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Afghan issue back on the menu at P~s~~~~ ~~~l ~~\1S) \ By ZulfiqarAli ~~-f G-e~¥:Y(}tSf{1{;~rt' , Feb 7: The Khushal Hall of Jamaat-i-Islami Qazi Hussain Ahmad hosted This was evident from the remarks of Gen er became Corps Commander of Nangarhar Peshawar's sole five-star hotel has been wit- the conference "The Afghan issue: regional Hamid Gul, the self declared architect of the province recommended sites of potential ness to significant political manoeuvering in implications and suggestions for sustainable Afghan and Maulana Fazlur Rehman, threat for air strikes. ~ghanistan's bloody history, showcasing brisk peace" under the umbrella of Centre for chief of Jamiat illema-i-Islam. The level of frustration expressed by some activities ahead of changes in the war-tom Discussions and Solutions (CDS). Gen Hamid Gul in his address regretted speakers in the CDS conference clearly indica- country. The CDS conference was overshadowed by that had been bypassed in Talks with ted that Pakistan's choices and options have ~ So much so that shortly before the fall of the former civil and military officers, who have going on in Qatar peninsula. Maulana squeezed to greater extant. .Position of the Taliban regime, the 'Peshawar Group', a con- equal role in sending into the Fazl said that Pakistan has been isolated and much touted Haqqani Network is still unclear glomeration of Afghan warlords and splinter Stone Age, Jamaat-i-Islami's like-minded intel- the 'students' are now in the lap of though Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar groups, held its first open meeting at Khushal lectuals and Afghan opposition leaders, who Washington. The Maulana also disclosed that has expressed her willingness to influence the Hall named after great worrier and poet were near and dear to the American Empire Taliban and Americans were in contact for the network play role for bringing peace to the Khushal Khan Khattak, to deliberate upon the during the Soviet occupation of the country. last four years and Pakistan was always at the war-tom country. situation developing in their country., Moderators very smoothly ran the function. receiving end in the Afghan issue. However, ground realities are different. Pir Syed Ahmad Gilani, chief of, National Menu for lunch and dinner was very rich but Nevertheless Pakistan was holding many Pakistan's Afghan policy is now largely de- Islamic Front of Afghanistan, was ille moving list of the guests from Afghanistan was not im- cards even after 9/11 and despite fall of the pending upon Hikmatyar group, which is con- spirit behind the formation of Assenibly for pressive. Key players of the bloody game who Taliban government in Kabul which was a ma- sidered 's most loyal and close sym- Peace and National Unity of Afghamstan, or, were nurtured here during last 30 years were jor setback. A strong corps of anti-Taliban pathiser in Afghanistan. in other words, the Peshawar Group. absent fI-om the show. Probably they are now commanders and opposition members though Gulbadin Hikmatyar has expressed serious Pir Gilani had convened the jirka of the in direct contact With Washington or not hap- they were not happy with Islamabad at time reservations over the opening of the Taliban n Afghan warlords in Khushal Hall. 'Nobody at py with Islamabad's pro-Taliban stance. That were residing in Peshawar. office in Qatar and their secret talks with the rE that time expected open gathering of the anti- was they were not present. Apart from Pir Syed Gilani's "Peshawar Americans. Hikmatyar's Hizb-i-Isalmi has be- I n, Taliban forces in Peshawar. Only political adviser of Gulbadin Group", a body called "Eastern " com- come active after opening of the Qatar office. The movement and open activities of the an- Hikmatyar's Hizb-i-Islami Dr Ghairat Baheer prising anti-Taliban warlords, was allowed to His family and relatives have resurfaced and bl ti-Taliban groups and commanders in and former interim Prime Minister Ahmad open its office in the University Town, rented bungalows in Margalla range. The par- bt Peshawar were clear indications that mentors Shah Ahmadzai, head of United Coalition Peshawar. Jalaluddin Haqqani, a proponent of ty is organising conference on the Afghan is- I to were mentally prepared either to get rid of the Front of Afghanistan were the key leaders. the Pakistan strategic depth was regularly vis- sue in Blue Area, Islamabad, on February 19. t'~regime in Kabul or use them as bargaining No representative of any Taliban faction, iting Islamabad in those days. The visible change is that before 9/11 Su $1chip. However, suddenly 9/11 happened which Haqqani Network or Afghan government at- There was hustle bustle of the anti-Taliban Sameeul Haq was organising activities under pe ,tlchanged the whole scenario. tended the conference. Absence of the main commanders and warlords in the dusty and the banner of Pakistan-Afghanistan Defence to .f' Ten years after 9/11, architects and benefi- stakeholders from the event indicates present narrow lanes of Peshawar. Afghan warlords Council, while after 10 years, Qazi Hussain's off ciaries of the Afghan jihad assembled at the position and role of Islamabad in the reshap- were getting free satellite phone sets and cash CDS has been tasked to mobilise supporters Khushal Hall on January 31. Retired chief of ing future of Afghanistan. dollars. A warlord .based in Peshawar who lat- for safeguarding national interests. gat ,.. - - ~ Two held for Ir