KARACHI, Oct 6: The United States should make evidence against Osama public instead of keeping it secret and known to only some of its allies, said Afghan Consul-General Rahmatullah Kakazada at a Meet-the-Press programme of Karachi Press Club on Saturday.
He also questioned the credibility of the so-called “irrefutable evidence” implicating Osama in the September 11 attacks, and said being directly affected by American moves, we demand that the evidence be made public.
“The Americans who boast their freedom of information and who went an extra mile in the Monica Lewinsky-Bill Clinton case, are not making the ‘proof’ of Osama’s ‘crime’ public,” he said.
Replying to a question on Pakistan’s stand on the evidence against Osama, he said Pakistan had not declared that Osama was guilty, but had maintained that on the basis of that he could be tried in a court of law.
When reminded of the Taliban’s earlier statement that they would attack any country which helped in American attacks on their country, he dispelled the impression that it meant a threat to Pakistan. He said it was meant as a warning about some “virus.”
He appreciated the support Pakistan had given to the Afghan people, and said the relationship was based on mutual understanding and sacrifices rendered by people of both the countries.
He also said any broad-based governments, being contemplated by the US, to include secular and former communists would not be acceptable to the Afghan people.
“This was not acceptable when we were engaged in dislodging the Soviets, and is not acceptable now,” he said adding that neither the USA, UN nor Nato should push for such a solution because it would backfire.
He said the Taliban had acquired capability that would have an impact on the Palestinian, Chechen and Bosnian struggles.
The Afghan Consul-General rejected as baseless propaganda the claims of Western governments and media that some Taliban commanders were deserting and joining the Northern Alliance.
He claimed that an important commander, Jalaluddin Haqqani, who wielded considerable influence in Khost and adjoining areas, and who was a minister in the Taliban government, was determined to fight the enemies of Islam. He claimed that Gulbadin Hekmatyar, Yunis Khalis, Nabi Mohammedi and other important leaders had also been contacted to fight alongside the Taliban.
He said Americans are opposed to the Taliban because they are not prepared to fashion their lives according to Washington’s perception. How can we be termed radicals if we want to live according to Islamic teachings and according to our understanding of the religion.
He said Americans were conspiring against Muslims and had targeted Afghanistan to find a pretext for grabbing the resources of the Central Asian republics, just like they did after the Gulf War in West Asia.
He said why only Muslims were being blamed for the September 11 incident. How could some Arabs, who were on the passenger list, and who also perished, be termed terrorists? What about Christian and Jews and others who were also on board. How could not they claim that it was not the work of some Americans who were not happy with their own system.
“The entire West is targeting Muslims, but it has turned a blind eye to everyday terrorist attacks of the Israelis, with American weapons, against the Palestinians,” he asked.
When asked about persecution of women under the Taliban government, he said it was not true. “We are Taliban, how can we be against education. At the moment about 50,000 girls are being imparted education in Kabul and other areas. But due to resource constraint, we are not in a position to expand the programme,” said Mr Rahmatullah.
