Category: al-Emara

English translation of an interview with Shaykh Jalāl al-Dīn al-Haqqānī: “The Defeat Of America In Afghanistan Will Be Swifter Than The Defeat Of The Collapsed Soviet Union” from Issue #30 of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s al-Ṣomūd Magazine

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin



Dear Readers,
Al-Somood magazine wished to interview Field Commander Jalaluddin Haqqani, one of the most prominent Jihadist personalities and the military official for the provinces of Khost and
Paktia, about the latest political and military developments on the Afghan front. The Sheikh has privileged al-Somood magazine with this interview. We thank him, and regard this interview as a realistic assessment of the accomplishments of the Mujahideen by one who lives physically and mentally at the heart of the conflict and who sees with his Jihadist perspective what political analysts do not see from the outside.
Question: Your excellency Sheikh Haqqani, would you please give readers of al-Somood information about your health situation?
Answer: In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful, Who granted victory to His servants and glory to His soldiers, Who fulfilled His covenant, and defeated the factions alone. Praise be to Allah Who blessed us with the Religion of Islam, the greatest of religions. Prayers and peace upon the noblest of His creation, Muhammad, and upon his household and his companions and all who are guided by him! Thereafter…Praise be to Allah Almighty, I am in complete health and vigor. By complete health, I mean that, despite my great age, and despite the unstable security conditions I have been experiencing, I have not faced any health problems hindering me from conducting my Jihadist activities.
Question: Local and global media recently reported news of the seriousness of your health situation. Indeed, there have been spread news of your death or your martyrdom in a barbarous bombing attack. What is the truth of these rumors?
Answer: I say that the fact you are interviewing me and that I am alive amongst you is sufficient to falsify these rumors. If we compared my health situation to those rumors, we would reach the conclusion that I am in full health and not suffering from any illnesses. There is no truth behind the spread of those rumors and lying reports and these are deceptive claims of the enemy.
A second thing is that health, sickness, death and martyrdom are divine destinies. We believe in Allah-ordained fate and destiny. These destinies are ordained for every person and none can escape them. Every human being must taste death, and everything destined for him will occur at its appointed time.
The Sublime and Exalted says: “Nor can a soul die except by Allah’s leave, the term being fixed as by writing”(Al-i-Imran 154).
And the Almighty says “every soul shall have a taste of death in the end to Us shall ye be brought back”. (Al-Ankabut 57).
I mention to you that although I have faced many bitter days and have spent most of my days in Jihad and battling the enemy; have endured serious crises and have been wounded many times in battles that erupted between us and our enemies among the kuffar and munafiqeen – despite all that, I am in perfect health.
I also state that martyrdom and death fi sabeel Allah are among the dearest wishes of my life. All my life I have wished to be killed and to sacrifice myself and my soul fi sabeel Allah and to support his Deen with which he has blessed us and to deliver his servants from the oppression of the oppressors and the deceits of the infidels. But I have not been to achieve my dearest wishes yet.
Question: Excellency Sheikh, more than seven years have passed since the Crusader occupation of Afghanistan. Their forces stationed in Afghanistan number more than 70,000 persons armed to the teeth with the most modern types of military equipment. On the other hand, the Mujahideen confront them with scarce resources and paltry equipment. Based on your Jihadist and military experience, and in view of the imbalance in numbers and equipment between the two sides, what are your expectations of the defeat of the Crusaders in the face of the Mujahideen resistance, from your perspective?
Answer: If we looked at the ongoing battle between truth and falsehood in Afghanistan, we would understand from an historical standpoint it is considered an unique battle and asymmetrical encounter between Islam and infidelity. There is only one precedent in the history of Islam of such an intense battle and that is the Ghazwat al-Ahzab. There the Mujahideen achieved a great victory in the end. Here, also the Mujahideen will achieve victory by the will and permission of Allah. The assistance of Allah Almighty for the Mujahideen and the support of the people by their side, as well as recent military and political events are among the evidence and indications that prove our claims and back up our words.
I add to that, all the reasons and factors that led to the fall of the Russian Empire at the hands of the Afghan Mujahideen are today facing the American Empire. The huge monetary sums America is spending on the occupation of Afghanistan and the deaths of dozens of their forces every day at the hands of the Mujahideen are among the circumstances that indicate the victory of the Mujahideen and the defeat of all aggressor Crusader forces before them.
Question: There are enormous differences between the Russian occupation and the American occupation of Muslim Afghanistan, from the perspective of time, circumstances and resources. Meaning, at that time there was an ongoing Cold War between the forces of East and West. Additionally, the peoples of the world were angered by the arrogance of Communist actions and its use of arbitrary methods. For this reason, the Afghan Jihad received material and moral assistance from the world. The Mujahideen were permitted the latitude to carry out Jihadist activities and received resources and aid from outside the country. But the situation today is the opposite. The world’s affairs are directed by a unipolar power with no competitor to balance its power. The entire world stands against the Jihad and the Mujahideen in the name of the War on Terror – as they call it – and the Mujahideen enjoy no financial or military support and no external political backing from even one country across the globe. So how can the Mujahideen resist this great force and triumph against them with empty hands?
Answer: Divine fate and victories often cause supernatural events that can not be (grasped) by the human mind. This is not something new today rather they are constants that have been determined since the beginning of the outbreak of the battle between truth and falsehood across the pages of history. If we look at history, we would find that divine criteria are based on this premise. The Sublime and Exalted says, “How oft, by Allah’s will, hath a small force vanquished a big one? Allah is with those who steadfastly persevere.” (Al-Baqara 249). The Almighty also says,“O ye who believe! If ye will aid (the cause of) Allah, He will aid you, and plant your feet firmly..”(Muhammad 7).
It is true that this world is (controlled) by reasons; we must therefore look for means and motivations. We see in the present circumstances that the Islamic Jihad against the occupiers provides a strong impetus to the collapse of the American occupation and its agents. It provides an impetus whose positive effect is acknowledged by America and its Crusader alliance. Additionally, Afghanistan’s geographic situation, the strong hatred around the world towards Americans and huge costs of the war are factors that play a tangible role in the failure of those predatory forces. Indeed, I believe that America’s current policy and its violation of all international agreements are considered as a threat to the entire world. It is not far-fetched that the world will one day act against it and adopt a unified policy towards (America’s) failed policy.
It is worth mentioning that during the time of the Russian occupation of Afghanistan, it was called the Russian Empire, it was alleged that the cause behind the victories of the Mujahideen against the Russian forces were Western aid and American Stinger missiles. The victory of the Mujahideen was therefore attributed to American aid and equipment. The victories against the American crusaders and their allies in our present time, however, are the result of nothing but the heavenly sacrifices of the Mujahideen. It is impossible to attribute it to any other agency or ascribe it to baseless causes.
Question: More than seven years have passed since the Crusader attack on Afghanistan and America and its allies have used all of their military and political resources to subdue the Afghan people. The result of these practices and attempts has been failure, defeat and collapse. Moreover, all Western military commanders and political analysts, among others, have given the opinion that this war will not be able to achieve any victory. Despite that, America insists of sending more military reinforcements to Afghanistan. What is your assessment of these contradictory actions?
Answer: I have said before and I say again that America’s involvement in the Afghanistan issue is just like someone who is losing at gambling. He keeps playing hoping to win but, in the end, rather than achieving anything he loses everything he owns.
Undoubtedly, Western admission of losing the battle in Afghanistan is an established fact they have to face. Even if they don’t acknowledge it, the coffins and corpses of their slain soldiers acknowledge it. As for sending additional reinforcements without achieving victory, I believe that Allah has ordained the destruction of this unjust race at the hands of the oppressed

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan releases In Fight Magazine #28

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

NOTE: In Fight Magazine publishes photographs from the Afghan Ṭālibān-led insurgency against the United States, NATO, and its Afghan allies. For previous issues see: #27, #26, #25, #24, #23, #22; #21; and #20.
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Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan releases In Fight Magazine #28
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The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan releases In Fight Magazine #27

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

NOTE: In Fight Magazine publishes photographs from the Afghan Ṭālibān-led insurgency against the United States, NATO, and its Afghan allies. For previous issues see: #26, #25, #24, #23, #22; #21; and #20.
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The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan releases In Fight Magazine #27
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English translation of Abū Sa'īd Rāshid’s “Combating Colonialism, Between Yesterday And Today ” from Issue #56 of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan’s al-Ṣomūd Magazine

Posted on by Aaron Y. Zelin

NOTE: To view issue number fifty-six of the Ṭālibān’s magazine al-Ṣomūd see here. You can also see other translations from issue fifty-six:

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Rabi-us-Sani 04, 1432 A.H, Thursday, March 10, 2011
 
By Abu Said Rashed
In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious and the Most Merciful.
Praise be to Allah, Lord of Creation, Who gave strength to His soldiers, supported His servants and defeated the Confederates Alone, prayers and blessings be upon his Messenger Muhammad, the Laughing Warrior, and upon his Household and Companions, and those who follow his example until the Day of Judgment.
Thereafter:
31 years ago, on the 6 Jadi 1385 Hejrah-e Shamsi, as is it is known among the Afghans, corresponding to 8 Safar 1400 AH, Soviet Communist forces invaded the beloved land of Afghanistan, and thousands of soldiers came from high and low in the dark of night, and the killing, desolation and destruction began. That night of unjust aggression, the night of tyranny and oppression lasted ten years. Through the grace of Allah, His aid and support, however, and through the sacrifices, determination and faith of the people and one and a half million martyrs, and through the support of the Ummah, the Red forces were forced to leave Afghanistan and indeed liberated from the grip of their aggression, tyranny and assault (on) both Islamic and non-Islamic states which were under the weight of Communism for years. The Afghans with the help of their Lord destroyed that Empire; the Red empire and great Communist state.
Allah, through the blessing of the Jihad and sacrifices of the Afghans, erased the Soviet Union from the face of the earth and eliminated them from the world; the Warsaw pact.
“Such were the populations We destroyed when they committed iniquities; but We fixed an appointed time for their destruction.” (al-Kahf 59).
But we say, (unfortunately) that Afghanistan with its enormous sacrifices – one and a half million martyrs, millions of wounded, and bereaved mothers and widows – is still being burned by the fire of unjust external aggression, incoming tyranny, dark and gloomy night and a black and gloomy situation.
The injustice and aggression began ten years ago on 20 Rajab 1422 AH, corresponding to 15 Mizan 1407 Hejrah-e Shamsi, with the aggression of the NATO alliance under the leadership of America. More than 150,000 soldiers came aided by all the countries of the world, or almost all of them, and attacked the land of the Afghans, a land of which has been appointed: “It is the quiver (Kanana) of Allah, if he is angry with a people he fires from it at them”.
Thousands of Afghans have been killed since that night of aggression until today. Thousands live under continuous torture and punishment in the prisons of the Occupation inside and outside the country. Other men and women have been impacted by weapons of mass destruction filled with gunpowder and gases dangerous to the public as well as beasts and animals and the barbarism remains.
We are the children of conquering warriors and we do not pay heed to these calamities if Allah is content and do not mind any of our struggles if they are for Allah and the liberation of the homeland. We adhere to the eternal and ancient covenant:
“Allah hath purchased of the Believers their persons and their goods; for theirs (in return) is the Garden (of Paradise): they fight in His Cause, and slay and are slain: a promise binding on Him in Truth, through the Law, the Gospel and the Qur’an: and who is more faithful to his covenant than Allah? Then rejoice in the bargain which ye have concluded: that is the achievement supreme.” (al-Tauba: 111)
To us, there is no difference between the Russians and the Americans. Each of them has occupied our country and shed our blood, destroyed our civilization, corrupted our culture and our Religion. The first, turned away and fled and the second is in the dark, trying to reach their vile goal. They will not win, Allah Almighty willing.
There is no difference: if yesterday, Russia occupied Afghanistan with its soldiers under the name of the Warsaw Pact, today America occupies it in the name of the NATO alliance. If yesterday, Russia described the battalions of liberation and Jihad and all the Mujahideen as evil, America – stamped with murder and destruction – likewise describes its unjust and evil occupation as fighting terrorism, its intervention in others countries’ affairs as building civilization and restoring woman’s rights, its obliteration of the economy as opium eradication and the sabotage of minds and ideas as education and culture.
Just as Russia yesterday tried to devour the freedom of the Afghans and hitch their government to the Kremlin palace, today America wants to swallow the freedom of the Afghans and tie their fate and their future in the hands of the White House and the notables of London and Brussels. The Royal palace – Kabul – above it used to fly a Soviet flag imputed to belong to Afghanistan. Likewise, today an American flag waves above it and is attributed to the Afghans.
Just as Russia yesterday did not consider the presence of its forces and its occupation as injustice, tyranny and aggression; America and its allies today term the presence of 150,000 soldiers as friendship and their barbaric deeds as resistance and war conducted in the interest of the country.
Yesterday, men in Afghan uniforms stood in rank with Russia were given the appellations of loyal and honest. Likewise, the indecent, treacherous, vile and wicked gang obscure from the eyes of all the wicked deeds of the occupation soldiers – random bombing; complete destruction; killing of civilians; changing and destroying culture and education; spreading prostitution; plunder; sowing fear; violating traditional Afghan and Islamic sanctities and painting those crimes as deeds done to benefit the country.
But Russia and the Warsaw pact were not able, yesterday, to fight the Afghan people and their brothers and, praise be to Allah for this, (they) did not succeed in their goals, the most important of which were: making the faithful Afghan people true communists and making Afghanistan a country belonging to the great Soviet Union. The Russians faced an historical and abominable defeat while resorting to all kinds of terrorist acts, destruction and punishment. Those forces that had rushed to swallow up Afghanistan went back; crawled away, folded up and indeed fled. Today, through the aid and grace of Allah, and the determination of the people, and the cooperation of their brothers, America has been unable to vie with this proud people. Nine years after American and NATO forces entered Afghanistan none of the goals which they wanted to achieve are achieved. Indeed, the situation becomes worse day after day. Their goals were achieving security, destroying the forces of the Islamic Emirate, establishing an Afghan army fashioned in the American and Crusader mold and capable of controlling matters and fighting the Mujahideen in the country, holding free and fair democratic elections and then withdrawing. This was to be accomplished within a year at most.
But years have passed with none of this having been achieved. Rather, unrest has increased, and the forces of the Islamic Emirate grow stronger day by day while NATO soldiers are falling dead and injured. These circumstances have placed the governments of those countries participating in those forces in a dilemma before their peoples. Demands for the withdrawal of those forces increase day by day. In Canada, Germany, the United States of America itself and Great Britain public cries are raised inside and outside parliaments demanding an end to the war and the withdrawal of forces from there, because it has become futile, confusing and consuming minds and driving some insane.
More than one fact and confession confirms that Afghanistan is the critical predicament into which the NATO alliance and the American people themselves, who are unable to do anything with NATO or without it, have fallen.
It has been revealed to all that America is standing on the brink of an abyss and will fall to ruin; destruction and death; its strength shaken; its plan weak and confused; its pride and arrogance collapsed and broken.
“But your Lord is Most Forgiving, full of Marcy. If He were to call them (at once) to account for what they have earned, then surely He would have hastened their Punishment: but they have their appointed time, beyond which they will find no refuge.”(al-Kahf: 58). All praise is due to Allah.
When we recall the 6th of Jadi, its calamity, terror, its trials, misfortune, and when we condemn those who made this calamitous day and send our greetings and blessings to those who sacrificed for the sake of saving the country from the claws of the red lobster, we see that the 15th of Mizan is the calamitous follow-up in the unfortunate chain of 6th of Jadi. We wish that America and the NATO alliance are resisted to the same extent as Russia and the Warsaw Pact, in order to save the world from its evil and the evil of those in it. This is up to Allah Almighty.
So death, death to the transgressors of the 6th of Jaddi, and 15th of Mizan. Evil befall them and those who follow their model. Glory be to Allah and to his Messenger and to the patient Mujahideen believers. Allah is Most High and the Greatest!
Translated From The Islamic Emirate Of Afghanistan: Al-Somood Magazine Issue #56
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan