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[ English Section ] [ Feedback ] Published in issue #466 on 26 March 2001
Large Afghan seminar gives support to the emergency Loya Jirga processVirginia, March 25 (Omaid): In a splendid gathering of a large number of Afghans, the Association for Peace and Democracy for Afghanistan hosted a seminar on “Loya Jirga and a Political Solution to the Afghan Problem,” today from 2 pm to 8 pm at the Cultural Center of NOVA college in Annandale, Virginia. Complete coverage of the seminar, which was unprecedented in both the number and diversity of its attendants, will be published in the next issue of Omaid Weekly. The resolution of the seminar follows: In the Name of God Resolution of the seminar on “Loya Jirga and a Political Solution to the Afghan Problem”“Loya Jirga and a Political Solution to the Afghan Problem,” a seminar organized by the Association for Peace and Democracy for Afghanistan, and attended by a large number of Afghans residing in the Washington, DC metropolitan area, was convened on March 25, 2001 at 2 p.m. and ended at 8 p.m. The seminar featured presentations, discussions, and deliberations among Afghan intelligentsia, Afghanistan observers and the Afghan community on a political solution to the problem in Afghanistan, and the Loya Jirga as a mechanism to solving this problem. Those scholars not able to attend in person submitted their presentation in writing, which were then read in the seminar. At the conclusion of the seminar, the participants drafted the following resolution: We, the participants of the seminar on “Loya Jirga and a Political Solution to the Afghan Problem”:
### Talib envoy’s visit prompts media ban by US orgsWashington, DC, Mar 23 (Omaid): The country-wide tour of Taliban militia envoy Sayed Rahmatullah Hashemi caused great anger among Afghans in the United States who saw his visit as an offense against them given the militia’s reign of tyranny in Afghanistan. Hashemi was allowed to enter the US despite US-sponsored sanctions imposed on the Taliban by the United Nations that sets severe restrictions on the travel and activities of high-ranking militia personnel. While the US Department of State has called Hashemi a “low-ranking official,” he is in fact a close advisor to Mulla Omar, the Taliban’s nominal leader. Afghan experts in touch with Omaid Weekly have strongly questioned Hashemi’s claim to Afghan nationality. They say Hashemi is actually a Pakistani national. They cite Hashemi’s English-language skills and speaking abilities that could not possibly have been honed from what he claims was an education he received in refugee camps and seminaries in Pakistan. Moreover, Hashemi has made numerous errors when speaking about the history and culture of Afghanistan, especially in his senseless rhetoric on the recent demolition of two Buddha colossi in Bamyan. In addition to his lack of basic knowledge about Afghanistan, Hashemi has also followed the Taliban tradition of trickery and outright lying. He first claimed the Buddha statues were destroyed as a response to the demolition of an historic mosque in India; he now claims it was in reaction to world apathy over the Afghan people’s suffering. During what some US media termed a “charm offensive,” Hashemi was invited to speak at American universities, organizations, and think tanks. He also met with US officials at the Department of State and the National Security Council, and some American politicians. In his visit to Washington, Hashemi spoke at the Atlantic Council of the United States (ACUS) and at the Central Asia-Caucus Institute (CACI) of Johns Hopkins University. Surprisingly, a media ban was enforced by both institutions. Omaid Weekly, the Voice of America, and a popular US women’s journal, Off Our Backs, were among the media not given access to these events. Interestingly, a report filed by an Afghan husband and wife team who put on a weekly one hour local radio show said anyone “deemed critical of Taliban policies were prohibited from attending Hashimi’s [sic] speaking engagements.” The duo failed to explain, however, the apparent dichotomy of how they were able to gain access despite their anti-Taliban image among the local Afghan community. Hashemi is next scheduled to visit the New York City area for similar events. Condemned by Omaid Weekly and AfghansOmaid Weekly, both itself and on behalf of its readers and Afghans in general — many of whom contacted our office by voice, fax and email to sound off on Hashemi’s tour — severely condemns the Department of State for flagrantly contravening US-sponsored sanctions on the Taliban militia by allowing this war criminal to enter and travel in the US. Either directly or through association with the militia and their allies — including Osama bin Laden, other Pakistani, Arab and international terrorist outfits, and Pakistan government and military entities — Hashemi is responsible for genocide and crimes against humanity ranging from ethnic cleansing to gender apartheid, cultural barbarism to the obliteration of farmlands and entire villages. Furthermore, institutions like the ACUS, CACI, and the University of Southern California are accountable for helping spread Taliban propaganda. They should consider themselves as having participated in a Taliban campaign aimed at covering the militia’s continuing genocide in Afghanistan. It was believed that with the departure of the Clinton administration, whose tenure covered this most tragic period in Afghanistan’s history, the Bush administration would revise US policy and stop supporting the Taliban. Not so. Moreover, for whatever shady reasons, US institutions, too, are continuing their abetment of this savage militia. And now, they are also infringing on the freedom of the press. It seems US Afghan policy is still contrived a stone’s throw away from the Department of State: at the Pakistan Embassy, guided by their superiors in Islamabad. World denounces Taliban war on Afghanistan's heritageBy Atamurad Aimaq The outrageous decision by the Taliban to destroy all pre-Islamic artifacts, including the two giant statues of Buddha in Bamyan, is another brutal act of the obscurantist movement to sully the country’s historic reputation and prestige. Their action is against Islamic principles that uphold freedom of religion. It is against the comity of nations and has deeply hurt the feelings of Buddhists throughout the world. Historical treasures are the common heritage of humankind and it is due to this understanding that UNESCO and the world community spend millions of dollars for the preservation, restoration, and safeguarding of our joint heritage. Flying in the face of national and international norms and obligations, Mulla Omar, leader of this hidebound group, has resorted to another horrible act that has drawn harsh condemnation from every corner of the globe, including his main patron and close ally, Pakistan. Sauid Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, the other two countries, which along with Pakistan, recognize the Taliban regime, have described the move as savage. The Iranian parliament, the Majlis, has condemned the destruction of the Buddha statues as an “un-Islamic” act. Muslim scholars, including Dr. Nasr Fared Wasel, the Grand Mufti of Al-Azhar University, the highest seat of Islamic learning, have denounced the Taliban’s decision. The chief cleric of Egypt has said: “Preservation of historic statues are not forbidden [by Islam].” Continued in a future issue. *From this week's English-language page
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