Faizi angrily rejects Dobbins remarks on war in Afghanistan

KABUL, James Dobbins, who said Afghanistan was facing a civil war.

In a recent interview with the Voice of America, Ambassador Dobbins responded to a question about fears of a civil war in Afghanistan once foreign troops leave in 2014 by saying that “Afghanistan is already in a civil war.” He went on to stress the importance of a political settlement to the conflict in Afghanistan.

During an exclusive interview with Pajhwok Afghan News, presidential spokesman Aimal Faizi said if the US and its western allies considered the war against terrorism in Afghanistan as a civil war then why they sought military bases in Afghanistan.

He said if the war in Afghanistan was a civil one, then the US had been fighting a civil war in Afghanistan over the past more than a decade.

Faizi said Afghanistan was a victim of terrorism and the ongoing war in the country had the UN mandate that allowed the US and NATO to come to the country.

He said Dobbins remarks showed centres and the roots of terrorism were both in Pakistan and Afghanistan, but the world knew where the roots lied.

He said terrorism was exported to Afghanistan from Pakistan where insurgents were openly trained and nurtured.

He added Dobbins remarks were discussed at National Security Council (NSC) Sunday’s meeting and it had been decided to seriously follow the issue.

mrh/ma