them against Soviet occupation in Afghanistan. However,
their contention regarding the West and US, may carry some weight, but
question is not who was involved in encouraging or sponsoring these elements,
question is whether it is just propaganda, or is there any reality? And
if it is true who will suffer first, US, West or where these extremists
are based?
There could be number of reasons behind the Western or
US concerns and interests but what about those societies and countries,
which are directly confronted to this scenario. And fundamentalism is no
longer confined to only in two countries where individual efforts may make
any difference to neutralize them, now they have well connected network
across the world and identified targets. In Pakistan, Religious extremism
has long history.
Roots of theocracy in Pakistan.
The roots of theocracy dates back to the British rule
in India who systematically destroyed the communal harmony which existed
centuries between different faiths in India. When British came to know
that unless people of India are divided along the communal lines their
common struggle against the British colonialism will continue. Therefore,
they decided to use the policy of divide and rule. Muslims, who were economically
and educationally behind the Hindus since treating English as un-Islamic
, further reduced their proportion in official jobs or businesses, and
holding Hindus responsible for all their unhealthy economic situation.
And Britishers were encouraging such approach among the Muslim so that
cleavage between Hindus and Muslims further widen. Whereas they hired some
Muslim clerics to endorse the British policies and blame Hindus for their
exploitation. Britishers, policy of communal divide ultimately resulted
in the partitioned of India in 1947.
The germs of theocracy in Pakistan were sown in the demand
of Pakistan using religion as cultural marker to determine the Indian Muslims?
right to nationhood. And since Pakistan was created in the name of religion
and all clerics took it their divine right to dictate State policies. While
insecure and non-democratic governments encouraged theocracy in the country
to cling to the power in the name of Islam. First, weak government of Liaquat
Ali Khan made rhetoric of Islam. And process began with adoption of objective
Resolution by the Constituent Assembly in 1949, which created dual concept
of Sovereignty, superior sovereignty was defined as God, and inferior Sovereignty
of people?s elected. Parliament, which played havoc with Pakistan politics.
After the adoption of the concept of dual sovereignty people swearing to
God?s Laws and National Laws increasingly becoming disrespectful. One of
the writer ?Lisa Anderson? describes situation in her words, as competing
conceptions of identity, loyalty and legitimacy.
Today in Pakistan people parading themselves as soldiers
of God have the freedom of the
 country. Now clerics in Pakistan began by demanding the
head of Foreign Minister Zafarullah Khan, a member of Ahmedya sect, and
to declare Ahmedya non-Muslim with other 22 demands. As a result of protest,
Martial Law was imposed first time in Punjab, where military designs also
changed and their borders from Wahga, began squeezing to Islamabad. And
this state policy of appeasement continued, when in 1956 Constitution Pakistan
was declared, Islamic Republic, created advisory board of clerics and prohibited
legislation repugnant to Islamic injunctions. Later Ayub khan dropped the
word, Islamic from State title in 1962 constitution but soon retracted
and created Islamic advisory council as well. Ayub, ban on political activities
created more space for religious extremists in Pakistan. While state policy
of appeasement to seminaries continued in Bhutto?s government who declared
Ahmeya sect non-Muslim, and Islam was declared state religion.
Afghan war and rise in extremism
But Zia Martial Law completed the institutional frame
work, from separate electorate to Hudood ordinance including, Sharyat courts
and riba. Zia regime was employing the all those means to perpetuate to
the power for which he mainly used Islam. But the Afghan war created more
space for the rapid growth of fundamentalist forces in Pakistan, which
first time under the supervision of CIA managed to establish their network..
US, whose immediate goal was not to check fundamentalists rather how to
defeat the Soviet Union, for which it fully trained and financed these
seminaries, which today challenge the State authorities in most of Islamic
countries. Afghan war created militant fundamentalism, which they were
lacking before, and they during the Afghan war considerably enhanced their
strength. But after the withdrawal&nbsp; of Russian forces and departure
of Najib government quicken the struggle between ISI and Rubbani to control
the power in Afghanistan. Pakistan ISI eventually, succeeded to throne
to its trained Talibans in Afghanistan. Pakistan links with Taliban are
well documented now. And Taliban involvement in Kashmir holy war gives
them a strong hold over Pakistan, especially in military establishment.
And Taliban influence is not visible only in Tribal or border Areas&nbsp;
or drug mafia in Pakistan but Pakistan is threatened with centrifugal tendencies
on a wide scale. And even military officers are talking of Talibanisation
of Pakistan.
Paual Kennedy has rightly observed that ?ten years of
active involvement in Afghan war has changed the social profile of Pakistan
to such an extent that any government faces serious problems in effective
governance?. Pakistan society is now more fractured, inundated with weapons,
brutalized due to growing civic violence and overwhelmed by the spread
of narcotics. Islamic militants were to be consumed since Zia regime was
facing internal political resistance, for which he opened up new sector
in Indian held Kashmir. Kashmir, where India?s center dominated politics
had alienated the common people and had squeezed the political space. But
what dangerous trend emerged during Kashmir militancy that religious organizations
have been allowed to function and expand in Pakistan. They are carrying
their recruitment and training programmes openly.
Three features of Fundamentalist Organizations need to
be noted: First, they are apparently well-supplied with money and guns
and have become possibly the largest employer of young men. Secondly, they
are calling for scraping the democratic constitution and for jihad at the
global level. Thirdly, in view of their enhanced strength, the religious
political parties that always took part in elections are openly vowing
to capture the power through non-parliamentary means. Their involvement
in Kashmir holy war further enhanced their position financially, politically
and militarily, and they are challenging state?s every Law and authority
by calling themselves soldier of God. And the war, which initially had
begun for the freedom of Kashmir has been declared war between infidel
and spy off Allah since Pakistani fundamentalist took over the indigenous
movement.
They are deliberately embarked upon the policy of attacking
non-Muslim, and Secular people in Kashmir to widen the gulf between different
faiths in Valley. While Pakistan?s military rule is a continuous source
of inspiration for the Religious zealots since military wishes to cling
to the power irrespective of at what expense even if it cost integrity
of Pakistan. Pakistan?s inability to coup with growing fundamentalist threat
internally further shows when Moin Haider, Pakistan interior minister of
Pakistan in February announced to put the ban on these Religious Organizations
from collecting fund, displaying arms and all Madarsas mandatory to be
registered. But fundamentalist organization warned the government not to
make such mistake and government failed to implement any of its decision.
Recently, Maulana Akram Awan of Tanzeemul Ikhwan Party vowed that&nbsp;
300,000 of his disciple are ready to march Islamabad, demanding the enforcement
of Islam. In response Moin Haider visited to him and plead for co-operation.
As result of that bargain, Moin Haider agreed to crack down to NGOs (involved
in educating girls) and in exchange more funds for madarsas. According
to the Pakistani newspaper report over 40,000 seminaries are in the Pakistan,
which are being used as training centres for the jihadis. Economic backwardness
and poverty is another major factor which attracts poor youth to madarsas
where from bed to butter is free. And no madarsa is registered with the
government neither there is any such requirement by the government. Government
has never bothered to check their means of income or activities to which
they are indulged. Upon number of complaints of even parents of student
no action was taken against the head of Madarsas who without the information
or permission
 of their parents either send them for jihad in Kashmir
or Afghanistan or for collecting funds.
Today, they are not vowing to capture the power by force
but also challenge to every state action. They are resisting to cable system,
being introduced in Pakistan, and in NWFP and in Karachi?s some areas they
have entered into houses and broke their TVs and musical equipments. They
also vowed to resist the girls bus conductors in Karachi who were recently
hired. While sectarian violence has totally hostaged the society where
people are scared of praying in the mosque. And religious schools have
become training center where youth is being trained and exported to all
over from Kashmir to Chechnya including central Asian States and overseas.
But if military rule continues in Pakistan and policy of appeasement goes
on , soon Pakistan may internally suffer from this fundamentalism. One
thing Pakistani military regime must bear in mind that threat emanating
from fundamentalist will engulf Pakistan first, rather to some extent it
has engulfed it and may its flames die down to reach another Area to which
they tend to inflame it.
This is the time for the US and West to press Pakistani
military regime to control fundamentalist otherwise soon North America
and Western societies will also be target. Attack on World Trade Center
and arrest of one Algerian crossing entering US from Canada with explosive
material already indicates that these countries are no longer safe from
the growing threat of terrorism. Now our mosques in North America are also
being politicized by our mullahs. In Britain such fundamentalist Organizations
are actively engaged to raise funds and motivate youth to join the militancy.
While most of the Islamic countries are increasingly becoming unsafe where
civil population is victim of their terrorist acts. And in India they are
patronizing the Muslim students against the Indian society. If such dangerous
trends were not checked and countries like Pakistan and Afghanistan were
not compelled to neutralize them, fundamentalism will certainly destroy
our social fabric of religious tolerance and harmony.
(The author who is the Organizer of United Kashmir
Peoples National Party contributed this article to Mizzima News Group.)
&nbsp;</html>

--------------9775395B3F380CFDC9590195--

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