"Afghanistan Too Big For Pakistan To Swallow", Says Ex-Afghan VP And Anti-Taliban Leader Amrullah Saleh

Amrullah Saleh, the former Afghan First Vice-President who recently declared himself the caretaker President after Ashraf Ghani fled the country, has again hit out at Pakistan, saying that Afghanistan is too big for Islamabad to swallow.

Responding to a tweet by the American policy analyst Michael Johns, Saleh said, "Afghanistan is too big for Pakistan to swallow and too big for Taliban to govern".

"Don't let your histories have a chapter on humiliation and bowing to terror groups," said Saleh, who is a vocal critic of Pakistan Army and ISI's interference in Afghanistan's internal affairs.

Saleh, along with Ahmed Massoud, son of slain anti-Taliban leader Ahmed Shah Massoud, is trying to form a resistance front against Taliban.

On Tuesday (17 August), citing the provisions of the Constitution of Afghanistan, Saleh declared himself the caretaker President of Afghanistan.

The development came as the Taliban took control of Presidential Palace in Afghanistan after President Ashraf Ghani fled the war-torn country.

"As per the constitution of Afghanistan, in absence, escape, resignation or death of the President, the FVP (First Vice-President) becomes the caretaker President. I am currently inside my country and am the legitimate care taker President," Saleh had said.

The Afghan leader, who also served as the director of the Afghan intelligence agency National Directorate of Security from 2004 to 2010, did not leave the country after Taliban terrorists reached Kabul on 15 August. He is believed to be in the Panjshir Valley (northeast of Kabul), the country's last remaining holdout in the fight against the Taliban.

In an audio message after declaring himself caretaker President of Afghanistan, Saleh had said, "Since, President Ashraf Ghani has fled the country, he has effectively left his responsibilities and position vacant, and i am currently the legitimate caretaker President of Afghanistan because i am inside the country".