Author: A Chalomumbai Correspondent
Publication: Mid-Day
Date: October 22, 2001
URL: http://www.chalomumbai.com/asp/article.asp?cat_id=29&art_id=16696&cat_code=2F574841545F535F4F4E5F4D554D4241492F5441415A415F4B4841424152
Taliban Commander-in-Chief Jalaluddin
Haqqani has claimed that the militia was "in touch" with China, which was
assisting them in the war against US.
Before leaving for Afghanistan after
holding talks with Pakistani officials in Islamabad, Haqqani, who is also
the Minister for Frontier Regions, told reporters "China is still assisting
Taliban in the war against the United States". He also said the Afghan
militia "continued to be in touch with Beijing." He, however, declined
to divulge the nature and quantum of the assistance being provided by China.
Haqqani, whose visit to Islamabad
raised eyebrows, said China would react sharply in the longer run as the
US would dig in Afghanistan. Besides the Pakistan officials, he also met
the leaders of the hardline pro-Taliban Pakistani religious leaders.
Haqqani said China was an important
neighbour to Afghanistan and has followed moderate policy towards Taliban
all along. "It has never interfered in the intern! al affairs of Afghanistan
and Taliban hold it in high esteem for this," he said.
Haqqani said the United States has
not scored any noteworthy success in its three weeks of bombardment in
Afghanistan. "So far Taliban have lost around 25 fighters. Also a military
helicopter and two passenger planes of Aryana air lines have received minor
damage in the US attacks," he added.
Haqqani said Taliban's all helicopters
and planes were safe and no prominent commander had so far fallen victim
to the US attacks. He said real war would begin when the US would land
its troops on the soil of Afghanistan. "We are anxiously awaiting their
entry into Afghanistan in order to make a graveyard for the US army".
"We have made all out preparations
to engage Americans for a long time. We do not trust in the might of arms
rather we believe in sacrificing our lives for the cause of Islam and honour
of motherland."
"We ask the US to land its troops
without any delay and th! en see as to how much dead bodies it would airlift
daily," Haqqani said. He said Taliban still consider Osama bin Laden as
their guest and a hero of Islam and they would never hand him over to any
country come what may.
