America is to continue bombing Afghanistan during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, despite opposition from some Islamic leaders and warnings that the action could create unrest in Muslim states, including Pakistan.
With less than a fortnight before the start of the month of fasting and intense prayer, the United States says it cannot heed calls for a bombing halt because its enemies will not rest.
Voice of America radio this week broadcast a US government foreign policy statement saying Muslims had themselves often waged war during their holy month, as far back as the seventh century when the prophet Mohammed was alive.
"As this year's observance of Ramadan approaches, the US and other countries, including Muslim countries, are concerned about further terrorist attacks," said the statement, broadcast in 53 languages to countries including Afghanistan.
"The coalition has no choice but to go to the source of the terrorism in Afghanistan and to root out terrorist groups elsewhere. As President Bush put it, 'the enemy won't rest during Ramadan and neither will we'."
Voice of America says it has an audience of 80 per cent of adult males in Afghanistan where television is outlawed under the Taliban's extreme interpretation of Islam.
In Pakistan, minority hard-line Islamic groups as well as the more moderate Pakistan Muslim League have warned that the continuance of US attacks during the holy month, which begins on November 17th, will aggravate simmering anti-American sentiment and lead to violence.
Already several people have been killed in anti-war rallies in this Muslim country which borders Afghanistan.
Religious parties have organised rowdy street protests as well as a series of strikes culminating in a nationwide stoppage planned for Friday.
Pakistan's president, Gen Pervez Musharraf, a key US ally, has warned that if America does not exercise restraint during Ramadan "certainly it will have some negative effects on the Muslim world".
During Ramadan the world's billion Muslims must abstain from food, drink, smoking and sensual pleasures from dawn to dusk. They offer extra prayers and do good deeds during the month, which marks the period when they believe their holy book, the Koran, was revealed by God to the prophet Mohammed.
The fast is performed to learn discipline, self-restraint and generosity while obeying God's commandments.
The Koran refers to fighting as a "great transgression" but does not decisively say that warring is not permitted during the holy days. The prophet Mohammed himself fought during Ramadan in a battle to conquer Mecca and the Battle of Badr in 624.
Dr Dost Muhammad, assistant professor at the Sheikh Zayed Islamic Centre in the University of Peshawar in north-west Pakistan, said that if a war is imposed on Muslims during Ramadan "they have the right to defend themselves if they are forced to fight. But Muslims try their best not to do any bad deeds during the holy month."
However, many modern wars have been fought during Ramadan, and supporters of the US airstrikes accuse Muslim critics of hypocrisy.
The Egyptians and the Syrians launched their 1973 war on Israel on the tenth day of Ramadan. Iran and Iraq fought each other during Ramadan throughout their war from 1980 to 1988. Iran even launched an Operation Ramadan offensive in 1982. In Algeria, Ramadan has also marked a particularly bloody upsurge in attacks by Islamic militants in recent years.
"These states are not considered good Muslims," said Dr Muhammad. "They are governments of Muslims but they are not model Islamic states. They do many things against Islam. The Taliban government I consider a legitimate Muslim government and they will not do anything against Islam."
Dr Dost said that if the Taliban are attacked by the US during Ramadan, they are allowed under Islamic jurisprudence to cease fasting in order to maintain their strength.
He said: "The total routine of Muslims is changed during this month. It is an extraordinary month.
"I think the Muslim world will be impressed if the US stops the bombing in the month. If the sacredness of Ramadan is not kept in view, I'm afraid a wave of hatred will follow."
The US defence secretary, Mr Donald Rumsfeld, has pointed out that the Taliban and the Northern Alliance have fought each other during Ramadan in recent years.
Religious leaders in Pakistan say that Muslims fighting each other during Ramadan is one thing but Muslim nations, such as Pakistan, appearing to take orders from the United States during the holy month is quite another.
"If non-Muslims decide to go ahead with the attacks on Muslims in Ramadan, the Muslims will feel they are not respecting the religious month," said Mr Iqbal Zaffar Jhagra, from the Pakistan Muslim League which was the country's leading party before Gen Musharraf took power in a military coup in 1999.
Humanitarian organisations including Concern have called for a cessation of the US attacks during Ramadan to allow the delivery of vital aid supplies before the onset of winter.
However, the US-backed Northern Alliance, which is fighting the Taliban, has urged America not to stop its military campaign during Ramadan.