Al-Qaida chief Ayman al-Zawahiri endorsed the Afghan Taliban guerrillas, a move that may boost the group’s insurgency in Afghanistan after President Barack Obama approved the expansion of the U.S. military’s role in the war-plagued nation.
Al-Zawahiri announced that he would “extend my pledge of allegiance” in a 14-minute online audio recording, Reuters reported on Saturday.
“We’re still waiting to receive confirmation from our leadership,” Zabihullah Mujahed, the Taliban’s main spokesman, said by phone. “If confirmed, the endorsement will deliver brightness to our spirits and strengthen our jihad against U.S. invaders.”
The endorsement follows Obama’s approval for U.S. forces to target militant groups including the Taliban in Afghanistan, aiding their Afghan counterparts in training and advising along with joining them on the ground and in the air. Mujahed called the U.S. move a waste of money and lives.
That’s a “cause-and-effect” situation, Ahmad Saeedi, a former Afghan diplomat to Pakistan, said by phone. “Al-Qaida’s endorsement will prolong the Afghan war and bolster Taliban insurgency.”
Obama in October 2015 delayed a planned reduction in the U.S. presence and decided to maintain 9,800 troops in Afghanistan through 2016 to reverse territorial gains by the Taliban. The group’s leader, Mullah Akhar Mohammad Mansour, was killed by a U.S. airstrike in Pakistan last month. Maulavi Haibatullah Akhundzada was picked as his successor in an unanimous vote by Taliban members.
The Taliban have a greater presence in Afghanistan than other militant groups, with as many as 25,000 fighters. Al-Qaida has 100-300 affiliates and Islamic State has 1,000-3,000 members, according to a U.S. Congressional Research Service report. More than 320,000 Afghan security forces are fighting to thwart the militants’ decade-long bid to overthrow the western-backed Afghan government, it said.
The U.S. has so far failed to make headway on peace talks with the Taliban since Mansour took control of the group last year, forcing Obama to alter troop-withdrawal plans. Mansour’s death spurred speculation more moderate Taliban commanders will be able to reach a deal to end a conflict that has cost the U.S. almost $700 billion and killed more than 2,200 American troops.
Pakistan and China are part of an Afghan-U.S. initiative for peace talks that would include Taliban negotiators. With Pakistan’s close relationship with the Taliban, the country is said to be key in the success of peace talks. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani said in April his country will no longer seek help from Pakistan and he promised to continue fighting anyone who refused to join the talks.
“Both moves — Al-Qaida’s close alliance with Taliban and Obama’s announcement — are disastrous and detrimental to Afghan-U.S. peace efforts with Taliban,” Saeedi said. “It’s unfortunate to say the moves aren’t really a solution to the Afghan mess.”
