From BBC-about 12:45 EST...Mullah Omar threatens US....
The BBC's Pashto service has interviewed Taleban leader Mullah Mohammad
Omar.
The BBC asked the questions through a Taleban intermediary over satellite
phone. He passed them on to the Taleban leader through a hand-held radio and
then attached the phone's receiver to the radio for Mullah Omar's answers.
The following is the transcript of the interview
What do you think of the current situation in Afghanistan?
You (the BBC) and American puppet radios have created concern. But the
current situation in Afghanistan is related to a bigger cause - that is the
destruction of America.
And on the other hand, the screening of Taleban [for those who are or are
not loyal] is also in process. We will see these things happen within a
short while.
What do you mean by the destruction of America? Do you have a concrete plan
to implement this?
The plan is going ahead and, God willing, it is being implemented.
But it is a huge task, which is beyond the will and comprehension of human
beings.
If God's help is with us, this will happen within a short period of time;
keep in mind this prediction.
Osama Bin Laden has reportedly threatened that he would use nuclear,
chemical or biological weapons against America. Is your threat related to
his?
This is not a matter of weapons. We are hopeful for God's help. The real
matter is the extinction of America. And, God willing, it [America] will
fall to the ground.
During the past few days, you have lost control of several provinces. Are
you hopeful to regain the lost territory?
We are hopeful that you will see the same kind of change that you saw
[losing and regaining territory].
What was the reason for the fast retreat? Why have your troops fled the
cities? Is it because you suffered heavily from the US bombings or have your
soldiers betrayed you?
I told you that it is related to the larger task.
The Taleban may have made some mistakes.
Screening the Taleban [for loyalty] is a big task. And these problems may
serve to cleanse [errant Taleban] of their sins. But there is a big change
underway on the other side as well.
Can you tell us which provinces are under your control at the moment?
We have four-five provinces. But it is not important how many provinces we
have under our control.
Once we did not have a single province, and then the time came when we had
all the provinces, which we have lost in a week. So the numbers of the
provinces are not important.
As your participation in the future government has already been ruled out -
if some of your forces decide to join the future government as
representatives of the Taleban in general or to moderate Taleban, will you
oppose it?
There is no such thing in the Taleban. All Taleban are moderate. There are
two things: extremism ["ifraat", or doing something to excess] and
conservatism ["tafreet", or doing something insufficiently]. So in that
sense, we are all moderates - taking the middle path.
The struggle for a broad-based government has been going on for the last 20
years, but nothing came of it.
We will not accept a government of wrong-doers. We prefer death than to be a
part of an evil government.
I tell you, keep this in mind. This is my prediction. You believe it or
not - it's up to you. But we will have to wait and see.
news.bbc.co.uk |
