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Kathmandu Tuesday October 09, 2001 Ashwin 23, 2058.
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War on terrorism
The US and British planes — four weeks
after the attack on World Trade Centre (WTC) and the Pantagon — have launched air
strikes against the Taliban regime to flush out Osama bin Laden, including his Al Qaida
members. bin Laden heads a terrorist group called Al Qaida in Afghanistan. The Al Qaida
has trained over 300,000 militant fighters from across the world to fight a Holy War
against the western "imperialism." It has launched a series of attacks in recent
years, especially against the US, including the last month suicide attack that claimed
over 6000 lives. bin Laden was accused of masterminding the attacks on the US missions in
Kenya and Tanzaniya, besides the 1993 WTC attack that claimed over 200 lives. The Al Qaida
is believed to have been established in the same year the Soviet pulled out its troops
from Afghanistan. US president George Bush has even vowed to ‘smoke’ him out of
that country. However, the military strike on the Taliban regime, even if it is only to
capture bin Laden, will certainly displace thousands of innocent people as a result of war
against terror. Thousands of people have already fled that country to neighbouring
Pakistan, fearing possible US military strike.
Taliban that overthrew the Russia backed
regime, with the support of Pakistan, has been in power since 1996 only. Like Ghori,
Aurangzeb, Ghazni and Khiljis, who plundered the civilization and ruled the subcontinent
ruthlessly, the Taliban regime too imposed "Nazi-like label" on Hindus living
for generations in that country to distinguish themselves from the Muslim community. Hindu
population there have been reduced to mere five hundred out of fifty thousand in five
years. It detained workers associated with international agencies, accusing them of
preaching Christianity. Earlier, the regime destroyed two Bamiyan statues of Lord Buddha,
carved out of a cliff during the third and fifth centuries. Like medieval’s Ghori,
this was done because chief Taliban religious leader Omar Mulla claimed: "Islam does
not allow worship of idols." However, Omar’s edict was against the Koran.
The US-led international forces have launched
military strikes against the Taliban regime. Tony Blair’s whirlwind visit to Moscow,
Islamabad and Delhi had indicated the possibility of such military strikes on Afghanistan.
Such attacks are supposed to end "terrorism" unleashed by Laden-led Al Qaida.
Nepal has fully backed the war against terrorism. However, it should not limit the war to
bin Laden’s arrest. The western countries must draw a long term plan to fight against
terrorism. The broad-based coalition government, as announced by the US, should also bring
political stability in Afghanistan. Afghanistan has been reeling under war since 1979. The
end of the Taliban regime must herald prospects for peace and prosperity in Afghanistan.
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