In the days that followed the attacks on the World Trade center and Pentagon, the intended target for US retaliation was unclear and international relations were in flux. FT weighed up the possible targets (below) on September 14. Viewed with hindsight, this makes interesting reading - showing the extent that relations have changed, particularly between the US and Pakistan.

Afghanistan - On the US prime suspect list for harbouring Osama bin Laden, the millionaire Saudi dissident and supposed leader of the al-Qaeda terrorist group. The Taliban, an Islamic fundamentalist movement, controls most of the landlocked country, which is very poor as a result of two decades of war. The economy is highly dependent on farming and livestock raising (sheep and goats). Capital: Kabul Population: 25,838,797 (July 2000) Ethnic groups: Pashtun 38%, Tajik 25%, Uzbek 6%, Hazara 19%, minor ethnic groups (Aimaks, Turkmen, Baloch, and others) Religions: Sunni Muslim 84%, Shi'a Muslim 15%, other 1% Back to Map

Iran - Alleged by US to provide training and weapons to the Lebanese Hizbollah, and Palestinian rejectionist groups - notably Hamas, the Palestine Islamic Jihad, and Ahmad Jibrilís PFLP-GC Officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, for centuries the region has been the centre of the Shia branch of Islam. Iran's economy is a mixture of central planning, state ownership of oil and other large enterprises, village agriculture, and small-scale private trading and service ventures. Capital: Tehran Population: 65,619,636 (July 2000) Ethnic groups: Persian 51%, Azeri 24%, Gilaki and Mazandarani 8%, Kurd 7%, Arab 3%, Lur 2%, Baloch 2%, Turkmen 2%, other 1% Religions: Shi'a Muslim 89%, Sunni Muslim 10%, Zoroastrian, Jewish, Christian, and Baha'i 1%

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Iraq - Supports various Palestinian rejectionist groups and according to the US, protects the Mujahedin-e-Khalg (MEK), an Iranian terrorist group that opposes the current Iranian regime. Iraq became an independent kingdom in 1932, and since 1958 has been a republic ruled by a series of military strongmen -- the latest being Saddam Hussein (Ba'th Party). Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector, which has traditionally provided about 95% of foreign exchange earnings. Capital: Baghdad Population 22,675,617 (July 2000) Ethnic groups: Arab 75%-80%, Kurdish 15%-20%, Turkoman, Assyrian or other 5% Religions: Muslim 97% (Shi'a 60%-65%, Sunni 32%-37%), Christian or other 3%

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Syria - Provides a safehaven and support to several terrorist groups, some of which oppose the Middle East peace negotiations. Israelís occupation of the Golan Heights on Syria's southern border has long been a source of tension in the region, while Syrian troops have occupied Lebanon since 1976. Syria's economy depends largely on oil and agriculture, although much of the land remains undeveloped. During the Cold War, Syria had been the USSR's closest Middle Eastern ally, but has since moved to improve relations with the West. Syria played a prominent role in the US-mediated Middle East peace talks last year. Capital: Damascus - (also spelt Dimashq) Population: 17.8m Ethnic groups: Arab 90.3%, Kurds, Armenians and others 9.7% Religions: Sunni Muslim 74%, Alawite, Druze, and other Muslim sects 16%, Christian 10%, Jewish negligible

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Libya - Gradually being welcomed back to the international fold, following its surrender in 1999 of two Libyan suspects for trial for the Pan Am 103 bombing. In 1969 Muammar al-Qaddafi led a coup that overthrew the monarchy and proclaimed Libya an Arab republic. Under his leadership Libya has taken a much more active role not only in Arab affairs but also in international politics. The socialist-oriented economy depends primarily upon revenues from the oil sector, which contributes practically all export earnings and about one-quarter of GDP. Capital: Tripoli Population: 5,115,450, includes 162,669 non-nationals (July 2000) Ethnic groups: Berber and Arab 97%, Others; Greeks, Maltese, Italians, Egyptians, Pakistanis, Turks, Indians, Tunisians Religion: Sunni Muslim 97%

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Sudan - US alleges the Khartoum regime, which has been engaged in a long civil war against southern rebels, supports al-Qaeda, the Lebanese Hizbollah, al-Gamaís al-Islamiyya, Egyptian Islamic Jihad, the PIJ, and Hamas, but has been engaged in dialogue with the US since the middle of 2000. Buffeted by war and political instability, military dictatorships promulgating an Islamic government have mostly run the country since independence from the UK in 1956. The private sector's main areas of activity are agriculture and trading, with most private industrial investment predating 1980, agriculture employs 80% of the work force. Capital: Khartoum Population: 35,079,814 (July 2000) Ethnic groups: black 52%, Arab 39%, Beja 6%, foreigners 2%, other 1% Religions: Sunni Muslim 70% (in north), indigenous beliefs 25%, Christian 5%

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Pakistan - Provides aid to the Taliban who in turn harbour al-Qaeda, the Egyptian Islamic leader Jihad, al-Gamaís al-Islamiyya, and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. A federal republic, Pakistan has undergone a number of military coups since adopting a constitution in 1973. The current president, general Pervez Musharraf, dissolved Parliament following the military takeover of 12 October 1999. Capital: Islamabad Population: 141,553,775 (July 2000) Ethnic groups: Punjabi, Sindhi, Pashtun (Pathan), Baloch, Muhajir (immigrants from India at the time of partition and their descendants) Religions: Muslim 97% (Sunni 77%, Shi'a 20%), Christian, Hindu, and other 3%

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