The Saudis were already deeply involved in Pakistan. They had sent Zia large sums of money to open religious schools catering to both impoverished Pakistanis and Afghan refugees. To ensure that these schools taught only the puritanical Wahhabi form of Islam and that students were not exposed to such corrupting subjects as history or science, they also sent hundreds of mullahs, Koran readers, and religious teachers.
The influence of Saudi Arabia in Pakistan grew significantly, particularly during the period of Zia-ul-Haq's rule. The Saudis provided substantial financial support to establish religious schools that primarily aimed to serve impoverished Pakistani families and Afghan refugees. This funding was part of a strategic effort to promote a specific interpretation of Islam, known as Wahhabism, among the youth in these communities.
In addition to monetary assistance, the Saudis took further measures to ensure the ideological purity of these institutions. They dispatched numerous religious educators, including mullahs and Koran readers, to these schools. The curriculum was specifically designed to exclude secular subjects like history and science, thereby shaping the educational landscape to align with their strict religious doctrine and limiting exposure to other perspectives.
