Taliban Army Chief Says Those Who Defend Democracy Will Be Suppressed

The Chief of Army Staff of the Taliban, Fasihudin, has said that those who defend democracy in Afghanistan and oppose the Taliban will be suppressed.

He added that they will suppress all those who defend the gains of the past two decades under the name of specific ethnic groups or resistance in Afghanistan, Khaama News reported.

Those who defend democracy in Afghanistan and oppose the Taliban will be suppressed, he said.

Though he did not directly name any group, he probably alluded to the resistance front led by Ahmad Masoud in Panjshir province.

The front, which was finally defeated by the Taliban after 15 days, was created by former vice-president Amrullah Saleh and the son of the slain Ahmad Shah Masoud.

Fasihudin said these people are disturbing security and want bloodshed in Afghanistan, the report said.

Fasihudin, who was talking to a gathering in Kabul on Wednesday, said that consultations over creating an Afghan national army are going on to establish a potent army.

Fasihudin, who is also known as the conqueror of the northern province of Afghanistan, is considered one of the toughest military leaders of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan.