Taliban Leader Urges Suicide Attackers to Continue Operations In His Eid Message

According to statements attributed to Hibatullah Akhundzada, leader of the Taliban, he has called on the group’s suicide attackers to continue their attacks as in the past.

The Taliban leader stated that the group's suicide bombers have carried out attacks against the enemy in the past and they should now be prepared for war and to sacrifice themselves to protect the Taliban regime.

As per the Taliban's announcement, Hibatullah Akhundzada made a speech on the first day of Eid al-Fitr at the Eidgah Mosque in Kandahar province.

The Taliban said that with the withdrawal of international troops from Afghanistan, the country is now independent. However, the Taliban leader did not explain where the group's suicide bombers should continue attacks and against whom.

In an audio message attributed to Mullah Hibatullah, which the Taliban broadcast on Wednesday, he said, "When infidels were in our country, you carried out suicide attacks against them. Now, like in the past, you should conduct martyrdom operations and be prepared for war; because, they [the enemy] used mother bombs, B-52s, drones, and chemical weapons against us”.

While encouraging fighters of the group to carry out suicide attacks, the Taliban condemned the recent suicide attack in Kandahar, which was claimed by ISIS and resulted in the death of 40 individuals. ISIS, like the Taliban, claims to establish an Islamic system in Afghanistan. The military tactics of the Taliban and ISIS are similar, and both groups call their suicide attackers "martyrdom operations”.

The Taliban leader, who lives in hiding and avoids public appearances, said that the "enemy" is not idle and now, through other means such as "media and the internet," according to him, continues with propaganda and "sowing discord”.

Although he did not specifically name the Taliban's enemy, he constantly mentions the global community and United States.

He said that fighters and suicide attackers of the Taliban should not sit idle. He emphasised that the fighters and suicide bombers should "always be at war and jihad, and the Islamic system [Taliban regime] needs protection”.

The group’s leader stated that with the Taliban's takeover of power in Afghanistan, the "Islamic system" has been established. He stressed that the Taliban's regime is faultless in the eyes of God, but "infidel countries" are trying to show Islam as "flawed”.

Hibatullah said that the group will fight until the "last breath" and defend Islam.

“We Continue Retribution, Flogging, and Amputation."

In his speech, the Taliban leader emphasised that retribution, flogging, and amputation are part of Islamic laws, and the group implements them.

Based on the audio recording of this speech, Akhundzada stated that the international community's claim that the Taliban have no laws is incorrect. He emphasised , "We have laws, and our law is Islam."

He emphasised that the Taliban are only "willing to deal within the circle of Islam. Meaning that, whatever is implementable in Islam and has been implemented during the time of Prophet Muhammad, we adhere to it and agree with the world accordingly."

The Taliban leader added, "The world wants us to abandon our religion."

Nonetheless, the group has not released any images of Mullah Hibatullah.

In the audio file attributed to him, it is emphasised that the Taliban has previously fought foreigners and continues to fight against them.

In a part of his speech addressing Taliban members, he said, "The enemy is still alive, and we must always be prepared for jihad against them”.

Referring to Western countries as "infidels" he said that their religion is "false”. He added that Islam is the "most complete religion" and stated that when the Taliban "implements Islamic law and Sharia, the world says it violates human rights. They ask, why do you amputate hands? Why do you whip women in public?"

He added that United States asks the Taliban to respect their country and its laws, including human rights, while they do not respect Islam. "When we respect your principles, you should also accept our principles and laws,” he said.

The Taliban leader stated that United States entered Afghanistan and called the Taliban "terrorists", however contrary to the US, the Taliban declared "general amnesty" after taking over the power.

He directed his message to the US, stating that following their assumption of power, the group refrained from engaging in "terrorist acts”. Instead, as per his remarks, the Taliban acted with "compassion and kindness”.

The Taliban leader also said that the world previously resorted to "attack and conspiracy" with weapons, and now, through the internet and media, it "propagates" rumours against the Taliban.