New statement from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan: "Peace Talks In Conditions Of The Presence Of Foreign Forces Are Meaningless And Futile"

NOTE: This interview is from the Afghan Ṭālibān and unedited below.
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Zul Qadah 10, 1431 A.H, Tuesday, October 19, 2010
In the Name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
Interview with Maulavi Abdul Kabir, member of the Leadership Council of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the Coordinating Chief of the Eastern Provinces.
Q: Recently, the Head of the Kabul Administration, Karzai, announced establishment of a set-up under the name of peace high council, consisting of 69 persons including chiefs of former factions, other famous figures and former officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. What is your view about the establishment of the peace council, its importance and the effectiveness of its members and the council’s role in bringing about peace in the country?
A: Foundation of Jirgas and mutual deliberation is an accepted norm among the Afghans. It is an institution traditionally utilized for the resolution of internal disputes and issues. But the said peace council is a one-sided entity, having been established to protect their unilateral goals and interests.
The council consists of people who practically support the Americans, though they claim being Jihadic figures and leaders. But by siding with the American invaders, they have forfeited their credibility in the eyes of the Afghans which they once enjoyed during the era of the former Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan. Similarly, some persons who were once officials of the Islamic Emirate, have been given membership in the peace council but they are not in the capacity to represent the Islamic Emirate. They themselves are living under the eyes and surveillance of the Americans.
Q: Your reaction to every initiative of peace is usually negative and, instead you emphasize on the use of force. Do you not think that this posturing portrays your weakness in the diplomatic filed?
A: In Afghanistan, in the current condition, only those efforts of peace and reconciliation are pragmatic which surely leads to withdrawal of the foreign invading forces from Afghanistan and pave the way for establishment of an Islamic system in the country. This objective can’t be achieved in conditions of presence of foreign forces in the country.
Q: During the reign of the Islamic Emirate, severe fighting took place in areas, north of Kabul and other northern provinces of the country. Thousands of armed men lost their lives as a result. Many of them were detained and tortured. Thus, it would have created mistrust between you and the hostility would have still been existing. What steps have you taken to resolve these problems and usher in an atmosphere of confidence instead? Do you intend to take certain measures to achieve that goal.
A: This fact is clear as the broad day light that the Islamic Emirate has never fought on tribal, ethnical and geographical basis. During the government of the Islamic Emirate, people of all ethnicities had participation in the government and movement including in northern parts of the country. Currently, the Islamic Emirate has presence both in the north, south and other parts of the country with formal organizational set-ups being in place in every province.
You pointed to Islamic Emirate’s antagonism during its reign in the north of the country; I would like to explain that the Islamic Emirate has never fought against the people in the north nor it harbors any kind of enmity on the basis of ethnicity and geographical location. Rather it has fought against that elements who were hurling hurdles in the way of noble objectives of the Islamic Emirate like establishment of country-wide peace and formation of an Islamic system in the country.
Similarly, the Islamic Emirate has fought against self-same elements in the south that were considered as stumbling blocks in the way of peace and establishment of an Islamic government. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan regards all Afghans as being equal with no discrimination.
We call on all pious people in the north of the country and on all other countrymen to strengthen the strongholds of Jihad against the invaders further more and foil the overt and covert conspiracies and plans of the enemy.
Q: Some interesting points had been included in the message of Mullah Mohammad Omar Mujahid on the eve of the Eid, including details about characteristics of government system in the country. Among them, devolvement of responsibilities and posts on the basis of professionalism and expertise is worth mentioning. Other points spoke of creating a consultative system. Would you please highlight a little further by touching on the requirements needed to qualify a person to hold a post in the framework of the Islamic Emirate, namely would that include other people with modern education and professions rather than the students of Madrassa’s and religious scholars?
A: Even during the reign of the Islamic Emirate, the professional people were not disregarded but had had participation in the government. Only Taliban and religious scholars were appointed to some higher slots. The rest were professional officials who were serving the country. The Islamic Emirate will endeavor more than ever if it gained power with the help of the Almighty Allah, to appoint more professional cadres in the government.
As to your mentioning that would the advantage for appointment in a post be limited only to a Talib or a religious scholar, I would like to say. No. Never. The prerequisite for that is piety and capacity. Any one can have these qualitificiations to become proper candidate for work in the framework of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.
Q: Any government that may be established in Afghanistan, should have a comprehensive policy to maintain good relations with the neighboring countries and that the neighbors may not sense danger from them. This is necessary for stability of any government in Afghanistan. Does the Islamic Emirate has any practical plan in this regard and would it assure the neighboring countries that it would not resort to any action against them but rather would follow a policy of the principle of mutual respect?
A: We are Muslims. A Muslim knows the rights of a neighbor in the light of Islam. During its reign, the Islamic Emirate had tried to establish good relations with neighboring countries. No one can ever produce any evidence to show that we had created problems for the neighbors. Even in these critical conditions that we are passing through, no neighbor including Pakistan and Iran has evidence to prove that we have intervened in their internal affairs. The esteemed Amir-ul-Mominnee has touched on this topic in details in his messages. It is our official policy.
Q: Some times, we hear rumors claiming that the leadership of Taliban is engaged in peace talks with the Americans and the Kabul administration. They say, the talks were held first in a certain country, then in another given country. Moreover, media reports refer to your role that you have willingness to engage in peace negotiation. Who circulate these amours and what is their objective?
A: No doubt, the Americans have faced defeat at the military field. All their stratagems have gone awry. Now the Americans and their allies are making efforts to have some gains in the diplomatic field. Therefore, they launch spurious efforts under the name of reconciliation and peace. They are trying to produce some fabricated indications in order to give cosmetic leverage to their claims. They mention names of a few members of the leadership of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, saying, they have had contacts with them or at least, shown willingness to initiate negotiation. In fact, all these are futile propaganda of the invaders aimed at creating mistrust between the Muslims and the Mujahideen. You know the enemy have not produced any evidence despite many claims to indicate that the officials of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan were engaged in talks with them. Nor they are able to produce one. This explains that the talks have not taken place nor the officials of the Islamic Emirate are intending to engage in the talks.

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan