Jewish World Review June 13, 2002 / 3 Tamuz, 5762

Walid Phares

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Plans for 'Islamic bomb' are well underway


http://www.jewishworldreview.com | It is no secret to any average analyst of the Jihadist movement worldwide, that al-Qaida has become an organization of global geo-politics. It's planning and moves are of regional and international scope. Not only were they able to score a deep hit inside the United States on September 11, drawing Washington into Central Asia, but apparently, they are about to succeed in drawing both India and Pakistan into a regional clash of the Titans.

I contend that the current state of quasi war between the two old enemies was carefully triggered by a successive series of moves and action on behalf of the Jihadist coalition.

Remember the speeches of Bin Laden back in the Fall . He said in Arabic: "our enemies are the Crusaders, the Zionists and the Hindus." Al-Jazeera aired multiple programs accusing India-Israel-USA of forming an alliance against Islam. And. last but not least, several statements were made by Jihadist groups, including Osama's, about the "need to use the magnificent nuclear resources of Pakistan."

Now the facts. Back in October, and after President Bush committed the United States to an international campaign against Terrorism, it was clear to al-Qaida that the US strike was coming to Afghanistan. Hence, a second line of defense was established in Western Pakistan and in the streets of Lahore, Islambad and other Pakistani cities. There, the Islamic Fundamentalists mobilized the neighborhoods and pressured Musharref. The main leverage the Jihadists had over him was their capability of inflaming Kashemire. The Pakistani self proclaimed President knew he had to act fast. Once American-led forces were moving to Tora Bora, he clumped on his hardline Islamists and delivered his historic speech against militant religion.

Moving to the next stage and in order to punish him, the al-Qaida allies set fire to their territory in Kashemire. Their plan was simple:Drag India and Pakistan into a war, so that they would topple Musharraf, and ultimately take over the nuclear facilities of the country.

India and Pakistan have a old conflict about their mutual existence. Nationalist forces on both sides resents the international borders as designed since 1947. The two countries clashed in three wars since their independence. In the center of the conflict, the specific question of the province Cashmere. While India considers it part of its historic lands, Pakistan raises the fact that the majority of it's people are Muslims, and therefore should separate.

But between the two countries, a third player is taking advantage of the conflict: The Jihadist movement.

Since the early 1990s, various Islamic Fundamentalist organizations established themselves in Cashmere, and were backed by Pakistan's intelligence. Among them a number of veterans from the Mujahedeen in Afghanistan. By the mid 1990s, and as the Taliban took over in Kabul, the Bin Laden factions infiltrated the Cashmere Jihadist groups.

After September 11, Bin Laden's initial plan was to inflame the sub Indian region. In his October video tape he openly attacked the Hindus, and called the Cashmere situation a "jabha", meaning a "battlefront." By the end of the Fall, al-Qaida's allies attacked Indian sites, including later on the Parliament. These deliberate attacks drew India into mobilization, and hence mobilized Pakistan.

The al-Qaida moves on the "Cashmere battlefront" were clearly designed to deflect the international campaign against Terrorism. What al-Qaida really aims at is the following:

a) All out military operations between India and Pakistan regardless of nuclear use and consequences.

b) Use the opportunity to move against the regime in Pakistan, topple Musharraf, if possible.

c) As a result, take over the commands of the Pakistani nuclear arsenal.



JWR contributor Dr. Walid Phares is a professor of Ethnic and Religious Conflict at Florida Atlantic University. He is an expert on the Middle East and the Jihad movement and a frequent contributor to MSNBC. Comment by clicking here.

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© 2002, Dr. Walid Phares