UPDATED ON:
SATURDAY, MARCH 03, 2007
4:27 MECCA TIME, 1:27 GMT
 
NEWS CENTRAL/S. ASIA
Taliban chief criticises Pakistan
Mullah Dadullah directs the Taliban's
military operations
The leader of the Taliban's military operations has criticised Pakistan and Arab nations for helping the US and its allies.
 
Speaking in interview with Al Jazeera aired on Friday, Mullah Dadullah said that the Taliban's acitivities had suffered more from Pakistan's operations than from American and coalition activities.
"The Pakistani government has a strange policy that no-one can understand," Dadullah said.
 
"We have not suffered as much from America, Britain or any Islamic or Arab country as from the oppression and aggression we suffered from Pakistan."
"The targets which were firstly bombed were by the help of Pakistani intelligence and the first batches of invading forces entered from Pakistan."
 
He also said that Iran's Shia had not given any assistance to the Taliban, a Sunni movement: "Iran has never adopted any Jihadi agenda while the leaders of Arab countries are just followers of America and Britain."
 
Spring offensive
 
Dadullah also repeated his previous predictions that the Taliban were planning a large-scale spring offensive.
 
"Our readiness for next spring offensive is great and very huge as we precisely reconsider our previous strategy [in order that] we learn new effective fighting tactics and methods," he said.
 
"We have many suicide bombers for carrying [out] hundreds of suicide bombings during the coming spring offensive in Afghanistan."
 
However, he told Al Jazeera that he would not discuss the Taliban's plans with the media.
 
"We cannot talk about the new tactics to the media ... [they] must be kept secret," he said.
 
'Muslim support'
 
Dadullah also said that Muslims from around the world were keen to fight Christians and Jews in particular.
 
"No-one can know the number of mujahideen, as when it comes to fight Jews and Christians they are countless," he said.
The Afghan government struggles to rule areas outside Kabul, the capital
 
"Jihad is international, as we have Mujahideen from all over the world as Muslims across the world are supporting us and will stay with us in the future.
 
"The number of Mujahideen who are ready to fight might reach 6,000 or 10,000, but when the convoys of our enemy arrive all people fight, thus the number will reach 20,000.
 
"The suicide bombers are not included as we have thousands in each village and town who are ready to carry our suicide attacks. But those registered who joined training centres are 1,800 fighters.
 
Dadullah, who joined the Taliban soon after the movement was founded by Mullah Omar, also said that the Taliban now controlled large parts of Afghanistan.
 
"Taliban is not like that in the past, as we are now in control of most areas in Afghanistan.
 
"We will defeat the Americans and their allies. In return for each 20 soldiers we have killed, we lost one fighter."
Source: Al Jazeera
Related:
Top Taliban leader 'arrested'  
(02 Mar 2007)
Cheney targeted in Taliban attack  
(27 Feb 2007)
Taliban 'in control' in Helmand  
(22 Feb 2007)
Taliban: Spring offensive is coming  
(21 Feb 2007)
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