Maulawi Haibatullah Akhundzada, the latest supreme leader of the Taliban, today called on the United States to end its "occupation" of Afghanistan.
"Admit the realities instead of useless use of force and muscle show and put an end to the occupation," the Express Tribune quoted Akhundzada, as saying while delivering a speech on the eve of Eid-ul- Fitr.
"Our message to the American invaders and her allies is this: the Afghan Muslim people neither fear from your force nor your stratagem. They consider martyrdom in confrontation with you as a cherished goal of their life," he added.
The new Taliban leader said that U.S. would not be able to affect the militant group's determination to counter it.
"You will not be able to frustrate the determination and our Jihadic struggle, by your resorting to extending the time of presence of your soldiers or of increasing military rule of engagement in Afghanistan," Akhundzada said.
He added, "You are facing not a group or faction but a nation. You are not going to be a winner."
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This is the first message by the new Taliban chief since his predecessor Mullah Akhtar Mansour was killed during a U.S. drone strike in neighbouring Pakistan in May.
His remark come days after twin Taliban bomb blasts killed at least 32 Afghan policemen and wounded 78 others on the edge of Kabul.
He also took a jibe at Washington for supporting Kabul.
"Our message to the supporters of the invaders is that it might have been dawned on you during the past 15 years that you are being used for realisation of American goals," he said, adding that "your support and siding with invaders is like the work of those abhorrent faces who in our past history supported the Britons and the Soviets.
