Abdul Latif Mansour, Afghanistan's Minister of Energy and Water and a prominent Taliban figure, made a noteworthy statement during a meeting in the Kunduz region. He referred to certain groups that the U.S. labels as "terrorists" as "our mujahideen brothers." Notably, he didn't mention al-Qaeda, the group that played a significant role in the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, Daryo correspondent in Afghanistan reported.
This statement raises questions about the Taliban's stance on these groups, as "mujahideen" generally refers to those involved in religious warfare or jihad. Historically, the Taliban considered themselves part of the broader mujahideen movement during the Afghan-Soviet War, fighting against the Soviet Union.
The U.S. intervention in Afghanistan has been focused on combating terrorism, with particular attention to al-Qaeda and the Taliban, which provided shelter to al-Qaeda leaders, including Osama bin Laden. Mansour's statement may reflect the Taliban's evolving position in a post-U.S. Afghanistan as they seek international recognition and legitimacy.
The absence of a direct mention of al-Qaeda is noteworthy, as the Taliban has sought to distance itself from past associations. However, questions remain about the extent to which the Taliban can disassociate from extremist elements.
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