Author:
Publication: PTI
Date: August 31, 2001
Pakistan plans to encircle India
with a jehadi belt and destabilise peace in Central Asia, a top field comander
of Afghanistan's Northern Alliance has claimed.
"Pakistan's strategic goal is to
create a belt of Islamic jehad around India, " and disturb peace in Central
Asia with assistance from the Taliban, commander of anti-Taliban forces
in Panjshir sector, Bismillah Khan, told a Russian daily.
Also, despite US sanctions, Taliban
continues to receive arms from Pakistan, Vremya Novostyei quoted him as
saying.
Another senior leader of the Northern
Alliance, former Interior Minister in the Rabbani Government, Yunis Kanuni
said the key to peace in Afghanistan is in the hands of Islamabad as the
Taliban militia is a "Pakistani puppet" .
Meanwhile, Russia has warned against
establishment of an international terrorist centre on the Taliban-controlled
Afghan territory amid media reports about the appointment of Saudi billionaire
Osama bin Laden as the chief of the Taliban forces and Juma Namangani as
his deputy.
"Under the cover of protecting pseudo-religious
values, the Taliban are preparing a base to expand militant extremism and
separatism beyond the borders of the region," the Russian foreign ministry
said in a statement.
