To: diana g who wrote (37111 ) 2/9/1999 11:17:00 AM From: Mike from La. Respond to of 95453
The Holy War is still simmering. This is lurking in the background of how oil prices are handled. It is a factor that is not openly discussed. but which is part of the Arab nations' thoughts. FEBRUARY 09, 11:01 EST Pakistan Arrests 24 Sunni Militants By KHALID TANVIR Associated Press Writer MULTAN, Pakistan (AP) — A Shiite Muslim leader accused Pakistan on Tuesday of supporting extremist Islamic groups fighting in Afghanistan and in Indian-ruled Kashmir. Police, meanwhile, arrested 24 radical Sunni activists in connection with Monday's slaying of five Shiite Muslims. Extremist Sunni and Shiite Muslims have been locked in a bloody conflict that has killed hundreds of people in Pakistan over the last few years. The religious violence has intensified in recent months, especially in the Punjab province, the home of Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif. The Sunni Muslim parties want Pakistan to be declared a Sunni Muslim state — a demand opposed by Shiites, who comprise about 15 percent of Pakistan's population. Addressing a news conference after burying the slain men, Shiite leader Allama Sajjid Naqvi blamed their deaths on radical Sunni Muslims. He said those same radicals also support Afghanistan's ruling Taliban religious army and fight Indian troops in India's only Muslim-dominated state, Kashmir. India routinely accuses Pakistan of arming and financing the Kashmiri secessionists, who are demanding either outright independence or union with Islamic Pakistan. Islamabad denies the charge, saying it offers only political support. ''Until Pakistan stops supporting (Pakistani) militants to fight in Afghanistan and Kashmir, law and order will not improve here,'' said Naqvi. Sunni leader Maulana Ahmed Lodhainvi rejected police claims that his party was involved in the killings of Shiite Muslims. ''Our party has no responsibility for yesterday's murders,'' he said. ''It's government's responsibility to provide protection to the lives of innocent people ... but the government has miserably failed.'' Sunni groups blame Iran for arming and financing the Shiite radical groups, while Shiites accuse Saudi Arabia of helping the Sunni groups. Both Iran and Saudi Arabia deny the charges. Mike from La.