In an interesting mixing of church and state, to borrow the phrase, the US government and the US military facilitated the visit of Islamic Imam Yahya Hendi to Afghanistan so he could speak to them on “justice, Islam in America, and gender equality.”

Hendi’s visit was assisted by the US Embassy and the Paktya Provincial Reconstruction Team.

During his speech, he tied Islamic faith with the Afghan rule of law, with an emphasis on due process and swift action in compliance with the Afghan Constitution.

“It is important judicial officials prosecute with justice, mercy and proof,” Hendi said.

In denouncing the Taliban, he educated them on proper jihad.

The Taliban predominately targets innocent civilians in acts of terror and fear, Hendi said. The Taliban are terrorists, not jihadists, he added.

“’Jihad’ means striving to do good… to include teaching, learning, nursing and community service,” the imam said.

Hendi is the Georgetown University chaplain and Muslim chaplain at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md.

Regardless of any personal feelings on any particular religion or its relationship with the US government, Islam remains an important factor in the culture of Afghanistan — and thus it is important to the US military’s efforts in the war in Afghanistan.