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Al-Qaida pleads for food, weapons

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-12 09:03

ISTANBUL: The leader of Al-Qaida in Afghanistan says militants are short of food, weapons and other supplies needed to fight foreign forces there, a website linked to the group said.

Al-Qaida has been severely weakened in Afghanistan since US-led forces toppled their Taliban hosts in response to the Sept 11, 2001 attacks. A gap may also have opened up between Al-Qaida and the Afghan Taliban, many of whom blame Osama bin Laden's group for causing the US-led invasion, analysts say.

"In Afghanistan, we have a severe supply deficit. The main reason for the weakness in operations is insufficient supplies. Many mujahideen sit and wait and cannot fight for lack of supplies," Mustafa Abu al-Yazid said on a website used by top Al-Qaida leaders and other militants to post statements.

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Nearly 90,000 US and international troops are currently helping around 160,000 Afghan forces battle a Taliban insurgency across southern and eastern Afghanistan, but Al-Qaida's presence and influence is thought to be concentrated along the mountainous eastern border with Pakistan.

"If a mujahid (holy fighter) does not have the money to get weapons, food, drink and the materials for jihad, he cannot fight jihad," Yazid said. "Fear Allah and be ambitious in waging jihad through (donating) goods."

Yazid called on Turks to provide money and supplies for Al-Qaida forces in Afghanistan, appealing to their common Muslim identity, and called for Turks to pray for the militants.

"The first recommendation is that you behave well towards your Muslim brothers. We see Muslims in Turkey as our brothers," al-Yazid said in a statement entitled "Advice to the Turkish people".

Al-Qaida has carried out attacks in Turkey, notably in 2003 when the militants killed more than 60 people in a series of bombings in Istanbul. Police carry out sporadic raids on suspected Al-Qaida cells in Muslim Turkey, but there is little support for the group in the country.

Despite the presence of more international troops in Afghanistan, violence has surged to its worst levels since 2001.

"We give you the good news of victories in Afghanistan against America and its collaborators. They have tasted great pain in recent months. Many of them have died thanks to Allah. Vehicles have been destroyed and many planes shot down," the statement said.

Reuters