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Lt-General (Retd.) Kamal Matinuddin has had a long and distinguished career in Pakistan as a soldier and diplomat. He was commissioned in the Pakistan Army in 1947. He retired in 1981 and was sent to Thailand as Pakistan's ambassador. On his return he was appointed Director General of The Institute of Strategic Studies, Islamabad. He has written four books including Nuclearisation of South Asia, Power Struggle in the Hindu Kush and Tragedy of Errors: East Pakistan Crisis. His book, The Taliban Phenomenon, published by Oxford University Press, has been widely acclaimed for its comprehensive account of the origin of the Taliban movement and the reasons for its phenomenal success from 1994-97.
The following is a short interview conducted by IslamOnline's Ayub Khan with Lt-General (Retd.) Kamal Matinuddin concerning current events and the Taliban:
IslamOnline: Is the Taliban a spent force?
Lt-General (Retd.) Kamal Matinuddin: Presently they are down but not out. Much will depend on whether they can move into Pakistan's tribal areas or into the mountains to carry out their struggle from there. However guerrilla actions depend on the support they receive from the local populations, which will be considerably limited. Secondly hardly any outside support will be available to them. Hence their future seems very bleak at the moment. I doubt if they will rise up again in the near future as the extremist religious views were not acceptable to the vast majority willingly as can be seen in the areas, which are no longer under their control.
IOL: Is there a possibility that they will regroup and emerge again?
KM: Not in the near future for the reasons given above.
IOL: What is the current state of Taliban leadership?
KM: In disarray, as some have been killed in the shelling, some have crossed over to Pakistan and some have defected.
IOL: Do Mullah Omar and bin Laden still have the capability to evade capture?
KM: Not for too long as the ring is being tightened around them. They will of course avoid being captured and will prefer death to capture.
IOL: Can Northern Alliance form a sustainable government and authority in Afghanistan?
KM: Not by themselves as they are not broadly based and have very few Pushtuns among them who form 43% of the population and cannot be disregarded.
IOL: How long can that government hold on to power before fissures appear in the alliance?
KM: Already fissures have appeared, as Dostum and Ismail are very independent in their own areas. Power sharing among Afghans has always been dicey.
IOL: Who in your opinion will emerge as the President of Afghanistan in the near future?
KM: Cannot say, as the Afghans must choose their own leader. We must not interfere in that decision. Let the Loya Jirga decide. As a temporary measure Hamid Karzai or Zahir Shah seems to be the favorites.
IOL: How are the events in Afghanistan affecting Pakistan?
KM: The refugee problem has increased. Domestically we are divided on the question of the U.S.-led war on Afghanistan although there was no choice. Our relations with Iran seem to be improving. Our financial worries seem to be taken care of partially. We will have to remain involved with Afghanistan whichever government is formed there, as we are neighbors of a land locked country, with whom we have religious, ethnic and cultural historical ties.
IOL: What kind of a future do you envision for Afghanistan and Pakistan?
KM: Normal neighborly relations.
IOL: You have written a book on the rise of Taliban. Do you plan to write a book on their fall?
KM: Yes I am trying to write my next book on the rise and fall of the Taliban. |
