A Rashid: Militant Islam in Asia -1/5

Ahmed Rashid - renowned UK-based Pakistani analyst and author of such acclaimed books as "Descent into Chaos: The U.S. and the Disaster in Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Central Asia", "Taliban: Militant Islam, Oil and Fundamentalism in Central Asia", and "Jihad: The Rise of Militant Islam in Central Asia" - discusses the rise of militant Islam in Central and South Asia. He describes in detail Islamic revivalism following Soviet Unions collapse, Saudi Arabian policy of exporting its Wahabi fanaticism, establishment of Islamic schools to produce fighters for proxy wars, the ignorance of Islamic history of Jihadi group, as well as the role of autocratic regimes in Muslim countries in formenting extremism by denying fundamental liberties and popular representation. This interview was recorded in March 2002 but is still very relevant today.

PLEASE READ MY COMMENTS ON THE VIDEO BEFORE WATCHING.

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[KashifHKhan]

PART VIII:

That being said, the ruling regimes are not guilt free either. They themselves offer no solutions to poor employment, education, infrastructure, healthcare, and representation issues. Worse, they are forced to act under US and Western pressure to suppress extremist groups. The suppression - in the form of outright ban or incarceration or curtail of activities - forces "jihadi" organizations to go underground where they become even more radicalized....hoping for a revoluation.

-Kashif

[KashifHKhan]

PART VII:

Finally, militant Islamic groups do not offer any solutions to chronic regional problems (like massive poverty, poor heath-care). The entire focus seems to be a biding hate for the ruling elite (seen as corrupt stooges of Western powers). It is assumed - erroneously - that by "turning back the clock", all societal problems will simply disappear. Iran provides a sobering rebuke to this belief. Despite implementation of Sharia law, public is worse off than it was under the Shah.

-Kashif

[KashifHKhan]

PART VI:

The fundamentalist "jihadi" organizations - as well as "madrassas" that supply recruits - are ignorant of the multi-cultural, multi-religious, and mutli-ethnic legacy of Muslim empires. For example, discussion of the cosmopolitanism of Indian, Ottoman, and Persian empires is completely absent from "madrassa" curriculum and "jihadi" discourse. Even "Jihad" is defined in its militaristic sense; broader meaning of self improvement (via becoming a better human being) is ignored.

-Kashif

[KashifHKhan]

PART V:

Pakistan co-opted "jihadi" network (established on its soil) after withdrawal of Soviet Union from Afghanistan to fight a proxy war in Kashmir. In addition, it facilitated establishment of a fundamentalist regime (ie. Taliban) in Afghanistan to gain "strategic depth" against India. In keeping with Islamization under Zia in the 1980s, Pak Army even exported recruits of its Jihadi network to Bosnia and Chechnya. The "Jihadi" ideology in turn started radicalizing Pakistani society.

-Kashif

[KashifHKhan]

PART IV:

Saudi Arabia not only supplied funding (via its petro-dollar income) for "jihad" but also provided religious justification for it (via its "Wahabi" brand of Islam). It is interesting to note that export of "Wahabiism" - an extremely austere form of Islam that is a state religion of Saudi Arabia - had been a state policy since early 1970s. Moreover, the kingdom saw an Afghan "jihad" as an opportunity to rid herself of native extremists as well as balance influence of Shia Iran.

-Kashif

[KashifHKhan]

PART III:

The US and Saudi Arabia both played critical roles in introduction of militant Islam in South Asia. US was interested in a proxy war against Soviet Union in Afghanistan and fought it by encouraging a "Jihad" (ie. holy war) against the "infidels". An extensive network of "madrassas" were established with CIA help to imbue militant religious fervor as well as impart combat training. Moreover, fundamentalists from around the Muslim world were encouraged to join the "jihad".

-Kashif

[arumugamyau]

He is is brilliant journalist !

[imran597]

he is a traitor ghaddar playing in the hands of america and israel always speaking against muslims i doubt whether he is a muslim or not

[KashifHKhan]

PART II:

It is not surprising that after collapse of Soviet Union, Central Asia experienced an Islamic revival. Soviet communism had suppressed religion and native culture, introduced a Sovietized version of history, put off introduction of local leadership in favor of ethnic Russians, and amalgamated hundreds of ethnic groups into five states. The collapse of the old system encouraged people to discover themselves while defeat of the Red Army in Afghanistan enhanced appeal of Islam.

-Kashif

[KashifHKhan]

PART I:

This is a good analysis of rise of militant Islam in Central and South Asia over the past 20-30 years. Rashid provides an overview of (a) local conditions facilitating Islamic revival, (b) role of external forces in promoting extremism, (c) co-opting of fundamentalism by regional powers for geopolitical aims, (d) poor understanding of Islamic history by fundamentalist organizations, and most importantly, (e) lack of solutions for chronic societal problems by extremist groups.

-Kashif