EFL
The northern districts of Pakistan's North West Frontier Province are replete with Jihadi sentiments despite President Pervez Musharraf's crackdown on organisations shouting the slogan of 'holy war' against Indian forces in Indian-Occupied Kashmir and US led forces in Afghanistan. "To most people visiting parts of Malakand division, Lower, Upper Dir and Chitral districts, it does not come as much of a surprise that Jihadi sentiments are still flourishing," said an observer. "It's almost natural that the conservative natives would harbour such feelings given the unwelcoming environment of the post-9/11 world. America's hostile attitude towards the Muslim world has forced banned militant outfits to reopen their recruitment offices and start advertising their contact numbers on walls in order to encourage new recruits." Over the years, the above mentioned areas of the NWFP have served as the breeding ground for volunteers willing to wage holy war in Pakistan's neighbours, Kashmir and Afghanistan. "We are fighting a war of liberation in Indian occupied Kashmir in order to secure the right of self-determination for the Kashmiris," said Rehmat Muneer, the district commander of banned Harkatul Mujahideen, which is presently functioning under the "Jamiatul Ansar" banner. "We are fighting because it is our Islamic duty as Muslims to wage holy war against those who encroach upon our lands and usurp our rights," said Muneer.
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