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| India-Pakistan |
| US aided Pakistan group which supported extremists |
| 2012-01-12 |
| [Dawn] The US gave money to a Pak Mohammedan group that organised anti-Taliban rallies, but which later demonstrated in support of an turban who killed a leading liberal politician, the US Embassy in Pakistain said Wednesday. US government website Usaspending.gov shows that the group, the Sunni Ittehad Council, received $36,607 from Washington in 2009. A US diplomat said that the embassy had given money to the group to organise the rallies, but that it had since changed direction and leadership. He said it was a one-off grant, and wouldn't be repeated. He didn't give his name because he wasn't authorised to speak about the issue on the record. The grant was first reported by the Council of Foreign Relations on its website. The Ittehad council was formed in 2009 to counter extremism. It groups politicians and holy mans from Pakistain's traditionalist Barelvi Mohammedan movement, often referred to as theological moderates in the Pak context. The American money was used to organise nationwide rallies against snuffies and suicide kabooms, the embassy official said. The demonstrations received widespread media coverage, and were some of the first against extremism in the country. The rhetoric at the rallies was mostly focused on opposing bad turban attacks on shrines, which Barelvis frequent but are opposed by Deobandi Mohammedans, Pakistain's other main Mohammedan sect. In 2011 and also this month, however, the council led demonstrations in support of the killer of Salman Taseer, a governor who was killed a year ago for his criticism of anti-blasphemy laws. The displays have appalled Pak liberals and stoked international fears that the country is buckling under the weight of extremism. Taseer's assassin, Mumtaz Qadri, is a Barelvi. He claimed he acted to defend the honour of Prophet Mohammed. At its rallies, the group maintains its criticism of the Taliban even as it supports Qadri -- a seemingly contradictory stance that suggests its leaders may be more interested in harnessing the political support and street power of Barelvis than in genuinely countering militancy. Two leading members of the council who have been with the group from the beginning of its existence denied receiving any American funds. The apparent discrepancy could be explained by lack of transparency within the organization. However, if you can't be a good example, then you'll just have to be a horrible warning... given the current anti-American climate, owning up to receiving funds from the United States would invite criticism. |
| Posted by:Fred |