Leaders – Page 122

The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's Qārī' Yusef Aḥmadī Interview with ash-Sharq al-Awsaṭ pan-Arab Daily

Posted on February 25, 2012 by Aaron Y. Zelin

We will target US embassy and military headquarters in future
Thursday 23 February 2012

[Asharq Al-Awsat] What is your opinion about the reports that Washington has agreed to the proposal to allow the Afghan Taliban to open a political office in Qatar? The British press is reporting that this represents a critical step on the road to reconciliation with the Taliban, more than a decade after the9/11 attacks?
[Ahmadi] Yes, this is true…after the US and its allies failed to militarily control the “Islamic Emirate” [the Taliban refers to itself as the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan], it has been forced to deal with us, and this is by opening the door to direct dialogue. The Islamic Emirate will play its role following the opening of this office, which will serve the jihadist interests, guarantee the end of occupation and bring security to Afghanistan.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] What are the Taliban’s major conditions for entering negotiations?
[Ahmadi] Our conditions during the negotiations will be an end to occupation and for the US to leave the affairs of Afghanistan to the Afghan people.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Do you think the Arab Spring will reach Afghanistan?
[Ahmadi] There can be no doubt that the Afghan resistance against the occupiers during the past century, and the ongoing efforts of the Afghan people against US occupation and its NATO allies, have inspired the resistance of the vulnerable people in the world and prompted them to revolt against regimes that are ruling them against their will. We must therefore say that the “resistance spring” against the occupiers began in Afghanistan and ended, by the grace of God, with the autumn of US hegemony and the collapse of its authoritarian regimes in the Arab world.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Does the Taliban intend to open other political offices in Saudi Arabia, Libya, Turkey, Egypt, and elsewhere, as is being claimed by some?
[Ahmadi] After 10 years of jihad and steadfastness on the part of the Afghan people against the arrogant occupiers, the entire world is aware of the strength of the Afghan jihad and has accepted the reality of the situation in the Afghan arena. This has caused many countries in the world to desire contact with the Islamic Emirate and the political office of the Islamic Emirate. The Islamic Emirate will welcome the opening of its political offices in these countries and others, if this is approved.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] What is your assessment of what is being repeated by the American side in Afghanistan, namely that they are ready to negotiate and that there is a reconciliation strategy in place?
[Ahmadi] The US side is prepared to negotiate with the Islamic Emirate after it did everything in its power to forcibly eliminate our jihadist power; however it failed to achieve anything tangible in this regard. The Islamic Emirate told the Americans ten years ago that the ideal solution to all problems was peaceful negotiations without depending on the use of force. The Americans now being prepared to negotiate represents recognition of the strength of the Islamic Emirate and the legitimacy of the Afghan people’s jihad. They should have put forward this initiative before thousands of their soldiers were killed and injured, as well as losing billions of dollars in Afghanistan.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] The US Ambassador to Afghanistan, Ryan Crocker, previously informed Asharq Al-Awsat that Washington has spent over $20 billion in civilian assistance to the Afghan people since 2001, which has resulted in many tangible achievements on the ground, including seven million Afghan children in primary and secondary education, and statistics indicate that 37 percent of Afghan students are girls. However during the Taliban era, girls were prohibited from education. Do you have any comment on this?
[Ahmadi] Our comment is: compare the achievements of the Americans [in Afghanistan] with the negative results of the US occupation which have resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of Afghans, including women and children, as well the heavy destruction caused to the Afghan infrastructure. In his statements, the US ambassador must make reference to the large thefts that have taken place in front of his eyes as a result of the rife corruption that is hanging over the people [of Afghanistan].
The US ambassador claims that $20 billion has been spent on infrastructure in Afghanistan, however he is ignoring the rampant corruption that is present in government institutions under the auspices of the US embassy.
We ask the ambassador, where has this huge amount of money been spent [in Afghanistan], in light of the fact that 27 Afghan children died in a refugee camp in the heart of the Afghan capital Kabul – which is news that the international media is ignoring – only a few kilometers away from the US embassy? These deaths were due to the lack of adequate housing [inKabul]…therefore these children were forced to live in the refugee camp and endure terrible weather conditions including snow and bitter cold.
When the US ambassador is listing the alleged achievements [of the Americans],he must mentions the criminal acts carried out by American soldiers recently against the Afghan people, from desecrating the corpses of the slain to committing sexual assaults against children to utilizing fighter jets to bomb and kill innocent people.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] If the Taliban returns to rule in Afghanistan, do you have social and economic plans in place to raise the standard of living in the country? How will you engage with the outside world?
[Ahmadi] The policy of the Islamic Emirate with regards to creating economic and development plans and projects to raise the standard of living of the Afghan people and its future dealings with the outside world have been clearly made in the official statements of the Islamic Emirate which have been issued from the office of the Commander of the Faithful [Mullah Omar], and anybody who wants to know this need only refer to these statements.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] What is the objective of Taliban operations that have taken place in the heart of Kabul in broad daylight, for example, the latest attack on the diplomatic district? Is the goal to expose the inability of the Karzai government to maintain security?
[Ahmadi] This will not be the last time that the US embassy and the military headquarters of foreign troops will be targeted; we will attack them in the future as well, in addition to using other tactics. The objective of this is to show the power of the mujahedeen and their military presence in the heart of the Afghan capital Kabul, and invalidate the claims of the Americans that they have pushed out the mujahedeen from some areas.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] It has been reported in some western media that Mullah Mohammed Tayyib Agha, the Afghan mediator in the peace talks, fled Germany –where he was in the process of negotiating a peace settlement – after his name was revealed in the press. Is this true?
[Ahmadi] Escape is not a habit of the mujahedeen, brother Mohammed Tayyib Agha did not flee, rather he is carrying out his effective and active role with regards to the policies of the Islamic Emirate, and this is something that is confirmed by the western press itself.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] In your own view, to what extent does NATO bombardment inAfghanistan result in civilian causalities?
[Ahmadi] To a very great extent indeed, and far greater than what is revealed by the international media.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] What are the Taliban sources of funding? Does the Taliban enjoy Arab and Gulf support in this regard?
[Ahmadi] The most important source of funding for the mujahedeen is the Afghan people themselves; the Afghan people are funding and assisting the mujahedeen, financially and materially. We must also not forget the assistance provided by our brothers in the Islamic world, and their standing with us against American imperialism.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Is it true, as US officials claim, that the Taliban is dependent upon opium-production to fund its operations?
[Ahmadi] Do not believe everything the Americans say, for they say that they have eliminated the Taliban and removed them from the areas that they control…if you believed such claims then we do not have anywhere to sit down, let alone harvest opium.
We have repeatedly stated, and I will say this once again here, that jihad is a legitimate obligation and we have never funded this with drugs, nor do we intend to do so in the future. It is the explicit policy of the Islamic Emirate to eradicate drugs [from Afghanistan].
[Asharq Al-Awsat] US forces have claimed, on more than one occasion, that the Taliban receives support from Iran, in the form of technology, improvised explosive devices [IEDs], etc. Is this true?
[Ahmadi] Let me tell the Americans that if foreign assistance was effective on the Afghan battlefield then you [the Americans] would have been victorious, because you receive military assistance from more than 47 foreign states.
Yes, we acknowledge that we have made developments, with the grace of God, in the making of IEDs that have defeated the Americans and their allies, and we will further develop this, God willing.
[Asharq Al-Awsat] Can you tell us how many fighters the Taliban has? What is your view of the Taliban members who have put down their arms and joined reconciliation programs?
[Ahmadi] The number of fighters that the Islamic Emirate possesses is the entire Afghan people, not including Karzai and the number of ministers in his government, in addition to some of his [Karzai’s] mercenary officials. As for the reconciliation program, and the announcements they make

al-Furqān Media presents a new audio message from the Islamic State of Iraq's Shaykh Abū Muḥammad al 'Adnānī: "Iraq, Iraq Oh Ahl al-Sunnah"

Posted on February 24, 2012 by Aaron Y. Zelin

UPDATE 2/26/12 10:07 PM: Here is an Arabic transcription of the below audio message:

Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Shaykh Abū Muḥammad al ‘Adnānī — “Iraq, Iraq Oh Ahl al-Sunnah” (Ar)
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To inquire about a translation for this transcription for a fee email: [email protected]
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Shaykh Abū Muḥammad al ‘Adnānī — “Iraq, Iraq Oh Ahl al-Sunnah”

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To inquire about a translation for this audio message for a fee email: [email protected]

New statement from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's Zabīhullah Mujāhid: "Expecting the Surrender of Mujāhidīn in Logar is Unwarranted"

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Aaron Y. Zelin

Ever since yesterday, unwarranted reports are being circulated by ‘Azadi Radio’ that a number of Mujahideen from Logar provincial capital and six of its districts are planning on joining the stooge regime, a claim which is also being supported by the puppet officials of this province and a claim which we strongly reject.
Such rumors, which have been spread on various occasions with the initiation of our decade long Jihad have no basis. The intelligence circles of Kabul have created fraudulent processes in a few areas of the country and the press has also been taken into confidence which portray Mujahideen as putting down their weapons, turning their backs on their divine obligation and discarding the aspirations of thousands of its martyrs!!! however the realities observed on the ground are much different. There has been an increase in the numbers of Mujahideen and people from all over have taken practical steps in showing their solidarity with the Mujahideen to the extent that a number of people in the army of the Kabul regime, after distinguishing between truth and falsehood by figuring out the reality have started joining the ranks of the Mujahideen.
We ask all the media outlets including Azadi Radio to prepare and publish their reports based on facts and not imaginary reports which are only for propaganda purposes. On the other hand, the reason behind the falling off of operations in Logar is not, may Allah forbid because Mujahideen have been weakened but it is because of the intense cold weather due to the snowfall which has restricted movements in some parts of the country but this should never be mistaken as abandonment of Jihad. Jihad is a divine obligation; as long as our country is under occupation and as long as this obligation is binding on the Mujahideen, Jihad shall continue, if Allah wills it.
Spokesman of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan
Zabihullah Mujahid
28/03/1433
19/02/2012
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New statement from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's Zabīhullah Mujāhid: "We Strongly Reject Karzai’s Claims"

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Aaron Y. Zelin

The head of the stooge Kabul administration, Hamid Karzai recently asserted in an interview with the ‘The Wall Street Journal’ that the US and Kabul administration have started secret talks with the Taliban which have also proven very effective.
The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly rejects Karzai’s claims and adds that the representatives of Islamic Emirate have not talked with the puppet administration anywhere and have not even yet decided if they want to hold talks with the administration of Kabul. It should be mentioned that there is nothing else left for the enemy except propaganda through which it desires to extend its stooge rule for a few more days. But just as their other ploys failed and were uprooted in their initial stages, this new campaign of deceit will also be condemned to failure and will face humiliating disclosure. The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan believes that even if someone has met with the Karzai administration on the behalf of Islamic Emirate then they must be a fraud. Just like how a similar incident took place previously, it is entirely possible that someone else could have once again duped this administration because the enemy is dazed and have created an environment with its own hands from which anyone can easily take personal advantage and offer empty promises in return.
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al-Qayrawān Media Foundation presents a new poem from Anṣār al-Sharī'ah in Tunisia's Shaykh al-Khaṭīb al-Idrīsī: "In the Catastrophe the Core of Real Men Appears: To Sharpen and Encourage Mettle and Boost the Morals"

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Aaron Y. Zelin

Click the following link for a safe PDF copy: Shaykh al-Khaṭīb al-Idrīsī — “In the Catastrophe the Core of Real Men Appears- To Sharpen and Encourage Mettle and Boost the Morals”
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To inquire about a translation for this poem email: [email protected]

New interview by CNN with the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan's Zabīhullah Mujāhid

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Aaron Y. Zelin

Alemarah website presents to its viewers the interview of Zabihullah Mujahid done with CNN news network on the 14/02/2012 where a range of questions regarding the current ongoing situation and political issues are answered.

Q. Is it possible for the Taliban to renounce international terrorism in one of its written statements as per the American demand?
A. All praise is due to Allah and may his peace and blessings be upon his chosen servant.
To proceed, I must first and foremost say that we do not work according to the guidelines of America or any other country but all of our decisions are based on Islamic principles while giving consideration to our national interests however based on mutual respect, we do believe in reaching an understanding with all the countries of the world.
Now, regarding the issue of terrorism:
If America and its allies consider the current Jihad and struggle in Afghanistan against the eradication of the occupation and its continuation until all foreign troops leave and an Islamic government is established as terrorism, then we cannot shun this as it would be an un-Islamic act because we consider this Jihad and struggle as our Islamic obligation, the shunning of which is not possible in any circumstance. However, as we continue with this obligation (Jihad and struggle) we are religiously held responsible in preventing civilian casualties.

Q. Do you have delegates based in Qatar at the moment who are engaged in talks with America? If you don’t, do you have plans to send delegations in the near future?
A. A representative of Islamic Emirate has held meetings with American delegates in Qatar regarding confidence building measures. As for when we will send or not send delegations to Qatar, then it all depends on when we reach the negotiation stage. Up until now, this has not officially occurred and naturally, as we reach the negotiation stage, a delegation or a team of Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan will be chosen and sent to Qatar.

Q. Have you yet been asked to meet with the Karzai administration in Saudi Arabia? If not, will you accept to meet with them in Saudi Arabia if requested?
A. Before I answer your question I firstly must say that in order to reach an understanding with America, Qatar was chosen as an intermediary nation by the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan. This was our own choice and not on due part to the behest or pressure of another nation, a selection which America also accepted.
In regards to Saudi Arabia, no one has put forward such a request to us and even if such a thing was requested, our answer will be that the government of Karzai is not independent and meeting with it will not benefit in any way in solving the problem.

Q. Do you believe that the active lower level Taliban will accept you accord if you were to reach a positive outcome with America in Qatar?
A. In our system, no consideration is given to the issue of high rank or low rank but rather the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan works as a cohesive administration. All of its offices, its officials and members work for a mutual goal under the leadership of the Commander of the Faithful. The current talks or future negotiations all take place with the permission and guidance of the Amir and all agreements which all done with the consent of the Amir in the light of Islamic principles and national interests are happily accepted by all and they who work earnestly to implement them.

Q. Do you think talking with the Karzai administration will be beneficial or do you want to directly talk with the Americans?
A. I must say that Karzai, Kabul administration, Afghans and the Americans or Washington is not concerned here as some people say, as a form of protest, that the Taliban only want to talk with the Americans instead of their own Afghans. In reality, the concern is of one exercising power and one with no power. It is well known to the Afghan people as well as the world that the real power holder fighting the Mujahideen in Afghanistan is America. It has used Karzai and his administration as an instrument to maintain its grip and continue its occupation.

Q. If those Taliban that are being held in Guantanamo are not released, will your negotiations with the Americans still continue?
A. Negotiations have not yet began with the Americans so talking about it continuing does not mean much. Now the question is, when will negotiations begin? I must say that before any negotiations can take place, confidence building measures must first succeed so an atmosphere can be created for negotiations and this confidence building measure rests entirely with the Americans and they must take steps for it which are; exchange of Guantanamo prisoners, the opening of a political office and the termination of the black list of the United Nations as well as the bounty lists of America and her allies.
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