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The
Pacific-Asian Museum, which supports the International Committee for the
Salvation of the Cultural Heritage of Afghanistan, is located in Pasadena,
California.
UNESCO seeks to protect the finest examples of cultural and environmental
heritage in the world.
Here
is a letter from Ahmed Shah Massoud to the U.S.A. in 1998
From www.afgha.com
In
the name of God
Mr. Chairman,
honorable representatives of the people of the United States of America,
I send this
message to you today on behalf of the freedom and peace-loving people
of Afghanistan, the Mujahedeen freedom fighters who resisted and defeated
Soviet communism, the men and women who are still resisting oppression
and foreign hegemony and, in the name of more than one and a half million
Afghan martyrs who sacrificed their lives to uphold some of the same values
and ideals shared by most Americans and Afghans alike. This is a crucial
and unique moment in the history of Afghanistan and the world, a time
when Afghanistan has crossed yet another threshold and is entering a new
stage of struggle and resistance for its survival as a free nation and
independent state.
I have spent the past 20 years, most of my youth and adult life, alongside
my compatriots, at the service of the Afghan nation, fighting an uphill
battle to preserve our freedom, independence, right to self-determination
and dignity. Afghans fought for God and country, sometime alone, at other
times with the support of the international community. Against all odds,
we, meaning the free world and Afghans, halted and checkmated Soviet expansionism
a decade ago. But the embattled people of my country did not savor the
fruits of victory. Instead they were thrust in a whirlwind of foreign
intrigue, deception, great-gamesmanship and internal strife. Our country
and our noble people were brutalized, the victims of misplaced greed,
hegemonic designs and ignorance. We Afghans erred too. Our shortcomings
were as a result of political innocence, inexperience, vulnerability,
victimization, bickering and inflated egos. But by no means does this
justify what some of our so-called Cold War allies did to undermine this
just victory and unleash their diabolical plans to destroy and subjugate
Afghanistan.
Today, the
world clearly sees and feels the results of such misguided and evil deeds.
South-Central Asia is in turmoil, some countries on the brink of war.
Illegal drug production, terrorist activities and planning are on the
rise. Ethnic and religiously-motivated mass murders and forced displacements
are taking place, and the most basic human and women’s rights are
shamelessly violated. The country has gradually been occupied by fanatics,
extremists, terrorists, mercenaries, drug Mafias and professional murderers.
One faction, the Taliban, which by no means rightly represents Islam,
Afghanistan or our centuries-old cultural heritage, has with direct foreign
assistance exacerbated this explosive situation. They are unyielding and
unwilling to talk or reach a compromise with any other Afghan side.
Unfortunately,
this dark accomplishment could not have materialized without the direct
support and involvement of influential governmental and non-governmental
circles in Pakistan. Aside from receiving military logistics, fuel and
arms from Pakistan, our intelligence reports indicate that more than 28,000
Pakistani citizens, including paramilitary personnel and military advisers
are part of the Taliban occupation forces in various parts of Afghanistan.
We currently hold more than 500 Pakistani citizens including military
personnel in our POW camps. Three major concerns - namely terrorism, drugs
and human rights - originate from Taliban-held areas but are instigated
from Pakistan, thus forming the inter-connecting angles of an evil triangle.
For many Afghans, regardless of ethnicity or religion, Afghanistan, for
the second time in one decade, is once again an occupied country.
Let me correct
a few fallacies that are propagated by Taliban backers and their lobbies
around the world. This situation over the short and long-run, even in
case of total control by the Taliban, will not be to anyone’s interest.
It will not result in stability, peace and prosperity in the region. The
people of Afghanistan will not accept such a repressive regime. Regional
countries will never feel secure and safe. Resistance will not end in
Afghanistan, but will take on a new national dimension, encompassing all
Afghan ethnic and social strata.
The goal
is clear. Afghans want to regain their right to self-determination through
a democratic or traditional mechanism acceptable to our people. No one
group, faction or individual has the right to dictate or impose its will
by force or proxy on others. But first, the obstacles have to be overcome,
the war has to end, just peace established and a transitional administration
set up to move us toward a representative government.
We are willing
to move toward this noble goal. We consider this as part of our duty to
defend humanity against the scourge of intolerance, violence and fanaticism.
But the international community and the democracies of the world should
not waste any valuable time, and instead play their critical role to assist
in any way possible the valiant people of Afghanistan overcome the obstacles
that exist on the path to freedom, peace, stability and prosperity. Effective
pressure should be exerted on those countries who stand against the aspirations
of the people of Afghanistan. I urge you to engage in constructive and
substantive discussions with our representatives and all Afghans who can
and want to be part of a broad consensus for peace and freedom for Afghanistan.
With all
due respect and my best wishes for the government and people of the United
States,
Ahmad Shah
Massoud.
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