| | Prince Harry 'driving wedge between forces and Afghan locals' Telegraph
01/22/2013
By Rob Crilly, Zubair Babakarkhail in Kabul
[Printer Friendly Version]
Prince Harry's comments comparing the decade-long conflict in Afghanistan with computer games have driven a wedge between international forces and the local population, an Afghan MP has warned.
In an interview timed to coincide with his departure after a 20-week tour, the prince described his role as co-pilot of an Apache helicopter, in charge of its weapons systems, firing Hellfire air-to-surface missiles, rockets and a 30-millimetre gun.
“It’s a joy for me because I’m one of those people who loves playing PlayStation and Xbox, so with my thumbs I like to think I’m probably quite useful,” he said.
The unguarded comments could prove a headache for President Hamid Karzai, who has staked his reputation on working closely with Nato-led forces and wants the US to station troops in Afghanistan beyond the end of 2014.
Sharifullah Kamawal, a member of the Afghan parliament, warned that the comments had handed the Taliban a propaganda victory.
“This makes the withdrawal process much faster, because for now half of the people say the foreign forces must stay for longer, but if they say these kind of things then more people will want them to go home," he said.
Taliban commanders branded Prince Harry a naïve “coward” for his comments.
Two senior figures told The Daily Telegraph that the unguarded description was an insult to the men who had fought and died alongside Captain Wales.
abihullah Mujahid, Taliban spokesman, said Prince Harry was a “coward” for speaking only after he was out of harm’s way.
“This statement is not even worth condemning. It is worse than that,” he said by telephone from an undisclosed location.
“To describe the war in Afghanistan as a game demeans anyone – especially a prince, who is supposed to be made of better things.”
He added that it exposed the calibre of forces that Nato was able deploy.
“It shows the lack of understanding, of knowledge,” he said. “It shows they are unfamiliar with the situation and shows why they are losing.”
A Taliban commander in Helmand, where Prince Harry was based, said soldiers from dozens of countries were fighting in Afghanistan. To describe their efforts – and deaths – as part of a game was to show a lack of respect, he said.
“It’s not a game. It’s very, very real,” he said.
Other Stories:
|
|