Taliban Statement: 'Afghans Will Start Living Under… An Islamic Government' After 2014; Taliban Spokesman Assesses Afghan Jihad, Says 2012 'More Triumphant' Than 'Previous Jihad Years'
In a recent interview, Zabihullah Mujahid, the main spokesman of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan (the Taliban's shadow government in the country, assessed the situation of the Afghan jihad, noting that 2012 was "more triumphant for us as compared to all the previous jihad years."The Taliban website also published a statement on January 11, when Afghan President Hamid Karzai was meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama to discuss the size of U.S. forces to remain in Afghanistan after 2014. Below are excerpts from the Taliban's January 11 statement, followed by excerpts from the Zabihullah Mujahid interview.
Taliban January 11 Statement: "No Sooner Will The Foreigners Quit Than The Afghans Will Start Living Under The Cover Of An Islamic Government And In The Environment Of Islamic Brotherhood"
"Karzai has started his journey towards America with the intention to discuss the extension of [American] invaders' stay in Afghanistan for a few more years…. Beyond doubt the invading forces will ultimately quit because the Afghans have always safeguarded this country with their own arms. They have lived in a free and independent environment. They have never relied upon the power of alien forces…. No sooner will the foreigners quit [in 2014] than the Afghans will start living under the cover of an Islamic government and in the environment of Islamic brotherhood. At present, the American officials have raised the possibility of evacuating all their troops from Afghanistan; it demonstrates that just like the French people, the American people have also accurately perceived the ground realities…."





