The leader of Al Qaeda has reportedly backed Afghan Taliban in a move to boost the group’s efforts after President Barack Obama approved the expansion of the U.S. military’s role in battle-torn nation.
(FOX)- According to Reuters, Al Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri announced the he would “pledge allegiance” to Taliban guerrillas fighting in Afghanistan in an online audio recording.
“As leader of the Al Qaeda organization for jihad, I extend my pledge of allegiance once again, the approach of Osama to invite the Muslim nation to support the Islamic Emirate,” he said in a 14-minute recording.
Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mijahed told Bloomberg that the group is still waiting to receive confirmation from its top officials. “If confirmed, the endorsement will deliver brightness to our spirits and strengthen our jihad against U.S. invaders.”
Earlier this week, senior U.S. and defense officials told the Associated Press the White House approved plans to expand the military’s authority to conduct airstrikes against the Taliban when necessary as the violence in Afghanistan begins to escalate.
Several officials said the decision was made in recent days to expand the authority of U.S. commanders to strike the Taliban and better support and assist the Afghan forces when needed in critical operations, using the U.S. troops already in the country. There is a broad desire across the Obama administration to give the military greater ability to help the Afghans fight and win the war.
The 9,800 U.S. troops still in Afghanistan, however, would still not be involved in direct combat.
Ahmad Saeedi, a former Afghan diplomat to Pakistan, told Bloomberg that the Taliban’s Al Qaeda endorsement “will prolong the Afghan war and bolster Taliban insurgency.”