DUSHANBE, September 11, 2009, Asia-Plus — Using destabilization in Afghanistan and scaring the region with the Taliban, the United States has managed to strengthen its position in Central Asia, Hikmatullo Sayfullozoda, a spokesman for the Islamic Revival Party (IRPT), said, commenting on development of the situation in the region over the past eight years after the September 11 attacks.
According to him, the United States has forgotten that the main goal of the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan is in fighting terrorism and extremism. “Under the pretext of establishing peace in neighboring Afghanistan, they have strengthened their authority in the region and this has been done by back consent of such influential power as Russia,” said Sayfullozoda, “Besides, the United States is using the Taliban to scare Russia and Central Asia’s states and the idea of dialogue with “moderate Taliban” is evidence of this.”
As far as a common strategy of establishment of stability in Afghanistan is concerned, the expert considers that the sides have not yet reached an agreement on this subject. “In this context, Tajikistan does not have any special place or influence,” said he. “It is to be noted that separately, all the countries of the region support an idea of the common strategy of solution of the issue; however, they want to derive “their own benefit” from solution of the Afghan problem.”
On the further development of the situation and ways to solve this problem, the IRPT spokesman stressed that politicians and statesmen of the region must have a common, transparent and unbiased strategy regarding the world developments.
