...former chancellor of Kabul University. Before returning to Afghanistan in 2002 he was a scholar of political science and anthropology. He worked at the World Bank working on international development assistance. As Finance Minister of Afghanistan between July 2002 and December 2004, he led Afghanistan's attempted economic recovery until the Karzais stole all the money. ..
's high expectations for his first trip to Pakistain,
Maulana Fazlur RehmanDeobandi holy man, known as
Mullah Dieselduring the war against the Soviets, his sympathies for the Taliban have never been tempered by honesty ...
, the leader of the Assembly of Islamic Clergy in Pakistain, welcomed him by calling Jihad in Afghanistan justified.
But analysts have said Rehman's views should not be a surprise, as empowering extremism is Pakistain's fundamental philosophy. These commentators have said Pakistain's interference in Afghanistan and support for terrorist groups will not be resolved by trips and bilateral talks, but only by pressure from the international community.
"These meetings between Afghanistan and Pakistain might end at economic level," political analyst Malek Setiz said. "I believe that from the political and security point of view, these bilateral meetings will have no results; the only way that can improve the political and security situation in the region is through multilateral talks and involvement of the international community for resolving the issue, along with international pressure on Pakistain."
Despite that evidence of the Pak military and intelligence services supporting the Taliban and other terrorist groups has been well established, analysts say Pakistain's nuclear power keeps the west from putting too much pressure on its government.
"Sartaj Aziz has said that we wish for friendship and cooperation with Afghanistan, but Maulana Fazl-ur-Rehman, a member of Pak intelligence, has said that jihad in Afghanistan is permissible and we will continue the battle in Afghanistan," political analyst Ahmad Saeedi said. "It's the two-faced politics of Pakistain that stops from reaching a decision; Paks are still not honest on issues related to Afghanistan and do not want to end the destruction of Afghanistan."
During his presidency, President Hamid
Maybe I'll join the TalibanKarzai
... A former Baltimore restaurateur, now 12th and current President of Afghanistan, displacing the legitimate president Rabbani in December 2004. He was installed as the dominant political figure after the removal of the Taliban regime in late 2001 in a vain attempt to put a
Pashtunface on the successor state to the Taliban. After the 2004 presidential election, he was declared president regardless of what the actual vote count was. He won a second, even more dubious, five-year-term after the 2009 presidential election. His grip on reality has been slipping steadily since around 2007, probably from heavy drug use...
traveled to Pakistain 21 times, but was unable to secure peace with the Taliban. Although many remain hopeful for a new beginning under President Ghani, comments like those made by Rehman this week cast doubt on those hopes.