Islamabad rejects the claim of Amrullah Saleh. PHOTO: AFP
Former Afghan spymaster Amrullah Saleh accused Pakistan on Tuesday of taking money from Afghanistan for the recent release of Taliban cadres.
In the Express News programme “Sarhad Ke Us Paar”, the former head of National Directorate of Security (NDS) claimed that the Pakistani government had even offered to mediate between the Afghan government and the Taliban.
“Pakistan is no longer denying to having harboured the Taliban leadership, and its government is now putting a high price tag on the Taliban and saying if you pay the price we are going to push these guys for reconciliation and we know what the price tag is,” said Saleh, who is known for his anti-Pakistan statements.
Pakistan’s foreign ministry rejected Saleh’s claims outright, saying neither did the government take money from Afghanistan for releasing the prisoners, nor did they offer any mediation.
“Pakistan encourages an inclusive intra-Afghan dialogue and is committed to it,” the foreign ministry spokesperson told Express News.
Saleh also alleged that Pakistan has been treating Afghanistan as a ‘sub-nation’ and wished to ‘dominate’ the war-torn country.
“Pakistan has monopolised the right to have all sorts of foreign relations itself and when it comes to Afghanistan, they want to create limitations for us; treating us not as a nation, but as sub-nation, as to who we should talk to or who should be our allies,” he added.
During the programme, Awami National Party Senator Haji Adeel conceded that Pakistan has made mistakes in the past when “undemocratic people ruled the country”.
“We treated Afghanistan as another province, I think now the policy has changed. Even our establishment, our agencies and our elected government are now following their own tradition.”
“If Afghanistan wants friendly ties with India, why should we object? I think Afghanistan is independent and Afghan people can solve their own problems.”
He added that with the efforts of President Asif Zardari and President Karzai, the relations are relatively better.
Moreover, Afghan Deputy National Security Adviser Rahmatullah Nabil called on the Afghan people to support the Afghan security forces to defend the country.
“People of Afghanistan and the government of Afghanistan will continue their voice of peace. We should be more united, more mobilised and not be deceived by them,” he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 13th, 2013.
COMMENTS (18)
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1. Former Afghan spymaster Amrullah Saleh accused Pakistan on Tuesday of taking money from Afghanistan for the recent release of Taliban cadres. . 2. Saleh also alleged that Pakistan has been treating Afghanistan as a ‘sub-nation’ and wished to ‘dominate’ the war-torn country. . What is new about it? That is par for the course! . 3. During the programme, Awami National Party Senator Haji Adeel conceded that Pakistan has made mistakes in the past when “undemocratic people ruled the country”. . “We treated Afghanistan as another province, I think now the policy has changed. Even our establishment, our agences and our elected government are now following their own tradition.” . This is surely one for the books! . Cheers
@ET: Saleh did not say Pakistan took money. He said Pakistan demands a price tag. The price is for Afghans to accept Pakistan as their masters at least in their foreign affairs.
Change the headline and issue a retraction.
Did he mean that Pakistan took money?! I think he was referring to some serious issues that Pakistan wants to solve with Afghanistan,
@Raj
"I watched Part 1 of “Sarhad Ke Us Paar”. Part 2 is scheduled to be telecast next Monday. I am very impressed with of the Afghan team. The way they presented themselves was very good and their arguments were logical and convincing. On Pakistan’s side, ANP Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel and Asad Durrani were very good. Sheikh Rasheed was total flop. It is an international debate and Sheikh Rasheed could only make lengthy meaningless talks without any substance and was floored by everyone."
Sheikh Rasheed was speaking Punjabi not English and nobody understood what he was saying. I think the anchor was embarrassed by Sheikh Rasheed's belligerence and his poor command of English and she kept cutting him off, rightly so. The Afghans were measured, respectful and articulate.
@Adnan: What an in-depth knowledge of history of Afghanistan !!!!!!!!!
Yet, Pakistan names all its missiles after Afghans and Mulla Omar is the Amir Ul Mumineen in Pakistan and both Pakistan's army and its political leaders have to beg for his permission to enter Waziristan. Sheikh Rasheed who said this is representing Pakistan in this debate. Why not he explain the reason he requested Mulla Omar, now sitting in Quetta, to grant permission for IK to enter Waziristan.
Saleh was the same guy who correctly identified that Osama Bin Laden was in Pakistan, which sadly Musharraf and the Pak govt/military kept on denying until finally being exposed.
@Adnan:
That is a horrible tactic and highlights the paranoid and irrational thinking that Pak must abandon. In recent history Pak has harmed Afghanistan more with such reactionary policies to non-existent threats, to the point of supporting violent extremist militants. There has been little evidence of India harming the Afghans or exerting unnecessary pressure than Pakistan and previous 'puppet masters', and have shown they could offer more soft power services in medicine, mining and commerce today, instead of guns and drugs. Leave the Afghans alone and let's not play dangerous and insane double games just to spite India, who we keep hyping as a bogey monster in our revisionist ideological imaginations.
I watched Part 1 of “Sarhad Ke Us Paar”. Part 2 is scheduled to be telecast next Monday. I am very impressed with of the Afghan team. The way they presented themselves was very good and their arguments were logical and convincing. On Pakistan's side, ANP Senator Haji Muhammad Adeel and Asad Durrani were very good. Sheikh Rasheed was total flop. It is an international debate and Sheikh Rasheed could only make lengthy meaningless talks without any substance and was floored by everyone.
@ahmed41: It is Afghan history that they have remained influenced by external forces. From nineteenth century it was Soviets who were influencing Afghanistan and when they were fighting war against Soviets in late seventies and early eighties it was Pakistan and US who were making decision for them and now its India and US. As a neighbour, Pakistan strategically do not want to have a government in Afghanistan which is an Indian puppet after US is gone in 2014. If that happen that would mean that Pakistan will effectively be sandwiched by India from both eastern and western boarders. Therefore given the history of Afghans, Pakistan wants a say in any setup that comes in Afghanistan, which is not a bad tactic.
@Stranger: Just like Pakistan has so many sects to get united; let India rule this country too!
Is there any harm in having a foreign policy ( and an internal understanding) based on living in harmony with ones neighbours.
Let them run their own country wihout interference.
Why be surprised. It has been going on since inception.
Afghans can never be trusted.. they got asylum in Pakistan… own most of the transport business in Pakistan… fought a war with USSR with help of Pakistan but will always laud India…
Frankly I think Afghanistan is better off under some other country. They have too many tribes and sub communities among them to get united .
Not surprised.
saleh is heavily financied for the particular agenda. Let him this poor speak to serve his master.
Pakistanis are certified mercenaries...
Does this trash still sells? Their best utility will be to use them for land fill.