Saqlain Imam 2

Subject: I am available
Date: Tue, 20 Nov 2001 01:19:52 +0500
From: "Saqlain Imam" <imam6@hotmail.com>
To: drsuzyb@blockbooks.com

Dear Suzy,

Oh my God I missed your show because I opened my mailbox on Monday evening. I was out of town. I would be too formal if I repeated sorry. Well I missed your show! However, you can call me at my home number, or at my office number any time you like. If you call me some hours or a day before your show then I'll make sure that I must be present around the telephone set when you call me for the show.

After reading your brief travelogue of South Asia including Afghanistan, I am sure that you are the person I would definitely admire and adore most. I feel a bit embarrassed when I read the part of an attempted rape. I can imagine that that must have been a trauma. Because rape is such an act that even animals do not commit.

But what I believe that the person who made that attempt must have taken you for granted. And similarly, the person who told his family that you would marry him must have also taken you for granted. In fact, our society is generally segregated and thus people feel sexually starved. Generally, whenever a male get an opportunity to come closer to a girl he would make an attempt to have sex.

Believe me people in general in this part of the world think that every occidental woman is available for sex. Perhaps that was the reason that both persons took you for granted. Anyhow their act is not worthy of any defense.

However, you had a good and memorable traveling, that's fine. If I were in their place I would have also made an attempt, but of course not a rape-like attempt. But your boisterous way of living which is full of energy, has also made me curious to see you! Hope to see you very soon. By the way I'm not a rich guy. Journalists generally are not rich guys. May I invite you to make a trip to Pakistan? May I be allowed to consider you as my friend?

My stay in NY was terrific. I wasn't a degree student, just a certificate course student so I was not considered a full time student. However, I still want to study there, but now it seems more difficult. You know NY was like a cradle of new civilization. Village, Broadway, Statue of Liberty, Twin Towers (which now stand destroyed) NYU, Columbia University and sub-ways: it’s a combination of two extremes of history, both past and future. People are friendly and cooperative. I can't forget my stay there in NY. I couldn't believe when I heard twin towers had been hit by two planes and burnt completely. I think it was most dastardly act of violence. I had written piece immediately after the 9/11 tragedy, which I sent to friends. I'll try to send it to you if could get a copy of it. However, I have a copy of answers, which I sent to a person who had sent me some questions to defend Taliban.

I convinced him that Taliban were absolutely wrong don't support them just because they are Muslims and America is a Christian country (people in general in Muslim countries and in particular in Pakistan take it as a war between Islam and Christianity. You must understand this point and then talk to common Muslims) copy of that question-answer (as "ANSWER") is attached just below this mail (I could not attach it seperately, sorry). Please read that discussion with this perspective that it was written for Muslim readers.

Taliban were a scourge for us. They killed innocent people. plundered common people. see how the people of Kabul have reacted immediately after their retreat from that city. They feel free. Rushed to barber shops to shave their faces! Women came out of their homes. Children shouted with joy. I can write a lot more but I fear for my safety. Pakistan's security agency, ISI, is still in power and it is still supporting Taliban like people in Pakistan. As long as I am in Pakistan I cannot write against ISI. It would be too dangerous for me.

I'll be available on your phone call. Please stay in touch. You seem to be an extremely nice person. I highly appreciate your response.

Saqlain Imam

Sister & Brother and Clown on a festive Friday afternoon in Balkh, Afghanistan .... Photos: SB

QUESTIONS:

From: Iqbal Javed
Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 9:05 AM
To: Hussain, Ashiq F.; Kamal, Asif; Habiby, Fakhruddin A.; Imtiaz Raja Rizwan; Ali, Syed N.; Baig, Tahir J.
Subject: FW: Pakistan's Policy

>-----Original Message-----

From: Shahid Younis Khan
Sent: Saturday, October 27, 2001 8:22 AM
To: Hakeem, Junaid; Ali, Monazzam;

Assalaam-o-alaikum.

I am receiving mails as a part of this list since long. So, I think my e-mail to all on this list won't be considered unsolicited. Also, I am sure this is not voice of some particular political party. I have few questions to ask:

1) How many of you think Musharraf came in power b/c of Nawaz Sharif's follies??? Does anyone remember Gen. Zenni's remarks upon his retirement??? He said: "Musharraf is our last hope in Pakistan"!!!

2) How many of you remember an American attorney's remarks during Amil Kansi's case??? He said " Pakistanis could sell their mother in $50; so, why such a big bill"!! Perhaps, Musharraf's mother has a higher price!

3) How many of you think that Taliban are attacked b/c of Osama and 911 attack??? Has anyone read the Neaz A Naik's comments a couple of days after 911??? He said "Americans informed me 6 months ago that they will attack Afghanistan b/w Oct 3 and Oct. 13"!!! And, Afghanistan was attacked exactly in the middle of these 2 dates!!!

4) How many of you think Taliban as a despotic regime??? If following Islam is despotism then why so-called secular Muslims call themselves Muslims and Pakistanis??? Why don't they leave Pakistan (I'm sure many of them already have ... but, they still identify themselves as Pakistanis)??? Pakistan was made in the name of Islam and for Islam only and not for so-called secular regimes!!! Those who think Taliban are despotic should remove the veil of secularism and western propaganda from their eyes!!! Those who think that by picturing them between 2 high-rise dogs will make them secular/liberal (like Musharraf did) and simultaneously keep them Muslim are wrong ... There no neutral point in a war b/w Kufr and Islam. Just like Bush says ... either I am with Muslims or I am against Muslims.

5) How many of you think that American bas...ds are for Democracy??? If you foolishly think so then go and read books by Nixon, Kissinger and others ...you will know that it's Americans who support all those actually "despotic" regimes. Also, try to listen to some dissident voices in the west... I can give you few links for reference: http://www.zmag.org/chomsky/index.cfm
http://www.duke.org/

6) How many of you think that American war is against terrorism??? Those who foolishly think so should read what their beloved western media is saying... try to read news items beyond the "war against terrorism" ... you will know why they are after in central Asia!!!

7) In the last, how many of you know the significance of Afghanistan in the light of Ahadith??? The Khurasan of Prophet's time is present day Afghanistan and Northwestern Pakistan though, there is also a province with this name in Iran). I am attaching a file containing few adhadiths ... the >interpretations are from the writer and no one knows whether those are correct.>

8) How many of you understand why India attack at LoC in Kashmir??? Didn't they, as docile servants of USA, agreed not to take advantage of the ongoing situation??? They did it only on the signal from USA ... they wanted to make sure that people like us start saying what we have started saying: "it's not a good time to topple Musharraf"!!! So, Musharraf is getting support from India, too. I know most of you would call it rubbish but I can't help in shying my self away from truth.

Please, open up your eyes and minds ...please, stop going away from Islam in the name of secularism. It won't pay anything ... this secularism is also a kind of Dajjaal that shows us paradise and sends us to Hell.

Wa'salaam.

The Stunning Blue Mosque of Mazar-I-Sharif ..................................Blue Mosque Sleeper...... PPhotos: SB

(Saqlain's) ANSWER

Dear brothers,

Assalam-o-Alaikum.

I take this opportunity to say few words on each question (see below), which must be seen in a situation that is fluid and dynamic. Because it is easy to raise questions in a static situation score points but of now use for Pakistan. First, one must understand that neither America is our ideal nor Bush a hero. Similarly, Mullah Umar or Taliban are not our ideals. If the questioner doesn't know about the cruel and cold-blooded ways of Taliban accorded to people of Afghanistan, then he must revise his whole approach. Taliban and people of that type have been created by western intelligence agencies. Right from Lawrence of Arabia to James Baker, all one way or the other raised and nurtured this creed, which is now hanging all over the Muslim world. Now there seem to be a fight: Thieves fight when they divide!

In fact, if at all there is sympathy for Taliban it is not because of their righteousness, it is so because of general hatred for the USA. And USA has also earned this hatred due to its unswerving support for Israel. Why don't common people in the Muslim world hate other Western countries as much as they hate AMERICA? There are some other hangovers of the cold war era when USA was taken as anti-thesis to the USSR. During the cold war era, all religious groups of the Muslim world played a role of stooges of USA and were deployed against the USSR.

May I ask since when Israel has been killing Palestinians? And since when Osama and his company espoused Palestinian cause to wage their 'Jihad' against America? I think that even a naïve would say that Palestinian issue has been there since 1948. And it was there even during the 1980s when these forerunners of Taliban and people of Arab descent like Osama were engaged in 'Jihad' against USSR forces in Afghanistan on behalf of America. So how come and why all these puppets of America are now so much sanctified that any one who opposes them is dubbed 'kafir' (infidel).

I think this culture of dubbing each other 'kafir' is a major contribution of people like Osama and Taliban. For them even a slightest offence is equal to a grave offence. This is one of thearticles of faith of Khawarij. The followers of this creed also believe in killing innocent people to achieve their ideological object, the ideological object that they define. Now they say the killing of Christians is a Quranic order, but earlier they were fighting along with the same Christians against a 'Communist' regime!

Moreover, these 'Jihadis' of Afghanistan who have no love for the poor people of Afghanistan. They themselves are using residential areas in Afghanistan as their shield and then in a cheapest possible manner use the shots of innocent people's dead bodies in the Al-Jazeera TV for their mean purpose. It's a typical propaganda technique.They allow a selective media team to visit Afghanistan. Is it a great service to Afghan people? They themselves are one of the major sources of miseries of Afghan people. Would you forget that just after 9/11, Afghan Ulema (Scholars) Shura, which was convened by the Taliban regime, which had asked Osama to leave Afghanistan? Did he leave or dug in to use the land and people of Afghanistan as his shield?

Perhaps, the current bombing on Afghanistan has aroused our "pale humanism" and we have started crying against America. That is what Arundatty Roy (an Indian writer) is doing. We were never loved by America, but Osama and his likes were American darlings. Now why they are fighting? For us? For Palestinians? For Kashmir? For Chechens? For Afghans?

For whom? They used drug money to finance their 'Jihad'. They have got hundreds of millions of dollars and claim to represent poor people of the Muslim world. And any one who doesn't follow them is dubbed 'kafir.' At least, I don't have this much big stomach!

Afghan Veteran of an Older War, Kabul, Afghanistan ... Photo: SB

Now coming to questions. Here are brief answers:

(1) It is obvious to everybody that Nawaz Sharif tried to remove him and when he was in the air, the 'Jihadi' generals of the Pakistan Army took over Prime Minister House. Not the secular generals. General Zinni may have a good opinion about Musharraf because antagonizing Musharraf and company could have brought further strategic problems for US interest which has one of the major aims is to contain Iran.

(2) A remark which has no broader meaning cannot be applied to the present situation because the same lawyer retracted it. Moreover, fabulous internecine wars are part of Muslim history. Many Muslim historians have noted that "had this not happened...Muslims would have done that.."

(3) Well that is correct USA and her allies were planning to attack Afghanistan. America also attacked Afghanistan in 1998 after Nairobi and Darussalam bombing. Apart from this Taliban had been isolating themselves in spite of the fact that their friends in Pakistan had been suggesting them to exercise some restraint, some kind of sanity, but they altogether rejected any 'sane' advice.

(4) There is no doubt that they are despot. Islam does not allow savagery. Islam is a religion of peace. Islam allows differences. Islam suggests consultation. Even the Holy prophet (PBUH) who always spoke the words of Allah, allowed consultation. When a prophet allows consultation then why don't his so-called followers allow it. The present fight between Taliban and USA is not a war between Islam and 'kufr'. A reclusive cleric with no knowledge has no right to decide about the fate of over a billion Muslims of the world. If America is killing Afghan Muslims, so Taliban and Osama's company are doing. Do you think Commander Abdul Haq has been executed for any Islamic purpose. There is not a single fighter among Taliban who fought more valiantly against the Soviet forces in the 1980s than Commander Haq. And now he is killed because he was trying to engage some Taliban and Pushtoon leaders to form a broad-based government. For goodness sake, do some justice with other Muslims who are not with Taliban or Osama.

(5) Well it is not the moot point. No one believes that America is all out for democracy. It is the strategic interests of a state which directs it to change or amend a policy. So did 'communists.' So did Muslim rulers. Haven't you read that Muslim rulers disallowed mass conversion of 'kafirs' of the conquered areas due to fear of the loss of revenue? Apart from this, America is not our ideal. We should know what do we want. A despot or a democrat? Taliban are not the touchstone.

(6) This question is based on a premises that America is really a champion of good. Not at all. They have used this opportunity to advance their strategic interests. But who is at responsible for that? America or our beloved 'Jihadis' ?

(7) Well the word, as the questioner has pointed out, is "Khurasan". It may be any area of that region. Naturally if the present day pro-Taliban would read it he would say it is about Taliban. But if a pro-Iran would read it he would say it is about Iran and Iranian revolution. Moreover, the Hadith of the Prophet (PBUH) is not very authentic. However, another Hadith of the prophet (PBUH) is presented for a rethinking: Ibn Umar (Allah be pleased with him) reported the Prophet (Peace be upon him) as saying: "Oh Allah, bless us in our Syria; O Allah, bless us in our Yemen." Those present said: "And in our Najd, O Messenger of Allah!" But he said, "O Allah, bless us in our Syria; O Allah, bless us in our Yemen." Those present said, "And in our Najd, Messenger of Allah!" Ibn Umar said that he thought that he said on the third occasion: "Earthquakes and fitnah are there, and there shall arise the horn of ash-Shaytaan." [Sahih al-Bukhari]. When Abu Umama saw the heads of the rebels hoisted on poles in Damascus he wept and said: "The dogs of the people of the Fire." Then he was asked: "Is this from you or from the Messenger of Allah"? He said: "From the Messenger of Allah, and I have heard him say it not once (but more), nor twice (but more), nor three times (but more)" until he reached seven times.

Then he was asked about his weeping and he said: "Out of compassion for them. They used to be Muslim and they became kafir." Narrated by Tirmidhi (hasan), Ibn Majah, and Ahmad through several chains. [Sahih At-Tirmithi, Ibn Majah, Ahmad bin Hanbal]

(8) It is too naïve to believe that India is a docile ally of the USA. India would like to take advantage of any situation and it has been doing so. If it did not attack Pakistan it doesn't mean that it wanted to give favour to Musharraf government. India cannot win a war against Pakistan, so what's the use of attacking Pakistan. Isn't it better to curry favours of the world and keep Pakistan blackmailed? I think that's Indian policy today. Moreover, Musharraf has saved the infrastructure of nuclear arsenal by aligning Pakistan with America. Otherwise Pak nuclear installation would been one of the targets of the world. Do you know that ISI's has been implicated in the WTC attack on 9/11. One of the suiciders, Muhammad Atta, had received $100,000/- from a Pakistani, Umar Saeed Sheikh, who was very close to the then DG ISI? Now suppose what would have happened if Pakistan has gone with Taliban. Think for a moment rationally, for goodness sake!

I am glad the questioner has mentioned Dajjal. Secularism may be any thing but Dajjal. Because traditions on Dajjal say he would pretend himself as the best Muslim and not a secular. If memory serves me well the legend of Dajjal also mentions that he would be blind from one eye. Just check out who is blind from one eye!

I would very humbly urge the Muslim brothers that in their hate for America they must not burn their own houses. Taliban and people like Osama declare followers of all other schools of Islam as 'kafir' or 'mushrik'. Is this a way to unite Ummah? In the end, allow me to say that my frank views on this very important issue may cause serious danger to my life. It is so because of the Taliban's killer gangs who are also called 'Jihadi' groups! They have been killing innocent people all across Pakistan.

Allah may guide us well and protect us from profound conspiracies.

Wassalam.
Saqlain Imam

Men & Boys, Bamian, Afghanistan..... Photo: SB

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