Uzbek TV
November 15
n an interview broadcast on Uzbek TV on 15 November Gen Abdorrashid
Dostum of the Afghan anti-Taleban United Front said Front leaders had agreed
that until a coalition government was set up Afghanistan should be ruled by
a military council. Dostum said he was in control of northern
Afghanistan, Gen Fahim controlled Kabul and Amir Esmail Khan was in control of the
western Herat area. Dostum said that the Taleban should surrender
without resistance and take advantage of the amnesty, but said that "those
terrorists who have warmed their hands with blood" should be captured.
[Question] Could you please tell us details of the current military situation in Afghanistan, in particular about operations aimed at seizing big towns of the country and the capital, Kabul?
[Gen. Dostum] As you know, the biggest Afghan towns of Kabul, Mazar-e Sharif and Herat are under the control of the forces of the [Islamic] United Front [for the Salvation of Afghanistan]. The Herat area is controlled by Esmail Khan, we control the northern parts and the situation in Kabul is controlled by Gen Fahim. Currently the forces of the United Front are stationed in and around Kabul. Today I had a conversation with Amir Esmail Khan. His fighters were moving towards Shindand [100 km south of Herat] and have occupied it. Now I am talking to you from the airport in Sheberghan [Jowzjan Province]. We have come here to do the job we planned to do.
The situation in Mazar-e Sharif has become stable. I have set up a garrison here consisting of 300 men. We have withdrawn our armed forces from the town. The people are going about their everyday work. Our enemies are suffering a psychological defeat. We know that at present there are about 10,000 armed Taleban fighters in Konduz Province. We have sent our representatives there. They are holding talks with the Taleban commanders Mola Fazil and Mola Dad-Ali. The Taleban should surrender without resistance, because a nationwide pardon has been announced in the country and the Taleban should take up this opportunity. However, we must capture those terrorists who have warmed their hands with blood.
[Question] In what areas do the Taleban have positions and what is the psychological mood of the Taleban in general?
[Gen. Dostum] The Taleban are psychologically dispirited, they are not able to resist. People are setting up their councils in Paktia and Khost Provinces. The population in the northern regions are expressing readiness to fight against Mola Omar and his supporters. Our forces have surrounded Konduz Province, if the Taleban would not surrender we will begin an offensive.
[Question] It is natural that the whole Afghan people is thinking about the future of the country and about the setting up of a new government. What is your opinion about this?
[Gen. Dostum] We have been thinking a lot about this issue. Not much time is left till the end of war on Afghan soil. We support the idea that there should be a government in Afghanistan which would express the interests of all people and ethnic groups in the country. The future government must establish the basis of democracy and protect the rights of all strata of the population in Afghanistan. In other words, until a coalition government is set up, the country should be ruled by a military council. We have reached an agreement on this with Gen Fahim and Amir Esmail Khan.