“Ghost Wars” by Steve Coll is the definitive account of Afghanistan from the Soviet Invasion to 9/11. Here are a couple of excerpts:
“Saudi charities built along the Afghan frontier hundreds of madrassas, or Islamic schools…”
“In 1971 there had been only 900 madrassas in all of Pakistan. By the summer of 1988 there were about 8,000 official religious schools and an estimated 25,000 unregistered ones, many of them…funded by wealthy patrons from Sauid Arabia and other Gulf states.”
“Many of the Pakistani clerics who ran these madrassas had been trained in Saudi Arabia….The Taliban’s virtue and vice ministry…quickly grew richer than other arms of the Taliban government. This almost certainly was a result of direct subsidies and training from Saudi Arabia’s Islamic establishment.”
The book details a lot of the Saudi funding during this time period. Exact figures are hard to come by because the money was funneled through the religious establishment and openly denied by the Saudi government.
Another book to look up is Steven Emerson’s The American House of Saud, though I suspect that’s more about how Saudi bought influence through American corporations.
Try the Jamestown Foundation – I might be able to dig something else up later tonight…..
“Ghost Wars” by Steve Coll is the definitive account of Afghanistan from the Soviet Invasion to 9/11. Here are a couple of excerpts:
“Saudi charities built along the Afghan frontier hundreds of madrassas, or Islamic schools…”
“In 1971 there had been only 900 madrassas in all of Pakistan. By the summer of 1988 there were about 8,000 official religious schools and an estimated 25,000 unregistered ones, many of them…funded by wealthy patrons from Sauid Arabia and other Gulf states.”
“Many of the Pakistani clerics who ran these madrassas had been trained in Saudi Arabia….The Taliban’s virtue and vice ministry…quickly grew richer than other arms of the Taliban government. This almost certainly was a result of direct subsidies and training from Saudi Arabia’s Islamic establishment.”
The book details a lot of the Saudi funding during this time period. Exact figures are hard to come by because the money was funneled through the religious establishment and openly denied by the Saudi government.
Hope that helps.
Thanks, Andy. The specific period in which I have the most interest is from, say, 1976-1985.
I think that an Israeli Ambassador named Dore Gold (sp?) wrote a book on this subject 3 or 4 years ago–but I’m not sure.
Sounds like you’re talking about Hatred’s Kingdom, AMac. Thanks. I may start there.
I’m not sure how much of these will be helpful.
http://www.jcpa.org/jl/vp504.htm
http://www.jcpa.org/art/nypost-dg6apr03.htm
Thanks, Soccer Dad. Those are interesting but don’t really get at what I’m looking for. I wouldn’t be surprised if what I’m looking for doesn’t exist.
Another book to look up is Steven Emerson’s The American House of Saud, though I suspect that’s more about how Saudi bought influence through American corporations.