Religious Groups

"The government is totally acting against morality. It has violated law and Constitution and it has opened fire on the people and safeguarded the Americans. Therefore, the government has put the Pakistanis in jail for the safety of the Americans. It has disturbed the fundamental and civil rights of the people."

- Syed Munawwar Hussain, Acting Chief of Jamaat-e-Islam, interview with BBC

"We want to clarify to the US that no setup excluding the Taliban could succeed because they have ruled over 90 per cent of their country… I want to tell the world that in two weeks' time the coffins of the US and its allies' soldiers would be deported to their respective countries… he (bin Laden) is present in South Asia… President Gen Pervaz Musharraf and Finance Minister Shaukat Aziz "are saying openly that neither the US would write off loans nor fulfil their promises, but we had made these remarks even before the strikes began… we would be left with no other option but to fight against the government instead of the US."

-- Hafiz Hussain Ahmad, Jamaat-Ulema-e-Islam Leader, Mansehra, November 25

"We were fighting for a scared cause and ready to sacrifice even our lives as it is the mission of Tehrik Nifaz Shariah Muhammadi Chief Maulana Sofi Mohammad and we are also going to launch agitation against the government for supporting US against Afghanistan…Though we are not disappointed but feel sorry that some of our volunteers not participated in Jehad and returned from Kabul…Our movement has decided to launch agitation against US, especially their airbases in and outside Pakistan, after 17th of Ramadan."

-- Maulana Fazal Haq, Patron-in-Chief of Tehreek-e-Nifaz-e-Shariah-e-Muhammadi, Mingora, November, 20

"Owing to lack of political vision President Musharraf has failed to safeguard country as well as Muslim Ummah's interests…Armed forces of the country should not scare of religious parties, their leaders and their activists as we are brothers of those who are safe guarding the boarders of the country."

-- Munawar Hassan, Actinf Chief of Jamaat-e-Islam, Islamabad, November 16

"Pakistan has already served the US interests. The US will now show hostility and not friendship. It will advocate supremacy of India which is planning to attack us. The country is facing a grave danger which this government cannot handle."

-- Ghafoor Ahmad, Jamaat-e-Islam leader, Lahore, November 16

Now the government is urging the US for deploying UN peace forces consisting of Muslims in Kabul to keep the minority Northern Alliance away from power in Afghanistan, while the fact is that the regime provided a chance to the NA by supporting the war against the Taliban… The US want to destroy Pakistan's nuclear and missile programme, besides depriving the country of its strategic importance."

- Liaquat Baloch, Senior leader of Jamaat-e-Islam, Karachi, November 14

"Gen. Musharraf should resign and elections should be held under an interim government consisting of politicians and technocrats of integrity. The military rulers should hand over government to the representatives of the masses at the earliest."

- Prof. Ibrahim, Provincial Chief of Jamaat-e-Islam, Peshawar, November 13

"The US and the Taliban have not recognized each other, there is no extradition treaty between the two countries and the American-labelled prime suspect, Osama bin Laden, has not been declared criminal by a court. The demand of handing over Osama to the US, therefore, was against the international law."

-- Mohammad Ibrahim Khan, General Secreatry, Sipah-e-Mohammed Pakistan, Swabi, November 11

"There are thousands ready to go for Jihad but they are waiting for the request from the Taliban."

-- Maulana Mohammad Alam, Leader of Tehreek Nifaz-e-Shariat Mohammadi, Peshawar, November 8

"If the government did not change its Afghan policy, we would be left with no other option but to topple the government of Pervez Musharraf."

-- Maulana Samiul Haq, Chief of his own faction of Jamaat-Ulema-e-Islam, Manshera, November 6

"The basic question is, is Gen Musharraf the sole custodian of the national interest? His is an illegal and unconstitutional government. 'He is the one who has committed sedition…In a national crisis, a national consensus government is formed. Here we have an acute national crisis but unfortunately a single man is the incharge of the destiny of the nation."

-- Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Chief of Jamaat-e-Islam, Peshawar, November 6

"Our delegation held talks with Kunar Governor Maulvi Abdur Rauf and Nangarhar Governor Maulvi Abdul Kabir about the fighters intending to enter Afghanistan to reinforce the Taliban militia. They accorded permission to the volunteers and on Oct 29, 200 fighters led by Sufi Mohammad crossed into Afghanistan."

-- Maulana Ismail Khan, leader of Tehreek-i-Nifaz-i-Shariah Muhammadi, Khaar, November 5

"Why the ongoing state repression in Indianoccupied Kashmir, Palestine and Bosnia is not called terrorism… Pakistan's nuclear capability is threatened by extremists, and practising Muslims are extremists."

- Ghafoor Ahmed, Deputy chief of Jamaat-e-Islam, Karachi, November 4

"President Musharraf has lost the right to rule the country after failing to protect the national interests."

-- Syed Munawar Hasan, Secretary general of Jamaat-e-Islam, Islamabad, November 3

"We will provide logistic support to the Taliban and will also provide information about Americans if the present regime did not stop supporting the US troops stationed in Pakistan."

-- Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, Deputy Secretary-General of Jamaat-Ulema-e-Islam (Fazlur faction), Hyderabad, October 30

"Take along at least 10 days food with you and don't bring arms. We will lay siege to the city and not return until the unpopular and illegal Musharraf government is replaced by the one capable of standing up against the enemies, and acceptable to the nation… we are face to face with both external and internal threats comparable to that we had in 1971… Faced with scarcity of food and other supplies, Taliban are not in a position to accommodate or manage Mujahideen at this time. We must go there after getting a nod from the Taliban leadership so that they could manage and command us against the US forces… I am being asked not to ridicule the armed forces because this spoils its discipline. But I ask who is responsible for shaking up the command structure of the armed forces. So much so, General Musharraf has disintegrated the corps commanders… While with Afghans we share the same faith, culture, history, heroes and blood."

-- Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Chief of Jamaat-e-Islam, Lahore, October 28

"Soon the US-led forces will be left with no other option but to flee from the region… anti-Muslim" forces were using chemical and biological weapons in Afghanistan. "Where are the champion of human rights? Why were they silent now? Mulla Omar and Osama bin Laden are safe, somewhere in Afghanistan… The US actually wants to weaken the Taliban only to prove before the world that they are losing support of the Afghan people," he said. But, the Muslims of the world would foil all such conspiracies… One of the US conspiracies is to divide Afghanistan, giving Herat province to Ismail Khan, one part to Rasheed Dostum, one to Northern Alliance and the southern part to those who recently held a Jirga in Peshawar."

-- Maulana Abdul Ghani, Acting Chief of Jamaat-Ulema-e-Islam (Fazlur faction), Quetta, October 27

"We have set November 7 as the deadline for this purpose. If the government does not review its policy, the DPAC will launch a movement across the country… We will adopt all peaceful means after Nov 7. As the first step a countrywide strike call will be given, the decision for which will be taken at Council meeting."

"Musharraf openly supports the US and its allies against Taliban. And under the Islamic laws if any Muslim cooperates with infidels against Muslims, he must be excommunicated from the religion."

"The Taliban are a symbol of Islam. This will be a long war against the infidel forces. They want to eliminate Muslims."

-- Maulana Samiul Haq, Chief of his own faction of Jamaat-Ulema-e-Islam, Karachi, October 26

"The United States has waged a crusade against the Muslims and, unfortunately, Pakistan's rulers are supporting her to carry out the genocide of Afghans in the name of curbing so-called terrorism… Musharraf is playing the role of an informer of the US and Islam declares the death penalty for such people."

-- Sheikh Aqeelur Rehman, District President, Jamaat-e-Islam, Muzaffarabad, October 26

"The government has lost the support and confidence of the masses by allying itself with the United States in its war against a Muslim country."

-- Resolution adopted by Pakistan Afghanistan Defence Council, Islamabad, October 26

"During the last three week, the US bombardment has indicates the US will meet the same fate, which the former Soviet Union met in Afghanistan…Pakistani people have rejected the policies of the government and were strengthening the hands of the religious groups."

-- Liaquat Baloch, Jamaat-e-Islam, Quetta, October 25

"When former prime ministers Benazir Bhutto and Nawaz Sharif, who came to power with a mandate twice, did not make any change in Afghan policy why the president has re-shaped it"?

"Now the government has started propaganda in favour of former king Zahir Shah. The government invited Pir Syed Ahmad Gailani and made every arrangement for him to organise the Jirga. The NWFP government itself invited Afghans to the Jirga to 'provoke' the people… We warn the government well on time to stop patronising the pro-Zahir Shah groups. Since Taliban and their supporters have been denied the right to hold meetings and processions here, the government by going back on its words should also not allow Pir Gillani to hold a Jirga on the Pakistani soil".

"Injunctions of Quran and Sunnah do not allow the Islamic republic of Pakistan to unconditionally bow before the unrealistic and bigotry influence of American vested interest."

- Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Chief of Jamaat-e-Islam, Islamabad, October 24

"They are bombing hospitals and residential areas. What is the fault of these innocent women and children of Afghanistan?"

- Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Chief of Jamaat-e-Islam, Monesra, October 23

"Those talking of a broad-based government in Afghanistan have failed in the past…The Taliban brought peace, law and order in Afghanistan and banned poppy cultivation. They established good governance in more than 95 per cent of the country…Many Pakistanis are already taking part in Jihad and several others are ready to go to Afghanistan."

- Maulana Fazlur Rahman, Chief of his own faction of Jamaat-Ulema-e-Islam, Dera Ismail Khan, October 23

"Thousands of innocent Afghans have been killed in the current air strikes, which clearly reflects that the war is not against terrorism as claimed earlier, but against Islam…If the government is still persisting that 85 per cent of the people are backing the government, it should hold a referendum without any delay, which will testify the government's support among the masses."

- Syed Munawar Hasan, Secretary-General of Jamaat-i- Islam, Karachi, October 23

"They are prepared to embrace martyrdom for upholding the glory of Islam".

-- Maulana Shah Ahmad Noorani, Chief, Jamaat-Ulema-e-Pakistan, October 21, 2001

"Now the nation demands immediate change in the government, formation of interim government to hold general elections, and withdrawal of the pro-US policies."

-- Syed Munawwar Hasan, Secretary General, Jamaat-e-Islam, October 21, 2001

"The military ruler has bargained the country's security and the nuclear programme for some dollars as he failed to withstand the pressure mounted by America. The US operation is not aimed against Taliban or Osama bin Laden. It is aimed against Pakistan and our nuclear programme… The US says that it is a war against terrorism. But who will check the reign of terror let loose against the poor people of Afghanistan where innocent people, including women and children, are being killed because of heavy US bombing… Despite all the pressure from the world the US has not signed the bill against the use of chemical weapons as it itself is producing these arms. The on-going US operation in Afghanistan is the worst form of terrorism… The movement is now gaining momentum and the October 28 rally in Lahore will be a decisive show."

-- Qazi Hussin Ahmed, Chief, Jamaat-e-Islam, October 21, 2001

"People of Pakistan are with Taliban and the US aggression against them will no longer be tolerated. America has already started losing the war against Taliban. Its currency has stumbled and its soldiers have started to die. They are bound to lose the war against the Taliban as the British and the Soviets had lost in the past… It would be a very costly experience for America."

-- Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, Senior Vice-President, Jamaat-Ulma-e-Islam (Fazalur Rehman faction), October 21, 2001

"Preparations for jehad have started already and the registration of youth has commenced throughout the Malakand division."

-- Sufi Muhammad, Leader, Tehrik Nifaz-i- Shariat-i-Muhammadi, October 21, 2001

"The outcome of the new world order through which the US wanted to spread terrorism throughout the world".

-- Rashid Naseem, General Secretary, Jamaat-e-Islam, Sindh Province, October 20, 2001

"The economy of any country is a yardstick to assess its financial and diplomatic conditions. Since the September 11 attacks in the US, the value of US dollar has been declining and that of Afghan currency is going up."

-- Maulana Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, Secretary-General, Jamaat-Ulema-e-Islam (JuI), October 19, 2001

"The Jamaat's objective is to overthrow the present government as it is siding with America… The international community must differentiate between terrorism and freedom struggle. America and European countries are piling up nuclear, biological and chemical weapons to crush innocent people."

-- Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Chief, Jamaat-e-Islam, October 19, 2001

"The US government has adopted a law under which government has been empowered to keep Muslims and Arabs, living in the US in jail for three days without any charge."

-- Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, Chief, Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl-ur-Rehman faction), October 17, 2001

"When a massive protest movement against US aggression is already going on in the city it is also needed that such a relief campaign for the needy Afghan Muslims is launched without any delay… The entire Ummah is united and unanimously condemns the US terrorism and only in Karachi thousands of effigies of President Bush have been set on fire, manifesting Muslims' hatred against the inhuman act of the US."

-- Mairajul Huda, Chief, Karachi unit, Jamaat-e-Islam, October 16, 2001

"The infuriated people are preparing to come on roads to send the rulers home."

-- Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Chief, Jamaat-e-Islam, October 16, 2001

"Protest demonstrations and rallies would be held all over the country to express resentment over the government decision. It would be a referendum against the government's Afghan policy…This campaign will continue till the fall of this government."

-- Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, Secretary General, Jamiat Ulema Islam, October 14, 2001

"Now let the US experiment all its arsenals, the Taliban had accepted their challenge and was awaiting the landing of the American army in Afghanistan to teach them a lesson…The need of the hour is either the regime adopt such a strategy so that our resources are not used against our brothers or the government itself should be removed…The Ummah has become united from Indonesia to Morocco and even in Europe and the US people are raising voice against US terrorism."

-- Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Chief, Jamaat-e-Islami, October 14, 2001

"If the present situation persists, I will give a call to the masses to throng to Islamabad…We do not want violent encounters with military, rangers and police personnel because its benefit will go to the US."

-- Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Chief, Jamaat-e-Islami, October 14, 2001

"We are just expressing solidarity with the Afghan brethren, treated by the US forces with Cruise missiles and heavy bombs…We want superiority of Islam in the region. Therefore, hundreds of activists of various religious groups were heading towards Afghanistan for taking part in Jihad along with their Muslim brethren against the US-led allied forces…During the attempt of Jamiat's activists to cordon off the Jacobabad airport, six people were killed and dozens of others wounded, when police and law-enforcement agencies opened fire on them at Jacobabad and Shikarpur…We will continue our attempts to attack the 25 warplanes of US-led coalition forces present at the Jacobabad airport. Our activists also staged a sit-in at national highway in front of district Jail Jacobabad. We know that some 200 allied forces' personnel are at the Jacobabad airport. The JUI-F would not compromise on the matter at any cost. We will not allow these warplanes to continue their attacks on Afghanistan."

-- Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidri, Secretary General, Jamiat Ulema Islam, October 14, 2000

"We will blow the US planes up parked on our bases."

-- Hafiz Hussain Ahmed, Central leader, Jamaat-Ulema-e-Islam, October 12, 2001

"We refuse to accept any economic and political advancement and benefits at the cost of our national pride and honour… Instead of advocating such a government in Afghanistan, General Musharraf should replace the one man rule in Pakistan with a broad-based government."

-- Maulana Asad Thanvi, Leader, Pakistan Afghan Defence Council's Sindh chapter and Leader, Jamaat-Ulema-e-Islam (Samiul Haq faction, October 11, 2001

"… If Osama bin Laden is martyred, thousands of Salahuddin Ayubis and Khalids bin Waleed would take over from him..."

-- Khalid Mehmood Soomro, General Secretary, Sindh, Jamiat Ulema-i-Islam––Fazlur Rehman faction, October 9, 2000

"… We want peace but for this we will not allow use of our land to attack Afghanistan..."

-- Mufti Muhammad Jamil Khan, Leader, Jamaat-Ulema-e-Islam [Fazlur Rahman faction], October 8, 2001

"… We will now not accept any US and its allies on the Pakistani soil …"

-- Maulana Muhammad Ramzan, Leader, Jamaat-Ulema-e-Islam [Fazlur Rahman faction], October 8, 2001

"… The tragedy is that the US was the claimant and the judge in the case… We will accord ‘warm welcome' to the US and allied soldiers if they attempted to make any land attack on Afghanistan..."

-- Abdul Ghafoor Haidary, Leader, Jamaat-e-Ulama-e-Islam, October 8, 2001

"… Let alone condemning the US aggression in his press conference on Monday, the president did not even express sympathy with the trouble-hit Afghan Muslims… The US has practically shown to the world by attacking Afghanistan what real terrorism was… What was the justification of targeting Mullah Omar's residence? The paths of the government and the masses are separate now..."

-- Prof Ghafoor Ahmad, Deputy Chief, Jamaat-e-Islami, October 8, 2001

"… If the attacks on Pentagon and WTC are terrorism, any attack on Afghanistan will be nothing else than terrorism… Afghanistan is a brotherly Muslim state. Any aggression against it from the Pakistan soil or any support to the US government in this regard will be totally un-Islamic… As per Islam, every Muslim man has to keep beard and every Muslim woman has to observe Pardah. By forcing people for the same, the Taliban are, in fact, following the orders of Allah and Holy Prophet (PBUH) ..."

-- Maulana Asad Thanvi, Deputy Secretary General, Jamiat-e-Ulema-e-Islam Pakistan, Sami faction, October 7, 2001

"… As we earlier announced that we will give a call for Jehad (holy war) not only against the US but the government also if bases or airspace of the country is used by the Americans for launching any attack against Afghanistan… We have already demanded that the US should present evidences before the world if Saudi-born Osama bin Laden was involved in recent acts of terrorism in New York and Washington, but the US who claimed itself a super power took a unilateral action…"

-- Maulana Abdul Rashid Ghazi, Leader, Pakistan-Afghan Defence Council, October 7, 2001

"… We will not allow any anti-Muslim force to attack on Afghanistan…"

-- Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, Chief, Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl-ur-Rehman faction), October 4, 2001

"… The US intrusion in the region is a conspiracy to destroy Pakistan's nuclear capability…"

-- Unnamed Religious Leader, at a rally in Karachi, October 4, 2001

"… We no more require America's pleasure to become her supporters and paid killers. America will face a tough time, if it attacks Afghanistan..."

-- Maulana Samiul Haq, Chief, Jamaat-e-Ulema-Islami & Head, Defence of Afghanistan Council, October 3, 2001

"… American attack on Afghanistan will be declared as terrorism and we will not resist from any sacrifice. JUI activists along with the Muslims of Pakistan and Taliban will launch a jihad in Afghanistan and fight a war in which America will not find a way out…"

-- Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman Chief, Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Islam, Fazl-ur-Rehman faction, Quetta, October 2, 2001

"… Those who claim themselves to be a superpower, are afraid from the resourceless Taleban of ravaged Afghanistan, as they knew it very well that they would never be able to defeat the valiant Afghans already going through the two decades long unprecedented strife..."

-- Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman Chief, Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Islam, Fazl-ur-Rehman faction, Quetta, October 2, 2001

"… If the government offers Pakistan soil for attacks on Afghanistan, they will capture them."

-- Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, Chief, Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Islam (Fazl-ur-Rehman faction), October 1, 2001

"… The September 11 attacks are, in fact, a failure of the US intelligence agencies who could not inform the government about the strikes. Instead of imposing aggression on Afghanistan, the secret agencies should be held accountable."

-- Maulana Fazlur Rehman, Chief, Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Islam (Fazlur Rehman faction), September 29, 2001

"… The government should withdraw its decision to support the US because it is in sheer contrast with the sentiments of the nation..."

-- Abdur Rashid Turabi, Chief, Jamaat-e-Islami, Pakistan Controlled Kashmir, September 29, 2001

-- Qazi Hussain Ahmed, Chief, Jamaat-e-Islami, September 29, 2001

"… We are ready to render all sacrifices for Islam and will never compromise on the issue. The US wants to uproot the Islamic government of Taliban..."

Jamiate Ahle Hadith Pakistan, September 28, 2001

"… It is the aim of Jews to spread unrest and disturbances in the world whereas Islam is the religion of peace and brotherhood. However, true Muslims will not refrain from taking up arms if their honour is threatened like in the current situation."

Maulana Fazl-ur-Rahman, Chief, Jamiat-ul-Ulema-e-Islam (Fazlur Rehman faction), September 28, 2001

"Pakistan should learn a lesson from its past experience when it always offered support to America, and in reply it was fully trapped in foreign debt…The recent rescheduling of external debt will only add to the sufferings of the people…Keeping aside all facts and feelings of Muslims, now the rulers are extending support to an anti-Muslim United States against the brotherly Islamic country of Afghanistan… Why Osama bin Laden is being accused when they don't have any evidence against him…Since the suicide attacks on September 11, the US started wrongly implicating Osama in terrorist activities without any proof. Osama is a courageous and straightforward person, he is not a liar, so his denial carries weight…If the US has any evidence it should be brought before the world community. Evidence and proof shown to leaders of some countries behind closed doors was of no legal and moral value…Why Afghanistan, a country facing worst economic crisis, should get itself caught in such a difficult situation. Even The Times, London, has said Israeli intelligence agency Mossad's role behind the attacks could not be ruled out…Once the US enters the region it will never leave because it wants to establish its hegemony in the region as it has been eying the Central Asian states for long. The nuclear programme cannot remain safe if the US enters the country…Terrorism is terrorism, whether resorted to by individuals or states."

-- Qazi Husain Ahmed, Chief, Jamaat-e-Islami, September 28, 2001

"Matters pertaining to Islamic world and other states, and the integrity of Afghanistan and Pakistan came up under discussion; and talks were held on the US threats of attack on Afghanistan in the wake of September 11 tragedy, and (they) exchanged views on various proposals to solve the matter."

-- Statement by a delegation of top Pakistan clerics to the Kandahar-based Taliban leadership, September 28, 2001

The Taliban clearly said there was no question of handing over Osama bin Laden, on moral or religious grounds… Omar said the United States should not insist on the bin Laden issue… Our main purpose was to discuss the possibility of averting any attacks, because Pakistan has a stake in this… We heard their viewpoint and we agreed with their explanation…

-- Mufti Mohammad Jamil, Member, delegation of top Pakistan clerics to the Kandahar-based Taliban leadership, September 28, 2001

[The US had whipped up war fever] "by expressing its intention to attack helpless, poor and hungry Afghanistan on the pretension of suppressing Islamic terrorism… If the US attacks Afghanistan, Muslims throughout the world would consider it an attack on Islam and so, they would not hesitate to sacrifice all what they have in protection of their religion… What is the fault of Afghan people? Is the establishment of an Islamic system a crime? Is adopting teachings of Islam a crime? … I ask these nations whether they are ready to be united in getting Palestinian land restored to them? ... I asked the US to give solid evidence against Afghanistan and Osama Bin Laden to the Organisation of the Islamic Conference. But the US is looking hither and thither because it does not have any solid proof with it… [The attacks on the US were a response to] one-sided pro-Israel policies, which are made under the pressure of Jews… The US and its allied nations, before raging war against terrorism, should take responsibility for the injustice, deprival and oppressions they have committed against Muslim and poor countries of the world… If it is not done the issue of terrorism can never be solved and the whole world would be burnt in the fire of violence and turmoil… The world knows that the life of a Muslim lies in having belief in God and he cannot be terrorised by any earthly power…

-- Syed Ahmad Bukhari, Shahi Imam, Jama Masjid, New Delhi, September 28, 2001

"… Muslims have been the victims of injustices for the last 300 years and are wondered from where and how to get justice…Was Israel not carrying out terrorism against Palestinians by denying them to enter their own homeland? The terrorism is terrorism, irrespective it is done by individuals or states."

-- Qazi Hussain Ahmad, Chief, Jamaat-e-Islami, September 27, 2001

"… In our view supporting anti-Islam forces in case of their war against Muslims is unjust and forbidden and is like inviting the wrath of God..."

-- Pir Muhammad Afzal Qadri, Central Amir, Aalmi Tanzim-i-Ahle Sunnat,
September 26, 2001

"… We are opposed to any military action against our country. We hope the civilized world will not support any kind of military adventure in Afghanistan..."

-- Council of Understanding for National Unity of Afghanistan, September 26, 2001

"Once a proof is available, we can support the demand for putting him on trial."

-- Qazi Husain Ahmad, Amir, Jamaat-e-Islami, September 18, 2001

"We have the same agenda which is agenda of the entire Ummah and the people of Pakistan. It is that at present the United States has gone crazy and it wants to capture Afghanistan through its might and to arrest Osama and take him to the country."

-- Syed Munawar Hassan, Senior Leader, Jamaat-e-Islami, September 18, 2001

"… Terrorism should not be met with terrorism ... we have made 'a huge investment' on and rendered sacrifices for the liberation of Afghanistan and the Taliban are our great defence power. We had pressed into service all our resources and energies for the Taliban. Do we want to waste all this now? No harm should be allowed to be done to the Taliban because any damage to them would benefit India only, hurt the Kashmir cause and plunge the country into chaos. The Taliban should be constantly engaged in dialogue…"

-- Maulana Fazlur Rahman, Amir, Jamaat Ulema-e-Islam, September 17, 2001

"… Difficult time [is] ahead and anything could happen in the South Asian region…"

-- Muttahid Quami Movement-Altaf, September 17, 2001

"If non-Muslim forces attack Afghanistan, it would be the religious duty of every Muslim to fight jihad side by side with their Afghan brothers… "

-- Nizamuddin Shamzai, Chief Mufti, Jamiat-ul-Uloom-ul-Islamia

"… We strongly condemn the terrorist attacks on nerve centres of US and call for an end to all sorts of terrorism… The Taliban are not involved in the incident as they do not possess such resources." "Any attack on Afghanistan will be contemplated as an assault against the Ummah, after which Jihad against the US will become mandatory for all Muslims…

-- Maulana Samiul Haq, Chief, Jamaat-e-Ulema-Islami & Head, Defence of Afghanistan Council

"The council considers an attack on Afghanistan as an attack on Pakistan and it will respond positively to the Jehad call given by the Afghan government."

-- Council for Defence of Pakistan and Afghanistan

"Allowing the US to use Pakistan territories for aggression would be a betrayal with Ummah." Maulana Samiul Haq, Chief, Jamaat-e-Ulema-Islami & Head, Defence of Afghanistan Council

-- Nusratullah, Chief, Islamic Jamaat-e-Talaba