In an interview in August 2005, “Ahmad Shah Ahmadazi [who] was acting Afghan prime minister from 1995 to 1996 [said:] ‘After the defeat of the Soviet Union [in February 1989], we sent a message to all Arabs that were in Afghanistan: *We thank them for their cooperation with us in fighting the Soviet Union. Now that the Soviet Union is defeated, please do not participate in any factions in Afghanistan to fight against us. And please go back to your home countries.* This was announced by all of us to the Arabs. Because all the Arabs were fighting along side [sic] [Afghan Islamist] Gulbuddin Hekmatyar.’ “ [The 15th of the month used for date sorting purposes only.]
– Peter Bergen, The Osama bin Laden I Know, Page 105