Afghan Vice President Predicts Long-term US Presence

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Sunday, August 18, 2002

Afghan Vice President Predicts Long-term US Presence

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Afghan Vice President and Minister of Defence Marshal Mohammad Qasim Fahim admitted Saturday that the US troops would prolong their stay in Afghanistan because the al-Qaeda members and Taliban remnants were still operating in some parts of the country.

Commenting on US General Tommy Franks' recent assertion that the US forces in Afghanistan would remain for years to come, Fahim said that the US troops would maintain their presence until the terrorists were dismissed out of the country completely.

"At this point of time, some areas of Afghanistan, especially in the south, al-Qaeda is still operating and their cells are still there. They are still after destabilizing the situation in Afghanistan," he said.

"Until that threat exists, our forces will operate against the mjointly with US forces, and our US friends will remain here."

"As this operation has completed, and al-Qaeda is out of the picture, terrorist activities no long exists, at that point, our national army will be in place as well, the responsibility will be turned over to Afghan army forces."

Fahim held his first press conference as vice president and minister of defence Saturday to clear the "confusion" created by some Western media. He criticized some biased reports of giving a "pessimistic" picture of Afghanistan and praised the relationship between President Hamid Karzai and himself as "close and cooperative."

On the new multi-ethnic national army, the defence minister told reporters that the formation of the national army was a must for the country after 23 years of war, and the national defence council was founded to this purpose.

"The formation of the national army is the wish of all the people of Afghanistan, and the national army will be the guarantor of our independence as a nation."

He said that the introductory work for the national army had been completed, and the process was going on very well.

On demobilization, he said that the disarmament program had started "in a very successful manner."

He reiterated that all the weapons widespread in the country must be collected and returned to the government.

Weapons belong to the people of Afghanistan, to the ministry of defence, to the defence forces and to the army, he added.

The defence minister also defended some regional warlords, such as Deputy Defence Minister Rashid Dostum, Ismael Khan and Atta Mohammad, saying that they were ready to serve the country and the Afghan people. But he described the rebellious warlord Padsha KhanZadran as "a criminal."

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