But, since 1994, its lawless southern islands have replaced Afghanistan as the main training ground and refuge for Southeast Asian jihadists. Most are Indonesians belonging to Jemaah Islamiyah (JI), Mujahidin Kompak, and other Darul Islam factions.

He considered it important to do so in order to look into allegations he had received about the presence of foreigners, mercenaries, volunteers and Islamic fighters or mujahidin in the armed conflicts which had recently ravaged that country.

The Government had established contact with, and facilitated mutual understanding between, the farmers and the mujahidin commanders, already resulting in a substantial reduction in the production of poppy and hashish in the western, southern and eastern provinces of the country in 1995 and 1996.