| Topic: |
Religions > Atheism |
| User: |
"Michael Gray" |
| Date: |
20 Apr 2006 11:47:20 PM |
| Object: |
News: Pakistan Taleban vow more attacks |
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4927872.stm
Pakistan Taleban vow more attacks
By Aamer Ahmed Khan
BBC News, South Waziristan, Pakistan
The head of the Taleban in Pakistan's tribal areas has warned that
there can be no peace in Afghanistan for as long as US forces remain
in that country.
"We will not stop our jihad [holy war] against the Americans," Haji
Omar told the BBC News website.
The Afghan government has repeatedly complained that militants in
Pakistan are freely crossing the border to carry out attacks.
Pakistan denies that it is helping the Taleban fighters.
Haji Omar was chosen to lead the Pakistani Taleban after their first
declared leader, Nek Mohammed, was killed in a US air strike in 2004.
.........................
We understand that Pakistan attacks us only under American pressure
Taleban leader Haji Omar
.........................
This was Haji Omar's first face-to-face interview with a Western news
organisation.
"The easiest way to end this very violent conflict is for the US to
pull out of Afghanistan," Haji Omar said.
"We are not even willing to discuss anything with the Americans. We
just want them out."
Tribesmen
The interview was held in Wana, the main town in the South Waziristan
tribal area where the Pakistani Taleban have established their
control.
Haji Omar now commands thousands of tribal militants who call
themselves Taleban, a name normally used for the student militia that
took control of Afghanistan in the mid-1990s.
The Afghan Taleban were bombed out of power from Afghanistan by the US
after 9/11.
Their fall inspired thousands of armed Pakistani tribesmen in the
areas bordering Afghanistan to call themselves Taleban.
Based largely in the Pakistani tribal belt of North and South
Waziristan, the Pakistani Taleban joined their Afghan counterparts in
the latter's battle against the US-backed government of Afghan
President Hamid Karzai.
Hundreds of Pakistani troops have been killed fighting the Taleban in
the tribal areas since 2004.
Pakistan accuses the Taleban of harbouring al-Qaeda members who are
also fighting US-led coalition forces in Afghanistan.
.........................
Instead of bombing its own people, Pakistan should tell the Americans
to leave Afghanistan
Haji Omar
.........................
Haji Omar said the Taleban have no quarrel with the Pakistan
government.
"We understand that Pakistan attacks us only under American pressure."
He alleged that the Karzai government was sending a regular stream of
spies into the Pakistani tribal areas to seek out Arab and Central
Asian militants.
"They go back and provide false information to the Americans who then
put pressure on Pakistan to attack us.
"Pakistani forces bomb us and destroy our houses, so naturally we have
to fight back," he says.
Foreigners
While denying that the Taleban are harbouring foreign militants in the
tribal belt, Haji Omar says they would not hesitate to do so if there
was a need.
"If any foreigner, a Muslim, came to us looking for protection, we are
bound by our religion to protect him," he says.
"We are willing to lose our homes and even our families to protect
such people."
Haji Omar said the government had made an offer to the Taleban to set
up special camps for foreign militants where they would be well looked
after.
"They said they were willing to house the foreigners, provide them
with food and all their basic needs and even to give them a monthly
stipend," Haji Omar said.
"But we rejected the offer because it is up to the foreigners to
decide where to live and who they want to live with."
He said there was no question of handing over any foreign militant to
the government.
"Instead of bombing its own people, Pakistan should tell the Americans
to leave Afghanistan," he concluded.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/south_asia/4927872.stm
Published: 2006/04/20 20:57:46 GMT
© BBC MMVI
--
Michael Gray.
Founding Member and Doorman,
Earthquack's 666 Club.
.
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