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Special Dispatch |5030 |October 26, 2012   Rising Pakistani Politician Imran Khan, In U.S. On Fundraising Trip, Justifies Taliban's 'Jihad In Afghanistan' Against U.S. Forces, Accuses Jewish/Israeli Lobby Of Attacking Pakistan's Nuclear Program Image source: Insaf.pk Known for his mass public campaign against the U.S. drone strikes on Taliban hideouts, rising Pakistani politician Imran Khan is currently visiting the U.S. for fundraising events organized by the U.S. branch of his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. According to the official PTI website, Khan will address a fundraising dinner at the Soundview Studios in New York City on October 26, 2012. The event will be broadcast live worldwide and is expected to be viewed by Pakistani diaspora and people in Pakistan. Imran Khan is a globally celebrated cricketer who captained his country's cricket team to win the 1992 World Cup, and after retirement from cricket has emerged as an immensely popular leader in Pakistan, mainly due to his anti-U.S. campaign that has sought to channel popular Pakistani public opinion against the U.S. drone attacks on Taliban hideouts. Khan also opposed the unilateral U.S. unilateral raid that killed Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in May 2011, arguing that the U.S. violated Pakistan's sovereignty. Although Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) is not expected to win the 2013 elections in Pakistan, which follows a parliamentary form of democracy in which the prime minister and the president are not directly elected by people, he has definitely emerged as a popular leader in Pakistan. A large section of youth and religious groups express support for Khan's PTI. With growing popularity, Khan's statements and political positions have also been examined minutely by the Pakistani media in recent years. Excerpts are given below from Pakistani media reports, which indicate that Khan has recently sought to justify the Taliban's waging of jihad against the U.S. and NATO forces in Afghanistan while simultaneously refusing to condemn the Taliban in Pakistan. Media reports indicate that Khan opposes the U.S. role in Pakistan to the extent of saying that Pakistan doesn't need any U.S. aid. At the same time, Khan has also sought to garner the support of rightwing Pakistani public opinion that is sympathetic to the Taliban and opposed to India and the United States. In the statements given below, Khan also alleges that the Jewish/Israeli lobby in America controls the global media and is working to undermine Pakistan's nuclear program. Pakistani Newspaper Report: Imran Khan Says "War In Afghanistan Is Jihad" In October 2012, after visiting Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year-old Pakistani girl attacked by the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for her advocacy of girls' education and opposition in an anonymous online diary to the Taliban's enforcement of Islamic shari'a in Pakistan's Swat district in early 2009, Imran Khan justified the waging of jihad in Afghanistan. Following are excerpts from an October 11, 2012 media report titled "War in Afghanistan is jihad, says Imran": "Terming the ongoing war in Afghanistan a 'jihad,' Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan parried a question... whether the war in Pakistan's tribal belt could be labelled as terrorism. He was addressing a press conference in Peshawar after paying a visit to inquire after the health of Malala Yousafzai. "The PTI chief condemned the attack on Malala, saying attacking children was against the teachings of Islam and Pashtun traditions, and offered every possible help to Malala's family. Imran added that there was a need to investigate the motivations of various Taliban factions operating in the country, adding that the decision to carry out a military operation in Waziristan in 2004 and the Lal Masjid episode [i.e. 2007 military operation against militants in Islamabad] were 'the main reasons' behind the violence across the country. "[He said:] 'In the guise of the Taliban, there are several criminal gangs who didn't even spare PTI workers by demanding extortion money.' The PTI chief said that 'drone attacks are carried out with the consent of the government, and in reaction, Taliban attack civilians."' According to a video of his statement made at the press conference in Peshawar, Imran Khan said: "Jihad is a very simple thing. When I wage a war for my freedom, it is jihad. It's averse of the Koran; it's straight clear. [When] one fights for his freedom, it's jihad. Those who are fighting in Afghanistan against foreign occupation, it's jihad." Afghan Websites: Afghan Government, Lawmakers Condemn Khan's Jihad Comment According to an Afghan website, "The Afghan government has strongly condemned... Imran Khan for calling the ongoing war in Afghanistan against foreign troops 'jihad.' Farhad Azimi, Deputy Secretary of the Afghan Parliament... said, 'This is clear interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs. We urge the Pakistani government to arrest people who support the Taliban'.... "Hamid Zazai, managing director of Mediothek, an Afghan-German NGO... said, 'The war in Afghanistan is not jihad. This is a war by terrorists against Afghanistan, its people and the entire international community.' He alleged that Khan is receiving support from the Taliban, and that by making such statements, he is just 'paving the way for stronger Taliban support than what he is enjoying now.'" According to a report on the Afghan website Tolonews.com: "Afghan lawmakers ... slammed the recent statement made by former Pakistani cricketer and politician Imran Khan that the war in Afghanistan was Jihad or Islamic 'holy war.' The lawmakers said that such statements incense people against the Afghan government and foreign forces and ignite more instability in the country. "'Imran Khan was pro-American in the past, but now he's following the ideas of ISI [Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence known for supporting the Taliban],' Badakhshan MP Fawzia Koofi said. Daikundi MP Asadullah Sahadati said that Khan was not the only one making these statements. 'Several Pakistani organs are making propaganda against Afghanistan,' he said." In TV Interview, Imran Khan Justifies Taliban's 2009 Enforcement Of Shari'a Rule In Swat, States: "When People Talk Of Shari'a, What Is That Shari'a? The Common People, Who Are Pakistani, They All Want Shari'a" In an interview with television host Dr. Shahid Masood, Imran Khan answered a range of questions about his protest movement against the U.S. drone attacks and the anti-Taliban military operations as well as the 2009 enforcement of Islamic shari'a rule by the Taliban in Pakistan's Swat district. He observed: "Peace will return only if the people stand with you. They [i.e. the government] ruined everything by sending troops to the tribal region [to fight against the Taliban militants], and the extremist who was on the margin has become the mainstream... The second aspect is that there is a fear, that shari'a [rule] has arrived. Our so-called liberal class is afraid that shari'a has arrived; one doesn't [know] what would happen; hands will be chopped off [as punishments by the Taliban]. Shari'a is what makes us human... Shari'a brings justice and humanity in society; it's the name of a welfare state.... "Look at Allah's blessing that a liberal alliance [the governments of secular Pakistan People's Party in Islamabad and of secular Awami Nationalist Party] have brought shari'a [referring to shari'a-for-peace deal agreed between the government and the Taliban that led to enforcement of shari'a rule in Swat district against which Malala Yousafzai spoke].... "[Justifying the shari'a rule in Swat district] Look how wrong is [the late U.S. special representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Richard] Holbrooke's statement that shari'a rule will be very bad. Now, tell me, will they teach us which Islam to follow?... When people talk of shari'a, what is that shari'a? The common people, who are Pakistani, they all want shari'a...." In another interview, Khan stated: "It is shameful that we call ourselves Muslims and fear shari'a; what is shari'a? Shari'a is the path of the Prophet [Muhammad] peace be upon him. If you are a Muslim, you want to follow shari'a." Khan On Pakistani Government: "Who Is Benefiting From This War [Against Terrorism]?"; "Have You [i.e. Pakistani Government] Given Them [i.e. Americans] Permission To Kill Our Own People?" In June 2011, following an anti-U.S. protest meeting, Imran Khan was interviewed on the killing of Osama bin Laden, the Pakistani government's role in the U.S.-led war against terrorism, as well as recent attacks on the headquarters of Pakistan Army and Pakistan Navy by jihadist forces inside the military. Following are some excerpts from his June 16, 2011 interview: "Who is benefiting from this war [against terror]? The tiny elite. This sit-in [a protest meeting organized by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party] was directed at the government. It was telling them: 'Tell us the truth.' What is the real truth? Have you given them [i.e. Americans] the permission to kill our own people? "Secondly, it was directed towards the Americans – that the violation [e.g. killing of Osama bin Laden] of some country's sovereignty is against the United Nations charter. They are violating their own humanitarian laws. In the United States, all humanitarian laws are against anyone becoming judge, jury, and executioner....  "The attack on the naval headquarters [in Karachi on May 22, 2011] has shaken Pakistan. It has shaken Pakistan because there is a realization that if we keep on the path we are going, we could have mutiny in the army. Because, this was clearly an inside job. Clearly, people from within the navy or the air force were involved in this attack." "Over 80% Of The Pakistanis Think That The U.S. Is An Enemy; Why...? Because They Think That The U.S. Is Not Fighting A War Against Terror; It's A War Against Islam"   "I have been warning against this for a while, because according to all the polls taken in Pakistan, all the surveys, over 80% of the Pakistanis think that the U.S. is an enemy. Why do they think of them as an enemy? Because they think that the U.S. is not fighting a war against terror. It's a war against Islam.  "So, if 80% of the population thinks like that, then if you take it to the army, surely 80% of the armed personnel would also be thinking like that. That is why it is very dangerous – because so far, the attacks on [former Pakistani military ruler] General Musharraf both were from within the army. The attack on the headquarters ... [of Pakistan Army in Rawalpindi on October 10, 2009] – that was an inside job. Fifty of our commandos were blown up in the base – an inside job. There have been a lot of people caught, within the army, and then whisked away, and they disappeared, because they were thought to be involved in some sort of subversion or mutiny...  "Now if we keep going on this course which we have taken, it is so dangerous for Pakistan. It is dangerous for Pakistan because if anything happens within the army, the country is in real trouble, because that is the only thing that is holding the country together right now.  "Here is the U.S., and people in the West, saying that Pakistan could be destabilized, that Pakistan's nuclear assets could fall into the wrong hands, and yet they are doing so far in Pakistan, by asking us... pushing us to do more now, sending our troops, forcing us to go into North Waziristan [to fight against the Taliban], is actually destabilizing the country. All the actions are leading to a scenario where it could possibly happen – that the country could be so destabilized that the nuclear weapons could all into the wrong hands...." "If... [The Pakistani Government] Is Perceived To Be A Stooge Of America – Taking Dollars To Be A Hired Gun For The Americans, Then All We Are Doing Is Fanning Extremism, And This Is A Never-Ending War Which Will Destroy Pakistan" "May 2nd [the date of Osama bin Laden's assassination] took us all by shock. It was the biggest shock because here was Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan – the number one shock. Number two – he was not in the tribal areas of the wild areas, and actually in a city. Number three – we heard that the Pakistan government, army, or intelligence agencies provided the intelligence. Yet they didn't finish the job. The Americans came and killed him.... "There are so many question marks about Osama bin Laden: Was he there? What was he doing there? Who kept him there? How did he avoid detection? How did the Americans find out? Why didn't the Pakistanis know about it? And so on....  "The feeling in Pakistan is that we have a ruling elite that to fill its own pockets, rather than conducting reforms, which the country badly needs, rather than spending money on education, on human development, fighting corruption, setting up institutions, rule of law... "What they are doing is taking a shortcut, taking money from the U.S., pretending to be this people who are fighting Islamic radicalism – the word used is 'bulwark' against terrorism and Islamic extremism... They basically want the situation to continue just so the aid keeps coming, benefiting them, while the country sinks. They make a lot of money.  "So people feel that the time has come for a change. Say 'no' to aid. We do not want this aid. It is destroying our country. We want to stand on our own feet, be a sovereign country, and take responsibility for whatever happens within our borders. We should be... A sovereign, credible, democratic government should be responsible for all terrorism from its soil. But it can only do that if it is sovereign. If it is perceived to be a stooge of America – taking dollars to be a hired gun for the Americans, then all we are doing is fanning extremism, and this is a never-ending war which will destroy Pakistan...." In Interview, Khan Tells U.S.: "We Will Fight This War Our Own Way; We Don't Want Interference; We Don't Want Your Money; We Don't Want Your Aid" In another interview, Imran Khan also opposed the killing of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden in a unilateral U.S. military raid in Pakistan in May 2011, arguing that the U.S., being an ally, should have respected Pakistan's sovereignty. Following are excerpts from the interview: "I am a Pakistani citizen. My country has given 34,000 people dead in a war we had nothing to do with; $70 billion lost to the economy when the total [U.S.] aid has been $20 billion. How would I feel that my ally who we are fighting for doesn't trust us, instead comes and conducts the operation itself [to kill Osama bin Laden without informing Pakistan]; should it not have told our government; either it is an ally or it's not an ally.... Click here to read the full report Please remember the environment before printing.