Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
JIHADIS
In 2001-02, Pakistan was home to 58 religious political
parties and two dozen religious, armed militias popu-
larly known as
jihadi
groups.
Jihad
, in its pure sense,
means “striving” or “struggle.” It does not equate to any
Western notions of “Holy War.” Moreover, there are
many types of
jihad,
and most of them have nothing to
do with war. Basically , it is a struggle within oneself to
avoid sinful inclinations. It also means resistance to
oppression. According to the prophet Muhammed,
“The best
jihad
is speaking a word of justice to a tyran-
nical ruler.”
Men could not cut their beards. Barber shops were
closed.
Music, movies, sports, and kite-flying (popular in
Afghanistan) were forbidden.
Anyone speaking out against the regime would be
tortured and publicly executed in the former soccer
stadium.
The Taliban are very active in Pakistan and have
strongholds in many regions of the country . In 2009,
they took control of Swat but the Pakistani army drove
them out for awhile. Although they are in hiding, they
still control the region (Figures 7-8 and 7-9).
NWFP
& FATA
PAKISTAN
INDIA
AFGHANISTAN
SWAT
LOWER DIR
Mingora
BAJAUR
SHANGLA
BUNER
Peshawar
ORAKZAI
Islamabad
NORTH
WAZIRISTAN
Taliban stronghold
Federally Administered
T Tribal Areas (FATA)
North West
Frontier Province (NFWP)
SOUTH
WAZIRISTAN
PAKISTAN
0
5
100km
0
Figure 7-8
T Taliban strongholds.
Redrawn from a map produced by the BBC at
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