Al Qaeda: Battered but far from defeated, Islam,Terrorism and Jihad, NewAgeIslam.com

Islam,Terrorism and Jihad

Al Qaeda: Battered but far from defeated

By Faryal Leghari

The timing of the message is significant. It comes at a time when Al Qaeda and its Taleban allies are facing extreme pressure both in Afghanistan and ?Pakistan, at the hands of the international coalition forces and the Pakistan military. Zawahiri’s appeal is actually one for recruitment and mobilisation to support the militants - both in Pakistan and Afghanistan in the ongoing military operations. In his own words, Zawahiri says, “If we stand by passively without offering due support to the Mujahideen we shall not only contribute to the destruction of Pakistan and Afghanistan, but we shall also deserve the painful punishment of Almighty Allah.” The Al Qaeda’s high command does realise that its survival in the region is dependent on its ability to forge alliances with the insurgents and other militant groups.

Though the two-week-old Helmand operation, titled Operation Khanjar (dagger) in southern Afghanistan may still be in a nascent stage it has put a considerable strain on the Taleban insurgency, that face additional pressure from across the border, on the Pakistan side. However, the latest assessments from the US Commander in Afghanistan, Stanely A. McChrystal has warned of a protracted engagement with increased Taleban resistance.

The fighting is expected to pick up pace in the coming weeks as Afghanistan goes to polls on August 20. Helmand, the most notorious of all Afghan provinces, is not only the bastion of the insurgency but also produces 50 per cent of the country’s total opium production. It now hosts a security contingent consisting of 4,000 US Marines and 650 Afghan security forces, not to forget about 8,000 British troops that have been stationed in the province, since some time.

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