Urging US to adopt a logical path rather than talking such action, the Taliban spokesperson said, “They should review policy of continuing invasion of Afghanistan.” ILLUSTRATION: JAMAL KHURSHID
Terming the decision an exercise in futility, the Taliban said such decisions do not affect their operations.
“As all war activities and the military strategy of US face a complete failure in Afghanistan, it wants to divert attention of the international community from its failures through such so-called restrictions,” Taliban spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, said.
Read: US sanctions Sirajuddin Haqqani’s brother as ‘specially designated global terrorist’
The spokesperson added, "The Islamic Emirate considers the decision of the defeated Americans as weaknesses of the Americans and urges the mujahideen to continue jihad to expel them from Afghanistan.”
"The defeated Americans must understand that adding mujahideen to terrorist lists and announcing rewards on them is an exercise in futility,” he added.
Further, the spokesperson added the Taliban neither have any businesses nor intend to do.
The statement comes days after the US State Department named the brother of the head of the extremist Haqqani Network, Abdul Aziz Haqqani as a "specially designated global terrorist" under an executive order which targets terrorists and those supporting terrorists or acts of terrorism.
“As a result of the designation, all property subject to US jurisdiction in which Aziz Haqqani has any interest is blocked and US persons are generally prohibited from engaging in any transactions with Aziz Haqqani or to his benefit,” said the State Department.
Read: Of natural causes: Ailing Taliban faction leader Jalaluddin Haqqani ‘dead’
“For several years, Aziz Haqqani has been involved in planning and carrying out improvised explosive device attacks against Afghan government targets,” the State Department said.
According to the statement, Aziz Haqqani also “assumed responsibility for all major Haqqani Network attacks after the death of his brother, Badruddin Haqqani.”
Aziz already had a $5 million US bounty on his head and the Haqqani faction has long been designated a “terrorist organisation.”
He now joins his brother as subject to the seizure of any assets he may have in areas under US control, while Americans are banned from doing business with him.
Read: Afghan Taliban issues statement quoting ‘dead’ Jalaluddin Haqqani
With Abdul Aziz, the family network is led by Sirajuddin’s uncle and brother-in-law along with Abdul Rauf Zakir, the alleged head of the group’s suicide operations.
The Haqqani Network was set up in the 1970s as a force to oppose the Marxist regime in Kabul and its Soviet backers, and fought in the Afghan civil war.
US intelligence holds it responsible for some of the most audacious strikes of the insurgency, including the 2009 Camp Chapman bombing, which killed seven CIA agents.
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