Interview with Saudi ambassador

As conditions inside Afghanistan deteriorate, Saudi Arabia is stepping up humanitarian assistance to the country. Saudi representatives are in place on border areas in neighbouring Pakistan, identifying the needs of the vulnerable, and purchasing food from local markets to be transported in. One of only three countries which once recognised the Taliban regime, Saudi Arabia, like the United Arab Emirates, severed diplomatic ties with the group shortly after the 11 September attacks in the United States. In an interview with IRIN on Monday, the Saudi ambassador to Pakistan, Ali Awadh Asseri, said the Taliban had betrayed the people of Afghanistan, only adding to their misery and suffering. QUESTION: Why did the Saudi government decide to stop diplomatic relations with the Taliban? ANSWER: Let me start by explaining why we recognised the Taliban. They were controlling 95 percent of the country and, as a Muslim nation, we have a commitment to all Muslims in Afghanistan. We were hoping to better influence their thinking, and I think, had the world done the same, we would not be where we are today with the situation in Afghanistan. However, we felt we couldn't influence them. They were not very responsive [in helping to facilitate people travelling to Afghanistan]. They have not been cooperative on the Osama bin Laden issue. We came to the position that they were not responsive, and therefore we cut our links. Q: But it could be argued that it has taken a long time for Saudi Arabia to establish that the Taliban were not going to be influenced by your government in changing their approach to the way they live and the way Afghans live in the country. What is your response to this? A: We remained there to serve the people of Afghanistan, and we will continue to do so. Our commitments are with the Afghans and not the Taliban. But we cannot get away from the fact that they controlled most of the country. We tried, we were patient and we hoped they would change, but we had to take the wise decision to cut links with them. I think the Taliban have betrayed their own people by not being engaged with the world. You cannot live in isolation. They are totally contradicting the spirit of Islam. It has been proved that they are very much linked with terrorism, and that is not Islam at all. They have harmed Islam, but that should not mean that there is not a moderate part of the Taliban. We would support a broad-based government in Afghanistan representing all ethnic groups. Q: Do you think that a new governance in Afghanistan could include women, and would that be accepted in Afghanistan? A: Why not? I don't see any problem with it. There are moderate Taliban, Afghans. Take for example Afghans living outside of their country, they would be more open to this idea. Q: Who are these moderate Taliban? Do they really exist? A: There are certain elements who believe in their country, and believe in taking care of their country. They believe in equality, a good economy, and want to move towards a more prosperous state. Good education for everyone. Look at what the Taliban has done to women and education: that is not Islam. Q: What is your view on reports that there are Arab elements in the Taliban? A: There are some Arabs there. Whether they are from Saudi Arabia, Egypt or Algeria, I don't know. I would not be surprised if there are Arabs implicated with the Taliban. If they had committed such callous cowardly crimes that we hear about [as regards] the Taliban, they would be unstable. But this could happen anywhere in the world. Take for example Timothy MacVeigh [the Oklahoma bomber) who had intention to kill. If he had been harboured in another state and was given technology and power, he would have done the same. With regard to those Arabs in Afghanistan, I believe they have been brainwashed and are living in a different world to me and you. These people, wherever they are, if they were psychologically sick in their heads, and they are living on a different planet than a normal human being, then I don't see why they couldn't commit any such crime. The Taliban are isolated, and this has contributed to making matters worse. If the outside world [had] had more contact with them, perhaps today we would know more about them. With regard to Arabs or anyone else going over to Afghanistan for jihad [holy war], after the Russians left, I cannot see any legitimacy for jihad. Jihad was against [those who had] occupied Afghanistan, but the jihad that happened after the Soviets left was among the Muslims, increasing the suffering of the Afghans. Is that the teaching of Islam? No, it is not Islam. It is very sad and very tragic. Q: How is Saudi Arabia helping Afghanistan in terms of humanitarian aid? A: Let me assure you that we have always stood by the Afghan people. For the last 25 years, through their suffering and agony, we were always with them in heart and mind, offering a lot of aid. The war in Afghanistan has created more misery and suffering for Afghans, and we have intensified our efforts since 11 September. We have had planes arriving in Pakistan every other day. We have two planes coming to [the Pakistani cities of] Peshawar [in the North West Frontier Province], [the capital,] Islamabad, and now we have five planes going to Quetta [in Baluchistan Province]. All are carrying food and medicine to Afghanistan. We have people on the ground in Peshawar and Quetta identifying what is needed. The king has donated US $10 million, and it has been used to buy food from local markets. We have people in the markets buying wheat flour, sugar, tins of food, blankets, and transporting it into Afghanistan through the Red Crescent. On 18 October, we raised $36 million in Saudi Arabia. Another campaign to raise money for the Afghans will take place in [the Muslim holy month of] Ramadan. We are continuing and will continue to help them as much as we can to lift [the burden of] their suffering. Q: With regard to peace in Afghanistan, do you think the OIC [Organisation of the Islamic Conference], which has cooperated with the UN on peace initiatives in the past, can play a role in building peace in Afghanistan? A: To be honest with you, I think it is primarily the UN that can do this. The OIC should be there, but now we have this six-plus-two [a group comprising Afghanistan's six neighbours, the US and Russia] initiative, and all these countries will play a big role in the rebuilding of Afghanistan. I strongly believe that a new government should not be imposed on them. It must be made up of Afghans and should be decided by them too. The UN is stronger in the peace-building aspect, but the OIC could help influence the Afghans as an Islamic organisation and convince them and persuade them. So the two can work together to bring peace to Afghanistan. Q: What role could Saudi Arabia play in the peace building process? A: Saudi Arabia would help in any way it can. But we believe that this is not an individual country's problem. It is a world problem today. If anything could be done it would be through the OIC. But I cannot define a role for the Saudi government just yet. Q: With the bulk of humanitarian aid coming from the 15 members of the Afghan Support Group, do you think that Islamic countries could make a larger contribution in the reconstruction of Afghanistan? A: I hope so, and I'm sure this would happen, especially those countries that are able to pay. But there are countries that have very limited resources. I think ultimately everyone has a responsibility to help. Q: Following reports of the fall of the northern city of Mazar-e Sharif, and intensified US military action, do you think that this could lead to a longer-lasting peace in Afghanistan? A: We hope so. Let's hope for a political solution first, because that would bring peace to the region. I cannot really assess whether this will lead to peace in the long run. We don't know what the aftermath will be. It is very unpredictable for the time being. I strongly believe that we all must play a role to help the Afghans to get back to a normal life. They have had a very very miserable life.