Exile
Since Ajmal Khattak was a prominent figure in the National Awami Party, he was wanted by the Federal Security Force as part of the general crackdown on NAP. In order to avoid arrest and possible torture, he fled into self imposed exile to Afghanistan and stayed there for 16 long years. During this time he was closely associated with the Pakhtunistan movement.
During his years in Kabul, Ajmal Khattak was a close confidant of Badshah Khan, and also enjoyed excellent relations with leaders of the People's Democratic Party of Afghanistan, including President Nur Muhammad Taraki, Babrak Karmal and Dr.Mohammad Najibullah. Despite his leftist leanings he opposed Soviet plans to intervene in Pakistan following the Soviet occupation of Afghanistan.
Read more about this topic: Ajmal Khattak
Famous quotes containing the word exile:
“the bird in the poplar tree
dreaming, his head
tucked into
far-and-near exile under his wing ...”
—Denise Levertov (b. 1923)
“The exile is a singular, whereas refugees tend to be thought of in the mass. Armenian refugees, Jewish refugees, refugees from Franco Spain. But a political leader or artistic figure is an exile. Thomas Mann yesterday, Theodorakis today. Exile is the noble and dignified term, while a refugee is more hapless.... What is implied in these nuances of social standing is the respect we pay to choice. The exile appears to have made a decision, while the refugee is the very image of helplessness.”
—Mary McCarthy (19121989)
“Public employment contributes neither to advantage nor happiness. It is but honorable exile from ones family and affairs.”
—Thomas Jefferson (17431826)