Al Qaeda-linked group hails Taliban victory, wants similar actions in ‘Indian Subcontinent’

New Delhi : An Islamist organisation, believed to be linked to Al Qaeda and other radical terror groups, has hailed the Taliban for its victory in Afghanistan and wants the jihadist forces to have similar successes in other parts of the world, including the “Indian Subcontinent” and Pakistan.

The Global Islamic Media Front, in a statement, ridiculed the US and its allies, saying they had displayed “cowardice” which resulted in their speedy exit from Afghanistan.

The statement comes against the backdrop of concerns among intelligence agencies of various countries, including in the Western nations, that the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan may lead to Al Qaeda again expanding its footprint and regaining strength.

The Taliban took over Afghanistan on August 15 and have declared the formation of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, which would be run according to strict Sharia laws.

“What began 20 years ago, with US aircraft viciously bombing the country and forcing the Islamic Emirate to withdraw to the mountains, ended with the Islamic Emirate (Taliban) triumphantly returning to Kabul, and the Americans and its Afghan stooges hastily running away and taking flight,” the statement said.
Hailing the Taliban for their “firmness on religious principles and its dedication to Shari’ah judgments and rulings, coupled with their valour on the battlefield”, the outfit said it “proves that real, effective change is possible when adopting the book that guides and the sword that brings victory”.

“The world, and especially Western military analysts, were awestruck by the rapid pace in which the Islamic Emirate mujahideen took control, not only over districts, but provincial capitals, reducing the areas of government authority to the span of the head of a pin,” the Islamist organisation said.

“They saw, too, the speed with which the apostate Afghan soldiers fled from their bases and centres, illustrating for all to witness the cowardice of the enemy in front of the bold mujahideen heroes,” it added.
It said that Muslims across the world share the success of the Taliban, and the day August 15, will be remembered as “a historic conquest in Islam”.
The outfit added, “Allah grant the mujahideen in Somalia, the African Sahel, Yemen, Syria, Pakistan, the Indian Subcontinent, and everywhere the same victory.”