Taliban leader warns US to end occupation of Afghanistan

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

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

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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 Eid-ul-Fitr, the Muslim festival marking the end of the fasting month of Ramzan.

“Our message to the American invaders and her allies is this: 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”.

The message is the first by Akhundzada since his predecessor Akhtar Mansour was killed during an American dr one strike in neighbouring Pakistan in May.