Interview with governor of Herat

General Isma'il Khan recently regained the governorship of western Afghanistan’s Herat Province. Three years ago, after being captured by the Taliban, he reached Iran after a dramatic escape from a Kandahar prison. The legendary 56 year-old regional strong man is feted for liberating Herat from 12 years of communist rule. Khan is a key player in the new interim administration in the delicate unification process ahead. Surrounded by 20 soldiers armed to the teeth, he told IRIN that security wasn’t a problem in his province, and dismissed a new role for himself in any future government. Describing reports of increasing Iranian influence in Herat as pure propaganda, he warned that the Taliban remained a threat to Afghanistan's stability. "The Taliban have simply changed their uniforms," he said. QUESTION: How would you describe the security situation in Herat? ANSWER: I suppose you could be a better judge of that. You can see what the situation is. We are quite satisfied with the security in Herat at the moment, but I believe you can see that for yourself. There is 100 percent security, and there is no problem. Q: Are there any ethnic tensions in the city now? A: Fortunately, in Herat there is no ethnic tension. All the tribes here are like brothers, and there is no reason for concern. Q: What is the best way to maintain order in Afghanistan? A: In my opinion, the best way of bringing security to this country is, firstly, to provide for the reconstruction of Afghanistan for the people. If there is no reconstruction, people will become involved in negative activities. However, if there is reconstruction and assistance for the Afghan people, stability can be achieved. Q: What is your view on the murder of the civil aviation minister last week? A: Regarding this issue, I think it would be better for us to wait for the results of the commission established by the interim administration before commenting on that. An investigation has begun in the Afghan capital, Kabul, and some people have already been arrested. We are now awaiting the findings of this investigation. Q: What role do you feel international peacekeepers can play in Afghanistan? A: In some places where there is no security, this force is useful in bringing security. Q: Would you like to see this expanded? A: In areas lacking in security and peace, in my opinion, it is better that we have these forces there... We would like to see their assistance expanded there. Q: Earlier there was a great deal of discussion of elections being held here in Herat. When would that be? A: We’ve had them. From the beginning of the victory of the Mujahedin and the defeat of the Taliban, when I came here – I didn’t take this government position by force. First I asked all the Afghans that gathered at the Blue Mosque here, and they believed in me. After the election, when they gave their votes for my position, I asked for an election for the position of mayor of Herat. After a few days, there was an independent election where all the representatives of the Herat people elected their mayor. Also participating in this election was the chamber of commerce, as well as some military officers. Q: Is there any room for political opposition in Herat? A: Fortunately, in Herat we don’t have any opposition. It is the revolution of the people that brought this government into being, and we are not separate from the people. There is no problem with regard to opposition here. Q: You have been quoted as saying "all our effort is to prepare for the establishment of the final broad-based government". What role do you see yourself playing in that? A: Over the past 23 years, my struggle has been to bring peace, security and the political establishment of a government to this country. I do not insist on any role in that government... my responsibility was to bring a great victory to the Afghan people. Q: Recently you met with the interim leader, Hamid Karzai, here in Herat. What did you discuss? A: I’ve known Chairman Karzai for a very long time – since the time of the jihad [holy war] to this time. It is noteworthy that he selected Herat as his first internal visit within the country. During this visit, I discussed with his excellency issues regarding the reconstruction of Afghanistan, especially Herat. In addition, we discussed regional security issues in the country, as well as the establishment of a new Afghan army. Q: Did you assure Mr Karzai of your full support? A: Yes. As I mentioned before, I’ve known Mr Karzai for quite some time. I met him before the current crisis and before international forces came here. We discussed security in Afghanistan and how the coming of international forces was a good opportunity of bringing peace and stability to the country. I was the first man in Afghanistan to recognise the new interim administration publicly. In addition, I was the one who internationally announced my full support for Mr Karzai. Again, it is noteworthy [that], as interim leader, Mr Karzai made his first internal visit to Herat. Q: There have been numerous reports, particularly in the United States, that Iran is providing assistance and technical expertise to your administration. How would you describe your relations with this country? A: Iran is the country that during the struggle against the Taliban supported the Mujahedin. We share a 900-km border with this country, and there are some 2.5 million Afghan refugees living there today. Additionally, many of the families of our famous commanders still live there. For example, the family of the interim defense minister lives in Iran, as does the family of General [Rashid] Dostum [ethnic Uzbek warlord]... According to my information, the families of more than 700 commanders now live in Iran. [Looking at the soldiers in the room] Most of the families of these gentlemen are in Iran. That being the case, of course there are relations with Iran - with many of these men going back and forth. The reason these families remain in Iran is that the living conditions here are not yet conducive to bringing them back. Due to some political problems, these people faced under the Taliban, they emigrated from Afghanistan to Iran. Despite the victory of the Mujahedin, there are still deep problems restricting these people from returning. To date, there has yet to be any practical start to any reconstruction in Afghanistan. Secondly, with cold weather, rain and poor roads, conditions for return are not good. Most people here remain unemployed. If you visit Herat customs posts around the city, you will see that there is a great deal of trade coming into Afghanistan from Iran. Much of it is coming from the Gulf states and Europe; however, more than 80 percent of all of this comes through Iran. Bringing these items in through Turkmenistan is too time-consuming, so traders prefer to bring these goods through Iran. The facilities to do so are better there. If you look at the highway between Eslam Qal'eh [Iranian town on border with Afghanistan] and Herat, you will see a great deal of traffic bringing these goods back and forth. Whenever a journalist sees this activity, he reports that this is assistance from Iran. Fortunately we have a lot of journalists in Herat to see these convoys. However, the journalists consistently fail to understand what these container trucks contain, and have attempted to give their agencies a new story - all of which are inaccurate. The main reason we have such good relations with Iran is because of the large amount of Afghans living there and the long border we share. Under such conditions, we have no choice but to have relations. The journalists do not understand the reality of the situation and are inaccurate in their reporting. We support the interim government and have publicly announced our support of the central government in Kabul. Fortunately in Herat, we captured all the Al-Qaeda and Taliban members. Some of them left Herat, while others are still in prison after their capture. We have no opposition in Herat, so there is no need for weapons or guns from Iran. Do you know why they are always talking about Iranian interference in Herat? We captured most of the Taliban that came through here from Mazar [-e Sharif] on their return to their home provinces. Many of the most senior Taliban officials, including the governor of Badghis and various commanders, were captured in Herat and remain in prison here. All the Taliban that we arrested are from Kandahar and Helmand. Their families are there. Ten days ago, a 100-person delegation came from there asking for their release. After their insistence, I released 86 Taliban prisoners, depending on the level of their crime. However, there remain hundreds more in our prison, and our answer to the families of these prisoners remains negative. If you ever go to Kandahar or Helmand and have a meeting with them – they will tell you this. They will tell you propaganda that Iran has some influence over us. [However,] You are here now. Do you see any interference from Iran? Do you see any insecurity here? This is all propaganda from the Taliban people living in Kandahar and Helmand provinces. Q: What do you mean by Taliban propaganda? A: There is still Taliban in these provinces... They are all there with their tribes and families in their provinces. During the time of the Taliban, they proclaimed some 500,000 members. Perhaps in total we succeeded in capturing 5,000 throughout Afghanistan. So I ask you? Where are the other 495,000? During their time, they had 33 ministers, 27 governors, 23 deputy governors, 27 police heads, and thousands of government department heads - as well as more than 2,000 military commanders. I suspect at the moment, we don’t have more than 2,000 in prison now. So where are they all? If you go to Kandahar and Helmand you will find them, the same place where all this propaganda is coming from. The only place in Afghanistan today where there remain Taliban imprisoned is here in Herat. Only we have them, and we will not answer their requests to release them. If you go to eastern Afghanistan, there is simply a cease-fire between the old and the new of sorts - a type of friendship with these people. This is why there is so much negative propaganda against us. You look like an intelligent gentleman. You can see for yourself the security situation here. I would greatly appreciate if you would kindly correct all those inaccurate reports made by journalists. Q: Do you feel the Taliban are still a threat to this country? A: If Mullah Omar, the head of the Taliban, is still in Afghanistan, and the collecting of their weapons is not complete in the future, perhaps in the future they will be a problem for the security of Afghanistan. As long as Osama bin Laden, Mullah Omar and senior Taliban members remain in Afghanistan, the threat remains.