Asia Times: Saudis raise the Ramadan stakes


	November 7, 2001	atimes.com

India/Pakistan

Saudis raise the Ramadan stakes
By Syed Saleem Shahzad

KARACHI - As has happened so many times since the September 11 attacks in the United States, Pakistan is being pulled in different directions over its support for the US-led bombing of Afghanistan.

With pressure mounting daily in the Muslim world, and from Saudi Arabia in particular, for Washington to call off its air strikes against Afghanistan during the holy month of Ramadan, due to begin in less than two weeks, Islamabad is torn over whether to join in the call or not.

On the one hand it wants to stay on the right side of the US, on the other hand it faces growing popular unrest within the country, possible condemnation from other Muslim nations and the ire of the Taliban, whom it helped put into power in 1996.

According to informed sources, the recent visit to Pakistan of senior US defense officials was aimed at persuading Pakistan to assist the US in expanding its support base in the war on terrorism by providing troops to be deployed in Afghanistan. The same request is believed to have been made to India.

Sources say that Pakistan's military regime has not refused the request, but has suggested that it could send a limited number of special ground forces should the Taliban be pushed out of the capital, Kabul, to the southern regions.

Islamabad is committed to playing a part in any post-Taliban government as it cannot afford to have an anti-Pakistan administration in Kabul that would be a friend of Pakistan's arch-rival, India.

Events in Saudi Arabia, though, are also coming into play for Pakistan. Several Saudi envoys have recently visited Pakistan to meet with President General Pervez Musharraf to brief him on developments in their country.

Last Friday, in a sermon in the holy city of Mecca delivered by the imam (Islamic cleric), the US was lambasted for the killing of innocent Afghans, and it was clearly said that no Muslims were involved in the September attacks. The veracity of the views is not the issue, what is important is that they are believed by increasing numbers of people within Saudi Arabia, which has committed itself to the US war against terrorism.

According to reports, support for Osama bin Laden, last known to be holed up in Afghanistan, appears to be running at an all-time high in his native Saudi Arabia, while anger grows at the US bombing campaign. Many Saudis refuse to believe that bin Laden was connected to the terror attacks in the US.

Public opinion apart, many within the elite class in Saudi Arabia side with bin Laden and see an Arab resurgence in his movement. Mamnoon Hussain, the former governor of Sindh province and secretary general of the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz Group), recently visited Saudi Arabia to meet his exiled leader, Nawaz Sharif.

He told this correspondent that he met at least 50 Saudi nobles, and only one of them said he was pro-US, while all of the others had praise for bin Laden. Also, Saudi religious scholars, who command great respect among the masses, have not spoken out against bin Laden.

These influences have certainly been noted by the Saudi monarchy, which has made it clear to US authorities that if the bombing continues during Ramadan they fear that they will not be able to contain public sentiment. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that millions of people are expected to make the haj pilgrimage to Mecca during Ramadan. One spark set off among them could have a domino effect across Saudi Arabia and the Arab world.

These fears have been conveyed to Pakistan over its support for the US bombing campaign, which Islamabad is now saying should be halted, something that the US says will not happen.

With the execution of Abdul Haq at the hands of the Taliban, for trying to incite rebellion within their ranks, the US has little choice other than to send in ground troops to attempt, with the Northern Alliance, to at least capture Mazar-e-Sharif, after which they can march towards Kabul. This has to be done before winter sets in, though, otherwise the Taliban will be given months to regroup.

Meanwhile, sources have confirmed that Mullah Mohammed Zain, the Taliban deputy minister of defense, is in Iran for a second official visit in recent times. Several other unofficial Taliban visits to Iran have been reported.

Sources said that the support expressed for the Taliban by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, a former Afghan prime minister who lives in Tehran, opens options for Iran to play a part in supporting the Taliban. Indeed, sources hinted that Iran had already pledged material support to them to fight US attacks.

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