KHAR, July 13: About 2,000 supporters of the defunct Tehrike Nifaze Shariate Muhammadi (TNSM), chanting “Death to America!”, rallied near the Afghan border on Thursday to protest against raids on a village by security forces hunting for militants.

Leaders of the protest declared support for the Taliban jihad against US forces in Afghanistan, and hailed Al Qaeda’s No. 2 leader Ayman Al Zawahri as a “hero of Islam”.

The TNSM supporters rallied near Khar, Bajur’s main town about 200 kilometers northwest of Islamabad. The northwestern tribal region of Bajur is located near Damadola village where a US missile strike in January purportedly targeted Al Zawahri.

On Wednesday, security forces hunting militants launched a raid on a village near Damadola. No one was arrested, according to tribal elders.

Two fugitive clerics, Mausalana Faqir Mohammed and Said Mohammed, who are wanted by authorities for allegedly sheltering foreign militants, were among the leaders of the protest.

Hundreds at the rally, staged in a dry river bed, carried AK-47 rifles and rocket-launchers. Some with long beards and flowing hair wore commando outfits.

“We don’t have foreigners; but if they come here, we will welcome them,” said Said Mohammed as protesters chanted “Long live Islam!”, “Long live Mujahidin” and “Death to America!”

He vowed that Al Zawahri would be welcome if he ever came to their area. “We will be happy if he comes. We will be proud. He is a hero of Islam,” the cleric said.

Maualana Faqir Mohammed demanded that authorities stop anti-militant raids in the area.

“The government should stop these raids. We have thousands of trained men and we will take revenge,” he told the rally. “We will help the people of Afghanistan and fight jihad as long as American and coalition forces are there,” he said.—AP