- The US killed al-Zawahiri in a drone-fired missile while he was standing on the balcony of his compound in Kabul on Sunday.
- Top Taliban leaders have been in lengthy discussions about how to respond to the US drone strike, three sources in the group said.
- The Taliban say that if there is another violation on the territory of Afghanistan, the responsibility of any kind of consequences will be imposed on the US.
ISLAMABAD/KABUL: The Taliban said on Thursday that the government had no information about al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri “entering and staying” in the capital, Kabul, and warned the US to never attack Afghan soil. Do it.
The U.S. killed al-Zawahiri in a drone-fired missile as he stood on the balcony of his compound in Kabul on Sunday, U.S. officials said, more than a decade ago when U.S. Navy SEALs killed Osama bin Laden. It was the biggest blow to the militants since he was shot dead by the .
Sohail Shaheen, the Taliban’s designated representative to the United Nations based in Doha, said in a statement, “The government and leadership were not aware of what was being claimed and had no clue.”
“Investigations are underway to ascertain the veracity of the claim,” he said, adding that the results of the investigation would be shared publicly.
Taliban leaders have remained largely silent about Sunday’s drone strike and have not confirmed al-Zawahiri’s presence or death in Kabul.
Referring to the drone attack, the Taliban said that if such incidents are repeated and Afghanistan’s territory is violated, the responsibility of any consequences will be on the US.
Top Taliban leaders have been in lengthy discussions about how to respond to the US drone strike, three sources in the group said.
After the fall of the US-backed government a year ago, the Taliban’s reaction could have significant ramifications as the group seeks international legitimacy and access to billions of dollars in frozen funds.
Zawahiri, an Egyptian doctor, was closely involved in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and is one of the world’s most wanted men.
His death in Kabul raises questions about whether he was sheltered by the Taliban, who had assured the United States that they would fight other militants as part of a deal to withdraw US-led forces in 2020. Will not give shelter to like groups.
Shaheen said the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan – the name the Taliban use for the country and its government – was committed to the deal, which was signed in the Qatari capital Doha.
US Secretary of State Anthony Blanken said the Taliban had committed a “serious breach” of the agreement by hosting and harboring al-Zawahiri.
