For a highly paid professional you are a shrimp when it comes to understanding politics. Please leave Islam out of the discussion and then read...
Needs of Pakistan:
Pakistan is a narrow cordon and they know that they cannot fight India without having strategic depth and the only option is Afghanistan. Geography of Afghanistan gives Pakistan Army a much better strategic advantage, people of Afghanistan give Pakistan fresh blood and joined ideology against India.
Pakistan also needs to keep India tied down and on a slow burner to waste resources through attrition.
Needs of Taliban:
Landlocked country, and 50% of population will always oppose them on ethnic lines. Iran is ideologically opposed…Pakistan is needed to be able to retract and withdraw when needed, Pakistan is needed to raise funds, Pakistan is needed to funnel cash, resources etc…Pakistan is needed to give them political fig leaf
Needs of India:
Sitting in a country with 20-25% Muslims who COULD POTENTIALLY make allegiance to Pakistan (religiously), fighting multiple insurgencies and independence movements but needs to isolate Pakistan.
Needs of Saudia:
House of Saud is illegitimate! Whether the country tilts towards Islam or tilts towards Democracy either way House of Saud will fall…The only choice is to foster a “Cleric controlled Islam” which can be manipulated by the House of Saud.
Needs of the West:
Masses of western population are scared and don’t want an attack anywhere on western soil so the only choice is to keep the fire burning in the East and let the body count keep rolling in the East…WHO CARES how many die in Karachi as long as nobody dies in London!
The Muslim world can NEVER be allowed to get united and present a united front because the day that happens Israel will fall, it stands NO CHANCE against even 50% of the Muslim acting in a united manner.
A “Cleric controlled Islam” has to be backed and manipulated otherwise real Islam will take hold.
Also hypocritically they need to APPEAR to act on issues without committing the resources of their Nation. In addition, sometimes people like Charlie Wilson are genuinely committed to an act and the will of the Nation catches up later. In all of these circumstances NON-STATE-ACTORS matter!
Where can you get them from? “Cleric controlled Islam” has a ready supply of sheep to be sent for the sacrifice.
Needs of the Ulama:
Masses must keep referring to them and there are two groups of Ulama and there are their reasons:
- Sincere ones believe that it’s their duty to guide the Ummah
- Insincere ones need their livelihood
Either way masses MUST BE FED things which they want to hear every once in a while. The mood of the masses must be judged, if they back Afghan Jihad then fire them up on Afghan Jihad…If its Babri Masjid so be it…If its Bashar Al-Asaad so be it.
Again some are sincere, some are not but their needs are the same.
Condition of the masses:
99.99999% are followers and can neither see why certain groups lead them in a certain direction nor have the capacity to understand. Come out of a firey Bayan 99.99% don't know WHY Maulana said what he said BUT they are fired up...
Are Ulama stooges?
Some are and there is no doubt.
Some are not but they have legitimate needs and the state backing can provide those needs e.g. during Afghan Jihad millions flew into Jihad and it was needed…Muslims knew but overlooked. It doesn’t mean that they were stooges but they needed the resources.
Many Ulama genuinely back Kashmir Jihad BUT you cannot perform Jihad in Kashmir without the backing of Pakistan Army, its strategically impossible so ….You scratch my back & I scratch your back.