LAHORE, Oct 6: Hizbe Islami Afghanistan Amir Engr Gulbadin Hekmatyar supports the Taliban government’s point of view on the issue of Osama bin Laden and says the US must provide evidence against the Saudi dissident before seeking his extradition on account of his alleged involvement in the Sept 11 attacks on New York and Washington.
In an e-mail interview with Dawn on Saturday, he said he would defend his country in the case of a US attack.
He alleged that external interference was responsible for the continuing war in Afghanistan and once it came to an end, people of Afghanistan would decide their own future.
Here are excerpts:
QUESTION: What in your opinion is the right solution of the situation in Afghanistan which can be acceptable to all parties and helpful in averting US military strikes?
ANSWER: I think the US is determined to carry out attacks on Afghanistan and overthrow the Taliban government. They (US) are not concerned that the entire Afghan nation is opposed to the planned strikes. They have long been harbouring the desire of toppling the Taliban government and imposing former king Zahir Shah. They want to exploit the situation after the Sept 11 attacks on New York and Washington and fulfil their own designs.
I think it will not be right for them to take Afghanistan as easy prey and target. They will not be able to impose their Babrak Karmel on Afghanistan (like the Soviets had done). In case they do so, I warn them that their fate will be no different from that of the Soviet Union (which disintegrated after pullout from Afghanistan).
Even A Russian general who had brought troops to Afghanistan is advising the US not to make the mistake the (defunct) USSR had made.
Let the Afghan people determine their future. Don’t impose war on Afghanistan. As a matter of fact, it is the US which is responsible for the present situation in Afghanistan. When talks for an interim government were going on after the withdrawal of the Soviet troops, and the USSR was also supporting an interim setup, it was the US which was insisting that Dr Najibullah should stay as president. That was the time when even Dr Najib was prepared to step down. The CIA and the KGB hatched a joint conspiracy against Afghanistan.
They are responsible for the creation of the Taliban. Then former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto has admitted that she was responsible for raising of the Taliban and that it was a mistake on her part.
I think if there is no interference from outside, from countries neighbouring Afghanistan, if Russia, Pakistan and Iran don’t send their ammunitions into Afghanistan, if the US does not send its arms there, people of Afghanistan are capable of solving the situation. Who does not know that ammunition coming from outside is responsible for what is happening in Afghanistan.
If there is no strong government in Kabul, and if external support to the warring parties continues, the situation in the war-ravaged country will remain the same. We want an end to the war.
Q: Who will bring the strong government in Kabul which you are referring to, and how?
A: Afghan people are able to do that, provided there is no external interference. They will find a solution of the problem. Afghan people are fed up with the continuing war.
Q: Why the people of Afghanistan failed to decide their future despite the withdrawal of the Soviet troops over a decade back?
A: Because the external interference never came to an end. Our neighbours did not provide us an atmosphere for that. Let me tell you in clear terms that if Afghanistan is attacked, the people of the country will have no choice but to defend their country. We’ll stay with our nation and defend our country.
I’ll again say that for the war to come an end, all external interference should stop without delay. Moscow and Washington should stop providing weapons to their favourites.
Q: Should the Taliban turn over Osama bin Laden to the United States, a demand which has also been supported by the United Nations?
A: The Taliban say that Osama was not involved in the Sept 11 attacks. Osama himself has also denied the charge. The US has not been able to produce any irrefutable evidence of Osama’s involvement. In such a situation I support the Taliban’s point of view. They should allow an international delegation to investigate the matter. Afghanistan does not have the kind of capability which was required to carry out attacks on the World Trade Centre and Pentagon. Same is the case with Osama.
As for the UN support to the US demands, I’ll say that the world body should adopt a fair approach. Its attitude in the past has not been neutral. It had imposed a ban on weapons to the Taliban but had allowed supplies to the Northern Alliance.
Q: Will you continue to stay in Tehran or like to shift to Afghanistan or somewhere else to be able to play an active role in the situation?
A: I am waiting for the future US strategy. I want to know whether the US forces use rockets or they use missiles as well. In case Afghanistan is attacked, I’ll be with my nation.
Q: What should be the role of the OIC in the present situation?
A: The OIC can play a vital role by dissuading the US from the planned attacks on Afghanistan. The OIC should also seek an end to war against Palestinians. The OIC should not support the US for its war against the Muslims.
Q: How do you see Pakistan’s stand on the situation?
A: I am disappointed by Pakistan’s role. I fail to understand why Pakistan is involving itself in the Afghanistan problem? Is Kashmir not sufficient for it to handle. I’ll like to remind the Pakistan authorities that they should not expect a favourable response from the US on the Kashmir issue despite their support to America.
I fail to understand why Pakistan is wilting under the US pressure. Iran has not allowed the US to use its sites for attacks on Afghanistan. This means if you have good relations with the US, the latter will pressure you, but it won’t if you don’t have such relations with it.
I personally think that the US doesn’t need friends, it needs servants.