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BAJAUR, Sept 30: There is a growing dissatisfaction among the population in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar and Kunar provinces over Taliban’s rigid stand on Osama bin Laden, according to a survey conducted by the newsmen.
In Jalalabad, a large number of houses were seen locked as the residents have apparently moved to the rural areas or have fled to Pakistan to escape the possible US attacks. There was acute shortage of diesel and petrol on Thursday and Friday but the situation somewhat improved on Saturday. The rate of diesel per litre however, has jumped from Rs12 to Rs16 per litre.
The situation in Jalalabad and Asadabad, capitals of Nangarhar and Kunar provinces, remained tense and security was high. Pakistani who were residing in the two cities are reported to have moved to other areas, and those staying back are being kept under vigil.
This scribe, who had gone to Afghanistan with the special permission of the governor of Kunar and conducted a three-day survey, was looked at with suspicion with some Afghans openly deriding Pakistanis for being the CIA, ISI and Mossad agents.
The Pakistan government’s support to US has caused consternation and anger among the people and the Taliban whose attitude towards Pakistan has now turned extremely negative.
Senior Taliban leaders and people say that Pakistan is ungrateful as she has not appreciated the fact that the millions of Afghans sacrificed their lives to save her from Soviet Union besides liberating their own country.
It was also seen that the Taliban armed guards continue to patrol the cities at night and hotels and restaurants are routinely checked.
REFUGEES: Hundreds of Afghans are leaving their homes and hearths and heading towards Pakistan through difficult mountainous routes. Over 20,000 people have entered Bajaur in the last two weeks through Gakhi Pass, despite strict measures taken by the Pakistani authorities to stop the entry of Afghan refugees into Pakistan.
The refugees are taking a three-hour long walk to avoid being stopped by the Pakistani authorities, barely a short distance away.
UK journalist: The Taliban authorities have turned over female British journalist to their intelligence agencies for questioning for making illegal entry into Afghanistan.
Yvonne Ridley of the Sunday Express, who was arrested on Friday, was handed over to the Taliban intelligence agency Istikhbarat in Jalalabad for interrogation. A two-member team of Istikhbarat, who speak and understand English, have begun quizzing the British journalist, a Taliban official told Dawn during a visit to Jalalabad on Saturday.
The Taliban have already imposed a ban on visas to foreign journalists citing security reasons.
