Osama Bin Laden (begginning of Jehad)- World of Biography

Osama set up base for his activities by establishing a guesthouse in Peshawar, Pakistan. All the Arab Mujahideen took refuge at the guesthouse before being sent to the training camps or to fight. Osama bin Laden collaborated with the newly established Jihad Service Bureau in Peshawar and promoted his jehad through the media and charity.

By 1984, Osama had more or less settled in Afghanistan. He spent almost eight months a year in Afghanistan promoting the jehad. He established more than six camps in Afghanistan for independent activities. He recruited experienced Egyptian and Syrian fighters, in his army. His army was growing in number and his activities attracted people from the Arab countries.

Osama was all geared up for battle. His first battle against the Soviet forces was in Jaji near Khost. This was followed by several skirmishes and some full-fledged battles.

His large army began posing many problems for Bin Laden. He was unable to keep track of the fighters he recruited and those who went missing. He decided to make the process more organized. Thus was born Al Qa’edah, which means ‘The Base’, to keep record of all the visitors he had. Al Qa’edah soon became a safe haven for terrorists.

1989 saw the retreat of the Soviet troops from Afghanistan. Breathing easy, Osama returned to Saudi Arabia. He announced his intentions of creating a new base for jehad in Yemen. This prompted the Saudi government to slap a travel ban on him. Osama was undeterred. He kept up his inspirational speeches, which warned of an impending invasion by Saddam Hussein. He wrote to the king warning him of the attack. Osama’s fears came true when Iraq invaded Kuwait. He sprang into action and began mobilizing his Mujahideen troops. He gave several tips to the king on how to protect the kingdom. But he was in for a rude shock when the Saudi government decided to seek American help.

He promptly extracted a fatwah from some clerics favouring training of th Mujahideen. He circulated the fatwah and gathered around 4,000 soldiers to wage a holy war. The soldiers were sent to Afghanistan for intensive training. The Saudi

kingdom was irked by the turn of events and limited Osama’s activities to Jeddah. He was often grilled for his inflammatory speeches. Osama was further humiliated by raids on his farms. Though the king later apologized, it did little to cool his ire. Osama lobbied with his brother and managed to lift the travel ban on him. He fled to Pakistan under the pretext of some business purpose and never returned.

Fearing the Pakistani intelligence Osama reached Afghanistan. It was in a mess upon his arrival. The Communist rule had ended and the country was divided into many factions. All attempts at negotiations by Osama failed. He asked his followers not to support any group.

Meanwhile, the Saudi government plotted several times with the Pakistani intelligence officials to eliminate Laden. His trusted and influential friends would forewarn him of the plot and help him escape. Osama found nothing concrete coming out of his stay in Afghanistan. He relocated to Sudan under a disguise.