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The Pakistani government today announced a 15 million rupee ($181,000) reward for information leading the capture or death of Mohammad, who also heads the Pakistani Taliban in the Federally Administered Tribal Area of Bajaur.
Mohammad's comments came in an exclusive June 23 videotaped interview with AfPax Insider.
Here are keys comments from Mohammad during the interview:
The main aim of the creation of TTP is to defend Pakistan and Islam, and also to implement the true form of Sharia in Pakistan. Pakistan was basically created in the name of Islam. Pakistan is our own country. We don’t have any plan to occupy Pakistan. If the true of message of TTP is known to Pakistanis, the people as well as the army will raise the voice that they have no other option than to materialize the policies of Taliban in the country.We believe the USA has invaded and occupied Afghanistan. Mujahideen in Afghanistan are not a new phenomenon. They are there since three decades. They have fought against the Soviet Union, and they know that their country has been invaded. They are the real Mujahideen. They are fighting against the US and allied forces and they don’t need our help. However, if they need our help at some point, then we are ready to assist them. If we have taken any step against the US forces, it might be in the defense or revenge of TTP. It is obvious that America has been making conspiracies against the Taliban ideologies in FATA and also conducting drone attacks. We have the right to defend ourselves against any power in the region.
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As I told you earlier, if the people and rulers of Pakistan get a fair knowledge of the TTP aims and objectives, they themselves will hand over the country to Taliban. In fact, Taliban are the real successors of this country. We ask the US President Obama and also the UK that the threat which you feel is, in fact, due to your own acts and deeds in the Muslim world. The game which they are playing in Iraq, Kashmir, Pakistan and Afghanistan, is actually against the Muslims. Everybody in Pakistan including Mujahideen knows the fact that in the garb of friendship, USA has been trying to implicate Pakistan. We are taking great care in taking any steps. We want to defend both Islam and Pakistan. God Willing, Pakistan will prove a super power of the world. In reality, the ideologies of Pakistani army is also for the defense of Islam and Pakistan. There is a possibility that Pakistani army could be exploited by some forces for a short span against Taliban or Mujahideen. But soon they will realize the reality and will change their stance.We ask President Zardari and other rulers of Pakistan that you should straight away tell the United States and Allied forces what you might be telling them in the end, so that the country is saved from more destruction and crises. Our opinion is that the Pakistani army cannot win this war against the Taliban or Mujahideen. The reason is that Pakistani army has the same ideology which the Taliban have. Every military man enters the army with the concept of defending Islam and Pakistan. The Pakistani army is not contented with this fight. And unless you are contented with your cause, you cannot win the fight. Wherever there has been military operation or drone attacks against the Taliban, their number and resistance has been increased. This has also helped Taliban in making their war strategies more sophisticated. May be Almighty Allah wants us to fight against the non-believers worldwide.
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Afghan Taliban have no role in this. We don’t need their help. Though the cause of Afghan Taliban and TTP is the same but we are an independent entity. Pakistan is a separate country and there is a border between the two countries. TTP is a sovereign and the strongest movement as against all other Jihadi movements. The whole world of non-believers is posing a challenge for the TTP. But we are strong enough. We don’t need anybody help. However, if we felt need for help from the Afghan Taliban, then on the advice of our elders we may take any required step.In fact, war is not any solution to the problem. The ongoing war will not be a war against Taliban but it may prove to be a war against the existence of Pakistan. Pakistan should realize its mistake of waging war against Taliban. It should repent on its old tactics and should change its policies. It is the policy of USA to engage Pakistan in fighting against its own people. Same was the case in Badr War when the Satan came and patted the non-believers for fighting against the Muslims but when the war started the Satan fled away and left them alone. Likewise, USA wants to create an eternal war in Pakistan and then left Pakistan on its own. But God Willing, we will be taking every step with extreme care. Right now, Pakistan is faced with immense external pressures. But we will be trying to get out Pakistan from these crises.
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Here is a PDF of Monday's six-page report: AfPaxSitRep06_15_09.pdf
In an exclusive interview with AfPax Insider a few days ago in Waziristan, Mehsud tribesman Qari Zianuddin, the leader of the Pakistani Taliban Abdullah Mehsud Group, explained why he's challenging Pakistani Taliban chief Baitullah Mehsud's leadership and denouncing him as a traitor and a criminal.
Here is an English-language translation of the full 14-minute Urdu-language interview:
AfPax: Please introduce yourself.
Zainuddin: My name is Qari Zainuddin Mehsud. I am leader of Abdullah Mehsud Group.
AfPax: Which Mujahdin group do you belong?
Zainuddin: I belong to Therik E Taliban Afghanistan, Mullah Omar..
AfPax: Which Mujahdin leader impresses you?
Zainuddin: Mullah Omar.
AfPax: Do you have contacts with Al Qaeda, have you ever met any of Al Qaeda leader?
Zainuddin: When Abdullah Mahsud was alive, he had plenty of contacts with Al Qaeda. When martyred Molana Masood Rehaman was Amir, he also martyred later due to differences with Baitullah Mehsud we caught into big troubles, consequently we lost the contact.
AfPax: Have you ever had contact or meeting with Mullah Omar?
Zainuddin: Not with him but we meet his people who come here in South and North Waziristan, and meet other organization. But about Mullah Omar I have no idea I never met or saw him.
AfPax: Ever you had chance to meet Al Qaeda leader like Bin Laden or Al Zawahiri?
Zainuddin: I already told you after the death of Abdulah Mahsud we didn't have any contact with them.
AfPax: With which mujahdin organization you are affiliated, in Afghanistan or group like Jaish E Muhammad?
Zainuddin: We have trust on Ameer Ul Momineen (leader of faithfuls) Mullah Omar.
AfPax: How effective is your group right now, I mean what is your strength?
Zainuddin: Earlier when we were in Shagai it was small number now we are in thousands.
AfPax: Do you have presence in other parts of tribal areas other than Waziristan?
Zainuddin: We do have contacts in Khyber and Mohmand Agencies, they do come here, but do not participate in TTP's activities.
AfPax: What is view about Jihad?
Zainuddin: Look, this on going problem, specially in FATA area, what TTP is doing in our view it is not jihad rather it is, it is criminality. Islam is religion of peace not of torture, it teaches peace. Jihad is against atrocities and infidelity but these activities against the country and nation, we are against it and do not regard it jihad.
AfPax: Would you support development in tribal areas?
Zainuddin: Yes, absolutely because it is duty of every male and female to obtain knowledge and education.
AfPax: There are reports about operation in Mehsud areas against TTP and Baitullah, will you support it?
Zainuddin: No, but Baitullah is engaged in cruelties to save his power, as you know, he killed religious scholars and our elders only for this. We only appeal government to avoid civilian killing but we will not become party in it. AfPax: You are also a player in tribal areas, now if this operation starts, have you made your mind to stay neutral or support government?
Zainuddin: We are in peace agreement with government same we had with Baitullah, Molvi Nazir and Gul Bahadur. We shall suggest the government to restrain from violence we also maintain peace in our areas.
AfPax: What are your basic differences with TTP? Let us talk about it in detail.
Zainuddin: TTP made several times offer us to join them, but they wanted us to disband our group. They time and asked ask us to agree with all their activities. But in our view they are engaged in atrocities not Jihad. Islam dose not permit these suicide attacks in mosques, markets and hospitals. We are against the attacks within the country and on nation which has distorted the peace. These are the basic reasons of conflict.
AfPax: How look at the efforts of peace jirga of Mahsud tribes to bring peace in South Waziristan?
Zainuddin: I earlier sent message to the jirga members that if you want to to hold negotiations, then come and join those who are on right path. Let's keep the government aside and tribe and our partners join hand to expel the miscreants from the area to restore the peace. Don't take side with these criminals otherwise you will face trouble from our side.
AfPax: All the world is looking towards South Waziristan, specially Europe, NATO forces and US are in Afghanistan. If in future NATO and US forces intervene in tribal areas and come into Waziristan, what will be your reaction?
Zainuddin: As I said Jihad is against excesses and atrocities. If any foreign force attack son our country we will fight with our fullest.
AfPax: What do you say about Drone attacks?
Zainuddin: I am against it and also appeal Pakistan Government to make efforts to stop it because it also kills innocent people.
AfPax: There are also foreigners, specially arabs, with Baitullah Mehsud and helping him in fighting how you look at them that they re supporting him or you also have sympathies for them and ever you tried to make contacts with them?
Zainuddin: We are out of Mahsud areas from one years, I don't have knowledge about foreigners' presence but I do know about Uzbek fighters who are with Baitullah and also take part in fighting, about Turkeman or Arabs I don't know about them.
AfPax: What you say about recent Swat operation that Taliban are flushed out from there?
Zainuddin: There had a peace deal government also accepted their demand of Shariat, but the miscreants specially Baitullah's people destroyed the peace.
AfPax: What is your stand about suicide bombing, do you also have suicide bombers?
Zainuddin: Sure, we do have them but religious scholars don't allow it. When they ask us we'll be ready for that.
AfPax: There is an information that you have contacts with Mullah Mansoor Dad Ullah in Afghanistan. You don't have any alliance with him or you are working only Pakistanis and Talibans from the area?
Zainuddin: No. Look, let me give an example, if your home caught fire and also the house in neighbor is on fire then it is your duty to take care of your home first. Right now we sure support Taliban Movement in Afghanistan but our county and area facing lots of hardship.
AfPax: Right now there is no development happening in South Waziristan. They don't allow any NGO. If you get control of the area what message will you like to give Mehsud Tribes about your polices would be different then TTP?
Zainuddin: If I got control of the area I would bring the old system of elders and jirga back, I don't want to rule the people or run a government.
AfPax: Do you think if you start governing the area, like TTP is running a government, it will distract you from real jihad?
Zainuddin: No, it does not make any difference. Real and sincere mujahid do fight otherwise.
AfPax: Do you like to give any message to the Mehsud Tribes and peace jirga which also met today?
Zainuddin: As I said earlier, I would appeal Mehsuds to side with our people to restore peace. I appeal to my tribe to stop helping Baitullah. I announce general amnesty for my organization for those unarmed people who cooperated with him in past in the form of providing him funds. If some one do it in future he will be our target. AfPax: Recently thousands of people who have moved out of area, we observed that there are no arrangements for them from government to help them. They are trying to find rental homes. Did your group try to help them or you have any plan for that?
Zainuddin: Yes we will help them. I also appeal government to arrange camps for them like it is done for people from Swat.
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Kabul – Britney Spears is unwittingly providing the latest evidence that the coming presidential elections in Afghanistan are shaping up to be tainted by massive voter and vote-counting fraud.
The "Oops!... I Did It Again" American pop star is among millions of supposed Afghan citizens newly registered to vote in the August 20 elections.
This time, Spears didn't do it.
She has never set foot in Afghanistan, and she has made no effort to register to vote there.
But that did not stop a Kandahar resident with a twisted sense of humor from using Spears's photo to demonstrate how it is easy to buy a usable Afghan voter registration card with any name or photo you want on it.
Spears's newly issued voter registration card is one of what experts believe may be hundreds of thousands cards purchased on the black market for as little as one U.S. dollar each.
The pop star's official Afghan voter photo I.D. card entitles her to vote in Kandahar using the name "Jamila," which in the Pashto language means "she who is beautiful."
She would be one of relatively few women in strictly conservative Kandahar with a photo on her voter I.D. card -- and perhaps the only blond voter in the country of 34 million mostly dark-haired people.
In Afghanistan, where millions of women routinely wear head-to-toe burqa covering in public, women are not required to have a photo on their voter registration card.
Analysts in Afghanistan say corrupt officials are selling the blank cards by the hundreds and perhaps thousands at a time for voting in the August contest in which President Hamid Karzai is heavily favored to win re-election.
Official records indicate nearly 4.6 million Afghans have been added to the voter rolls in recent months, with so many newly registered voters in Kandahar that the province is on the verge of having more registered voters than people.
In some provinces where the Taliban are especially active and women rarely venture outside the house, women account for as much as 72% of newly registered voters – a fact that officials and local residents say proves the registration process has run amok.
Afghan experts say voter registration cards obtained on the black market are usually used in the name of a woman because Afghan women are never required to display photo identification.
A "nightmare scenario"
Dismayed officials, candidates, and experts say the improprieties and fears of related ballot box stuffing have heightened worries about whether the elections and their results will be viewed as legitimate.
One of the top candidates challenging President Karzai, former Karzai-appointed finance minister Ashraf Ghani, has warned that widespread election fraud would produce "an illegitimate government" that would be "the worst thing" for the country.
The U.N. Special Envoy to Afghanistan, Kai Eide, and the head of the Afghanistan Independent Human Rights Commission, Dr. Sima Samar, recently voiced concern about voter registration improprieties while expressing hope that (unspecified) measures would be taken to prevent the use of improperly obtained voter registration cards.
"Bogus registration is already undermining the legitimacy of the process," says long-time Afghanistan expert Michael Semple. He warns "Unless effective measures are now taken to enforce one-person, one-vote at polling stations, the whole process will descend into chaos, and we shall be left with the nightmare scenario of no legitimate outcome."
Referring to the provinces where there are an inordinate number of newly registered female voters, Semple adds: "The quickest way to destabilize Afghanistan would be to generate a situation in which a candidate claims victory with the help of votes from three hundred thousand ghost women in the provinces of Paktia, Paktika, Khost, Logar, Badghis, Nuristan. This could trigger national protests against government and foreign forces."
Nevertheless, documented cases of voter fraud in the 2004 presidential elections and the 2005 parliamentary elections failed to spark major unrest or successful efforts to halt future commonplace voter registration improprieties.
Semple warns that the threat of elections-related turmoil in Afghanistan is far greater this year than in previous election years.
He points out Karzai's 2004 election win "was a foregone conclusion" in the aftermath of the toppling of the Taliban regime and in the absence of high profile competition for the job.
This year, while Karzai is favored again, polls show his popularity is down, and he faces more serious challengers.
As for the lack of outrage about voter fraud in the 2005, Semple says those were parliamentary elections in which "there was no national contest, providing no reason for people to protest about what happened in the rest of the country."
Voter fraud was only part of the problem in 2005; at least as problematic was the ballot box stuffing in which poll workers accepted and counted ballots delivered hundreds at a time by people who marked them with the voter registration numbers of cards obtained on the black market.
With black market voter registration cards available now at much cheaper prices, and with the prospect of related unprecedented levels of ballot box stuffing, analysts say the potential is high for record levels of fraud in the August elections.
How the black market in voter registration cards works
In the southern city of Kandahar, voter registration cards sell openly in a pack of 100 for $100.
In the capital city of Kabul, the blank cards are harder to find and command a higher price – $20 each.
Prices vary between $1 and $20 per card elsewhere in the country.
Experts say the black market cards are usable because corrupt officials ensure the registration number on each card is valid on the rolls of the Afghan election commission that tracks registered voters.
Other measures meant to stop people from using improperly secured voter registration cards and from voting multiple times – a finger print on the card and supposedly-permanent ink placed on a finger after voting – are easily overcome, as well, according to experts.
Asking not to be identified by name, a Kandahar resident familiar with the black market scheme explained how it works:
"The cards are obtained directly from the source - electoral commission employees. So the cards technically are all completely legit. Every card matches the system with fingerprint, name, D.O.B. and (if included) a photo. So actually all these fake cards are registered legitimately with the government. And nobody checks the fingerprint anyway. They have stockpiled the solution to wash away the 'permanent ink marker' they get on a finger when they've voted. So it's just a question of getting enough people out voting on the day. The whole card selling process is being run by people in the electoral commission itself."
An electoral commission spokesman did not respond to e-mailed questions about the alleged wrongdoing by commission workers.
Voter fraud - winners and losers
Analysts say widespread voter fraud and ballot box stuffing would most likely favor incumbent candidates because their government employees and supporters are among the tens of thousands of poll station workers and vote counters across the country.
If the election results turn out to be seriously tainted, international observers say the losers will be the Afghan people and the international community.
The winners, analysts say, will be corrupt officials and the Taliban, who have decried the elections as sham and to whom at least some disgruntled Afghans are likely to turn if the vote and the winning candidates are deemed to be illegitimate.
AfPax Insider is the soon-to-launch 24/7 up-to-the-minute subscription information service of AfPax LLC, which taps a vast network of Afghan and Pakistani nationals and in-country expert expatriates to provide original, exclusive, customized reporting, analysis and research to clients with a special interest in the Af-Pak region.
Direct inquiries to info(at)AfPax.com.
In the 20-minute telephone interview with AfPax Insider Monday, April 6, Haqqani also admitted to his complicity in the 2008 attack on Kabul's Serena Hotel and the 2008 attempt to assassinate President Karzai.
Haqqani urged individual Muslims in the Arabian Gulf to boost their funding of the Afghan insurgency to help fight the heightened U.S.-led effort to turn the tide against the Taliban.
AfPax Insider is a soon-to-launch information service focused on Afghanistan and Pakistan.
Here is a transcript of the full interview:
Q: Briefly introduce yourself and how old you are right now?(endall)A: I am the son of Jalaluddin Haqqani and was born in 1979. So I am 30 years old now.
Q: What’s your education level, both religious and modern education?
A: I have completed neither the religious education nor the modern one. I have studied upto 7 or 8 grade in school. Also I have only studied some basic levels of religious education.
Q: Can you speak Arabic?
A: I can talk a little bit in Arabic.
Q: As you may have heard that new additional foreign troops are coming to Afghanistan. So what’s your opinion and preparations for that?
A: it’s now clear to the whole world that there’s no difference between the old and new administrations of America. Both the administrations are two ears of the same donkey. Despite the fact that there were so many hue and cries that there will be a change in policy but Obama has adopted the same policies of Bush. Rather the new administration has expedited the process more by sending more troops to the region. But, with the grace of God, the morale of our Mujahideen is very high, even more than the past years. We will be using many new tactics against the foreign troops and will fight them rigorously. God willing, there will be a high increase in attacks over them.
Q: The US government has announced a bounty of $5 million on your head. What’s your reaction to it?
A: In the past we didn’t believe that USA is really considering us as its real enemy. Now when it has put a bounty of $5 million on my head, we are now very happy that our jihadi operations are harming the Americans. We are successful in our aims, and that’s why they have announced the bounty.
Q: Will this placing of bounty on your head, change your schedule and activities? What’s your impression?
A: I don’t feel any difference. We have not changed our schedules. God is great. All the powers whether it is America or any other country, are under the hands of Allah. God will keep us safe. There’s no shift in our activities. We are busy in pushing forward our jihadi activities. This is now the season for jihad and we have deputed our commanders in various parts of Afghanistan for operations against the foreign troops.
Q: Few days back, Taliban Spokesman Zabeehullah Mujahid told us that this year will be a decisive year for the Taliban and US troops. Do you think the same?
A: Every year, the Americans claim that this year will be a decisive year, but then they find no results. Praise to be God, for Mujahideen every year is full of successes. We don’t claim that we will push and defeat America this year and compel them withdraw their troops. We have told our friends that even if America talks of one year, we should keep 10 to 20 years before us. We are fighting this war for the sake of Allah, and we should not keep it limited to a short period of time. We should be ready to look into long term gains.
Q: Do you believe that the Afghan crisis should end through negotiations instead of war? Is there any chance of negotiating with the government of President Karzai?
A: Absolutely not right now. The Shura elders are there. Mujahideen are fighting under the leadership of Amir-ul-Momineen . We have people for negotiations. But right now we don’t want to negotiate. We don’t give it any priority at this time. Right now, the government in Afghanistan is not independent. It’s a puppet in the hands of invaders. The Afghan government doesn’t speak on its own. It speaks what is told by the outsiders. This doesn’t give any results. So unless we have freed Afghanistan from the invaders, we don’t want to negotiate with anybody.
Q: It is reported that some negotiations were held in Saudi Arabia with the consent of USA between the Afghan government and Taliban. Do you have information on that?
A: According to my information, there has been no negotiation in this regard. Even the top Taliban leaders have rejected any such move. Old Taliban leaders like Mullah Mutawakkil or Abdul Salam Zaeef who are sort of under house arrest, cannot talk on behalf of Taliban’s official policy. Though in past they were part of the Taliban government but now they don’t have any authority of speaking on behalf of Taliban. So until now, no Taliban leader from our side has participated in any dialogue.
Q: There are some suspicions in Afghanistan and outside world that your father Maulana Jalaluddin Haqqani is not related to Taliban. It is said that the Haqqani Network is either a separate group or belongs to some other groups. What’s your take on that?
A: Praise to be God, since the time of jihad in Afghanistan, my father was against the existence of so many groups. He didn’t believe in so many organizations and wanted them to be scrapped. And later on when the USSR was defeated and the Najeeb government came to an end, many new groups emerged. My father wished them to be united together. Then my father endorsed the Taliban leader, Amir-ul-Momineen, ( leader of faithfuls) as soon the Taliban came on the scene. Since then he is an important leader in the Shura of Mullah Omar, and follows his directives in pushing forward the strategies and operations in Afghanistan.
Q: There are some news reports that Taliban have appointed new governors in your area. Do you have more information on this?
A: True. I can not give much detail right now. But it is a fact that there are appointments of new governors. The responsibility for the three southeastern provinces which includes Khost, Paktia and Paktika, has been given to me. We appointed governors for these provinces, but right now I don’t want to give their names or details. Our work is successfully going forward and we have appointed governors for all the provinces.
Q: In the past Taliban had committed some mistakes in regard to the education especially for women. If you again come into power, would you commit the same mistakes?
A: Even at that time the Taliban policy was very much in accordance with Quran and Islam. However, there were some Taliban who were considered to be extremists. They were bringing a bad name to Taliban movement. Praise to be God, now the Taliban movement has no such elements. Those mistakes will not be repeated, God willing.
Q: Do you believe in the education of women and their role and participation in various departments? A: For this we have the constitution and Taliban scholars who can more accurately talk on this. But I believe if the women are clad in purdha and have separate education from male, so I think there is no harm in it.
Q: It is a fact that war is fought on money and weapons. Can you tell where you get these things from to stand up against 42 nations of the world?
A: Praise to be God, so far we have never felt any dearth of resources and have never thought where they are coming from. When we were fighting jihad against the USSR, it was said that support is coming from the USA. And now when we are fighting against the USA, fingers are pointed towards Pakistan, Russia and Gulf countries. But according to my information, none of these countries have given us any aid in official capacity. We have only the help of God and also from some good Muslim individuals around the world.
Q: Some people say that you have close links with the Pakistani ISI? Is this true?
A: It’s the ISI that has damaged us most. During jihad period against the USSR, ISI had close links with almost all the Mujahideen. But now the Taliban movement doesn’t keep any relation with the ISI. So far, most of Taliban leaders have been arrested or killed in Pakistan. Our houses were bombarded there. Our children were killed there. And this destruction was not possible without the help from ISI. We have no friendship or contacts with the ISI. The Taliban movement has been damaged more by Pakistan than any other country. This is only a propaganda war against the Taliban that claim we have links with ISI.
Q: What about the role of Hizb-e-Islami in the southeastern provinces like Khost and Paktia. Are they partners with you?
A: There’s no formal presence of Hizb-e-Islami here in these provinces. Some of their old members, who have joined our movement, are there with us. But they are not operating here independently.
Q: Can you say how many fighters you have?
A: As compared to the last few years, our number has grown tremendously. Now such a huge number of people from Afghanistan are joining our ranks that we find it difficult to provide them weapons properly. Praise to be God, even the very common Afghans have risen against the current set up and they are joining us. We don’t have any formal count. But I will say that all Afghans are standing behind us now.
Q: President Karzai and Intelligence Chief in Kabul Mullah Sani have accused you of plotting an attack on Serena hotel, another on Karzai, and kidnapping of several people from Kabul. Have you done this?
A: I am not involved directly. Though, I had my advice for them. It’s in fact planned and executed in accordance to the directives of Taliban Shura. I didn’t execute these attacks individually. I was only a part of it.
Q: Sometimes back, an Afghan intelligence official had claimed that Maulana Jalaluddin Haqqani has bee died of stomach problem. Is there any truth in this?
A: He had some ailment. But then we released a video of him. Praise to be God, he is alive and in good health. He is very contented and most of the operations are conducted in accordance with his advice and directives. Whatever we do, we ask for his advice and orders. He is in full control of everything.
Q: Baitullah Mehsud has taken responsibility for an attack in America. Is there any chance that you carry out attacks inside USA?
A: No. We don’t have any such policy right now. Our policy is limited to Afghanistan only. Because our country has been invaded by foreigners. We have asked our allies whether living in Pakistan or any other part of the world to carry out attacks against Americans only in Afghanistan and not in any other country. Our policy is that we would not interfere in the affairs of any other country whether it is an Islamic or non-Islamic country.
Q: Obama has announced a new policy for Afghanistan. Have you heard about it? And what is your reaction to it?
A: There’s no difference between the old and new US policies for Afghanistan. The fighting will be intensifying. We are ready for that. There were high claims that Obama’s policy will be very much different from the Bush policies. There will prevail peace instead of war. But we see that Obama has been placing bounties on our heads. So it means that there’s no change in the policies of Bush and Obama. These are the two ears of one donkey.
Q: Any message in the name of Afghan nation ...
A: My message to the Afghan nation is that our jihad against America has reached to such a stage where our success against them is imminent. Praise to be God, the NATO and USA are now crying out for help and assistance for more troops, despite the fact that they have lots of resources at hand. It’s because that Mujahideen are backed by the common Afghans. We ask our people to further increase their support for Mujahideen. Afghans should not support the Afghan government and USA in their designs to build an Afghan militia or army. They should not support such a move. Because, this is aimed at to be used against the Afghan nation and put them fighting among themselves. We don’t want to fight against our own Afghans. We ask the whole world to come for the support of Taliban. If they cannot come in person, they should support us financially. We especially request the people in Gulf countries to increase their aid for Mujahideen in Afghanistan. It’s a propaganda that some countries are giving aid to Taliban. Our only aid comes from the Muslim individuals, and we want them to increase it more.
Q: USA and the government of President Karzai have been saying that you are commanding some foreign fighters including Abu Yahya Al-Libi and Abu Akasha and some other Arab fighters, and that you have training camps inside Khost, Paktia and also in Pakistani territory Waziristan. What’s your opinion on this?
A: It’s something wrong to mix-up the policies of Taliban and Al-Qaeda. Whatever the policy of Al-Qaeda is for the world, we don’t interfere in that. But the policy of Taliban is that Afghanistan has been invaded by foreigners and we want to get it free. As our country has been invaded, so we want all the people whether they are Arabs, Punjabis, Uzbeks or from any other nationalities to help us against the invaders. However, we don’t endorse Al-Qaeda policies of conducting attacks around the world.
Q: Have you seen Osama in the recent past?
A: No. I have never met Osama. Though, my father has met him several times during jihad time.
Q: Do you know how his health is?
A: I don’t know anything about him.
