DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Here is the text of Osama bin Laden's statement as provided on Monday by the Al-Jazeera television news network, based in Qatar. It was translated from Arabic by The Associated Press. Some sections of the faxed statement were illegible.

In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful

Sunday, 6 Rajab 1422 (Sept. 23, 2001)

And for martyrs from their God their reward and light

To our Muslim brothers in Pakistan

Peace be upon you and the mercy of Allah and his blessings;

I received with great sorrow the news of the murder of some of our Muslim brothers in Karachi while they were expressing their opposition to the American crusade forces and their allies on the lands of Muslims in Pakistan and Afghanistan. We ask Allah to accept them as martyrs and include them with prophets, their followers, martyrs, good doers and the like and ask that their families be gifted with patience and consolation, and bless their children and money, and reward well for their Islam.

Whoever of them left children behind, they are my children, and I am their caretaker, Allah willing.

It is no wonder that the Muslim nation in Pakistan would rush to defend its Islam, since it is considered the first line of defense for Islam in this area, just like Afghanistan was the first line of defense for itself and for Pakistan before the Russian invasion more than 20 years ago.