Monday, June 13, 2016
Kabul (BNA)The Afghanistan National Security Council (NSC) said the Afghan government is not surprised with the latest pledge of allegiance by the Al Qaeda terrorist network chief Ayman Al-Zawahiri to new Taliban leader Mawlavi Haibatullah Akhundzada.
NSC spokesman Tawab Ghorang told reporters in Kabul that the allegiance announced by Al Qaeda network is not something new as the two groups already contacts with each.
He said the latest pledge of allegiance by Al Qaeda proves that the Taliban group is supported by an international terrorist network.
Ghorzang further added that the government of Afghanistan welcomes President Barack Obama’s decision to grant a broader role to the US military to assist the Afghan National Defense and Security Forces.
He also added that the government of Afghanistan is working to eliminate the financial sources of the Taliban group and other terrorist networks.
According to Ghorzang, one of the main income sources of the Taliban group is collection of ‘Ashr’ from the local residents and the government is working to prevent the process.
Ghorzang said the government is also working to block the cultivation and smuggling of opium and prevent the extraction and smuggle of mines.
This comes as an international organization released a report last week stating that the Talian militants and some of the warlords are making millions from the illegal extraction of mines in the country, specifically from the Lapis Lazuli in eastern Badakhshan province.
