Latest interview of mujahideen Khattab

Amir Khattab: «Insha Allah, there will be significant victories during this winter». Correspondent of Kavkaz-Center interviewed Military Amir of the Supreme Military Madzhlisul Shura of mujahideen, Khattab.

Question: What are the reasons -in your opinion- for the incident in USA on September 11?

Khattab: It's very difficult to specify at this stage who was behind these acts of terrorism in America. In order to understand these attacks, the reasons and purposes are needed to be established. What the Americans suffered that day, has been suffered by the Muslims of the Chechen Republic, Afghanistan and other regions of the world for the last decades on a daily basis. Tens of thousand of Muslims perish daily worldwide. Not thousand, but millions of Muslims are killed. In my opinion, the principal cause of what has taken place in America on September 11, is the policy of USA, which is carried out throughout the world. It is enough to see the policy adopted by America in Palestine. In the eyes of the entire world, Israelis are killing Muslims, occupying their lands, don't act even upon resolutions of United Nations, and America helps Israel in it.

Question: Many people say that a war against Islam has begun. But USA denies it by saying they are launching a war against terrorists?


Khattab: War against Islam has already been going from a long time. But now it has simply been declared. Besides, they want to destroy Islam using Muslim hands. And they call us terrorists, to justify their murders. The whole world knows, who the real terrorists are. But everyone is silent, because it is favorable for them.

Question: They say today, that the reason of their oppression is Osama bin Laden. What do you think about that?

Khattab: One person cannot be the reason for such a big war. It is a lie. The real reasons are different. I want to point out an event, that occurred in the Chechen Republic as an example.
It is that what happened in the villages of Sernovodsk and Assinovskaya of Achkhoi-Martan district. Russians set up real gangster brutality. Plundered, killed, and tortured. Local residents said, that they were attacked not by people, but animals. Many of the local men and women, not sustaining such violence, and not having an opportunity to resist, tried to commit suicide. They cut themselves with their own knifes. Then many of them came to us and declared, that they not simply are fed up of their lives, but together with themselves they want to take away, as much as possible, these animals, who name themselves people. They also came from other villages. People asked for help to die and kill, as much as possible, Russian kafirs. That is the reason. Though to revenge from Russians was possible in another way. But the situation looks like this. What is concerned with Osama bin Laden, as far as I know, he is in Afghanistan today. I think, that for him as for any normal Muslim neither riches, authority, nor glory is necessary. The gratitude to Allah is necessary for him. Well everyone should justify their own actions, so he is considered guilty, and bad. There is an Islamic rule in Afghanistan. There is Shari'ah. Muslims are getting stronger there. The West and Russia are dissatisfied with it from a long time. They are searching for reasons to begin a war, so that not to allow Shariah to establish in the state.

Question: Some experts consider, that in the name of struggle against terrorism, USA wants to solve some other problems and wants to control Central Asia. Thus they deceived Russians. Is It wise to say, that Russians have made a mistake? Or that there is an agreement between them?

Khattab: Russians, I think, have enough experience of war against Muslims. They saw this war in Afghanistan, and saw it in the Chechen Republic. And Russians know very well today, that nothing can be achieved with the use of force. America pushes Russian in this war. It seems to me, that Russians understand it. But, if Russians will go on an adventure again, they will regret it strongly very soon. Russians search for their interests too. I do not know, how much further will all this go, but this is a big bog and a big tomb. They can begin, but cannot finish this war because it will be war up to the end. And will extend for a very long long time. Retaliations will not be in one point, and in one place. And there will be tens, hundreds, thousands of points, where it is not expected.

Question: If the big war, however, will begin, what are the prospects?

Khattab: War has already began. But for us, Insha Allah, it is not war. It is a war for Americans and Russia. For us, it is fardh (a duty before Allah). It is the order of Allah that Muslims must protect their grounds, and houses. Now we are under laws of Kufr. They openly plunder our riches, and kill Muslims under pretexts and reasons. Any state today does not wish to implement laws of Allah. By names, there are many Islamic countries, but there are no such countries, where practically their law was completely on the basis of Shariah. Americans speak about peace. They are dodging. Afghanistan was at war for twenty years. Allah has prepared them for this. It was left with shame by two big states - England and Russia. Today, Insha Allah, all Muslims are ready to help and support them because the decision taken by Taliban, whether it pleases USA or not, it is the decision based on Shariah. They are speaking nothing from themselves. They speak the language of Shariah. Afghanistan will not remain alone. They will be helped. All peoples will help them. I do not speak of the states. The states are sick. And not only, that they are sick, They are traitors. I have Arabian states in mind. We expect nothing from the leadership of these states. But their Muslim people will support, because their purpose is Shariah. There is no choice for Muslims today. Whether Taliban remain or not - for Muslims, it is fardh to protect Shariah, the same as niyat (intention) when we bow to Allah in prayers. Our duty is the protection of Shariah, which is established in Afghanistan and that is all. And those, who will try to break Shariah, should pay a big price.

Question: Russian speak about your connections with Osama bin Laden

Khattab: He and I were in Afghanistan in one time, during the war with the Soviet Union. He is a good mujahid and scholar. And is a very decent person, Insha Allah. All of us respected him very much and never saw any roughness and injustice from his side. Then he left for Sudan from Afghanistan. Again came to Afghanistan from Sudan. I did not see him since eight year. Even I did not talk to him at all.

Question: And are you familiar with Mullah Omar?

Khattab: Wallah, when I was there, there were no Talibans at all. And Mullah Mohammed Omar was not known in general to anybody. Later on, we came to know about him in his absence. They are alims (religious scholars), they were at war against Russian. Received wounds, when they were at war against Soviet Union.

Question: You have enough military experience. How will the events in Afghanistan develop in your opinion?

Khattab: I see, that America has adopted a very bad course. Earlier, for America there was only one enemy – Osama bin Laden. Today America has got about twenty millions. And now the entire Islamic world is rising. From all over the world, mujahideen want to be at war against America and help Afghanistan. They want to take part in Jihad. A very bad course has been adopted by America, from the very beginning of the war against Afghanistan. The Americans, Insha Allah, will lose this war. They want to receive too much at once - both peace, and war, both advertising and well-being in exchange for the lifes of young people, which will be lost there. Muslims can particularly strike on them.

Question: What is the situation in Ichkeria?

Khattab: Everyone knows, that Russians were very carefully prepared for this war. Considered us as small bandit group, but Russians started their war as they were at war with an organized army. They used all forces available to them. But, Insha Allah, could not win this war, since two years, they could do nothing with us. Today, Russians have very well understood, that the military solution to the problem will not help them. The entire nation has risen against Russia. We, certainly, knew, on what way we have to go, when we accepted this war. We today are stronger than before. Daily, we destroy many human force and engineering of kafirs, though Russia attempts to hide its losses. They always show that one is killed, one and a half is wounded, and a military engineering has broken. We, Alhamdu lillah, have very good results. We have already won this war. But Russians still do not recognize it. The later, they understand, the better it is for them. Only in one area, Vedeno, we have destroyed several armored convoys. Have shot down some helicopters. In Shali, Gudermes, Argun, Johar, and everywhere, we attack and we destroy Russian armies. Today, war is going on other scheme. We have hundreds, thousand of young people with enormous desire to achieve victory over Russian invaders. It is the result of retaliatory atrocities of Russian kafirs. We do not have enough mines, shells, explosive, and other weapons to equip them. We have such a big inflow of youth wishing to be at war. There will be very good results, Insha Allah during this winter. We shall drive out Russians from Chechen Republic.

Question: There are many, who wish a victory of mujahideen, but there are also a number of those, who are indignant with fact that you along with Shamil are still alive. Why don't the Russian hands have access to you? May be the Russians have some special relation to you?

Khattab: All of us are in the hands of Allah. Here we are so - one without a leg, another without a hand, and the third without an eye, injured, and crippled ones. We are among mujahideen, we participate in operations, we shoot from grenade-guns, machine-guns, more briefly, we are fighting along with all others, and we are on the forefront like other mujahideen. Leaving for fight, we ask Allah to grant us death in His path. When there is a fight, we, alhamdu lillah, simply ask Allah to bestow us death in His way. All other things are mere chatters. Who wants to work in the way of Allah, let them come; will look, as how he fights here. We were everywhere - in Duba-Yurt, Johar, and everywhere, where there were intensive fights. Who was at first injured? These were Shamil and his guards. And who were the first to pass through mines? They were our amirs and commanders. Many became shaheed. Closest friends of Shamil – Aslanbek and others were lost. Who were blown up, who were wounded, and who were taken as prisoners. We shall not praise and allocate every body. But it is a fact that many amirs became shaheed, rescuing mujahideen.

Question: Russian commandment confirms that since autumn, with fall of foliage, mujahideen will be finished. The spirit of mujahideen is maintaining on branches of trees?

Khattab: Last year, already there was an operation «Leaf fall», then «Snowfall», then «Meteoric shower» as Shamil told. These operations for them will never be finished. We, Insha Allah, plan to finish it very soon, may be in this winter, with the help of Allah. Russians have no fighting spirit. We see, as they have got tired, we feel it, when we are at war with them. Recently an officer has been taken in captivity. This lieutenant colonel did not hide, that they have lost this war. Did not think, that mujahideen will be at war with such a moral. Last month, there was an order to withdraw armies from here...

Question: What is the relation of mujahideen to negotiations ?

Khattab: We never discussed this question and we do not have time for it to discuss. Mujahideen do not think of negotiations. We care for other things. That was told by Shamil and is the position of mujahideen. Everything that will be according to Shari, mujahideen will accept it. And any thing, which will be against Shariah, will not be accepted. If their armies will leave, then, it is possible. Then it is possible to discuss. But while their armies are here, even on one meter of this ground, war will not be terminated. Who wants, let him talk to them. Who is ready; let him speak with them. But here should be no any unit of engineering, and no soldier. Negotiations should not come to an end, as was in the last war.

Question: What is psychological condition of people in Ichkeria? Whether people trust in victory?

Khattab: Yes, alhamdu lillah, our people, our nation believed in Allah more strongly, than earlier. They believed in victory. Today, really, peaceful people and mujahideen want and trust in victory. Mujahideen have not run away and were not afraid, though it was a very difficult time for them. And Shamil and other wounded though had the opportunity to leave, but do not leave. And those, who left after being wounded, came back. If they did not trust in victory, would they have come back? And people are helping. If people did not help, since long time, this war would have finished. Today people are ready to make everything and leave no stone unturned to complete this (Jihad) and expel Russian from the Islamic ground. I see, alhamdu lillah, today everyone is at war for the sake of Allah. People demand Shariah. And one cannot distance Shariah from Chechens

Question: Thank you for the answers. I hope, it might not be our last meeting?

Khattab: Allah Akbar! We shall meet, Insha Allah, somewhere in Moscow if there will be the will of Allah for that…. we shall meet. Allah Akbar!

Anzor Visamov, staff reporter of Kavkaz-Center in Ichkeria