‘Jihadists’ recruit and raise funds openly in Rawalpindi
Militants fighting Indian rule in Kashmir and US-led foreign forces in Afghanistan are brazenly raising funds and recruiting potential fighters in cities and towns of Pakistan.
Al-Badr Mujahideen, a breakaway faction of Hizbul Mujahideen group, organised a two-day ‘Shuada Conference’ in the Swan Adda area of Rawalpindi on Sunday to seek recruits and raise funds.
The group’s chief Bakht Zameen Khan told 1,000-plus supporters at the conference that his commanders have sought resources to keep the ‘jihad’ going in Kashmir and Afghanistan.
“Our commanders in Kashmir and Afghanistan say they will carry out big attacks if they are provided with resources. They have the spirit but they are facing a shortage of supplies.”
The group’s supporters from Punjab, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Azad Jammu and Kashmir attended the conference where Gulbuddin Hekmatyar’s Hizb-e-Islami Afghanistan (HIA) and Al Badar Mujahideen had set up stalls to sell propaganda CDs and ‘jihadi’ literature.
Entry for journalists was restricted.
Mid-level leaders from Hizbul Mujhiadeen, HIA, Jamaatud Dawa and other militant groups spoke at the conference.
Bakht Zameen condemned the reopening of Nato transit routes. “We were very happy when the routes were closed. But the rulers gave in to the US pressure,” he claimed. “The government should not side with infidels because it will create anarchy in the country,” he added.
He quashed the impression that ‘jihadi outfits’ were doing the bidding of Pakistan’s security establishment. “We should quell such propaganda. Our financiers have withdrawn their support following harassment. But still we have sympathisers,” he added.
The terrorist label
Hizbul Mujahideen chief Syed Salahuddin told the conference that Pakistan has been encircled by the United States and its Nato allies.
“Pakistan is the target of the US-Israeli nexus. Our fighters are defending Pakistan at a time when its geographical boundaries, its security and Islamic identity are at risk,” he said.
Salahuddin condemned the killing of innocent civilians in terrorist attacks. “We are fighting in Kashmir. It doesn’t matter to us if we are labelled terrorists. We are proud to be called terrorists for fighting the US and its allies in Afghanistan,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 9th, 2012.
COMMENTS (33)
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Has anyone in Pakistan heard about what happened to Kshmiri pundits, what the jihadis ( I prefer terrorists ) did to them? All your funding of terrorists will lead to nothing! If you think Indian army is going to walk away from Kshmir because the nuisance caused by a bunch of innocent-people-killing terrorits, dream on! Does it ever occur to you that the Indian army needs to be in Kashmir in such large numbers to save the people of Kashmir from getting slaughtered by these terrorists
@Whats_wrong:
"All these Jihadist organizations better realize this that its only the RIGHT of GOVERNMENTS, ARMIES TO ATTACK & KILL INNOCENTS IN KASHMIR and you should not worry about it. All the newspapers will call you a terrorist and not them. "
Just change Kashmir to Balochistan and read your own sentence again. You will find that it fits exactly.
@Zahid Hussain:
"Gentlemen: Be bold enough to say that Democracy is incapable, I repeat incapable, to address and control this disastrous situation. "
Why blame democracy? It is the military establishment that created these jihadi terrorists and continues to support them. The military still controls the democratic government from the back.
@Assad: Really good debate with "Whatswrong"......strangely as an Indian I feel quite many of your suggestions imply to India too. @ Whatswrong: As for jihadist sympathizers I would like to ask them, if they think revenge is their right for atrocities in Kashmir. Can they explain what they are doing killing innocent people in Mumbai and elsewhere ? Why not point your guns to Indian army who you blame for all misfortunes on Kashmiris. the fact that you don;t shows yoru cowardice. Any nation can brain wash their youth to pick up a cause and sneak in the borders and cause mayhem. That by no account will be called being brave. if your cause is just and right then be brave enough to kill the culprits in kashmir and not innocent bystanders in cities of India. Remember this, a common man in any country no matter how progressive, has no real power to change any course their selected government or army has decided to take. So stop supporting these mad men. They will not stop with Kashmir. Next it will be good muslim vs bad muslims and finally my Islamic beliefs vs your Islamic beliefs. This is what will happen if intolerance is encouraged in society.
@Naveed Javed: "Don’t forget the holy famous hands outside Pakistan funding them!".....seriously????
@Assad: Your most welcome to blame anyone you want. Just remember that in this world MIGHT IS RIGHT. No such thing as morals, human rights etc exists. Everything is politically motivated. The stuff you see in media from the stuff you don't see on media. Everything is based on some agenda.
our inferiority complex forces us to always on the apologetic/slavish stance. The faster we realize this the better for us and then only we will stand for the RIGHT against the WRONG.
@ Whats_wrong....I have called you a 'jihadi-sympathizer' based upon your previous posts...nothing more, nothing less. You may or may not be so, in real life. The tragedy of Pakistan as a country is that, we tend to lend ourselves to other country's activities/ politics, adventures.............not with an altruistic attitude, mind you. We have our own narrow conveniences/interests that we look forward to. We want 'importance' in world-affairs...we want funds, arms, etc................now, willy-nilly we are trapped into all the mess. Other countries sit on our heads and judge us accordingly. We are a poor, weak country. We cannot afford to sit on others' judgement...........nobody will listen to us. The faster we realize this( that we cannot do, what others can afford to)...the better for us.
@Assad: When countries deal with us?
So other countries are allowed to Judge us on whatever religion we follow or practice but we can't judge them? Have you ever heard of a term 'paradox'? Countries should be least bothered about us when dealing with us and should not judge us. If they do like they do all the time then we will do it as well.
Also stop judging me by calling me a Jihadi Sympathizer. I am from the sect whose ppl are killed most and almost everyday. Which you or nobody talks and cares about.
@Assad: "Listen jihadi-sympathizer…killing is nobody’s Right. Even if somewhere ppl get killed by Govt. agencies, it is never justified for lay jihadis to kill others in retaliation. We can’t always justify our wrong-doings by showing others doing it too…………that will be extremely detrimental to our own country."
Really Mr educated Liberal? Everyone condemns fake organizations who are killing innocents and defaming Islam by call this as a Jihad but you missed the whole point in my post. That media never highlights the atrocities carried out by governments all over the world specially in Indian Kashmir but whoever takes a stand is called a terrorist. Try to be a neutral rather than a liberal extremist.
@ Whats_wrong
All these Jihadist organizations better realize this that its only the RIGHT of GOVERNMENTS, ARMIES TO ATTACK & KILL INNOCENTS IN KASHMIR and you should not worry about it. All the newspapers will call you a terrorist and not them.
Listen jihadi-sympathizer...killing is nobody's Right. Even if somewhere ppl get killed by Govt. agencies, it is never justified for lay jihadis to kill others in retaliation. We can't always justify our wrong-doings by showing others doing it too............that will be extremely detrimental to our own country.
All these Jihadist organizations better realize this that its only the RIGHT of GOVERNMENTS, ARMIES TO ATTACK & KILL INNOCENTS IN KASHMIR and you should not worry about it. All the newspapers will call you a terrorist and not them.
Perpetual excuse for raising funds....without any accountability!
...n this is happening in the army's town!!! haa
Pakistan is second Somalia,it is shameful for Pakistani establishment who is living in denial while these killers have license to kill and recruit poor and uneducated people through their brain washing tactics.Also shame on Pakistani crossed eye chief justice,hypocrite politicians and so called religious parties who don't condemn such activities,U.S.A or any other power don't need to play games,if they want they can capture Pakistan in few minutes, these ignorant so called jihadi groups need to understand this and should stop their illegal activities,Pakistani establishment should also use iron hand and crush these illegal groups instead of pampering them,this whole thing is taking Pakistan towards isolation and destruction.
Gentlemen: Be bold enough to say that Democracy is incapable, I repeat incapable, to address and control this disastrous situation.
good.. way to go.. please donate generously.
Ofcourse they are, and have been doing this uninterruptedfor over decade, even thou many Donar Nations have protested to the establishment in Pakistan ! Sadly those protests have fallen on deaf ears, however the long term implications of these groups on Pakistan is going to Disastrous as they may find themselves unable to obtain Aid and Loans so easily and wirhout that this nation simply will implode from within !
This is business in the name of Jihad. I doubt if the funds collected from gullible people by appealing to their emotions are ever accounted for. The terror economy is flourishing, and a few top self-styled commanders are making a killing (pun intended).
lets see if our honourable chief justice take a suo moto notice of this case
Don't forget the holy famous hands outside Pakistan funding them!
Why didn't you fight with the same spirit to save East Pakistan in 1971?
with the same spirit.
“Pakistan is the target of the US-Israeli nexus. Our fighters are defending Pakistan at a time when its geographical boundaries, its security and Islamic identity are at risk,” Say what you want about the US but they're not shy or roundabout if they really wanted to do such things. It'd also already have happened instead of just having complaints about safe havens in Pakistan. The only "geographical boundary" violations are ones they're not doing because they want to but almost have to and would be more than happy to have Pakistan do it, itself, never having to do so again. One thing is certain though, groups like those and how freely they operate are more or less only assurance it's the right thing to do and justifies such action.
Resources will come. Cowardly leaders want to play on all sides, but the people are with you. And when the people are on your side, you will never be short of resources for long.
And still Pakistan says it will not allow anti India activities from its soil.
Good, Our borders are safe and enemy neutralized. Now Generals can sleep soundly in their DHA bunkers.............
.'It doesn’t matter to us if we are labeled terrorists.' So Terrorists, can you please inform Pakistanis who many inches of Kashmir have you 'freed' in the last 64 years. All these funds are for your high life style.
These are very people killing minorities in Pakistan.
You are welcome here in India
Why not? The deep state and the PCO judiciary is with them and do nothing against them.