Making A Difference

'We Haven't Replicated India's Babri Act Here'

Senior Taliban leader and Afghanistan's foreign minister <b>Mullah Wakil Ahmad Muttawakil</b>, in an interview to <em> Rahimullah Yusufzai</em> explained his government's decision to demolish the Buddhist statues in Bamiyan (This is the full text,

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'We Haven't Replicated India's Babri Act Here'
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How do you explain the sudden Taliban decision to retract an earlierundertaking to protect Afghanistan's historical and cultural heritage?

This issue has been under consideration for sometime now and the decisionwasn't taken suddenly. Our culture and museum department officials had asked theTaliban authorities whether they should display the statues in the museums ornot. Some of these statues were already stored in the museums while others wereretrieved by the Taliban through seizures from smugglers and on account ofimproved security measures. Our supreme leader Mulla Mohammad Omar Mujahidreferred the issue to a committee of Ulema (religious scholars) who after athorough debate came up with the "Fatwa" (decree) that all statuesmust be destroyed. The Amirul Momineen (as Mulla Omar is addressed by hisfollowers) then made the "Fatwa" public and directed the ministries ofculture and promotion of virtue and prevention of vice to implement it. We havecooperated with foreign archaeologists, experts and donors in the past topreserve Afghanistan historical and cultural heritage and would continue to doso in future.

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How did the existence of Buddhas violate Islam when Muslims in Afghanistandidn't worship them?

The Buddhas in Bamiyan province and other statues aren't worshipped inAfghanistan now but such a possibility cannot be ruled out in the future. Wedon't want such a thing to happen in an Islamic country such as ours. Beside,the "Fatwa" has been given by learned and respected Ulema of Islam andthey gave the verdict after taking into account all aspects of the issue.

What about the fate of artifacts of other cultures - Indian, Greek, etc.

It is not a question of artifacts of this or that culture. We haven't said weare destroying Buddhist statues or sparing those belonging to other cultures orreligions. We decided in light of the "Fatwa" to destroy man-madestatues because only Almighty God is worthy of worship. Our action isn't againstany religion, nation or culture. We haven't destroyed any church, temple orgurudwara in Afghanistan and Hindus and Sikhs living in our country are free topractice their religion.

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What is the Taliban stance on religious minorities in Afghanistan?

As in the past, religious minorities continue to enjoy all rights inAfghanistan. Ask the Hindus and Sikhs still living in parts of Afghanistan andthey would tell you how their lives became secure under the Taliban. Themujahideen used to harass Hindu and Sikh traders but we ensured their securityand made it possible for them to pursue their business activities. We respectthe right of every minority as enshrined in Shariah (Islamic law).

What would be your reaction if other countries applied the Talibanyardstick on, say, mosques and mausoleums?

First, we haven't attacked any place of worship of other religions. In India,Babri Masjid was demolished and now Hindu fundamentalists are planning to builda mandir there. We haven't done anything like that. Keeping and worshippingstatues is un-Islamic and we as a sovereign Muslim country have every right totake decisions in accordance with our law. Therefore, there is no justificationfor anyone to damage our mosques and mausoleums because we haven't destroyed anytemple, church or synagogue.

What has been the impact of sanctions on Afghanistan?

What has been the impact of sanctions on Afghanistan?

The UN Security Council sanctions, or rather the US-sponsored sanctions -- asit is America which calls the shots in the UN --  have only added to thedifficulties of the Afghan people. The value of the Afghan currency, Afghani,has gone down and contributed to the price hike. Even the UN and NGOs officialshave criticized the sanctions and termed them unjust.

Would the Taliban hand over Osama bin Laden to the US or any other thirdcountry for trial?

We have made three proposals to resolve this issue but the US insists onOsama bin Laden's expulsion from Afghanistan to face trial on charges ofterrorism. We asked for evidence to try him in Afghanistan's Shariah court butthe US government was unable to provide any proof of his involvement in acts ofterrorism. We then proposed that the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC)could evolve a mechanism to monitor bin Laden's activities in Afghanistan anddecide if he is sponsoring terrorism. We also proposed the formation of acommittee of Ulema from Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia and a third Islamic country todecide his fate. Fresh proposals could be considered to peacefully resolve theissue because the Taliban have never rejected talks with the US or any othercountry to tackle this problem. However, we would never take orders from anyoneor be cowed down by threats of military strikes or sanctions.

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Apart from the Western reservations, Central Asian countries also fearthat the Taliban were supporting secessionist and radical Islamic movements intheir region?

Such fears are exaggerated and largely the handiwork of Russia. Moscow wantsto maintain its grip in Central Asia and it suits its interest to scare awaythese countries by highlighting the Taliban threat. We have so many problems ofour own that we neither have the time nor resources to look beyond Afghanistanor plan export of our Islamic revolution outside our borders. We haven'tsupported any secessionist or religious movement in the region. The CentralAsian countries should set their own houses in order rather than blaming theTaliban as a scapegoat.

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What do you think of New Delhi's stance on the Taliban? Do you think it isjustified?

India must accept the ground realities in Afghanistan and recognize theTaliban-led government which controls 95 per cent of the territory instead ofthe non-existent Rabbani regime. We want to restore working relations with Indiabecause Kabul and New Delhi had historic and friendly ties in the past. It istrue that India by opposing the Afghan "Jehad" and supporting theSoviet military intervention in Afghanistan annoyed almost every Afghan but afresh attempt at normalizing relations could be made by deciding not tointerfere in each other's affairs. .

Did New Delhi give any assurance regarding recognition to the Talibanfollowing the hijack of an Indian aircraft in 1999?

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In fact, the Taliban were given de facto recognition when the Indian foreignminister Jaswant Singh came to Kandahar to take home the stranded passengers andheld talks with us. It was painful that the Indian government, after profuselythanking the Taliban for handling the hijacking in a responsible and mature way,made unfounded accusations against us later.

How do the Taliban view the Kashmir issue?

We want the people of Jammu and Kashmir to be given the right ofself-determination under the UN resolutions.

There has been a huge migration of Afghans from the country since Octoberlast year. Do you think people are getting tired of the strife?

Beside drought and foreign-sponsored rebellion against the Taliban-ledIslamic Emirate of Afghanistan, another major factor that has causeddisplacement of our people are the UN Security Council sanctions. The sanctionshave led to inflation and fears of further woes, thereby prompting the Afghanpeople to migrate to neighbouring countries such as Pakistan.

What do you think the Taliban can do to be accepted by the internationalcommunity?

We are being punished because the Taliban have enforced Shariah inAfghanistan. Nobody gives us credit for restoring peace and security in alawless country like Afghanistan, for disarming the people, for banning opiumpoppy cultivation. We are now convinced whatever we do our government wouldremain unrecognized.

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How come no other country barring Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and the UAE haverecognized the Taliban government?

This question should be put to the countries that refuse to accept the groundrealities in Afghanistan and continue to prop up a regime that exists only onpaper. The Taliban enjoy popular support otherwise no government that isinternationally isolated and treated as a pariah would have survived until now.

What are the theological goals of the Taliban?

The Taliban had two goals - to restore peace in Afghanistan, unify thecountry and enforce Shariah. We have accomplished both. We would like the worldto give us our right to live the way our people want and to refrain fromimposing their worldview on us.

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