Still, the government's attack on the madrasah last July was widely condemned.
Clouds of charcoal smoke wafted into the air, and the scent of grilling meat floated out over streets bustling with pilgrims, madrasah students, sellers of rose petals, little boys .
BATTLE LINE: Armed students belonging to the Red Mosques madrasah fire at Pakistani forces besieging their Islamabad complex on July 3.
Hamid Karzai in RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty Neither this young boy nor his father is to be blamed,Karzai said. "He sent his son [to a madrasah] for education. The enemies of the religion wanted this young boy to destroy himself and to destroy other Muslims with him. I forgive him...
Abdus Sattar in The Statesman Mr Abdus Sattar, state minister of madrasah education, said: "The project is a big step for the development of madrasah education in the state. The department is also considering the formation of a regional office to organise and manage the system...