Masood accuses Pakistan of assisting Taliban

Monday 12th October, 1998

BONN, (NNI): A prominent and powerful Afghan opposition commander, Ahmed Shah Masood has ruled out the possibility of restoration of peace in Afghanistan "unless Pakistani troops are called back from that country."

He made the remarks in an interview with a German daily. He alleged that 28 thousand Pakistani troops are fighting along side the Taliban in Afghanistan. He said that if Islamabad withdraws its political and economic support to the Taliban, it would result in total collapse of the student militia.

Masood accused Pakistan of encouraging the Taliban to start military operations in Afghanistan. He said that Taliban are well placed at the battle front because they have been receiving huge quantity of arms and ammunition from abroad. He also referred to the statement of the former Interior Minister of Pakistan, General Naseerullah Babar wherein he has admitted imparting training to the student militia.

Commander Masood said that Islamabad wants to enhance its influence in the war-ravaged Afghanistan for its political and economic interests. But this kind of approach, he said, would not help end civil war in Afghanistan rather will add fuel to the fire.

He alleged that Taliban have sown the seeds of hatred among different ethnic groups which has made the atmosphere even further tense.