Stay of foreign forces means continuity of war: Taliban
25 February, 2013
KABUL: Opposing the plans of America and NATO to keep some troops in Afghanistan after 2014, the Taliban said Sunday the presence of even a single foreign soldier was unacceptable and would mean continuity of war. In an interview with the Afghan Islamic Press (AIP), the Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said the stay of foreign troops in the country would mean continuity of war. To a query, Mujahid said they would not allow the presence of foreign troops in the country. "We are determined on our stance and hope the enemy would have understood our determination in the last 12 years. Presence of even a single foreign soldier in our country is unacceptable. If the US and NATO want to keep their troops in Afghanistan under any name, it will cause continuity of war," he added. Mujahid said the Taliban would continue their jihad till the freedom of the country and complete ouster and defeat of foreign forces. Regarding the suicide attacks on Sunday, Mujahid said their purpose was to deprive the foreign forces of taking a sigh of relief. "These attacks have a clear message for the enemy that Afghans would never tolerate presence of foreigners and a slave regime," he said, adding they would continue their efforts with all-out capabilities to achieve their goals. The AIP put to him where the attacks had any connection with the recent NATO meeting, he said: "It was an open message for NATO that their casualties will increase with every passing day in Afghanistan. They will get their soldiers killed at our hands and destroy their economy." "The Islamic Emirate has repeatedly made it clear that the presence of a single invader and foreign soldier is not acceptable to Afghans," he added. Asked whether they would keep conducting such attacks in the future, he said they would not let the enemy live peacefully. "We will continue our attacks more powerfully and effectively," he vowed. The Taliban conducted three suicide attacks in Jalalabad and Logar on Sunday. They claimed 47 security personnel were killed in the attacks. However, officials said only two intelligence personnel were killed and few more sustained injuries in the attacks. End.
|
