Haqqani Issues Warning To Countries Supporting Taliban Opponents

Khalil-ur-Rahman Haqqani, the Taliban's Minister of Refugees, issued a stern warning to nations harbouring and backing the group's adversaries, asserting that the Taliban will not overlook their antagonism.

Haqqani emphasised, "Enemies of this group will be targeted no matter where they are found."

He urged countries, without directly mentioning Uzbekistan, to return any [military] assets of Afghanistan to the Taliban's control.

During an event marking the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, Haqqani made it clear, "Anyone who confronts us, whether through intellectual, media, military, political, or financial means, will face our [response]."

While not singling out any nation, it noted that Tajikistan has provided a platform for the National Resistance Front, led by Ahmad Massoud, and has recently hosted gatherings of the group's critics.

The Minister also cautioned against efforts to "instigate war" in Afghanistan by training the group's foes, underscoring that such actions will remain unforgotten.

Highlighting airspace violations, he stated that nations should prevent drones from using their airspace for strikes against Afghanistan, asserting, "Afghans will eternally remember their hostility."

The United States operates air bases in the region, such as in Qatar, where drones are launched for missions in Afghanistan for surveillance and attack terrorist factions like Al-Qaeda.

One such strike resulted in the death of Al-Qaeda's leader, Ayman al-Zawahiri, in Kabul.

This incident isn't the first instance of a Taliban official issuing a warning to the group's foreign detractors. Previously, Saeed Khosty, a former spokesperson for the Taliban’s interior ministry, had also threatened Taliban opponents residing abroad, revealing that the Taliban is prepared with hundreds of volunteers to target their expatriate adversaries.