End foreign occupation of Afghanistan to bring peace, says new Taliban leader

The new leader of the Taliban on Saturday called for an end to foreign forces’ “occupation” of Afghanistan. In one of his first public statements, Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzad said withdrawal of troops was a preliminary step to a settlement based on Islamic law which would bring unity to a country riven by decades of war. Akhundzad, who was named leader of the movement after the death of Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour in a U.S. drone strike in May, said agreement was possible if the government in Kabul renounced its foreign allies. “Admit the realities instead of useless use of force and muscle… And put an end to the occupation,” he said.

Your support and siding with invaders is like the work of those abhorrent faces who in our past history supported the Britons and the Soviets.

Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzad

Akhundzad delivered his ultimatum in a speech on the eve of Eid ul Fitr, the Muslim festival marking the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. “Our message to the American invaders and her allies is this: the Afghan Muslim people neither fear from your force nor your stratagem,” he said. “They consider martyrdom in confrontation with you as a cherished goal of their life.” But he told the Western-backed government in Kabul that “the doors of forgiveness and tolerance are open”. He added: “Our clear message is that we do not want a monopoly of power. All Afghan tribes and races need each other.”

You are facing up not a group or faction but a nation. You are not going to be a winner

Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzad

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