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INSIDE JIHAD U. The Education of a Holy Warrior Pakistani religious religious school In a Pakistani schoolcalled calledthe the Haqqania Haqqania madrasa, madrasa, Osama bin Laden is a hero, the Taliban's famous alums alums and and the the next next generation generation of of mujahedeen mujahedeen is is being being militantly militantly groomed. leaders are famous By JEFFREY GOLDBERG -- New June 25, 25, 2000 New York York Times, Times, June North-West Frontier Frontier Province Province of Pakistan, alongside the A bout two hours east of the Khyber Pass, in the North-West sits a school school called madrasa is is aa Muslim Muslim religious religious Grand Trunk Road, sits called the the Haqqania madrasa. A madrasa Haqqania is is one one of of the the bigger bigger madrasas madrasas in in Pakistan: Pakistan: its its mosques and classrooms classrooms and seminary, and Haqqania dormitories are school currently currently enrolls dormitories are spread spread over eight weed-covered weed-covered acres, and the school enrolls more more than than 2,800 2,800 poor, and students. Tuition, students. Tuition, room room and and board board are free; free; the students students are, in the main, drawn from the dire poor, madrasa raises raises its its funds funds from wealthy Pakistanis, Pakistanis, as as well well as as from from devout, devout, and and politically politically minded, the madrasa in the countries countries of the Muslims in the Persian Gulf. of their from 8 and 9 to 30, sometimes sometimes to to 35. 35. The The youngest youngest boys boys spend spend much much of The students range in age from cross-legged on on the floors floors of airless classrooms, classrooms, memorizing days seated cross-legged memorizing the Koran. This is a process six months months and three years, and and itit is is made made even evenmore moredifficult difficult than than itit sounds by the that takes between six fact that the Koran they study is in in the original original Arabic. Arabic. These These boys tend to know only Pashto, Pashto, the Pathan ethnic ethnic group group that dominates this region language of the Pathan region of Pakistan, Pakistan, as well well as much of nearby typical class, the teachers teachers sit sit on the floor with with the boys, in Arabic, Afghanistan. In aa typical boys, reading reading to them in Arabic, and four and eight hours each day. the boys repeat what the teachers say. This can go on between four What Westerners Westerners would would think think of as high-school-age and college-age students are enrolled in an eightWhat interpretation of course of study that focuses on interpretation year course of the the Koran Koran and and of the Hadith, the sayings of the Muhammad. These Thesestudents students also also study study Islamic Islamic jurisprudence and Islamic Islamic history. history. The oldest of Prophet Muhammad. Haqqania ---- the the postgraduates, postgraduates, ififyou you will will ---- are areenrolled enrolled in in the the "mufti "mufti course." course." A mufti, mufti, in those attending Haqqania Islam, is or religious religious rulings, rulings, on matters ranging from family law to is a cleric cleric who is is allowed to issue issue fatwas, or of jihad, or or "holy "holy war." (One (One room room in in the the school's school's administration administration building building the rules governing the waging of about 600 600 students students houses upward upward of of 100,000 fatwas issued by the the madrasa over the the years.) There are about in the mufti course. of the students students at the Haqqania Haqqania madrasa madrasa study study anything anything but Islamic subjects. Very few of subjects. There There are no world history world history courses, courses, or or math math courses, courses, or or computer computer rooms rooms or or science science labs labs at at the the madrasa. madrasa. in fact, fact, aa jihad jihad factory. Haqqania madrasa madrasa is, is, in The Haqqania There are are one one million million students students studying studying in This does not make itit unique in Pakistan. There in the the country's country's 10,000 10,000 militant Islam is at the core of most of these schools. or so madrasas, and militant schools. Many madrasas are village affairs, with of the madrasas madrasas are are sponsored sponsored by by Pakistan's Pakistan's religious religious affairs, with student student bodies bodies of of 25 25 or or 50. 50. Some of in the disputed are affiliated affiliated with with the mujahedeen mujahedeen groups groups waging jihad against India India in parties, and some are province of Kashmir. is notable not only because of its Haqqania is its size, size, but also also because it has graduated more leaders of the ruling faction, faction, than any other other school school in Taliban, Afghanistan's ruling in the world, world, including including any school in Afghanistan. The The Taliban Taliban is is today today known known the the world world over over for for its its harsh harsh interpretation interpretation of Islamic law, its its its kindness cruelty to to women women and its kindness to to terrorists terrorists----the themost mostnotable notableone onebeing beingOsama Osama bin bin Laden, Laden, the the 4242year-old Saudi exile who the American government believes was behind the bombings two two years years ago of in Kenya and Tanzania. The The Taliban Taliban also also seems seems to to harbor harbor a deep deep belief belief in the United States Embassies in ACLURM002765 the notion notion of a never-ending jihad, madrasa aa focus focus of of intense intense interest interest in in such jihad, which which makes the Haqqania madrasa Delhi and Jerusalem, Jerusalem, where where the the experts experts are are trying trying to capitals as Washington Washington and and Moscow and and New Delhi understand just what it is is the the Taliban and its sympathizers want. several hundred hundred Afghan students students at the madrasa, along along with with dozens from At any given time, there are several such former Soviet republics republics as as Kazakhstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan Tajikistan and and Uzbekistan, Uzbekistan, and a handful from from Chechnya see wars wars like like the the one one in in Chechnya Chechnyaas asexpressions expressionsnot notonly only of ofnationalist nationalist aspirations aspirations too. To those who see new Islamic Islamic revolution revolution on the horizon, horizon, a Sunni but of pan-Islamic ones as well -- to those who see aa new revolution a generation revolution that revolution generation after the Shia revolution that shook shook the the world world ---- the the foreign foreign presence presence at at Haqqania is not comforting. majority of Haqqania Haqqania students students come come from from Pakistan Pakistan itself, itself, aa fact fact that that also also worries worries officials officials in The majority Washington and Moscow and New New Delhi Delhi and and Jerusalem. Jerusalem. Pakistan's Pakistan's Islamists Islamists are becoming more and Washington in part to more radicalized -- Talibanized," some call it -- thanks in to madrasas like like Haqqania, and Pakistan is showing early signs in possession possession of nuclear showing signs of of coming coming apart apart at at the the seams. Pakistan also happens to be in Many Muslim Muslim radicals radicals say they believe these weapons should should become part of the weapons. Many the arsenal of jihad. ItIt turns out that many of the Haqqania students, under careful tutelage, now believe it, too. in March, I presented myself myself at the office of the It is for all all these these reasons that on on a hazy morning in mullah named Samiul Samiul Haq, Haq, in in order orderto to enroll enroll myself myself in in his school. school. My goal chancellor of the the madrasa, a mullah to see see from from the the inside inside just just what what this this jihad factory was producing. producing. was simple: I wanted to Maulana Haq Haq ----maulana maul anameans means"our "ourmaster" master" ----isisaawell-known well-known Islamist Islamist with with pronounced pronounced anti-American Maulana views. He He is is aa Deobandist, Deobandist, aafollower follower of of an an Islamic Islamic movement movement born born in in India India in in the the days days of of the the British British Raj; it movementdevoted devoted to to anticolonialism, anticolonialism, and and its its outlook outlook is not dissimilar dissimilar to was aa movement to that that of of Wahhabism, Wahhabism, the austere, antimodernist Saudi Saudi variant of Islamic Islamic fundamentalism fundamentalism embraced embraced by by Osama Osama bin bin Laden. Laden. The the first first and chancellor is is a friend friend and and supporter supporter of of bin bin Laden, Laden, and and he has granted an honorary degree -- the in his is also a politician, politician, a former only in his school's school's history history----to toMullah MullahOmar, Omar, the the Taliban Taliban leader. leader. Samiul Haq is senator who today leads a faction radical Islamic Islamic party party seeking to faction of the the Jamiat-Ulema-Islami, the J.U.I., aa radical maulana, itit is is said, would like to impose Shariah, or Islamic law, in Pakistan. The maulana, to see Pakistan become more like like the Afghanistan of of his Taliban disciples. disciples. 1998 fatwa fatwa issued issued by by bin Laden that Because of his views views -- and because he is said to to have endorsed endorsed a 1998 called on Muslims to kill would get kill Americans Americans wherever wherever they they may may be found found -- I was not sure how well we would along. made to to wait wait outside outside his his office office for 20 minutes. minutes. Students Students would would pass pass by, by, shooting shooting me looks looks ranging I was made hostile. Eventually, invited in from the quizzical to the hostile. Eventually, I was invited in by by two two of of the the maulana's maulana's sons, sons, Hamed, who is in charge of designing designing the were joined joined by 31, and and Rashid, Rashid, who who is is 27 and and in the madrasa's madrasa's Web Web page. We were students, and we made small small talk while we waited. One student, student, several of the madrasa's teachers and students, surprisingly, mentioned star of of World Championship Championship Wrestling. surprisingly, mentioned that that my my last last name name is is the the same as that of a star maulana came came into into the room in The maulana in a rush, rush, and and sat sat down down right rightbeside besideme. me. He He is is aa man man of of 65. 65. He was long beard kind of barefoot, and his toenails barefoot, toenails looked looked as as if they they were were covered covered with with rust. rust. He He had had a long beard dyed a kind has two two wives wives and and eight eight children, children, fluorescent brown, brown, and and a loosely wrapped wrapped turban turban sat on on his his head. He has he seemed, seemed, right right from from the start, a very happy happy man. He He dispensed dispensed with with small small talk almost he told me, and he should feel immediately, in order to to let me know that I should feel at home. "The problem," problem," he told me, through through an interpreter, interpreter, "is "is not between us us Muslims Muslims and and Christians." Christians." where this this was going, going, but stayed silent. I knew where ACLURM002766 Islam and and Christianity Christianity have is is the the Jews," Jews," he he said. said. "It "It was was the the Jews Jews who who crucified crucified Christ, Christ, "The only enemy Islam Jews are are using using America America to to fight fight Islam. Clinton Clinton is a good man, but but he's he's surrounded surrounded by you know. The Jews Jews. Madeleine Madeleine Albright's Albright's father was the the founder founder of of Zionism." "I'm Jewish," I told him. moment's pause. There was a moment's "Well, you you are most welcome here," he said. And so I was. maulana made made me me an an offer: offer: II could could spend as much time as I wanted at the madrasa, go wherever I The maulana point he wanted, talk to anybody I chose, chose, even study the the Koran Koran with with him. him. He He had had a point he wanted wanted to to make, make, of course: his madrasa might be Taliban U., U., but but itit was was not not aa training training camp camp for for terrorists. terrorists. course: Strictly speaking, madrasa. The The closest closest guns guns could could Strictly speaking, Haq Haq was right: right: II never never saw saw a weapon at the Haqqania madrasa. found across Company, aa gun gun store store that sells be found across the the Grand Trunk Road, at the Khyber Pass Armaments Company, or marksmanship. marksmanship. shotguns for never heard heard aa lecture lecture about about bomb bomb making making or shotguns for $40 $40 and and AK-47's for $70. And II never the Taliban Taliban was was faring faring badly badly not not long long ago in in battle battle against the northern alliance alliance-On the other hand, when the - the holdout holdout foe of the Taliban in Afghanistan's seemingly endless civil civil war war -- Haq closed down his school and sent the students school students to to the the front. front. (He (He would would not not tell tell me me how how many never came back from the full when visited Haqqania this spring. housing so many front.) Classrooms were full when I visited spring. For a cramped campus housing students, it was, students, was, most of the the time, time, unusually unusually quiet. quiet. The The hustle hustle and and energy of town town life life never seemed to intrude, and what noise there was mostly came from the Grand Trunk Road, just just outside the gates of the intrude, school, where the horn and not the brake is the driver's driver's primary school, primary defense defense against accident, accident, and buses and trucks compete for space with occasional camel train. trucks with donkey carts and the occasional no TV's, TV's, no no radios radios that that II could could see. The The students students woke up up before before dawn, to pray pray in the There were no The dormitories dormitories were threadbare and filthy, filthy, and there was no cafeteria, per se: madrasa's mosque. The kitchen with students lined lined up up at the kitchen with their their plates plates and and spoons spoons and and were were fed fed rice rice and curries curries and and nan, the flat Afghan Afghan bread. Suffice Suffice itit to to say, say, the the students students at atthe the madrasa madrasa almost almost never never see see women. women. There were no workers, no female presence whatsoever at the female teachers, no female cafeteria workers, the madrasa. There is no such thing sisters and brothers come to thing as parents' parents' day, day, or family family day, when mothers and fathers and sisters of what we we in in the the West West call call student student life: life: like all visit. To be sure, II did did see, on on occasion, occasion, aa facsimile facsimile of visit. in the late afternoon, they would play on a dirt Pakistanis, the young students are cricket fanatics, fanatics, and in field across the road dusty patch and aa net net for for volleyball too. But most of field road from from the school. school. There was a dusty the day was devoted to Islam. particularly. They The youngest students interested interested me particularly. They had had not yet been armored in the hard-casing of politics of jihadist ideology, ideology, and and yet they seemed to incorporate the politics of the the madrasa madrasa into into their their play. play. Two Two 11to the school from would follow me around year-old boys, both Afghan Afghan refugees who came to from Peshawar, would hide-and-seek was was to to jump jump out from They wore wore pots pots on on their their heads, heads, and and their their version version of hide-and-seek wherever II went. They or some other other hiding hiding place, behind a tree or place, scream "Osama!" and pretend to shoot me. were also also fascinated fascinated by by my my shoes. shoes. Shoes Shoes weren't weren't worn worn in in class; class; they were were left left outside the rooms. They were most students owned a single single pair of slippers. slippers. My So for reasons of poverty as well as convenience, most Timberlands, then, were aa source source of of conversation, conversation, and II once once caught caught my my two 11-year-old 11-year-old pursuers pursuers trying trying Timberlands, boys, but they were reticent. reticent. And on my shoes. I tried to learn what I could about these boys, And my minders -usually someone someone from from Samiul Samiul Haq's Haq's office office with with me, me, listening listening in in on on my my conversations -- didn't there was usually probing too deeply into want me probing into how how boys boys came came to to be students students at at the the madrasa. ACLURM002767 youngest boys were kept kept under under lock lock and key, key, in in aa three-story three-story dormitory dormitory guarded by by older older students, The youngest and I wasn't allowed to to see how they lived. lived. The two two 11-year-olds were refugees, I eventually learned. of them lost lost his father in in Afghanistan. One of Afghanistan. Their mothers spend spend their days gathering gathering firewood. firewood. They They are blessed to as poor as poor can can be. be. Compared to to a refugee camp, camp, the madrasa is a palace, and they are blessed be here, where where they they eat eat food food every every single single day. No No one one else else ---- certainly certainly not not the government of Pakistan -would provide provide them with would with an an education, education, room room and board. school day, I would make aa special special point point of of auditing auditing classes in which which the Hadith was studied, During the school so much much of of Islamic Islamic thought is found Hadith has has traditionally traditionally because so found in in the the Hadith, Hadith, and also because the Hadith been understood understood to be be aa text text open open to to interpretation, interpretation, argument argumentand andrigorous rigorous intellectual intellectual inquiry. inquiry. But But such is In the the classes classes II attended, attended, even even the the high-level high-level classes classes of of the the mufti mufti madrasa. In not the case at the Haqqania madrasa. course, the pattern was generally the same: a teacher, generally generally an ancient, ancient, white-bearded white-bearded mullah, mullah, would would course, read straight from from a text, text, and the students would would listen. listen. There There was no back and forth. forth. It seemed as ifif rote only style of learning. During During one particularly particularly dreary learning was the madrasa's only dreary class, class, I abandoned my outside, a poster was stapled to the wall. picture interpreter and left the room. room. In the hallway outside, wall. On it was a picture split-open watermelon whose flesh caption read: "A miracle of of a split-open flesh was veined in an unusual way. The caption Allah: this watermelon contains the name name of of Almighty Almighty Allah." began to to be be asked asked questions questions during during classes, questions about America and about my views. After a time, II began in aa class class devoted devoted to passages in in the Hadith Hadith concerning concerning zakat, or charity, charity, I was asked my views day, in One day, bin Laden. Laden. Why Why did did America America have have itit in in for for him? him? ItIt is is unsettling, unsettling, to about Osama bin to say say the the least, least, to to be seated being held barefoot and turbaned in a class being held in in a mosque, mosque, led led by a mullah, mullah, and attended by some 200 barefoot students, and be asked such such a question. question. students, in a by saying saying that bin Laden's program violates a basic tenet of Islam, which holds that even in I began by combatants, not women and jihad the lives of innocent innocent people people must must be be spared. spared. A jihad jihad is is a war against combatants, children. I read appropriate saying armed with with the Hadith): children. read to them them an appropriate saying of of the the Prophet Prophet Muhammad (I came armed "It is killed in is narrated narrated by by Ibn Ibn Umar that a woman was found killed in one one of these these battles, battles, so so the the Messenger of Allah, may may peace peace be beupon upon him, him, forbade forbade the thekilling killing of of women and and children." children." quoting the They did not like the the idea of me quoting the Prophet Prophet to to them, them, and and they they began began chanting, chanting, "Osama, "Osama, Osama, Osama." they calmed calmed down, down, they they took took turns defending bin bin Laden. When they bin Laden is is a great great Muslim," Muslim," a student student named Wali Wali said. said. "The "The West Westis is afraid afraid of of strong strong Muslims, Muslims, "Osama bin him their enemy." so they made him curious to bin Laden so ardently. After all, I was curious to know know how how Wali Wali came to to admire Osama bin all, there was no course at the madrasa -- at at least least so so far as II could could tell -- titled titled "The Sayings Muslim Osama Sayings of the the Great Muslim bin Laden." wants to keep keep Islam Islam pure pure from from the the pollution pollution of the infidels," infidels," he "Osama wants he said. said. "He "He believes Islam is the way wants to to bring bring Islam Islam to to all all the world." world." for all the world. He wants that the the Koran Koran states states that that"there "there is is no no compulsion compulsion in in religion." religion." This is the Koranic saying I answered that tolerant of others. frequently quoted quoted by those those who who believe that, that, at its core, core, Islam is moderate and tolerant is no no compulsion. compulsion. But the West West compels compels Muslims Muslims to to live live under under the the control control of Wali: "There is of infidels, infidels, like in Chechnya." students had had turned turned this this day's class into a political political seminar of sorts, Since the students sorts, I decided to ask a question of my own. I brought up the subject subject of of Pakistan's Pakistan's nuclear nuclear bomb. bomb. The The Islamists Islamists in in Pakistan Pakistan have have been the ACLURM002768 religious party, most vociferous vociferous proponents proponents of of Pakistan's Pakistan's nuclear nuclear program. program. The leading religious party, the Jamiat Islami, has in fact led the campaign to persuade the government not to to sign sign the the Comprehensive Comprehensive Test Test Ban Ban Treaty. students if they thought itit would I asked the students would be be permissible, permissible, by by the the law law of Islam, Islam, to to use a nuclear bomb prosecution of a jihad. during the prosecution "All things should be "All things come come from from Allah," Allah," one one student student said. said. "The atomic bomb comes from Allah, so it should used." Osama bin bin Laden Laden armed armed with with nuclear nuclear weapons? Every Every hand hand in in the room I then asked: Who wants to see Osama shot up. up. The students laughed, laughed, and some applauded. But, I said, innocent people would would inevitably inevitably die die ifif the the bomb bomb was was used. used. Even if the the West, or Russia, is subjugating Muslims, and his his supporters supporters the the right right to kill kill innocent people? subjugating Muslims, does that give bin Laden and never killed killed anybody innocent," "Osama has never innocent," one one student, student,whose whose name name was was Ghazi, Ghazi, answered. shown proof proof that he he did?" did?" "What if you were shown say they have have proof, proof, but but they they don't don't give itit to the Taliban." "The Americans say hypothetical scenario. "What if," if," I asked, "you "you were shown shown a video in which I then presented aa hypothetical which Osama bin murdering a woman. What What then?" then?" Laden was actually seen murdering pause. A A student student named named Fazlur FazlurRazaq Razaqstood stood up: up: "The "The Americans Americans have have all all the the tricks tricks of the There was aa pause. They can can put put Osama's Osama's head head on on the the body body of of someone someone else, else, and and make makeitit seem seem like like he's he's killing killing when media. They not doing doing it." it." he's not issued by by bin Laden's organization organization -- the I then took from from my notebook notebook my my secret secret weapon: weapon: the the 1998 fatwa issued concerning the presence of American International Islamic Front for for Jihad Jihad Against Against Jews Jews and and Crusaders -- concerning troops in passage, the theEnglish English translation translation of of which which reads as as follows: follows: "The troops in Saudi Saudi Arabia. I read them aa passage, ruling to kill kill the the Americans Americans and their allies -- civilians and military -- is an individual duty for every Muslim ruling to in which who can do itit in any country in which it is is possible possible to to do do it, it, in in order order to to liberate liberate the the AI Al Aksa Aksa Mosque and the holy mosque from their grip, grip, and and in in order for for their their armies armies to to move move out out of of all all the the lands lands of of Islam, Islam, defeated defeated Muslim." and unable to threaten any Muslim." Here in black black and and white: white: bin bin Laden Laden calling calling for for the death death of of all all Americans, Americans, civilian civilian and military. military. Here itit is, is, II said, said, in didn't write that," "That's a forgery forgery of the Americans." "Osama didn't that," one student yelled, yelled, and the others cheered. "That's anything else: one final final question, question, more out out of self-interest than anything I asked one else: What would you do if you you learned C.I.A. had had captured captured bin bin Laden Laden and and was was taking taking him him to to America America to to stand stand trial? that the C.I.A. Muhammad stood stood up: up: "We would would sacrifice sacrifice our lives A student who gave his name as Muhammad lives for for Osama. Osama. We would kill kill Americans." What kind kind of Americans? What "All Americans." "All left the mosque, Muhammad Muhammad and and aa group group of of his his friends approached me. "We'd like you to embrace As II left Islam." Islam," he said. "We love you. you. We want you to have Islam." ACLURM002769 met with with aa small small group group of of students I had had grown grown to like, hoping that, Later that day, II met that, away from their teachers, they would talk a different talk. talk. Meeting students students out out of of class class had had already already made for a number of interesting moments: Der Stockt, the interesting moments: II had, had, for for example, example, been been asked asked for for sex, sex, as had had Laurent Van Der Sometimes the the propositions propositions were intimated; intimated; sometimes they were were unusually unusually blunt, blunt, photographer with with me. Sometimes official position position on especially given the Taliban's official on homosexuals, homosexuals, which which is is that they should should be killed. killed. Those English seemed most interested in few students who knew a bit of English in talking talking about about sex. sex. Many of them them were convinced that in sex with anything, anything, anywhere, convinced that all all Americans Americans are are bisexual, bisexual, and and that Westerners engage in asked to to describe describe the the dominant dominant masturbation masturbation style of Americans, all the time. I was asked Americans, and whether were allowed allowed by by law law to to keep keep boyfriends boyfriends and girlfriends girlfriends at the American men were the same time. with after the Osama colloquy colloquy there was no talk of sex. bright and Among the young men I spoke with sex. One, a bright brother, a Taliban personable student from from aa village village near near Kabul, Kabul, had had told told me me his his name name was Sayid. His brother, had asked asked Sayid Sayid for for his his last last name, he'd he'd said said he would be judge, had also attended the madrasa. When II had students take known as Sayid Haqqani upon upon graduation. graduation. Many of the students known take Haqqani as their last name when they leave the madrasa. him on this afternoon afternoon how his I asked him his parents parents felt felt to to have have him him at the the madrasa, knowing that there is a -- against against the the northern northern alliance, or perhaps against India, in chance he would choose to be a mujahed -Kashmir. "They support the jihad," jihad," he said. were killed?" killed?" "How would they feel ifif you were proud. Any father would want his son to "They would be very happy," he said. "They would be so proud. to die as shaheed," or martyr. killing Muslims, If you fought against the northern alliance, you would be killing Muslims, I said. "They're Muslims, but they're crazy," Sayid replied. maulana, and and IItold told him him IIthought thought some some of of his his students believed that A couple of days later, I saw the maulana, terrorism, under certain Koranically acceptable. "Then you don't understand terrorism, certain circumstances, circumstances, was Koranically understand what we frowning just are teaching," he said, frowning just for for aa moment. moment. "There "There is is aa great difference difference between jihad and my inability inability to comprehend the the distinction, distinction, but I terrorism." He invited me to eat eat with with him, him, to to discuss discuss my terrorism." due in in Islamabad, Islamabad, the the capital, capital, for for aa birthday birthday party, and II had had promised promised II would would go. begged off. I was due lots of dignitaries, dignitaries, including big cake, lots lots of speeches, lots It was quite a party. a big includingGen. Gen. Pervez Pervez Musharraf, the "chief executive" executive" of of Pakistan, Pakistan, which which is is the the title title he he took took when when the the Pakistani Pakistani Army overthrew the elected installed him government in October and installed him as as maximum leader. cake was was actually actually quite quite good. good. ItIt was was aa vanilla vanilla sheet sheet cake, cake, and andwritten written in in lemon lemon frosting frosting across the The cake length of itit were length were the the words, words, "Second "Second Anniversary Anniversary Celebrations CelebrationsofYoum-e-Takbeer." of Youm-e-Takbeer." Youm-e-Takbeer Youm-e-Takbeer can be translated as "the "the day of God's God's greatness," greatness," and and in in Pakistan Pakistan ititrefers refersto toMay May28, 28, 1998, 1998, the day Pakistan first exploded party, under the auspices of Pakistan's military first exploded aa nuclear bomb. bomb. The birthday party, military leader, leader, was a birthday party for the bomb. proclaimed "We bow our heads to Allah almighty for for restoring restoringgreatness greatnessto to Pakistan Pakistan on on May May 28, 28, 1998," proclaimed the science minister of Pakistan, Atta-ur-Rahman, at at the the outset outset of of the the official official program. has fetishized fetishized the bomb. bomb. In In the the traffic traffic circles circles of every sizable city city in the country, country, a full-scale Pakistan has country's home-grown capital of model of the country's home-grown long-range long-range missile missile stands stands proud. proud. In In Muzaffarabad, Muzaffarabad, the capital Kashmir, a model of a missile is aimed at India. In In three three cities cities in in Pakistan II visited there stand Pakistani Kashmir, ACLURM002770 Hills, the site where Pakistan Pakistan exploded exploded its its test bombs, and in 30-foot-high models of the Chagai Hills, the monument monument lights lights up from the inside at night -- all fiery Islamabad, the fiery orange -- to simulate the effect of a dress up up their children and photograph them standing before it. nuclear explosion. Parents dress party, I went to Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, next door to A couple of days after the party, to Islamabad, Islamabad, because I'd been given the met one one morning moming at Army House, the residence residence of the chance to talk with with General Musharraf. We met Pakistani Army's Army's chief of staff. staff. (General (General Musharraf has chosen not to take up residence in the prime minister's house, house, even even though though he he has has functioned functioned as as prime prime minister minister since October.) During During our ministers conversation, I asked General General Musharraf Musharrafifif the the West Westshould should worry worry that that fundamentalist fundamentalist Muslims, Muslims, in in or out conversation, of the army, might get hold hold of Pakistan's Pakistan's nuclear nuclear weapons. weapons. (In (In Pentagon exercises, exercises, American American war-gamers mapped out out aa scenario scenario in in which which Taliban-like Taliban-like extremists extremists gain gain control control of Pakistan's atomic arsenal have mapped during a violent break-up of the country.) during "Absolutely implausible," "Absolutely implausible,"General General Musharaff said. said. "There is no question question of that that happening. happening. There is no question of nuclear material falling into the hands of irresponsible people at all." of the religious religious overtones of the celebration, particularly particularly the science made mention mention of I made the Youm-e-Takbeer Youm-e-Takbeer celebration, minister's remarks, remarks, saying saying that Westerners are are discomforted discomforted by the belief that God is the founder of ministers Pakistan's nuclear weapons program. do use use the the term term 'Allah's 'Allah's will,' "he sovereign, and "Yes, we do "he said. said. "We do consider consider God God to to be the supreme sovereign, his representatives being his his representatives on earth, we do consider ourselves to to be his representatives on on earth. earth. We being say The 'the will of God,' that has to to be be done done is is according according to the teaching of Allah. But when we say whatever has we aren't aren't using using our our brains, brains, that we are are trigger-happy trigger-happy fundamentalists." fundamentalists." doesn't mean we Musharraf is is not not thought of as an Islamic Islamic fundamentalist. fundamentalist. He is is known known to have progressive progressive views General Musharraf sound very much like an Islamic Islamic fundamentalist at rights of women, on the rights women, for example. And yet he can sound he began began parsing parsing the thewords words"jihad" "jihad" and and "terrorism" "terrorism" for times, like when he for me. is no question that terrorism "There is terrorism and and jihad jihad are are absolutely different," different," he he told told me. me. "You "You in in the the West West are allergic to the term 'jihad,' but jihad is a tolerant concept." general ifif he he believed believed bin bin Laden Laden to to be be aa terrorist. terrorist. I asked the general "If at all he's involved involved in in planning planning or or conducting conducting bombings or hijackings, he's aa terrorist." terrorist." him ifif he doubted doubted American claims claims that bin Laden Laden is is a terrorist. terrorist. I then asked him has aa stand stand on on this this subject. They say they need need proof, proof, which has not been given to them. "The Taliban has We have have asked asked for for proof proof from the U.S. U.S. and and we we are arein inthe theprocess process of ofgetting getting this. this. From the legal legal point point of We haven't seen seen the the proof." proof." view, II haven't Musharraf says says he he needs needs the the pro-Taliban pro-Taliban Pathans Pathans on on his his side. side. The Thereligious religious parties, parties, though though General Musharraf never terribly successful never successful at at the the polls, polls, have have street power, power, and when it comes to Kashmir, broad sympathy. of in secular terms, as aa national national liberation liberation struggle against a neocolonial Kashmir used to be spoken of oppressor. But today, today, that same fight is is spoken spoken of matter-of-factly matter-of-factly as as a jihad. jihad. It is almost almost as if the the end end of Soviets in in Afghanistan forced the professional professional jihadists in the jihad against the Soviets in the the region region to to find find aa new cause to adopt. Musharraf himself himself calls the struggle struggle against India General Musharraf India a jihad, jihad, and the English-language newspapers language of of jihad jihad when when talking talking about about the fight: fight: one otherwise dry-as-bones news story story in Pakistan use the language stated that seven seven "mujahedeen" "mujahedeen" had had "embraced "embraced shahadat" shahadat" in in a fight fight against the Indian Army. I read stated Shahadat is is martyrdom, martyrdom, and "embraced shahadat" means that they were killed. killed. Shahadat ACLURM002771 in Kashmir Kashmir is of great political political help In aa fractious fractious country country like Pakistan, The jihad in help to to General Musharraf. In military junta has given wide the jihad in Kashmir unifies people the way no other issue does. And so the military berth to the jihad groups groups training training on on Pakistani Pakistani soil. soil.Two Twoweeks weeks after after we we met in in Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, General Musharrafs government govemmentannounced announced that thatitit would would curb curb the the power power of of militant militant groups within Musharrafs within Pakistan, Pakistan, and bring the madrasa network network into into conformity with bring with national national educational educational standards, standards, two two steps the Americans pleasant, earlybeen asking asking him him to take nearly nearly from the moment the army seized power. power. But But in our pleasant, have been morning conversation morning conversation at at Army Army House, House, the general did not seem overly concerned about the power of the of these these schools schools are engaged engaged in in any any kind kind of of militancy," militancy," he said. "Most of them "Very few few of madrasas. "Very them are They give give food food and and lodging lodging to these poor poor boys." boys." very humanitarian. They He also also defended defended the the activities activities of of groups the State Department Department has has labeled labeled terrorist, terrorist, particularly particularly the He Harkat ul-mujahedeen ul-mujahedeen of Harkat of Fazlur Fazlur Rahman Rahman Khalil, Khalil, which which is is waging waging aa violent violent jihad jihad against against India; India; itit is believed hijacking last to be behind the hijacking last December December of of an an Indian Indian airliner. airliner. The The State State Department has labeled the HUM, as as itit is is known, known, aa terrorist terrorist organization. organization. The The group group keeps keeps training training bases bases in in Afghanistan, Afghanistan, but but Khalil, Khalil, its its HUM, has an an office office in Rawalpindi, Rawalpindi, not far from house, and and he he moves moves freely freely through through leader, has from General General Musharrafs Musharrafs house, people are are not not terrorists," terrorists," General Musharraf Musharraf said. said. "They "They are are fighting fighting a jihad." Pakistan. "These people Two days after my interview with with the the general, general, I talked to Khalil in Rawalpindi. Rawalpindi. We We met late at night, in a Khalil in bus station, and sat sat shoeless shoeless on on the the floor floor under under aa poster posterdepicting depicting the the word word "Allah" "Allah" dingy office office near a bus bullets. Khalil, Khalil, bearded and preternaturally preternaturally calm, told told me me he he is is sorry sorry his his group is thought as spelled out in bullets. terrorists. "We denied his his group group was behind behind the hijacking hijacking of the of terrorists. "We feel feel very bad about this," this," he said. said. He denied Indian airliner -- a "breakaway faction" faction" was was to to blame, blame, he said said -- and he denied that his group group has ever killed civilians in its its war war in Kashmir. civilians in should worry about us," he said. "Only "Only the oppressors of Islam." "No one should Khalil: Would you use nuclear weapons against against your your enemies enemies ifif you you could? could? I asked Khalil: "We don't have nuclear weapons," weapons," he said, smiling. smiling. "We "We wish wish we we had had nuclear weapons. weapons. If we had them, necessary. But But they're very expensive." we would use them as necessary. Khalil, I was told, would be going to Afghanistan Khalil, Afghanistan the following following day, day, to to Jalalabad, for a meeting with of the other Islamic Islamic extremist groups groups given leaders of given shelter by by the the Taliban. Pakistani news reports the day Osama bin bin Laden Laden was wasreplacing replacing his his bodyguards bodyguards with with men men from from Khalil's Khalil's before our meeting stated that Osama group; they were true believers, believers, the report said, group; said, who who would would keep keep bin bin Laden safe. day, II drove drove across across the the border border of of Pakistan Pakistan to the Afghan city of Kandahar, in the Taliban heartland, One day, students at the Haqqania madrasa will end up. where many of the students 1994 on on their their quick quick march to Kabul. Along the way, they closed Taliban burst burst out of Kandahar in 1994 The Taliban girls' schools public amputations down girls' schools and and fired fired female female doctors doctors and and murdered homosexuals and staged public bad name name to to the the Prophet Prophet in in whose name they they claimed to act. and generally gave a bad long drive, through through the Baluchistan Baluchistan desert, It was a long desert, over the Khojak Pass and through miles and miles of Afghanistan wasteland. On the approach to Kandahar, near near the the airport, airport, is is one of of bin bin Laden's houses, but Afghanistan wouldn't let it. We drove drove a bit bit farther, farther, past the market square where the Taliban wouldn't let me me anywhere near it. wrestling matches Sunday. IfIf you you time time itit right, right, you might be able to catch catch a glimpse of wrestling matches are staged each Sunday. supreme leader leader of of the the Taliban, Taliban, who who will will sometimes stop stop by Mullah Omar, the supreme by in in his his black black Pajero Pajero S.U.V. S.U.V. he'll even send his with the tinted with tinted windows windows to to catch catch aa couple couple of matches. matches. If he's in in a good mood, he'll bodyguards to challenge the local wrestlers. We continued continued on, past the Chechen Embassy, Embassy, and and soon soon enough enough approached approached the the compound compound of the Shrine We Cloak of of Muhammad, Muhammad, from from which which the the Taliban Taliban derive derive so so much much of of their their legitimacy legitimacy of the Respectable Cloak of Muhammad Muhammad is is kept kept locked locked in in aa marble marble vault vault that that is is housed housed inside inside among Afghan believers. The The cloak cloak of ACLURM002772 an elegant, one-story shrine in in the the center of town. town. The The people of Kandahar believe that the Prophet wore the the cloak, cloak, and and so so they they believe believe that that proximity proximity to the cloak will will cure the sick and heal the Muhammad wore They also also believe believe itit lends lends its its current current custodians custodians the lame. They the mantle of Islamic legitimacy. legitimacy. At At the the Haqqania lot about the cloak. madrasa, they talked a lot 250 or or so so years years since since itit was brought brought to removed from from its its vault three times in the 250 The cloak has only been removed followers of the last time itit came out out of of its its vault was Kandahar by followers the Afghan Afghan king king Ahmed Ahmed Shah Durrani. The last 1994, when when Mullah Mullah Omar Omarwore woreititto to aarally rally of ofhis his followers. followers. His His decision decision to wear the cloak could could have in 1994, as blasphemous, blasphemous, but but things things broke broke his way, and and itit was was on on that that day day that that he he solidified solidified his easily been seen as of the faithful. faithful. reputation as the commander of reputation It is not easy to get inside the compound compound that that houses houses the the shrine. shrine. For one thing, thing, the the Taliban minder assigned to mullah named Haji Muhammad, resisted resisted my pleas for help. assigned to me, me, a mullah help. Mullah Mullah Muhammad -actually, he admitted, admitted, he was not yet a mullah, mullah, having having not yet passed his final actually, final examinations examinations -- was a short, taciturn short, taciturn fellow fellow who who couldn't couldn'tfor forthe thelife lifeof ofhim himunderstand understandwhy whyIIwanted wantedto tosee see the the Respectable other problem: problem: the men of of the Committee Committee for for the Propagation of Virtue and the Cloak Shrine. The other Suppression of Vice, Suppression Vice, who wear black turbans turbans and and black black eyeliner (to (to make themselves appear fierce), patrolling the were patrolling the entrance to the shrine, shrine, and they are terrible xenophobes. photographer, Nina The first time time I tried tried to to see see the the shrine, shrine, I was accompanied accompanied by a photographer, Nina Berman. In with local accordance with local custom, custom, Nina Nina was was dressed dressed like like Mrs. Mrs. Khomeini Khomeini at at a wake, but to the men of the rudely denied entrance. We did, did, however, Taliban, she might as well well have been Jennifer Lopez. Lopez. We were rudely touch the toothache tree. get to touch people of of Kandahar Kandahar feel feel the the beginnings beginnings of a toothache, they come to this dead tree outside the When the people nail. Thousands of of nailheads nailheads cover every inch inch of tree trunk. The interpreter interpreter who shrine and hammer in a nail. accompanied us explained explained that the the tree actually actually worked worked as as advertised. advertised. He once had a toothache and so nail into the tree. One-two-three, his his teeth teeth felt felt fine. II looked looked inside inside his mouth. banged a nail mouth. He didn't have any Western sense senseof ofthe theword word "teeth," "teeth," just just yellow yellow stumps stumps of of bone bone that that in in poor, poor, superstitious superstitious teeth in the Western is good at waging jihad, but backwaters like Kandahar pass for teeth. After six years in power, the Taliban is providing medical not good at all at providing medical care to the people of Afghanistan. in the hope of of getting a better look at the shrine. But day, II returned returned with with the the interpreter interpreter in Later that same day, he wouldn't go with with me. "It's "It's better better ifif we we sit sit in in the the car," car," he he said, said, and and then then I realized how frightened frightened he was. He was and he he was was frightened frightened by by Mullah Mullah Muhammad, Muhammad, who who only only grudgingly grudgingly was frightened frightened of the Taliban, and back to the compound. compound. accompanied me back made itit all all the the way way to to the the front front entrance entrance of of the shrine, shrine, but but standing there were 15 15 or or so so young guards, We made thick wooden wooden sticks sticks in in their their hands. hands. II turned turned around around to to ask ask Muhammad Muhammad to to intercede intercede on on my behalf, but he made himself himself disappear. The The young young guards guards were angry, angry, and and they they called called me me aa"kaffir," "kaffir," an infidel. Then had made out of of the compound. they ran me out made itit to the car, car, and and we we sped sped off. off. "It's "It's better better to to wait wait in in the car," car," my interpreter said wearily. I made Osama bin bin Laden's Laden's house; house; he said no. What about Mullah I asked Mullah Muhammad ifif we could see Osama But I knew he he would would turn turn down requests. I was surprised, surprised, however, Omar's house? No. But down these requests. however, when he wouldn't allow Jihadi madrasa is Muhammad's alma mater, and and itit is one wouldn't allow me me near near the the Jihadi Jihadi madrasa. madrasa. The Jihadi he said. said. "It's "It's against the Koran." Koran." of the biggest in in Kandahar. "Non-Muslims aren't allowed into a madrasa," he Which is nonsense, of of course. course. Nothing Nothing in in the the Koran Koran or or in in the the Hadith Hadith bars barsinfidels infidels from from school school buildings, buildings, how II knew knew this. this. and I said so. He asked me how Koran," I answered. "Because I read the Koran," ACLURM002773 "In Arabic?" English." "No, in English." in English?" English?" he asked, utterly utterly sincerely. "The Koran comes in next day, day, frustrated frustrated to the point point of paralysis, paralysis, I complained to the Taliban foreign foreign minister about The next his strange ideas. Mullah Muhammad and his "This is the fault of the the Clinton Clinton administration," administration,"Wakil Wakil Ahmed Ahmed Muttawakil, Muttawakil, the foreign foreign minister, minister, said. said. The foreign minister has crawled crawled up up to to within within foreign minister is is aa man man completely completely lacking lacking in in charm, charm, and and he has a beard that has is touted touted as one of the sophisticates sophisticates of moderation. He an inch of his his eyes. eyes. He is of the the Taliban, Taliban, aa new face of moderation. children he has. "I "I have four is not an easy small-talker, and so to thaw him out, out, I asked him how many children boys and one girl," all." Even girl," he said, and then offered, offered, with with no no prompting: prompting: "The girl is my most beloved of all." in spin. spin. engages in the Taliban engages frustration with attitude is regrettable," he continued, continued, "but "but Muttawakil understood my frustration with Muhammad. "The attitude many of our young missile attacks young people people feel feel very badly about about America America because of the missile attacks and and because of so they aren't aren't open to to Americans." these unfair accusations accusations about about Osama bin Laden, and so In other words, words, Taliban paranoia is an American creation? We have have done donenothing nothing to to you, you, but but you you insist insist on "Yes. We on treating treating us us as as an enemy." do not not show love to their children," children," he Muttawakil is no fan of America. "In America, parents do he informed informed meme average Afghan Afghan doesn't doesn't necessarily share his feelings. - but he said the average feelings. They may feel warmly about of the the help help itit gave gave to to the mujahedeen mujahedeen during during the struggle struggle against the Soviets. because of America, because feels no no such such warmth, however. however. A A couple couple of of days days after after seeing seeing the the foreign foreign minister, minister, I Mullah Muhammad feels what he he thought thought of America. asked Muhammad what great hero hero of of the the Muslims." Muslims." "America is is the the place that wants to to kill kill Osama," Osama," he said. "Osama is a great Does anything good come out of America? He thought about that one for a while. like candy." candy." "Candy," he answered finally. "Candy comes from America. II like Did I mention that Mullah Mullah Muhammad is 17 years old? in common common with with madrasa madrasa students students in Pakistan -- and having having no he seemed seemed to to have have aalot lotin Because he spirituality ---- I began to ask expectation that I would would be allowed to plumb the mysteries of Taliban spirituality Muhammad about his life. life. He was born born in Kandahar, he said, said, but but lived for a while while near Quetta, one of the cities that absorbed Pakistani cities absorbed millions millions of of refugees refugees during duringthe theAfghan Afghanwars. wars. He He has has attended attended madrasas all never studied studied math math or or science or or English English or computers his life. life. He has never computers or history. history. He He had had learned the Koran, by heart, by the time But he learned learned itit in Arabic, Koran, time he was 9. But Arabic, and and he speaks Pashto. All All he learned were the sounds. any books books beside the Koran. Koran. I asked him if he has read any "A book book of of Hadith." "Yes," he answered. "A ACLURM002774 other books? books? " "Are you interested in reading other "No. Why?" I asked him if he knew any women. sisters, he responded. His sisters, Any women not not his his relatives? No. hasn't hugged his mother since he reached puberty. puberty. He He listens listens to no music; music; he has I learned that he hasn't movie. never seen a movie. him what the future held for him. already fought fought once with with the I asked him him. He said he has already the mujahedeen against the northern alliance, alliance, and might do so again. And ifif you're not martyred in in that fight? will return to my job." "I will do you want want to to work work at at the Information Information Ministry? Ministry? Why do baby-sitting for me. "This is not my regular job," job," he he said, said, meaning baby-sitting do you work, then? Where do "I'm a teacher." Koran to 9-year-old boys. Mullah Muhammad teaches the Koran Haq imparts imparts to his 9-year-old boys, and everyone else enrolled enrolled at his This is what Maulana Samiul Haq he told told me me in in one one of of our our many many conversations, conversations, was controlled controlled by the madrasa: America, he the Jews, who were in turn controlled understanding of the teachings turn controlled by by Satan. Satan. His is a worldview shaped by his understanding teachings of the Prophet but itit is a worldview worldview moderate Muslims Muslims might say is shaped by something something else. Muhammad, but Haq, the the world world is is divided divided into two separate and mutually mutually hostile domains: For Samiul Haq, domains: the the dar-al-harb and The dar-al-harb dar-al-harb is is the "abode "abode of war." the dar-al-Islam. The war." The dar-al-Islam is the "abode of peace." peace." The daral-Islam Muslims. The dar-al-harb is everything everything else. In the ai-Islam is the Ummah, the the worldwide worldwide community of Muslims. the Soviet Soviet Union Union epitomized, epitomized, for for fundamentalist-minded fundamentalist-minded Muslims, Muslims, the abode of war. Today, itit is 1980's, the that symbolizes symbolizes the dar-al-harb. the U.S. that which supported How this came to pass, how America, which supported --- created, created, some would would say -- the jihad movement Soviets, came to become the No. No.1 enemyof ofhard-core hard-core Islamists Islamists is is one of the more vexing against the Soviets, 1 enemy Muslim countries countries today. questions facing facing American American policy policy makers makers and and the the leaders of a dozen Muslim school of thought, thought, Samiul Haq's school, school, says it's it's the Americans' fault: fault: American imperialism and the One school social and sexual mores are to to blame. blame. The Theother otherschool school of of thought thought holds that Islam, export of American social is in permanent permanent competition competition with other civilizations. civilizations. This by its very nature, is This is is the the theory expounded by the political scientist Huntington, who coined Harvard political scientist Samuel Samuel Huntington, coined the term "Islam's bloody bloody borders" borders" ---- aa reference ACLURM002775 civilizations ---- Jewish, to the fact that wherever Islam rubs up against other civilizations Jewish, Christian, Christian, Hindu Hindu --- wars wars seem to break out. like Samiul Haq Haq deride deride this this view, and yet, yet, in in their their black-and-white world, world, Islam stands alone against Men like world's infidels: the world's infidels: Christians Christians (or (or "Crusaders," "Crusaders," in inthe the fundamentalist fundamentalist parlance) parlance) to to be be sure, sure, but Jews and Pakistanis, even some Pakistanis Pakistanis of secular bent, bent, say they believe that Hindus especially. especially. Haq, like many Pakistanis, America's policy toward conspiracy. (A former chief of Pakistan's toward Muslims is directed directed by a Jewish-Hindu conspiracy. intelligence service intelligence service sympathetic sympathetic to to the the Islamists, Islamists, Gen. Gen. Hamid Ghul, told told me that Aipac, Aipac, the pro-Israel in common," he lobby, sets America's policy lot in lobby, policy toward toward Pakistan. Pakistan. "The "The Jews and the Brahmins have a lot rubbing his hands said, referring to high-caste Hindus. "Like what?" what?" I asked. "Usury," he responded, rubbing together in Shylockian manner.) in the Shylockian West is is implacably hostile hostile to In Samiul Haq's view, the West to the the message message of Islam, Islam, and so the need to prepare for jihad is never-ending. "Jihad" is mean only only "holy "holy war." It essentially "Jihad" is aa concept concept widely widely misunderstood misunderstood in in the the West. West. It does not mean two types of of jihad: means "struggle," "struggle," and according according to to the traditional traditional understanding understanding of of Islam, Islam, there are two lesser. "Greater "Greater Jihad," Jihad," is is the struggle struggle within within the soul righteous greater and lesser. soul of a person to be better, more righteous fight against the the devil devil within. within. "Lesser "Lesser Jihad" Jihad" is the fight fight against the devil devil without: without: the military military struggle -- the fight against those who subjugate Muslims. Whenever II meet meetaaMuslim Muslim fundamentalist, fundamentalist, II ask askthem them the the same samestupid-sounding stupid-sounding question: question: Which is more Whenever usually accompanied by by an an indulgent indulgent look, look, important to to Islam, Islam, greater jihad or lesser jihad? The answer, usually is usually something something like, like, "They don't call call it 'greater jihad' for for nothing." nothing." The The struggle struggle against against the the external wanes, but butthe the fight fight to to suppress suppress the the evil evil inclinations inclinations within is perpetual. oppressor waxes and wanes, But in in my conversations with mullahs conversations with with Haq, Haq, and with mullahs across across Pakistan Pakistan and Afghanistan, Afghanistan, I kept getting a of equal importance," importance," Haq said. said. "Jihad "Jihad against the oppressor oppressor of Muslims is an different answer. "They are of religion that defends itself." itself." Jihad absolute duty. Islam is a religion Jihad against against the the devil devil without without has has assumed assumed a place even overriding overriding importance in the way these these mullahs mullahs look look at at the the world. world. This This was was surprising surprising of permanent, even not even the leaders leaders of Hamas Hamas in in the the Gaza GazaStrip, Strip, or or sympathizers sympathizers of of the Muslim Muslim to me, because not Brotherhood in Brotherhood in Egypt, Egypt, ever answered the question this way. refused to thinking of Mullah (The thinking Mullah Omar, Omar, the Taliban leader, is in line with with Haq's. Haq's. Mullah Mullah Omar has refused to meet policy ungrounded ungrounded in submitted a face to face with non-Muslims, a policy in the the Koran Koran or in in the the Hadith, Hadith, but when when I submitted written question "Both the written question to to him him about about the the nature of jihad, jihad, he wrote in response: "Both the jihads jihads have their own one struggles struggles to amend his his inner inner self, and in in another another he he defends defends his his religion.") religion.") importance. In one, one asked Samiul Samiul Haq Haq to to explain explain why why he he placed placed so so much much emphasis emphasis on on lesser lesser jihad, jihad, he he said: said: "Islam "Islam is When II asked religion of limits. a religion limits. There There are four pillars pillars of of Islam. Islam. Hall, Hajj, the the pilgrimage pilgrimage to to Mecca, Mecca, you you must make once, only if you you have the means. There you must give. give. In In prayer, prayer, we only pray There is is aa limit limit to how much charity you fasting, we fast for only one month, month, Ramadan. But But for for jihad, there are are no no limits. limits. five times a day. And fasting, limits. There is is no compromise in in jihad." Jihad must be fought without limits. is the the jihad being being fought today? Against India? So where is The liberation liberation of of Kashmir Kashmir is is aa holy holy struggle." struggle." "Yes. The He then said that jihad today should should be be waged waged against against Serbia Serbia and Russia and Israel, and against the northern alliance, the Taliban's foe in in Afghanistan. ACLURM002776 him question after question question about the I asked him the Taliban -- why do they do the things they do? Finally he had enough: "Listen, enough: "Listen, ifif you you Americans Americans don't don't stop stoppestering pesteringus usabout aboutthe theTaliban, Taliban,we'll well give give them the nuclear How would would you you like like that?" bomb. How also said said itit was necessary necessary to to wage wage jihad jihad against against America, America, for for "occupying" "occupying" Saudi Arabia. He also bin Laden: Laden: the the struggle struggle to evict American This jihad is the particular particular obsession obsession of of the the Saudi Saudi exile exile Osama bin troops from invitation of troops from Saudi Saudi Arabia, Arabia, who who are there at the invitation of the the Saudi Saudi king. king. Samiul Samiul Haq Haq says he believes polluting holy that these troops are polluting holy soil. soil. AA jihad, jihad, then, then, is is compulsory. compulsory. And And in in aa jihad, jihad, he he said, said, these American troops are targets. him ifif this is what he is is teaching his his thousands of students. I asked him taught Islam. Islam. This This isn't isn't aa military military school." school." "My students are taught not that the Haqqania Haqqania madrasa madrasais is aatraining training camp camp for for terrorists. terrorists. And the secret of the Haq's secret was not Taliban -- the secret of Talibanism -- is not found found inside inside the the Shrine Shrine of of the the Cloak Cloak of of Muhammad. Muhammad. The secret 11-year-olds cocking cocking their fingers fingers at me, and in in the taunts taunts of of the students in the is embodied in the two 11-year-olds in the person mosque who raised their hands hands for for Osama Osama bin bin Laden, Laden, and in person of of Mullah Mullah Haji Haji Muhammad, my 17-year-old minder minder in Kandahar Kandahar who who has has no no interest interest in any book but the Koran, Koran, and in the hundreds of 17-year-old thousands of young young men men like like him him at at madrasas madrasas across across Pakistan Pakistan and and Afghanistan. Afghanistan. These These are poor and impressionable boys kept entirely ignorant of the world world and, for that matter, largely ignorant of all but one interpretation interpretation of Islam. They are are the the perfect perfect jihad machines. ACLURM002777