Al Qaeda is working to rejuvenate the Taliban in Afghanistan, reports the AFP news service. That's persistent devilry.
Osama bin Laden’s Al Qaeda network is making fresh efforts to stage a comeback by the Taleban and regain a foothold of its own in Afghanistan, the commander of US forces in the country said on Tuesday. Lieutenant General David Barno said the US believed both Bin Laden and fugitive Taleban leader Mullah Omar were probably still in the region, possibly on the rugged border between Afghanistan and Pakistan.Posted by Alan at March 29, 2005 08:01 PM“Al Qaeda clearly still wants to see the Taleban stage some kind of a comeback in Afghanistan,” Barno told AFP.
“They’re still providing financing, with guidance, training, support and selected individuals that help lead and motivate the operations here in Afghanistan.”
However Barno said positive political and economic developments in the war-torn nation had made it “less and less attractive for the Taleban”.
“The Taleban realize that the future doesn’t lead to a path that includes Al Qaeda and Talebans... it’s a democratic path that people have voted for and chosen right now,” he said.