Taliban gaining strength in Afghanistan--commander

"It is the path of God...Jihad against infidels like Jews and Christians is obligatory for all Muslims" -- and to this appeal peaceful Muslims have still formulated no effective response. From Reuters, with thanks to the Constantinopolitan Irredentist:

CHAMAN, Pakistan, June 4 (Reuters) - The Taliban are gaining strength in Afghanistan and are determined to intensify their attacks against foreign and government forces, a Taliban commander said on Sunday.

Violence has surged in Afghanistan in recent weeks to its worst since the 2001 overthrow of the hardline Taliban government but the district commander, Mullah Hayat Khan, said the violence was winning the militants more support.

"Now the people of Afghanistan are giving full cooperation to us," Khan told Reuters in the southwestern Pakistani border town of Chaman.

"There is more anger against foreign forces and their brutality against the people," he said, referring to recent bombing by U.S. forces that he said had killed many civilians.

"The people of Afghanistan have become fed up with Americans," said Khan, who said he was Taliban commander of the Spin Boldak area, in the southern province of Kandahar, opposite Chaman.

"They break into houses, arrest people indiscriminately and torture them. These brutalities have increased anger among the people," he said.

"They are providing us shelter. They also lend us their arms and even take part in our jihad (holy war). Even people within the government are cooperating with us."

He said the Taliban were also grooming suicide attackers and vowed there would be more attacks against foreign forces.

"At least 40 suicide bombers in my group are ready for attacks. They are all Afghans."

"It is now not very difficult to prepare suicide attackers. In the past, al Qaeda used to prepare Taliban for suicide attacks but now we have gained expertise. I myself am able to train people," he said.

PAKISTANI CURBS

He said the Taliban had set up training camps in Helmand and Kandahar provinces, including the Spin Boldak area.

"We will continue our jihad until the foreign troops are driven out. We have stepped up attacks and will intensify them."...

"Pakistan has imposed curbs on mujahideen (holy warriors) because of American pressure. We do come here but covertly. We cannot move freely as we used to," he said....

"It is the path of God. My brother and an uncle laid down their lives on this path and I am also ready to do so."

"Jihad against infidels like Jews and Christians is obligatory for all Muslims. We are carrying out this obligation."