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Masood to Bush: Help bring
peace to Afghanistan, else the U.S. and other nations will face dire
consequences
Islamic world's inaction over Afghan tragedy is
unfortunate
Concluded from our two previous issues: In continuation of Omaid Weekly's coverage of the early April European tour of Ahmad Shah Masood, generalissimo of Afghanistan's national resistance force, the following is a summarized translation from the original Dari-Persian text, as compiled by our senior correspondent Wais Nassery, of our transcript from the April 4 press conference, held at 11:30 a.m. in Paris.
Q: Have your talks with French officials focused on bringing pressure on Pakistan to end its interference in Afghanistan? … Can you confirm recent military aid from Iran to the United Front?
A: As I have repeated many times, a major way in which other countries and the international community can help to establish peace in Afghanistan and end the fighting and bloodshed is to bring adequate pressure on Pakistan. This has been mentioned in talks with the French Foreign Ministry, and it will also be mentioned in talks with others. It is then up to these officials to make a decision.
Concerning your second question, we have good and friendly relations with not only Iran, but also other neighboring and Central Asian countries. But recent and previous rumors of military assistance are false.
Q: What is your opinion on terrorist actions in the name of Islam in Algeria? What information do you have on the involvement of Osama bin Laden's organization in this region, and are you in contact with Algerian political forces opposing the terrorists?
A: We are against any sort of [so-called] "Islamic" terrorist actions and "non-Islamic" terrorist actions, and we consider terrorism to be against Islam and against the interests of humanity.
Of course bin Laden has groups elsewhere besides Afghanistan. We have [extensive] information about [bin Laden's group] inside Afghanistan, and to varying degrees in other regions.
There are governmental relations with political groups in Algeria, but unfortunately I have no direct personal contacts in this regard.
Q: There is a new administration in Washington, however there is still no visible sign of a distinct U.S. policy on Afghanistan. What do you expect from the new U.S. administration and what is your message to President Bush?
A: As you have said, hitherto the Americans have no clear or distinct policy. My message to Mr. Bush is that if attention is not given to bringing peace in Afghanistan, and the people of Afghanistan are not assisted on the road toward achieving peace, then verily this crisis will continue to plague not just the people of Afghanistan, but also spread to America and other countries.
Q: What is your view of the activities of Zaher Shah and the Loya Jirga initiative?
A: First, this depends on his own decision and what he decides to do in the future. In my opinion, the former King has the ability to play a major and axial role in bringing peace to Afghanistan. But it is up to him as to the extent of his activities. With regard to his future role, that is for the people to decide — it depends on the will and mandate of the people.
Q: How do you make sense of the Islamic world's silence on the un-Islamic actions of the Taliban?
A: It is regretful that Islamic countries are not taking requisite measures with regard to the tragic situation in Afghanistan.
We were hopeful that Islamic countries working through the Organization of the Islamic Conference would serve to help bring peace to Afghanistan — unfortunately, hitherto no appropriate steps have been taken.
Unfortunately, in the past, some Islamic countries, like Saudi Arabia, without considering dangerous future consequences, not only did not oppose the Taliban, but took part in creating them, gave them money, and encouraged them.
Now that the Taliban's face has been completely exposed, we are hopeful that Islamic countries will take responsibility with regard to Afghanistan, and take steps toward establishing peace in Afghanistan.
Q: Do you believe that Afghans will continue to support you if you receive aid from Russia?
A: We have very good and friendly relations with regional countries, and it is Pakistan that wants to incite the people's opinion against us through propaganda.
But from another standpoint, when there is a blatant invasion, such as Pakistan's current ongoing incursion into Afghanistan and its [Regular Army] troop presence [in Afghanistan], I give myself the right to seek assistance from anywhere in defense of my homeland, my people's honor, and my country's independence. (Passionate and intense reaction from approving audience.)
Q: You have severely chastised Pakistan...What about Saudi Arabia, the Taliban's bankrollers?
A: It is Pakistan that has a strategic plan for Afghanistan and Central Asia. It is Pakistan that seeks "strategic depth" and "Islamic depth" in Afghanistan and Central Asia. It is Pakistan that, in the past, deceived and used the Saudis and other countries to further its own goals. ><
Coverage of the historic visit to
Europe by Ahmad Shah Masood,
supreme leader of Afghanistan's national resistance force
Omaid Weekly's coverage | Press Conference
International news
agencies' coverage | Photographic
coverage
Afghanistan Diary: 1992-2000
On the heels of the release of his new book, "Afghanistan
Diary: 1992-2000," published by powerHouse Books, Omaid
Weekly interviewed Edward Grazda, a noted photojournalist who has
covered Afghanistan since 1980. Mr. Grazda's first book,
"Afghanistan: 1980-1989," documented his coverage of the
Soviet-Afghan war. 
Venturing
through many parts of Afghanistan, including Bamyan in 1982, he
was also on the plane that brought Prof. Sibghatullah Mojadeddi to
Kabul in April 1992 upon the mujahideen's final victory over
communism in Afghanistan. Mr. Grazda returned to Kabul in 1997,
after the capital fell to Pakistan's Taliban militia. He is
currently working on a project on the Afghan Diaspora and on how
Afghan culture is surviving outside of the country.
Omaid Weekly: Contrast Kabul, the city and the populous, in 1992, during the mujahideen's victorious liberation of the city, and 1997, a year after the city succumb to the Taliban and their allies.
Ed Grazda: In June 1992, Kabul under President. Mojadeddi was largely in one piece. The electric buses were still running, children were going to school and women were working and going about without burqa. Although the city was filled with tanks, and armed mujahids from all seven, parties life seemed relatively "normal." However, there was no one to turn to if an armed man wanted your car or house. In 1997, under the Taliban, I had to have a Taliban minder and an approved driver with me. However, I was still able to photograph as the decree banning photography was not in force yet. The population was still waiting to see what the Taliban would do. When I returned in April 2000, the population seemed very down and depressed. I had very little interaction with them as I was always with a Talib minder who .forbid me to photograph. People seemed very unhappy and the Taliban were everywhere.
OW: Tell us about Bamyan and its Buddha colossi, recently demolished by the Taliban and their allies.
EG: The destruction of the Buddhas shows us that the Taliban are not interested in Afghanistan or its history and culture. They do not know about it or care about Afghanistan as a country or its culture. All "true" Afghans that I have ever met know and love the history and culture of Afghanistan. In my book there is a photo taken in Fremont, California of a youth holding a photo that his father took of the Buddha when he was working for the former Afghan tourist organization. The Taliban are only using Afghanistan for a base to export their version of Islam through out the world.
OW: As an American, a professional photojournalist, and a person interested in Afghanistan, how do you see U.S. policy? If not optimal, how should it be changed?
EG: U.S. policy has been almost non-existent since the Russians left. I think the recent U.S. pledge of demining funds and humanitarian aid is a good first step. Plans should be made for a major reconstruction of Afghanistan — like the Marshall Plan for Europe after WWII — once a government that is sane, literate, and Afghan is in place (if not totally democratic — which I do not think will come for a longtime).
OW: What is your impression of Afghanistan's civilian population and their endurance against incessant aggression, oppression, and deprivation?
EG: The civilian population always amazes me in their nobility and ability to make the best of what is a very bad and sad situation. Their hospitality and pride is very moving.
OW: Where can our readers purchase your books?
EG: The book is available from www.amazon.com, www.bn.com, www.powerhousebooks.com, and www.photoeye.com. ><
*From this week's English-language page
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