In an interview with an Afghan Pashtu-language website, the Deputy Chief of the Taliban in Afghanistan Mullah Biradar Akhund has rejected offers of talks as long as the U.S. has a presence in Afghanistan. Akhund claims that opposition to U.S. continuation in Afghanistan is shared by neighboring nations.
The Taliban commander further urged the Afghan people to boycott the upcoming presidential and provincial council elections in August 2009.
As the second-in-command under the Taliban leader Mullah Omar, Mullah Biradar Akhund carries out most of the responsibilities of the Taliban movement in Afghanistan.
Following are some excerpts from the interview he gave to the Afghan Pashtu-language website www.afghanislamicpress.com :
Q: Did the Taliban ever have parleys with foreigners to attempt to solve the Afghan problems?
‘‘It should be clarified that there are ordinary foreigners and other foreigners, and the other are those who have occupied our country. If you have hinted towards occupation foreigners, then we have never held talks with the invaders. We have always rejected as false and baseless the claim of negotiations by the enemy. However, we had held talks with foreigners on all disputed issues before their invasion of Afghanistan [in November 2001] and proved to the international community that resolving issues through negotiations is a key element of our policy.’’
Q: The Taliban have repeatedly rejected offers of talks with the Kabul government. If the U.S. wants to hold talks with you, what conditions you would set?
‘‘The agenda of the talks and the results they could yield is of importance. Untargeted talks are a waste of time and create a concern among the nation. Our main problem with Americans is that they have invaded our independent country, snatched the rights of the Muslim Ummah, and spoiled our dreams and values which we had gained at the cost of lives. The U.S. is still firm on its stand of occupation and has not hinted towards an end. They are holding negotiations so that the Mujahideen can surrender to them. We do not see any benefit for Islam and the country in such talks.’’
Q: If the U.S. agrees to withdraw from Afghanistan but demands to set up a few bases here, would the Taliban accept it?
‘‘Afghanistan is a country of Muslims and Shari’a has clear injunctions in this regard. According to Shari’a, no non-Muslim can live on the soil of Muslims without permission, especially if they have prisons, military bases and believe in [the use of] force. The laws and principles that govern the modern world would also not accept the presence of a foreign military system on the soil of a sovereign country against its choice.
‘‘These bases would either be used for controlling future governments in Afghanistan so that they may not work against their [American] wishes, which is not Afghan independence but a continuity of the occupation that is not acceptable to Afghans. Or, it [the bases] would be used to threaten the countries of the region, which will push Afghanistan into a long and useless war with its neighboring countries for the interest of the U.S. This is also not acceptable to Afghans.’’
Q: Do you support the talks being organized to discuss the Afghan problem in Dubai, Istanbul or Saudi Arabia; and will you send representatives to the Dubai conference to be held in future?
‘‘To us, these conferences are a showpiece for the interests of those who have been funding them. The Islamic Emirate [of Afghanistan, led by the Taliban] does not officially recognize them and have no intention to attend…’’
‘‘The U.S. has Gradually Boosted its Materialistic Power to Such a Level That Now, Freedom, Independence, Religious Belief, Development, Economic Resources and Values are Limited to [the Materialistic Understanding of] Them…’’
Q: For what purpose did the U.S. launch war on Afghanistan and the region? Do you see any change in the policies of George Bush and Obama Barack regarding war?
‘‘The war started by the Americans and their imperialist allies has clear materialistic and non-materialistic purposes which are not hidden from anyone. The drama of [the so-called threat of] terrorism is that is is a deceiving slogan used by the enemies to hide their imperialist objectives from the eyes of the world.
‘‘The U.S. has gradually boosted its materialistic power to such a level that now, freedom, independence, religious belief, development, economic resources and values are limited to [the materialistic understanding of] them; and in no way they agree on these things as being different for other human beings.
‘‘Owing to this lust, they have been directly and indirectly interfering in the internal affairs of the countries of the world and are dictating [terms on] independent nations. Most of the rulers of the [Afghan] region and the world have bowed to their unjust demands and formed their policies according to the wishes of Washington and against the wishes of their own people.
‘‘…Islam does not allow us [the Afghans] to accept unreasonable demands due to the fear of a materialistic power. Islam teaches us to live in the world with dignity even if the cost is high. In our view, the U.S. interference in Afghanistan was aimed at eliminating a Shari’a system and suppressing the true Islamic spirit among Afghans.
‘‘Similarly, it was also aimed to capture the natural resources of Afghanistan, to use the strategic location of Afghanistan for their own interests, to promote obscenity and western culture and to pave way for propagating Christianity.
‘‘[After 9/11] The use of the term ‘Crusade’ by [George] Bush shows that the war they have started has a large religious aspect. That is why Americans, Europeans, Australians and South Korean Christians also showed interest in it.
‘‘The Invasion of Afghanistan was not a Program Made in Haste; Rather It Was Part of the U.S. and Other Western Intelligences’ Imperialist Plans...’’
‘‘It should be said that the invasion of Afghanistan was not a program made in haste; rather it was part of the U.S. and other Western intelligences’ imperialist plans according to which they have been invading independent nations for years, as well as hatching conspiracies against them.
‘‘However, there are signs that Barack Obama will make changes to this shameless and useless… policy. It is, however, a separate discussion that whether a black president will have the power to make and implement such big decisions.’’
‘‘The Presence of Foreign Forces is The Root Cause of the Current Problem in Afghanistan…. The World should Know that Afghans do not Accept Foreign Forces in Their Country in Any Shape…’’
Q: Are you ready to accept deployment of Islamic countries’ troops instead of the ISAF [a Nato-led security and development force placed in Afghanistan by the UN in 2001] and coalition forces on temporary basis in Afghanistan?
‘‘The presence of foreign forces is the root cause of the current problem in Afghanistan. If foreign forces withdrew from Afghanistan and the problem was resolved, there would be no need for other forces. The world should know that Afghans do not accept foreign forces in their country in any shape.’’
‘‘Caliphate over the Face of the Earth is a Trust from Allah; and Its Implementation is the Responsibility of Everyone, Not for an Individual.’’
Q: If you were in power once again, what basic changes would you make as compared to your pervious government in Kabul before November 2001?
‘‘It is natural that one learns from experiences. The Islamic Emirate always tried to form policy in the light of the sacred teachings of Islam. We would try with full force in the future to remove bottlenecks for the improved service of religion, Muslims and to improve our ranks.
‘‘In this connection, we demand of the pious countrymen not to stop their suggestions to the Islamic Emirate for improvement of the matters. Instead of waiting to find loopholes and criticize it, let us come and make up these deficiencies. Caliphate over the face of the Earth is a charge from Allah and its implementation is the responsibility of everyone, not for an individual.
‘‘Let us work jointly for the Shari’a system, the independence of the country, the comfort of the nation and the fulfillment of the dreams of two million martyrs to emit divine responsibility and duty to the society.’’
‘‘[The U.S.] Has Started the War and They Should Bring an End to It. In Such a Situation, Jihad is Our Only Option and Religion Teaches it to Us.’’
Q: What do you think - for an amicable solution to the Afghan issue, are talks or jihad useful?
‘‘Before the U.S. invasion [following 9/11], we had repeatedly tried to apprise Americans of the legality and sovereignty of the Islamic Emirate through negotiations, but they invaded our country without any reason and left us without any option but to defend our country.
‘‘[The U.S.] has started war and they should bring an end to it. In such a situation, religion teaches us that jihad is our only option. The conditions that we presented for talks that were in the interest of Islam and the country were not acceptable to the invaders.”
‘‘What Value Will the Elections and People’s Vote Have When Approximately 90,000 Armed Foreign Troops are Based in the Country?’’
Q: What is your message to the people of Afghanistan on the current situation and upcoming presidential and provincial elections in August 2009?
‘‘The present situation is in the favor of the Mujahideen and the entire nation should firmly support the Mujahideen by taking advantage of this situation, so that the present problem can be effectively resolved by defeating the enemy. In our view, the upcoming election is a deceiving conspiracy which is no remedy to the pain of the nation.
‘‘What value will the elections and people’s vote have when approximately 90,000 armed foreign troops are based in the country? The soil and air is in the occupation of invaders and the country’s rulers, police, army and entire government cannot defy the orders of the invaders.
‘‘We urge the Muslim nation of Afghanistan to boycott the elections and show the invaders that they no more want an imposed administration and [not] to fall prey to their satanic conspiracies.’’
Q: Are the Taliban active outside Afghanistan and do you support the Pakistani Taliban in Pakistan’s Swat district?
‘‘As I said earlier the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan is a pure Afghani movement which is engaged in heavy fighting day and night for the independence of Afghanistan.
‘‘In such a situation, how can we be able to interfere in other’s affairs? You are well aware that we accepted responsibility for activities in the past and showed its reason to the countrymen and world through media. We want peace and prosperity in all the countries of the Muslim world.’’
‘‘The Jihad in Afghanistan is a Guerrilla War. Generally, Fewer People Take Part in Such Fighting and Equip Themselves with the Weapons Got as War Booty.’’
Q: From where do you get money and weapons?
‘‘The ongoing jihad in Afghanistan is a guerrilla war. Generally, fewer people take part in such fighting and equip themselves with the weapons got as war booty. Similarly, general masses have taken the responsibility of our military expenditures voluntarily. Since we do not pay salaries and cash rewards to Mujahideen, we do not need financial resources.
‘‘The Afghan Mujahid eats his own bread, fights against the enemy with his own weapon and considers it his religious obligation. The All-out support of the brave Afghan nation and the selfless sincerity of the sensitive Muslims have strengthened our jihad. It is also an undeniable fact that the U.S. highhandedness and their presence in the area is not acceptable to several countries, especially countries of the region. ‘’
Q: What is your political stance on narcotics in the present situation?
‘‘Amir-ul-Momineen [the leader of the faithful Mullah Omar] issued a decree during the rule of the Islamic Emirate which had satisfying results for locals and the international community. The steps being taken by the international community and the enslaved administration [of President Hamid Karzai] cannot bring a basic solution to the problem as they have no plan for the future of the poor farmers nor do they have any clear policy to resolve the issue.’’
Source: www.afghanislamicpress.com, Afghanistan, accessed June 4, 2009
