"The government is working without tiring to crack down on the fleeing Taliban members," said Abdullah

By Husbanullah Metawakel, Redah Hammad, IOL Correspondents 

ABU DHABI , May 10 (IslamOnline.net) – Although attacks against the American forces and the Afghan government are seen on the rise in Afghanistan , Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah downplayed the importance of the latest series of attacks which are blamed on Taliban and al-Qaeda.

He said that "a few remnants" of Taliban, who fled to mountains, were responsible for such attacks, adding that the Afghan government would crack down on them.

"Taliban as a political movement is gone once and for all, but sporadic attacks are still likely, given the fact that the incessant U.S. air strikes have splintered Taliban," Abdullah told IslamOnline.net in exclusive statements during his visit to the United Arab Emirates .

"The interim Afghan government is closely following up the entire situation and work without tiring to crack down on the fleeing Taliban members," he added, asserting the government "will annihilate Taliban sooner or later in cooperation with the U.S.-led forces."

IOL correspondent in Afghanistan reported that an American soldier was wounded and an Afghan soldier killed in Khost province in eastern Afghanistan Saturday, May 10, when a contingent of U.S.-led forces came under fierce attack.

Three suspected pro-U.S. Afghans were also shot dead by armed people late Friday, May 9.

Mullawi Habibullah, a close friend of Afghan President Hamed Karzai, was assassinated as well Friday, when he was about to enter the mosque for Friday prayers in southwest Afghanistan .

U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage was greeted by a bomb blast Friday shortly after his arrival in the Afghan capital Kabul on the second leg of an Asian tour.

Meanwhile, the U.S. troops in Afghanistan arrested Haji Ibrahim, brother to Galaludin Haqani, the former minister of borders and tribes in the ousted Taliban regime, the Afghan Khivad newspaper reported Friday, citing an official source in Karzai's government.

The source said Ibrahim was lining in Kabul one year ago under the protection of the defense minister.

Instability

Asked about the latest statements made by U.N. especial envoy to Afghanistan Lakhdar Brahimi, who said instability poses a threat to the country's future, Abdullah admitted stability would need more time to be materialized.

"The government has made great strides in enhancing stability, but we still have much word to do before making sure that stability and security have been completely restored to Afghanistan ," he said.

Abdullah further said that Karzai handed the Pakistani authorities a list of wanted Taliban and al-Qaeda members, who fled Afghanistan through the joint borders, adding that other lists were being prepared.

The Afghan minister reiterated his country commitment to hold general elections in June, 2004 "to democratically elect a permanent government representing the Afghans."

"The interim government will do everything in its power to achieve security and re-build the country to that date," he said.

On the latest anti-U.S. demonstrations, Abdullah said the Afghans took to the streets to voice their opinion peacefully, noting that it was "a healthy phenomenon and evidence that freedom and democracy are gaining ground."

"They (rallies) are commonplace…As far as Afghanistan is concerned, we are not worried at all as long as they go peacefully.

"But I want to make it clear that some Afghans also demonstrate to protest their deplorable economic conditions and unemployment, leaving the impression that they protest the U.S. presence," he said.

On Tuesday, May 6, scores of Afghans took to the streets of Kabul to protest the state of insecurity, the slowness of the reconstruction process and low living standards.

The marchers chanted slogans against the U.S. presence in Afghanistan and the policies adopted by Karzai's government.

The rally came just after four days of U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, who declared that major combat operations were over in the country.

Accelerated Construction

Abdullah further asserted the importance of accelerating the reconstruction process, pointing out that this "will help reassure the Afghans and convince all Afghan parties of working in tandem under the umbrella of a sovereign country.

"These mammoth tasks cannot be achieved by the interim government without international support," he said.

"In the past, Afghanistan passed through seismic waves of violence, crises and oppression that can by no means be compared to the current situation.

"The Afghan government has now made a myriad of achievements, including the formation of a national army and a police force.

"It also helped enhance good neighborliness, crowning its efforts with the release of Kabul Statement of December 2002, signed by Afghanistan and its neighboring countries," said the foreign minister.

Abdullah added that his government is set to hold an international conference similar to the one held in Tokyo to tackle all security and political issues and the reconstruction process in Afghanistan .

He, however, said the 18-month-old government cannot undo "the havoc wrecked on Afghanistan for more than 23 years" in such a short period of time.

"Rebuilding Afghanistan 's destroyed infrastructure and improving living standards of the Afghans should take its time and need the support of the international parties concerned."