WASHINGTON, Oct 11: An Al Qaeda survival kit, available to the media in the United States and obtained also by Dawn, reveals how Osama bin Laden's network and its supporters among the Taliban and other similar groups are preparing to survive the US-led "war against terrorism".

The kit has been printed in several languages and is being distributed secretly among Al Qaeda followers in Afghanistan and Pakistan. The instructions aim to prepare the Taliban and Al Qaeda workers and their sympathizers to survive on their own and also on how to communicate with their central leaders without exposing them.

The contents show the groups are well aware of the changes brought about by the "war on terrorism" and realise they can no longer work openly. That's why they seem to be preparing for a long, clandestine war with the United States and its allies.

Decentralization and secrecy are the two key elements of their new strategy, which they hope to prolong also by exploiting religious sentiments of the people they live with.

The point the survival kit emphasizes repeatedly is the need for the Taliban and Al Qaeda workers to "merge with the masses" and thus "become indistinguishable" from the rest of the people.

The copy obtained by Dawn comes complete with the pictures of 18 Al Qaeda leaders who are on the FBI's most-wanted list. The first picture is that of the network's leader Osama bin Laden, followed by his deputy Aiman al Zawahiri and other top operatives. A caption above the pictures declares: "These are Mujahideen, not dangerous religious terrorists".

"Every member will take all necessary precautions in his personal and social life to protect the group and its leadership ... in his personal life, each member shall merge completely with the society he lives in so that he is indistinguishable from other members of the society."

Some of the instructions in the kit for Al Qaeda and Taliban units are: "If you live in an area where people wear Western dresses, you also dress like them ... if the majority in that area has a secular mindset, do not express your religious sentiments."

"Look closely at the ethnic complexion of your neighbourhood ... if the area has a large number of people from ethnic groups that support the government, stay away from them because they often spy for intelligence agencies."

"Don't visit the local mosque regularly. Instead say your prayers at your residence, even the weekly Friday prayer ... while looking for a residence, have a credible, cover story that you will tell the landlord. Always stick to that story."

"Don't roam around with beard and Islamic dress in fashionable neighbourhoods. Always take out the chip of the mobile [phone] while sleeping to avoid being caught. Use mobile [phone] from a crowded place so police don't locate the position. Don't write the original numbers of Mujahideen in a notebook; try to memorize the last three digits.

"If you live in an area where people do not have cars, avoid using vehicles ... if you have to stay inside your residence when other people go to work, be quiet. Do not draw attention."

The kit also contains tips on the use of a cellphone: "Use a cellphone only when you must and an alternative means of communication is not available ... it is better not to use cell phones at all ... if you must use a cell phone, use the one obtained under fake name and address ... never use a phone provided by your 'nazm' for calling a friend or a relative ... if you ask your friends to call you, give them a specific time and keep your phone open only when you are expecting a call."

"Do not receive a phone at your residence, do so at a bazaar or at an open space and shut off the phone and disconnect the battery as soon as you finish the conversation."

How Al Qaeda members must use the Internet: "For using the Internet, you must go to an internet cafe ... never visit a site that can reveal your identity, such as those belonging to FBI, Al Qaeda or the Mujahideen ... when opening an e-mail account, go to an internet cafe, never do it at home ... never use the same internet cafe again and again ... before leaving the cafe, remove all evidence, never leave any trace ... while sending an e-mail, never use the language that could reveal your ideological commitment."

"Write your message in a word processor, compose, cut, paste and send. And then disconnect. Never let your e-mail open to write a message." police interrogation: How to deal with police interrogation: "If unfortunately, a friend is arrested, he should remember two things: do not assume that the police know everything because they do not and always try to protect your friends and colleagues."

"The police may try to make you believe that they already know everything and that if you lie or try to hide information from them, you will unnecessary expose yourself to torture."

"The place you are arrested from is important. If you are arrested from home, you will face a different set of questions than those arrested from a place of operation or from a Mujahideen hideout."

"While being interrogated, try to guess if the interrogator suspects that you are a Mujahid or he knows you are one and vary your responses accordingly ... the investigators are humans like you, so do not let them bully you or enjoy unnecessary influence over you."

"The key point is: you are not guilty unless proven, so do not let your answers (be used) as evidence against you. Do not let your answers lead the interrogators to other friends."