ISLAMABAD, Oct 9: The Afghan Ambassador to Pakistan, Mulla Abdul Salam Zaeef, has denied reports about any casualty in two days of airstrikes on Kandahar. He, however, confirmed killing of four persons during last night’s bombing on Kabul.
Speaking at a press conference here on Tuesday, the ambassador said that those killed belonged to a NGO, ATC, engaged in demining operations in Afghanistan.
When asked to comment on reports that Turkey had offered to join anti-Taliban attacks by sending its troops, the ambassador said: “We can’t even think that a brotherly Muslim could join US forces against its own brothers in faith.”
To a question about Mulla Omar and Osama bin Laden, Mulla Zaeef said: “Both were safe and I am constantly in contact with the former while we have no direct links with the latter.”
He said no damage had been done to telecommunication system. “I talked to Amirul Momineen Mulla Omar for 15 minutes on Monday.”
Referring to the demonstrations being held all over Pakistan, he said protests were not only held here but the people all over the world were resenting US strikes.
He told a questioner that the Afghan people were taking out protest processions in all cities and towns of Afghanistan against the US strikes and expressing their determination to fight till last.
The ambassador said the US objectives behind these strikes were multi-faceted as it eyed oil and other natural resources of Central Asia as well as to prolong this war and to hit other Muslim states.
He told a questioner that all Afghan government functionaries including ministers were alive and performing their duties as usual.
He described as “funny” when a journalist suggested that the Northern Alliance forces had come close to Kabul and were about to enter the capital.
Mulla Zaeef dismissed reports of any Afghan helicopter’s capture inside Pakistan and also rebutted the reports that any Taliban commander had deserted or crossed over into Pakistan.
Earlier, reading out a written statement, the ambassador said that airstrikes by the US and its allies were not limited to get Osama or Al-Qaeda but their real objective was to destroy the Islamic government in Kabul.
“Once again the people of Afghanistan are confronting a superpower. An Islamic system is under invasion. Afghans are punished for what they believe in. During the lat two decades, the Mujahid nation of Afghanistan gave away two million of its best sons to establish an Islamic system based on their aspirations. But America can’t tolerate this, trying to nip it in the bud. The word Terrorism is the effective device used by America to achieve politically motivated goals. The same device is being now used against Afghanistan,” the statement said.
“First they distortedly portrayed the realities in Afghanistan and imposed sanctions on our country, isolating the young Islamic government. But the Afghan people did not cave in. Now America has resorted to militarism to change the Islamic government in Afghanistan. This is not like prosecuting so-called terrorists but clearly signifies America is punishing the Afghan people for having chosen an Islamic system,” it said.
