By
Husbanullah Mutawakkil, IOL South Asia Correspondent
PESHAWAR,
Pakistan, June 3 (IslamOnline) - A leading Taliban figure said that
the ousted Afghan movement would help Pakistan against any Indian
aggression, though Pakistan failed the defeated movement during its
unbalanced war against the United States.
Mullah
A. Arab, in an exclusive interview with IslamOnline Sunday, June 2,
said he was almost certain about “Taliban’s victory”, adding he
“almost saw it now as a reality”.
Arab,
one of the founders of the movement that ruled Afghanistan from 1996
until late 2001, said Taliban was coordinating with Ghulbuddin
Hikmatyar, leader of Hizbi-e-Islami Party, to launch military strikes
against foreign troops on Afghan soil. He further pointed out that all
those who were against the U.S. presence in Afghanistan should “sit
together to agree on a united program for Jihad [holy struggle].”
Attempting
to hide the movement’s disappointment in Pakistan which, he said,
“failed to support us and was one of the main reasons behind our
defeat”, Arab asserted that Taliban was regrouping under its leader
Mullah Mohammad Omar and was ready to fight, shoulder-to-shoulder,
with “our Muslim brothers in Pakistan against any Indian
aggression.”
“Taliban
members are Muslims. Pakistan is a Muslim country, with Islamic
schools and parties. Should they be under attack, Jihad will be an
obligation, not for us alone, but for all Muslims at largel,” he
said.
Avoiding
questions about Omar’s or Osama bin Laden’s hideouts, the Taliban
commander said: “We fear no one but Almighty Allah. However, we
should be cautious enough not to give our enemies the chance to thwart
our plans in advance.”
Explaining
the quick defeat of Taliban, unlike what most people thought about
their strength and ability to resist, Arab put the blame on Pakistan
and “hypocrites” who crept into Taliban sensitive positions.
“Pakistan
failed us, stopped supporting us, and that was an important factor
behind our defeat. Another major factor was hypocrites who joined us,
pretended to embrace our ideas, and reached high ranks among our
positions. Those used radio communications to give false orders of
retreat to our forces, claiming the orders came from our supreme
leadership. When we started to realize that, it was already too late.
“We
had to retreat, so as not to cause heavy civilian casualties among
Afghan people,” Arab added.
Touching
upon the point of current support by individuals, groups, and
countries, such as China, Russia and even Pakistan, Arab said it was a
necessity to receive financial and material support for Jihad to
continue.
“However,
I could not give any details. This is the job of senior Taliban
officials,” he said.
Commenting
on the Loya Jirga (General assembly), to be convened in Kabul from
June 10 to 16 to choose a new transitional government to rule
Afghanistan for the next two years, Arab played down the results of
the gathering.
“I
do not think it will yield anything concrete. There are many disputes
between the Northern Alliance and [former Afghan King Zahir] Shah’s
supporters. A government resulting from that [Loya Jirga] is sure to
be a U.S. puppet.
