|
[ Home ]
[ English Section ] [ Feedback ] Published in issue #468 9 April 2001
Afghanistan's national resistance leader stresses national unity, highlights Pakistani intervention during EU visitSummarized translation from the original Dari-Persian of Omaid Weekly's coverage of the visit of Ahmad Shah Masood, generalissimo of Afghanistan's national resistance force, on his tour of Europe at the invitation of European Parliament President Nicole Fontaine. News also reported by international news agencies is largely not included in this translation of this week's collective reportage by Omaid Weekly's European correspondents Messrs. Wais Nassery and Mahmood Monajemzada, and Editor in Chief Mohammad Q. Koshan. Paris, Strasbourg, and Brussels, April 7 (Omaid): After arriving in Paris on Tuesday, April 3, Ahmad Shah Masood, supreme commander of the United Front, and a delegation comprising Generals Sayed Hussein Anwari, Piram Qol and Arif Noorzai, held discussions in the Plaza Athenee hotel with officials from various European countries and the United States. Masood and his high-profile entourage also briefly met with individual Afghans who traveled to Paris from numerous European countries and the US to see him. On the same day, a party from the Rome peace process, which included Prof. Fazelly, Dr. Zalmai Rassoul, and Dr. Amin Farhang, spoke with and delivered a message from former Afghan King Mohammad Zaher Shah to Afghanistan's national resistance leader and his delegation. Cmdr. Masood thanked the Rome delegation for coming to see him, and expressed his readiness to meet with the former King when conditions were suitable. The last event of the first day of Cmdr. Masood's visit to Europe was a meeting with seven Afghans from Britain and the US, including Omaid Weekly's Editor in Chief. [eds: A concise report on this particular gathering will be published in next week's issue.] On April 4, Cmdr. Masood and delegation, including other Afghan officials held discussions with French Foreign Minister Hubert Vedrine and numerous high-ranking French officials. During a special lunch hosted by Mr. Vedrine, Cmdr. Masood and his delegation met with a number of Paris-based diplomats from various countries. Later, Cmdr. Masood was greeted by a long standing ovation by the French National Assembly, where he also met with National Assembly President Raymond Forni and other prominent French parliamentarians. Midday Wednesday, Cmdr. Masood answered journalist's questions at a large press conference. Mr. Humayun Tandar, Chargé d'Affaires in the Geneva office of the Permanent Mission of the Islamic State of Afghanistan to the UN, served as translator. In the packed press conference, Omaid Weekly's Editor in Chief asked Cmdr. Masood to comment on the so-called "Defense of Afghanistan Council" -- formed in Akora Khattak by Pakistani extremist groups and Pakistani military intelligence officers in early January and nominally led by Mowlana Sami ul-Haq -- and the responsibility of Afghans in exposing and defeating this and other conspiracies. In his lengthy response, Cmdr. Masood said that in this conspiracy, Pakistan is using a Muslim "scholar" to incite greater conflict between Afghan Muslims and Muslims from Pakistan and other parts of the world. He said the Akora Khattak plot is another dimension of Pakistan's war against Afghanistan, and that Afghans must recognize the Pakistani government as their nation's enemy. In the afternoon, Cmdr. Masood and delegation spoke with Afghans in the Embassy of the Islamic State of Afghanistan. Later in the evening, Cmdr. Masood and delegation were back in the same hall where the press conference was held. There they were welcomed by over 600 Afghans, as well as a large number of French nationals, all of whom greeted Afghanistan's national resistance leader with praise. Cheering him as Afghanistan's national hero, Cmdr. Masood and delegation entered the hall with the Afghan's pronouncement of "Allahu Akbar" (God is Great), and the entire room stood up and applauded. The audience was then addressed by Mr. Masood Khalili, Afghanistan's Ambassador to India, who introduced Cmdr. Masood's delegation: General Sayed Hussein Anwari, from central Afghanistan who belongs to the Shia branch of Islam, a leading figure in Harakat-e Islami, member of the Jihad Council, and member of the Afghan government's Leadership Council; General Arif Noorzai, an ethnic Pashtoon, prominent commander from Qandahar, and member of the Afghan government's Military Council; General Piram Qol, an ethnic Uzbek from northern Afghanistan, and member of the Afghan government's Military Council; and a number of high-ranking Afghan government diplomats and officials. [eds: Cmdr. Masood, an ethnic Tajik from northeast Afghanistan, is Vice-President and Defense Minster of Afghanistan, and supreme leader of Afghanistan's United Front national resistance force.] Gen. Anwari spoke about unity among Afghan government forces and the people of Afghanistan, and the need to continually increase efforts in thwarting the Taliban militia and the invading Pakistani troops and Arab terrorists. He said morale is high and strengthening among the national resistance force in its defense against the foreign occupiers, and that the Taliban are more and more revealing their true nature as Pakistani puppets. Next, Gen. Noorzai severely condemned the Pakistan-Taliban policies in Afghanistan. Gen. Noorzai served as a jihad-era commander against the Soviets and now continues to serve in the national resistance against the Taliban and their Pakistani patrons. A famed commander during the jihad against the Red Army, and now a prominent commander in the national resistance force fighting the Taliban and Pakistanis, Gen. Qol emphasized the importance of unity and its ultimate role in defeating the foreign occupiers. Thereafter, the supreme commander of Afghanistan's national resistance effort addressed the large gathering. In his extensive speech, often interrupted by sustained applause, Cmdr. Masood explained the reason behind his acceptance of the invitation by EP President Nicole Fontaine: foremost, to bring greater attention to Pakistan's direct and destructive intervention in Afghanistan; make clear that Afghans will continue their resistance until Pakistan withdraws its military and paramilitary forces, and ceases its direct intervention; urge the international community to pressure Islamabad to stop its direct intervention. Cmdr. Masood said it's most regrettable that Osama bin Laden and his allies have endangered the security and integrity of Afghanistan, which they are turning into a center for global terrorism. Afghans are capable of solving their internal problems, Cmdr. Masood stated, but the Taliban and Pakistan are feverishly working to undermine national unity by provoking linguistic and regional conflicts. But, Cmdr. Masood reassured, the Leadership Council of the Afghan government and its United Front military force includes all of Afghanistan's ethnic and religious groups -- namely Pashtoons, Hazaras, Uzbeks, and Tajiks, as well as Sunni Muslims and Shia Muslims. And, he added, his accompanying delegation is a reflection of the diversity and unity present in the national resistance. Cmdr. Masood said the Taliban are not only in conflict with the national resistance force, but the militia is now fighting against the entire people of Afghanistan. He asserted that today the Taliban are facing increasing hostility in all regions, from east to west. And that resistance is gaining momentum in Kunar and even Qandahar. With their recent rampage against Afghanistan's cultural heritage, Cmdr. Masood said the Taliban have brought on themselves unanimous condemnation from not only Afghans but the international community. When asked what he expected from the rest of the world, Cmdr. Masood cited Afghanistan's sacrifice in defeating Soviet communism and promoting freedom and liberty. He said the European Union should assist Afghanistan in regaining its sovereignty. In a warning to the United States -- the only Western nation to harbor a negative attitude toward Afghanistan's national resistance force and its supreme leader due to Washington's reliance on Islamabad to formulate its Afghan policy -- Cmdr. Masood said that if the US fails to do more in helping to restore peace to Afghanistan, not only Afghanistan but the entire region [eds: and consequently long-term US energy and politico-military interests] will be in peril. Addressing the Rome initiative, Cmdr. Masood said that His Majesty the former King can play a very positive role, the extent of which depends entirely on the former King's own willingness and ability to take decisive action. At the end of his talk, Cmdr. Masood called on the EU and world to send immediate humanitarian relief to Afghanistan, where thousands of lives are in dire jeopardy. [eds: Nationwide famine is a never before seen phenomenon in Afghanistan that has only affected the country since the advent of the Taliban and Pakistan's intensifying interventionist policy.] Throughout their discussion, the high-ranking national resistance force delegation highlighted the importance of reinforcing, reinvigorating and fortifying national unity among Afghanistan's various ethnic and religious groups. And each asked Afghan expatriates to promote national unity in their own capacity. The gathering, which was peppered with the slogan "Death to Pakistan" forcefully shouted by the audience, ended at 9 in the evening. On Thursday, Cmdr. Masood and delegation traveled to Strasbourg, where he received a head of state welcome by the European Parliament and its President, Ms. Nicole Fontaine. This was the first time that an Afghan figure was feted by the European Parliament. It is of great pride for our nation that such a reception was afforded to the illustrious and inimitable figure of Ahmad Shah Masood, not just because of his continuing and unsurpassed heroism, but also because it was, in fact, a respect being paid to our entire nation. As reported in international news agencies, Cmdr. Masood and delegation held discussions with Pres. Fontaine and various high-ranking EP officials and committees. Cmdr. Masood and delegation were also received by another gathering of 400 Afghans in Strasbourg. They next traveled to Brussels for further meetings with Belgian and European officials. Cmdr. Masood's official visit ended on Friday. On Saturday, Omaid Weekly has been informed, Cmdr. Masood and delegation returned to Paris. Cmdr. Masood underwent a thorough medical examination in the French capital, which found the supreme commander to be in complete good health. Cmdr. Masood and delegation are expected to return to Afghanistan on Monday. In response to a question by Omaid Weekly, Cmdr. Masood termed his historic first visit to the West a "success." The supreme leader of Afghanistan's national resistance force said the events of the past week succeeded in heightening awareness of Pakistan's direct intervention in Afghanistan, and unmasking their Taliban militia servants. n More coverage of the historic visit to Europe
by Press Conference | International news agencies' coverage | Photographic coverage Afghanistan wants to restore her past honorContinued from "World denounces Talib war on Afg heritage" in issue #466, this is the conclusion of Mr. Aimaq's commentary. By Atamurad Aimaq This is not the Taliban's first heinous act. From the very beginning of their creation, they have practiced "fossilized policies" in the name of Islam, taking Afghanistan into a dark age. By giving shelter to Osama bin Laden and thousands of other extremists, who are accused of international terrorism, the Taliban have subjected Afghanistan to harsh international sanctions. The sanctions, war, and severe drought have turned the country into an international basket case. Extrajudicial executions and torture, ethnic cleansing, scorched-earth policy, and turning the country into a center for narcotics cultivation and smuggling are other hideous practices of the Taliban. The Taliban militia was set up by the joint sponsorship of Pakistani religious radicals and the Pakistani government. The militia's creation and purpose has been in pursuit of Pakistan's colonial designs to turn Afghanistan into a backward and client state to be used for Islamabad's political and military strategic ends. The presence of a docile government in Kabul serve's Pakistan's commercial interests, and Afghanistan's vast territory has been considered as a "strategic depth" in case of another war with India. The Taliban have been acting as the front men of radical Islamists who want to spread their ideological campaign into Central Asia, South Asia, the Caucuses, and other parts of the world. They threaten stability and security in these regions and the rest of the world. Radicalism has a long history in Pakistan, influenced by the likes of Abu A'la Maudoodi and Mufti Mahmoud. They are against knowledge, education and orthodox Islam. That is why their followers, the Taliban, have implemented so many bizarre policies, like forbidding education for women and restricting education for men. An ignorant citizenry suits the Taliban's, and thus Pakistan's interests. With all the devastation and damage that Afghanistan has endured over the past two decades, the world, especially academics and experts on the region, are fully aware that this country is a champion of freedom and independence. Afghanistan was the vanguard of Asian countries in fighting colonialism and imperialism. After pushing back the frontiers of the British empire, it made great sacrifices to force out the invading Soviet Army, which led to the disintegration of the "Evil Empire." Afghanistan was on good terms with the international community, and it received many world leaders in the mid-20th century. There were women ministers, co-education on the tertiary level, etc. The country had joined the League of Nations in 1936 and its successor, the United Nations, in 1946. Afghanistan was a founding and senior member of the Nonaligned Movement as well as the Organization of the Islamic Conference. It had produced a world-class diplomat, the late Abd ur-Rahman Pazhwak, to chair the UN General Assembly for a year in the late 1960s. The current situation in Afghanistan is all in all the making of Pakistan and its extremist religious circles, which have always been a destabilizing force in the area. Mulla Omar and his father-in-law, Bin Laden, have turned an avant-garde nation into a degenerating country that has become the laughing stock of the world. Pakistan, the Taliban, and Bin Laden have converted Afghanistan into a cancerous cell that without urgent attention will spread the cancer of radicalism and terrorism throughout the world. The West, which stood with the Afghans in their patriotic battle against the Soviet invaders and communism, have a common interest in helping to free Afghanistan from the claws of Pakistani extremism and expansionism. Their failure will turn Central Asia into a center of violence, lawlessness, radicalism, and terrorism. The world has an undeniable obligation to extend a disinterested helping hand to Afghanistan to assist them in defeating these hellish forces of extremism, and to then rebuild their country, and thus restore Afghanistan's past honorable position among the community of nations. n *From this week's English-language page
of the hard-copy edition of
Omaid Weekly. Visit the Subscription page for details on how to
subscribe to the hard-copy edition Omaid Weekly.
|
