Submit your comments on this article | |||
India-Pakistan | |||
Pakistani pamphlets link militants to Hindus, Jews | |||
2006-03-24 | |||
Pakistan's military airdropped pamphlets this week over towns in restive tribal regions near the Afghan border urging tribesmen to shun “foreign terrorists”, saying they were part of a Hindu and Jewish plot.
A Reuters reporter in Tank, a town close to the boundary with the semi-autonomous tribal agency of South Waziristan, obtained one of the pamphlets, bearing the sign-off “Well Wishers, Pakistan's Armed Forces”. Titled “Warning”, the pamphlets said the foreign militants were fighting against Pakistan in connivance with “Jews and Hindus”, a term that would play on traditional prejudices among the region's Muslim conservatives. “They (foreign militants) not only pose a danger to our sovereignty, but are also creating troubles for our people,” read the pamphlet, which appeared in both Urdu and Pashto language versions. “You should stay clear of these terrorists. Don't let them come close to your areas and houses and protect your land against them.”
Military spokesman Major-General Shaukat Sultan said he could not confirm that pamphlets were sponsored by the military, although residents say they saw military aircraft scattering the pamphlets over their neighbourhoods. The allusion to Hindus and Jews, otherwise, appears at odds with the trend in Pakistani foreign policy.
Remnants of al Qaeda and the Taliban -- including Arabs, Central Asians, Chechens and Afghans -- settled in Waziristan and other border areas after being ousted from Afghanistan by U.S.-led forces in late 2001. Pakistan's army has deployed in South and North Waziristan since late 2003 in an effort to root out foreign militants, but ran into fierce resistance from tribesmen who resent the army's intrusion into their lands. Up to 20 militants were killed in clashes early on Friday in the North Waziristan tribal region after a rocket attack on a military post killed one soldier and wounded two others. Earlier this month around 200 tribesmen were killed in clashes with the army in North Waziristan after a call to arms by militant clerics. Pakistan has captured or killed hundreds of al Qaeda members since Musharraf joined a U.S.-led war on terrorism after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States. Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden is widely believed to be hiding somewhere in Pakistan along with his deputy Ayman al-Zawahri. | |||
Posted by:Steve |
#3 As a Jew, I feel proud to be linked with the noble Hindus. Long may our alliance prosper! I'll put my money on the Judeo-Christian-Hindu alliance vs. those Muslim-Marxist-Anarchists any day. |
Posted by: Scooter McGruder 2006-03-24 21:19 |
#2 Well, everythings just fine then. Given the locals haven't seen a Hindu or a Jew in their life, everyone around is, well, "kosher" I guess. No Jews here... and the dance goes on. Maybe Perv should have added a cartoon to the leaflet. |
Posted by: Thinemp Whimble2412 2006-03-24 18:18 |
#1 A faxed copy of a pamphlet in the local Urdu language dropped by the Pakistani military aircraft in Wana, South Waziristan, and Miranshah, in North Waziristan bordering Pakistan, is shown in Islamabad March 24, 2006. Pakistan's military airdropped pamphlets this week over towns in restive tribal regions near the Afghan border urging tribesmen to shun 'foreign terrorists', saying they were part of a Hindu and Jewish plot. the pamphlets, bearing the sign-off 'Well Wishers, Pakistan's Armed Forces'. Titled 'Warning', the pamphlets said the foreign militants were fighting against Pakistan in connivance with 'Jews and Hindus', a term that would play on traditional prejudices among the region's Muslim conservatives. 'They (foreign militants) not only pose a danger to our sovereignty, but are also creating troubles for our people,' REUTERS/Mian Khursheed |
Posted by: john 2006-03-24 14:49 |