US killing al-Zawahiri in Kabul a violation of Doha pact: Taliban
The Taliban condemns the drone strike, calling it a ‘clear violation’ of international principles and the 2020 Doha Agreement.
Ayman al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian surgeon, had a $25m bounty on his head for the September 11, 2001 attacks [File: Site Intelligence Group/AFP]
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Published On 2 Aug 20222 Aug 2022
The Taliban has condemned the killing of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri by the United States in a “precision” drone strike in the centre of Kabul.
The killing of al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian surgeon who had a $25m bounty on his head for the September 11, 2001 attacks, is the biggest blow to the armed group since its founder Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011.
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The Taliban has condemned the killing of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri by the United States in a “precision” drone strike in the centre of Kabul.
The killing of al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian surgeon who had a $25m bounty on his head for the September 11, 2001 attacks, is the biggest blow to the armed group since its founder Osama bin Laden was killed in 2011.
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Who was al-Qaeda’s leader Ayman al-Zawahiri?
Who was al-Qaeda’s leader Ayman al-Zawahiri?
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In a statement on Tuesday, the group called the strike a “clear violation” of international principles and the Doha Agreement, the 2020 pact signed by the Taliban and the US that facilitated the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan.
The strike was carried out on a residential house in the Sherpur area of Kabul, a diplomatic enclave where many Taliban leaders live now, Taliban chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in the statement.
“Such actions are a repetition of the failed experiences of the past 20 years and are against the interests of the US, Afghanistan and the region,” Mujahid said.
The drone attack is the first known US strike inside Afghanistan since US troops and diplomats left the country after a Taliban takeover of the government in August 2021.
The move may bolster the credibility of Washington’s assurances that the US can still address threats from Afghanistan without a military presence in the country.
Al-Zawahiri’s death also raises questions about whether he received sanctuary from the Taliban following the Kabul takeover.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, meanwhile, accused the Taliban of “hosting and sheltering” the al-Qaeda leader in Kabul and “grossly” violating the Doha Agreement.
“In the face of the Taliban’s unwillingness or inability to abide by their commitments, we will continue to support the Afghan people with robust humanitarian assistance and to advocate for the protection of their human rights, especially of women and girls,” Blinken said in a statement.
In a statement on Tuesday, the group called the strike a “clear violation” of international principles and the Doha Agreement, the 2020 pact signed by the Taliban and the US that facilitated the withdrawal of international forces from Afghanistan.
The strike was carried out on a residential house in the Sherpur area of Kabul, a diplomatic enclave where many Taliban leaders live now, Taliban chief spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid said in the statement.
“Such actions are a repetition of the failed experiences of the past 20 years and are against the interests of the US, Afghanistan and the region,” Mujahid said.
The drone attack is the first known US strike inside Afghanistan since US troops and diplomats left the country after a Taliban takeover of the government in August 2021.
The move may bolster the credibility of Washington’s assurances that the US can still address threats from Afghanistan without a military presence in the country.
Al-Zawahiri’s death also raises questions about whether he received sanctuary from the Taliban following the Kabul takeover.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, meanwhile, accused the Taliban of “hosting and sheltering” the al-Qaeda leader in Kabul and “grossly” violating the Doha Agreement.
“In the face of the Taliban’s unwillingness or inability to abide by their commitments, we will continue to support the Afghan people with robust humanitarian assistance and to advocate for the protection of their human rights, especially of women and girls,” Blinken said in a statement.
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA AND NEWS AGENCIES
So Taliban is proven to be sheltering Al Qaeda's terrorist leadership now, just as they were sheltering them in Afghanistan before and after September 11 2001.
ReplyDeleteThe original US Invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 was necessary to remove the Al Qaeda safe haven.
The US mistake was overstaying in trying to attempt "Nation Building" which is a futile effort in Afghanistan.
No foreign country can get that done in Afghanistan .
Mfer, geopolitical plays mah!
ReplyDeleteDidn't u know that yr uncle Sam used to sheltering Nazis's terrorists & Japan Manshu Detachment 731?
The first one to exploit the rocket technologies invented by the Nazis Germany. The second for getting those evil Japanese biowarfare experimenters to help expand the biochemical weapons.
Ooop… don't forgetting too yr grandsuntie pommie Victoria protecting those opium traders to drug the Manchu Chinese!
Times r different . But the same MOTIVES!