Afghan war ‘lost cause’ for US: Gul

WASHINGTON - Describing the US led war against the Taliban and Al-Qaeda in Afghanistan as a “lost cause”, former Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) chief Hamid Gul has said that Washington needs to negotiate with the Taliban commander Mullah Omar to end the nine eight year old war.

In an interview with the CNN, Gul, while rejecting allegations of the ISI supporting Al-Qaeda, Gul said that negotiations with the Taliban was the only option before the US in Afghanistan.

“You have to talk to him, and I’m sure it will work out very well,” Gul said during the interview, which would be aired on Sunday.

“There is only one man who can give the guarantee that there will be no terrorism exported from Afghanistan. Don’t talk to Karzai; he’s a puppet,” he said.

He rubbished the Wikileaks’ revelation that the ISI has continued to assist and provide logistical support both to the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, especially when he was in command, and said that he was being made a scapegoat.

“I’m quite a convenient scapegoat. I don’t support any one faction in Afghanistan. I support the Afghan nation,” The Nation quoted Gul, as saying.

He pointed out that a mixture of poor intelligence and a home-field advantage enjoyed by the Taliban was working against the US in Afghanistan.

“Time is on the side of the resistance. In such a situation, to hope to win would be absolutely hare-brained,” Gul said.

Gul said the US forces would never admit losing the battle, and advised President Obama to stop listening to the army and work on reconciliation efforts.

“I would advise President Obama - please, do not listen to your military, because militaries have the unfortunate tendency never to accept their defeat. They will say if we receive more proceeds, if we receive more logistics, if we receive more funds, then we will be able to overcome. This is a psychological problem,” he said. (ANI)