Afghan Taliban Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid Outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan Terming the (TTP) as Pakistan’s ‘internal matter’, Islamabad offered that the Islamic Emirate could try to mediate between the two sides if Islamabad so desired.
Afghanistan It has been three years since the Afghan Taliban established a caretaker government in Kabul after the withdrawal of NATO forces. Regarding this three-year rule, Independent Urdu interviewed Zabihullah Mujahid, the main spokesperson of the Afghan Taliban, during which he spoke exclusively about his government, the challenges facing Afghanistan and relations with Pakistan.
This conversation is reproduced below.
Independent Urdu: After the departure of American forces, what were the achievements of the three-year government of the Afghan Taliban and what has changed in Afghanistan?
Zabihullah Mujahid: Before that there were thousands of foreign forces in Afghanistan, there was conflict in Afghanistan and more than 100 people were killed on a daily basis. In Afghanistan, there was lawlessness, corruption and usurper presence. There were a lot of problems and there were drugs.
When the Taliban rule was established in Afghanistan, the first thing that happened was that the foreign forces left, and secondly, peace was established in Afghanistan, and thirdly, a single government was formed in Afghanistan, without differences.
Steps were taken to eliminate drugs and improve the economy. Fifth, the land of Afghanistan was secured and the problems like in the past ended.
The path of usurpers and corruption in Afghanistan was stopped. The Islamic Emirate came to power and these were the demands of the people of Afghanistan, which were largely fulfilled. However, all this work is not enough and we will go further.
Independent Urdu: So far no country has recognized the government of the Afghan Taliban. What is the reason for this and what are the difficulties in recognizing it?
Zabihullah Mujahid: The real thing is that there is a declaration of recognition and there is an act of recognition. Practically many countries are in touch with us. 40 countries have embassies here and we have presence in these countries. Trade and transit relations are established with these countries. We travel to these countries and meet at the official level. All the things connected with recognition are there, but the announcement is not yet made.
We have relations with our neighbours, Islamic and other countries in the region. However, countries like Europe and America, who fought with us for 20 years, may have some grudge and malice, but that problem will also be solved gradually and to a large extent it has been solved.
America does not want western countries to recognize our government. He has been fighting and opposing us. The United States does not want to allow certain institutions such as the United Nations to recognize our government.
Independent Urdu: China appointed its ambassador to Kabul and you have good relations with them. China has also invested in lithium and mining in Afghanistan. Is it not that good relations with China are an obstacle for the US to recognize you?
Zabihullah Mujahid: No, it is not. We do not want Afghanistan to fall prey to rivalries. We do not want Afghanistan to become a field of politics for other countries. We want to have good relations with everyone and like we have relations with China. All invest here and build diplomatic relations. We also want good relations with America, Europe and Russia.
We don’t do politics to be too close to one country and too far from another. We have tried our best to improve relations with America but nothing has come from them, so this is their problem. We can’t wait for that, we will build relationships with other countries but not against any other country. We want good relations with everyone.
Independent Urdu: Pakistan and Afghanistan are neighboring countries. In the past, relations have been good and sometimes bad, but after your government came to power, relations are strained because of Pakistan’s allegations that Pakistani Taliban are operating in Pakistan while sitting in Afghanistan. Have any idea how to solve this problem?
Zabihullah Mujahid: We want good relations with Pakistan. We want to have brotherly relations with Pakistan. Pakistan is our neighboring country. Our language is one. Religion is one and trade is two-way. There is also a culture and so many things in common that Afghanistan does not have with any other country and that is why we want better relations. We need good relations with Pakistan. We also know that the Pakistani people also have a brotherhood and brotherhood relationship with the Afghan people.
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But unfortunately, some of the actions that are happening in Pakistan like the TTP issue, which has been going on for the last 20 years and the TTP has fought in Pakistan and there have been operations against them, including Zarb Azab etc. , which Pakistan has done. This is Pakistan’s problem and the lack or excess of action is linked to the people of TTP.
But unfortunately, every action is blamed on Afghanistan, which creates an atmosphere of mistrust. We want Pakistan’s security agencies to focus on establishing peace. Police, intelligence agencies should focus on establishing peace. Why is Afghanistan being blamed for the action in Bannu or any other area?
We do not allow anyone to wage war in another country from Afghanistan. We do not like war and will not allow anyone to use Afghan soil against Pakistan or any country.
If Pakistan has any information, it should share with us where it has problems with Afghanistan, but blaming the media spreads hatred among the people and creates an atmosphere of distrust and it is harmful because we Wanting better relations with Pakistan.
Independent Urdu: Earlier, the Afghan Taliban played the role of mediator in the talks with the TTP. Negotiations continued for some time but without success. Now, is there any plan to mediate the talks and resolve the TTP issue, which is the cause of tension in Pakistan-Afghanistan relations?
Zabihullah Mujahid: In that case we can play the role of mediator if Pakistan wants. If the Pakistani government wants, then we will do our best on the principles of brotherhood.
Allah says, “Laha inma al-mu’min, brotherhood of peace.” It means that the believers are brothers among themselves, and make peace between them. We will try for reconciliation, if Pakistan wants. If Pakistan does not want then we cannot intervene and then it is their job and their internal problem, but if we want to mediate then we have done it before and we will do it again. This is possible if we know that they both want the problem to be resolved, but we don’t intervene anyway.
Taliban security officials celebrate the third anniversary of the Taliban’s control of Afghanistan in front of the former US embassy in Kabul on August 14, 2024, while an Afghan woman records a video on her phone (Wakeel Kohsar/AFP)
Independent Urdu: A report by the United Nations has stated that the Afghan Taliban has reduced poppy cultivation by 95%. America could not do this work in the last 20 years and spent nine billion dollars on it. How did poppy cultivation end in such a short period of time and also tell what alternative employment has been given to poppy farmers?
Zabihullah Mujahid: We took steps to end poppy cultivation and that was because more than 4 million people in Afghanistan are drug addicts. Drugs were smuggled from Afghanistan to other countries, which posed a threat to human beings, that is why we started efforts and did not allow poppy cultivation.
The good thing is that even the cultivators did not cultivate. A little cultivation has been done but it has also been prevented. Drug trafficking and trade has been stopped, but unfortunately, countries that were influenced by opium or heroin have not helped to eradicate it in Afghanistan. It is the responsibility of these countries because if the growers are forced to grow poppy again, it will be a loss for these countries.
Now it is better that the international community help these farmers as they have no alternative but to grow poppy. A few cultivators grow wheat but they are few and far between and are not subsisting on wheat.
Our demand is to help these farmers. We have done our job to stop poppy cultivation, but now other countries must fulfill their responsibility with these growers so that this plant does not grow again and other societies are not affected by it.
Independent Urdu: If we talk about the economy, Afghanistan’s growth rate has dropped from negative 20 to negative six. What is happening in the economy sector and how do you see the future?
Zabihullah Mujahid: Afghanistan’s economy is improving and hopefully it will continue to improve. When we came, there was an improvement in the growth rate. Earlier our exports were 800 million dollars, while our government expects to reach 1300 million dollars in the first year, 2000 million dollars in the second year and now 2000 million dollars in the third year, which is proof that the imports have increased. is
Exports are also good as all food commodities including oil and gas and all necessities are available in the markets and prices are also low.
Our government has well protected the currency of Afghanistan and made a good banking policy and still the Afghan currency is stable against the dollar. One dollar is equal to 70 Afghanis, which reached 130 in the past.
We have stopped smuggling and illegal trade and there is transparency in the tax system. No one can steal and waste money.
Through all this, our government has made Afghanistan an economic powerhouse. The biggest thing is that some big projects which were started by the previous governments but left half, they started again. Signed various projects with China, including iron ore and metallurgical projects. Work has started on about 200 projects which have also provided employment to people.
Roads are being built and slowly the economy is improving. A country deserted for 40 years cannot recover in four to five years. Hopefully, in ten to fifteen years, we will be able to see major changes that will improve the condition of the Afghan people.
Independent Urdu: Clashes are seen between Afghanistan and Pakistan on the Torkham border. An incident happened a few days ago. These incidents lead to border closures, which affect the general public, who go from Afghanistan or Pakistan, or patients who come from Afghanistan. Can’t there be a discussion with the Pakistani government to solve this problem?
Zabihullah Mujahid: We have tried hard to avoid problems with Pakistan, but the problem is that one government comes and makes one policy while another government makes another policy. Policy keeps changing but we still try to keep the border and trade sector out of politics.
If Pakistan has a complaint, it should discuss it in the appropriate forum so that it can be resolved there. The closure of the border affects the traders of Pakistan and Afghanistan. When the border is closed, hundreds of vehicles carrying fruits etc. are damaged. Similarly, medicines and foodstuff spoil in vehicles from Pakistan. The result is that it is not the governments who suffer, but the businessmen who suffer. We want Pakistan to keep these issues away from politics. If there is a war in a place, it should be resolved in that place.
There are leaders on both sides and they will find a solution through dialogue, but closing doors, blocking vehicles, stopping goods at Karachi port and making new policies every day is harmful to both sides. We want this not to happen and the businessmen of both countries should not suffer.
#Pakistan #TTP #mediate #Afghan #Taliban
2024-08-17 03:03:29
