J.B. Russell

Reportage: Pakistan I: Post 9/11

Following the September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, Pakistan found itself thrust onto center stage of the new war on terror. Already host to hundreds of thousands of Afghan refugees fleeing decades of conflict in neighboring Afghanistan, the military government of General Pervez Musharraf was keen to cooperate with the United States to dislodge the Taliban regime, crush Osama bin Laden's Al Qaeda terrorist network and to stabilize the country. However, President Musharraf had to contend with Pakistan's western provinces along the Afghan border. The deeply conservative, poor and often illiterate population vehemently support Osama bin Laden and the Taliban movement, which was born from the fundamentalist Madrasa religious schools in the tribal areas.

Pakistani soldiers guarding the Afghan-Pakistan border. Hundreds of thousands of Afghans are on the move within the country fearing US military retaliation against the Taliban government and Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network. Pakistan closed it's borders to prevent a flood of refugees from entering the country.Afghan-Pakistan border. Chaman, Pakistan. Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Afghan women and children arrive in Pakistan as the US continues bombing missions in the Taliban stronghold of Kandahar and other targets in Afghanistan.Chaman, Afghan-Pakistan border.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Afghan refugees seeking aid and shelter in Pakistan after fleeing Afghanistan during US military operations against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks in New York and Washington, D.C.Quetta, Pakistan.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Children working as carpet weavers. Most long-term Afghan refugee families in Pakistan rely on traditional crafts and trading to survive. All family members must work, including the children, to get by. The majority of children go to school and work, however the poorest families need their children to work full time depriving them of an education.Quetta, Pakistan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Afghan refugees recently arrived in Pakistan after fleeing US military strikes against the Taliban regime and Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network. The refugees are living in the open air at a half built mosque. The refugees are not receiving aid, they have little to eat and many are sick.Quetta, Pakistan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Afghan refugee children collecting paper, plastic and bits of metal to sell at garbage depots for a couple of rupees per kilo. Most long term Afghan refugee families in Pakistan rely on traditional crafts and trading to survive. Entire families must work, including the children, to get by. The majority of children go to school and work, however the poorest families need their children to work full time depriving them of an education.Quetta, Pakistan. Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
A student and his teacher at the Jamia Salfia Madrasa. Madrasas are Koranic religious schools where students receive a free education from primary school through high school. While most Madrasas in Pakistan are moderate and provide both a religious and an academic education, the Taliban movement was born from the hardline Madrasas along the Pakistan-Afghan border. Many graduates of these schools go on to fight in "holy conflicts" in Afghanistan or Kashmir. They are often funded by Arab states and have ties with religious political parties.Quetta, Pakistan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A young student at the Jamia Salfia Madrasa spends two years memorizing the entire Koran. Madrasas are Koranic religious schools. While most are moderate institutions that provide free education to students, the Taliban movement was born from the hardline Madrasas along the Pakistan-Afghan border. Many graduates of these schools go on to fight in "holy conflicts" in Afghanistan or Kashmir. They are often funded by Arab states and have ties with religious political parties.Quetta, Pakistan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
While a delegation of high level Pakistani Islamic clerics are in Kandahar attempting to convince the Taliban to hand over Osama bin Landen, Mullahs in the nation's capital hold a rally calling for a holy Jihad against the US and anyone who helps them, including the Pakistani government.Islamabad, Pakistan. Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Demonstrators burn an effigy of President George W. Bush after Friday prayers at a mosque in the southwestern city of Quetta. A nation wide general strike and rally was called for by the Jamiat Olema Islami political party and the Afghan Defense Council, a coalition of religious groups, to protest US threats against the Taliban and the Pakstani government support of the United States.Quetta, Pakistan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Pakistani troops maintain calm in the streets of Quetta a day after demonstrators ransacked and burned several buildings protesting US attacks on Afghanistan and the Pakistani government's support of the United States. Quetta, Pakistan. Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Supporters of Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI), Pakistan's largest hardline religious party with close ties to the Taliban, following a rally held by the party's chairman Mullana Fazal Ur Rahman.Quetta, Pakistan.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Pro taliban demonstrators at a large rally following Friday prayers. After weeks of anti American and anti government demonstrations became increasingly violent, President Musharraf ordered security forces to crack down on any demonstrations that incite violence or lawlessness.Quetta, Pakistan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A speaker addresses the crowd at a large rally organized by Jamiat Ulema Islam (JUI), Pakistan's largest hardline religious party which has close ties to the Taliban. The demonstration denounced expected US military strikes against the Taliban regime in Afghanistan and Osama bin Laden in response to the September 11th terrorist attacks.Quetta, Pakistan. Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Pro taliban demonstrators at a large rally following Friday prayers. After weeks of anti American and anti government demonstrations became increasingly violent, President Musharraf ordered security forces to crack down on any demonstrations that incite violence or lawlessness.Quetta, Pakistan.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Taliban supporters of Osama bin Laden at a large demonstration following Friday prayers. After weeks of anti American and anti government demonstrations became increasingly violent, President Musharraf ordered security forces to crack down on any demonstrations that incite violence or lawlessness.Quetta, Pakistan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Taliban supporters burn an effigy of President George W. Bush during a rally denouncing US military strikes in Afghanistan. The rally was held on a national day of strikes that was organized by a coalition of Islamist political parties. The demonstrators denounced the Pakistani government's support of the US and called for a holy Jihad against the West.Quetta, Pakistan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Pro taliban demonstrators run through the streets toward a large rally against American intervention in Afghanistan and Pakistani president President Musharraf's support of the US.Quetta, Pakistan. Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Security forces attempt to contain anti-US and anti-government demonstrations after Friday prayers. Following weeks of demonstrations that became increasingly violent, President Musharraf ordered security forces to crack down on any demonstrations that incite violence or lawlessness.Quetta, Pakistan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A Pakistani policeman inspects a bank that was destroyed by demonstrators protesting the US bombing of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan. Demonstrators ransacked and burned numerous buildings in the city.Quetta, Pakistan. Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Family members grieve for three people who were shot and killed by police during a demonstration in the town of Kuchlak, 20 kms from Quetta. Demonstrators protesting US air strikes against the Taliban in Afghanistan and the Pakistani government's support of the United States ransacked several buildings and attacked the town's police station. The victims were shot during the disturbances.Kuchlak, Pakistan. Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Pakistani troops in the town of Kuchlak, 20 kms from Quetta, guard detained men after demonstrators ransacked several buildings and attacked the police station. The demonstrators say that they were onlookers and did not partake in the demonstrations. Police shot and killed 3 people during the disturbances.Kuchlak, Pakistan. Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Fazal Rahman came to Pakistan for treatment after sustaining an eye injury when US war planes bombed an arms depot near his home in Kandahar. Arms stored in the depot exploded and destroyed his home, injured his daughter and killed his young son. He believes there were other injuries in the explosion.Quetta, Pakistan.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Supporters of the Taliban burn an American flag during a rally denouncing US military strikes in Afghanistan held on a national day of strikes that was organized by a coalition of Islamist political parties. The demonstrators denounced the Pakistani government's support of the US and called for a holy Jihad against the West.Quetta, Pakistan.Photo © J.B. Russell