Eid marked by calls for jihad

2003-11-26 12:02

Lahore, Pakistan - Pakistan's 138 million Muslims flocked to mosques on Wednesday to mark the end of the fasting month of Ramadan, with hopes for peace with India tempered by defiant calls for jihad from Islamic radicals.

Hafiz Saeed, founder of the outlawed Lashkar-e-Taiba guerrillas fighting India in Kashmir, attracted one of the largest congregations in the eastern city of Lahore. He exhorted 150 000 worshippers to support jihad in Kashmir and threatened destruction of the United States.

Saeed's calls flew in the face of an historic ceasefire between rivals Pakistan and India which came into force at midnight (19h00 GMT on Tuesday) along the de facto border in disputed Kashmir.

"We will continue jihad without any fear or pressure and will not stop it on the asking of anybody," said Saeed, whose renamed group Jamaat-ud Dawa has been placed on a government watch list under a new anti-extremist drive.

'They call jihad terrorism'

"Jihad is inevitable for the glory of Islam. The jihad process is continuing in Kashmir, Bosnia, Palestine and Iraq. Jihad has made Jews and Christians worried. They call jihad terrorism.

"Jews, Hindus and Christians have united themselves against Muslims of the world. They are trying to eliminate Muslims.

"The scenario is changing steadily. The Americans and their allies will face destruction sooner."

In Islamabad more than 10 000 worshippers filled Lal Mosque, the capital's oldest. Crowds spilled outside into a park and prayed in autumn sunshine.

Dozens of paramilitary troops from the Frontier Constabulary guarded the prayer service. Security forces across Pakistan are on alert for possible revenge attacks from followers of six militant groups which were banned this month.

Jamaat-ud Dawa escaped the ban, despite being one of the four groups which were outlawed early last year only to re-emerge under new names. Instead it was placed under surveillance.

The new bans were imposed after US ambassador Nancy Powell complained that outlawed radical Islamic radical groups had re-emerged and were posing a threat to Pakistan, the region and the United States.

- AFP