Yesterday, a Taliban official announced that the movement was investigating the killing of al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in a US drone strike in Kabul.
US officials said Washington killed al-Zawahiri with a drone-launched missile as he stood on the balcony of his Kabul hideout last Sunday, in the biggest blow to the organization since Osama bin Laden was shot dead more than a decade ago. . .
“Neither the government nor the leadership was aware of al-Zawahiri’s presence in Afghanistan,” Sohail Shaheen, the Taliban’s designated representative to the United Nations in Doha, told reporters in a letter.
“An investigation is currently underway to determine the validity of the allegations,” he added, adding that the results of the investigation would be made public.
For their part, Taliban leaders have largely kept silent about the raid and have not confirmed al-Zawahiri’s presence or death in Kabul.
Three sources in the movement said senior Taliban leaders had long discussions on how to respond to the US strike.
The Taliban’s reaction could have serious consequences as they seek international legitimacy and access to billions of dollars of frozen funds.
Al-Zawahiri, an Egyptian doctor, was directly involved in the September 11, 2001 attacks on the United States and was one of the most wanted people in the world.
His assassination in Kabul raises questions about whether he received safe haven from the Taliban, who assured Washington in a 2020 US-led withdrawal agreement that they would not harbor other armed groups.
