Posted on 02/21/2004 7:03:29 PM PST by Flavius
Taliban warn of wave of attacks
KHOST, Afghanistan: The Taliban would stage a new wave of attacks against US-led coalition forces in the south and southeast of the country this Spring, a man claiming to be their representative told AFP on Friday.
In an interview here, the man, who has previously proved himself a credible source of information, also claimed that Osama bin Laden and Mullah Omar, were both alive and in Afghanistan. Osama and his deputy, Ayman Al-Zawahiri "are alive and both are in Afghanistan, in different places", Mohammed Saiful Adel told an AFP journalist in an interview.
The interview with Adel took place over two hours in a room in a hotel in the centre of the town, bordering Pakistan. He appeared unarmed but several Taliban fighters were visible nearby, patrolling the surrounding area apparently as security for him. The entire interview took place not more than a few hundred yards from the offices of the local governor and several military installations.
Adel said a former leader of the anti-Soviet Mujahideen fighters, Jalaluddin Haqqani, "has assumed the role of deputy leader of the Taliban". "He is playing a key role in our movement and is responsible for all the military operations," he added. "Haqqani is personally leading the operations in Paktia, Paktika and Khost," said the spokesman, referring to three southeastern provinces.
Adel insisted the Taliban were capable of mounting serious attacks. "We will stage attacks on an unprecedented scale in the Spring," he said, adding: "For example, attack a big town, seize it, occupy it for several hours and then leave ... We will lead attacks against American bases here. We will have a lot of martyrs but we will do it."
He said: "As soon as the Americans move out of their bases we know where they are going. We even know the names of the traitors, who work for them and how much they are paid."
Adel admitted the Taliban’s lack of defences against US air power was a weakness of the movement but said that the movement would soon have this capability. "The lack of air-defence means is our biggest weakness," he admitted, but "we are working on it," he claimed.
He also claimed to have the support of several high officials in a number of local authorities in the southeast. "We have a lot of supporters in the local authorities. We have a good relationship with some officials," he said.
Good to your face but will dime you out.
All righty then...
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