The Al Qaeda terrorist network reacted to the signing of the peace deal between the United States and Taliban in Afghanistan, praising the Taliban group for its alleged ‘great victory’ over America and its allies.
Referring to Haibatullah Akhundzada, the supreme leader of Taliban, as the ‘Emir of the Faithful’, the terror network called on all Afghans and mujahideen to bolster the Taliban’s Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan — a totalitarian regime the jihadists have been fighting to resurrect since 2001.
In its new statement, Al-Qaeda’s general command reminds readers of Mullah Omar’s defiance in the face of American pressure in late 2001, the Long War Journal report, after obtaining the latest statement of Al Qaeda terrorist network.
“Ayman al-Zawahiri and his comrades in al-Qaeda’s general command call on all “scholars,” wealthy donors, and others “to support the Islamic Emirate” in its quest to found a ‘nation of Islam ruled by the noble sharia of Allah’,” the report further cites the Al Qaeda statement.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claims the Taliban agreed to “break” with al-Qaeda, while helping the US to “destroy” Ayman al-Zawahiri’s organization in Afghanistan.
However, the Long War Journal reports that “The text of the written agreement doesn’t not call for that. Instead, the Taliban has supposedly agreed to prevent al-Qaeda and others from using Afghan soil to plot attacks against the US and its allies — a promise the group has long made, but failed to keep.” “The Taliban’s political delegation also agreed to three provisions stipulating that the group would prevent terrorists who threaten the US from operating inside Afghanistan. But the terms of those same provisions are vague, while no verification or enforcement mechanisms are set forth in the text released late last month,” the report by Long War Journal added.
The US and Taliban group signed a peace deal late last month after observing a 7-day reduction in violence. The two sides signed the agreement after almost 18 months of negotiations in Qatari capital of Doha.
However, there are fears that the latest trends in Taliban attacks in remote parts of the country and the growing political tensions could undermine the peace process, specifically the launch of intra-Afghan peace talks.
The State Department confirmed that the Taliban group has taken steps to stop attacks against the coalition forces and in the cities but the group is still killing too many Afghans in the countryside.
Morgan Ortagus, a State Department spokesperson said the current high level of violence by the Taliban is unacceptable.
“We acknowledge the Taliban have taken steps to stop attacks against the Coalition and in cities,” Ortagus said in a statement, adding that “But they are killing too many Afghans in the countryside.”
She also added “This must change. Violence at these levels risks drawing both sides into a vicious cycle, serves no one, and undermines peace.”
