A Talk With The "Taliban-Maker", Former Pakistani ISI Chief Hamid Gul -- Asharq Al-Awsat
[Asharq Al-Awsat] What are the sides participating in the fighting in the Pakistani tribal region? Would you give us an idea about those that bore arms against the Pakistani army?
[Gul] There are two categories of fighters in the tribal region. The first category consists of those that are fighting to avenge what took place in Pakistan following the 11 September 2001 attacks, especially those that are fighting to avenge what happened during the military operation that was carried out in the Red Mosque or the Lal Masjid. But these are not currently active after the new government took over power in Islamabad. This issue could be settled if we had an independent judicial authority in Pakistan that would investigate the killing that took place in the Red Mosque. These citizens continue to carry out acts of vengeance in some places. The second category consists of the criminal elements that fled from the Pakistani cities and found refuge in the tribal region.
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My Comment: This interview with Former Pakistani ISI Chief Hamid Gul is a real winner .... and congrats to the news organization Asharq Al-Awsat to get it. In a nutshell, this "founder" of the Taliban is blaming the Americans for the civil war in Pakistan, and completely dissociates the idea that there is any ISI connection with today's Taliban movement. But in the same breath, he admits that officials from the ISI (including himself) do maintain "friendly social " relations with the Taliban and other extremists groups.
This murderous and cocky thug is not even denying having links with these terrorists .... he is reveling in it. Sigh .... he is a perfect symbol of what is wrong in Pakistan today. They are playing both sides of the street .... but this lack of initiative only plays into the hands of Islamic extremists .... a fact that he is in complete denial of .... or complicit in. But then again .... he has always maintained that 9/11 was an inside job, and that Osama Bin Laden was not responsible for it.