UN obstructing Pak-Turkmen gas pipeline project: Taliban

ISLAMABAD (NNI): The ruling Taliban in Afghanistan have accused the United Nations of blocking Pak-Turkmen gas pipeline project.

"The only reason for the delay in the laying of gas pipeline from Turkmenistan to Pakistan via Afghanistan is that the United Nations is not according recognition to the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. All the economic and job problems of the people of Afghanistan would be resolved if the pipeline and railway line projects are implemented. But the United Nations, which is under the influence of the big powers has blocked this process and is not recognizing the legitimate government of Islamic Emirate", the Taliban envoy in New York Abdul Hakim Mujahid told the BBC in an interview.

He strongly condemned the UN report and said the United Nations has always been issuing such reports to malign the Taliban administration. Mujahid said they are ready to assist international organizations and the United Nations for the welfare of the people in Afghanistan.

"We can say that the United Nations has all along been relying on ambiguous statements and is defaming and weakening the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. The United Nations should have stated that human rights are being trembled in the areas of the opponents of the Islamic Emirate. There is anarchy, disorder, bloodshed and war in the opposition controlled area and arms supplies should be stopped to them. Their representatives should be expelled from the United Nations and pressure should be exerted on Rabbani so that a legitimate government in Afghanistan should be recognized and rights of people protected. Complete peace prevails in the areas under the control of the Islamic Emirate and rights of people are safe", he observed.

The envoy said the United Nations is not sincere in this regard. Taliban have paid great heed to the rights of the masses as compare to others rather the very purpose of the emergence of the Taliban Islamic Movement is to rescue the national, he maintained.

On reports of increase in poppy cultivation in Afghanistan, Mujahid said Taliban have told the UN Drug Control Programme that if they provide assistance to the farmers in Afghanistan, they are ready to ban poppy cultivation in all the areas under their control within a year. But in the contrary, the officials of the UNDCP did not honour their commitments, he regretted.

Commenting on the UN proposal to set up civil administration in Afghanistan to monitor human rights abuses, Mujahid said such administration would be required only when human rights are really violated in Afghanistan. But in the contrary, peace and security prevails and human rights respected in Afghanistan. The UN proposal, he said, is a step against the independence and sovereignty of Afghanistan. "We would never allow foreign powers to have their power bases inside Afghanistan under such excuses", Mujahid vowed.