Yousef Ahmadi
A reputed Taliban spokesman, Qari Mohammad Yousef contacted Reuters, the Associated Press, Canadian Press and Afghan Islamic Press by satellite phone in 2006 to offer Taliban messages regarding Southern Afghanistan.[1][2][3][4]
In August 2008, his name began appearing once again, as the focus of a number of Canadian Press interviews with Toby Cohen, in which he advised Canadians that they should elect a Prime Minister who would remove Canadian troops in Afghanistan.[5][6] Yussef is quoted as saying that "the election is being held in Canada. That is why our attacks on Canadians are increased".[7] He is also alleged to have said that the Taliban "don't want to fight with Canadians. Actually we want to create friendship with Canadians".[8]
His byline also appears on English-language internet postings claiming to report insurgent activity. Examples are:
- Martyrdom Operation kills 8 terrorists of spatial force and wounded a munafiq commander in Helmand, Kavkaz Centre web page, June 23, 2008
- Munafiq commander and 3 puppet police terrorists killed in Badghis 1/7/08, Anti-Imperialist forums, July 7, 2008
- In 14 landmines explosions 32 British invader terrorists killed in Helmand, Jihad Fields web log, July 17, 2008
References
- ^ al-Jazeera, quoting Reuters, March 2006
- ^ MSN, quoting AP, May 2006
- ^ BBC, quoting AIP, September 2006
- ^ TVNZ, quoting Reuters, 10 December 2006
- ^ Toronto Star, Pull out or else, Taliban warns Canada, August 18 2008
- ^ Cohen, Toby. Canadian Press, Taliban urges next Canadian prime minister to pull troops out of Afghanistan, September 9 2008
- ^ Cohen, Toby. Canadian Press, Taliban is watching the Cdn election, September 9 2008
- ^ Cohen, Toby. Canadian Press, Ramp ceremony for 3 slain Cdn. soldiers, September 4 2008