Final Draft Thesis Paper.pdf - Brandeis University

theMiddleEasttocometoAfghanistantohelpfightofftheSovietarmy.Afterall,anon‐MuslimentityoutragedMuslimsfromallovertheworld:“ThiswarledtotherevivalofthenotionofJihadasacollectiveduty;formanyofthevolunteerswhocametocentralAsiatowageorsupportthemilitaryeffort,itinstalledthebeliefthatjihadwasthesolutiontotheummah’sweaknessesandthekeytoreturningittoitsearlydays”(Mendelsohn,38).Notlongafter,jihadismgrewoutofcontrolandwassoonexportedtoothercountries.ThecalltojihadinAfghanistanunifiedindividualsfromallovertheworld,particularlytheMiddleEast,intheirstrongbeliefsandgavethempracticalbattlegroundexperience.ThewithdrawalofSoviettroopsgavetheMuslimmilitantsafeelingofvictory,andthatjihadwasasuccessfulmethodoffightingforonesgoals(Mendelsohn,38).Duringthe1990s,“OsamabinLadenandhisalQaedanetworkprovidedanorganizationalandideologicalbaseforajihadimovementcomprisingmembersfromdifferentnations,aglobalreach,andideologywithglobalscope”(Mendelsohn,38).TheeventsofSeptember11 th madeJihadinthelocalapartofagreatermovementagainsttheinfidel(Menelsohn,38).WithintheJihadmovement,thePakistanibecameapartofthismuchlargermovementandgavemanyPakistanistheirfirstrealfeelingsofbelonging. 24