An interview with Afghan Ambassador Nawabi

Dhaka , Bangladesh, April 09 — Recently, I had the chance to sit with Mr. Ahmad Karim Nawabi, the Afghan ambassador to Bangladesh. I went with Mr. Dipal Barua to see the ambassador, and the meeting was excellent. During the interview, as I asked him questions about Islamic terrorism, he qualified it not as Islamic terrorism, but as terrorism, period.

Q: Mr. Nawabi, thank you for agreeing to be interviewed by the CDA [Christian Development Alternative]. On March 31 at The Hague, Afghan President Hamid Karzai and U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton offered an olive branch to Taliban fighters who reject al-Qaida. Now, is this an acknowledgement that Afghanistan has indeed failed in its fight against terror?

Nawabi: Terrorism is not only a national, but an international problem. To find the solution, there are two ways: one is military action and the other is a diplomatic solution. In the conference at The Hague, the Afghan president took the right initiative so that the rest of the world can be safe. That is the right step towards continuing to fight terrorism. Besides fighting the Taliban government, we want to make a platform with ex-Taliban members who show their full submission to the government and to the constitution of the country.

Q: It’s been seven years since the Taliban government in Afghanistan was booted out. However, news reports say that the Taliban is very active and growing in its influence in your country. Why do you think your government has failed in its fight against terror?

Nawabi: With the support of the international community, the Afghanistan government is trying to find a solution to its terrorism. It is not only a problem in Afghanistan, but all over the world. The international community has already found out that the source of terrorism flourished not in Afghanistan, but in Pakistan. The recent terrorist attacks in Pakistan are the living example.

Q: In the recent G20 meeting, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh stated that Pakistan is indeed the epicenter of terrorism. Your comments.

Nawabi: Our relations with India are very friendly. The source of terrorism has flourished in Pakistan, not in Afghanistan. To make an end to terrorism, we need to focus on the source, and that is Pakistan.

Q: Isn’t it a dangerous trend that your President Karzai is openly advocating the cause of Taliban fighters who have not allied with al-Qaida? After all, the Taliban is an Islamic terrorist outfit that has caused a lot of damage to Afghanistan’s progress and development.

Nawabi: In order to fight terrorism, we need to discuss and work together.

Q: What kind of role do you see for India to usher economic prosperity into your country?

Nawabi: India is a very friendly country, and for our economic prosperity, they are a very important partner.