And for these highly religious volunteers, many of whom are still in their teens, there is nothing more sacred in life than achieving the status of a martyr. These are the grunts in the war. The leaders are Pakistani veterans of the Afghan war. It is set on a vast mountain clearing overlooking Muzaffarabad. There are only two structures, one an armory, the other a kitchen.
Trainees live and sleep in the open, whether in the sweltering summer or the depth of winter.
The field is dotted with installations used to teach the fervent young some no older than 14 how to cross a river, climb a mountain or ambush a military convoy. The day of a trainee begins at four in the morning. After offering prayers, the militants go for exercises. A breakfast of tea and bread is at eight, followed by a full day of rigorous drills, which are interrupted only for prayers and a simple lunch, usually rice and lentils. Coursework covers how to use sidearms, sniper rifles, grenades, rocket launchers and wireless radio sets, as well as the art of constructing bombs.