Posted on 11/07/2001 9:45:38 PM PST by HAL9000
A local head of the mode of the talibans states to prepare his defection
PESHAWAR (Pakistan), Nov. 8 (AFP) - a local head of the mode of the talibans of the east of Afghanistan was these last days in Pakistan and declared that it prepared his defection and that of other local heads and the possible launching of a revolt armed against the militiamans islamists.
Old of forty years, this Pachtoune, which required anonymity for obvious reasons of security, was Wednesday evening in discussions with one of the former commanders of the fight against the Soviet forces based in the area of Peshawar, in the North-West of Pakistan.
In front of two French journalists, it declared that 18 local commanders of its area of the east of Afghanistan, having in all some 1.600 men under their commands, were ready to release the mode of the talibans and with launching an action in connection with the royalist groups of opposition based to Pakistan.
The commander who received it declared that this emissary had arrived very discreetly from Afghanistan a few days earlier with another local head and that they were charged to explore in the name of the other local heads the possibilities of co-operation and the methods of a possible action.
The man, very large and thin, the émacié face, bearing black beard, explained that on arrival of the talibans in 1996, its tribe had decided to be joined the militiamans islamists. " It was not an individual decision, it was a group decision of all the tribe. I could not defy the decision of the tribe ", has it says.
Previously, it affirms that it directed " a deprived business ", without other precision, and that it did not take part in the battles between rival factions which ensanglanté the country between the fall of the communist mode and the arrival of the talibans.
In 1996, " the tribe decided that the young men were to join the talibans because of the fights between factions " of the Alliance of North, the coalition of ethnic minorities which held Kabul then.
" Now, I think that a political change would be advantageous with the whole of the Afghans ", has it says.
According to him, much of people are against the talibans, but their mode is still solid, and the American bombardments reinforced it. An invasion of foreign troops would reinforce it more still, estimates it.
" We hear that it is a question that the Americans send troops on the ground. People in Afghanistan are against the talibans, but at the same time they would not accept at any price a foreign invasion, they could join the talibans to be opposed to the invasion ", it declared.
Repeated attempts took place lately to try to convince of the local heads pachtounes of the east of Afghanistan to release the talibans and to join the opposition.
These efforts underwent a very hard blow with the death of the commander Abdul Haq, hero of the fight against the Soviets, captured by the talibans and carried out for espionage on October 26. Entered clandestinely the east of Afghanistan, Abdul Haq tried to rejoin heads of his native area.
According to concordant information's, the talibans are however worried by these attempts and undertook massive raids of the elements rejoined with their mode but considered it likely to release it.
PESHAWAR (Pakistan), Nov. 8 (AFP) - a local Taliban commander from eastern Afghanistan who has spent the last several days in Pakistan declared that he and other local commanders are ready to defect, and launch an eventual armed revolt against the Islamic militants.
This Pashtun, aged around 40, who for obvious reasons of security must remain anonymous, was meeting Wednesday evening with one of the former commanders from the fight against the Soviet forces based in the area of Peshawar, in the North-West of Pakistan.
In the presence of two French journalists, he announced that 18 local commanders from his area in eastern Afghanistan, with some 1600 men in all under their command, were ready to quit the Taliban regime and launch military action on the side of the royalist opposition groups based in Pakistan.
The commander who received him declared that this emissary had arrived very discreetly from Afghanistan a few days earlier with another local head, and that they were sent on behalf of a group of local commanders to explore the possibilities of co-operation, and the means by which joint action might be accomplished.
The man, very large and thin, with an emaciated face and a black beard, explained that upon arrival of the Taliban in 1996, his tribe had decided to support the Islamic militants. " It was not an individual decision, it was a group decision made by the entire tribe. I could not defy the decision of the tribe", he said.
Previously, he said, he was director of a "private business," without elaborating. He stated that he did not take part in the battles between the rival factions which bloodied the country between the fall of the communist regime and the Taliban's arrival.
In 1996, "the tribe decided that the young men were to join the Taliban because of all the factional infighting" within the Northern Alliance, the coalition of ethnic minorities which then held Kabul.
"Now, I think that a political change would be advantageous for all Afghans", he said.
According to him, many people are against the Taliban, but their regime still holds firm, and in fact, American bombardments have reinforced their power. An invasion of foreign troops would even further strengthen their grip, he believes.
"We hear there is talk that that the Americans may send in ground troops. People in Afghanistan are against the Taliban, but at the same time they would not accept a foreign invasion at any price. They might well join the Taliban to oppose such an invasion ", he declared.
Repeated attempts have taken place lately to try and convince the local Pashtun leaders in eastern Afghanistan to abandon the Taliban and to join the opposition.
These efforts suffered a major blow with the death of the commander Abdul Haq, who was a hero of the fight against the Soviets. Haq was captured by the Talibans and executed for espionage on October 26. He had clandestinely entered eastern Afghanistan in an attempt to rally the leaders of his homeland.
The Taliban are however worried by these attempts and have undertaken massive raids against elements aligned with their regime but considered likely to abandon them.
Although things being as they are, I'm sure we're likely to have our ups and downs...
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