Ramadan deadline looms for US action

Ramadan reinforces Muslims' sense of identity

By BBC News Online's Jonathan Morris

US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said that it would be in the best interests of the United States and its allies if the military action in Afghanistan was "resolved" before the onset of winter.

But Mr Powell will also be aware of another deadline looming - Ramadan.

Ramadan

Marks the month the Prophet Mohammed is believed to have had the holy book, the Koran, revealed to him by God

Muslims are instructed to fast, not drink or smoke or have sexual relations during daylight hours

The fast lasts for 29 or 30 days, depending on when the first moon of Ramadan is sighted, and will end with the celebration of Eid al-Fitr

Ramadan, which starts on or around 15 November, is the month-long period of fasting for Muslims around the world.

And although the US has maintained that its objectives will not be swayed by Ramadan - one official said last week that the US "will leave all of our options open" - the prospect of inciting further opposition to the strikes will be a further spur to getting the job done.

Muslim countries that have supported the bombing so far will be concerned that bombing through the holy month will spark a backlash across the Muslim world, spreading instability to countries already battling militant Muslims.

'Explosive' situation

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hasan Wirayuda said after the Apec meeting in Shanghai that the situation could become "explosive".

"For countries with large Muslim populations like Malaysia, Indonesia, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Bangladesh, prolonged military conflict in Afghanistan will have an effect of destabilising these countries," he warned.

Osama Bin Laden: Bombing through Ramadan could hand him propaganda victory

Ramadan is also more than a month of fasting and piety for Muslims.

Like the Haj pligrimage to Mecca, Ramadan consolidates the sense of identity among the world's estimated one billion Muslims, creating fertile ground for militants to exploit religious passions to intensify their violence.

And for allied forces to be fighting in Afghanistan during Ramadan would only add strength to Osama Bin Laden's claim to be struggling against "Crusaders and Jews".

Pakistan plea

Pakistan, which has been a staunch ally of the US in its campaign, will also be putting increasing pressure on the US to conclude its campaign as Ramadan approaches.

Demonstrations by militant Muslims have been growing since the attacks began and President Pervez Musharraf has already been urging the US to get the war won before opposition boils over.

He told Mr Powell earlier this month: "What I would urge the coalition is to achieve the military objectives and terminate the operation."

And to wait until next spring could lead to a humanitarian disaster over the bitter winter, with tens of thousands already displaced inside Afghanistan.

As an editorial in the UK's The Times newspaper put it on 19 October: "There is no choice but to step up the pace and step it up now."