RIYADH, 9 November — In this sixth and final part of his interview with Arab News and the London-based MBC television network, Prince Turki Al-Faisal, former chief of Saudi intelligence, spoke of how Saudi Arabia’s interest in the Afghan problem grew until it became a top priority on the Kingdom’s foreign policy agenda.

He said Saudi officials warned Muhammad Daoud, who overthrew his uncle, King Zahir Shah, against relying on the Communists to consolidate his rule. Daoud told the Saudis during a visit to the Kingdom in 1977 that he would move on the Communists first by "having them for lunch before they had him for dinner."

"What happened was that the Communists moved fast and had him for breakfast," Prince Turki said.

The Kingdom’s interest in the Afghan issue started long before the Soviet invasion in 1979. It developed in earnest with the Communists taking power in the Muslim country.

Spelling out the reasons, which resulted in Saudi Arabia focusing on Afghanistan in the 1980s, Prince Turki said Afghanistan is a Muslim country whose people had been subjected to brutal occupation by a foreign atheist Communist force. Since its founding, the Kingdom has been a supporter of Muslims everywhere — in Palestine, Algeria, Turkey, Kashmir and in all other countries that came under British and French colonization.

Russians had plans since the days of the czars to establish themselves a foot in the warm waters, the prince said. "It was obvious that the invasion of Afghanistan was one step toward reaching other countries, especially Pakistan, and then moving on to the Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula."

Former Afghan leader Muhammad Daoud visited the Kingdom in 1977 and met with King Khaled and Crown Prince Fahd and other Saudi officials, who warned him against relying on the communists to consolidate his rule. That was four years after the removal of Daoud’s uncle, King Zahir Shah.

Prince Turki said there were many revolts against the Communists when they took power in 1978 following the overthrow of Daoud. The revolts were led by a number of parties, including the Islamic Party led by Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, Jamaat-e-Islami led by former President Burhanuddin Rabbani, in addition to other figures such as Muhammad Nabi Muhammadi, Ahmad Jilani, Yunus Khalis and some Shiite parties. They moved into Pakistan, where some had gone long before the Communist coup against Zahir Shah in 1973. Among these were Ahmad Jilani and Sibghatullah Mujaddidi, who were close to the king.

"Following the Soviet invasion there were contacts with the late Pakistani President Zia-ul-Haq and the United States. It was agreed that support should be given to the Mujahedeen, who were active both before the invasion and during it. The deal called for purchasing weapons with Saudi and American money. The arms would be carried across Pakistan to the Mujahedeen. Pakistan’s role was to provide logistics to transfer the weapons. The deal stuck until the last Soviet soldier left Afghanistan."

Prince Turki said the Kingdom had always taken into account Pakistan’s best interests in any action taken regarding the Afghan Jihad.

"Saudi officials had always given Pakistan full consideration. Pakistan was the next target after Afghanistan and in order for Pakistan to avoid being subjected to any inconvenience or accused of supplying arms and sheltering the Mujahedeen, it was agreed that such operations should be conducted in secrecy."

This, however, did not mean that the Russians were not unaware of what was going on, but had no proof to allow them to rally an international position against Pakistan. "The Kingdom was as keen on ensuring the safety and stability of Pakistan as it was on the success of the Jihad." The agreement called for both the Kingdom and the United States to share the cost on an equal footing.

Unlimited support

On the amount of support the Kingdom provided, Prince Turki said he could not give figures. "I can’t determine the amounts allocated for the Jihad because the support was unlimited. The government provided the money for the arms, clothes and other supplies for the Mujahedeen. Simultaneously, there was a non-governmental support from the citizens which went to the refugees, the destitute, the orphans and for building schools and hospitals."

He said the annual budget to fund the war kept changing from year to year but rose steadily. The late Egyptian President Anwar Sadat had important links with Jihad because Egypt was a source for the weapons — since the arms needed by the Afghans were Soviet-made. Some were enhanced weapons, others were purchased by Egypt from the Soviet Union. It was important that such activity had to be arranged with President Sadat and later with his successor, President Hosni Mubarak.

"Jihad led to the emergence of unusual leaderships. Before that time, and during the monarchy, people relied on traditional leadership, including tribal chiefs and religious men whose word was heeded. There were social links binding the people together and resulting in a chain of command that was duly obeyed.

Discordant voices

When the Communists took over they destroyed the prevailing social fabric and smashed the tribal leadership as they did in any country they ruled. If the Communists had stayed longer, the destruction would have been much wider."

He said other personalities with different qualifications then appeared on the scene. These were put to the test during Jihad and passed and became prominent figures.

The prince said he would never forget a comment he heard from Ahmad Shah Ahmadzi, prime minister of the transitional government formed by the Afghans before the withdrawal of the Soviets. Ahmad jokingly suggested during a summit meeting with Pakistani officials that all nine Afghan leaders attending the meeting, including himself, should be arrested. The prince quoted him as saying this was "the best means to achieve the interests of the people."

Prince Turki spoke about the formation of the first alliance among the Mujahedeen in Makkah in 1980. The Mujahedeen arrived on their own initiative in the holy city where they made a pledge before the Holy Kaaba that they would unite in one party and then chose Sheikh Abdrab Al-Rasoul Sayyaf as their leader before returning to Pakistan. On that same day some disassociated themselves completely with the alliance. Sayyaf, however, continued to maintain that the union still held strong.

At every stage of the Jihad there was an attempt to reconcile the Mujahedeen. There was the Loya Jirga initiative in Pakistan in 1997, during which the Mujahedeen tried to form a transitional government on the eve of the Soviet withdrawal. It was described by Prince Turki as the "cleanest of all the attempts," with everybody attending on the hope it would result in international recognition.

Hekmatyar’s turnabout

The leaders agreed that members of the Loya Jirga from inside the country and from Iran, Saudi Arabia and Europe who had gained respect and loyalty should vote for one leader.

Whoever won the highest vote should become president, followed by the vice president and the foreign minister. Hekmatyar, however, did not like the result and rejected the outcome by withdrawing from the session.

Prince Turki said he went to see Hekmatyar at his residence in an attempt to convince him to change his position. He succeeded in doing so, and returned with a pledge from Hekmatyar. Less than one hour afterward, someone came to tell the prince that Hekmatyar gave a statement to a radio station in which he rejected the result of the vote and accused some countries of influencing the result. At that point Prince Turki decided to leave Islamabad for Jeddah.

Future of Afghans

The prince attributed the woes of the Mujahedeen to each faction’s ambition to come to power. Nobody will be able to solve Afghan issue except Afghans.

"It is possible neither for Pakistan, the United States or Saudi Arabia to impose a solution on them," he said.

All the settlement efforts should be based on the fact that Afghans are a single nation. They should also abandon the desire for revenge. The prince is optimistic about the future of Afghanistan.

"Their future will be bright if they are willing to work hard and are ready for sacrifices and of course without bickering for the leadership. They possess very good qualities. If only they are given a chance to unite."

He categorically denied that the Kingdom had any special preference for any of the Afghan leaders. The Saudi assistance used to be distributed among various parties on the recommendation of the charity officials in Pakistan, the US and the Kingdom.

"It is baseless to say that Sayyaf was favorite of the Kingdom’s. This rumor might have originated because of the fact that he represented the Mujahedeen in a summit of the Organization of the Islamic Conference held in Makkah in 1980.

"Sayyaf is still the head of an alliance of Afghan Mujahedeen which later broke up. He used to be invited to meetings to speak on behalf of the Mujahedeen. This might also have given the impression that the Kingdom supported him. There are, however, some Afghans who do not want Sayyaf to be an important leader. They spread rumors, for example that the Kingdom favors him and give him greater financial assistance.

"Regarding the role of Sayyaf, who is now part of the Northern Alliance, the prince said: "Every Afghan has a role. Like Sayyaf in the north, there are other Pashtun leaders, such as Hekmatyar and King Zahir Shah. All should play their roles."

The prince did not blame any particular leader for the disputes in the country. "As Ahmad Shah Ahmadzi said, leaders of all factions are responsible for the turmoil in Afghanistan."

He hoped that the King Fahd Project to rebuild Afghanistan will be revived. The Kingdom has a pioneering role in the reconstruction of the country.

Asked if he was willing to resume his previous role in Afghanistan, Prince Turki said: "God does not burden a man beyond his capabilities and a man should evaluate himself before he undertakes a job. I do not look forward or desire to take up such a tough job, but this does not mean that I will not serve my country if am ordered to. Then it will be honor for me, not a burden. But Afghanistan demands efforts beyond my capacity."

On his possible future political role, considering his experience as chief of general intelligence for over 24 years, he saied: "I do not think so. I have served all the time, with the grace of God, with the aim of progress, love and respect. Service is an honor, not a burden as I said earlier, in whatever capacity it may be, in the service of the nation. That is an honor which no one would decline."