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[ English Section ] [ Feedback ] Published in issue #458 on 29 January 200
Afghan government gives Bush administration a blueprint for US help in solving the crisisWashington, DC, Jan 24 (Omaid): In a forum sponsored by the Washington-based American Academy for Diplomacy and the World Affairs Council, high-ranking members of the UN-recognized Afghan government described the current turmoil in Afghanistan and proposed a course of action for the Bush administration. The forum, held in the United States Congress’ Longworth building, garnered a 50-plus person audience that included US representatives, officials and a bevy of Afghan and non-Afghan analysts and interested individuals. Afghanistan’s Acting Foreign Minister, Dr. Abdullah, provided a concise blueprint for the new American administration to help it formulate an improved Afghan policy that would benefit both the US, Afghanistan, and nearly the entire international community. (The text of Dr. Abdullah’s statement follows below.) The former Clinton administration pursued a duplicitous policy decried by nearly every side. Similar to what he’s told Omaid Weekly in a past interview, Congressman Dana Rohrabacher, who co-hosted the discussion with former US Ambassador Bruce Laingen, accused the previous administration of providing “covert” support to the Taliban. Rep. Rohrabacher promoted the formation of a broad Afghan coalition to confront the Taliban, ISI-supported radicals, and other byproducts of a failed US Afghan policy. In a recent interview with Omaid Weekly, the same concept was advocated by James Phillips of the prestigious Heritage Foundation, who said the United Front, the military arm of the Afghan government, should be the core of such a broad-based coalition. Dr. Ravan Farhadi, Afghanistan’s Ambassador to the United Nations, noted Pakistani dictator Gen. Pervez Musharraf’s overt statement concerning Islamabad’s need to continue to support the Taliban and push a Pashtoon-centric policy in Afghanistan. While the only talk surrounding the Bush administration’s future dealings with Afghanistan have unfortunately involved the possible appointment of a pro-Pakistani assistant secretary of state for South Asian affairs, it remains to be seen whether any positive changes will come about in US Afghan policy. Text of Dr. Abdullah’s statement: Afghanistan continues to be cast into violent swings of foreign intervention, religious extremism and international terrorism. Vying to be the world's biggest supplier of opium, a safe-haven for world terrorists, a place with massive violation of human rights, particularly women's human rights, Afghanistan poses threats to regional and international peace and stability because of the Taliban mercenaries and their Pakistani mentors. The crisis in Afghanistan since 1992 is the offshoot of an abrupt abandonment of Afghanistan in the post-Cold War era. This was done without due consideration of its devastating consequences. Peace in Afghanistan is indispensable to regional stability in Central and South Asia as well as the whole world. Otherwise, the spread of Talibanism, terrorism, drugs and human rights violations will plunge the entire region and beyond into an explosive situation. Bearing in mind that the present situation in Afghanistan has been seemingly identified, among other things, as a byproduct of the protracted conflict, involving numerous transnational and international factors, the Islamic State of Afghanistan earnestly expects of the new US administration to support Afghanistan in the following spheres, within the context of a comprehensive approach:
As a hands-on policy by the United States remains pivotal to the return of peace and normalcy to Afghanistan, Pakistan must be convinced that its cherishing of close cooperation with extremist religious organizations is not only self-destructive but also is indeed a threat to the security of a nuclearized South Asia with wide-spread geo-strategic implications. We strongly believe that lack of resolve in containing the ISI-Taliban-bin Laden Axis will produce more bin Ladens, who may prove to be even more dangerous to the interests of the US and of the entire world. Pakistan increasing war effort in AfgFollowing are recent news accounts outlining a desperate Islamabad’s direct participation in the war in Afghanistan. Takhar, Afghanistan, Jan 24 (afghan.gov.af) – The Pakistani-backed Taliban militia has, for some time now, prepared for a large-scale winter offensive on the positions of the Armed Forces of the Islamic State of Afghanistan in Khwaja Ghar, in northern Afghanistan, in order to bring more of the country’s territory under its control. The capture of additional areas would have created conditions for the Taliban’s spread of extremism to the territories of Central Asian republics. In an attempt to foil the latest Pakistani-backed Taliban offensive, the Armed Forces of the Islamic State of Afghanistan, in a preemptive operation, yesterday January 23, made some fresh gains by liberating the villages of Qandahari Qeshlaq, Bagh Zakheera, Takhman and Mamayee. Additionally, the airstrip was also captured. Military intelligence reports had already confirmed deployment of fresh Pakistani troops and shipment of large quantities of arms and ammunition in the provinces of Takhar and Kunduz, in northeastern Afghanistan, prior to January 18, 2001, when the latest United Nations sanctions became effective. The latest sanctions, part of the UN Security Council Resolution 1333, implements an arms embargo on the Pakistani-backed Taliban militia. However, the Taliban upon loss of the said villages, engaged in mass killings of innocent civilians. At least two mass graves were found, where in one 13 and in the other 26 ordinary people were buried. Additionally, the Taliban forcibly took some 70 civilians as hostages upon their retreat. Pakistani casualties continueKhwaja Ghar, Jan 25 (Payam-e-Mujahid): Brigadier Amjad, the commander of Pakistan's 996 Brigade, was killed with three of his Pakistani comrades in a battle against the Afghan government’s mujahideen forces in Khwaja Ghar. A reliable Mujahideen source reported that Brig. Amjad had most recently commanded the 996 Brigade of the Chirat Division, which had entered Takhar to replace the 998 Brigade. He was killed in battle by the Mujahideen last Wednesday. The bodies of the dead have reportedly been taken to Pakistan and were buried last Friday in Pakistan's Tayewal area. The source added that recently Pakistan's army, during changes in its forces, has made more plots to enter Takhar province. According to this report, Brigade No. 994 has been sent to that province to replace Brigade No. 117 of the Chirat Division. The report adds that one unit from the Kohat Division commanded by Brig. Moamin, an ISI unit commanded by Col. Hamza, and a unit of Pakistan's 9th Division commanded by Brig. Tariq Bashir have recently entered Takhar province. It has also been reported that Pakistan, with the cooperation of international terrorists and Taliban mercenaries, is planning to launch a new attack on Mujahideen positions in Takhar province. *From this week's English-language page
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