Maktab al-Khidamat

The Maktab al-Khadamāt , also Maktab Khadamāt al-Mujāhidīn al-Arab ( Arabic : مكتب الخدمات or مكتب خدمات المجاهدين العرب, MAK ), also known as the Afghan Services Bureau , is reliably believed to have been founded in 1984 by Dr. Abdullah Azzam and Osama bin Laden to raise funds and recruit foreign mujahidin for the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan . MAK became the forerunner to Al Qaeda and was instrumental in creating the fundraising and recruitment network that benefited Al Qaeda during the 1990s. During the Soviet-Afghanistan war , MAK played a critical role, training over 10,000 mujahidin for the war and dispersing approximately $2 billion in donations sourced via a network of global offices in Western countries, including approximately thirty in the United States. MAK maintained a close liaison with Pakistan 's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency via which the CIA also funneled money into the mujahidin campaign. As the war ended, a difference in opinion emerged between Azzam and Bin Laden over the future direction of MAK. Azzam wanted to use the wealth it had generated, and the network it created to help install a pure Islamic government in post-war Afghanistan. Bin Laden, who was heavily influenced by Egyptian members of the Muslim Brotherhood wanted to use MAK’s assets to fund a global jihad. The conflict culminated in 1989 when Azzam was killed by a car bomb. Following his death, Bin Laden assumed control of MAK and the organization became absorbed into Al Qaeda.

The Maktab al-Khidamat , also Maktab Khadamāt al-Mujāhidīn al-'Arab ( Arabic : مكتب الخدمات or مكتب خدمات المجاهدين العرب, MAK ), also known as the Afghan Services Bureau , was founded in 1984 by Abdullah Azzam and Osama bin Laden to raise funds and recruit foreign mujahidin for the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan . MAK became the forerunner to al-Qaeda and was instrumental in creating the fundraising and recruitment network that benefited al-Qaeda during the 1990s. During the Soviet-Afghanistan war , MAK played a minimal role, training a small group of 100 mujahidin for the war and disbursing approximately $2 million in donations from Muslims sourced via a network of global offices in Arabic and Western countries, allegedly including approximately thirty in the United States. MAK maintained a close liaison with Pakistan 's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency through which the CIA and the intelligence agency of Saudi Arabia Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah funneled money to Afghan Mujaheddin. The MAK paid the airfare for new recruits to be flown into the Afghan region for training. MAK was closely cooperating with Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin faction of the Peshawar Seven . As the war ended, a difference in opinion emerged between Azzam and the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) led by Ayman al-Zawahiri over the future direction of MAK. Azzam wanted to use the wealth it had generated, and the network it created to help install a pure Islamic government in post-war Afghanistan and opposed "fitna" among Muslims, including attacks against governments of Muslim countries. Al-Zawahiri wanted to use MAK’s assets to fund a global jihad , including the overthrow of governments in Muslim countries deemed un-Islamic. Bin Laden, MAK's most important fundraiser , was strongly influenced by Zawahiri, although he remained close to Azzam. On November 24, 1989, Azzam was killed by the detonation of 3 mines, by unknown assassins. Azzam as well as his 2 sons were killed in the assassination on their way to their local mosque for evening prayers. Following Azzam's death, bin Laden assumed control of MAK and the organization became absorbed into al-Qaeda. Suspects include competing Afghan militia leaders, Pakistani Interservices Intelligence Agency , the CIA , and the Israeli Mossad , as well as those who opposed moving the jihad to the Palestinian territories - including bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri - and the Iranian intelligence.

The Maktab al-Khidamat , also Maktab Khadamāt al-Mujāhidīn al-'Arab ( Arabic : مكتب الخدمات or مكتب خدمات المجاهدين العرب, MAK ), also known as the Afghan Services Bureau , was founded in 1984 by Abdullah Azzam , Wa'el Hamza Julaidan , Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri to raise funds and recruit foreign mujahidin for the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan . MAK became the forerunner to al-Qaeda and was instrumental in creating the fundraising and recruitment network that benefited Al-Qaeda during the 1990s. During the Soviet-Afghanistan war , MAK played a minimal role, training a small group of 100 mujahidin for the war and disbursing approximately $1 million in donations from Muslims sourced via a network of global offices in Arab and Western countries, allegedly including approximately thirty in the United States. MAK maintained a close liaison with Pakistan 's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency through which the intelligence agency of Saudi Arabia, Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah , funneled money to the Mujaheddin. The MAK paid the airfare for new recruits to be flown into the Afghan region for training. MAK was closely cooperating with Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin faction of the Peshawar Seven . As the war ended, a difference in opinion emerged between Azzam and the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) led by Ayman al-Zawahiri over the future direction of MAK. Azzam wanted to use the wealth it had generated, and the network it created to help install a pure Islamic government in post-war Afghanistan and opposed "fitna" among Muslims, including attacks against governments of Muslim countries. Al-Zawahiri wanted to use MAK's assets to fund a global jihad , including the overthrow of governments in Muslim countries deemed un-Islamic. Bin Laden, MAK's most important fundraiser , was strongly influenced by Zawahiri, although he remained close to Azzam. On November 24, 1989, Azzam was killed by the detonation of 3 mines, by unknown assassins. Azzam as well as his 2 sons were killed in the assassination on their way to their local mosque for evening prayers. Following Azzam's death, bin Laden assumed control of MAK and the organization became absorbed into al-Qaeda. Suspects include bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri , competing Afghan militia leaders, Pakistani Interservices Intelligence Agency , the CIA , the Israeli Mossad , and Iranian intelligence.

1984–1989 organization fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan The Maktab al-Khidamat , also Maktab Khadamāt al-Mujāhidīn al-'Arab ( Arabic : مكتب الخدمات or مكتب خدمات المجاهدين العرب, MAK ), also known as the Afghan Services Bureau , was founded in 1984 by Abdullah Azzam , Wa'el Hamza Julaidan , Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri to raise funds and recruit foreign mujahideen for the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan . MAK became the forerunner to al-Qaeda and was instrumental in creating the fundraising and recruitment network that benefited Al-Qaeda during the 1990s. During the Soviet–Afghan War , MAK played a minimal role, training a small group of 100 mujahideen for the war and disbursing approximately $1 million in donations from Muslims sourced via a network of global offices in Arab and Western countries, allegedly including approximately thirty in the United States. MAK maintained a close liaison with Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) agency through which the intelligence agency of Saudi Arabia, Al Mukhabarat Al A'amah , funneled money to the Mujaheddin. The MAK paid the airfare for new recruits to be flown into the Afghan region for training. MAK closely cooperated with the Hezb-e Islami Gulbuddin faction of the Peshawar Seven . As the war ended, a difference in opinion emerged between Azzam and the Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ) led by Ayman al-Zawahiri over the future direction of MAK. Azzam wanted to use the wealth it had generated, and the network it created to help install a pure Islamic government in post-war Afghanistan and opposed "fitna" among Muslims, including attacks against governments of Muslim countries. Al-Zawahiri wanted to use MAK's assets to fund a global jihad , including the overthrow of governments in Muslim countries deemed un-Islamic. Bin Laden, MAK's most important fundraiser, was strongly influenced by Zawahiri, although he remained close to Azzam. On November 24, 1989, Azzam was killed by the detonation of 3 mines, by unknown assassins. Azzam as well as his 2 sons were killed in the assassination on their way to their local mosque for evening prayers. Following Azzam's death, Osama bin Laden assumed control of MAK and the organization became absorbed into al-Qaeda. Suspects include bin Laden, Ayman al-Zawahiri , competing Afghan militia leaders, Pakistani Interservices Intelligence Agency , the CIA , the Israeli Mossad , Iranian intelligence and the Afghan KhAD . Ghost wars : the secret history of the CIA, Afghanistan, and bin Laden, from the Soviet invasion to September 10, 2001 .

1984–1989 organization fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan The Maktab al-Khidamat , also Maktab Khadamāt al-Mujāhidīn al-'Arab ( Arabic : مكتب الخدمات or مكتب خدمات المجاهدين العرب, MAK ), also known as the Afghan Services Bureau , was founded in 1984 by Abdullah Azzam , Wa'el Hamza Julaidan , Osama bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri to raise funds and recruit foreign mujahideen for the war against the Soviets in Afghanistan . MAK became the forerunner to al-Qaeda and was instrumental in creating the fundraising and recruitment network that benefited Al-Qaeda during the 1990s.