Prayer Initiative for Afghanistan-Pakistan

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Barrie Parsons
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In This Issue November 2013 Prayer Initiative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Prayer Initiative for Afghanistan-Pakistan The Loya Jirga, a national council of elders for Afghanistan,

has strangely not agreed to sign the pact.

1 In This Issue November 2013 Prayer Initiative for Afghanistan and Pakistan Prayer Initiative for Afghanistan-Pakistan The Loya Jirga, a national council of elders for Afghanistan, agreed that the security pact with the United States be extended to enable a scaleddown US military force to remain to train and support the local army; however, President Karzai has strangely not agreed to sign the pact. Please pray that he will comply before the end of this year or the US has threatened to pull out all of its forces and leave the nation to its own devices militarily against the Taliban rebels. Pray for reconciliation efforts that some are taking within Afghanistan that healing and forgiveness can spread among the diverse ethnic groups who have a history of conflict and division. Pray also that the financial resources that enable the Taliban to carry on their war against the Afghan and Pakistani governments and nations will be cut off and that the Taliban leaders will be brought to justice. Three very wicked Taliban leaders have recently been removed through drone strikes. Pray for the strengthening of the prayer movement in both countries, that God's people will come together in greater unity and will persevere in intercession with faith and confidence so that a new day of peace and development will be the result. Pakistan s Taliban Approach is Risky for Christians WEA-RLC Research and Analysis Report November 27, 2013

2 The killing of over 85 people and the wounding of 150 others in a suicide bombing at a church in Peshawar two months ago has brought no change in the Pakistani government s approach to dealing with Islamist terrorists. Instead of taking strong action, the government continues to surrender to the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) while appearing weak and timid. The attack at All Saints Church in Peshawar on Sept. 22 was the first major targeting of a non-muslim minority by the TTP, which acts as an umbrella organization of numerous smaller terror outfits in the country. Until the church bombing, the Taliban would launch targeted attacks only on Shia or Ahmaddiya people, state officials and at times high-profile Christian individuals. Most terror strikes are about messaging, and the message sent out by the TTP through the church bombing was perceptible. One, it was seemingly an assertion of confidence by demonstrating the expansion of the target, which was foreseeable given the Islamist terror network s belief in creating a homogenous society where only their version of Islam is practised. Two, the attack was perhaps aimed at making the government desperate to negotiate peace with the Taliban with little or no bargaining power. After all, a terror attack on Christians gets more international attention than assaults on Muslim minorities, and thereby causes a greater concern in the local government. The TTP has demanded that the government release detained terrorists, withdraw troops from the tribal areas and force the United States to stop drone attacks before negotiations begin. And the government appears to be continually giving in, showing clearly that it is afraid to take on the terror group. "So fearful is the government that it has put on hold the execution of three convicted militants including the mastermind of the 2009 GHQ [Pakistan Army Headquarters in Rawalpindi] attack after threats from the Taliban," said a recent article in Pakistan s Dawn newspaper. This week, Member of Parliament Raja Zafar ul Haq, who is the chairman of the governing party, told the BBC that the government will not criticize the Pakistan Taliban. "We don t want to spoil the atmosphere, that would be counter-productive," he said, adding, "I don t want to say anything against them which hurts their feelings." Former leader of the Pakistan Taliban, Hakimullah Mehsud, who was killed in a drone strike [by the United States, and not Pakistani forces] on Nov. 1, was purported to be interested in striking a deal with the government. But the outfit s new head, Mullah Fazlullah, has categorically rejected calls for peace talks. But the government apparently wants to woo him, although Fazlullah s men were believed to be behind the attack on 16-year-old education activist Malala Yousafzai. Few have believed Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's claim of "foreign hand" in the church bombing. The Taliban has denied, and at the same time

3 admitted, its role. "We didn t carry out the church attack. However, we believe it s according to the Sharia," TTP spokesperson Shahidullah Shahid told BBC last month, and added that the group has many factions, all working towards the same goals. Naturally, "a culture of fear grips the nation as the state has abdicated all responsibility, leaving the people at the mercy of the terrorists," add the Dawn article. "It gives the people little faith when their political leaders surrender to the militant narrative." In its editorial the day after the church attack, Dawn noted that the hatred and bigotry embedded in the extremist ideology is not just about foreigners, but also about the majority of Pakistanis themselves. "Be it Shias, Ismailis, Barelvis, non-muslims or anyone else deemed to be outside the pale of radical Islam as practised by the militants and terrorists, everyone is a target," it said. Until the political leadership of Pakistan acknowledges that the ideology of the TTP leaves no room for negotiations, "there can be no real understanding of why Pakistan has been so wracked by violence," the newspaper added. "And without that understanding, there cannot begin to be a solution." While the TTP has communicated that it has a new target, i.e. Christians, the government has not made any effort to deter the group from that position. This can prove to be dangerous for the minority in the coming months and years. The relations between Pakistan and the United States are far from cordial despite cooperation by the former in the latter s war against terror, but Washington must not overlook the suffering of Pakistan s minorities and liberal Muslim sections. If the United States can negotiate its way in continuing drone attacks despite pressure from powerful sections in Pakistan, it cannot excuse itself for not convincing Islamabad to deal strictly with the Taliban. If there s a will, there s a way. Pray for the Removal of the Wicked and the Overthrow of Terrorism Pray for the end of the wave of terrorism and extremism in both countries. Using their names given below, agree with us for the arrest or removal of each one of these extremely wicked Taliban leaders who are responsible for the deaths of many thousands and awful destruction and chaos that continues to plague both lands. The LORD set ambushes against the men of... they were defeated... they helped to destroy one another. 2Ch 20:22-23 We have been asking you to pray that God would either change the hearts of the evil Taliban leaders or in some way remove them. This is just a reminder to continue praying for these evil men. Below is a

4 little explanation of what their names mean. When the enemy came before Jehoshaphat, he went to God in prayer. Israel prayed and God went before them and fought the battle. The LORD set ambushes against the men of... they were defeated... they helped to destroy one another. More were destroyed by the hail than by the armies of Israel. Joshua 10:11 God will destroy the enemy by hail and fire. Rev 8:7 We see instances like this again and again in Scripture. Can God not do the same today? But note each of the above instances was ushered in when God's people went to him in prayer. When we pray, God will intervene and bring judgment upon the enemies of God. Afghanistan Taliban 1. Mullah Muhammad Omar Mullah- religious leader & teacher like Rev. or Pastor Muhammad- descriptive title- Muslim follower of Muhammad Pakistan Taliban 1. Malawi Jalaluddin Haqqani and his son Sirajuddin Malawi- religious leader- gives the call to prayer five times a day Haqqani tribe is on both sides of the border. Now operating out of Pakistan for their own safe from NATO. 2. Mullah Fazllullah (after the recent killing of Hakimullah Mehsud) He led a bloody occupation of the Swat Valley in And pioneered a violent campaign against polio vaccinations. This year he carried out the assassination attempt on the school girl Malala (now world famous). He is a extremely vicious and deadly leader. Mullah- religious leader Punjab Taliban 1. Malik Ishaq Malik - meaning head of or in charge of He has his own "pir" and worshipping place, a extension of Uch Sharif Is responsible for training many of the suicide bombers. He has started many major terrorist groups in Pakistan. This has helped him avoid execution because if a group is disbanded they cannot bring charges against the leader. His groups are quickly growing in number. For some, their purpose is to take over the government, and for others it is to fight the infidels outside the country (in league with Al-Qaida). These groups must be brought down if there is to be any peace in the region. 2. Hafiz Saeed His group played a big part in the Mumbai attack in India. Trains many to fight the infidels the NATO forces.

5 Our work is to pray so God can accomplish His victory. God's work is to fight for his people. The LORD set ambushes against the men of... they were defeated... they helped to destroy one another.. International Prayer Connect P.O. Box Albuquerque NM 87193

Twenty-First Century Terrorism in Pakistan

Twenty-First Century Terrorism in Pakistan Srinivas Gopal and Jayashree G Pakistan has been using terrorism as a low cost weapon in its proxy war against India and, in the process, has encouraged the growth