Taliban accused US politicians of "sucking the blood of their own people". PHOTO: REUTERS/FILE
The militants issued a statement describing how US institutions were "paralysed", the Statue of Liberty was closed and a fall in tourist numbers had hit shops, restaurants and hotels in the capital.
"The American people should realise that their politicians play with their destinies as well as the destinies of other oppressed nations for the sake of their personal vested interests," the Taliban said.
The insurgents accused "selfish and empty-minded American leaders" of taking US citizens' money "earned with great difficulty" and then "lavishly spending the same money in shedding the blood of the innocent and oppressed people".
"Instead of sucking the blood of their own people... this money should be utilised for the sake of peace," they added.
The US embassy in Kabul has said that it expects "to function normally in the short term" due to the shutdown, though it’s Twitter feed would not be regularly updated.
Embassy press staff was not immediately available to comment on the rebels' statement.
The Taliban, who were ousted from power in a US-backed offensive in 2001, often use their website to issue colourful verbal attacks on Washington and the Kabul government.
About 57,000 US troops are deployed in Afghanistan, with most of them set to pull out by the end of the next year.
The US shutdown has seen hundreds of thousands of workers sent home without pay after Congress failed to pass a budget for the 2014 fiscal year that began October 1.
COMMENTS (28)
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@csmann: It would appear, even to a first grade student that the US, amongst other things, desperately requires advise. Unfortunately, I am not sure what type of advise they need. The US has very good economists, but quite obviously Washington is not listening to them, or at least the right ones, and the US is getting deeper and deeper into debt to the tune of hundreds of trillions of dollars.
@Ayaan: No they wouldn't, seeing as a majority of congress members are already very wealthy and have amazing educational backgrounds that they could fall upon if they were "desperate" for a pay cheque.
@Mj & Muneeb They were talibans who visited White house whether they had declared themselves as a group or not.
@CSM Condemn Ronald Reagan. I never said that
@Ahmed: Exactly the point, you can not believe everything you hear....we learned this in school.
So we tend to believe whatever politicians tell us and when someone else points out a bitter reality we don't wanna listen? interesting.
@Z: They are far from gentleman regardless of their point.
Though there is no respect here for the Taliban, they make a valid point. Luckily they mention the word "peace" and not the words "more attacks. As someone who works for the military I can tell you right now, those politicians have shut us down regardless of what is being told in the media.
The people who are 'agreeing' and applauding the taliban for this ludicrous statement are absolutely ridiculous. These men make American politicians look like saints. The way these men have permanently messed up our country, but some people need nothing but an excuse to sympathise and find common ground with these extremists.
Disgusting.
Funny,these people can talk about Statue of Liberty et al.And as if American people are dying for their advice.
Afghan taliban - RESPECT :)
slowly but gradually it seems taliban are winning hearts of not only pakistanis but americans as well.. they not just know about fighting bt a bit about economics dude =]
@Z, stop distorting historical facts, Taliban were formed in 1992, go figure who was the President of USA then.
Talibans are mocking Pakistan too by their daily killings with all political parties pleading and begging for talks.
Thugs who have never paid taxes, never voted, never been to the USA, and don't respect Pakistan or it's Constitution should have better things to do.
@Z:
Taliban as a group was not yet formed. Stop misleading others.
Two side of same coin
That moment when Taliban is smarter than the us government...
What they're saying is not some kind of new revelation, we already know that. The fact that they're the ones taunting them about using people's money to cripple their everyday life style is hilariously ironic! Haha
Mujahideen turned into Talibans(read terrorists), the only difference was, this time around it was USA and not USSR. With the US government shutdown, will they also shutdown the pseudo war on terror (war of terror) and leave the war torn Afghanistan.
@NMA: Couldn't agree more. First time I have to agree with what Talibans have said.
They are for once talking sense, and the taliban had never done anything to America...so the fact they are defending their country in whatever ways makes sense. But on the other hand, how good were they with their own people? It was probably the worst decade of anyone's life living under their rule, and people compain about Zia in our country. I liked Zia-ul-haq, he wanted to make Pakistani more Islamic. However by making deoband schools rather than sunni sufi wasn't the smartest thing. Such a shame we are stuck with Wahhabis everywhere now as a result!
One have to agree with Taliban on this one. Taliban said what most of the leaders (Western puppets) can't say......which tells the independence of Taliban. Unlike the democratically elected leadership of world.
The biggest irony is that during the shutdown, Congressmen (who are responsible for passing the budget) still get paid! And this is allowed as per US Constitution. I bet if the law was changed, Congressmen (especially Republicans who are the major reason for blocking the budget this time) will be quick to approve it.
You have to admit.... they do have a point........
Taliban talking about using money for peace, You got to be kidding.
Oops !
Afghan talibans mocking the American talibans. "These gentlemen(talibans) are the moral equivalents of the America's founding fathers"- Ronald Reagan (1985)