An official of Afghanistan's ousted Taliban regime said today he doubted the deputy leader of their al Qaeda allies was among militants cornered by Pakistani troops in a border battle. "According to my information Dr Ayman al-Zawahri is not in that area," said former Taliban defence minister, Mullah Obaidullah Akhund.
| And who can you trust if not a former Taliban? |
"It would be a speculation to say where senior al Qaeda leaders have taken shelter because they keep on changing their hideouts," Akhund said by telephone from an undisclosed location. "Even if he is there it would be very difficult to get him alive. He has support among Muslims everywhere. The people will help him get of the area," he said. "But if he is unable to escape, he would prefer to become a martyr," he said.
| I have mixed thoughts as to whether or not Ayman would go down fighting. His experience in Egyptian jail was hardly a pleasant one and he knows he'll be a jihadi hero if he kills himself rather than be taken prisoner. All the same, he won't take the Hitler as long as he believes he still has a chance of saving himself. |
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