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"The world must not repeat this mistake," Abdullah said, referring to world ignorance of Afghanistan following the 1989 Russian withdrawal. (IOL Photo)
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DOHA — Afghanistan's former foreign minister Abdullah Abdullah called on the international community not to turn its back on the war-torn country, warning that the dwindling international interest risks to turn the country into a hotbed of international terrorism.
"Although, the world has not disengaged Afghanistan as far as its security and economic needs are concerned, however it is reality that its focus has been partly shifted to some other areas", Abdullah told IslamOnline.net in an exclusive interview on the sidelines of the US-Islamic World Forum, which closed Monday, February 19.
"The world must not repeat this mistake," he said, referring to world ignorance of Afghanistan following the 1989 Russian withdrawal.
The Bush administration invaded Afghanistan following the 9/11 terrorist attacks to topple the ruling Taliban movement.
But five years after the US-led overthrow of Taliban, Afghan officials and right activists believe the West has failed in putting the country on the "path of progress" as promised.
The country is still so destitute and undeveloped that most inhabitants have no central heating, electricity or running water.
According to the international policy think tank Senlis, more than 70% of the population is chronically malnourished, while less than a quarter has access to safe drinking water.
Threat
Abdullah said the dwindling international interest is risking to turn Afghanistan into a hotbed of international terrorism.
"Taliban and Al-Qaeda are still a potential threat to the world. Though, Afghanistan is no more the Al-Qaeda’s global headquarters, but it has not accepted defeat yet, and is trying to re-capture our country," he added.
Taliban fighters have stepped up attacks against foreign forces in Afghanistan, mostly in the south, where they have captured a small town.
More than 4,000 people, a quarter of them civilians, were killed in fighting last year, the most violent year since the Taliban were ousted in 2001. NATO commanders and analysts warn this year could be just as bad or worse.
"…despite all efforts of the international community, Al-Qaeda, and Taliban are still a potential threat, and a main hindrance in establishment and maintenance of stability in Afghanistan," Abdullah said.
The former Afghan official accused Pakistan of allowing Taliban fighters to take refugee in tribal areas and allowing infiltration into the war-weary nation.
"I used to say that there were terrorist camps in Pakistan, but all my statements were denied. But after sometime, Pakistani forces launched operation against these terrorist camps set up in northern tribal areas, which seconded my point."
"Various senior Al-Qaeda leaders have been arrested from Pakistan. This is a widely accepted perception that Al-Qaeda and Taliban have support in Pakistan’s
tribal areas."
Pakistan called on Saturday, February 17, for talks between the Afghani government and Taliban to stabilize the country and stem the rise in violence.
Asked about the whereabouts of Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden, Abdullah said he cannot tell for sure where he is.
"But the intelligence reports suggest that he is in Pakistan," he added.
"I will not go to the judgment. I would say that more sincere and serious efforts are required to arrest bin Laden."
Abdullah voiced opposition to a recent Afghan parliamentary bill granting amnesty to Taliban fighters and people accused of rights abuses.
"Without talking about the resolution because it (resolution) perhaps needs some explanation," he said.
The Afghan parliament approved on January 31 the National Reconciliation Bill which rules out court actions against those accused of brutal rights abuses in the past 25 years.
Abdullah said the bill will give amnesty to what he called "war criminals," citing Taliban supreme commander Mullah Omer and former prime minister Gulbaden Hikmatyar.
"It is my firm view that Mullah Omer and Hikmatyar are criminals and are still engaged in crimes against humanity," he said.
"They have committed crimes against Afghans and humanity. They should not be forgiven. They deserve justice."
Resolution
Abdullah called for solving the Palestinian and Iraqi issues, saying the resolution of the two issues would help undermine Al-Qaeda ability to recruit Muslim youths.
"I am not saying that if these issues are resolved then there will be no Al-Qaeda," he told IOL.
"Certainly Al-Qaeda will still be there, but its capacity to recruit or mislead Muslim youths will be damaged to a large extent."
Without a UN mandate, the US invaded Iraq in 2003 to topple the Saddam Hussein regime on claims of stockpiling weapons of mass destruction, a claim later refuted by a US presidential report.
Since then, Iraq has been gripped by a bloody cycle of sectarian violence, with more than a hundred people being killed on a daily basis.
Washington is also accused of backing Israel's aggressive policies against the Palestinians and in the region.
Critics have long argued that unwavering support for Israel's practices in the occupied Palestinian territories has deprived Washington of "honest broker" status.
On Monday, US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice held a joint meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas to probe means of reviving the dormant peace talks between the two sides.
Rice said that all sides agreed had affirmed their commitment to a two-state solution, adding that the meeting also discussed long-standing international conditions on the Palestinian government during the talks, which come with the Palestinians in the midst of forming a unity cabinet that they hope will end a crippling Western boycott.
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