[NYTr] Afghanistan: Taliban Leader Taunts NATO, Calls for pullout

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Reuters - Dec 18, 2007
http://www.reuters.com/article/worldNews/idUSISL16664520071218?feedType=RSS&feedName=worldNews&sp=true


Taliban leader taunts NATO and calls for Afghan pullout

KABUL (Reuters) - Taliban leader Mullah Omar on Tuesday called on
foreign forces to withdraw from Afghanistan and taunted NATO about its
capture of the southern town of Musa Qala, saying celebrating such a
small victory only showed its weakness.

This year has seen a steady escalation of violence in Afghanistan with
attacks up around 25 percent since 2006, but neither the hardline
Taliban nor Afghan government and international forces have gained any
significant advantage.

"The aggression by the Americans and their allies against Afghanistan
and Iraq brought with it economic and financial losses that affected
not just occupied states, but the aggressors are also suffering," Omar
said in a message to mark the Eid al-Adha Muslim holiday beginning in
Afghanistan on Wednesday.

"Therefore, international institutions and all countries, especially
Muslim states, should find ways for the evacuation of aggressor forces,
and along with occupied nations help form a permanent and independent
government," the Pakistan-based Afghanistan International Press (AIP)
quoted a statement as saying.

The one-eyed reclusive leader said no occupying power had ever
conquered Afghanistan and the Taliban was getting stronger each day.

The Taliban, he said, "have troubled them so much that they are
propagating and celebrating a partial occupation of the small district
of Musa Qala, the way they did six years ago over occupation of
Afghanistan."

Thousands of Afghan, British and U.S. troops recaptured the town of
Musa Qala in the southern province of Helmand last week, the only town
of any size held by the Taliban, but much of the countryside in the
remote area, as in many parts of the mountainous country, are still
loosely under Taliban control.

"Only the district headquarters and few shops of Musa Qala are under
the enemy's occupation," Omar said.

"They have not achieved any success in the last six years and such a
celebration (over the capture of Musa Qala) is the biggest proof of
their weakness," he said.

Omar promised no let up in Taliban activities during the usual lull in
fighting that accompanies the harsh Afghan winter and denied there was
any rift in his organization.

(Writing by Jon Hemming; Editing by Alex Richardson)