US told to quit Afghanistan

2003-08-11 20:57

Quetta, Pakistan - Four wanted Taliban leaders have warned US troops to quit Afghanistan or face the wrath of the Afghan people.

In a signed pamphlet distributed in the border areas of Pakistan and Afghanistan, they also urged Afghan troops to stop backing the "infidel" US force in their country.

The pamphlet carried the signatures of four of the most wanted Taliban leaders: Mulla Akhtar Usman, Mullah Bradar, Mulla Abdur Rauf and Hafiz Adur Rahim.

"We are determined that the Afghan masses will never accept foreign law and oppression and the US rule will remain only on paper," the pamphlet written in the local Pashto language said.

"We advise US forces to leave Afghanistan immediately as the Afghan people cannot be purchased with dollars."

The leaflets, secretly distributed in the southern Afghan town of Spin Boldak and seen in the neighbouring Pakistani town of Chaman in southwestern Baluchistan province, also had a warning for Afghans cooperating with US forces.

"Taliban mujahideen will kill them one by one, along with their American masters and will inflict a humiliating defeat that will be recorded in history."

The four leaders were senior commanders in the Taliban regime which was ousted in a US-led military campaign in late 2001. US forces attacked the regime for sheltering Osama bin Laden's terror network al-Qaeda, blamed for the September 11 2001 attacks in Washington and New York.

They are wanted by US and Afghan forces who come under regular attack from Taliban and al-Qaeda remnants in Afghanistan's southern and eastern border districts.

- AFP