Sangar is the front line and information barricade. The message of the newly created site to the whole world
On March 1 this year, a new information channel (website) called "Sangar" was launched, which over this period has taken a special place in the information space of Tajikistan. This site is purely informational and analytical in nature and deals with the analysis of the political situation in Afghanistan and the countries of Central Asia.
Therefore, we spoke with the editor-in-chief of this site, Farid Ahmad, about the work of the site and some of the political problems in Afghanistan.
- What is the purpose of creating the site "Sangar" and why is it called that?
- Firstly, many thanks to your site for showing interest in our work.
Why Sangar? We answered this question in our statement or in our first publication: "Sangar", as its name suggests, is an information barrier for Afghanistan and the countries of Central Asia to protect freedom, independence, justice, culture, human dignity, religious beliefs, and security, that is, it is a barrier or a platform for journalists, scientists, intellectuals and everyone who strives for high human values.
We are convinced that after August 15 (the day when the Taliban terrorist group seized power in Afghanistan), the New Big Game began in our region. We, the team of the information site "Sangar", consider the people of Afghanistan to be part of Central Asia. This is not the American plan, which was announced by the US in 2001, which was easily destroyed. We are sure that in the current conditions the fate of the Afghan people is inextricably linked with Central Asia. The idea of extremism and terrorism, which exists under the guise of the Taliban, and which overnight unleashed the hands of all extremist and terrorist forces in the region, is a problem not only for Afghanistan but for the whole of Central Asia. The Taliban and their regional and world allies plan to establish a Taliban regime in all Central Asian countries in the future. "Sangar" is a kind of front line or information barrier against this plan.
- Please tell us about the fate of "Central Asia in the New Big Game." What is meant by the term "New Great Game"? Does this notion apply only to the current situation in Afghanistan or not?
- A similar Great Game was played between the two powers - Russia and England from the 18th century to the beginning of the 20th century. As a result, the world was divided and a new map of the region was drawn up, after which our countries appeared. Afghanistan received the status of a buffer zone. However, when the Soviet Union and then America invaded Afghanistan, the country lost that status and became a battleground for regional and world powers. The new Great Game began after the withdrawal of American troops from there, and, as we see, the world powers decided to change the map of the region again. Now think for yourself what awaits us.
- There is a photo of Ahmad Shah Massoud in the site's logo, could you tell us why this photo and this motto were chosen for the site?
- Great Massoud is a symbol of the fight against extremism and terrorism throughout the world. He was the only one who absolutely disagreed (could not come to terms) with these phenomena. He himself was a devout Muslim, in love with Islam, he devoted his whole life to the fight because he could not come to terms with cruelty, violence, and violation of human rights, especially the rights of women. Massoud respected the rights of all ethnic groups - Tajiks, Uzbeks, Pashtuns, Turkmens, Hazarians, and others, he believed that it was a great sin to show hostility towards other peoples because it was prescribed by the canons of Islam. The Taliban see only their caste and their people - Afghans or Pashtuns, they adhere to a fascist ideology and preach Islam with their own definition, while hiding behind the name of Islam, they carry out actions that discredit the Islamic religion.
About the motto, which sounds like this: "If any nation firmly decides to carry out any mission, even if the whole world rebels against it, it does not matter ...". We, the peoples of Afghanistan and Central Asia, are now faced with a new reality when we must be united, as one nation and as owners of one land. Either we retreat and give our lands to these barbarians of the 21st century, or we protect our centuries-old heritage (property). We must not let others decide our destiny. We must be masters of our destiny.
Unfortunately, all world powers have somehow come to terms with the reality called the Taliban, which is a misanthropic, misogynistic, anti-religious, illegal system (regime) that denies any value and opposes everything modern and new. The situation that has developed in Afghanistan today under the leadership of the Taliban has shocked everyone, even their allies, and supporters, but the money flows from the US and Europe still goes to the Taliban banks, and they use this money to strengthen their terrorist group.
What should we do - the inhabitants of Afghanistan and the countries located on the other side of the Amu Darya, with which we have common cultural and religious values? We must unite and pull Afghanistan out of the jaws of the dragon that brings extremism and terrorism. Otherwise, this dragon will swallow Central Asia as well.
- Tell me, where do the employees of the site "Sangar" work, does it have an office?
- We do not have a special office. Our employees work all over the world. Members of our Advisory Board live in different parts of the world. In addition, these experts and journalists write or offer various articles for the site.
- What difficulties did you encounter when creating the site?
- We didn't have any special problems, as it was teamwork and the best experts and journalists from Afghanistan and Tajikistan took part in it, even the technical work was carried out collectively.
- As far as we know, the materials on your site are published in three languages. Tell me, who is involved in the promotion of the site?
- All the authors whose names you see and whose articles you read on our site are our colleagues. Materials in Persian are being prepared in Iran, Afghanistan, Australia, Europe, and the USA. Translation into Russian is carried out in Dushanbe, and several specialists from Europe and America translate it into English. In a word, Sangar is a collective project that is carried out without political and financial support. Our site has not one address, but several addresses.
- What is the peculiarity of the site?
- We do not see much difference from other sites. Perhaps the only difference is that the materials are published in several languages and, most importantly, our site brings our messages to the whole world.
- Tell me, do the issues discussed on the site relate only to the political situation in Afghanistan or not only? Please tell us about the topic that is of interest to the site.
- Afghanistan is an example of the future for the countries of Central Asia. The countries of this region should not think that what is happening in Afghanistan will not affect them. Aren't there extremists in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan or Kyrgyzstan who are waiting for an opportunity? There is reliable information that extremist and terrorist groups were widely involved in the events in Kazakhstan. Or in Kyrgyzstan, aren't the same organizations that have always staged skirmishes with the peoples living on the other side of the Amu Darya, primarily with the peoples of Afghanistan and Pakistan? The ranks of terrorist organizations operating in Afghanistan include citizens of all Central Asian countries, most of whom are Uzbeks and Tajiks. Even Chinese Uyghurs and Russian Muslims are waiting for their opportunity.
I can say that the main theme of the site "Sangar" is geopolitics, but if you look at the first page of the site, you can see that we also pay attention to cultural issues. This is to highlight the difference between our culture and the ignorance of the Taliban and their allies.
- What is the reason that most authors write under a pseudonym?
- Indeed, in the team of the site "Sangar" several people work not under their real names. These people, including your obedient servant, are either themselves in Afghanistan, or their relatives live there, and for security reasons, they do not want to give their names. We have the strongest team. Our correspondents live and work in Kabul, Mazar-i-Sharif, Kunduz, where the Taliban rule. One of our correspondents works in the Hindu Kush mountains and travels frequently in Andarob, Khust, and Panjshir. I bow to the sincerity and dedication of these guys who do all the work for us for free.
But I can say that the authors of 90 percent of the articles are real people, ranging from the great master of the word Farid Yunus, who lives in America, to the famous journalist Razzak Mamun from Australia, as well as the famous scientist Abdullah Rakhnamo from Dushanbe and many others.
Some names are unfamiliar to the inhabitants of Tajikistan and Central Asia, some are unfamiliar to the Afghan people. Our goal was precisely to collect them under one roof and publish their materials in several languages so that their messages reach the addressee. We want to be heard, that is, the inhabitants of our region. We are in different parts of the world, we talk about the same things, we worry about the same things (we have the same worries), but we still do have not a common platform.
- How important is the existence of the site "Sangar" in the information space of Tajikistan?
- For the same reason I mentioned above. So that the residents of Tajikistan and the entire region see the behind-the-scenes truth and not be misled.
- Please tell us about the "Consultative Council", what role did its composition (staff) play in the creation of the site?
- I would like to thank everyone who was with us in difficult times. In particular, I would like to thank Ustad Razzak Mamun and Fakhriddin Holbek, who, one might say, were the main creators (architectors) of this site and all that content.
- Has the Sangar website received support from any institution or public organization during all this time?
- Absolutely not.
- Were there any obstacles (threats) in the work of the site from the Taliban or individuals due to the political and analytical materials published on the site and the topics discussed?
- Fortunately, it hasn't happened yet. As I said above, our journalists take their safety very seriously.
- What is the goal of the Sangar website in the future?
- We have only one dream and one goal - to free the region from extremism and terrorism, as well as open the way to the well-being and development of the country and the entire region.
