Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said: “Isaf rolled up its flag in an atmosphere of failure and disappointment without having achieved anything substantial or tangible.” That is certainly true.
The Taliban also said: “It should be emphasized that due to the blessed Jihad most of the involved nations excluding America have withdrawn all of their troops from Afghanistan…without a doubt the defeat of the infidel Western military alliance in Afghansitan [sic] at the hands of a few empty handed believing Mujahidin, the destruction of fortified bases by their own hands and their hasty withdrawal were unconceivable [sic] and is a clear sign of the divine help of Allah Almighty.” Not that this has anything to do with Islam.
“Taliban: Small, Secure ISAF Withdrawal Ceremony Shows the Jihadists Have Won,” by Bridget Johnson, PJ Media, December 29, 2014:
The Taliban said today that the fact coalition forces had to hold a small withdrawal ceremony in a secure location proves that they’re won the war after 13 years.
The Sunday ceremony in Kabul marked the transition from Operation Enduring Freedom to Operation Resolute Support….
The Taliban in their statement said the ISAF withdrawal ceremony “went strangely unheralded in the United States and much of the world and then news surfaced that ISAF was going to arrange its big farewell ceremony in secret due to threat of Mujahidin attacks in Kabul!!!”
“It should be emphasized that due to the blessed Jihad most of the involved nations excluding America have withdrawn all of their troops from Afghanistan, nearly all the provinces have been cleansed from the vile presence of foreign invaders accept [sic] for Mazar-e-Sharif in the North and Nangarhar in the East as well as a small presence in the country’s capital and surrounding areas where the invaders are also working tirelessly to pull out as quickly as possible,” the Taliban continued.
The group added that the “without a doubt the defeat of the infidel Western military alliance in Afghansitan [sic] at the hands of a few empty handed believing Mujahidin, the destruction of fortified bases by their own hands and their hasty withdrawal were unconceivable [sic] and is a clear sign of the divine help of Allah Almighty.”
“While the admonitory withdrawal of foreign forces is taking place, the presence of their internal stooges is being rolled back from much of the country at the same time. Mujahidin are taking over new areas daily, dismantling their bases and are tightening their sieges,” the Taliban added, calling the “haughty invasion of the international infidel coalition” a “humiliating defeat.”