Karzai pledges to ‘hunt’ for Malala’s attackers
The Pakistani Taliban has admitted shooting Malala in the head on a school bus a month ago to punish her for the "crime" of campaigning for girls' rights to go to school in the militants' former Pakistani stronghold of Swat.
"Afghanistan will hunt for Malala's attackers," Karzai said in an interview with India's CNN-IBN television network, aired as he began a four-day visit to the South Asian nation and as the world marked "Malala Day".
Miraculously the 15-year-old survived the shooting and her courage, which won the hearts of millions around the world, prompted the United Nations to declare Saturday a "global day of action" for her.
President Asif Ali Zardari also issued a message on Malala Day in which he said that her attackers were not just trying to kill the “Daughter of Pakistan”, but were trying to kill Pakistan.
“Malala Yousafzai is fifteen years old. Since she was eleven, she has been an advocate of education for girls. Malala is a symbol of all that is good about us,” he said in statement released on Friday.
“We cannot sit idly by as our children are attacked. We must act. Urgently.”
Malala's attackers are not US targets
Earlier this week, US military and intelligence officials told the Washington Post that Mullah Fazlullah, the mastermind behind the attack on child activist Malala Yousafzai, was operating out of a region adjoining Pakistan, where several hundred US troops are stationed. Fazlullah's presence in Kunar was previously denied by the Afghan governor for the province.
But, the US officials said finding Fazlullah was not a priority, because he is not affiliated with al Qaeda or with insurgents targeting US and Afghan interests. “Our guys just aren’t tracking him,” a senior Special Operations official said, requesting anonymity.
“He is viewed as an “other-side-of-the-border’ problem”.
Pakistan has handed US and Afghan authorities dossiers on Fazlullah, a militant who rose to prominence in the Swat valley. He was forced to flee the scenic valley after Pakistani troops conducted an operation. He subsequently found refuge in neighbouring Afghanistan.
Malala shot for incessant criticism of Taliban
The Taliban, particularly Fazlullah's factions had little intentions to kill the teenager, but her writings eventually 'forced their hand.'
“We had no intentions to kill her but were forced when she would not stop (speaking against us),” said Sirajuddin Ahmad, a spokesperson of Swat Taliban now based in Afghanistan’s Kunar province.
He said the Taliban held a meeting a few months ago at which they unanimously agreed to kill her. The task was then given to military commanders to carry out.
The militia has a force of around 100 men specialised in targeted killing, fighters said. They chose two men, aged between 20-30, who were locals from Swat Valley.
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Pakistani and Afghani leaders have been emphasizing from a long time to uproot/control the terrorism and the terrorists but why do they not remove/uproot/eradicate,collectively and permanently not temporarily and for the time being solutions to end terrorism,the grounds/bases of terrorism and making the terrorists,that are,US' and NATO's troops and their presence in Afghanistan.......
Pakistani and Afghani leaders have been emphasizing from a long time to uproot/control the terrorism and the terrorists but why do they not remove/uproot/eradicate the grounds/bases of terrorism and making the terrorists,that are,US' and NATO's troops and their presence in Afghanistan.......
Ok Mr. Karzai! As if you have any power out side of Kabul...
well said Karzai
@usman786: Afghanistan is a sovereign country no body can dictate to them whose consulates they can operate.
Fazlullah is innocent and Pak should establish concrete evidence . It's a mere campaign by some terrorists and ISI to malign Fazlullah .
The Afghan army and the American forces can easily go to Kunar province to look for Fazlullah, but can the Pakistani Army go to North Waziristan to clean out the Haqqainis and other militant groups????? NOT! Wonder how many "dossiers" the Afghans have provided to Pakistan on those "Assets"?
I believe whatever the lady has suffered , is due to pak gov only .Pak has always supported these groups for their business , now they have to suffer .And Rightly Karzai said "when you nurture a snake , you can't make sure that it will hunt only neighbors" , which has been intentionally or unintentionally omitted by ET .So please stop these farce like Malala day . If one malala is in pakistan , millions like Malala are there in Afghanistan and many Malalas can't even drive a car in cash-rich Saudi.
@usman786: Ist hand over Hafeez sayeed and Dawood Ibrahim.......Regarding consulates they are there for Indians working in infastucture work..........Tell u ISI to attack them as they did to High commission in kabul.....
Mullah Fazlullah and TTP leadership ( the ones who attacked Malala) lives right there in Kunar Province. If the Americans and Afghans were sincere to eliminate terrorism, They would droned their hideout already. But no they won't as TTP is used to destabilize Pakistan.
Why donot you handover Fazalullah. He has killed many more Pakistanis. And close indian consulates operating outside Kabul. How many Afghans go to India? And take all Afghans back since you were given billions on infrastructure development
I would like to ask a simple question from the Pakistani Military who seem to ask the Afghan government to handover Mullah Radio, what about the murderers of thousands of Afghans who sit in Quetta, Waziristan and even in Rawlpindi under the patronage of the ISI. I’m talking about an established policy by the Pakistani military which actively supports groups that kill teachers, doctors and civilians on a diaily basis in Afghanistan, when are you going to handover those people to Afghanistan and when are you going to stop this policy of meddling in Afghan affairs ? Don’t you think it’s hypocrisy to ask for Mullah Radio while you are actively running terror universities in Pakistan? The whole world knows your game now, it time that you wake up and stop meddling in the affairs of Afghanistan. Even your so called all weather friend China is dealing directly with Afghan officials. Let me tell one more thing while I’m at it, Afghanistan is not the same country that used to be in the 1990s, there is no coming back to the 90s for Afghanistan, the sooner folks in the military realize it the better .
@ Kabul /Peace
PS : My messages have been edited most the times I have posted on ET, I hope it is not the case this time
Mr. Karzai has lost family members in this war against extremism and for the past ten years are so, he has repeatedly warned Pakistan of the negative repercussions of the policy of nurturing extremist forces. So when he says that he will hunt the attackers, his intention should not be doubted. Pakistan would not have been in this present mess, if she had paid attention to calls of President Karzai. Still there is a time and opportunity for Pakistan to honestly cooperate with President Karzai and Afghan gov to liberate the region from the clutches of extremist forces and their sponsors.
Mr Karzai,
Please dont blame terrorism on us.
Best wishes, Pakistan
Karzai should hunt down the terrorists who attacked Malala. So should US. Both US and Karzai should show sincerity and hunt down the terrorists with determination and dedication. This would bring trust on all sides. Pakistan, Afghans, and the entire world community would appreciate this.
To the Pakistani Establishment:
I would like to ask a simple question from the Pakistani Military who seem to ask the Afghan government to handover Mullah Radio, what about the murderers of thousands of Afghans who sit in Quetta, Waziristan and even in Rawlpindi under the patronage of the ISI. I’m talking about an established policy by the Pakistani military which actively supports groups that kill teachers, doctors and civilians on a diaily basis in Afghanistan, when are you going to handover these people to Afghanistan and when are you going to stop this policy of meddling in Afghan affairs ? Don’t you think it’s hypocrisy to ask for Mullah Radio while you are actively running terror universities in Pakistan? The whole world knows your game now, it time that you wake up and stop meddling in the affairs of Afghanistan. Even your so called all weather friend China is dealing directly with Afghan officials now. Let me tell one more thing while I’m at it, Afghanistan is not the same country that used to be in the 1990s, there is no coming back to the 90s for Afghanistan, the sooner folks in the military realize it the better .
@ Kabul /Peace
PS : My messages have been edited most the times I have posted on ET, I hope it is not the case this time!
@Truth
Unfortunately many of those attackers find leadership, funding, training and even sanctuary from/within Pakistan. Afghanistan and Pakistan should both have a zero tolerance policy on terrorism - Afghanistan at least appears to be trying.
Where, in his palace? Better to keep his nose on his exit strategy. Take the money and run!
@Truth: Doesn't Malala stand for all the victims of savages.
Vienna,November 10,2012 It is entirely wrong to paint this child victim of SATANIC abuses as activist. She is not. She being a victim suffered and screamed against the dehumanization of girls. Girls are future of humans. They deserve recognition and respect. Do show perspective instead of presenting her as an aggressive champion. We do ourselves deserving justice preventing injustice to girls. Taravadu Taranga Trust for Media Monitoring TTTMM India --Kulamarva Baalakrishna
Mr president there are thousands of victims like MALALA in Afghanistan. So first find their attackers, then look for the attackers of Pakistan's MALALA.