Raja Furqan Ahmed
After the Soviet occupation in Afghanistan, Muslim from all over the world were encouraged by the
United State and its allies to come Pakistan and join the Afghan Jihad for the noble religious cause
against the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic (USSR). The Trauma started in 1979 with the invasion of
Afghanistan by the USSR. It was expected that the ambition of USSR (now Russia) was to access the
Pakistan warm water of the Indian Ocean through the Arab sea. It is also a fact that USSR was twice
invited by the Afghan Politicians but they refused. Later on, the third invitation from the Afghan
Government leads towards the invasion of USSR.A Jihad was launched in which 20,000 to 30,000
Mujahedeen from all over the Islamic world participated. Afghan warlords and their militias were armed
and provided financial aid. The jihad continued for 10 years until the disintegration of USSR. Due to the
internal as well as the economical issues USSR withdraws in a hurry leaving behind heavy weapons. The
united state and European countries were also quick to leave the area.During the Soviet occupation,
Pakistan and Afghanistan were hosting the mujahedeen with the help of the USA and Saudi Arabia. In
1982, a Palestinian Dr Abdullah Azzam and a group of spiritual leaders established the organization
called Maktaba al Khidmat in Peshawar. Osama Bin Ladin was Azzam’s deputy. The organization main
objectives were to provide financial, logical and other support to the Afghan Mujahedeen. As Osama
himself belongs to the elite family so the majority of the donation came from Osama’ family. It should
be clear that this did not happen secretly but CIA and ISI were also encouraging and helping them
along.However, mid-1980’s Osama started disagreeing with his mentor Dr Abdullah Azzam. Osama
wants to participate in the war and became a Mujahidin instead of donating for the cause. Osama bin
Ladin formed his own force of a few Arab Fighters. Initially, it was popular with the name of “Arab
Brigade.” In his force, the fighters came from our entire Arab world to fight for GOD, so they become
martyrdom happily. It can be said that the Afghan fighter was much likely to return to their villages for
harvest crops, get married, attend the funerals but the Arab fighters were nowhere to go back.In 1986
Osama set up his own base closer to a soviet garrison in eastern Afghanistan. Later on, in 1987 he fought
battle against soviet in Jaji. That battle was highlighted around the world. Soon Osama met with an
Egyptian medical doctor Ayman al Zawahiri (Currently leader of Al-Qaeda), who was working in
Peshawar treating the mujahedeen.In 1988 Osama bin laden formed Al-Qaeda. The name Al-Qaeda al
sulbah term first used by Dr Abdullah Azzam in April 1988 in an article for a magazine named Jihad. In his
article he emphasis on the idea to form an organization that would work for social services in the
Muslim world. In his article, he never linked his idea with the military sense. Osama took the name
suggested by Azzam and formed Al-Qaeda, dropping “Al sulbah.” A year later, Abdullah Azzam was
assassinated and suspected that Osama was behind this.In 1996 after the Taliban took over the control
of Afghanistan Osama arrived in Jalalabad. Arab from various countries who left after the Afghan Jihad
started returning to put hands with Osama. Al-Qaeda comprises a shura under which there are four
committees Military, Media, Finance and religious affairs.The event of 9/11 changes the political
dimension of the world. Due to the US invasion in Afghanistan, Taliban and Al-Qaeda members flee from
the scene. Many members relocated the mountains especially the Federal Administration tribal Areas
(FATA) in the North-West of Pakistan. As Pakistan shares its western border with Afghanistan, ethnically
and culturally very close to each other.Despite Pakistan faces the serious security issue. Pakistan has
also captured 689 Al-Qaeda members and handed over 369 to the USA and received bounties totalling
of Million dollars.Later on, Abbottabad operations also raise a question regarding the role of Pakistan in
the war on terror but Pakistan has suffered a lot including lost of 70 thousand people in the name of a
war on terror. Economical conditions also lead to the situation more worst.Recently, Prime Minister of
Pakistan Imran khan called Osama bin Ladin a martyred which shows the intension of the state that we
have lost more than 70 thousands innocent people and over 3 generations suffered but we did not get
the lesson. Calling a terrorist a Martyred is the insult of those innocent people who let their lives for the
country.