by Abdulhadi Hairan

Created on: October 27, 2007   Last Updated: November 06, 2007

Recent news of Pakistan's president's Gen. Pervez Musharraf suspending the constitution and establishing military rule solicits concerns about this US ally in the War on Terror. But, for those living in Pakistan, the concerns are magnified by an encroaching Muslim militancy.

Once known as paradise on the earth (at least for Pakistanis) for its natural beauty, tourist spots, ancient heritage and peaceful people, Swat Valley has now become stronghold of the pro-Taliban militants who have destroyed nearly all music centers, net cafes, barber shops and other markets of the area through bomb explosions to impose their Sharia laws.

People of Swat Valley were then happier, more peaceful and more educated than the Pashtoons of other areas. They were considered lucky for their naturally and historically rich locality and different attitude toward life.

The cult of extremism engulfed all the Pashtoon-dominated areas including Swat when America, Europe and Arab countries launched jihad against Soviet Forces in Afghanistan. The secret agencies established countless madrassahs all over which produced armies of extremists and militants for fighting in Afghanistan.

After America won the jihad, all the involved countries returned to their own businesses and left Afghanistan in the hands of those extremists and militants. They were addicted to kill, behead, destroy and abduct people. So they continued this 'business' which they still like to call jihad. They killed millions of people and destroyed their livings. They also mercilessly killed and beheaded each other to satisfy their addiction.

The Pakistani militants and extremists, backed by the country's intelligence agencies, continued to teaching and preaching extremism and training militants in their madrassas. They were always used for political motives in the name of Islam and jihad.

In 90s, a militant leader named Maulana Sufi Mohammad, who was heading Tehrik-e-Nifaz-e-Sharia-Mohammadi (Movement for Imposing Mohammedan Sharia), ordered his men to attack government buildings. They captured some places but security forces repelled them and fierce fighting erupted in which both sides bore heavy casualties.

When US forces attacked on Afghanistan to eliminate terrorism after the 9/11 incident, Maulana Sufi Mohammad send thousands of Pakistanis to Afghanistan to fight American forces. Most of them are still missing and it is not known whether they are died or alive.

On his return from Afghanistan to Pakistan without the thousands

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