SOON after the 2001 defeat of the Taleban in Afghanistan by the US-led forces, the Taleban leaders began recruiting new fighters from Pakistan, from the same place where the movement was born, in the remote tribal areas of northwestern Pakistan. The 9/11 attacks forced then Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf to choose between continued support for the Taleban or cooperation with the US of president George W. Bush, against the Taleban. He chose the US. It was a brave decision that put his life at risk, as the two assassination attempts on him were to prove later. His military had only modest success in trying to control Pakistan's lawless frontier areas, where the Taleban and their supporters thrive. Pakistani troops have captured or killed hundreds of the jihadists. But many others continue to be produced in the training camps and “Madrasas” along parts of the country's 500-mile western border with Afghanistan. The history of Madrasas in today's Pakistan goes back to the undivided Indian subcontinent in the late 19th century, beginning with the establishment of the Deoband Madrasa in 1867. Unlike the Madrasas of Pakistan's tribal northwest today, the Madrasas of those times played a positive historical role by providing vigorous religio-political leadership for a reawakening of the consciousness of Islamic solidarity and the Islamic way of life among the Muslims of South Asia. Daily Times columnist Saleem H. Ali provides in his book “Madrasa versus Enlightenment” an idea of how much the number of Madrasas in Pakistan has grown from 1947. “At the time of independence in 1947, there were only 137 Madrasas in Pakistan,” the newspaper's review of the book reads. “According to a 1956 survey, there were 244 Madrasas in all of Pakistan (excluding East Pakistan). While there is no comprehensive census of Madrasas in Pakistan at present, a reasonable estimate based on Ali's review of multiple empirical and journalistic sources would suggest that there are between 12,000 and 15,000 Madrasas in Pakistan, with an enrolment of around 1.5 and 2 million. “In contrast, there are approximately 15,000 government schools with an enrolment of around 16 million, and 35,000 secular private schools with an enrolment of 6 million, and 25,000 auqaf or mosque schools (not Madrasas) with an enrolment of around 1.5 million (p.25). There are other sources inside Pakistan who insist that the Madrasa is too large and too variegated to be counted accurately; they say total number of Madrasas could go up to 22,000!” The number is huge, analysts say, largely because the general education system has not reached large parts of the country. Last week, Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari, speaking at a community dinner in Washington, reportedly said his government has resolved to bring reforms in the Madrasa system and bring it under the government system, so as to separate the students from extremism and impart modern as well as religious education to them. The Zardari government's concern, like that of the previous government of Pervez Musharraf is because the Madrasas in the northwest have become platforms for the Talebanization that is threatening Pakistan, especially considering the ongoing military offensive against the Pakistan Taleban militants in Swat. Last week at Al-Huda school, one of the Madrasas on the outskirts of Islamabad, I met the principal, Altaf Abdul Rahman. He told me that there were about 400 students studying in the school which has elementary, intermediate and secondary sections. Most of the students there were from the North West Frontier Province (NWFP), Pakistan Kashmir and Balochistan. The principal categorically denied that the students were receiving military training. “The school students want peace to prevail in the country,” said when asked about his views on the implications of the war in Swat. “We are against the war because many innocents from the army and from among the common people are being killed though they have nothing to do with the Taleban. I hope that the problem is solved peacefully and not through the military machines.” “We are keen that there would be no confrontation between the Islamic movement and the government, because there are some hidden elements that benefit from this clash,” he added. The principal, who said he received his education at the Haqqania School in Peshawar, refuted the allegations that the Madrasas have a clandestine agenda to spread and strengthen Talbanization. He said the allegations were just because Pakistan is an Islamic country applying the Islamic laws. The religious schools are not confined to boys only. There are Madrasas for girls too, which are more successful, Abdul Rahman said. According to the latest statistics from the Pakistani government, nearly 236,000 girls are studying in 1,900 registered all-female Madrasas in the country. Female students exceed males in their academic achievements, with a greater number registering for graduate exams and enjoying a higher pass rate. Madrasas mainly depend on donations from philanthropists and they do not charge the students any fees. Books and accommodation are provided free of charge. The dramatic spread of Madrasas in recent years has made it important to organize these schools under one umbrella, called the Federation of the Religious Schools, under the supervision of the government, the principal said. He said terms like “Talebanization” and tags like “liberals” are purely Western connotations promoted by the Western media to mislead the world and provoke wrath against genuine Muslims.
