'Should Be Liberated From Enemies': Al-Qaeda Congratulates Taliban, Rakes Up Kashmir

The Al-Qaeda terror group on Tuesday congratulated the Taliban for their swift takeover of Afghanistan as the United States ended its 20-year-long war.

The terror organization that masterminded the 9/11 attacks on the United States, said in a statement, “Liberate the Levant, Somalia, Yemen, Kashmir and the rest of the Islamic lands from the clutches of the enemies of Islam. O’ Allah! Grant freedom to Muslim prisoners across the world.”

AFP

Al-Qaeda's detailed statement?

This came a day after the US troops made their final exit from Afghanistan. Al-Qaeda issued a detailed statement hours after the Taliban declared that Afghanistan has gained “full independence” following the withdrawal of the US forces.

While congratulating the Taliban, Al-Qaeda referred to the terror group’s long-standing calls for the so-called “liberation” of Palestine, the Levant, Somalia and Yemen along with Kashmir.

Reuters

As the clock struck 12 on the night of August 30, the last C-17 cargo aircraft carrying US forces took off from the Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, ending America's longest war, in Afghanistan.

The Taliban, who were ousted from power by the US shortly after the 9/11 attacks, have now gained control of nearly the entire Afghanistan. A group of anti-Taliban forces huddled in the Panjshir valley in northern Afghanistan are still putting up a resistance.Although the Taliban have promised to not let Afghanistan fall into the hands of terrorists, nations have voiced their concerns.

AFP

US' statement

United States President Joe Biden, who addressed the nation following the exit from Afghanistan, vowed to defend America against evolving threats from terrorist groups, such as ISIS, without getting the US involved in another ground war.

"This is a new world. The terror threat has metastasized across the world, well beyond Afghanistan. We face threats from al-Shabaab in Somalia; al-Qaeda affiliates in Syria and the Arabian Peninsula; and ISIS attempting to create a caliphate in Syria and Iraq, and establishing affiliates across Africa and Asia," Biden said.?

AP

"The fundamental obligation of a President, in my opinion, is to defend and protect America — not against threats of 2001, but against the threats of 2021 and tomorrow," he added.

“But I also know that the threat from terrorism continues in its pernicious and evil nature. But it’s changed, expanded to other countries. Our strategy has to change too,” he added.? ? ?