Taliban will return in sort if India offers shelter to their opponents, says ex-Afghan PM

Former Afghanistan Prime Minister and chief of the Hezb-e-Islami Gulbuddin (HIG) social gathering Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, whose fighters killed 1000’s in Kabul in the course of the bloody civil warfare of the Nineties, has remained a divisive determine since his return from exile in 2016. Hekmatyar, 72, has supported dialogue and elections to determine the following Afghan authorities and can be collaborating in discussions with Taliban leaders presently. He has deep and well-established hyperlinks with Pakistan’s intelligence companies, which make him a vital participant.

In an unique tell-all with CNN-News18, the veteran political chief elaborates his function within the formation of the present regime underneath Taliban, Pakistan and China’s makes an attempt to affect selections and the aftereffects of a 20-year-long warfare on his nation.

You’re one of many oldest faces of Afghanistan’s wrestle. Afghanistan is as soon as once more at an vital juncture in its historical past. How do you view it as a veteran?

Now we have witnessed three consecutive superpowers invade Afghanistan up to now century – the British, the Soviet Union and america of America. All of them confronted grave fates on this nation. Protracted wars and unparalleled resistance from courageous freedom fighters have been central causes to the defeat of invading forces. All of them entered Afghanistan on the peak of their energy but they failed to realize any of their strategic objectives and needed to withdraw with their heads hanging in disgrace. The geostrategic significance of Afghanistan has been boosted by the eventual defeat of america within the twenty-year-long intractable warfare. Afghanistan has now became a playground of regional and international rivalries. Although the occupation of Afghanistan was a lethal and harmful affair for Afghans, it had expensive penalties for america and its allies. Those that see this defeat of america as the beginning of their decline wouldn’t be exaggerating or imaging it.

You’re speaking to the Taliban, to Hamid Karzai and to Abdullah Abdullah. What form and kind do you assume will the brand new authorities take?

The bottom realities dictate that the incoming Afghan authorities could be underneath the auspices of the Taliban. Though the Taliban have reiterated that they don’t plan on reinstating the Emirate nor monopolize on energy, they’re but to begin formal negotiations with political events and elites. Now we have to attend on the Taliban to reach at an inside consensus close to their stance and suggest a construction for the approaching political order. Such a plan can then be forwarded to different stakeholders by way of the formal and closing negotiations.

You’ve got been the Prime Minister of Afghanistan earlier than. What function do you see for your self within the new administration when it’s shaped?

I’ve completed most of my life objectives. I’m glad with and grateful to Almighty Allah for the withdrawal of NATO troops, the tip of the battle, the overthrow of the corrupt and warmongering puppet regime and the dissolution of the ability block that aimed toward weakening our nationwide unity. These are all achievements I’m keen to be content material with. I’m keen to unconditionally assist the Taliban in consolidating the safety/regulation and order sector in addition to the formation of a centralised authorities. Our assist is just not conditional on any power-sharing.

Pakistan is taken into account by most international locations on the planet, particularly India, to be a protected haven for terrorism and extremism. What function can Afghanistan play in eradicating Pakistan’s unfavorable mindset and affect?

I imagine that everybody has understood the truth that insecurity, battle and the presence of terrorist outfits or states are to the detriment of all. Pakistan is second solely to Afghanistan in how a lot it has been affected as a consequence of all these conflicts. Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, labelled Pakistan’s assist of the US invasion of Afghanistan as a mistake that he wouldn’t repeat. He additionally said that their solely expectation from Afghanistan is that India not use its soil in opposition to Pakistan’s pursuits. Future governments of Afghanistan must be non-aligned and will attempt to forestall Afghanistan from turning into a website for political, intelligence, navy and financial rivalries. Earlier experiences have proven that each time Kabul has aligned with a regional or international rival, it has all the time led to battle. Previous alignments with the US and Soviet Union have gone on to show that time, a bloody historical past we must always diligently keep away from.

What’s your angle in direction of China? Will you assist Islamic fighters in East Turkestan if you’re in energy?

We’re in dire want of safety and growth to compensate for the forty-year-old battle in Afghanistan. We have to heal from our wounds earlier than we are able to take into consideration different points particularly these regarding the world past our borders.

To get worldwide recognition all world international locations are saying that Afghanistan ought to have a broad-based govt. How do you see that occuring?

No international state ought to give itself the correct to threaten, pressurize or demand the imposition of international needs on the Afghan individuals. We see single-party governments predominately throughout the globe. From the US to Russia, China and all of Europe, even a few of our neighbours, there are not any coalition governments based mostly on power-sharing agreements between political and ethnic entities. Why ought to Afghanistan be an exception to the rule and be demanded to kind a broad-based authorities? Let Afghans determine their destiny and future themselves, freed from international pressures and involvement. Such stress and involvement haven’t produced optimistic outcomes up to now and wouldn’t achieve this sooner or later. A greater various to the time period broad-based could be the utilization of the time period “authorities accepted by the vast majority of the populace”. Slightly than insist on a coalition and power-sharing preparations, weight must be given to free and clear elections. It’s pertinent that the world acknowledges any authorities shaped to an understanding amongst Afghans. Techniques of stress and calls for must be prevented.

The US and its allies, throughout its occupation of Afghanistan, for the previous twenty years centralized all authority right into a authorities it acknowledged that was in reality run by a small ethnic minority. 5 ministries and 600 generals have been handed to at least one district of the nation. No state protested this monopoly of energy by one ethnic group that was allied with the West or demanded a broad-based authorities. Nobody seen the absence of the most well-liked political events from such a authorities.

How do you understand the way by which the Individuals have withdrawn from Afghanistan?

The style of the international withdrawal was appalling and opposite to all humanitarian requirements. It was coupled with savagery, bloodshed and destruction. American troops broken the gear and services of the airport past restore. They evacuated bases, after full destruction of kit and services, within the useless of the evening and with none discover to the Afghan authorities. The final days of their presence in Afghanistan have been tainted with a whole lot of deaths, accidents, destruction and devastation. Within the twin bomb blasts close to the Kabul airport that killed 13 American troopers, the US navy reacted savagely and vindictively. They brutally and indiscriminately opened fireplace on frequent civilians who have been camped close to the airport attempting to fly out and search refuge in international international locations, the casualties of which have been greater than 100 useless and greater than 2 hundred injured. We will say that their departure was stuffed with vengefulness and hatred in direction of Afghans – each pals and foe.

Do you wish to be and can you be a part of a future authorities in Afghanistan?

The construction and composition of the federal government based mostly on the circumstances of the nation and its nationwide pursuits are selections that the Taliban must make. We hope that they’re aware of all these elements whereas taking the mandatory selections.

Why achieve this many Afghan residents wish to go away the nation? Why is there such desperation to depart?

I can state with confidence that this exodus was sudden. It was a results of dangerous insurance policies and hostile intentions by intelligence networks trying to defame the Taliban. The intention was to make use of this propaganda to point out the unwillingness of the residents of Kabul to stay underneath the Taliban rule. It was aimed toward displaying Afghan desperation to flee the nation and discover refuge elsewhere. The staged nature of the crowds on the airport and runways, the handy arrange of cameras and the broadcasting of scenes of individuals clinging to the planes and falling to their deaths have been all meant to discredit the Taliban. America managed to fabricate this actuality by saying to the nation that each one who wished to flee the nation may come to the airport and could be allowed to board planes even with out journey paperwork. How may which have led to any totally different end result? If such an announcement is made even in Delhi, would we not see a bigger crowd gathering exterior their airport and be witness to such horrendous scenes?

What sort of a society do you wish to see in Afghanistan? What’s your imaginative and prescient for the nation as you’ve gotten been a veteran of Afghanistan’s many struggles?

A free, unbiased, non-aligned, war-free Afghanistan that has a authorities that’s consultant of our Muslim and nationwide values. Such is the Afghanistan the vast majority of our devoted nation needs.

What would be the function of ladies in new Afghanistan? Can they work, examine and be a part of the federal government?

Ladies in an Islamic Afghanistan will get pleasure from all their inalienable human and Islamic rights. They shall really feel extra valued than ladies of every other nation because the rights and privileges given to ladies in Islam are much more progressive and equal in comparison with all different colleges of thought and methods. The best of ladies to work and get educated is just not solely totally assured in Islam with out discrimination however they at instances have extra privilege than males. Nobody has the correct to deprive ladies of those inalienable and God-given rights.

Internationally now it’s being seen that the Taliban is the same as Pakistan. Pakistan performed a serious function within the wrestle of the Taliban. India has its personal fears about Pakistan and the Taliban. How do you see these fears?

It’s as much as the Taliban to offer a transparent and convincing response to this propaganda by displaying their independence and never counting on any nation, close to or far. India as a substitute of expressing fears and purporting propaganda concerning its rival Pakistan ought to select a extra constructive path. It ought to rethink its failed insurance policies concerning Afghanistan and make up for its historic blunders of supporting teams affiliated with the 2 occupiers (the Soviet Union and america of America).

Taliban management has repeatedly mentioned that they won’t enable their soil for use in opposition to any nation. Do you assume they’ll stay dedicated and won’t intrude within the Kashmir situation which Pakistan is attempting to resolve by way of terror actions?

Taliban should stay dedicated to their pledge of not permitting Afghan soil for use in opposition to any nations pursuits. Afghans don’t want the Kashmir battle exported to Afghanistan. Neither do they need the Indian and Chinese language border disputes, the problem of Tibet nor the rivalries referring to Gawadar rattling or Chahbahar port to be exported to Afghanistan.

I’d additionally like to emphasize that Afghanistan’s soil can be utilized in opposition to its neighbours extra successfully than it may be in opposition to different non-neighbouring nations. India mustn’t have such apprehensions. If their apprehensions come up from the refuge they’ve given to the opposition then they need to merely chorus from giving such refuge. India by offering political asylum to the opposition of the incoming Afghan authorities and by giving them a platform to conduct actions in opposition to the federal government, could be forcing the Taliban to behave in sort.

What function would you like India to play in new Afghanistan?

I wish to see India play a optimistic and constructive function in Afghanistan, opposite to their function up to now 4 a long time. It selected to assist the invasion and occupation of each the Soviet Union and america of America as a substitute of supporting the Afghan trigger for freedom. It must also chorus from supporting puppet regimes of international occupiers.

There may be concern all over the world that Afghanistan will as soon as once more change into a base for terrorism. Do you agree?

Afghanistan has by no means been a haven for international terrorists nor will it’s one now. The idea of terrorism is international to Afghanistan, it’s an imported phenomenon brought on by international invasions. The tip of the international occupation will spell the tip of terrorism within the nation. Now we have been victims of state terrorism. Terrorism is orchestrated by intelligence networks in service of the occupiers.

Afghanistan had a whole lot and 1000’s of Hindus and Sikhs however solely a handful stay now. What’s the message from that about inclusivity and acceptance of different religions?

All refugees, whose numbers exceed six million, and all residents who’ve needed to flee Afghanistan as a result of warfare and insecurity have a declare to this land and will return to it. The incoming authorities has a accountability in direction of making certain their security. We’ll all the time stand for his or her inalienable rights.