By Nadeem Shaker, IOL Afghanistan Correspondent

KABUL, February 23 (IsamOnline.net) - Former Afghan Prime Minister Gulbuddin Hekmatyar called Monday, February 24, on the Iraqi people to follow the example of “Afghan Mujahideen” in resisting the planned U.S. invasion of their country.

In a statement, a copy of which was obtained by IslamOnline.net Monday, the leader of Hizbi-Islami said, directing his words to the Iraqi people, “Do not be fearful or saddened, you can resist the Americans. All what they (U.S. troops) can do is bomb the big targets, but they are too coward to fight (face-to-face), they fear death.

“Ten thousand Iraqi true Mujahideen can defeat a hundred thousand well-equipped Americans. Allah Willing, the U.S. will regret attacking Iraq. Oh, Muslims of Iraq, be guided by the great and tough resistance of your fellow brothers in Afghanistan.

“We assure you that the American troops will be defeated here, just as the case was with the Russians before. The U.S. troops on Afghani soil face dangerous security situations here, they can not, and will not, find peace,” he added.

In his three-page computer-typed letter , signed February 20, Hekmatyar declared the United States a "terrorist" state, charging it was paralyzing the United Nations. 

“No Taliban, al-Qaeda Link”

"We have no links with al-Qaeda or Taliban," Hekmatyar said.

"I am thankful to God that America has put my name on the list of those whom it calls terrorists. I have no money and I have no account which it can freeze," he said.

On the Iraq crisis, Hekmatyar also likened any U.S. attack on Iraq to the medieval Crusades and expressed regret there were no leaders of the Muslim world to counter some governments "siding with Crusaders and providing them their military bases."

On Wednesday, February 20, the White House designated Hekmatyar as a "global terrorist" linking him to the al-Qaeda and Taliban.

"The U.S. Government has information indicating that Gulbuddin Hekmatyar has participated in and supported terrorist acts committed by al-Qaeda and the Taliban," claimed State Department spokesman Richard Boucher.

"Because of his terrorist activity, the United States is designating Hekmatyar as a Specially Designated Global Terrorist."

Hekmatyar, for his part, called on the Afghan people to fight the U.S. troops and their allies in Afghanistan and help the Mujahideen by keeping a tight lid on their military secrets and movements.

Hekmatyar also exhorted the Islamic nation to back this Jihad just like it supported Jihad against the Soviet forces.