Monday, March 20, 2006 E-Mail this article to a friend Printer Friendly Version
Afghan FM says Osama, Zawahri and Mulla Omar all in Pakistan
By Khalid Hasan
WASHINGTON: Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah claimed here on Sunday that Osama Bin Laden, Ayman Zawahiri and Mulla Omar are all together and in Pakistan, where other Al Qaeda figures have been found and apprehended.
Asked by CNN where Osama Bin Laden is, Abdullah replied that according to his country’s intelligence, the Al Qaeda leader is “outside Afghanistan and he might be in the same place where other members of Al Qaeda have been arrested.” He added that Ayman Zawahiri was also in the same place where Bin Laden was.
Asked pointblank if he was in Pakistan, the foreign minister replied that it was “more likely.”
To the question where Mulla Omar was, he replied that all these “friends” should be found together.
Abdullah said what is needed is greater cooperation between the two countries because they face a common threat. When asked to comment on President Pervez Musharraf’s harsh remarks about Afghan President Hamid Karzai in an earlier interview with CNN, the Afghan minister replied that Pakistan and Afghanistan have to work things out, and added that there are Taliban bases inside Pakistan.
Asked if that meant Pakistan is not doing enough to deal with the Taliban and other such elements in the tribal areas of Pakistan, he replied, “Yes of course they know about this.”
In answer to the question as to “how bad” the relationship between the two countries really is, the foreign minister said it was his hope that “we would put it behind us as soon as possible” and the two countries would deal with a threat which is common in a straightforward manner.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...0-3-2006_pg1_3
Afghan FM says Osama, Zawahri and Mulla Omar all in Pakistan
By Khalid Hasan
WASHINGTON: Afghan Foreign Minister Abdullah Abdullah claimed here on Sunday that Osama Bin Laden, Ayman Zawahiri and Mulla Omar are all together and in Pakistan, where other Al Qaeda figures have been found and apprehended.
Asked by CNN where Osama Bin Laden is, Abdullah replied that according to his country’s intelligence, the Al Qaeda leader is “outside Afghanistan and he might be in the same place where other members of Al Qaeda have been arrested.” He added that Ayman Zawahiri was also in the same place where Bin Laden was.
Asked pointblank if he was in Pakistan, the foreign minister replied that it was “more likely.”
To the question where Mulla Omar was, he replied that all these “friends” should be found together.
Abdullah said what is needed is greater cooperation between the two countries because they face a common threat. When asked to comment on President Pervez Musharraf’s harsh remarks about Afghan President Hamid Karzai in an earlier interview with CNN, the Afghan minister replied that Pakistan and Afghanistan have to work things out, and added that there are Taliban bases inside Pakistan.
Asked if that meant Pakistan is not doing enough to deal with the Taliban and other such elements in the tribal areas of Pakistan, he replied, “Yes of course they know about this.”
In answer to the question as to “how bad” the relationship between the two countries really is, the foreign minister said it was his hope that “we would put it behind us as soon as possible” and the two countries would deal with a threat which is common in a straightforward manner.
http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default...0-3-2006_pg1_3
What has caused this change?
What has caused this belligerent attitude which will surely upset Pakistan, even if it is true, since Pakistan, try as it might, has very little hands on control over NWFP! Musharraf was indeed so peeved that he stated that Karzai had no clue as to what is happening in his own country to know about what is happening in Pakistan!
Even Bush was quite curt and blunt and hectored Musharraf about his zeal in the WoT. In fact, Bush sort of admonished Musharraf as if the latter was a school boy who requires supervision and his progress report to be checked!!!!
Bush's belligerent and undiplomatic approach and the repeated needling by the Afghan govt minister appear a trifle too coincidental for comfort.
Is there a game plan?
The Balochistan insurgency seen in this connection also does indicate that something is up.
I wonder what that something is!
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