How many will go back to fighting the jihad? From Reuters, with thanks to Nicolei:
PUL-I-CHARKI, Afghanistan (Reuters) - Hundreds of Pakistanis who fought alongside the Taliban against U.S-led forces after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States were released from an Afghan jail Sunday after nearly three years as prisoners of war.The 368 prisoners, the last of more than 2,500 Pakistanis captured during the overthrow of the Taliban, were being driven by bus 155 miles to the Pakistani town of Peshawar for screening by Pakistani authorities.
"We are glad that their ordeal is finally over," said Pakistani embassy third secretary Zafar Ali Khan. "We have been trying to get access to them for a long time. We believe there has been no need to have kept them for so long in Afghan jails."
The prisoners, ranging in age from 22 to 60, were captured as the Taliban disintegrated in the face of the U.S.-led invasion that drove the Islamic fundamentalists from power in November 2001.
Many had been drawn to Afghanistan from madrassahs, or religious schools, in Pakistan, attracted by the puritanical brand of Islam that the Taliban espoused.
"The mullahs in my area said that as Muslims we should go to Afghanistan to fight a jihad," 22-year-old Amir Khan, from Peshawar, told Reuters.
"I can not deny this was my intention. I arrived in Afghanistan in October. I spent three days in Kabul and then went to Mazar-i-Sharif. I was captured the day after I arrived there."
Like many of his comrades, Khan said he had received no military training and insisted he was a religious student who had been "misled" by the mullahs.
"They sold us," he said. "We learned later that for every 10 mujahideen (holy warriors) that they sent, they would receive 5,000 rupees ($100)."
Perhaps a few of these unholy warriors might have 'seen the light' in dank unPC Afghan prisons but young men from Muslim countries seem to prefer
Jihad to more honest employment. Prospect of yelling Allahu Akbar whilst butchering civilians or raping young girls seems more attractive than 9 - 5 employment. Expect the majority to return to Afghanistan so they can bomb Afghan men, women and children for the 'crime' of trying to vote in elections. During Victoria's reign, these Jihadists would have promptly been dispatched by
firing squad which these should have been to provide an example to rest in Pakistan. When is the West going to LEARN that the followers of Allah despise and will take advantage of any hint of weakness? PC Correctness will be the Death of all of us.
Thats 368 more Jihadists that we now have to be concerned about, unless of course they had a change of "faith" and all became followers of Mahatma Ghandi. Which is as likely as OBL becoming a Franciscan Monk.
Well, I suppose this is the price we have to pay for Pakistani support against al-qaida, but the fact is, all of these "holy warriors" now think they can go to heaven, having fought in the jihad against the infidel. They will no doubt be back for more and inspire others to join them. It would have been much better for us if they had been executed after being wrapped in pigskins.
(Apologies to the pigs of the world, but there is a war on)
What a waste of time, these skunks should have been left to rot in their cells.
It's not going to be long before another Taliban takes over the government.
Islam is like a virus, whatever cures are discovered, it evolves into a new more fatal form (oh and causes death wherever it appears).
Unless these young jihadists were provided with others skills with which to make a living, it is likely that we will face them again.
"I can not deny this was my intention. I arrived in Afghanistan in October. I spent three days in Kabul and then went to Mazar-i-Sharif. I was captured the day after I arrived there."
Got my daily chuckle reading this.
You can almost picture this poor sap.
"Yup, Yup, I'm gonna do the Jihad" and the next thing you know he's sitting in some jail.
I doubt this clown will be back.