MOSCOW. Oct 2 (Interfax-AVN) - "The Taliban's hours are numbered," Afghanistan's Ambassador to Russia Abdul Wahab Assefi said at a Tuesday press conference at Interfax's main office.
Now "even the Taliban's forefathers in Pakistan understand this," he said.
What the Taliban are doing in Afghanistan does not fit into the principles of Islam and contradicts the culture of the people of Afghanistan. "The Taliban is trying to turn the entire society into a wild creature, their main goal is to make Afghanistan the center of international terrorism in Afghanistan," Assefi said.
The Taliban "does not represent any nationality or ethnic group," because terrorism does not have any ethnicity or religion," Assefi said. "The Taliban took advantage of the moment to take the people of Afghanistan hostage. They are not supported by the country's population, the people oppose their occupation," the ambassador said.
The ambassador said that the democratic circles in his country had warned long ago that the Taliban are not "a state-forming power."
Assifi thanked the Russian administration for its support of the anti-Taliban coalition, and also for humanitarian aid to the people of Afghanistan.
He said that Zakhir Shah, the former king of Afghanistan (who is currently living in Italy) is "one of the biggest international figures who has authority among the people of Afghanistan."
The ambassador recalled that the anti-Taliban coalition has been in contact with Zakhir Shah for a long time and these contacts "are continuing today." He also said a delegation of the Islamic State of Afghanistan is currently in Italy, and the delegation members and the former king have agreed to set up a Supreme Council of National Unity. "This body will be able to consolidate all the constructive forces in Afghanistan," Assifi said.
Assifi found it difficult to answer the question as to the exact whereabouts of Osama bin Laden. At the same time, the ambassador said bin Laden together with the Taliban's spiritual leader Mullah Omar is hiding in the mountains of Kandagar or in Urazgan. "During the years of Soviet occupation, many hiding places were built in the Afghan mountains, and they were later captured by the Taliban. They also built new shelters, there are several dozen of them," the ambassador said.