Posted on 08/23/2002 7:24:27 PM PDT by knighthawk
A MILITANT Islamic leader in Pakistan has warned of more terrorist attacks if the military Government blocks guerillas from crossing into Kashmir to fight Indian forces.
Abdullah Mazhar, of Jaish-i-Muhammad, the most violent of the Islamic radical groups, said thousands of well-trained militants could join the splinter factions involved in the recent terrorist campaign aimed at Western interests and Christians.
"It is getting increasingly difficult for us to restrain our supporters," Mr Mazhar said.
He has been in hiding for six months since President Pervez Musharraf outlawed his group and arrested scores of its activists.
Mr Mazhar said his organisation did not want to confront the Pakistani army, or do anything to destabilise the country.
But, he said, the cadres were angry with the Government's withdrawal of support for Islamic guerillas fighting in Kashmir.
It has been a tough week for General Musharraf, who is under pressure from the US to hold free elections.
General Musharraf, who declared himself President in June 2001, announced on Wednesday several "irreversible" constitutional changes, saying he did not need parliamentary approval.
Among the most controversial is the establishment of a national security council, comprising four military chiefs and eight civilian politicians, which will oversee government and "foreign policy decisions and national issues".
"We are concerned that his (General Musharraf's) recent decision could make it more difficult to build strong democratic institutions in Pakistan," US deputy State Department spokesman Philip Reeker said yesterday.
For almost a year, the US has tried to strike a balance between acknowledging Pakistan's help in the "war on terrorism" and pushing General Musharraf towards democracy.
But General Musharraf's support of the US is exacerbating his problems with home-grown militants.
It is clear that Jaish and another Islamic group were involved in recent attacks on Western targets in Pakistan, but the Government has failed to confront them because of their help against India in Kashmir.
Pakistani security officials put at more than 15,000 the number of armed militants who had been involved in the guerilla wars in Afghanistan and Kashmir.
Trained and patronised by Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence agency, these "Islamic warriors" have become frustrated after General Musharraf, under pressure from the US and the threat of war from India, stopped their infiltration into the disputed state of Kashmir.
The Jaish activists, in alliance with two other outlawed groups, have been responsible for seven attacks on Western interests and Christians since General Musharraf joined the coalition in the war against terrorism.
Sixteen US and Western nationals have been killed in attacks carried out by Islamic militants seeking revenge for US military operations in Afghanistan.
Pakistani security officials confirm privately that the terrorists are linked to Jaish-i-Muhammad, which has been closely associated with the Taliban regime and al-Qa'ida.
The Times, AFP
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.