Author: Abhijit Sinha
Publication: The Hindustan Times
Date: October 21, 2001
Haji Muhammad Mohaqiq, the interior
minister in the Burhanuddin Rabbani-led Islamic State of Afghanistan (the
Taliban government is known as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan), has
a one-line message for General Pervez Musharraf: "Stop conspiring against
Afghanistan".
Belonging to the Hazara (Shia) ethnic
community, Mohaqiq is a high-ranking member of the Hizb-e-Wahdat-e-Islami-yi-Afghanistan
(Islamic Unity Party of Afghanistan), which is a constituent of the coalition
that will play a significant role in any post-Taliban setup.
In an exclusive e-mail interview,
Mohaqiq spells out the stand of the fighting arm of the Rabbani government
- the Northern Alliance (also called the United Front).
Q.: Do you think Pakistan should
play any role in the post-Taliban settlement?
A.: First of all, Pakistan should
confess that it has lost the battle. The recent events show that Pakistan
had a flawed Afghan policy based on the promotion of discrimination and
hatred among the various brotherly ethnic groups in Afghanistan. Its continuous
financial and military support to the Taliban mercenaries - who are responsible
among other for the massacre of the other ethnic groups, especially the
Hazaras - badly affected Pakistan's image in Afghanistan. Even our Pushtoon
brothers now realize that they were used by Pakistan.
Now, when the Taliban chapter is
going to be closed, Pakistan is worried. I mean to say that it only wants
a puppet government in Afghanistan. It's a historical fact that Pakistan
has found it very difficult to adjust with all legitimate Afghan governments.
Secondly, Musharraf's views show
Pakistan's colonial aspirations. He thinks Afghanistan is his country's
fifth province and any future setup should be according to his wishes,
which we are not going to accept. Pakistan government is panicking, wondering
how it will face a stable and legitimate Government in Afghanistan consisting
of all ethnic groups according to their real strength. Our approach to
the neighbouring countries has been to request them to just pursue their
legitimate interest in the region and give up their larger desires. Otherwise,
nothing will come out of this except destruction and horrible consequences.
Finally, I would again request the
Pakistan government to stop conceiving conspiracies against the Afghan
nation. It should start acting like a good neighbor.
Q.: Gen Musharraf has said, "This
action (by the US-led coalition) should not be allowed to be taken advantage
of by the Northern Alliance...They must not draw mileage out of this."
Comments?
A.: The Northern Alliance doesn't
care what Pakistan thinks about us. We have at least 30,000 soldiers of
all ethnic groups which, collectively, are a majority in Afghanistan. The
Northern Alliance has the majority support, and militarily too we will
soon prove our strength. The Taliban's military domination was the direct
result of the assistance of the Pakistani military setup and the international
terrorist circuit. We will prove very soon they are nothing without this
direct assistance.
Q.: How are you helping the US-led
coalition?
A.: We don't have any contacts
with the US military experts. They are doing their own job to eradicate
terrorism from Afghanistan. Of course, we support this move. Afghanistan
was converted into a haven for international terrorist by the Taliban fanatics.
These terrorists, who are occupying a major portion of Afghanistan, are
a real threat to global peace and safety. Nobody paid any attention to
our outcry earlier. But, thank God, the international community has at
last woken up to this threat and come to help the Afghans to liberate their
country from the fanatic terrorists.
Q.: The Pakistan president has told
the United States that "the post-action scenario has to be extremely balanced".
Meaning thereby that the Northern Alliance, comprising mostly the Uzbeks
and the Tajiks, must not be allowed to keep out the Pushtoons (the Taliban's
backbone). Comments?
A.: The General is still suffering
from euphoria. We don't understand why he has a very rude attitude toward
us. We request Pakistan to live peacefully, let others live peacefully
and let the Afghans determine their own future. Undoubtedly, Pushtoons
are the single largest ethnic group, and without their active presence
a national and broadbased government cannot be formed. But we don't need
the Pakistani friends' advice.
Without a doubt, the Northern Alliance
comprises all the major ethnic groups and the General Sahib hasn't discovered
any thing new. Pushtoons are our brothers and they have been playing an
important role in the progress and the development of Afghanistan. No government
can be formed without their active participation. We are not against any
ethnic group; we are just saying that all ethnic groups should participate
in the setup that replaces the Taliban.
Q.: The Northern Alliance forces
have been accused - especially by Pakistan - of countless instances of
"barbaric behaviour". What is your defence?
A.: General Sahib has been very
kind to us. He has, possibly, been told by aides that the Northern Alliance
was responsible for the massacres in Mazar-e-Sharif in August 1997 and
in Yakawalang in January 2001. That the Northern Alliance destroyed the
Buddha statues (Bamiyan), and is expelling the United Nations aid agencies
from Afghanistan. That the Northern Alliance has prisons for women and
shows street hangings on television. And may be it was the Northern Alliance
that gave shelter to Osama bin Laden.
General Sahib, the international
community has already come to a conclusion - that the Taliban is the rival
to all the human values and civilization. By this type of statements, you
can't create sympathy for the Taliban in the international community.
Q.: Will you be allowing the International
Red Crescent/Cross and the UN agencies free access in the fighting zones?
A.: They are always welcome. We
are ready to cooperate with all aid agencies and human rights organisations.
We invite them to come to any place controlled by the Northern Alliance.
I personally invite them to Dara Suf, Bulkhab and Bamian (Yakawalang).
Q.: Has your government sought military
and logistical assistance from India?
A.: I don't have any information
about Indian assistance.
Q.: What is your reaction to the
UN statement suspending food supply to Afghanistan?
A.: We request the UN to allow
humanitarian assistance to the areas besieged by the Taliban where people
are suffering from malnutrition. Like Dara Suf, Bulkhab, Yakawalang where
the Taliban are not allowing any vehicle to carry food material. It will
be a great service to the people of Afghanistan.
Q.: The Taliban have called for
jehad. A long-drawn war means more suffering for the Afghan people. Your
views?
A.: This is not jehad. From the
Hizb-e-Wahdat's point of view, there's no connection between any religion
and terrorism. The terrorists should be punished for their crimes.
We strongly condemn the cowardly
terrorist act of Osama against the innocent American people and view the
heart rending events of September 11 as the worst tragedy of the new century
and an attack on the civilization. We wholeheartedly support the international
community's commitment to fight terrorism. But this action should be in
coordination with the Islamic State of Afghanistan.
And the independence, sovereignty
and integrity of Afghanistan should be respected during the process. Care
should be taken not to hurt the ordinary and innocent people.
Hizb-e-Wahdat is the representative
of the most deprived and oppressed society of Afghanistan. The people of
Afghanistan, and the Hazaras specially, are victims of the same set of
terrorists - the criminal gang of Osama bin Laden and the Taliban.
Our letters to the United Nations
and other world bodies repeatedly stressed that this terror will not be
confined only to Afghanistan and very soon it will change to a global threat.
Unfortunately, no one took us seriously
then.
