International
South Asia
'CIA trained Osama and Al Zawahiri'
11/20/2006
- By SHAFQAT ALI
Islamabad, Nov. 20: The secretary-general of the ruling Pakistan Muslim League, Senator Mushahid Hussian, said on Monday that the US spy agency CIA has trained more than 20,0000 Afghans and 30,000 Arabs, including Osama bin Laden and Aiman al Zawahiri.
In his address at the International Defence Seminar in Karachi, the senator claimed the agency had also spent more than $2.1 billion on this programme. He also said that Osama bin Laden and others were also paid by the CIA. Mr Hussain said as a repercussion of the inconsistent policies of the West during the Afghan war, Pakistan is facing internal and external terrorism besides providing shelter to 3.5 million Afghan refugees.
He said there shouldn't be double standards on matters related to atomic energy and pointed out the sanctions slapped on N. Korea while the US and India are signing nuclear cooperation agreements at the same time.
He said that the world situation has become more volatile since it's turning uni-polar, while the double standard has forced to think about many things. Mr Hussain said that Pakistan's relations with India were being paved on a new course and the Kashmir on both sides of the Line of Control has been included in the solution of the Kashmir conflict.
Meanwhile, adressing the same seminar, Pakistan's defence minister Rao Sikandar Iqbal has said that if the injustices were not redressed, then the reining in of the terrorism would be difficult.
Mr Iqbal said that Pakistan stands firm on its stance against terrorism for ensuring the world peace and security, despite heavy sacrifices made by its Army.
The minister said that the Pakistan-make arms were more dependable and effective besides being low-cost, meeting the demands of the developing countries.