Saeed Ahmad Shahidkhel, the military deputy of the Taliban’s Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, praised former Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden during a meeting in Kabul. He emphasized the Taliban’s resistance against “oppressors,” referencing their first government’s fall for refusing to hand over bin Laden to America.
International organizations’ reports indicate that the Taliban maintains close ties with Al-Qaeda. The death of Ayman al-Zawahiri, Al-Qaeda’s leader, in a US airstrike in Kabul demonstrates the continuation of these relations.
These statements came a day after US President Donald Trump announced at a Congressional meeting the capture of one of the perpetrators behind the attack on US soldiers at Kabul airport, while expressing gratitude for Pakistan’s cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts.
