Topic started by Vishvesh Obla (@ 63.65.68.246) on Wed Sep 12 11:07:03 .
All times in EST +10:30 for IST.

An interesting reply by Commander Ahmad Shah Masood

In the 1980s, you were involved in fighting a foreign invader - the Soviet Union. But now you are fighting an army made up substantially of the Afghan people. How do you feel doing that?

In the past also, the Russians had with themselves Khalqis and Parchamites (the communists) fighting against us who were Afghanis. Now the only difference is that earlier the invasion (aggression) was from the north and this time around it is from the south. In the past, aggression was very clear and their ideology was known to us but now the aggression is veiled, and all crimes are committed in the name of Islam and its defence…

The reply makes clear what kind of forces are operating behind the Taliban today. It is essentially a shift of a different kind of class force that Masood without his knowledge seems to be recognizing today. Commander Masood is the Deputy President and Defence Minister of the U.N.-recognised Islamic Government of Afghanistan. And there are various shades of meaning implied by this particular reply and the one that follows. For those who are interested, try this link

http://www.hinduonnet.com/stories/05122523.htm

The articles in the newspaper The Hindu when archived get a different URL and this article can be found in the above URL only today.

Responses:

• From: anu (@ 203.124.235.74) on: Thu Sep 13 07:34:59
  
  wasn't the same Masood responsible for the massacre of Najibullah and his family?
  
  
• From: Vishvesh Obla (@ 63.65.68.246) on: Thu Sep 13 08:30:09
  
  Hi Anu,
  
  I have only implied that whether it is Masood or it is Taliban, they have only been motivated by class forces. This article acquires some significance, for Masood is today the Deputy President and Defence Minister of the U.N.-recognised Islamic Government of Afghanistan . It seems to me only as another example of the subtle parody of common sense by the class forces.
  
  
• From: anu (@ 203.115.106.41) on: Sun Sep 16 10:54:25
  
  oops! I beg your pardon, that was an off-the cuff remark. I didn't go thru the article in the link..
  
  
• From: Srini (@ 210-210-32-3.lan.sify.net) on: Mon Sep 17 07:11:44
  
  Vishvesh,
  
  I read the entire interview in 'Hard copy'. Ironically it was published in "The Hindu" dt. Sep 12,the day after the WTC was borught down by terrorists.
  
  I think he is dead now, right ? Unfortunately, so. Besides class force etc. (of which I really have no deep understanding), you should have observed the pride in Pushtoon ethnicity and the unequivocal accusation of Pakistan for all the troubles that Afghanis are facing now. Also, the fact that he regards Afghanis as distinct from Arabs and Pakistanis by race/ethnicity and hence Afghani's right to determine their goals themselves.
  
  He is (was) also on the side of ousted Zahir Shah, now on Exile.
  
  Besides, what had happened to another guy called Rashid Doustam who was fighting too, leading some Uzbek factions long back?
  
  I wish Kabul gets itself out of the tangles of both Taliban and Pakistan and becomes the land of Kabuliwah yore - a land with men of lifetime committment and friendship.
  
  If only the world had found an alternative to Oil, Saudi and Pak could be brought to their knees and Terrorism could be under check.
  
  
  
• From: Vishvesh Obla (@ alb-66-24-214-34.nycap.rr.com) on: Mon Sep 17 19:35:47
  
  Hi Srini,
  
  Yes, Masood is no more.
  
  The history of Afghanistan is very much shrouded for me to collect minute details. What I personally feel is that USSR would have tackled them if left alone in their battle with the fundamentalist forces of Afghanistan. In fact, they had a sizable support of leftist groups in Afghanistan itself. It is not only the fundamentalist forces of Afghanistan, but so many other monsters in East Europe which were unleashed by the collapse of the Soviet Regime and the fall of socialist rule in East European countries. Believe me or not, it is still a fact that Soviet Russia was a buffer for most of the issues of the world today, and we have done unimaginable harm in dismantling it. Mankind can progress only in a few possible ways today in our class infested world ; I posted the article by Masood and another article elsewhere to show that there are various levels to look at this issue. If we can’t look at such issues in their class perspectives, we are not going to end up anywhere ; we will only be forever stuck up in this vicious cycle.
  
  I don’t know if the presence of ‘oil ’ plays any vital role today. Anyway, I don’t think it is that important to focus on.
  
  
• From: Srini (@ lan-202-144-64-250.maa.sify.net) on: Thu Sep 20 12:00:31
  
  Hello Vishvesh,
  
  I agree with you that 'Communism' had as much of an 'indoctrinating' effect that 'Islam' is supposedly capable of providing to keep the mind unifocused, and to that extent, the extension of Soviet Union could have helped. The relative peace in the 5 -stans (Kazhak, Uzbek, Tajik, Turk, Turkmeni) are certainly the result of higher literacy and increased women empowerment under SU. But it is tough to guess whether any further exposusre to communism or totalitarian regime could have obliterated the religiousness or the propensity to indulge in future theistic wars completely.
  
  The resurgence of Orthodox Christianity in Russia, Ukraine etc. and the gradual Islamisation of the 5 stans is a grim reminder that 70 odd years of Communism could still not wipe away 1000/2000 year old affiliations. There is even a modest resurgence of Zoraostrianisn in some of these 5 stans.
  
  And, I certainly beleive you cannot discount the role of 'Oil money'. Have you heard Sudan/ Bangladesh training Muslim rebels for attacks on other countries. It's only Oil rich Saudi Arabia/ Iran that can afford to keep Jehadi camps alive via subverting funds through Pakistan (which the deceases Ahamed Shah Masood himself accused of trying the become the axis of Islamic countries).
  
  
• From: Srini (@ lan-202-144-64-250.maa.sify.net) on: Thu Sep 20 12:02:04
  
  >>5 -stans (Kazhak, Uzbek, Tajik, Turk, Turkmeni) <<
  
  Please replace "Turk" with "Kyrgy"
  
  
• From: Vishvesh Obla (@ 63.65.68.246) on: Thu Sep 20 12:40:39
  
  Srini,
  
  There you go, my friend.
  
  But it is tough to guess whether any further exposusre to communism or totalitarian regime could have obliterated the religiousness or the propensity to indulge in future theistic wars completely
  
  Religion, as such, has not been something today to be reckoned with in the socio-political development of mankind, but it becomes a menace only when it disguises itself and turns into a class force. This is a point we all seemingly know of but still miss when we talk in relation to socialism. We see so many discussions today even in this forum if Islam as a religion or its false practioners are to be blamed. Religion, at its best, remains only as a personal affair. Its ugly face is only a class manifestation. What I want to point out is that religious issues today have its sources elsewhere and in a socialistic set up the possibility of such sources existing are lesser, for they are more clearly recognized.
  
  
• From: Afghan Girl (@ ) on: Tue Sep 2 00:13:42
  
  Massoud was great! Afghanistan will never have a true son like him again. May he rest in peace and may Pakistan be destroyed to pieces...
  
  
• From: JOE (@ ) on: Mon Sep 22 11:11:46
  
  Ahamed Shah Masood was a matryer of the Islam World. Very God fear think about in the 80's. The russian army was in search of Him and not a clue or even a inch of his notification and whereabouts was known and until the Talibans. Afghans would have seen a great turn in their History if he would have been here today.
  
  
• From: SADUDDIN (@ ) on: Sat Nov 15 13:32:19
  
  what he did in the history of Afghanistan no one has done. he was a great son of Afghanistan and a true son of Islam. from very beganning he tried to defeat the enemies of Afghanistan and ISLAM. he was fighting Jahad aganist Russia and then he fight Jahad aganist Pakistan. and at the end he was fighting Jahad aganist Pakistan,Pakistan's Taliban,and Al-Qada.At last he was martyer be the USA. they martyeried him inorder to capture Afghanistan and they did so.May our masood be in peace.
  
  

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