Kabul, Afghanistan: The Afghanistan Times recently interviewed Deputy Chief of Mission M. Ashraf Haidari on a wide range of issues related to the ongoing reconstruction and stabilization of Afghanistan. The full text of the interview transcript is below. It was published in The Afghanistan Times on March 1, 2014, and concurrently published in the Views Around in New Delhi.
Question - Do you think that the recent attack on the Afghan soldiers was carried out by the elements across the Durand Line?
Mr Haidari: It is public knowledge that the attack on our forces in Ghazi-abad, Kunar, was carried out by the Taliban from across the Durand Line. The Taliban’s terror campaign against the people of Afghanistan and our achievements of the past 12 years, in partnership with the international community, is financed, equipped, and ideologically motivated outside Afghanistan. As a terrorist outfit, the Taliban lack popular support in Afghanistan where they have consequently resorted in desperation to complex suicide and IED terrorist attacks, the victims of which are overwhelmingly innocent civilians.
Question - There is a growing concern about the ability of Afghan armed forces to defend the country after the withdrawal of NATO. What’s your opinion about it?
Mr Haidari: That is largely a misplaced concern, one that is actually part of the enemy’s anti-Afghanistan propaganda. The Afghan people stand united against external aggression in the form of terrorism and its different manifestations. Actually, after the falling of our forces in Ghazi-abad, there has been an outpouring of support from across Afghanistan and our diaspora communities abroad for the families of the Fallen, for our armed forces, and for the government of Afghanistan. At the same time, many young Afghans have volunteered to replace the Fallen and continue their just fight against any terrorists that infiltrate into Afghanistan from across the Durand Line. And on issues of equipping and training our forces after withdrawal of NATO troops, we are not concerned at all, since the international community is firmly committed to staying the course in Afghanistan. Indeed, they understand that our forces not only defend Afghanistan against terrorism and extremism but also help maintain international peace and security. The 9/11 tragedy is a reminder.
Question - How does Afghanistan plan to deal with safe heavens of Taliban insurgents based in border areas of Pakistan?
Mr Haidari: We will continue to defend our country and our hard-earned gains of the 12 years against terrorism and any other form of external aggression. At the same time, we will continue to remind the international community of the fact that the threat of terrorism in our region cannot be contained remotely. Although the Afghan people remain the primary victims of terrorism, we know that terrorism transcends borders and equally threatens the security of others, as we have seen in case of increased terrorist activities in a number of countries in the Middle East and Africa. No one can deny the fact that terrorists everywhere have been inspired by and benefited from the expertise and experience of terrorist networks in our region. So, neglecting Afghanistan’s defense against terrorism is no longer an option for the international community, including the countries of the region, in a world where security is very much globalized.
Question - Do you think that the recent increase in violence will have an adverse effect on the ongoing election campaign in the countryside?
Mr Haidari: No. Our security forces have fully prepared to ensure adequate security for the electoral campaign. One of our key achievements of the past 12 years is the provision of a level playing field for all the eleven candidates, who have been campaigning hard in and outside Kabul to explain to the electorate their vision and to discuss public questions in face to face debates on major TV and radio channels. Just like the presidential elections in 2004 and 2009, despite sporadic violence, the Afghan people will turn out to cast their ballots for their favorite candidate. They take the risk, knowing that there is no alternative to the continuation and success of the democratic process in our country. And we continue to appreciate the support of the international community to help us see through this vital political process.
Question - Do you see any possibility of peace talks with the Taliban?
Mr Haidari: It is the desire of every Afghan that peace be institutionalized in Afghanistan. That is why the Afghan government convened a Peace Jirga a couple of years ago and then formed the High Peace Council to find a peaceful solution to ending war and violence in Afghanistan within our constitutional order. We are willing to negotiate with any armed opposition groups, including the Taliban, who accept our basic conditions for peace.
Question - Pakistan has also mentioned that its 23 Frontier Constabulary personnel were killed on the Afghan soil. What do you have to say about it?
Mr Haidari: We cannot confirm where and how they were killed on the Afghan soil. But we have offered full cooperation to investigate the killing of Pakistani forces. Events like this highlight the fact that terrorism hardly distinguishes between the innocent civilians of Pakistan and Afghanistan or their forces. That is why every effort should be to uproot terrorism and end its use an instrument of policy.
Question - Do you feel that there is a need for jointly patrolling the Durand Line?
Mr Haidari: As victims of terrorism, we have done our part to protect our side of the Durand Line against infiltration of terrorists into Afghanistan. However, there has to be a willingness to strategically target and destroy the terrorist safe havens outside Afghanistan. Once support for terrorism is discontinued, it is hard to imagine how terrorists would be able to simultaneously hide and operate with such effectiveness in and outside Pakistan.
Question - Do you support the idea of limited NATO presence in Afghanistan after 2014?
Mr Haidari: The Afghan government and people remain grateful to our NATO allies for their continued support. We and our history will never forget their forces’ sacrifices, who continue fighting and falling alongside our troops in what is a shared, just war against terrorism and extremism. Indeed, we count on our strategic partnership with NATO as well as with its leading members, including the United States, the UK, France, and Germany. Together, we have almost completed a successful transition of security to the Afghan responsibility, and the residual NATO force will be needed to continue training, equipping, and advising our forces beyond 2014.
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Web link: http://www.viewsaround.com/attack-afghan-forces-carried-taliban-across-durand-line/
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