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Posted on 12/11/2001 11:23:33 AM PST by fm1

Pakistanis Mourn Taliban Fighters By RIAZ KHAN, Associated Press Writer

MALAKAND, Pakistan (AP) - Pakistanis fired with religious fervor poured into Afghanistan by the thousands to fight alongside the Taliban. Now, many are feared dead, those who have straggled home are traumatized and the families of the missing can only pray and curse the clerics who sent them.

``The American carpet bombing wiped out scores and scores of our fighters,'' said Khalid Khas, 27, who served on the front line near the Afghan capital, Kabul. ``It was like hell. After the bombing, often there weren't even bodies to collect. The Americans bombed us in the trenches and even when we were retreating. I don't know how many of my companions died.''

In addition to the U.S. airstrike, Pakistani fighters say many Afghans, including the Taliban, took their weapons and stole their money, bedding and even shoes.

The airstrikes began Oct. 7 to eliminate Osama bin Laden and his terrorist network - blamed for the Sept. 11 terrorist assaults on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The United States also targeted the Taliban for protecting bin Laden, triggering the collapse of the Islamic militia.

At least 8,000 to 10,000 tribesmen crossed into Afghanistan to fight against U.S. forces. Pakistani authorities say they went without government permission, using unmonitored mountain tracks.

The hard-line Islamic group Tehrik Nifaz Shariat-e-Mohammedi, which mobilized tribesmen in the border area, says at least 2,000 to 3,000 of its volunteers are missing and feared dead. The group's leader, firebrand cleric Sufi Mohammed, was jailed by Pakistan when he returned from Afghanistan last month with 30 other men.

``We curse Sufi Mohammed for sacrificing so many innocent lives,'' said Abdul Wahid, a 90-year-old tribal elder. ``It is because of him that so many children have become orphans and women widows.''

Maulvi Mohammed Alam, deputy chief of the Tehrik Nifaz Shariat-e-Mohammedi, said it was wrong to blame his leader. ``He just gave Almighty Allah's message. He did not force people to join him,'' he said.

Alam said his group believes 850 Pakistani tribesmen are prisoners of the anti-Taliban forces. ``If they are not freed, non-Pashtun Afghan refugees won't be safe here,'' he warned.

Local people say such retaliation could create serious problems in Pakistan's tribal region - home to tens of thousands of Afghan refugees.

Lack of information is a crushing burden for families of the missing, like Ameer Mohammed, 48, who vanished into Afghanistan in October.

``We pray that he has been taken prisoner by the northern alliance,'' said his 16-year-old son Omar, who now pushes his father's rickety handcart to sell fruit to support his nine-member family. ``We pray that he comes back.''

Omar said people are furious with clerics. ``They themselves returned unscathed, but left others to die,'' he said.

Syed Hanif, whose brother Gull went to Afghanistan, said he and his family had given up hope for his return.

``It is difficult to feed my own family,'' he said. How can I feed Gull's 11 children? We pray for his life and hope that when the new government in Afghanistan comes to power, they will release all Pakistanis.''

Eight-year-old Lubna, whose father Shah Hakeem hasn't returned, said she will have to give up school.

``There is no one to take care of us. I wish he hadn't gone to Afghanistan,'' she said.

In this image from television the body of a suspected al-Qaida fighter lies near the entrance to a cave hide-out used by al-Qaida forces in the Tora Bora area of eastern Afghanistan, Tuesday, Dec. 11, 2001. (AP Photo/CNN)

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