This is very true. Sheikh Rashid reportedly ran a Jehadi camp for Kashmiris with Osama money.
LOTD, if that is the case, why not he is behind the bars? He is running for MNA again. And many thinks that he will win.
Welcome back. Please don't go on vacation. Though I may not agree with you, still what you have said in this forum in different threads make sense.
Thanks niden for welcoming me back. Actually, I find the environment here tolerant enough for frank discussions… So give an intermission.
As for Shiekh Rashid, Jehad and militant/political Islam is unfortunately what is at the bisis of Pakistani state and its most powerful institutions. Below is something more about Nawaz Sharif and Arabs.
“These sorts of arguments were beyond Nawaz Sharif’s comprehension and he kept asking me. “Manya key nai manya?” [Agreed or not?] He was looking for a Rs500 million [US$8.4 million at today’s rate] grant from Osama. Though Osama gave a comparatively smaller amount, the landmark thing he secured for Nawaz Sharif was a meeting with the [Saudi] royal family, which gave Nawaz Sharif a lot of political support, and it remained till he was dislodged [as premier] by General Pervez Musharraf [in a coup in 1999]. Saudi Arabia arranged for his release and his safe exit to Saudi Arabia.”
That was a typical situation, when Osama was famed for his generosity, and even politicians like Ghulam Mustafa Jatoi, who was president of the National People’s Party and president of the Islamic Democratic Alliance, and then interim prime minister, were also after me to arrange meetings with the “Sheikh”.
Then Nawaz Sharif introduced me to Sheikh Rashid, and he took me to his Freedom House camp near Fateh Jang Road near Rawalpindi. He asked me to get support from Arabs. I took several of my Arab friends to his training camp, and they provided him with some money, though they were not satisfied with the environment."
Asia Times Online :: South Asia news, business and economy from India and Pakistan
NS and co have been deeply involved in Jehadi agenda. The situation have changed considerably. Since army has taken U-turn on jehadi agenda, NS and co wil also have to make u-turn if they want government. But if they continued their old practices how in the hell uncle sam and military will allow them to seat of power, inpite of Punjabi vote bank. (jag punjabi jag tere pug main lag gai aag)I am not sure how it is going to work?
I never thought I'd agree with Mushrraf on anything, but here he is right about NS being Taliban. I don't have any doubts about it.
Precisely. I have never seen Nawaz Sharif speak out against Sunni religious extremists specifically in Pakistan. Or religious extremism in GENERAL at all. Shades of Zia, I fear.
In that category also includes JI, JUI and TI. JI chief, Fazal of JUI and Imran khan of TI never spoke against suicide bombings and killing of innocent people. However they are vocal against military torture and killings of so called jehadis. It all depends on Punjab, if Punjabis support them and go against their own army( which is not going to happen soon may be later I don't know), these guys will be future leaders of Pakistan, tranforming Pakistan into Islamic state following SA mode of governance. Therefore Uncle Sam is going to stay a very very long time here till this generation is dead or transformed to secular.