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"l struggle to understand howthe West ignored Ahmed Shah

Massoud's warnings aboutlslamic terrorism," says Koofi

How many attempts have beenmade on your Iife?Two majorattempts. Onewas afi ght between my soldiers andTaliban. The secondwas an at-

tempt to assassinate me inmycampaign office. But almosteverytwo months I get aletterfrom our security departmentwarning me of death threats.

You also get marriage propos-als. Which doyou get more of?There's a balance between thetwo, but I think people losehope after trying to convinceme to marry and then becomemy opponents. So I need to becareful about rejecting them.

As a newborn, you were leftoutside to die. When you sur-vived, your mother took you in.Did you talk to her about that?I always had sympathy forher, because as a woman inAfghanistan, she didn't wantto deliver a girl. She knewgirls did not receive enoughcare and love from the fatherand the family. She told meshe thought the way to giveme another life was for me todie. But I think after that dayshe understood that I havethe determination to face theproblems of this world.

ln your new book The FxorcdDaughterryou say your fatherspoke to you only once-to tellyou to go away. lthy did youadmirehim?I admire my father for being ahardworking, passionate, verytough parliamentarian fi ght-ing for his people's rights. As a

husband, as a father, he didn'taccomplish his responsibili-ties very well. Would I accepthim if he hadn tbeen killedwhen I was 4? I'm not sure.

!s democracy really possibleinAlghanistan?

Afghanistan is a traditionalcountry. But within that tradi-tion there have always beendemocratic institutions likelocal councils. If we give peo-ple a voice, they will go for it.Even in the few elections wehad, with all the security chal-lenges in areas like Helmandand Kandahar, people went tothe polling stations minutesafter the Taliban rocket attacks.What they need is mobiliza-tion and support.

Should NATOboops still bethere?The presence ofthe troops inAfghanistan is a nee4 not anoption. Withdrawalis also aneed, but it shouldbe carriedout to ensure that we go for-ward. Proper withdrawalmeans that Afghan armedforces are strong, that theAfghan government deliversgood government.

How long do you think it willtake to tet theAfghan forcesready to take over security?Itwas onlyin zoo8 thatthe international commu-nity really started to supportAfghan forces. We need tomake sure that they're beinggiven the required equip-ment, the required training.It takes time. Washing yourhands and saying that we aredone in Afghanistan is notgoingto help.

Does the Taliban have a placein Afghanistan's government?First, there are questions thatneed to be answered: Whatare the issues that we willcompromise on? Does theTaliban really want to sharepower, or do they want torule the country? I thinkweneed to talk to them from aposition of power. We wereelected.

Do you think Pakistan is aidingtheTaliban?There is no question that Paki-stan is supporting Taliban.The question is whether thecivilian leaders are involved.

Are you goingto run forPresident?IfI'm alive in three years. InAfghanistan, you never know.

-BELINDA LUSCOMBE

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48 rtrrt February 20,zot2