SWABI, Oct 29: The US-led coalition has failed to achieve its objectives despite heavy bombardments and implementation of various strategies on Afghanistan, including a move to create dissension in the ranks of the Taliban. The execution of Abdul Haq was the latest blow to Washington and its allies.

This was stated by the former provincial general secretary of JUI (F), Najeem Khan; a former commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen and incumbent district Amir of Jamaat-i-Islami, Mohammad Usman; and the local chief of Harkatul Mujahideen, Bakht Zamin, while talking to newsmen here on Sunday.

They said the air attacks on Afghanistan continued unabated and now those, who had predicted before the start of the aggression that the US would destroy Afghanistan and bring it to its knees within a few days, had now changed their opinion, and added that, with God’s blessing, both Osama bin Laden and Mulla Umar were safe.

They said that most of the analysts and experts were of the view that Washington would suffer a humiliating defeat like the former Soviet Union and it would be worse than the Vietnam debacle.

They claimed the objectives of the US were to overthrow the Taliban government and establish a broad-based government of its own choice, headed by the former monarch, Zahir Shah; uproot the Islamic system; arrest or kill Osama and Umar; destroy Al-Qaeda network; get support of anti- Taliban forces; create rift in ranks of the Taliban and gain the sympathy of Afghan people by dropping food packets and giving aid for Afghan refugees.

Besides, they said, the US wanted to prolong its stay in the region as it had done in the Middle East but, they added, resentment of the people against the US presence in the region was mounting.

The US- led coalition was bombing hospitals, civilian localities, food depots, and even the offices of the UN and an ICRC warehouse had not been spared, which had resulted in the deaths of thousands of innocent civilians, they said, demanding that the barbaric air raids must be stopped immediately.

They termed the US rejection of Taliban’s offer for a peaceful settlement as arrogant, hegomonistic, revengeful and reflective of a negative attitude which would accelerate tension in the region.

They slammed efforts being made for the establishment of a broad-based government, saying that the Taliban were legitimate rulers of Afghanistan, with 90 per cent of the territory under their control. Further, they said, the Taliban had also introduced a true Islamic system.

They said the illusion of a quick victory had already been dashed and now the Americans were saying that war against Afghanistan would go on beyond Ramazan.