Daily Times

KABUL: New Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada called on the US Saturday to end its “occupation” of Afghanistan in his first message since being appointed the militant group’s chief.

The message was released to mark the upcoming Muslim festival of Eid and comes two days after Taliban-claimed suicide blasts, targeting a convoy of buses transporting Afghan police cadets in Kabul, killed over 30 people and wounded more than 70.

“Admit the realities instead of useless use of force and muscle… and put an end to the occupation,” Akhundzada said in a speech on the eve of Eidul Fitr.

“Our message to the American invaders and her allies is that the Afghan Muslim people neither fear… your force nor your stratagem. They consider martyrdom in confrontation with you as a cherished goal of their life,” Akhundzada added.

He also called on neighbouring countries to join the fight against the US, saying the presence of Americans would “harm our mutual interest” and “destabilise the whole region”.

“You are expected to join your voice with that of the Afghans to end the occupation or at least do not take steps which contribute to prolongation of presence of the Americans,” he said.

The message is the first by Akhundzada since his predecessor Akhtar Mansour was killed in a US drone strike in Pakistan in May.

Mansour was formally appointed head of the Taliban in July last year after the revelation that Mullah Omar – the group’s supreme leader – had been dead for two years.

The Taliban have stepped up attacks after announcing Akhundzada as their new leader.

Observers say the once low-profile religious figure, who is seen as more of a spiritual figurehead than a military commander, will emulate Mansour in shunning peace talks and intensify attacks against the Afghan government.