KABUL, Afghanistan – The Taliban’s shadowy leader told Afghans on Wednesday that the insurgents are winning the war and warned Americans that they are wasting lives and billions in tax dollars by continuing in the conflict.

In an end-of-Ramadan message posted on jihadist websites and relayed by the Site Intelligence Group, the Taliban leader also said the Americans and their allies will soon leave the country. He urged his fighters to adhere to his code of conduct and avoid harming civilians — instructions U.S. commanders say the Taliban frequently ignore.

“The victory of our Islamic nation over the invading infidels is now imminent and the driving force behind this is the belief in the help of Allah and unity among ourselves,” Mullah Omar said. “In the time to come, we will try to establish an Islamic, independent, perfect and strong system.”

In remarks directed to the American people, Mullah Omar said the U.S. military had failed to achieve its objectives after nearly nine years.

“You should know that your rulers have continuously told you lies since the beginning of the aggression on Afghanistan until this very day. They have wasted hundreds of billion of dollars of your tax money in the shape of financial expenditures and your manpower in Afghanistan and have still been wasting them,” he said.

“Therefore, they should abandon their headlong stubborn policy. Otherwise, the Americans will themselves face humiliation and disgrace before any one else does that.”

Mullah Omar has not been seen in public since the Taliban were driven from power following the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks in the United States. The Bush administration launched the war after the Taliban refused to hand over al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, the architect of the attacks.

U.S. officials believe Mullah Omar is hiding in Pakistan despite denials by Pakistani authorities.

 

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