Mubasher Bukhari

Pakistani Jihad media, as usual, is playing role as the mouthpiece of Jihadist outfits, not only of Pakistan, but also of Iraq, Kashmir, Somalia, Palestine and Chechnya. Despite having very limited readership, it is effectively countering Western media. Publications of different Jihadist organizations, during last two weeks, covered Iraq War, Taliban’s resistance in Afghanistan, Kashmir Freedom Movement in length but the intriguing thing is projection of Former Director General of Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Gen (Retd) Hameed Gul in different Jihad weeklies. Below are the salient features of Jihad Publications of current and last weeks:
Ex-General in Spotlight
Former DG ISI Hameed Gul is a bold person, and expresses his pro-Jihad views candidly without having any fear. He was already under watch of Western media but came under spotlight after Afghanistan’s allegations that he is training Taliban in Afghanistan. It is an open fact that Gen (Retd) Gul supports pro-Islam elements and often attends congregations of Jihad outfit like Jamaatud Dawa. There has been an impression that the US and its allies may pressurize Pakistan for doing something about Mr Gul but it always sounded like rumors. However, interviews of Mr Gul to Jaish e Muhammad’s Weekly Al Qalam and Al Rasheed Trust’s Weekly Zarb e Momin indicate that it is Mr Gul’s own apprehensions that Pakistan might hand over him to the US.
In his interview to Al Qalam (Jan 26-Feb 1), the former general said, "The US and allied forces have been defeated in Afghanistan and their symbolic government in Kabul will also fall in near future. Afghanistan and US held me responsible for their defeat but it is all rubbish and baseless. I still support Mujahideen’s struggle in Afghanistan but there is no contact between us. It is also not true that I train Mujahideen in Afghanistan for jihad. It is my apprehension that I might be arrested any night and might be given into the custody of US. The US and its strength would be buried in Middle East."
In his interview with Zarb e Momin (Feb 2-8), he said, "There are apprehensions that someday I might be handed over to the US. Pakistan should prepare for war for its existence because any incident like 9/11 or defeat in Afghanistan might cause the US attack on Pakistan. It is not necessary that the US would involve its ground forces for attack on Pakistan but she would involve air and naval forces for this purpose. Threats are increasing therefore Pakistan, Iran, Egypt and Syria should form an alliance to counter the US plans to conquer the whole world as Republicans and the Democrats are unanimous at this point."
But apprehensions of Mr Gul will remain just apprehensions because Pakistan does not afford such actions due to strong reaction not only from masses but also from the Jihad outfits and certain quarters of Pak Army.
US Conspiring for Sectarian Riots in Iraq
Jihad media is depicting a very bleak picture for the US in Iraq. On the one hand, it is claiming that the US is facing worst defeat in Iraq, and on the other, it is alleging that the US is conspiring for triggering sectarian riots in Iraq.
Weekly Al Qalam (Jan 26-Feb 1), in an article "Who is killer of Iraqi Children?" wrote, "In a bomb blast in Northern Baghdad, 32 Shiite children were killed and the US alleged that Sunni militants carried out suicide bombing when Shiite children were gathered in a street to get gifts from soldiers. But fact of the matter is that the US soldiers, themselves, planted a powerful bomb in car and exploded that when the children were gathered near the car." The article cited some other incidents of this kind and alleged that the US forces chalk out such nefarious plans and the Western Media held responsible Sunni groups for such incidents just to spark off sectarian riots in Iraq.
Interestingly, Al Qalam, in its weekly feature ‘Iraq Week’ mentioned that Mujahideen killed dozens of US and British soldiers in different activities in Iraq in which hundreds of other persons were also killed. The publication, however, did not clarify whether hundreds of other persons, killed in the bombing and firing by militants, were fighting against them or were supporting the US forces because according to different authentic newspapers and wires of the world majority of people, being killed in Iraq, are innocent persons, who have nothing to do with the US or the militants.
Jihadists Rejected U-turn of Pakistan and Huriyat Conference on Kashmir
Jihad publications strongly criticized Pakistan Government and Huriyat Conference for discussing options for division of Kashmir through peaceful negotiations and claimed that Muthida Jihad Council would continue Jihad in Indian Kashmir till complete freedom.
Weekly Al-Qalam reported that heirs of martyrs of Kashmir Movement protested against arrival of Huriyat Conference’s Leader Mir Waiz Omar Farooq. Police arrested hundreds of demonstrators, who were carrying banners and placards inscribed with pro-Jihad slogans. The demonstrators announced that they would not let Gen Musharraf and Mir Waiz bargain over sacrifices of Kashmiri martyrs, and would not accept any other option except Kashmir Freedom. They alleged that Pakistan, India and Huriyat leaders were conspiring against Freedom Movement of Kashmir.
On the other hand, Muthida Jihad Council also criticized Mir Waiz for issuing anti-jihad statement. Al Qalam published a quote of Syed Sadaqat Hussain, spokesman of MJC, that Mir Waiz issued anti-Jihad statement just to please India and Western countries. He said that Mir Waiz should not teach Muslim a lesson for showing cowardice.
Meanwhile, Al Qalam, Zarb e Momin and Jamaatud Dawa’s mouthpiece Weekly Ghazwah also published news items from their own sources and Islamic news agencies about successful attacks of Mujahideen in Indian Kashmir. The publications claimed that Indian Armed Forces were suffering from heavy life and material losses as the result of activities of Mujahideen.
Taliban to Implement own syllabus in Afghanistan
Publications of all Jihad outfits are paying special attention to Afghanistan, and are claiming that Taliban are very close to success in Afghanistan while the US and NATO forces are facing defeat.
In order to strengthen the impression that Taliban are controlling a large area of Afghanistan, Weekly Al Qalam reported, "Taliban has announced that they would open schools in their areas and would implement their own syllabus in order to counter Western education in Afghanistan. A Taliban’s spokesman Abdul Haye Mutmain said that foreign forces are trying to change Islamic identity of Afghan Muslims by implementing Western syllabus in Afghan schools. He said that Taliban are preparing a permanent syllabus to thwart Western Plan of changing Afghan minds. He said that schools for boys and girls separately would be established in 14 Taliban-controlled districts of six provinces where the syllabus would be taught. He said that Advisory Council of Taliban has approved one million dollars for this project. He said that the syllabus would be the same that was prepared by Mujahideen when they were fighting against Russia, and later, Taliban Government had also adopted it. He said that Syllabus would be finalized by May 2007."
Jamaatud Dawa’s signature campaign against Women Protection Bill getting Popularity
Jamaatud Dawa’s Weekly Ghazwah claimed that the outfit’s derive against Women Protection Bill is getting popular day by day. The publication claimed that more than 5.2 million people across the country have signed anti-bill documents. The stunning aspect of the news is that some of the former generals, leading politicians and scholars have also signed the document. The news says that former generals including Aslam Baig, Hameed Gul and Zaheerul Islam Abbasi, politicians including former President Rafiq Tarar, Imran Khan, Mir Hasil Bazinjo, Tehmina Daultana and Saad Rafiq also signed the document.