The book 15 Minutes by Khalid Zadran, who is currently the spokesperson for the Kabul Police Command under the Interior Ministry led by Sirajuddin Haqqani, reveals details of his meetings with the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM), its secret support networks, and the relationship between the PTM and the Haqqani group.
In the final chapter of his book, published in Pashto, he states:
“When the victory in Khost was finalised, I called home. My entire family was crying with joy and asking me to return. I also prepared myself and made a quick decision to head towards Khost to see my long-lost family.”
“In the afternoon, Gilaman Wazir called me. After the initial greetings, his first question was: ‘Where are you?’
“Gilaman, whose real name was Muhammad Naeem, was a prominent member of the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) in Pashtunkhwa. He was originally a resident of the Razmak area in North Waziristan. In the beginning, he was our mujahid (fighter), and a commander named Ihsan had effectively prepared him for practical operations in the Surobi district of Paktika, where he had participated in the war.
“I told him, ‘I am at home!’ Gilaman said:
“‘Samad Lala is also with me today; we want to come over and have a chat.’
“Haji Samad was also a leading member of that movement. That evening, Gilaman, Samad, and another companion came to visit.
“I said to Gilaman during our conversation:
“‘You did not believe it back then, but tomorrow or the day after, I am heading home as well!’
“Gilaman shook his head and said:
“‘Yes, by God, now I believe you.’
“I continued: ‘Look, be a true mujahid (warrior). I have told you and Manzoor Pashteen many times to draw your hands away from our opposition. We will be the rulers of Afghanistan one day. If you remain opposed to us during these difficult times, this stain will remain in the hearts of our friends forever. You will regret it more deeply because you are the Pashtuns of Waziristan, you are part of our very being, our own flesh and blood. Do not burn us in the fire of “Punjabi” enmity, but you did not listen.’
“Gilaman Wazir, who was also a poet and very witty, changed the subject and said:
“‘When I was in Bahrain, I did not want to come to Pakistan. I reached out to senior officials in Ashraf Ghani’s government to help me with a Tazkira (Afghan identity card) and a passport, but they never made them for me. Now, since you consider us your own, you should make them for me.’
“I laughed and replied:
“‘I wish you and Manzoor had supported us the way you supported Ashraf Ghani. If you had, we might have even sacrificed our heads for your passports and Tazkiras. We are a “crazy” nation (devoted, intense). I told you many times in meetings that you should not be fooled by Ashraf Ghani’s promises, but we are also oppressed. We are oppressed, our home has been invaded, and we have been standing against it.’
“‘But you did not accept.’
“When the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) was formed, many Pashtuns heard their voice and rushed to support them. We also tried to contact their leadership through some friends in a personal capacity, hoping to ensure that they would not be used against us.
“It was not just ordinary Pashtuns who had love for the movement; many of our Mujahideen felt the same. When Manzoor Pashteen held a gathering (jalsa) in Peshawar, we also went there secretly. There, I saw more than 40 Mujahideen among the thousands of people who had come secretly, some of whom I knew personally.
“However, during that Peshawar gathering, they made no distinction between ‘good’ or ‘bad’ Taliban and spoke out against everyone. Manzoor Pashteen himself shouted slogans that caused those Mujahideen to become disappointed, as I witnessed.
“The next day, I tried to sit with Manzoor Pashteen and tell him, ‘Do not do this; do not listen to the words of people who have no faith in Islam.’
“I messaged Manzoor’s close companion, Idrees, and told him I was coming. At noon, he called me and told me to come to Tajabad. There, he gave me the address of a guest house (hujra). They were sitting down for a meal; I sat with them, and we ate together.
“I had met Manzoor before this as well, back when we spent a lot of time in Waziristan; because of that, our relationship was intact. After the meal, Manzoor and I went into another room.
“As soon as I entered, I said to him:
“‘Yesterday you did something very bad; you shouted slogans against us!’
“Manzoor said:
“‘I have not said anything wrong about you.’
“I responded, ‘What do you mean by good and bad Taliban?’
“Manzoor used diplomacy and added:
“‘By good Taliban, I mean those of the Aman Committee (Peace Committee) who work with the Pakistani government in the tribal areas, and by bad Taliban, I mean the Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan.’
“I told him:
“‘That is well and good; then clarify this in a statement so our friends and the world understand who Manzoor’s target actually is.’
“Manzoor said, ‘I will work on this today and provide a clarification on my Facebook page.’
“But Manzoor did not provide that clarification.
“Here, I also spoke with him about Mohsin Dawar. At that time, Dawar was the second leader of the movement.
“I said, ‘This man is making you our enemy. Otherwise, he will leave you all alone. Pashtuns need a leader who can gather all the mullahs and the common people. However, Mohsin has been using you against mullahs like the Awami National Party. Do not do this. If there was success in this, then the Awami National Party would have been successful, as they have been present for this same purpose. What was the need for you?’
“Manzoor said with regret, ‘Mohsin is in pain; do not look at him with doubt, but I will gradually correct his perspective.’
“Manzoor was strictly opposed to Ashraf Ghani’s government in face-to-face meetings, including the American occupation.
“One day, during elections, Ashraf Ghani tweeted in support of Manzoor, saying that Pakistan should hear the voice of the tribal people and that oppression should not be allowed.
“Manzoor tweeted back against him, writing that ‘the people are doing politics on us and should not take advantage of our support in their election campaigns.’
“Later, Manzoor’s companions stopped him from such actions. From time to time, I had sittings with Manzoor Pashteen, and our leaders were aware of these meetings. They had instructed me always to move forward with him and try to ensure that no one used them against us.
“Manzoor Pashteen was not like he appeared during meetings; he would agree with you, but later he would throw all of that out of his memory.
“One day, he tweeted in sympathy regarding the death anniversary of Dr Najib (the slain President of Afghanistan, Najibullah). I have forgotten whether I called him or told him face-to-face, ‘What you have done is not right.’
“Manzoor replied, ‘I am not supporting Najib’s cruelty, but because of Pashtunwali, I commemorated him and tweeted.’
“I said, ‘If this is the case, then Mullah Omar was also Pashtun. Will you commemorate his death anniversary too?’
“Manzoor replied with great courage, ‘How can I not commemorate him? You should let me know; I will come on Facebook Live.’
“Then, when the death anniversary of the great Mullah Sahib arrived, Manzoor never answered the phone.
“Then, one day, he got into some trouble with Mohsin Dawar. I went to Peshawar with Manzoor. There, on Ring Road, in a car at a car-washing service owned by a man from Waziristan, I was sitting with Manzoor, and I said, ‘Do you now believe me? How did it go? There is still time; know yourself.’
“Manzoor was disappointed and told me, ‘Many people told me, but Mohsin has now shown his true face.’
“I asked, ‘What is Mohsin saying?’
“Manzoor said, ‘Mohsin says that we will officially declare our movement with the government of Pakistan, and then we will start our activities again.’ He took a deep breath and then said, ‘Years ago, before you and I met an intelligence colonel, you did not accept this then, and we made a decision that we would not accept their demands. Today, you are doing the same thing that the colonel wanted. Have you now become a colonel? What changed? How can you say this now?’
“Manzoor further added, ‘I told Mohsin that if we accept this, then it is also an injustice against the people of Bar-Afghan (Afghanistan). We are promising Greater Afghanistan; will this not show us as hypocrites to the Afghans?’
“I asked, ‘What was Mohsin’s reasoning, and what was his answer?’
“Manzoor looked at me, his lips trembling. He said: ‘Mohsin answered that Bar Afghans are donkeys. Just wish them Ghazi Amanullah Khan’s anniversary; everyone will follow you.’
“I laughed and said: ‘Look, Manzoor Sahib, Mohsin Dawar has done the same thing to you that some spies do to us while pretending to be our friends.’
“Manzoor looked at me in surprise and asked, ‘How so?’
“I replied: ‘We have experienced everything. Sometimes, when we plan a battle against the enemy, some people who are actually employees of the enemy stand by our side. Then, in the middle of the war, they start spreading discouragement or try to change the path to weaken the morale of the Mujahideen. Their only goal is to lower morale and break the Mujahideen in the war so that the enemy can reach its objective.’
“‘Now that Mohsin Dawar has gained fame and a name alongside you, he wants to tear your movement into pieces and weaken the Pashtun Tahafuz Movement. He has arrived at a different goal, and that is why Mohsin chose a separate path and announced another party.’
The book has recently been published in Pashto. The author attempted to contact a PTM spokesperson to respond to these claims made by the Kabul Police Command spokesperson