REUTERS: Al Qaeda Says Short of Food, Arms in Afghanistan
ISTANBUL - The leader of al Qaeda in Afghanistan says militants are short of food, weapons and other supplies needed to fight foreign forces there, a Web site linked to the group said.
Al Qaeda has been severely weakened in Afghanistan since U.S.-led forces toppled their Taliban hosts in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. A gap may also have opened up between al Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban, many of whom blame Osama bin Laden's group for causing the U.S.-led invasion, analysts say.
"In Afghanistan, we have a severe supply deficit. The main reason for the weakness in operations is insufficient supplies. Many mujahideen sit and wait and cannot fight for lack of supplies," Mustafa Abu al-Yazid said on a Web site used by top al Qaeda leaders and other militants to post statements.
Nearly 90,000 U.S. and international troops are currently helping around 160,000 Afghan forces battle a Taliban insurgency across southern and eastern Afghanistan, but al Qaeda's presence and influence is thought to be concentrated along the mountainous eastern border with Pakistan.
"If a mujahid (holy fighter) does not have the money to get weapons, food, drink and the materials for jihad, he cannot fight jihad," Yazid said. "Fear Allah and be ambitious in waging jihad through (donating) goods." >>> By Daren Butler | Thursday, June 11, 2009
ISTANBUL - The leader of al Qaeda in Afghanistan says militants are short of food, weapons and other supplies needed to fight foreign forces there, a Web site linked to the group said.
Al Qaeda has been severely weakened in Afghanistan since U.S.-led forces toppled their Taliban hosts in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. A gap may also have opened up between al Qaeda and the Afghan Taliban, many of whom blame Osama bin Laden's group for causing the U.S.-led invasion, analysts say.
"In Afghanistan, we have a severe supply deficit. The main reason for the weakness in operations is insufficient supplies. Many mujahideen sit and wait and cannot fight for lack of supplies," Mustafa Abu al-Yazid said on a Web site used by top al Qaeda leaders and other militants to post statements.
Nearly 90,000 U.S. and international troops are currently helping around 160,000 Afghan forces battle a Taliban insurgency across southern and eastern Afghanistan, but al Qaeda's presence and influence is thought to be concentrated along the mountainous eastern border with Pakistan.
"If a mujahid (holy fighter) does not have the money to get weapons, food, drink and the materials for jihad, he cannot fight jihad," Yazid said. "Fear Allah and be ambitious in waging jihad through (donating) goods." >>> By Daren Butler | Thursday, June 11, 2009
