The Taliban issued a statement condemning the killing of Qasem Soleimani and vowing to fight American “savagery.”
“With great sadness, we were informed that General Qasem Soleimani was killed in an attack by the barbaric American forces. We are all from god, and we will return to him [Quran aya] … may he rest in paradise,” read a statement from the Afghani Islamic militant group, dated January 4, 2020 and quoted by Tasnim News, an Iranian news agency affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Describing the killing as a daring move – “a big adventure” – by the Americans, the Taliban warned there will be consequences: “Afghanistan Islamic Emirate affirms that jihad will continue against the savagery and the American occupation.”
On the other end of the spectrum in Afghanistan, the son of renowned military commander Ahmad Shah Masoud, a vociferous opponent of the Taliban, posted on Instagram a photograph of his father with Soleimani. Masoud fought the Soviets in the 1980s and was killed in a suicide bombing two days before September 11, 2001 at the behest of Al-Qaeda and Taliban. His son, also named Ahmed, described Soleimani as a lion.
In the early years of his military career, Soleimani operated in eastern Iran in the Baluchistan area fighting Baluch insurgents and narcotic smugglers. There he had dealings with Afghan fighters led by Ahmad Shah Masoud. In 1999, Soleimani was appointed by the Supreme Leader to head the Quds Force of the IRGC.
The US is trying to revive peace talks with the Taliban that fell apart last year. Washington’s lead negotiator, Zalmay Khalilzad is expected to meet with the Taliban in Qatar.
“With great sadness, we were informed that General Qasem Soleimani was killed in an attack by the barbaric American forces. We are all from god, and we will return to him [Quran aya] … may he rest in paradise,” read a statement from the Afghani Islamic militant group, dated January 4, 2020 and quoted by Tasnim News, an Iranian news agency affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Describing the killing as a daring move – “a big adventure” – by the Americans, the Taliban warned there will be consequences: “Afghanistan Islamic Emirate affirms that jihad will continue against the savagery and the American occupation.”
On the other end of the spectrum in Afghanistan, the son of renowned military commander Ahmad Shah Masoud, a vociferous opponent of the Taliban, posted on Instagram a photograph of his father with Soleimani. Masoud fought the Soviets in the 1980s and was killed in a suicide bombing two days before September 11, 2001 at the behest of Al-Qaeda and Taliban. His son, also named Ahmed, described Soleimani as a lion.
In the early years of his military career, Soleimani operated in eastern Iran in the Baluchistan area fighting Baluch insurgents and narcotic smugglers. There he had dealings with Afghan fighters led by Ahmad Shah Masoud. In 1999, Soleimani was appointed by the Supreme Leader to head the Quds Force of the IRGC.
The US is trying to revive peace talks with the Taliban that fell apart last year. Washington’s lead negotiator, Zalmay Khalilzad is expected to meet with the Taliban in Qatar.
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