According to a Taliban spokesperson, the US invasion of Afghanistan in 2001 had no justification since Osama bin Laden’s participation on September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks were never proven.
The claim was made by Zabihullah Mujahid in an interview with NBC Nightly News on Wednesday, less than two weeks after the Taliban took control of Kabul. The Taliban, on the other hand, has vowed not to let Al Qaeda or any other terrorist organization use Afghanistan to target the US and its allies.
The Washington Post, while reporting the spokesperson’s claim, pointed out that “Bin Laden’s well-documented role as the plotter of the attacks made him the most wanted fugitive in the world until he was killed by US Navy Seals in 2011.”
“When Osama bin Laden became an issue for the Americans, he was in Afghanistan. Although there was no proof, he was involved” in 9/11, Mr. Mujahid told NBC News. “Now, we have given promises that Afghan soil won’t be used against anyone.”
As the Afghanistan evacuation speeds up, @RichardEngel presses a Taliban spokesperson over their claims that things will be different. pic.twitter.com/Gy7Rj4R7U4
— NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt (@NBCNightlyNews) August 25, 2021
Pressed again on Bin Laden’s role in the 9/11 terror attacks, he said: “There is no evidence. Even after 20 years of war, we have no proof he was involved.”
NBC’s Richard Engel commented on the spokesman’s claim, asking: “So it sounds like, even now, after all this, you’re accepting no responsibility?”
“There was no justification for this war, it was an excuse for war,” the Taliban official said.
“The withdrawal is almost finished,” he replied when asked whether the Taliban anticipate the Biden administration to keep its pledge of removing all American soldiers by August 31.
The Washington Post also cited the 9/11 Commission report, which found that Osama Bin Laden was behind the attacks on September 11th.
According to the report, “final preparations (for the 9/11 attacks) were underway during the summer of 2001, dissent emerged among Al Qaeda leaders in Afghanistan over whether to proceed.”
The Bush administration, which led the invasion of Afghanistan, accused the Taliban regime of providing bin Laden with a safe haven in Afghanistan.
President George W. Bush demanded that the Taliban hand Bin Laden over and dismantle terrorist training camps. When the Taliban refused, US forces invaded Afghanistan and toppled the Taliban regime.
