Afghanistan U.N. envoy lashes out at Pakistan, pleas for help to liberate country

By PAISLEY DODDS
Associated Press Writer

UNITED NATIONS – Afghanistan's envoy to the United Nations, who represents the ousted government, lashed out at Pakistan and pleaded with the General Assembly to liberate his country from the Taliban regime.

Ambassador Ravan Farhadi, speaking on behalf of the former Afghan government led by Burhanuddin Rabbani, accused Pakistan of transforming Afghanistan into a nucleus of terrorism.

Pakistan is the only country that recognizes the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. The ousted Rabbani government is part of the opposition Northern Alliance fighting the Taliban.

"Pakistan officially recognized the Taliban puppet regime, which was forged by Pakistan itself," Farhadi told the General Assembly late Thursday night during a weeklong debate on international terrorism.

"Today, some 8,000 armed Pakistanis, called volunteers sent by Pakistani military intelligence, are still fighting all over Afghanistan alongside the Taliban and Osama bin Laden," he said.

Farhadi also accused Pakistan's military intelligence of facilitating the transit of thousands of Arab youth to Afghanistan to fight for bin Laden.

The United States has accused the ruling Taliban militia of harboring bin Laden, the chief suspect in the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks in the United States.

"Pakistan has constantly advised the rest of the world to engage with the Taliban," Farhadi said. "This has proved to be like trying to milk a bull."

The Taliban are largely made up of ethnic Pashtuns, but Farhadi warned that the Taliban do not represent the Pashtuns.

Afghanistan's other ethnic groups include Uzbeks, Hazaris, Turkmans and Baluchs. The Pashtuns constitute less than one-third of the Afghanistan population, he said.

"I would like to conclude by launching an appeal to all member nations to genuinely help the weary people of Afghanistan in their long uphill battle against terrorism," he said.

The Security Council froze Taliban assets and imposed an international flight ban on Afghanistan's Ariana airlines in November 1999 to pressure the hardline Islamic militia to turn over bin Laden for trial in the twin U.S. embassy bombings in Africa in August 1998. The council added an arms embargo against the Taliban in January.

Pakistan is the only country to recognize Taliban rule.

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