Bin Laden Alleges ‘Crusader War’ Against Islam

In the letter, bin Laden asks Pakistani Muslims to “stand in the face” of American attacks on Afghanistan’s ruling Taliban — even though Pakistan’s government has allied itself with the U.S. in its coalition against terrorism.

The Qatar-based network did not show the full text of the letter, but Reuters reported translated portions of it.

“Muslims in Afghanistan are being subjected to killing and the Pakistani government is standing beneath the Christian banner,” the letter said. “The crusader war against Islam has intensified … The world is split in two. Part of it is under the head of infidels [President] Bush, and the other half under the banner of Islam.”

The letter adds that “standing against wrong will strengthen” Muslims’ resolve.

The Bush administration has asked American media to refrain from publishing letters and recordings sent by bin Laden in case they contain encoded messages to his supporters.

After hearing of bin Laden’s letter, British Prime Minister Tony Blair reaffirmed support for Pakistan’s leadership, including President Gen. Pervez Musharraf.

“We should be very clear, I believe, in our support for President Musharraf at this difficult time, who is trying to do his best for the people of Pakistan,” Blair said. “I hope that people realize that the desire of bin Laden is to create Taliban-type states all over the Arab and Muslim world.”

Politics in Pakistan

According to reports, Musharraf has begun reaching out to secular political parties in the face of mounting protests against his government.

“President Musharraf has taken a very big risk by siding with the United States, and I think he’s now trying to broaden the base of his government,” political analyst Khwaja Masud told the Associated Press.

But a government spokesman said officials have no plans to change the makeup of Pakistan’s leadership.

Thousands of Pakistan’s 145 million people have staged sometimes bloody protests in the wake of the U.S. strikes.

Early today, Pakistani authorities arrested Mukhdoom Javed Hashmi, leader of the Pakistan Muslim League. Authorities said he was arrested on suspicions of corruption, but some have questioned whether the arrest was linked to increased tensions between some Pakistani Muslims and Musharraf.

Leaders of Hashmi’s party — the leading political group in Pakistan before the 1999 coup that brought Musharraf to power — decided Wednesday to participate in a Nov. 9 strike organized by religious parties against the government, party leaders told the AP. Hashmi was arrested hours after that decision.