"I am constantly forced to defend my belief in the average American against the growing perception that the principles for which America stands are being compromised, while defending Pakistan against the image of fundamentalism," said lead guitarist and lyricist Salman Ahmad. For the first time in its decade-long history, Junoon ("passion" in Urdu) is performing songs in English in a desperate attempt to reach a global audience.

The lyrics to a new unnamed song about conflicts in Iraq, Kashmir and the Middle East show Junoon''s growing political activism: "A blue sky dripping red.

A sea of oil anoints the dead. The god of war is the son of man. This ain''t no cosmic plan."

Junoon traces its beginnings to a friendship between two music-loving teenagers 20 years ago -- Ahmad and school pal Brian O''Connell -- in Tappan, New York. At the time, Ahmad''s father, a pilot for Kuwait airlines, was based in the United States.

"My first girlfriend, my first rock concert, the first time I picked up a guitar -- all these things happened in America," Ahmad recalled.

The young Pakistani joined a garage band called Eclipse formed by O''Connell before returning to his native country in 1981. Ten years later, he invited his American friend to Pakistan to join him and a singer named Ali Azmat in a "Sufi rock" band that mixed Western rock with Eastern rhythms.

Since then, Junoon has sold more than 20 million records worldwide and has gained fans who cross political, social and cultural boundaries.

The band''s melodic blend of Sufi mysticism and modern-day pragmatism resonates strongly in a region marred by the rise and fall of the Taliban, a nuclear arms race between Pakistan and India, and the ongoing bloodshed in Kashmir.

NOT ALL BAYWATCH
"Americans don''t realize that our culture is portrayed very differently outside the U.S.," said bass guitarist O''Connell. "It''s not all Baywatch and CNN, but you can''t blame people here for thinking that when that is their total exposure to America, just as you can''t blame Americans for thinking Pakistan is all turbans and covered women. Our message of cultural exchange and understanding has become all the more appropriate after the (Sept. 11) attacks."

As a result, Junoon is very popular in neighboring India, "which is unusual for a Pakistani band," according to Amir Khan, the owner of India''s Atlantic Video.

Many Pakistanis take pride in the band''s universal appeal.

"Anybody can listen to their songs and love them. In that, they are like the Beatles," said Mohammad Iqbal, a 24-year-old book seller at Islamabad''s Jinnah market. "People here are disheartened by our own situation, by politics,

by Kashmir and the world. Junoon makes people smile for a while."

Even religious leaders have good things to say about the group.

"While I don''t always agree with them or the images they may put on for young people," said Attiq-ul-Rehman, a mullah at the Kohsar mosque in Islamabad, "their messages of love and humanity are solid."

Their messages, however, haven''t always been popular with the political establishment.

In 1996, Junoon''s video for the single "Ehtesaab," or "Accountability," featured a polo pony dining at a luxury hotel. The image was widely seen as an indictment of Pakistan''s corrupt political elite, specifically former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto. Both the song and video were banned from state television.

"It put us in some really hot water, but at the same time, it made us very popular among people across the region, and suddenly we were political," said O''Connell, who, like Ahmad, is in his late 30s.

Two years later, Junoon encountered more political fallout during a sold- out stadium tour of India behind the band''s No. 1 album "Azadi" ("Freedom"). India had been testing nuclear devices, causing Ahmad to urge Delhi and Islamabad to inspire each other to improve education, health and economic development rather than nuclear proliferation.

"It seemed like common sense to me but the politicians were incredibly angry," said Ahmad.

''WE ARE STILL HERE''
In response, then-Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif banned Junoon from the airwaves. And since then, the band has had little success obtaining visas to play in India.

"While governments have come and gone and politicians sent into exile, we are still here," said O''Connell. (Current Pakistan President Pervez Musharraf is a big fan who has appeared on stage with the group, clapping to the beat.)

After Sept. 11, Junoon raced to the United States to do a series of shows at universities and high schools. Last October, it was the only Pakistani band to participate in a worldwide concert on Daniel Pearl Music Day to remember the U.S. reporter murdered in Karachi -- Junoon''s hometown. Judea Pearl, Daniel''s father, called Ahmad to tell him that his son admired the trio''s music.

Meanwhile, O''Connell says that he has been seriously considering a return to the United States after living 12 years in Pakistan. Just last week, the father of two young daughters (his wife is Pakistani) ran into an anti-U.S. protest in Karachi while buying vegetables. He escaped physical injury but protesters dented his car.

"It has happened so many times I can''t count the number that someone comes up to me, sees my white face and starts screaming," he said. "But at the same time, fans come up and thank me for sticking it out, for sticking to the message."

Added Ahmad: "The message of Sept. 11 was not to wake up and mistrust each other, but to reach out to one another -- create bridges, not burn them."